Cain was finally ready to play the pretend game.
The moment he stepped into the wardroom, a pillow came flying straight at his face—but thanks to his quick reflexes, he dodged it. He looked up, only to meet the furious eyes of his supposed girlfriend.
"What are you doing here, you cheater?" Tara snapped.
"Huh?" Cain said, completely caught off guard.
"Oh, so we're playing the pretend game now, right?" Tara shot back.
"Wait—what do you mean?" Cain asked, confusion written all over his face.
"Until you realize where you went wrong, just get out," Tara said coldly.
Still confused, Cain placed the flowers he brought beside the bed and walked out of the wardroom. Tiana followed him.
The moment they stepped outside, Tiana burst into laughter.
Cain looked at her, perplexed. "Care to explain what just happened?"
Tiana tried to stifle her laughter before speaking. "Kalon told Tara that she found you in a hotel with another woman—that's how she got into the accident."
"She did what?" Cain said, horrified.
"Yep. Now you have to deal with the aftermath," Tiana replied, still laughing.
"But why would she say that? Didn't it trigger anything?" Cain asked.
"Nope. The doctor said it wouldn't—as long as she doesn't try to recall real memories. And she didn't, since that never actually happened," Tiana explained.
"But why that story?" Cain pressed.
"She heard you agreed to do this, so she decided to teach you a lesson for yesterday," Tiana said with a grin. "Plus, it's a good explanation for the accident."
"Oh…" Cain muttered, finally understanding.
"So, Mr. Boyfriend, go explain yourself," Tiana added, laughing as she walked away.
Cain took a deep breath before walking back into the wardroom.
"Didn't I say I don't want to see you?" Tara said, deliberately looking anywhere but at him.
"Tara, let me explain—"
"Explain what, Cain?" she cut him off sharply. "That when I asked you yesterday, you didn't want to tell me the truth? Or maybe you thought since I lost my memory, you don't owe me honesty?"
"Tara, I never cheated, okay? It was a business meeting," Cain said.
"Oh, a business meeting in a hotel? Nice one," Tara replied sarcastically.
Then her voice softened, trembling. "Cain… am I not good enough?"
Tears welled up in her eyes.
Cain froze. If someone had told him a few days ago that he and Tara would end up like this, he would've thought they were insane.
Without another word, he crossed the distance between them and pulled her into an embrace.
"I'm sorry. I really didn't cheat," he said softly.
"How am I supposed to believe that?" Tara sobbed against him.
"There, there… I didn't. What do you want me to do to prove it?" Cain asked gently.
Tara hesitated before speaking. "Fine… I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. Just don't hurt me again."
"Oh? Why is that?" Cain asked quietly.
"Because you're the last person I remember who's connected to my past," Tara said honestly.
They stayed in each other's embrace for a while before slowly pulling apart.
"Cain… when am I leaving this hospital? I'm tired of staying in this wardroom," Tara said with a pout.
"How about tomorrow?" Cain suggested with a small smile.
"Really?" Tara's eyes lit up.
Cain chuckled. "Yes. But for now, you need to eat. What do you want?"
"Surprise me," Tara said.
"You're really something," Cain muttered as he turned to leave.
"Cain," Tara called out.
He stopped and turned back.
"Don't take long," she said softly, her gaze gentle.
For a moment, Cain was stunned.
"I won't," he replied, before finally walking out.
"Oh, thank God—you're here," Jade said as Cain approached.
"What's up?" Cain asked.
"Kalon just texted me. Once Tara is discharged, she has to be sent to City A for better recuperation," Jade said.
"Reason?" Cain asked as they walked down the hallway.
"She said she'll explain when we get there. But we have to make sure no records of Tara or her condition are leaked when we leave."
"Seems like there's more about my 'girlfriend' that I don't know," Cain commented.
"So what should I tell her?" Jade asked.
"Tell her we'll do as Kalon said and leave tomorrow after she's discharged," Cain replied.
Cain went to the hospital cafeteria, picked up some food, and also ordered a variety from outside before returning to the wardroom.
"Wow, you brought a lot," Tara said.
"You told me to surprise you. Did I succeed?" Cain asked.
Tara laughed. "Oh, you definitely surprised me—with the quantity."
"Should I take that as a good thing?" Cain asked, amused.
"I don't know… what do you think?" Tara replied as she got off the bed.
"I'll take it as a compliment since I didn't get scolded," Cain said.
"But this is too much," Tara added.
"Eat what you want. We'll deal with the rest later," Cain said.
"Come eat with me," Tara invited.
Cain walked over and sat beside her as she went through the bags. In the end, Tara chose an Italian salad, and Cain took the extra one.
They ate quietly.
Once they finished, Tara suggested a walk—she was tired of staying in the wardroom. Cain didn't object, and the two of them headed to the hospital garden.
They sat on a bench near a water fountain.
"So… tell me about us before I lost my memory," Tara said.
"Huh?"
"I mean… how did we meet?"
Cain paused, then decided to tell her the truth—about how they met, how he asked her out, and how they gradually started dating. His explanation was brief, but it was enough.
Tara believed him.
She rested her head on his shoulder.
"Cain… was I a bad girlfriend before?" she asked softly.
Cain was caught off guard, but he answered anyway.
"Of course not. You were nice, sweet, understanding, supportive… and so much more. But you were never a bad girlfriend," he said reassuringly.
"Mmm…" Tara murmured, slowly drifting to sleep on his shoulder.
Cain stayed like that for a while.
Eventually, he carefully lifted her in his arms, carried her back to the wardroom, and laid her gently on the bed. He covered her with a blanket, then quietly walked out.
He headed home, preparing for their departure to City A the next day.