Ping could no longer hear Keng's voice—only the distant wail of an ambulance siren through the phone.
His heart raced so fast it felt like it might burst out of his chest.
"Rain…" Ping called weakly, his voice shaking. "Rain… P'Keng…"
The words refused to come out properly. His throat tightened, and tears streamed down his face.
Rain rushed to him immediately.
"What's wrong?" he asked, panic creeping into his voice.
"I think… I think he had an accident," Ping said between sobs.
"What?" Rain froze. "How sure are you?"
"We were talking," Ping cried. "Then suddenly I heard a crash… and after that, he stopped talking. There was only a siren."
Ping clutched his shirt tightly.
"It's all because of me," he cried. "He said he was coming to see me…"
Rain pulled him into a tight hug.
"It's not your fault, Ping," he said firmly.
"Don't say that. We'll find him, okay?"
Just then, Ping's phone rang.
It was his mom.
"Ping, did you see the news?" she asked as soon as he picked up.
"What news?" Ping asked, wiping his tears with the back of his hand.
"There was an accident," his mom said carefully. "And the person they showed on TV… he looks like Keng."
Ping's breath hitched.
"Hello? Ping, are you there?" his mom called out.
"It's my fault, Mom," Ping broke down again. "It's all my fault."
"No, baby," she said gently. "It's not. You need to go to him now. Stay by his side. That's what people who love each other do."
Her words gave Ping the strength he desperately needed.
Without another word, he grabbed his things and rushed out of the room.
"Ping, wait for me!" Rain called after him, running to catch up.
Just then, Rain's phone rang.
It was Jinn.
"Rain, Keng had an accident," Jinn said urgently. "Please take Ping to the hospital. I know he'd want to see him."
"We're already on our way," Rain replied. "Which hospital?"
After getting the address, Rain ended the call and looked at Ping, who was trembling beside him.
"Hold on, Ping," Rain said softly. "We're going to him."
And with that, they hurried toward the hospital—both praying they weren't already too late.
When they arrived at the hospital, the first thing they heard shattered Ping's heart.
"He's in the operating room." one of the nurses said.
Ping froze.
Jinn, Tao, and Bank arrived shortly after and rushed toward them.
"Ping, he'll be fine," Jinn said softly, pulling him into a hug.
Ping nodded weakly, unable to say a word.
Rain stood close, watching everything quietly. He didn't understand why, but seeing Ping cling so tightly to jinn stirred something uncomfortable in his chest.
It wasn't the time—yet the feeling was there. Jealousy.
Hours passed.
Each second felt heavier than the last.
Finally, the doors to the operating room opened, and the doctor stepped out.
Everyone stood up immediately.
"Who among you is his family?" the doctor asked.
Ping rushed forward, then stopped.
His hands trembled.
He swallowed hard.
"I'm… I'm the one he loves," Ping said finally, his voice barely steady.
"And they're his friends."
The doctor studied him for a brief moment, then nodded.
"He's alive," the doctor said.
Ping's breath caught.
"And he's stable. But he hasn't woken up yet, and we can't say when he will."
Ping's legs gave way.
He nearly collapsed, but Rain caught him just in time, holding him tightly.
"You can help him," the doctor added, noticing Ping's pale face.
"Talk to him every day. Stay by his side. Let him feel that he's not forgotten. Sometimes… that's enough to bring someone back."
With that, the doctor walked away.
Ping stood there, shaking—
holding onto hope, fear, and love all at once.