I paced left and right in front of the censored glass doors of the hospital. Heart in throat and anxiety churning my guts. Between my nosocomephobia and panic, it wouldn't be a surprise if I do faint.

Good thing that Hajun agreed to drive us to the hospital or I would never survive this visit. My worry for the deep gashes on Antieno's back had brought me until here.

I would have gone in too, if Hajun hadn't forced me to remain in the car and wait for them.

"Do I babysit you or look after Antieno? Just stay in the car Eunha. Your beloved will be just fine with me. I promise to bring him back in one piece."

That had been Hajun's last words to me before he took Antieno inside.

That had been about an hour and a half ago.

I paced for another half an hour, building my courage to enter the hospital. I saved from trying to by two figures walking out.

There was no visible bandage on Antieno, hidden by the lose T-shirt he favoured. He also walked perfectly stable, but it was no reassurance to me. He had been walking fine even before I noticed the twin gashes on his back.

Not pausing to think, I rushed right at Antieno. His hands opening in invitation even before I reached him, tucking me in to his arms. Wrapping my arms around his hips, low enough not to graze over his bandages, I looked up at him in inquiry.

He pressed a kiss to the crown of my head.

"I'm fine, Dewdrop. Nothing for you to worry over," He whispered into my hair.

"Let's go, you two. We're blocking the entrance," Hajun called for us, already heading towards the car.

Antieno squeezed me tight against him before letting go of his hold around me. He still held my hand as we crossed the parking lot, letting me lean my head against his arm. Neither of us quite willing to let go of the other. Gravitating towards his touch like a fish starved of water.

He didn't let go of my hand even when he opened the passenger seat of the car. Not even when he climbed in.

I stood by without question thinking he wanted the help (though I did nothing to truly help), but to my surprise, he tugged me to get into the car with him.

I shook my head not because I wasn't dying to curl up in his lap. I didn't want to accidentally hurt him further by adding weight on his back.

Not giving me a chance to voice my protest, he chuckled, thumb stroking against my knuckles.

"It is barely a fifteen minute drive, Dewdrop. I think I can take it."

It's unfair how deep and tempting his voice got when he dropped it an octave lower. Like the call of a siren.

He had to go and add those pretty round puppy eyes at me while he was at it. The kaleidoscope of colors reflecting against the sunlight in what I could only call hypnotic.

My resistance had been a bare minimum to begin with, there was no way I was deny the call of this siren.

Ignoring Hajun's smile, I slipped into the car, settling on Antieno's lap. His hand was instant in wrapping around my waist, balancing me as I shut the door.

He pulled me against him, tucking my head under his chin when I remain upright. One hand on my hair, he tossed my shoes somewhere to the floor, letting me curl up on his lap.

The soothing motion of his hand, the warmth of his arms and the buzz of the car, the calming motion of his chest moving with every breath he inhaled, altogether made me sleepy.

I was in that limbo right between sleep and awake. Gone enough to think everything was a dream, but conscious enough to know everything going on around me, when Hajun and Antieno began talking.

I felt too comfortable to join in on the conversation, so listened to them in silence. Letting the low hum of their voices wash over me.

"It's strange seeing Eunha like this," Hajun started conversationally. The car smoothing to a halt in the traffic jam that was hardly moving.

Antieno hummed a noise of confusion, holding me secure against his chest when he turned to face my cousin.

"So clingy," Hajun elaborated. "It's been ages since I saw her so comfortable with anyone of the opposite sex, who isn't family."

"Really? She has never given me such a feeling before."

Hajun laughed at his words. The sound abrupt and loud in the otherwise quite car.

"Which is why I called it strange. I apologise if this comes off weird, but she tends to rant a lot and you just so happen to be this months hot topic."

Antieno chuckled, having been subjected to this quite often. His hand sliding up my thigh, pulling me close in a way I could only call protective.

"As entertaining as it has been to listen to her going on and on about what a pretty blue your hair is, or how hypnotising the colors of your eyes look, or even how deep you voice get's, I never took exactly how serious she was about you until today. I mean, I knew you were pretty important to her because, what happened to how disgusting coffee tasted?"

Hajun's voice turned outraged at the end. rising loud enough to disturb the tranquil state I had fallen into.

Grunting in displeasure, I kicked out my leg. The arch of my foot connecting with his arm. It was a good thing we were still stuck on traffic and the car wasn't moving.

Antieno's hand was on my shin the next instant. Gentle as he tucked it back into his side. Letting me turn myself and bury deeper into his chest.

Silence remained for a while in the car, neither man talking.

"My point is," Hajun started again with the car. The traffic moving at a snail's pace, but moving none-the-less. "After everything that went down with Jaewon I have never seen her give another man the time of her day.The most astounding part about your relationship is -"

"I think you got the wrong idea about us," Antieno said, hand rubbing up and down my arms to sooth his nerves. "We aren't... We are only friends. There is nothing more there."

Hajun remained silent, processing Antieno's words. After a long moment, he sighed and I could just imagine his rubbing his forehead in exasperation.

"Did Eunha ever tell you why she ran away from Seoul. Why she ended up in a town that isn't even on the map?"

"Jaewon."

"Yes, so I will take it you know what that piece of garbage did to her. Truth is, she has always hidden herself from the truth of it ever happening. She hated the thought of giving herself so resolutely to a man ever again, and yet, here she is curled up on your lap like a kitten with no worries. You can't tell me she feels nothing for you."

"Oh."

"Just be careful with her heart Antieno. It's already very fragile as it is."

Antieno released a shuddering breath. Hands tightening around me, lips brushing against my temple.

"She is the single most precious person in my life, I wouldn't dare to hurt a single hair on her."

A/N~
Sorry for the delay posting this chapter, my cousin and now my mother is sick so I was a bit busy. Anyways hope you enjoyed.

P.S. - I posted this two weeks ago, why hasn't this chapter been published 😭😭😭

I am really sorry for taking forever to update, I honestly didn't realise the chapter hadn't got updated.