I'm half-awake.
Not asleep.
Not fully conscious either.
Just… existing.
The door opens.
Loud.
Too loud.
"—HE'S ALIVE?!"
I flinch.
Actually flinch.
My heart spikes for no reason.
"…why are you yelling," I mutter weakly.
Jea-Hyun is already halfway into the room, looking like he just ran a marathon and fought three people on the way here.
Behind him—
Lara walks in more calmly.
But her eyes—
they go straight to me.
Checking.
Carefully.
Jea-Hyun rushes over and drops into the chair beside my bed.
Hard.
Too hard.
"Do you know how stupid that was?!" he says immediately.
I blink.
"…hello to you too."
"You fell off a roof!"
"I didn't mean to."
"That does not help!"
He leans closer.
Examining my face like he's personally offended I got injured.
"Are you okay?" he asks, suddenly quieter.
I nod slightly.
"…I've been better."
"Obviously."
He exhales.
Relief slipping through the cracks of his annoyance.
Lara steps closer to the other side of the bed.
"…you scared everyone," she says softly.
I glance at her.
"…sorry."
She shakes her head.
"Just don't do it again."
"Noted."
Jea-Hyun suddenly shifts in his seat—
Then freezes.
"…why does this feel weird," he mutters.
I look past him.
And immediately see why.
Niran is right there.
Under him.
Flat on the chair.
Expression dark.
"…get your butt off my hand," Niran snaps.
Jea-Hyun SHOOTS up instantly.
Like he just got electrocuted.
"—I DIDN'T KNOW—"
Lara jumps slightly.
"Know what?"
Jea-Hyun looks at me.
Then at the empty chair.
Then back at me.
"…nothing."
I start laughing.
I can't help it.
It hurts a little.
But it's worth it.
"—you sat on him," I manage between breaths.
Lara blinks.
"…sat on who."
Jea-Hyun points at the chair.
"…him."
She looks.
Sees nothing.
Then looks back at us.
And starts laughing too.
"…you two are actually insane."
"Correct," I say.
"Unfortunately," Niran mutters, flexing his hand like it's personally offended.
Jea-Hyun sits back down—
carefully this time.
"…next time warn me," he mutters.
"I tried," Niran replies.
"You shouted AFTER I sat."
"Skill issue."
I laugh again.
Then—
the door opens.
Slower this time.
Quieter.
The mood shifts instantly.
Lalita steps in first.
Followed by Seo-Yeon.
The room stills.
Jea-Hyun straightens slightly.
Lara goes quiet.
I stop smiling.
Because now—
it's different.
They both walk in.
Careful.
Measured.
Not like before.
Lalita speaks first.
"…we came to apologize."
Her voice is steady.
But not cold.
Just… controlled.
Seo-Yeon stands beside her.
Silent at first.
Then—
"…we didn't mean for that to happen," she says.
Soft.
Honest.
Or at least—
it sounds like it.
I study them.
Both of them.
Trying to see it.
The truth.
The lie.
Anything.
But it's hard.
Too hard.
Because they both look…
genuine.
Lalita's hands are clenched slightly at her sides.
Seo-Yeon won't hold eye contact for too long.
Guilt.
But guilt doesn't equal truth.
"I know," I say finally.
My voice is quiet.
But steady.
"It wasn't intentional."
Jea-Hyun glances at me.
Like he's checking if I'm serious.
I am.
Lalita exhales slightly.
"…still," she says, "it shouldn't have happened."
Seo-Yeon nods.
"…you could have been seriously hurt."
I almost laugh.
"…I was."
That makes them both flinch slightly.
Good.
They should.
Silence settles again.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Then—
Lalita looks at me directly.
"…do you remember anything," she asks.
Careful.
Too careful.
Niran shifts slightly beside me.
Watching.
Interested.
I tilt my head slightly.
"…about what."
A pause.
Then—
"About the rooftop," she says.
Seo-Yeon's gaze flickers.
Quick.
Subtle.
But I see it.
So does Niran.
I don't answer immediately.
Just look between them.
Then say—
"…I remember enough."
That's all.
No details.
No confirmation.
No denial.
Just enough to make it unclear.
They both go quiet again.
Because now—
they don't know what I know.
And neither do I.
Not fully.
That's the problem.
Lara crosses her arms slightly.
Watching them.
"…are you two done," she says calmly.
"Because he needs rest."
Jea-Hyun nods immediately.
"Yeah. Doctor said no stress."
"Which you are both bringing," Lara adds.
Sharp.
Lalita doesn't argue.
Neither does Seo-Yeon.
They both nod.
"…we'll leave," Seo-Yeon says quietly.
Lalita lingers half a second longer.
Then—
"…get better," she adds.
Then they turn.
And walk out.
The door closes.
Silence again.
Different this time.
Jea-Hyun exhales loudly.
"…I don't trust that."
"Same," Lara says.
I lean back into the pillow.
"…yeah."
Beside me—
Niran's voice, low and certain:
"…they're both hiding something."
I close my eyes briefly.
"…great."
Because somehow—
that makes everything worse.
T
he room settles again.
Quiet.
Too quiet after everything.
Lara shifts slightly beside the bed, then looks at me.
"…my parents know," she says.
I blink.
"…everything?"
She nods once.
"They wanted to come see you themselves," she adds. "But I told them I'd check first."
A pause.
Then softer—
"…they were worried."
That… hits a little.
I manage a small smile.
"…tell them I'm okay."
She studies me for a second.
Then nods.
"I will."
Beside her, Jea-Hyun suddenly perks up.
"Oh—right," he says. "Yuna said to tell you to get better."
I glance at him.
"…that's nice."
He smirks.
"She even made you a whole 'get well soon' video."
I blink.
"…really?"
"Yeah," he says casually. "I'm not showing you though."
I stare at him.
"…why."
"She's my girlfriend."
"That's not how kindness works."
"That's exactly how it works."
I glare at him.
"…you're terrible."
"Correct."
Lara sighs.
"…you two are exhausting."
"Thank you," Jea-Hyun says proudly.
She shakes her head, then looks back at me.
"…rest," she says simply.
I nod.
"…I will."
Jea-Hyun stands.
"Yeah, don't move," he adds. "Try not to fall off anything else."
"…I'll try."
They both head for the door.
Before leaving, Jea-Hyun glances back.
"…seriously, though," he says. "Don't do that again."
I nod once.
"…noted."
They leave.
The door closes.
And just like that—
it's quiet again.
Just me.
And—
"…I don't think I'm leaving anytime soon."
I glance to the side.
Niran is leaning against the wall.
Arms crossed.
Watching me.
"…what does that mean," I ask.
He shrugs slightly.
"Lalita doesn't like me," he says. "I still haven't solved my own death."
A pause.
"…and you're involved now."
I sigh.
"…great."
Then I frown slightly.
"…why aren't the police doing anything?"
He looks at me like I just asked something obvious.
"They already did."
"…what."
"They ruled it," he says flatly, "as suicide. Or accident."
My stomach drops slightly.
"…that's it?"
"Case closed," he replies. "People forget fast."
Silence.
That doesn't feel right.
It doesn't sit right.
I push myself up slightly—
—and immediately wince.
"…don't," Niran says instantly.
I freeze.
"…I'm fine."
"Your back hurts."
"…it doesn't."
"It does."
"It doesn't."
He raises an eyebrow.
I look away.
"…it does a little."
"Exactly."
I sink back into the pillow.
Annoyed.
Then—
he suddenly says,
"…before you went out with Ji-Ah."
I glance at him.
"…what about it."
"I think Ara was trying to tell you something," he says. "Remember? She pulled you."
My brain pauses.
Then—
oh.
Right.
"…I forgot."
"Of course you did."
I exhale.
"…I'll ask her tomorrow."
A pause.
"…or when I get discharged."
He nods slightly.
"Good."
Silence settles again.
Then—
"Alright," he says. "Hero."
I blink.
"…what."
"Let's sleep."
I stare at him.
"…you don't sleep."
"I can."
"…why."
"Because you are."
"That's not a reason."
"It is now."
Before I can argue—
he moves.
Pushes me slightly.
Not hard.
Just enough to shift me over.
Then lies down beside me.
Like this is normal.
Like hospital beds are built for two people.
"…Niran."
"When I said let's sleep," he mutters, "I meant let's sleep."
I sigh.
"…this is illegal."
"Cry about it."
I adjust slightly.
Carefully.
Trying not to hurt my back again.
"…I wish Mr. Fluffington was here," I mumble.
He turns his head slowly.
"…you named your penguin toy Mr. Fluffington?"
"…shut up, ghost boy."
A pause.
Then—
"I'm still right here."
I lightly slap my own forehead.
"…sleep."
I turn to the other side.
Closing my eyes.
Trying to ignore him.
Behind me—
I hear it.
Soft.
Quiet.
Annoying.
He's laughing.
And somehow—
that makes it easier to fall asleep.