"You guys should go back and rest. I'll stay with him."
Ping's voice was quiet, almost fragile, as he stood beside Keng's hospital bed.
His eyes never left Keng's face-not even for a second.
The soft beeping of the heart monitor filled the room with a steady rhythm, but it did little to calm the fear twisting painfully inside his chest.
Jinn glanced at Tao and Bank before looking back at Ping.
"No, Ping," he said gently.
"We'll stay with you while you wait."
"Yeah," Tao added quickly, trying to sound upbeat despite the exhaustion on his face.
"We're not leaving you alone here."
Bank nodded in agreement.
"Exactly." Ping finally turned toward them. His eyes were swollen from crying, his face pale from hours of fear and sleeplessness. But even then, he shook his head slowly.
"The doctor said we don't know when he's going to wake up," he murmured softly.
"It could take hours... maybe longer."
His fingers tightened around Keng's hand.
"It's better if I stay here with him alone."
The room fell silent.
Ping lowered his head slightly.
"Please," he whispered.
"It's late already. You guys should rest."
The sincerity in his voice made it impossible to argue.
Jinn exhaled quietly before stepping closer.
"Okay," he finally said. "But if anything happens, call us immediately."
Ping nodded weakly.
Rain suddenly spoke up.
"Then I'll stay with you."
Everyone turned toward him.
Rain crossed his arms stubbornly.
"I'm serious. I'm not leaving Ping alone in this condition."
Before Ping could even respond, Jinn sighed softly and grabbed Rain's wrist.
"Come back with me," he said calmly.
Rain blinked.
"What?"
"I need to talk to you."
"Huh? Right now?"
But Jinn was already pulling him toward the door before Rain could properly protest.
"Hey-wait!"
Tao snorted quietly.
"Good luck," Bank muttered under his breath, earning himself a glare from Rain.
A moment later, the three of them finally left.
And then- The room became quiet again. Painfully quiet.
Ping slowly sat back down beside the bed.
For a few seconds, he simply stared at Keng silently.
Even unconscious, Keng still looked handsome. Too handsome. His hair fell messily across his forehead, and there were faint bruises near his temple and collarbone.
The sight alone made Ping's chest ache.
"Hia..." Ping whispered shakily. Carefully, he reached out and held Keng's hand between both of his own.
It was warm.
Thank God.
Ping lowered his head and pressed Keng's knuckles softly against his lips.
"Please wake up soon," he murmured, voice trembling badly.
Tears rolled down his cheeks again.
"I'm right here," he whispered.
"I'm waiting for you." His shoulders shook silently as he cried.
"You promised you wouldn't leave me again..."
The machines continued their soft rhythmic sounds.
But Keng remained still.
Ping tightened his hold on his hand.
"So wake up," he whispered desperately.
"Please."
Outside the room, footsteps echoed quietly through the hallway.
Keng's parents had arrived.
The moment Keng's mother looked through the small glass window in the door, her expression crumbled slightly.
Inside the room, Ping sat beside the bed, holding her son's hand tightly as tears fell endlessly down his face.
The sight hurt more than she expected.
"He really loves him..." she whispered softly.
Her hand instinctively reached toward the door handle.
But before she could open it, Keng's father gently stopped her.
"Let's speak to the doctor first," he said quietly.
For once, his voice lacked anger.
It only sounded tired.
Keng's mother hesitated, eyes lingering on Ping one last time.
She watched the way Ping carefully brushed Keng's fingers against his cheek like he was terrified of losing him.
Then slowly, she nodded.
Without interrupting, the two of them walked away. Leaving behind a hospital room filled with fear, hope, and a boy refusing to give up on the person he loved most.
- Meanwhile, outside the hospital building, the night air felt cold against Rain's skin.
The second they stepped outside, Rain yanked his wrist free dramatically.
"And why exactly did you drag me out like that?" he demanded, glaring at Jinn.
Tao immediately looked between them.
"Oooooh," he whispered dramatically.
Bank grabbed Tao's shoulder.
"Come on. Let's leave before they start acting like a drama series."
"We're already in a drama series," Tao muttered.
Still, the two of them walked away, leaving Rain and Jinn alone near the hospital entrance.
Rain crossed his arms tightly.
Jinn stared at him quietly for a moment before speaking.
"You've been avoiding me."
Rain looked away immediately.
"I'm not."
"Really?" Jinn asked calmly.
"Yes."
"Then look at me."
Rain stayed silent.
Jinn stepped closer slowly before gently holding Rain's face between his hands.
The sudden closeness made Rain freeze.
"Look into my eyes and say it again," Jinn said softly.
Rain's heartbeat instantly became uneven.
Slowly, reluctantly, he lifted his gaze.
The second their eyes met, his confidence shattered.
"...Fine," Rain muttered.
"Maybe I am avoiding you."
Jinn's expression softened slightly.
"And why?"
Rain hesitated.
'Because seeing you care about someone else bothered me. Because I got jealous.'
But saying those things out loud felt embarrassing.
"It's nothing," Rain mumbled.
"I'm probably overreacting."
"Rain." Jinn's tone turned firmer this time.
Rain swallowed hard.
Then suddenly, the words burst out before he could stop them.
"How could you hug someone else's boyfriend when you already have yours?"
Silence. Jinn blinked. Then slowly- Understanding appeared on his face.
Rain immediately realized what he had just said.
His eyes widened.
"I didn't mean-"
Before he could finish, Jinn leaned forward and kissed him.
Rain froze completely.
The kiss wasn't rough. Wasn't rushed. It was soft. Certain. Clear. Like Jinn was answering every unspoken feeling Rain had been trying so hard to hide.
Rain stood there completely stiff.
For a brief moment, the entire world seemed to disappear.
Then Jinn slowly pulled back.
Their faces remained inches apart.
"So," Jinn murmured calmly, eyes locked onto Rain's stunned expression,
"you just said I have a boyfriend?"
Rain's brain completely short-circuited.
"Did I say that?" he asked weakly, face burning bright red.
"Yes," Jinn replied simply.
Rain immediately looked away.
"Then why did you kiss me?" he muttered, trying to sound annoyed.
Jinn didn't even hesitate.
"Because I like you."
Rain's breath caught.
Jinn's gaze remained steady.
"I've liked you for a while now."
Rain's chest tightened painfully.
"Well," Rain huffed, trying desperately to regain composure,
"that still doesn't give you permission to kiss me."
Jinn smiled faintly.
"But you kissed back."
Rain's face exploded with embarrassment.
"I DID NOT-"
"You did."
"I hate you," Rain muttered immediately before turning around and storming off down the sidewalk.
But the tiny smile tugging at the corner of his lips betrayed him completely.
Jinn laughed softly under his breath before jogging after him.
"Hey," he called teasingly.
Rain refused to look back.
"Wait for me!"
"No!" Jinn grinned.
"Why are you leaving your boyfriend behind?" he teased.
Rain nearly tripped over his own feet.
"WHO SAID YOU'RE MY BOYFRIEND?!" he shouted, face completely red.
Jinn's laughter echoed warmly through the night as he caught up beside him.
And for the first time since arriving at the hospital- Rain smiled without forcing it.