The hospital room was quiet in a way that didn't feel natural.
Not peaceful.
Just... waiting.
Anxin stood near the window, her fingers lightly touching the cold glass. The city outside was dim, wrapped in a restless sky that threatened rain but hadn't delivered yet. Even the air felt heavy, like it was holding its breath.
Behind her-
Hedi hadn't moved.
She knew without turning.
She could feel it.
The way his presence filled the room without a single word.
"You should be resting," she said finally, her voice controlled, almost casual.
"I am."
A faint frown appeared on her face. "You call standing there doing nothing resting?"
"I call it watching you avoid me."
Her fingers stilled against the glass.
Slowly... she turned.
And immediately regretted it.
He was leaning against the wall now, arms crossed, eyes locked onto hers-sharp, unwavering, like he'd been waiting for this exact moment.
"I'm not avoiding you," she said.
"Then come here."
Her brows pulled together. "What?"
"If you're not avoiding me," he repeated calmly, "then come here."
Something about the way he said it-
Not loud.
Not forceful.
But impossible to ignore.
Anxin hesitated.
Then, stubbornly, she walked toward him.
One step.
Two.
Stopping just a safe distance away.
"There," she said. "Happy?"
"No."
Before she could react, he straightened and closed the remaining distance himself.
Now they were close.
Too close.
Her breath hitched slightly, but she refused to step back.
"What do you want, Hedi?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
"You."
The word came out so easily it didn't even sound like he meant to say it.
Silence crashed between them.
His gaze didn't waver.
Hers did.
"That's not funny," she said quietly.
"I'm not joking."
Her heart started beating faster.
Annoyingly faster.
"You don't even think before you say things, do you?"
"I think too much," he replied. "That's the problem."
She shook her head, trying to break whatever this was. "You're tired. You're saying things you don't mean."
"Then look at me and tell me that."
She forced herself to meet his eyes again.
Big mistake.
Because there was nothing uncertain in them.
No hesitation.
No confusion.
Just something intense. Something raw.
Something she wasn't ready to face.
"You've been different," he continued, quieter now.
"I haven't."
"You have."
"I'm acting normal."
"You're not."
A beat of silence.
Then-
"You don't look at me the same way anymore."
Her chest tightened.
Because he wasn't wrong.
And that was exactly why she couldn't admit it.
"You're imagining things."
"Am I?" he stepped closer again, his voice dropping. "Or are you just scared to say it out loud?"
"Say what?"
"That something changed."
"It didn't."
"It did."
"No, it-"
"Then say it."
The room felt smaller.
The air heavier.
"Say nothing changed," he repeated, his voice softer now-but more dangerous.
Her lips parted.
But no words came out.
Because she couldn't.
Because if she said it-
It would be a lie.
And he would know.
He always knew.
Her silence was enough.
It always was.
Hedi let out a slow breath, his gaze darkening slightly.
"Exactly."
Before she could respond-
The door opened.
Jisung walked in.
And just like that-
Everything shifted.
His eyes moved between them, taking in the distance-or lack of it-the tension, the silence that spoke too much.
"Well," he said casually, though his gaze was anything but, "this looks... intense."
Hedi didn't move.
Didn't step away.
Didn't even acknowledge him at first.
"Yes," he said flatly. "It is."
Jisung let out a soft laugh. "Didn't mean to interrupt."
"You did."
The atmosphere snapped tighter.
Anxin exhaled, stepping back this time, needing space-needing air.
"We were just talking," she said quickly.
"Right," Jisung replied, walking further in. "I can see that."
He stopped beside her.
Close.
Too close.
Again.
And this time-
Hedi noticed.
Of course he did.
His expression didn't change immediately.
But his eyes-
They hardened.
"You okay?" Jisung asked, his tone softer now, directed only at her.
"I'm fine."
"You don't look fine."
"I said I'm fine."
"She is."
Hedi's voice cut through, calm but sharp.
Jisung's gaze shifted to him slowly.
"You always answer for her?"
That was it.
The last push.
Hedi moved.
Not fast enough to seem aggressive.
But not slow either.
Just enough to make it clear-
He was done holding back.
"Watch your tone," he said.
Jisung tilted his head slightly. "Or what?"
The tension was suffocating now.
Anxin stepped between them instantly.
"Stop," she said firmly. "Both of you."
Neither listened.
They were too focused on each other.
Too locked in.
"You don't get to do this," she added, turning to Hedi. "You don't get to control everything around me."
That got his attention.
His gaze snapped to hers.
Sharp.
Cold.
"I didn't."
"You just did."
"No," he said quietly, stepping closer to her instead, "I made sure you weren't uncomfortable."
"I wasn't."
"You were."
"You don't get to decide that."
Silence.
A dangerous kind.
Because now-
Something in him was shifting.
"You think this is control?" he asked softly.
"Yes."
Wrong answer.
His hand moved.
Quick.
He caught her wrist-not harshly, but firmly enough that she felt it.
Felt the intention behind it.
Felt the restraint.
"This," he said, his voice low, steady, and far too close, "is me holding back."
Her breath caught.
"Hedi-"
"You have no idea," he continued, his grip tightening just slightly, "what it looks like when I don't."
Jisung stepped forward immediately, his tone losing all playfulness.
"That's enough."
Hedi didn't even look at him.
"Stay out of it."
"Let her go."
"Make me."
The words hung in the air like a challenge.
Anxin's heart was racing now.
Too fast.
Too loud.
"Hedi," she said again, softer this time, "let go."
For a moment-
He didn't.
And that moment said everything.
Then suddenly-
He released her.
Like he'd forced himself to.
Like it took effort.
Real effort.
He stepped back, running a hand through his hair, exhaling slowly.
Control.
He was forcing control back in.
"Do whatever you want," he said finally, his voice quieter now.
Detached.
Distant.
Which somehow hurt more.
He turned toward the door.
But stopped just before leaving.
Without looking back-
"But don't expect me to stand by and watch someone else take what's mine."
Silence.
Heavy.
Final.
Then he walked out.
The door clicked shut behind him.
And everything felt... different.
Anxin stood frozen.
Her wrist still warm.
Her thoughts completely tangled.
Jisung looked at the door, then back at her.
For once-
He wasn't smiling.
"...You really don't understand what you're dealing with, do you?" he said quietly.
She frowned slightly. "What do you mean?"
He hesitated.
Then answered-
"Him."
Anxin looked down at her wrist unconsciously.
At the place where his hand had been.
Where she could still feel it.
And for a second-
Her heart betrayed her again.
Because the truth wasn't that she was scared of him.
The truth was-
She wasn't sure she wanted to be