After that short talk about what happened on the ice, Aibek straightened up with Zinov's help to get more comfortable in the hospital bed.
"You know... I feel like that idiot JJ is using you... well... before you get mad at me..." Zinov countered, seeing Aibek's expression turn serious, and offered a slightly nervous smile under that gaze.
"He's supposed to be here with you... I don't see him anywhere..." He began to express his distaste for the Canadian in a subtle way.
"You told me... he went to the rink..." Aibek murmured, looking at the Russian with a hint of doubt, though in the end, he looked down, squeezing the keychain between his hands.
"Yes, but... you know he had the choice to refuse and stay here with you." Zinov pressed his advantage. Even so, he sensed he had made the Kazakh boy feel worse, and a satisfied smile tugged at his mind, knowing he had planted that seed of doubt in that fragile heart.
"But... surely... it was something important..." Aibek whispered, his voice breaking as he realized the silver-haired man was right in some way. For a moment, his mind went cloudy.
"Hey... don't cry... I'm here for you." Gently, Zinov reached out to wipe away the small tears that had escaped those beautiful onyx eyes.
"I'm sorry... it hurts..." Aibek murmured softly, letting himself be comforted.
"Easy now... do you want me to call the nurse?" Zinov asked gently, pulling the Kazakh boy into a softer embrace, providing the very protection he needed in the vulnerable moment Zinov himself had engineered.
"No... I'm fine... thank you," Aibek replied with a subtle tremble before finally clinging to the Russian's clothes, feeling weighed down by his own emotions.
While that hospital room sheltered the two of them, Jake arrived at the ice rink, desperate for not being by his beloved's side.
"Jake! What are you doing here? You're supposed to be with Aibek!" Taishi, the Kazakh's coach, approached him. He looked worried, but due to the accident, he couldn't leave; he was demanding a deep investigation because he knew there was no way such a thing could happen unless his skater's equipment had been tampered with.
"I... well... they told me my coach was looking for me and..." The icy glare the Japanese man shot him made him realize he'd made a mistake—he had left Aibek alone, suffering in a place that already made him uneasy.
"No one called for you! Your coach is more hell-bent on helping me open an investigation than worrying about you! Knowing—no... trusting—that you would be with Aibek!" He scolded him with a mix of annoyance, worry, and fear before walking off to join the others and continue demanding that this be resolved.
Left alone amidst the bustle, Jake felt he had done something terrible. He had abandoned his sweet love, who was terrified of hospitals. He knew this mistake would be catastrophic.
"Mr. Brown! What are your thoughts on tonight's events?" a reporter suddenly asked, intercepting the Canadian as he tried to leave for the hospital. Although he usually loved the cameras, this time he responded seriously, though still mindful of his image for the lens.
"I have no comment... but it's best they conduct an investigation into this event... the competition shouldn't have ended this way." Without another word, he retreated to a car waiting to take him back to the hospital, unaware that his sweet love was awake and watching the news live.
Hearing Jake's statements, Aibek felt his world collapse. Hearing him say that this was no way to end a competition felt so terrible that more tears began to fall. He couldn't believe what he was hearing; he felt the guilt of the accident, the weight of everything, and he simply clung tighter to the Russian. Zinov smiled out of sight, satisfied to have won thanks to the words of the idiot who was digging his own grave in Aibek's heart.
"Don't listen to him... he's an idiot..." Zinov whispered to comfort him, catching the pleasant scent of Aibek's hair.
"I'm sorry... it's just..." Aibek couldn't finish; he was interrupted by a subtle grip on his chin. Lifting his face, Zinov claimed a soft, subtle kiss to silence his apology.
"Take it easy..." Zinov smiled gently, leaving the dark-haired boy breathless and unsure how to react to a kiss stolen so inexplicably.
"I..." Fortunately, he was interrupted again, but this time by the nurse bringing his meal.
"Excuse me, I have your food. The doctor will be by later to check on you," she informed them calmly, setting the over-bed table and placing the tray down along with some tea.
"Thank you..." Aibek murmured with a light blush as he adjusted himself. Zinov smiled; he had achieved his goal, and he would continue to help his first love with everything.
Time passed between the two of them, and with the tray finally empty and the tea finished, the conversation continued in a relaxed manner, filled with sweet, low laughter and a sense of calm—as if they had returned to their years as best friends.
Jake, practically sprinting through the hallways, almost tripped as he reached the door to his beloved's room. The sound of laughter made him pause for a moment, but something pushed him to act. He threw the door open with a loud bang.
"Aibek!" He was relieved to see him awake, but his face darkened when he saw the Russian next to his partner, holding him.
"What are you doing here?" the purple-eyed man growled, gripping the doorknob tight.
"Keeping him company while you show off in interviews..." Zinov commented calmly, smiling softly. It was a blatant taunt.
"That's not—"
"You don't need to be here... Brown..." Aibek interrupted the Canadian, his voice soft but pained, his hands subtly gripping the sheets.
"No! I'm not leaving... the one who has to leave is this stray cat!" Jake shot back, crossing his arms and glaring at his partner.
"Who are you calling a cat, you idiot?!" the Russian hissed, ready to lung, but he held back, instead shielding Bek with his body.
"I need to talk to MY partner..." Jake insisted. This time, he would speak to Bek to find out why he was being asked to leave. He was angry, yes, and stressed, and now he just wanted an answer from his love: Why didn't he want him in the room?