Echoes of a Forsaken Heart (Natalia and Hamilton)

Natalia's fingers were tightly entwined, her heart pounding as if it was about to leap out of her chest.

Without waiting for her response, Hamilton pulled her towards the hotel, stopping only when they reached a particular room door - her room, as Natalia soon realized. She turned to him, incredulous, "Hamilton, did you sweet-talk the receptionist?" Hamilton chuckled, swiping the room card to let them in, despite Natalia's protests for him to leave.

Hamilton, unfazed by her anger, cheekily responded, "Natalia, you were the one who said I should come back to sleep!"

After a futile attempt to evict him with a throw pillow, Hamilton suggested, "I can crash on the couch, okay?"

Natalia was determined to book another room instead, but Hamilton assured her he wouldn't make any moves on her. "It's Thanksgiving, after all. I just want to keep you company. Plus, I can be your handyman for free if you like."

Flushed and flustered, Natalia threw another pillow at him, demanding he leave. Hamilton, however, promised he'd only stay until midnight to keep her company through the holiday before retreating to his own room next door.

Returning after a shower, Hamilton found Natalia engrossed in her laptop work, her hair still damp. Insisting on drying her hair for her, despite her reluctance due to the intimacy of the gesture, Hamilton skillfully handled the hairdryer, reminding Natalia of times he'd fix her hair during their childhood.

The evening took an unexpected turn when Ryan showed up at Natalia's door, causing tension with Hamilton. Their confrontation quickly escalated into a physical altercation, with Hamilton taking a hit he could have avoided, shocking both Natalia and Ryan.

After sending a conflicted Ryan away, Natalia returned to find Hamilton brooding. Despite her frustration at his refusal to dodge the punch, she couldn't help but tend to his minor injury, their complex feelings for each other simmering beneath the surface. But she had gotten the swelling-reduction cream from the front desk.

After applying the cream for him, Natalia started shooing him away.

"Go get some rest, will you? I'm beat and ready to hit the hay."

Hamilton, however, was reluctant to leave. "I'm injured. Don't you think you should take care of me?"

"You brought this upon yourself!" Despite her words, Natalia still went to the fridge, grabbed an ice pack, and tossed it to him.

Hamilton caught it, but his expression remained sour. "If I weren't here, would you have let him in?"

Natalia ignored him, picking up her phone with the intention of sending a message to Ryan.

But after a moment's thought, she decided against it.

Whatever it was, it could wait until they talked face to face tomorrow.

The room fell silent.

From time to time, fireworks exploded outside the window.

As midnight approached, Natalia was overwhelmingly sleepy, but Hamilton showed no signs of leaving.

She frowned, "Hamilton, I'm exhausted. Please go."

Hamilton's gaze was deep. "I'm not leaving. Just in case Ryan shows up again, I'll crash on the couch!" Natalia was furious.

This man, he really knew how to make an excuse.

Natalia didn't bother with him anymore and went back to answering emails on her laptop.

But she was really tired, and before long, she fell asleep with the laptop in her arms.

Hamilton's gaze softened as he looked at her face, free from its usual standoffishness.

He couldn't help but raise his hand, wanting to touch her.

But before he could, Natalia suddenly jolted awake, sitting up straight.

She opened her eyes, looking a bit dazed.

Seeing Hamilton, a tear quietly slid down her cheek.