When I opened my eyes again, the first thing I noticed was the light.
It was too bright.
Sharp. Unforgiving.
For a moment, I couldn't understand where I was. My vision was blurred, my thoughts slow, as if my mind was struggling to catch up with reality. I blinked a few times, wincing slightly, trying to adjust.
Everything felt… distant.
The faint beeping of machines. The sterile smell of the air. The heaviness in my body.
A hospital.
The realization came quietly.
I turned my head slowly, the simple movement feeling heavier than it should have. And then I saw them.
Arian. Elsie. Alexander.
They were all standing around me.
None of them spoke at first.
Their faces said enough.
Pale. Tired. Their eyes red and swollen, as if sleep hadn't touched them in days. There was something fragile in the way they stood there, like they had been holding themselves together for too long.
For me.
A small, weak smile formed on my lips.
"I never knew you all loved me this much…" My voice came out soft, barely above a whisper.
For a moment, no one spoke.
Then Arian let out a small breath, shaking his head. "Don't talk like that… you scared us."
Elise quickly wiped her eyes and looked at me. "We thought we lost you."
Alexander gave a faint, tired smile. "Yeah… don't make us go through that again."
I let out a weak breath, almost a laugh.
I tried to sit up, but the moment I moved—
Pain hit me.
I stopped, a small gasp escaping my lips.
Everything felt heavy. My head, my body… it all hurt.
Slowly, I looked down.
Bandages.
Around my head. My legs.
That's when it hit me.
I looked back at them.
They hadn't moved away.
"I'm okay… really," I said softly.
Arian frowned slightly. "You don't look okay."
Elise stepped closer, her voice low. "You're not fine. You don't have to pretend."
Alexander just looked at me for a moment, then spoke quietly. "Just rest first. We're not going anywhere."
They came closer and pulled me into a hug.
I didn't move.
Just stayed there.
After a moment, I turned my head slightly and looked at Alexander.
A small smile came to my face.
"So… you finally met my friends?"
He gave a soft, almost tired laugh. "Finally… but you weren't there."
His expression changed a little.
"You really scared us that day. I felt something was wrong… that's why I came."
I frowned slightly. "That day…?"
He looked at me.
"You've been here for fifteen days."
I went still.
Fifteen days.
I didn't say anything for a moment.
My fingers tightened slightly on the bedsheet.
Fifteen days… gone.
Later, the doctor came in and explained everything.
Recovery would take time.
Rest. Medicines. Care.
Walking wouldn't be easy. I would need a walking stick for a while. I simply nodded as the doctor explained that I could be discharged now. I felt fine.
The words made me happy.
Before I could move or try to stand, Arian stepped forward. He didn't say anything. He just looked at me for a moment, then carefully lifted me into his arms.
"Don't worry," he said softly, adjusting his hold, "I'll take you."
"I'll take you to my home," Arian said firmly. "I'll take care of you."
"I will too," Elise added immediately.
Alexander nodded. "Me too."
I looked at all of them and shook my head slightly. "No… I'll go to my home. I can manage. I'm fine."
But none of them listened.
Arian didn't even argue further. He simply picked me up again, carried me out, and drove me to his home. The others followed without question.
And just like that… the decision was made.
All of them stayed.
Arian, Elise, and Alexander—they took care of me, each in their own way. Medicines, food, support… they didn't leave me alone even for a moment.
By night, the house had grown quiet.
"I'm going to the market," Arian said. "We need a few things."
"I'll come with you," Elise added, already getting up.
Alexander stayed back.
"I'll take care of her," he said.
After they left, the silence settled in.
I turned slightly and called out, "Alexander…"
He walked closer. "Yes?"
I looked at him for a moment. "So… do you like my friends?"
He smiled faintly. "Yes. They're good." Then after a pause, he added, "Arian… he's more than a friend, I think. He has feelings."
I looked away for a second, then nodded softly. "Yes…"
Then I looked back at him. "What about you? Do you like Elise?"
For a moment, he hesitated.
A slight smile appeared on his face, almost shy. "Yes… she's sweet. When we all came to the hospital, she always talked about you."
I watched his reaction, then suddenly something struck me.
My expression changed.
I placed my hand over his, a little tense.
"Alexander… what about our work? In the demon office?"
He looked at me seriously now.
"You have to handle it."
I frowned. "What do you mean?"
He exhaled slowly. "After your accident, he came to me. Two days later. He asked—what the hell happened? Why she is not coming?"
My heart skipped.
"I told him I don't know," Alexander continued. "Because I didn't want him to know that we are also connected…to our real world."
I stayed silent.
"After that… he didn't come again," he said quietly.
A strange feeling settled in my chest.
A thought crossed my mind—after two days, he finally came to ask about me.
Alexander looked at me and said quietly, "Well… you'll find out today when you sleep."
I nodded. "Yes."
A few minutes passed before I spoke again, my voice steady but firm.
"I don't want to work with him anymore. I'm done. Anyway… he doesn't care."
Alexander looked at me. "You don't know that."
"I don't want to know either," I said. "I'll tell him directly today."
Soon, Arian and Elise returned. We spent some time together, talking, keeping things normal. Slowly, the night passed, and it became midnight.
Elise lay down beside me.
"Good night. If you need anything, just wake me up, okay?"
"Good night… sure," I replied softly.
Arian went to his room, and Alexander to the guest room.
The house fell silent.
I took a deep breath, staring into the darkness.
Now… I have to handle my demon office.