Deirdre frowned, hesitant about physical contact. "Will it hurt?" she asked, referring to the massage.

Ryker seemed to understand her concerns. "No, it won't hurt. I'll just apply pressure on the acupuncture points on the top of your head. I'll wear gloves to keep my hands clean and prevent any dirt from touching your skin."

With Ryker's reassurance, Deirdre saw no reason to refuse. "Okay, sorry for the trouble," she said.

Ryker responded, taking out gloves from his pocket and putting them on