*Song: Only You by Cheat Codes and Little Mix* (One of my all-time favourites)

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I feel all kinds of soreness when I wake up to the sound of an alarm.

Instinctively, I reach out to the source of the annoying sound and shut it off. I look at the time. 7.30 am. So early.

Oh well, it's actually not so early since this is a Friday, and we actually have to go to work.

Last night felt like a wild fantasy, if I don't see the naked back of Danielle's with bite marks all over, I can't quite believe it happened.

Judging by her breathing, she's still in her sleep. I decide not to wake her and go make a nice breakfast for us.

But, I need to find something to wear first.

I tiptoe to her wardrobe and find a T-shirt hanging on the handle with a sticky note that reads:

'For Sage. In case you wake up early.
Don't use my kitchenware.'

I chuckle lightly. God, this woman. I'll just pretend like I didn't see the second sentence.

I sneak out of the bedroom, greeted by Cherry's purring.

'Morning, Cherry.' I bend down a bit to pat her head. She answers me with a delighted meow.

'Let's go make Mummy breakfast, hum?' She follows me to the kitchen. I open the fridge to see what I can make.

'Eggs, French bread, lettuce, bananas...that's all?' I frown. Does she usually order takeouts?

Anyway, these are enough for a fancy breakfast, I guess.

I also find some butter in the freezer, so I pan fry the French bread and make scrambled eggs with the butter, decorating them with sliced banana and lettuce.

Nice. I smile proudly at my work.

'Didn't I specifically write "not to use them"?'

Her helpless voice comes through, making me jump a bit. I look over, seeing her in her normal long robe again.

'Well, I didn't see it. Must've fallen off or something.' I shrug irresponsibly, pushing the plate to her side of the counter. 'I've made you breakfast.'

'I see.' She raises a brow and sits onto the stool.

'How is it?' Although it shouldn't be something I'd screw up, I am still feeling a bit nervous since her mouth is probably as picky as her other part of the body.

She was very instructive. That's all I'm going to say.

'It's edible, in my standard.' She shoots me a quick glance, 'But it's good in average people's.'

Oh? I guess that's a compliment.

'I'm glad you like it.' I smile and eat my share of food hungrily.

She shoots me another glance but says nothing.

After I devour my food in five minutes, I watch her eating elegantly in satisfaction.

Only if I have this kind of view every morning and wild sex every night...

Speaking of the wild sex, I didn't come here for a booty call for sure.

'Uh...So, about the work I messed up...' I say with uncertainty.

She smirks and rolls her eyes, 'Do you really think I'd have sex with you if you've messed up again?'

Nope, that was the confusing part.

'So...you tricked me here to have sex with me?' I'm still processing what she meant by it.

A suspicious pink creeps up to her cheeks, 'No, I was giving you an answer to your invitation.'

My invitation? Does she mean going on a date? So, this is a 'yes'?

'You're going out with me?' I ask for confirmation.

She stares at me intensely for a while and sighs, 'Yes.'

'Okay.' I nod and smile calmly, but actually, my brain is shooting fireworks with many mini me's happy-dancing right now.

'There's something you said the other night when you were plastered,' Danielle suddenly says, 'You mentioned me being your "twin flame". Care to explain that?'

Oh boy. I said what!? I freeze and feel my face burning.

'It's, um...' I look into her curious blue eyes, trying to sound normal and not embarrassed, 'It's a concept of two people meeting and feeling familiar because of a spiritual connection.'

She's now resting her chin in her palm, looking interested, 'I see. You're a spiritualist?'

I tilt my head, 'Not really. I believe in things I experienced. So, I think I'm more of an Empiricist?'

She raises a brow, 'So you've experienced this twin flame connection before?'

I shake my head, 'No. This isn't just any connection. It only happens with one other person in a lifetime. And not everyone has a twin flame.'

'And you think you have it with me?'

I can see the look on her face complicate, but her voice is firm, not showing any emotions.

Yes, only you.

'Yes...but you know, it can mean many things, doesn't have to be romantic or anything really...' I start rattling away, trying to make it sound as light as possible in the fear of putting her off.

Even though I'm now so sure that Danielle is my twine flame, it doesn't mean she has to accept it right away.

I'm willing to take my time.

'I understand.' She nods, 'But, if you haven't experienced this connection before, how do you know it's real?'

'It's a feeling that I can't really explain.' Also, I've been dreaming about our past.

She falls silent for a moment before she leaves the stool and puts the plate in the sink, 'I think I've felt it too. But, let's not push it, okay?' Somehow, her monotonous voice almost sounds pleading.

I nod in agreement. 'I think that's a good idea.' I don't think we should anyway. We barely know each other, and we just start dating.

Rushing into anything more is definitely off the list.

'Come on, we should get ready for work.' She urges while walking back to the bedroom.

//////

Danielle's POV:

Because my place is quite close to the company, Sage and I walk together to work.

None of us mentions anything about the twin flame situation again. We just walk and talk about small things we see on the way, which I appreciate.

I can see it from her face—she has no idea how obvious her thoughts are all the damn time—that me being her twin flame means a lot to her.

I know I have romantic feelings for her and certainly is interested in her...However, going any further than that still seems uncertain.

How can you judge someone simply by a feeling in the guts?

She just knows that I'm for her when I don't even know where I stand.

Hell, what if I'm not anything she thinks I am or wants me to be?

Thinking about the aftermath if this doesn't work out...what if I'm the one that can't let go? That I can't bear seeing her in the company, dating someone else...

Goddamn it, relationships are a pain in the arse.

I sigh as I drink the green tea that I grabbed in the cafeteria.

Only five to nine in the morning and I'm already overthinking like Sage.

I look over to her, watching her picking up her mobile and talking to someone.

'Hey, Papá, what's up?' I hear her saying.

'What?'

She raises her voice as her eyes suddenly widen and her fist clenches.

Sounds like bad news. I frown.

'Wha-what should we do? I-I can go home...'

She stands up and walks to the other end of the room, I can't hear her, only seeing her nodding and shaking her head.

Finally, she ends the call, looking pale and lost.

'What is it?' I walk towards her, holding her shoulder carefully.

All of the sudden, she bursts into tears.

Somehow, my heart aches at the sight of this, so I pull her into my arms.

She sobs on my chest, shoulders jumping rapidly, hands clutching hard to my back. I pat her back gently to soothe her breathing, but I'm not sure if it's working.

I've never seen her this upset before. It sure scares me a little. She's always been strong and optimistic about things for what I know.

I've never been good at comforting people, so I just hug her tight and pat her back.

After a few minutes of intense crying, she seems to be recovering a little.

'I-I'm sorry to ruin your shirt.' She breaks away and sniffs with some tears on her face.

'Don't worry about it.' I say softly, 'Do you want to tell me what happened?'

She takes a breath and says in a shaky voice, 'M-my dad told me that, my mum is committed t-to the hospital for colon cancer.' She looks like she's going to cry again but presses it down, 'She needs sur-surgery.'

'Okay, do you need to fly home? I can get you an emergent leave.' I frown and cup her face, trying to wipe the pouring tears away.

'No.' She shakes her head slightly, 'They said I deserve to know, but I shouldn't go home for it. They said it is not serious, only in the early stage.'

'Good that it is still early.' I nod.

'Yeah...but the surgery...' She whimpers, looking like a lost puppy.

I feel the strong urge to protect her in this fragile state. I want to help, just to make her feel better.

'Don't worry.' I quickly think of something, or rather, someone. 'My mum is a very skilled surgeon in Birmingham City Hospital. I can ask her opinion about this.'

'Really?' I see a glint of hope lightening up her eyes.

'Yes.' I smile reassuringly. 'I'm calling her now.'

Well, Mum, here we go again.

I pick up my phone and call, hoping that she's not asleep or performing any surgeries.

'Hm...Hey, honey, why are you calling so early?' I can hear the weariness in my mum's voice.

Bloody hell. She was sleeping. I hate asking for favours and waking up people in the process.

'Sorry, Mum, I just need your help on something.'

'Okay, it must be serious since you're calling me "mum".' I am glad she still has the energy to joke.

'Yes. So, do you perform surgeries for colon cancer?' I ask bluntly, glancing at Sage's nervous face.

'I do. Why do you ask?'

'Um, I think it's better to discuss the details in person.' I click my tongue while thinking, 'Are you free this weekend? I'm taking someone to meet you.'

'Yes, this Saturday is fine. Who are you bringing?'

I contemplate on what I should say, eventually tell her the one that will delight her, 'Someone that you would like to meet so much, remember?'

The line falls silent for a twinkle before she suddenly sounds wide-awake, 'You're bringing your intern over? That's brilliant! I'm going to make us dinner.'

'Yeah, yeah, sweet. Can't wait.' I can't resist the urge to give her an eye-roll.

'Okay. Text me the time you're coming later.' She yawns, 'I'm truly happy, honey. See you.'

'See you.'

I hang up the mobile with a sigh and turn to face Sage.

'Okay, I'm taking you to visit my mum in Birmingham this Saturday. Is that fine with you?'

She looks a bit surprised but nods with a smile. 'Yes.'

'Oh, and,' she leans in and hugs me tightly, 'Thank you.'

My lips inevitably curve up at the sound of that. I sneakily place a kiss in her hair, 'You're welcome.'

I haven't told her that my mum knows about her existence.

This Birmingham trip is going to be interesting.