When Rey heard what Kylo said, she was shocked. "Protecting me?" "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice a mix of confusion and anger.
She didn't agree with the direction of the talk. Why is Kylo acting like he is responsible for Rey's life all of a sudden? Kylo didn't answer her. His eyes stayed cold and angry, but he tried not to show it.
Right after he spoke, he grabbed Rey's hand firmly and dragged her quickly toward his black car, which was parked nearby. He still had a tight, painful hold on Rey's arm, which made her feel like she was being held captive. After getting close to the car, Kylo opened the passenger door roughly while still holding Rey's arm. He told them, "Get in," in a harsh voice that left no room for debate. Even though Kylo's quick behavior made Rey frustrated and confused, she chose to do what he said. She would rather not make a scene on the road, and she thought being alone would be safer.
She was mad and scared when she got into the car. Kylo slammed the door shut and went straight to the driver's seat. He turned on the car's engine and drove it through the streets of Los Angeles at night without saying a word. The silence in the car was tense, filled with unspoken anger. After a while, the car pulled up in front of Rey's simple apartment building.
Rey was amazed. How did Kylo know the address? She didn't tell him.
She saw Kylo gripping the steering wheel so tightly that his fingers were pale. The man's eyes were set on the road ahead, piercing through the windshield of the car, but his face was dark and hard to read. As Rey sensed her emotions escalating, she inhaled deeply and attempted to suppress them. She didn't feel scared around Kylo, but she was agitated and confused about how the man thought about her.
She called out, "Kylo," in a strong but flat voice.
"What did you mean earlier?" When you said, "You've been keeping an eye on me the whole time." She waited for a response, her eyes piercing, demanding to understand the meaning of those odd and intimate words. He didn't turn around. After a tense moment of quiet, he spoke quickly without taking his eyes off her. "Just go." Rey looked at him like he couldn't believe it.
"Like... like you hugged me last night, you mean?" She asked in a mocking way, showing that she was confused and upset about Kylo's strange behavior. "Then this morning, as if it never happened?" Rey quickly removed her seatbelt with a forceful motion. She was getting angry.
"Fine!" she yelled furiously, glaring at Kylo's profile, which was still facing forward.
"You are such an annoying cold man!" Before waiting for the answer, Rey grabbed the door handle, opened it, and slammed it shut forcefully.
She quickly left Kylo behind and walked to the front door of her building. She was trying to ignore Kylo's gaze, which felt like it was burning her back, and focus on getting to a safe and quiet place. She quickly turned the doorknob and went inside. But before she could close the door all the way, she heard quick footsteps coming up behind her.
Suddenly, two strong arms wrapped around her from behind and pulled her tight until her back was against Kylo's chest. She could feel Kylo's warm breath on her neck, and his strong, masculine smell, mixed with a hint of alcohol, wafted back into her awareness.
"Rey," Kylo whispered in her ear. His voice was hoarse and sad, making it sound different from how cold it had been before. Rey stopped for a moment in Kylo's arms. There was something in his hoarse whisper that made her slightly lower her guard.
Even though she was still mad and confused, her interest and desire to understand this man came back. Once she had taken a deep breath, Rey slowly pulled away from Kylo and turned to face him. There was still anger in her eyes, but there was also hope that she could figure it out. She looked into Kylo's dark eyes, which seemed softer now but still showed anger and something else that was difficult to tell. "Let's talk." She gestured for Kylo to enter as she opened the door to her apartment wider.
The kettle on the stove made a sharp whistle that broke the thick silence between Kylo and Rey. Rey picked it up right away and began making tea. Rey looked at Kylo, who was still standing in the middle of her living room in a strange way. Her soft question was meant to start a conversation: "Is there something you want to explain first?"
Kylo shook his head without saying anything. "Nothing." Rey was getting annoyed that Kylo wouldn't talk. She let out a quiet sigh. She looked deeply into the man's dark eyes and said, "Okay." "Then, what about... last night?"
Kylo stopped for a moment and glanced away before looking back at Rey. This time, his eyes showed that he was doubtful and confused. "I... I remember going back to the apartment," he said slowly, and his voice was quieter than usual. "I think I drank a little more than I should have." He let out a short sigh. He gave a small sigh. "I woke up... this morning... in my bed." "I woke up... this morning... in my bed." He appeared surprised and slightly embarrassed when he glanced at Rey. "When I woke up, you were there," he said. "I was holding you." He slowly shook his head, as if getting back to something he had forgotten. "I don't... I don't remember how you ended up in my bed, or why I was hugging you." He added with a bit more confidence, "But I'm sure—I'm sure nothing happened." "We're both still fully dressed."
When Kylo told Rey what he had done, her cheeks turned red. She was ashamed and felt a little weird. "I... I wasn't feeling well yesterday," Rey said quietly, lowering his head a bit. "I had the flu and fell asleep on the sofa... in the main room of your apartment." She made a face and tried to remember what happened the night before. She vaguely remembered feeling like she was being carried and the warmth of Kylo's body. "I... I think I remember you carrying me... to the bed," she said softly, checking Kylo out. Still another thing was bothering her: the soft call of "babe." But she was too shy and unsure to ask about it right now.