Char was already out with a bowl of water and a towel, but she didn't approach Ethilia. The way Ethilia leaned in and kissed Liana's forehead was something Char wished she could capture on her phone, but she didn't. She just stood there quietly, watching, letting the moment breathe.
Ethilia cupped Liana's cheeks and whispered, her voice trembling, "You're too stubborn… You always get what you want, so why didn't you try to get me back then?"
Her throat tightened as the words left her mouth. She meant every bit of it. Ethilia had seen Liana fight for everything she ever wanted, but never for her. Maybe Liana never tried to force feelings, never tried to make Ethilia love her. She was just… herself.
Still, seeing the effort Liana was putting in now made Ethilia's chest ache. She wished Liana had fought like this years ago, when it could have changed everything. A tear slipped down Ethilia's cheek and fell onto Liana's skin.
Char smiled faintly, watching how Ethilia brushed away her tears and ran her hand through Liana's hair. The scene was tender...too tender to interrupt, but she had to.
Letting out a quiet sigh, Char cleared her throat and stepped closer. "Ethilia…" she called softly. Ethilia turned to her, and Char could see her eyes still glistening.
Char smiled, set the bowl down on the side table, and rested a hand on Ethilia's shoulder. "Take care of my hubby, okay?" she teased, making Ethilia let out a small chuckle.
Char turned and walked out, quietly closing the door behind her. A small smile curved her lips as she murmured, "I just hope they won't be separated again."
With one last glance at the door, she let out a soft sigh and headed toward Liana's mother.
Ethilia's POV:
I turned back to Liana, dipped the towel in the water, and began gently wiping her face. I heard the soft click of the door closing behind Char, but honestly, I didn't care where she was going. My thoughts were all tangled around Liana.
I'd told her a million times not to eat so much ice cream, but of course, she had to prove a point. She had to win that ridiculous "who can eat more ice cream" bet with Char. Typical Liana.
I let out a sigh and poked her cheek with a faint smile. I knew I should be tense... and I was, but still, I couldn't help how my heart was racing, how much I wanted to keep touching her. I'd always loved her chubby cheeks. But for sure, I never told her.
I hated how she once said she hates her chubby cheeks. However, a soft smile tugged at my lips when her expression eased, shifting from pain to something peaceful.
When I finished wiping her hands, I swallowed hard. As I just realized, I'd have to remove her clothes to clean her up properly.
I took a deep breath, trying to steady my hands as I started unbuttoning her shirt. I needed to be quick before the doctor came.
But the thought of seeing her… like that, it was not on my to-do list for today. My cheeks burned as I muttered under my breath, "I can't be dirty-minded this time. Focus, Ethilia."
I kept the blanket draped over her as I carefully slipped the shirt off, making sure not to look more than I needed to. Then I began wiping her body with the damp towel, slowly.
My hands were still shaking, but I bit down on my lip to stop myself from being reckless. She was sick, for crying out loud, and honestly, I hadn't let myself think about any of this for over three years.
When I was done, I carried the towel and bowl into the bathroom and set them aside. Her room had a walk-in closet attached to it, so I walked in and scanned the rows of clothes for something comfortable. My fingers brushed across a soft pink T-shirt and a pair of shorts.
"Maybe this will be good," I murmured, pulling them out.
Just as I turned to leave, something caught my eye, and I paused. A small box on the corner shelf. My lips curved into a faint smile, and I raised a brow.
"The… lunch box?" I whispered. I knew this box. It was my favorite one back in high school... until Liana and her so-called gang snatched it away from me.
A pout tugged at my lips as the memory flashed how I begged them to give me back, but they didn't. Instead, they laughed, made fun of me, and even threw my tiffin on the ground. I had to starve the whole day.
However, I pushed the thoughts aside and stepped out of the bathroom. I returned to the bed and somehow managed to put Liana's clothes on her without looking at her bare skin.
I let out a long sigh and ran a hand through my hair. I needed to hold myself together. What the hell was wrong with me…?
But I can't lie, I was attracted. I'd seen her abs, her toned body… even after everything, I used to watch her concerts online, silently admiring her. But for sure she doesn't need to know... or does she?
Another sigh escaped me as I slowly traced her cheek with a fingertip. "You should pay me rent… You've been living in my mind for free, even after leaving me."
My heart was pounding. I didn't know why I acted the way I did around her, but… I had this soft spot, and I couldn't deny it.
Then, a small knock shattered my thoughts. I walked to the door and opened it, for sure I'd locked it before undressing Liana...
Char and Mrs. Celeste stepped inside, followed by the doctor. I let them in and fell a step behind, unsure of how to behave.
Liana's mother intimidated me, not because she was scary, but because… how could I act casually around her after having hurt her daughter?
I have to admit, though, her family was wonderful. Their warmth reminded me of my own. I closed my eyes for a moment, bit my lip to push the thoughts away, and stood a little apart as the doctor examined Liana.
Char sat beside me, just like before, while the doctor made herself comfortable on the other side of the bed. At least I felt like she was being too casual for a doctor to be. But I shrugged the thought off.
My eyes automatically narrowed, and a frown knitted my brow as I listened to Char describe Liana's medical condition and everything else.
Yes, I know Char knew Liana better than I did… but I wanted to be that someone. I didn't hate Char, not at all, but I couldn't deny the tiniest pinch of jealousy for how close she was to Liana.
And maybe… just maybe, Char was the only woman I could accept being that close to Liana. If it were anyone else, I probably would've slapped them with the heel of my shoe without a second thought.
A gentle shake on my shoulder startled me. I blinked, my thoughts away from my brain for a bit. Liana's mother had noticed I was staring, hadn't she?
I hoped not… but my hope vanished as she spoke. "Stop burning holes in my second daughter's head." Her voice was teasing.
My eyes widened as I turned to her, just in time to catch that playful smirk. I knew, no matter how much I tried, my face must have been bright red because her smirk turned into a soft chuckle at my expense.
"Just make sure she takes the medication," the doctor said, and his words broke my embarrassment slightly.
Hesitantly, I stepped closer. "Doc… she'll be fine, right? I mean… she just recovered from a head injury and…" I paused, whispering the last word, "…sneezing."
My voice trembled not because I was still fighting the urge to dig myself a nice hole and live there forever, but because I didn't know how to sound normal while admitting I cared so much.
The doctor chuckled and stood up. "Don't worry. I've prescribed a nasal spray, make sure she uses it from time to time, okay?"
I nodded, then turned toward Liana, only to notice Char holding her hand. My brow furrowed instinctively. I wasn't good at hiding my reactions, and my hands curled into fists before I realized.
Mrs. Celeste cleared her throat lightly, snapping me out of my dark thoughts.
I bit my lip in embarrassment again. She definitely saw my reaction, right? Ugh, I wanted to jump off a cliff at this point. But instead, I took a deep breath and forced a smile, pretending I wasn't dying inside.
"Char, let's go. You help Luna get her things out, and I'll… I'll check on Alena." Her voice was teasing, too calm for my liking.
Char cleared her throat to stop herself from laughing, and even the doctor chuckled.
So… Luna, huh? I assumed that was her name. Great. Now even the doctor knew I was a mess.
As they left and the door clicked shut behind them, I sank onto the bed and covered my face with both hands, "Okay… this is bad. Very bad. I'm officially losing my mind…" I muttered under my breath and groaned.