Crashing into an Old Flame
Chapter 124: First girlfriend

Chapter 124: First girlfriend

’’You always do this? I mean... do you cook for yourself and the dishes as well?" Diana unabashedly flipped the topic.

"Yes.’’

’’Then, what about Ivy?" she asked.

’’She does the cleaning and other stuff,’’ Maxim answered, "Sometimes cooking when mom comes over."

’’Oh,’’ That made sense given what Ivy said about going to Maxim’s place once or twice a week where she handled most of the work, ’’Then, did you do it back in the school days too?"

’’Sometimes. When Mom was not around or she was sick,’’ he did not seem to be affected as he told that to her but her heart ached.

’’It must be hard on both of you.’’

Maxim’s gaze cut to hers and she was taken aback when she noticed a hint of anger simmering on his face, ’’Pity?" he asked.

What..? Her brain rumbled for a moment before she realized what he was getting at, ’’Nope. It’s concern. Care. I am not pitying you...’’ she breathed almost in disbelief.

And he looked at her for another second before averting his gaze.

Diana realized that she might have overstepped her boundaries so she decided to remain quiet but in the end, her mouth seemed to have no ’Stay quiet’ software as it opened up in the next moment, ’’So, how was your first breakup?"

’’Why would you ask that?" Maxim finished doing the dishes as he discarded the gloves and washed his hands.

She watched as he grabbed the towel and wiped the water droplets off his forearm., ’’I am curious. That campus belle... whatever her name was, was after all your first girlfriend. Did you really love her though?"

’’Don’t you think you have quite a lot of questions?"

’’I am curious,’’ she shrugged, ’’I really didn’t like her personality. So, I am just wondering whether you loved her or not.’’

’’Just because you didn’t like her personality, you expect me to not like her as well?" Mischief sparkled in his eyes when he saw the awkwardness on her face.

’’Of course, we are friends. Whether we like or not like a person, we should do it together. Also, don’t forget how mean she was to both of us. You’ve got to be a masochist to fall for her.’’

’’Maybe I have masochistic tendencies of some sort,’’ he said with a meaningful look on his face as he glanced at her, ’’But you sounded way too possessive for a friend. How toxic!" he clicked his tongue.

Diana was speechless, ’’I was just bored standing here so I asked. Not that I care about your private life history,’’ she said casually.

Maxim’s eyes narrowed, ’’Not that I bother to share it but why wouldn’t I love my girlfriend? It’s silly of you to assume that I won’t love a girl I am in a real relationship with.’’

"Oh...’’ her lips trembled and she rolled her bottom lips in before speaking calmly, ’’Let me pack the stuff I need. We can go back to the mansion.’’

Diana checked the time on her watch and turned to walk towards the Master Bedroom while Maxim stood there with his brows tugged together, wondering why he said those words he did not mean.

’’In fact...’’ he opened his mouth to clarify. Glancing at the kitchen counter, he continued, ’’She was not my...’’

’Bam’

The sound made his head whip in the direction of the Master bedroom and his pupils dilated when he saw Diana slumped on the floor.

He strode towards her with urgent footsteps and knelt on the floor before cradling her head on his lap. As soon as his hand came in contact with her face, he cursed and pulled her up in his arms.

...

Diana felt like her throat was split into halves. Her eyes felt heavy as she tried to open them.

She parted her lips to speak but the movement made her frown in pain.

She opened her eyes slowly and was greeted by the sight of white.

Diana blinked a few times, to let her vision adjust to the dim lights before she tilted her head to the side.

White ceilings. White walls.

A hospital?

Her head throbbed.

Diana tried to raise her hand to clutch her head but the movement paused halfway when the needle stuck in her hand budged slightly, a drop of blood oozing out of her skin because of the tug.

She gazed towards the IV drip and tried to recall what happened.

House hunting.

Period.

Maxim’s love confession for his first girlfriend.

And a wave of dizziness.

As if on cue, something shuffled on the other side and she glanced towards her left only to find Maxim on the chair next to the hospital bed.

He had his eyes closed and his palm placed right next to hers. When he moved his hand in sleep, the tip of his index finger touched hers slightly.

Diana opened her mouth, ’’M-Maxim?" her voice was hoarse and scratchy and she felt like someone had rubbed her throat against sandpaper.

He did not move.

Diana quietly looked at the spot where their fingers touched. Blinking slowly, she placed her palm on the back of his palm, letting it rest there for a few seconds before she patted it twice.

Maxim seemed to have been jolted awake by that small movement as he sat straight. His eyes were filled with concern and panic as he locked his gaze with hers, ’’What happened?"

’’I am supposed to ask that. What am I doing here?" her voice was still somewhat scratchy but her throat felt better as she talked, ’’Also, don’t look at my face if I am looking ugly or something. Get me a mirror first,’’ she added when he kept staring at her face.

He did not say anything and her casual expression turned a bit solemn as she looked at him cautiously, ’’Um... Do I have some terminal disease?" she blinked at him. Why did he look so serious?

He still did not say anything and she carefully patted his hand again, ’’I don’t know what it is but don’t look so disheartened okay? I do have a few things I want to do before I die but if worse comes to worst, I will make a bucket list...’’

’’God, Ana,’’ Maxim breathed.

One second, he was still sitting on the chair and looking at her with a ’Write your last wishes because you are going to die’ gaze and in the next moment she crashed into his arms.

With one of his legs pressed on the hospital bed, Maxim pulled her into his arms and held her tightly.

Her other hand laid dormant just as she did in his embrace.

’’I am not going to die for real, am I?" she stiffened. No way.

’’Shut up, stupid. You fainted because of a high fever,’’ he chastised her but his hold on her tightened.

Diana fell speechless, ’’Really?" she rubbed her face on his chest in discreet movements, trying to steal some of his warmth.

’’What do you think?"

’’Then... then, you looked like I was going to die...’’

’’If you keep doing stupid things, you will die by my hands,’’ Maxim said.

She tried to push him away from her as she broke the hug but her push was light like a feather. Her body lacked strength, ’’What did I do?"

’’You should have told me that you had a fever. But you had the cheek to sit and eat with me, talking about my first girlfriend and whatnot,’’ he glared at her, still holding the back of her head.

Diana pursed her lips, ’’I didn’t realize I had a fever...’’ she trailed off when he looked at her with a ’That’s why I called you stupid’ gaze.

She poked his cheek with her free hand, ’’Don’t tell me I am staying here.’’

’’You are. For 3 days. Under proper observation.’’

’’Come on, I am not a baby. It’s just a fever and it has even gone away,’’ she glanced at the time on the clock. It was past midnight.

They were eating around evening time which meant she slept off really well.

When she checked around the hospital room again, she was relieved that he brought her to some other hospital than their workplace.

’’Just stay here till we confirm that the fever hasn’t gone into your brain,’’ Maxim let go of the back of her head and pulled back from her.

He stroked her hair before tucking the loose strands behind her ears.

She looked at his serious face as he did that.