The morning light filtered through Lemon's curtains as she blinked awake. Her sleep had been restless—filled with flashes of Leon's unconscious body, Scarlett's panicked voice, and the sterile white walls of a hospital. She sat up slowly, her heart thudding with anxiety. She couldn't take it anymore. She had to see him. Today.
She quickly got dressed in a pale yellow hoodie and jeans, tied her hair in a loose bun, and grabbed her phone. A message from Scarlett was already waiting for her.
Scarlett: "He's stable now. Still unconscious, but the doctors say he should wake up soon."
Lemon let out a breath she didn't know she was holding.
Lemon: "I'm coming now. Don't tell him if he wakes up before I reach. Please."
She rushed out of her house, calling a cab. The roads felt unusually quiet, as if the world itself was holding its breath. Her thoughts spiraled—who could've done this to Leon? And why? Was it really Ellara? The name made her stomach twist.
When she reached the hospital, she saw Scarlett sitting in the waiting area, her brother beside her with tired eyes and a coffee cup in hand.
"Lemon!" Scarlett stood and ran to hug her. "He's in Room 207. You can go."
"Thank you, Scarlett. Really," Lemon whispered, squeezing her hand.
She walked down the corridor, each step echoing with tension. Room 207. She reached it. Her fingers hovered over the door handle for a second before she turned it and stepped inside.
There he was.
Leon.
Lying pale and quiet, his head wrapped in a bandage, machines beeping softly beside him.
Lemon closed the door behind her and tiptoed inside. She sat on the chair beside the bed and slowly reached for his hand.
"Leon," she whispered. "Can you hear me? It's me… Lemon."
No response.
She smiled sadly, brushing her fingers across his knuckles. "I told you not to be cheesy, didn't I? And here you are, almost giving me a heart attack."
She blinked rapidly, trying to keep the tears at bay.
"You idiot. You said I'd get dark circles if I stayed up late, and look at you now. You have a whole bandage, and I have a whole storm in my heart."
She laughed dryly. "Remember when you said you'd talk to another girl if I cut the call? And then you banged your head somewhere, or... or someone banged it for you. That sound—I heard it, Leon. I was on the call."
Her voice cracked.
She looked at his face, waiting. Hoping.
Then… his fingers twitched.
Lemon gasped. "Leon?"
His eyes fluttered. Once. Twice. Slowly, they opened.
"L-Lemon?" he mumbled, his voice hoarse.
She covered her mouth with one hand, the other still holding his.
"Oh my god, Leon! You're awake! You scared me to death!"
Leon blinked, looking around. "Where… am I?"
"Hospital," she said gently. "Someone attacked you. You were found unconscious at home. Scarlett and her brother brought you here."
He winced slightly, then looked at her. "Are you okay?"
She let out a small laugh. "You're the one with a head injury, and you're asking about me?"
He smiled weakly. "Always."
She leaned closer. "Leon… do you remember anything? Before the blackout?"
Leon furrowed his brows. "The lights went out... we were on call... and then I went back to my room and—"
He paused.
"I heard a sound. Footsteps. I thought it was my imagination. And then… someone hit me. From behind. I didn't even see who."
Lemon felt a chill crawl down her spine.
Leon whispered, "Lemon, do you think this has anything to do with what's been happening lately? The girls… the secrets…"
Lemon hesitated. "I don't know. But it feels connected. And I think… I think Ellara is involved."
Leon looked confused. "Ellara? But why would she—?"
Lemon interrupted. "We don't know yet. But my mom recognized her, remember? Something happened in the past… something none of us know about. We need to figure it out."
Leon nodded slowly. "I want to help. I don't want to sit here doing nothing."
"You need rest, Leon. Please."
"I will," he said. "But promise me… if you find anything—anything at all—you'll tell me."
"I promise."
They sat in silence for a moment.
Then Leon said quietly, "Lemon, whoever did this… they wanted me dead."
Lemon's grip on his hand tightened. "But you're not. You're still here. And we're going to find out who did this."
She leaned her head against his shoulder gently, feeling the rise and fall of his breath. "I'll never leave you alone ".
"I know", he said. "That's why I'll survive this."
Lemon smiled faintly. It was the first time in hours that something felt right.
A soft silence settled over them. Then Leon said, "Can I ask something?"
"Anything."
He looked up at her with gentle eyes. "Can you stay? Just for a while. Until I fall asleep."
Lemon smiled, brushing a strand of hair from his forehead. "I'm not going anywhere."
And as the machines beeped steadily, and the tension eased from his body, Lemon sat there holding his hand, her heart wrapped tightly around his.