Rain hammered relentlessly on the taxi's windshield, the streets outside blurred by the heavy downpour. The cab wove swiftly through the quiet city, neon lights flickering through the mist, painting wet asphalt with fleeting streaks of color. Inside the cramped vehicle, Alina Hart sat rigid, hands clenched tightly against her trembling knees, heart hammering so fiercely she feared it might burst out of her chest.
Her breath came in shallow, uneven gasps, and though she tried to steady herself, a cold shiver ran down her spine. The memory of the kiss — that stolen, fragile moment — clung to her mind like a ghost. What if… what if those were their last moments together?
Ren sat beside her, his hand resting gently on her back, offering a quiet reassurance. "Alina," he said softly, voice steady as the car sped forward, "he's strong. He'll pull through. You'll see."
But Alina didn't respond. She bit her lip hard enough to taste the metallic tang of blood, eyes fixed on the rainy glass, lost in the torment of her own thoughts.
Flashbacks swirled — Evander's intense gaze, his hesitant smile, the warmth of his touch moments before the accident. Those memories were now sharp needles piercing her soul.
"Please," she whispered to herself, voice breaking, "please, not now. Don't leave me—not like this."
---
The taxi screeched to a halt in front of the hospital's glowing entrance. Alina barely registered the driver's hurried warning about the rain. She threw open the door and bolted inside, rainwater soaking her coat and hair.
"Where is he?" she demanded, voice cracking as she approached the reception desk, breath ragged.
A calm nurse looked up and nodded sympathetically. "Emergency. He's in the ER waiting room. Follow me, please."
Ren hurried after her, silent but steadfast. They moved through sterile hallways, the antiseptic smell mingling with the distant beeping of machines and muffled voices. Alina's fingers trembled as she clutched Ren's arm, grounding herself.
At last, a doctor emerged from the ER, his face grave but composed. "Miss Hart?" he addressed her gently. "Evander Ross is stable. He suffered a mild concussion and some bruises from the accident. He's unconscious but not in critical condition." Please get medicines from the medical store.. doctor said to Ren.
Alina's knees weakened, but she forced herself to nod. Relief washed over her in a sudden wave, cold and overwhelming.
---
The room was dimly lit, machines humming softly in the sterile silence. Evander lay motionless on the hospital bed, pale skin stark against the white sheets, tubes and wires tethered him to life itself.
Alina stepped forward, heart breaking at the sight. The man who always seemed so composed and in control was now fragile, vulnerable in a way she'd never seen before.
She sank to the chair beside him, trembling hands reaching for his. His skin was cool beneath her touch, so unlike his usual warmth. Tears spilled freely down her cheeks as she whispered, voice barely audible, "Don't do this to me… not now. Please, Evander."
Her sobs echoed in the quiet room, the pain she held inside spilling out, raw and unfiltered.
---
Alina stared at his still face, fighting the panic clawing at her throat. Her mind raced back to everything she never dared voice aloud — the way he changed her, how his presence stitched together her broken pieces.
"I was so scared to admit it," she murmured, brushing a tear from his cheek, "but you… you saved me, Evander. You're the only one who ever really saw me."
Her fingers squeezed his hand gently. A faint flutter stirred under her palm — a small, fragile sign of life.
"Please hold on," she begged softly, "I'm not ready to lose you. Not when I finally found something worth fighting for."
Her heart ached with the weight of her confession, but the silent room offered no answer—only the steady beep of the machines.
---
Needing air, Alina rose shakily and stepped into the hallway. The steady rain outside still poured as she leaned against the cold wall, trying to compose herself.
Suddenly, her attention snapped to a heated argument at the nurse's station nearby. A woman, mid-thirties, with sharp eyes and tense shoulders, was speaking in clipped, urgent tones.
"Just tell him I kept my promise," the woman demanded, voice low but fierce. Her refusal to give her full name unsettled Alina deeply.
The staff exchanged wary glances but said nothing else. The woman turned abruptly and disappeared down a side corridor before Alina could approach.
Her mind raced with questions. Who was she? And what promise had she kept?
---
Back in the waiting area, Ren sat beside Alina, silent for a long moment before finally speaking.
"Do you love him?" His voice was gentle, probing.
Alina didn't answer. Instead, she wiped away a tear, eyes glossy and filled with unshed emotions.
Ren smiled softly, understanding her silence perfectly. "Then stop running from it," he said quietly. "He needs to know."
The words lingered between them like a delicate truth waiting to be spoken.
---
Cliffhanger Ending: Evander opens his eyes
Alina stood, compelled to check on Evander once more. The nurse rushed in suddenly, urgency flashing in her eyes.
"He's awake!"
Alina's heart jumped into her throat. She hurried to his bedside and met his gaze.
His eyes, clouded and searching, locked onto hers.
"You came…" His voice was weak, a croak filled with wonder and relief.
Before she could respond, his expression darkened in confusion and pain.
"Where's… she?" he whispered, voice strained and haunted.
Alina froze, a thousand questions exploding in her mind. Who is 'she'? And why did his words send a chill deeper than any injury ever could?