The sterile smell of antiseptic clung to the hospital walls. Outside Room 207, a heavy silence had settled. Maya sat on the bench, her fingers nervously tapping against her jeans, glancing every few seconds at the door. Kabir leaned against the wall, arms folded, his jaw tight with suppressed anger. Beside him, Aarav—the quiet one among them—stared at the floor, his expression unreadable.
Rey was seated away from them, elbows resting on his knees, eyes blank as he replayed the incident in his mind.
The school ground.
The laughter that had turned into screams.
Ryu's voice, small and shaky.
Those boys—strangers—had cornered her.
And then... the panic.
Ryu had frozen. Her breaths had become short, shallow. She collapsed.
He had never run so fast in his life.
"We should've been there sooner," Kabir muttered, guilt soaking every word.
Maya wiped her tears. "At least we reached in time."
Rey didn't speak. He was still trapped in the moment she fell, the way her hands trembled as if trying to claw her way back to safety.
Then came soft footsteps.
Ivy.
She walked down the corridor in a long hoodie, her face partly hidden behind loose strands of hair. Without a word, she sat down beside Rey.
For a moment, neither spoke. Then Ivy whispered, "You saw it happen?"
Rey nodded slowly. "I saw... her break."
"I warned you something like this might happen." Ivy's voice was almost too low to hear. "She's been spiraling. And now—this."
Maya noticed them talking but was too far to hear. Her eyes narrowed slightly, suspicion rising.
"She won't remember it," Ivy continued, her voice calm. "Not this time. Trauma blackout. It's the mind's way of protecting her."
Rey looked up, confused. "What do you mean 'this time'?"
But Ivy didn't answer that. She stood up, brushing imaginary dust off her sleeves. "Don't tell anyone. Not even her. It's safer that way."
Then she walked off, leaving Rey staring after her, more confused than before.
A moment later, the nurse stepped out.
"She's awake. Only one person at a time."
Rey got up instantly. "I'll go."
Inside, Ryu lay on the bed, pale, her eyes fluttering open slowly as Rey entered.
"Hey," he said softly.
She blinked. "What... happened?"
"You fainted," he lied gently. "You're okay now."
She looked around, eyes foggy. "I don't remember... much. Just... running?"
"Don't stress about it," Rey said, brushing hair from her forehead. "You're safe now."
But deep down, he knew. Something was being hidden. Something Ivy knew.
And now he did too.
A secret they'd both keep—from everyone.
Even from Ryu.