Danna and Garson reached the clinic, and Garson gently helped her onto the bed before quickly informing the nurses. They rushed over and began treating Danna's twisted ankle. She groaned in pain; her face contorted with discomfort.
Garson stayed by her side, his voice calm and reassuring."It's alright, Miss Coffee," he said softly. "You're going to be fine."
Danna was confused seeing Garson like this, but she didn't say anything.
"I don't think you're in any condition to walk, Miss Danna," the nurse said, examining her ankle carefully. "Is there someone from home who can come pick you up?"
Danna shook her head slightly. "No… there isn't anyone. I use public transportation," she replied quietly.
"I can drop her," Garson said firmly.
Danna looked at him, stunned by his sudden offer. She hadn't expected that—not from him.
The nurse gave a small nod, glancing between the two. "Alright, sir. Since you're a friend, please be careful while helping her up," she said gently, then turned back to finish wrapping Danna's ankle.
"No, he's not my friend," Danna said quickly, her voice firm but a little too fast.
The nurse just smiled knowingly and walked away, leaving the two alone in the room… with a silence that suddenly felt way too loud.
"I'm not going anywhere with Mr. Whatever," Danna snapped, clearly annoyed.
Garson smirked, not at all fazed. "You can't walk, Miss Coffee."
"So what?" she huffed. "I'll call someone else. Anyone. Just not you."
He didn't flinch—just looked at her with that maddeningly calm, unreadable expression. "I know you hate me," he said, voice softer now, "but right now… I just want to help. Nothing else."
Then he smiled.
And Danna's heart?Yeah… it definitely skipped a beat
Danna stubbornly pushed herself off the bed, determined to prove she didn't need him. But the moment she put weight on her injured ankle; her balance gave out.
"Agh!" she gasped, starting to fall—
Garson moved faster than she expected, catching her just in time. "Miss Coffee," Garson said with a smirk, effortlessly catching her before she could hit the floor, "you're stubborn too."
Before she could protest, he scooped her up bridal-style like it was nothing. Danna's breath hitched as her arms instinctively wrapped around his neck.
"I'll let Natalia know to bring your bag later," he added calmly, like carrying her around wasn't the most intense thing happening right now. "For now, I'm dropping your home."
Danna opened her mouth to argue but—no words. Just the sound of her own heartbeat trying to escape her chest
Garson walked confidently out of the clinic, carrying her all the way to the parking lot. And despite her pride screaming at her, she didn't say a word.
"I told you, I could've gone with someone else," Danna muttered again as they reached his car, her tone somewhere between annoyed and flustered.
Garson glanced at her, that infuriating smirk still playing on his lips."I'm not that bad, Miss Coffee," he said smoothly. "At least… not as bad as you think I am."
Before she could roll her eyes into another dimension, he gently helped her into the passenger seat. She grumbled under her breath but didn't stop him.
He closed the door, walked around, and slid into the driver's seat like this was completely normal—like carrying her bridal-style into a car wasn't currently short-circuiting her brain.
Then the engine purred to life, and he started driving like it was just another day… while Danna sat there, arms crossed, heart absolutely not calm.
"So… where's your home, huh?" Garson asked casually, eyes on the road, a teasing tone in his voice.
Danna let out a heavy sigh, rolling her eyes like it was the most exhausting thing she'd done all day. "Ugh. Fine," she muttered, giving him the address like she was surrendering to a battle she didn't even want to fight.
Garson just smirked—no "thank you," no "you're welcome"—just that smug smile that somehow made her want to both glare at him and admit she wasn't as annoyed as she acted.
As they reached Danna's home, Garson picked her up again effortlessly. She avoided his eyes, cheeks burning with a mix of embarrassment and something she wasn't ready to admit.
He pressed the doorbell, and the soft chime echoed through the quiet street.
The door swung open, and there stood Danna's mom, smiling warmly but curious at the sight of Garson carrying her daughter.
"Hello, Miss," Garson said with a polite smile. "I'm Garson. Actually, Danna twisted her ankle, and I thought I'd help her get home safely."
"Oh, okay," Danna's mom replied, but worry flickered in her eyes as she stepped aside and opened the door wider for him to come in.
Danna looked down, quietly murmuring, "Please put me down on the sofa."
Garson gently set her down on the sofa.
"My dear, are you alright?" Danna's mom asked, carefully examining her ankle.
"I'm fine, Mom," Danna replied softly, trying not to worry her.
"Thank God I took the day off from work today," Danna's mom said, still focused on her daughter's ankle. "Otherwise, no one would've been here to take you to the hospital."
"Mom, I'm really fine," Danna replied, trying to sound casual. "I even went to the clinic."
"Thank you, Garson," Danna's mom said warmly, offering a small smile. "I'm Liya, Danna's mom."
"Nice to meet you, Miss Liya," Garson said with a polite nod. "I have to go now."
He glanced briefly toward Danna before turning to leave.
"Bye, Garson," Danna's mom called after him with a warm smile.