CHAPTER 34 — NIGHT AND MORNING AFTER FINALS
The mansion was quiet, a calm that followed the chaos of a week filled with competitions. Every corner of the living room was covered with blankets, mats, and sleeping bodies. The group had collapsed in exhaustion after the final matches, sprawled across the floor, couches, and chairs. Care lay on the couch, body limp, breathing uneven from the week's strain. Cole sat close by, alert despite his own fatigue. Lyra and Alex rested on a couch nearby, Daisy and Joong cuddled on a rug, Nova and Ash sprawled across the floor, Kevin and Ben silently on the side, all too tired to speak, yet aware of the unspoken bonds they shared after a week of intense struggle.
Hours passed quietly. Then, a sudden wince from Care broke the silence. Her brow furrowed, hands clenching as if she had been jolted awake by an invisible pain.
"She's awake?" Nova whispered, half-conscious, stirring on her blanket.
Care didn't answer. She suddenly bolted upright, moving toward the bathroom with uneven steps. Cole, sensing something wrong, leapt to his feet. "Care! Wait!"
But she was already running, coughing violently, her body shaking. The first bursts of blood came with her coughs, splattering the floor.
"Call her name!" Kevin shouted, panicked. "Ash! Nova! Help her!"
Nova and Ash were immediately at her side, trying to support her, but Care pushed forward, coughing again, splattering droplets of blood across the bathroom floor. Cole ran behind, grabbing her gently, trying to steady her as she bent over the sink, hands shaking.
"She's… she's coughing blood!" Nova gasped.
Cole gritted his teeth, voice tight with fear. "Care! Stop! You're hurting yourself!"
"I… I'm fine…" Care rasped, trying to brush them off, but her coughing made her collapse against Cole. He caught her just in time, holding her close.
"Don't move. Don't do anything." Cole's voice cracked with worry. "We've got you."
Ash patted her back gently, murmuring, "We're right here, Care. Just breathe."
Daisy, Kevin, and Ben crowded around, offering towels and water, whispering urgent encouragement. Joong hovered nervously, unsure whether to help with water or clear the floor. Lyra and Alex stayed close, watching her struggle, hands instinctively touching hers to offer support.
Care coughed repeatedly, violently, blood mixing with the saliva. Her strength was fading, but she refused to sit still. Her eyes scanned the room briefly, silently pleading with everyone to understand — that she didn't want them to panic, that she didn't want to be a burden.
Cole's eyes softened with a mix of anger and concern. "You're not fine! Stop hiding it!" he said, gripping her shoulder firmly.
"I'm… I'll be okay," she whispered between coughs.
"No. You're NOT okay," Lyra snapped. "Look at you!"
Nova and Ash flanked her on either side, steadying her. Kevin and Ben tried to make a path so she could sit safely, while Daisy held a bottle of water to her lips, guiding her to sip gently between coughs.
The night dragged on. Care's persistent coughing and blood terrified everyone, but they were too exhausted to take her to the hospital immediately. They stayed near her, whispering, offering water, towels, and comfort. No one could sleep fully, shifting in turns, eyes on her as she finally collapsed onto the couch in exhaustion, still coughing lightly.
Morning — Head Injury Revealed
Morning sunlight streamed weakly through the windows. The group had slept in intermittent shifts, still exhausted from the week. Care stirred quietly, moving toward the kitchen, perhaps to get water or check something herself.
Cole, half-awake, noticed her immediately. "Care… wait!" His voice was tense with instinctive worry.
But she tried to walk, coughing violently again. This time, blood was flowing freely from a gash on her head, previously unnoticed during the finals or the night's panic. Cole's eyes widened in horror as he realized the full extent of the injury.
"Care! No! Stop! Don't move!" he yelled, rushing to her side.
Care's body faltered, and she collapsed into Cole's arms, fainting immediately. The blood smeared across his shirt, and panic surged through him.
Kevin and Ben rushed forward, Daisy and Joong followed, while Nova and Ash supported Cole as he carried Care to the living room. Lyra and Alex scrambled to clear a space, placing blankets beneath her.
"She… she's bleeding from her head!" Lyra exclaimed, her voice tight with fear.
Cole pressed a hand gently to the wound, trying to slow the flow. "You stay with me, okay? I've got you." His voice was low, trembling with fear.
Care's eyes fluttered weakly, trying to focus. "I… I'm fine," she whispered faintly, but another coughing fit overtook her, forcing her lips to spurt more blood.
"NO!" Cole shouted, panic in his voice. "We're taking you to the hospital. Right now!"
Nova and Ash helped him stabilize Care. Daisy and Joong carried supplies, water, and towels. Kevin and Ben cleared the car while Alex and Lyra followed behind, silently watching and ready to act.
At the Hospital
Doctors rushed to examine Care immediately. Cole stayed by her side, hands never leaving her shoulders. Nurses cleaned her head, stitched the wound, and ran tests to ensure no internal damage. Blood stained Cole's shirt, but he didn't notice — his full attention was on Care.
Finally, Care stirred, opening her eyes weakly. "I… didn't want to bother anyone," she whispered.
Cole's jaw tightened. "You're never a bother. Ever. Do you understand me?"
Lyra and Alex adjusted her blankets, softly brushing her hair. Nova and Ash hovered, concerned, whispering support. Daisy and Joong stayed close, murmuring encouragement, while Kevin and Ben stood silently, ready to act if anything went wrong.
Care's eyes shimmered with gratitude and exhaustion. "I… I'm sorry," she murmured.
"No apologies," Cole said firmly. "Just rest. That's all."
As she finally drifted to sleep, the group understood something crucial: they had witnessed the hidden fragility of Care, the strength she used to push through pain, and the danger she put herself in. Now, more than ever, they were determined to protect her, no matter what.