AUTHOR'S POV

Cure hospital,
08:03 am.

Jane slowly opened her eyes finding herself resting her head against Alice's bed.

Alice was now shifted from the ICU to a private ward but still was unconscious.

Jane groaned palming her head before lifting it because of a headache.

She pushed her hair back blinking fast to clear her vision and sat straight.

She felt something sliding down her shoulders. She looked down to see Edwin's off-white coat with which he covered her last night.

She picks that up. His strong cologne was able to be smelled from a distance.

She glanced up as she heard the clicking sound of the door to see the owner of the coat pushing the door.

She for a moment stare at him because of him coming towards her with his white shirt's top three buttons undone, his hair was a bit messy making him look stunning even with puffy eyes because of lack of sleep last night.

His gaze fell on his coat in Jane's hand. " You were freezing last night so I-"

" Thanks. This is warming." Jane talked normally before handing the coat back to him.

They share a few awkward moments before the door opened revealing Reed. He studied them up to down. " Get freshen up. There's a restaurant nearby. You both should eat something. I'll accompany Alice-" He said getting inside.

" Again?" She questioned. A word was enough to make them drop their gazes.

They know she'd never let any of them brothers supervise Alice ever again. She hardly trust anyone which unfortunately got broken.

" We are sorry on behalf of Xaden." Reed apologized sincerely.

" Jane?" A voice just above a whisper snapped Jane's head towards the lying poster of Alice.

Three of them rushed towards her as she parted her eyelids with crashed eyebrows and squeezed eyes.

Alice searched for Jane's hand by touching the side of her bed and soon found it getting wrapped tightly with both of Jane's palms.

There started the tears of happiness. " I was so scared." Jane breathed out kissing Alice's palm rapidly.

" I'm alright." Alice replied weakly. Her eyeballs were moving slightly from left to right which was fixed on the ceiling above. " Where's Xaden?" The first thing she asked.

" Let me inform the doctor about your consciousness." Jane ignored her question and untangled their hands before standing up and ringing the bell to call any nurse.

" Are you good?" Edwin asked hesitantly standing a bit away from Alice while Reed didn't even move.

" Edwin." Her voice now came a little cheerful. She moved her hand forward and guested him to come closer which he did after examining Jane's face.

He held her delicate hand making her grin. She sat back with his support. He  placed a pillow behind her back.

Jane saw how she still trusted them blindly.

The doctor came for her check-up while Hazel and Ian with breakfast bags.

Alice got discharged the next day and after going back to their home town they took a day off. No one spoke a single word about the incident on their business trip and luckily Tan also didn't find anything out as he wasn't in the country.

Reed went to the park which was now renewed. The grass was cut in perfect shapes, and almost all kinds of flowers were planted all over the garden spreading their fragrances whenever the wind blew kissing the petals, there was not a tiny stone on the way to stumble.

He looked around, he did everything for a person who wasn't there.

He sat on the bench Alice used to sit on and rested his head back on the bench, facing the blue cloudy sky above.

The only thing he had in his mind was Alice. He doesn't understand what he was feeling but he misses her. He wants to spend time with her. Make her happy. Hear her giggles. Cherish her.

She captured his heart so fast and well by doing absolutely nothing. But Reed found her the rare one, so effortlessly herself, and the world loved her for it.

She's polite, friendly, forgiving, fun to be around, innocent, and pure.

He lost the count of things he adores her for.

He wants to help her in any way. He wants her to see the beauty of the world. He wants her to take on adventures. He wants to protect her from every evil eye. He wants to hold her hands. He wants her.

He opened his eyes again at the last thought that crossed his mind.

" I want her?" He questioned himself but couldn't find the answer.

He was so tangled thinking about why does he need to see her. When did she become so important? How? Since when he started to feel this way?

He doesn't know anything besides that he wants a glance. Just a glance of her face. Nothing more nothing less.

He stood up and made his way toward her house on the cycle.

He waited outside. Peeking inside in an attempt to see her through the glass door but couldn't.

Disappointed, he was about to turn but paused as he saw her walking downstairs not so carefully as she was used to every corner of her house.

Reed held his breath as she walked straight towards him.

Her long brown hair resembling his mother's, was slightly wet and a bit wavy. She looked like she has taken shower minutes ago. Her feet had cute pink shoes matching her ankle-length dress.

She moved her hands up and turned the "open and closed" written board so the customers will know that the restaurant is now open.

Reed smiled at her standing so close unaware that someone was admiring her with hearty eyes just a step away.

"Anyone there?" Alice asked placing her right palm on the glass door as she sensed someone's present outside. " Reed?" She called that made Reed wonder how could she guess so right but kept silent.

Not making any noise, he placed his left palm on her right one but the glass was present between them.

He bent a little till her level and pecked her lips but again the glass. He stood straight and smiled looking at her innocent face.

She looked up into his eyes and smiled softly.

His heart skipped a beat. He even forgot to blink when her eyes got locked with his for the first time.

She turned and walked inside with her baby steps.

He stared.

For a second he thought she could see him.

06:44 pm,
Ian's House,

Since after getting too carried away and sharing a kiss Hazel was feeling pretty awkward being around Ian. But as he called her to meet up at his place she went to his house.

Ian went to make coffee for them whilst Hazel was looking around at his house which matches his vibe. Luxury yet sweet.

She turned to face Ian as he walked back to the living room and settled two mugs of coffee in front of her on the tea table before taking a seat next to her on the couch. " Please." He said offering her to drink.

Hazel grabbed the cup and smiled at him but he was quietly stirring his coffee looking lost somewhere in his thoughts.

" Why are you looking so tensed?" Hazel finally decided to ask.

" Huh?" He looked up.

" Are you sick?" She asked touching his forehead.

He grabbed her wrist and moved it down. " My parents." He said not facing Hazel still had her hand in his big ones.

He was gently playing with her fingers looking like trying to gather some courage to speak forward.

" Are you missing them?" Hazel asked placing the mug back on the table, giving him all her attention and concern.

Ian shook his head. " My parents are coming to New York." He began.

" That's a good news-"

Ian shook his head. " They want me to get married to one of our family friend's daughters. I don't like her. So to cancel the engagement I lied to my parents that I have a girlfriend. Now they are coming to New York because they want to meet her parents" He explained giving her palm a slight squish. " Hazel, I know it's not the right time or situation. Nor I wanted to make things in a hurry. I wanted every moment to be special but I gotta say it now." He took a deep breath before finally holding eye contact with her. " I love you." He confessed but Hazel showed no emotions, she stared at him blankly. " I-I... did I just ruin our friendship?" He immediately released her hands and broke eye contact.

A smile rose to her cheeks hearing her childhood crush being all shy while confessing.

" You are a dumbass." Hazel laughed. " Who takes this much time to confess?" She asked. Ian was confused until she grabbed his collar and smashed her lips in his.

He blinked multiple times before pulling her by her waist and replying to her kiss.

The ringtone of Ian's mobile interrupted their moment. He picked up the call only to lose all the colors of his face.

" What is it?" Hazel asked.

" They are already at the airport." Ian said above a whisper. " I don't know how I'll convince them" He rubbed his forehead.

" But your parents are cool so are mine," Hazel said making Ian look at her.

" I'm not concerned about our parents." He said nervously.

" Well, now I'm scared."

• Right people always stay.

Chapter Published On: 05 March 2023.