Back in the present, Atticus was still confused.
What was happening? What did he do wrong now?
"Excuse me," he said quietly, waiting for Sophia to explain herself.
"You stole—" Sophia began, but froze when her eyes flicked to Maya beside her.
How am I supposed to say he stole my first kiss? That's humiliating!
She blinked rapidly, panicking.
Atticus waited. And waited.
But instead of finishing, she awkwardly cleared her throat.
"What are you doing here?" Sophia demanded, trying to act normal.
Atticus smiled calmly. "I'm your new bodyguard."
"What?" Sophia yelped. Her eyes widened as reality hit her.
Oh my God… today is the day. Which means I have to stay near him… all day… and from now on? Oh no. This is so embarrassing.
She stared at the floor, biting her bottom lip in defeat.
"Ma'am, is something wrong?" Maya asked. "You're the one who appointed him. Should I terminate his appointment—"
"What?" Atticus snapped instantly, jaw clenching as if someone threatened his existence.
Sophia's head shot up. "No! No, no, no!" she blurted.
"It's fine. I just—forgot." She forced an awkward little laugh, waving her hands.
Atticus raised a brow.
Maya blinked.
Sophia wanted the ground to open and swallow her whole.
Atticus let out a slow sigh as he looked into Sophia's eyes.
Sophia instantly panicked.
Why is he staring at me like that? Oh God, look away, look away!
She darted her gaze anywhere else—ceiling, floor, a random plant.
"Atticus… Maya Taylor's… Maya… Atticus… Atticus who…" she turned to him.
Atticus smiled gently. "Hello," he said, then turned to Sophia. "You can just call me Atticus."
Sophia squinted at him. "That's… weird."
"Anyway," she continued as she pulled herself together, "Maya is my secretary. And you're my bodyguard. So we'll sign a contract—"
"…a contract," Atticus repeated slowly, as if tasting a foreign word.
"Yes. A contract binding the both of us. It explains the do's and don'ts and helps us maintain a good working relationship—"
"Working relationship?" Atticus echoed, his face scrunched up in pure confusion.
Sophia groaned. "Let's just go," she said, marching toward the car.
Maya followed quickly.
Atticus remained rooted to the ground.
"Working relationship…" he muttered, tapping his lips with his fingertips.
He sighed deeply. "What the hell have I entered?"
Then he followed them with the energy of a man walking toward his own confusion.
Inside the car, Atticus settled into the driver's seat.
Sophia sat in the back, completely buried in her tablet.
Maya took the passenger seat.
Atticus glanced at Sophia through the rearview mirror.
She didn't look up once.
"Working relationship," he muttered again under his breath as he started the engine.
The car screeched to a stop in front of the hospital.
People at the entrance paused, all turning to see who would step out.
Atticus opened the car door and stepped out.
For a moment, the hospital entrance froze.
A nurse stopped mid-stride.
A doctor paused with his mouth slightly open.
Someone hit the automatic door button twice because they forgot how it worked.
A soft wave of whispers followed.
"He's… gorgeous."
"Where did this one come from?"
"Oh my days, look at his jawline—"
Atticus didn't even flinch.
He simply tucked his hands into his pockets and exhaled lightly.
This was his life.
Wherever he appeared, people stared, sighed, or forgot how to breathe.
He was used to it—almost bored of it.
Then he walked to Sophia's side and gently opened her door.
Sophia stepped out slowly, her movements calm, almost graceful.
Her hair fell softly, her steps were light, and she carried herself like she didn't even know she was glowing.
Another gasp rippled through the crowd—louder this time.
"Wow…"
"She looks so classy."
"She's beautiful…"
Sophia glanced at Atticus—just one quick, tiny glance—
and immediately snapped her gaze away like her eyes touched something hot.
Atticus blinked.
Huh?
What did I do? I literally just opened a door.
He stared after her, confused.
Maya quickly walked up beside Sophia.
"Ma'am, your meeting is in five minutes," she informed her.
Sophia nodded firmly and walked into the hospital with Maya.
Atticus followed behind them at a respectful distance.
People stepped aside automatically, creating a clear path.
Some smiled shyly; others stared openly.
Whispers filled the hallway, soft but excited.
"He looks like he walked out of a magazine…"
"I can't breathe… someone get the crash cart."
Atticus didn't even look at them.
His brows were slightly drawn, his mind somewhere else entirely.
Sophia stopped.
Atticus took a small step forward.
"Sophia—"
Without turning around, she said, "Stay here. Maya will be back to brief you. I'll be back soon."
Then she hurried off, almost too quickly.
Atticus blinked at the empty space she left.
"…What just happened?"
His voice was barely above a whisper.
He let out a slow, confused exhale and turned—
—and instantly froze again.
A cluster of women were standing there.
All of them staring at him.
Not blinking.
Not talking.
Just staring like he was a limited-edition item on display.
"…oh no," he muttered under his breath.
"Hello," Atticus said politely.
"Hi!" someone chirped behind him.
Atticus turned.
A man in his 30s stood there—blue scrubs, a stethoscope around his neck, and an energy that screamed I talk too much and I know it. He wasn't tall, but not short either. Just… average height with extra chaos.
"Hello! I'm Nurse Ken," he announced proudly. "And you, handsome, are…?"
Atticus blinked.
Ken wiggled his eyebrows.
Atticus chuckled.
Before he could answer, a sharp voice cut through the hallway.
"Stop being stupid, Ken. Don't embarrass the young man."
A woman walked up, also in her 30s. Hair tied into a perfect bun, taller than Ken, with the aura of someone who was in charge.
"I'm Nurse Sarah," she said, extending her hand. "A pleasure to meet you."
"I'm—"
"OH MY GOSH, you're so handsome!"
A younger nurse—maybe early 20s, round face, bright eyes—jumped between them like she'd been launched out of a cannon.
"Anabel, what is wrong with you?!" Sarah barked.
"Sorry…" Anabel whispered but clearly wasn't sorry.
Atticus smiled politely. "I'm Atticus."
"Atticus who?" Ken asked immediately.
"Just Atticus."
Ken nodded like he'd just been given a secret mission.
"Wow. Mysterious. I like that."
Anabel leaned toward Sarah. "He is so mysterious—like in movies—"
Sarah stepped on her foot.
Anabel hissed.
"So, Atticus," Sarah redirected quickly, "what exactly do you do here?"
"I'm Sophia's bodyguard."
Silence.
Then—
"WHAT?!" all three nurses screamed.
Ken pointed dramatically. "No, no, no. You are WAY too handsome to be a bodyguard."
Atticus gave a small smile. "Thank you."
"Well," Sarah said, clearing her throat, "we're your colleagues now. So if you ever need anything—supplies, help, someone to cover your shift—just come to us."
"Yeah," Ken added, patting Atticus's shoulder. "And if Ma'am Sophia pressures you too much, we got your back."
"Who's got whose back?" a voice snapped behind them.
Ken, Sarah, and Anabel screamed in unison.
They turned like guilty schoolchildren.
Maya stood there, staring daggers.
"Shouldn't you three be working?" she asked slowly.
Silence.
Ken spun around.
"I suddenly remember I have a patient."
Sarah saluted and marched off.
Anabel disappeared behind a desk like she was hiding from the police.
Maya sighed and turned to Atticus.
"Welcome to the hospital."
Atticus blinked. "…Are they always like this?"
"Yes," Maya replied.
He glanced around the hallway—but no Sophia.
"Where is Sophia?" he asked.
"She's in her meeting," Maya replied crisply. "I'll brief you on her schedule and prepare you to be her bodyguard."
Atticus raised a brow. "Prepare me… to be her bodyguard?"
"Yes," Maya said, already pulling out items from her bag like a schoolteacher.
"Here. A list of five books written by the top bodyguards in the country. Study them and learn why they're the best. When you're done, we'll test your gun skills."
She dropped five massive, brick-sized books into his arms.
Atticus stared at them in horror.
"I have to read to protect someone?" he muttered. "I've already saved her twice."
He looked at the stack again.
"Why are they so heavy? Is the danger inside the books?"
Maya ignored his comment and continued writing notes.
Atticus sighed dramatically.
"Ah… homework," he frowned, shoulders dropping as he held the books like they were punishment.