Chapter 42 - Prescription

I couldn’t answer. After all, I didn’t have any strength in my legs. I had my hands full just remaining seated as I had to muster up all my strength to not slip and roll around the floor. As if he already knew, he brought the cigarette back up to his lips.

In the end, I continued to sit in Keith’s car all the way to his mansion. I kept my fingers interlocked and placed them atop my knees, staring meaninglessly down at the tips of my fingers.

The scent of pheromones had densely settled in the interior of the car. I was scared that I would become aroused, but to my surprise, I grew more relaxed as time went by.

‘Ah, these are Keith’s pheromones.’ I closed my eyes and slowly took deep breaths. As the scent permeated through my lungs, the tension in my body began to disappear. Before I knew it, my breathing became heavy and I drifted off to sleep.

*

*

I opened my eyes at the sensation of my body being rocked. I darted my unfocused eyes around and puzzled the pieces together. Still, my consciousness was hazy. As evidence, I felt as if my entire body was floating in the air. I must have still been half asleep—or had I dozed off with my eyes still open?

When I blankly looked up, I jolted. Keith’s face came into sight.

‘Huh…?’ I empty-headedly gazed up at him. I had never seen this man from this angle. Was I lying down right now?

Keith, having noticed my gaze, tilted his head downward. Immediately, our eyes met, and I stupidly stared back. A sudden smile took over my face. If anything, I thought I smiled, but I wasn’t sure. Strangely enough, all that my brain processed was the fact that Keith was staring down at me with a piercing gaze.

‘Ah.’ Without much thought, I breathed in deeply. I could smell the faint scent of a toner mixed with pheromones. A refreshing citrus scent. This was Keith’s scent.

I closed my eyes, turned my head, and buried my face into his shoulder. I took a deep breath in and slowly breathed out. My body was still gently rocking as if I were being carried somewhere in someone’s arms.

When I felt a cold yet soft sensation on my back, I was once again half-falling back asleep. It seemed like someone was talking, but it was difficult to understand. I could just vaguely tell that two people were talking to each other. Soon, I drifted off into a deep sleep.

* * *

Knock knock.

Somebody’s knocking awoke me from my sleep. I opened my eyes, but I lay there in a moment of confusion. Where was I? As I awkwardly propped myself up, looking around at the unfamiliar room, the door opened and a familiar face walked in.

“Are you awake? How are you feeling?” It was none other than Charles, the butler.

I took a moment to retrace my memories with great effort.

Just as I was somehow managing to piece together last night’s events, Charles opened his mouth. “You lost consciousness while you were headed here in Mr. Pittman’s car. The pheromones must have gotten to you. I brought some tea to help detox the pheromones and clear your thoughts.”

‘Ah.’ I finally understood what was going on. It was no surprise that my conscience had gotten so cloudy. It wasn’t just simple exhaustion; it was as if my brain had completely melted.

Just like it did that night.

Suddenly, my heart froze and my breath became ragged. I hurriedly controlled my breathing. ‘No,’ I thought instinctively. It was different from that scent. There was another faint scent that was mixed in with that sickly sweet scent.

I tried to forcefully recall my memories, but all it did was float around my head. I couldn’t give it any clear form.

“Once you drink this tea, your head will feel much clearer.” Charles pushed the steaming teacup toward me.

I hesitantly picked it up from atop the small table. “Oh…”

I blinked at the unexpectedly refreshing taste. Just as he said, I felt my head clear up and my conscience fully awake. After observing my reaction, Charles opened his mouth.