Sera paused for a moment, looking at him.
After a few moments of silence, Aiden's fingers moved slowly, as if responding to the call of Sera's heart. She immediately noticed, her eyes wide with surprise, and she jumped lightly from the chair, holding his relaxed hand and leaning towards him, her voice filled with worry.
Sera, in a trembling voice: "Aiden! Can you hear me? Are you okay?"
He opened his eyes slowly, heavy as if carrying all the exhaustion he had endured. She looked at him, and her eyes met his. He offered a weak smile and said in a faint but warm voice: "Sera..."
Her tears flowed unbidden, with a spontaneity that belonged only to moments of truth: "Aiden... you're a real problem. You nearly stopped my heart."
He tried to sit up slowly, and she helped him without hesitation. He looked at her with eyes that held a warmth she had not known from him before, then leaned a little closer, his voice soft, as if speaking from a distant inner place:
"Sera... how did things get to this point?"
She thought he was referring to his health, so she answered, trying to sound composed, but her voice carried a touch of nervousness and surprise:
"At first, I thought you were a criminal in a police uniform... I mean, you looked scary... and when I looked closer, I saw the blood, and I was afraid that you... maybe you had..."
He chuckled softly, his voice breaking with pain, but his smile lingered: "A criminal? Your imagination is very vivid, Sera."
She smiled shyly, then whispered: "You really did scare me, Aiden... more than I expected."
They both fell silent for a moment, only the sound of medical monitors filling the room with gentle pulses, harmonizing with what they felt.
Sera quickly opened the car door, taking a deep breath as if gathering her courage from the air. She then turned to Aiden, her wide eyes filled with tension, and said in a tone that tried to be confident but still trembled slightly:
"Get in... this time, I'm driving."
Aiden raised an eyebrow slightly, looking at her with gentle surprise, then smiled as he said in a low voice, hoarse from fatigue:
"Weren't you about to faint from fear just now?"
Sera gave a short, nervous laugh, and ran her hand through her hair, tucking it behind her ear in agitation. Then she said with candid honesty:
"I was scared... and I still am, believe me... my heart is pounding like I'm going into battle. But you just got out of the hospital, and... and I... I can't bear the thought of you getting hurt again."
She held out her small, clearly sweating palms towards him.
"Look... see for yourself. My hands are sweating as if I've held fire. But, as you see, I'm here... standing in front of you, and I'm going to drive."
Aiden, wearing a crisp white cotton shirt with sleeves reaching mid-arm and a simple round collar, looked at her hands and then at her eyes. A faint smile played on his lips. Over the shirt, he wore a sleeveless black jacket with a hood that gently draped over his back. His black athletic pants made his movements more comfortable, and his white sneakers were strikingly clean, as if he hadn't taken a step in them since leaving the hospital.
He calmly put his hand in his jacket pocket, letting the breeze caress strands of his hair, which fluttered slightly on his forehead. His eyes... remained fixed on her face for a few seconds without him uttering a word.
Sera, feeling his gaze pierce her heart, shook her head slightly and pushed another strand of hair behind her ear. Then she said in a tone that blended shyness with gentle chiding:
"Why are you staring like that...? Get in, and don't try to be clever... any wrong move, and I'll make you sleep a week in the hospital this time."
Aiden chuckled softly, a faint laugh that held a sense of comfort and warmth. Sera flustered for a moment, and her gaze quickly slid to the steering wheel, hiding the smile she couldn't suppress. Then she muttered in a low voice as she placed her hand on the steering wheel:
"Aiden... don't say anything that makes driving harder."
Sera's phone suddenly rang, breaking the silence between them inside the car. She quickly lifted her eyes from the road and looked at the screen.
"Eileen?" she whispered in surprise, then answered immediately, putting it on speakerphone.
Sera, in a tone mixed with concern and astonishment: "Eileen, what is it?"
Eileen, standing in front of the institute building, clutching her wallet tightly, spoke quickly and in a tense tone: "Sera, you know I left late today, right?"
Sera, with soft sarcasm while trying to focus on the road: "Oh, of course, just today? You're truly the epitome of punctuality."
Eileen, with a frank outburst, raising her voice: "Always, always, fine! The professor asked me for my entry card, and they refused to give it to me without a guardian present!"
Sera tightened her grip on the steering wheel, sighed deeply, then said quickly: "Call Mom, Eileen."
Eileen, hesitantly and in a softer voice: "I think she went out... and left her phone at home."
At that moment, a car's light suddenly flashed in front of them, making Sera lightly press the brake in confusion.
Sera, with sudden fear: "What? Where did that car come from?!"
But Aiden's hand calmly extended and gently rested on her trembling hand, then he turned the wheel slightly to help her steer.
He said in a low voice, his eyes half-closed, a voice carrying a strange reassurance: "Don't worry... everything's under control now."
From the speakerphone, Eileen's voice seeped through again, her tone shifting to curious and tinged with astonishment: "Sera... are you in a car? And whose voice is that?!"
Sera was extremely flustered, her face reddened until it seemed steam was rising from her ears. Then she muttered in a low voice, swallowing: "Eileen, call... Rina!"
Eileen: "Rina's in her lecture."
Sera, sadly, looking back at the road: "So what do I do now? Fly, perhaps?"
Eileen, in a dramatic, sarcastic voice: "Should I go and get someone and say my perfect family didn't show up? Should I just stand there in front of the institute like the Statue of Liberty?"
Aiden chuckled softly, a laugh that was like a gentle breeze amidst the chaos. Sera turned to him in surprise, her wide brown eyes holding a faint sparkle, a mix of embarrassment and gentle annoyance.
Aiden, in a hoarse, calm voice carrying a warmth imbued with pure intention: "Let's go to her."
Sera, quickly and anxiously: "But... you just got out of the hospital, you can't—"
He interrupted her with a small smile, the corners of his mouth barely turning up, and said calmly: "I'm fine, Sera. Believe me."
Eileen, from the phone, in a voice full of challenge and her usual drama: "So? Miss World Businesswoman, are you coming or not?"
Sera, turning the steering wheel with determination: "I'm coming, Eileen... coming! And tomorrow I'll buy you a real rooster to wake you up screaming every morning!"
Aiden laughed again, looking out the window. His eyes gleamed with a sad sparkle, as if something stuck in his heart didn't want to come out.
His world... a world full of chaos and secrets, while Sera's world seemed warm, filled with family and love. Yet, there was a point where their worlds met, quietly, without noise... just as his hand met hers moments before.
Aiden rested his head against the car window, the faint light filtering through the glass reflecting on strands of his hair that fell smoothly over his face as if trying to conceal his fatigue. He slowly closed his eyes, as if wanting to escape from something unseen.
Sera, noticing his distraction, looked at him with genuine concern and whispered in a tender tone as she watched his tired features: "Are you okay? If you want... I can take you home first, then go to Eileen."
He didn't open his eyes, but he replied in a faint, tired voice, as if speaking itself exhausted him: "Eileen needs you now, Sera... don't waste your time for me."
Then he continued in a low tone, with tired sarcasm mixed with sad bitterness: "If I were you... I'd consider myself the happiest person in the world. But me?... Strange, I forgot I don't deserve it."
His words were light as murmurs, but heavy enough to stir her heart. Sera continued to look at him, her brown eyes holding a thousand questions, all the world's curiosity hidden in her gaze, but she said nothing.
Minutes later, the car stopped in front of the institute. Students' eyes followed the parked Lamborghini Huracán Evo, admiration clear on their faces, and whispers began to scatter like spray.
Eileen, who was standing at the door, didn't miss the moment, and delivered her usual comment with playful sarcasm: "Look, look... at these people!" Then she put her hand on her face in a theatrical gesture and continued with feigned astonishment: "I wonder... how will Sera arrive today? By our private jet? Or a helicopter?"
And she burst out laughing alone, as usual.
Aiden, having regained some of his usual curiosity, turned to Sera and quietly asked: "Where's your sister?"
Sera pointed at her with her finger, joking without looking: "Do you see that girl laughing alone as if she escaped from a cartoon movie?"
Aiden smiled and replied, following her gesture with his eyes: "Yes."
Sera chuckled softly: "That's Eileen, my sister. My mom calls our house a bunch of lunatics."
Eileen, noticing their gazes, shifted into direct acting with the voice of a sarcastic theatrical announcer: "Ladies and gentlemen, now for the moment of truth! Who is the mysterious guest who will step out of this car?! Is it a movie star? Stay tuned after the break!"
Then, at perfect timing, Sera opened the door and stepped out, followed by Aiden with quiet steps.
Eileen stared at them in astonishment, her eyes widening as if she had seen a ghost. She rubbed her eyes twice, then gasped: "Is this... Sera?! And that... that's a handsome guy?!"
Sera quickly approached her, cutting short the moment of bewilderment: "Eileen, hurry! I'll get you your entry card before the door closes!"
But Eileen didn't move, her eyes still fixed on Aiden, as if waiting for a star to descend from the sky.
Aiden chuckled softly, which increased her confusion.
Sera, calling out loudly: "Eileen!"
Eileen, having regained some of her sarcastic spirit, said, placing her hand on her heart mockingly: "Excuse me, miss... and handsome sir, I'm waiting for my idiotic sister... who will now descend from the helicopter."
Sera put her hand on her face in despair, and lightly slapped her forehead: "Eileen! Move!"
Eileen, laughing and entering with her: "Alright, alright... I don't have time anymore, just tonight? Tonight I have many... many questions."
Sera entered with her while Aiden remained outside waiting, his eyes silently observing the place.
Sera, turning to give him a last look, whispered audibly: "My sister... she's eccentric."
Aiden didn't reply, but he smiled, a small, deep smile, as if he understood everything.
Sera got into the car and closed the door quietly. She placed her hands on the steering wheel, then sighed softly and said, as if talking to herself:
"Today I have a confession session."
Aiden smiled faintly and said, looking at her:
"Because of me?"
Sera replied without turning her gaze from the road, in a voice that held honesty and calmness:
"Not entirely... it's not just about you. We, as a family, weren't used to opening our hearts to each other. But after my father's death, we became closer, and more aware of what we feel. Today's session isn't a trial, but an opportunity... to be honest."
When they arrived at the building, they exited the elevator. Sera stopped and handed the key to Aiden, saying with a tone that held concern:
"Will you be okay alone? What if your condition worsens?"
He looked at her with a reassuring gaze, and said calmly:
"As long as you're here, I'm not alone."
She was silent for a few seconds, then said:
"What if the door is closed?"
Aiden took out his phone and handed it to her:
"Give me your phone number."
She looked at him for a moment before typing it, then he immediately sent her a short message and said with a faint smile:
"Now, the door code is with you, Sera."
He entered quietly and closed the door behind him, leaving Sera standing for a moment, overcome by a strange feeling... she didn't know if it was worry, or the beginning of something deeper.