Lia woke slowly, her eyes fluttering open, and the first thing she saw were Ethan and Ryan standing near the window, both looking oddly serious. Her heart skipped a beat.
Ava's voice suddenly cut through the tension, sharp and furious:
"Lia! What were you thinking?! You didn't tell me you still had allergies! What if… what if you had died? Do you even remember the last time? Sigh… what kind of person are you?"
Lia's voice came out small and hoarse, almost a whisper:
"Umm… sorry… I didn't know this time… really."
Ethan's piercing eyes narrowed slightly. There was something unusual in the way he was staring at her—a mix of curiosity, concern, and… something Lia couldn't place. Ryan, too, looked oddly tense, but in a more protective way, though his smirk threatened to break through at any moment.
The nurse suddenly entered, clipboard in hand, sounding exasperated:
"Do you want to make this worse? You sprained your foot, didn't apply the ointment, and now it's worse. You should be more careful!"
Lia hid under the covers, cheeks flushed with embarrassment and pain. Ava immediately touched her injured leg, and Lia winced sharply. Ava tutted, muttering under her breath:
"Oh, you poor thing. How can you not feel this pain? I'm shocked!"
As the tension passed, Ava's phone rang. "I have to go," she said quickly, giving Lia a sharp look. "Take care of yourself!" Before Lia could protest, Ava was gone.
Ryan, trying to lighten the mood, offered her a bottle of water. Lia hesitated, but Ethan's sharp gaze warned her silently. She shook her head politely. Ryan's phone rang immediately after—it was his father with the usual stern orders—and he left hurriedly, leaving the room strangely quiet.
Lia, alone with Ethan, felt herself growing sleepy again. Her eyelids drooped, and for a moment, she let herself relax. But then Ethan leaned a little closer, his voice soft but teasing:
"Am I… scary?"
Lia blinked, her heart thudding. Yes! Yes, you're scary, she thought, but she forced herself to answer casually:
"Oh… hmm… no, you're not."
Ethan's lips curved into a mischievous smile. There was a glint in his eyes she couldn't quite read, and it made her feel both safe and nervous at the same time.
Soon, the IV drip finished, and it was time to leave. Lia fumbled for her phone, hoping Ava would answer—but there was only voicemail. Panic started to creep in. Ava! Pick up! Do you want this boy to kill me?
Before she could move, Ethan was suddenly there. His hands gently, but firmly, pinned her to the bed. His voice was calm, commanding, and yet… strangely soft:
"I'll take you home, princess."
Lia's heart raced. Oh no… she thought, trapped under his steady gaze, unable to move, unsure if she should be terrified or… something else.
Ethan's eyes softened slightly, just enough to make her stomach twist. For a moment, the room was silent except for the faint beep of the monitor. Lia realized that under his intimidating exterior, there was something else—something protective, something… dangerously close to caring.
And she didn't know if that scared her more than his strength.