The room stayed quiet.
For once—
no one filled it.
Kate shifted slightly, arms still crossed, eyes somewhere else.
Ray lay back on the bed, staring up, unusually still.
Julia leaned back in her chair, watching them both—
and not saying anything.
"So Doc, when I can get out?" Ray looked at the man, tilting his head slightly.
The doctor paused mid-note, then turned around to face him.
"Well, you're clean now so… whenever you're ready."
Ray blinked once.
"…Oh," he muttered.
Kate shifted slightly beside him, arms still crossed, her eyes flicking toward him—
then away again.
Julia stayed leaned back in her chair, watching quietly.
"Good, I need some sleeeeep." Ray let out a breath, already shifting like he was about to settle back in.
Then—
he froze.
His eyes widened slightly.
"And as if he realized—" he muttered—
then suddenly pushed himself up a bit.
"FUCK THE MATTRESS, HE STOLE IT!"
Julia looked at him, amused.
"It's fine," she said, glancing between them for a second. "You and Kate will share the bed."
Ray blinked.
Slowly turned his head toward Kate.
Kate froze.
"…What?" she said immediately.
Julia tilted her head slightly, still looking at Kate.
"You were red the entire time, he said you were cute, you hugged him while he was shirtless—and now you wanna tell me you're gonna make a problem out of this?"
Kate froze.
Her eyes widened for a second—
then narrowed just as fast.
"…That's not—" she started, then stopped, her face heating up again.
Ray looked between them, suddenly very interested.
"You got two options," Julia said, still calm, like she'd already decided. "Either he sleeps in your bed—"
She winked at Ray.
"—or in mine."
Ray blinked.
Then slowly turned his head toward Kate again.
Kate just stared at Julia.
"…You're not serious," she said.
"I am."
Julia didn't even hesitate.
Kate stared at her for a second longer—
then let out a short breath through her nose, shaking her head slightly.
"…You're unbelievable," she muttered.
Ray looked between them, raising his eyebrows a little.
"…I feel like I'm not being consulted here," he said.
Julia reached into her pocket, pulling out her wallet.
Ray watched her, confused—
until she slid out a bill and held it toward him.
"You're ours now, shut up," she said playfully, handing him the 20 dollars.
Ray looked at the money.
Then at her.
Then at Kate.
"…I've been sold," he muttered.
Kate stared at the bill—
then at Julia—
then back at Ray.
"…This is insane," she said, but there was a hint of a smile she couldn't quite hide.
"So," Julia said, slipping her wallet back, eyes moving to Kate. "What is your choice, young lady?"
Kate froze.
Her gaze flicked to Ray for a split second—
then away again.
Ray was still holding the 20, looking between them like he wasn't about to interrupt this.
Kate shifted her weight slightly, arms tightening.
"…You're annoying," she muttered at Julia, avoiding the question.
"Answer me now," Julia added, raising an eyebrow slightly. "Or cutie is coming with me."
Kate's head snapped toward her immediately.
Her eyes narrowed—
then flicked to Ray again.
Ray just stood there, still holding the 20, looking between them like this was way above his pay grade.
Kate let out a breath, shifting her weight.
"…You're so annoying," she muttered again—
but this time, she didn't look away from Ray.
"Fine," she said.
She stepped closer without looking at Julia again, reaching for the needle still in his arm.
Ray tensed slightly. "Hey—"
She unplugged it anyway, quick and careful.
"…Ow," he muttered.
Kate ignored that, already moving to his side as she helped him stand up.
Ray steadied himself, one hand brushing her arm—
then she took his hand.
Gently.
He blinked, looking down at it for a second—
then at her.
Kate didn't meet his eyes.
"Stay quiet," Kate muttered, still not looking at him as she kept hold of his hand, guiding him toward the door. "Or I'm gonna leave you with queen BDSM here."
Julia raised an eyebrow immediately.
"…Rude," she said, though there was a faint smile pulling at her lips.
Ray glanced back at her, half-grinning despite himself. "I feel like that's not a threat," he muttered.
Kate squeezed his hand slightly.
"Keep talking," she said flatly.
Ray shut up.
Julia followed them slowly, clearly amused, hands in her pockets as she watched the two.
"Can I choose?" Ray said, glancing back at her. "I want Julia's bed—probably is bigger."
Kate stopped walking.
Slowly turned her head toward him.
Her grip on his hand tightened.
"…Keep talking," she said quietly.
Ray blinked.
"…I'm just thinking about comfort—"
Kate pulled him forward again, not letting him finish.
"No, you're not," she muttered.
Julia let out a quiet breath through her nose behind them, shaking her head slightly. "…Bold," she said.
"Boobies and bed can come into some kind of peace pact when needed, right?" Ray added, like he was making a completely reasonable point.
Kate stopped again.
This time slower.
She turned her head toward him—
very slowly.
"…I'm going to let go of your hand," she said calmly.
Ray blinked. "…Okay—?"
"And then I'm going to hit you."
Julia snorted quietly behind them, covering her mouth for a second. "…Fair warning," she muttered.
Ray tightened his grip on Kate's hand slightly. "I'd like to renegotiate the pact—"
Kate didn't even wait—
she hit his arm.
"OW—" Ray flinched, half-laughing.
"Shut up," she muttered, already pulling him forward again.
"Julia, help me," Ray said, dragging the words a little. "I want to go where it's wet and waaarm."
Kate stopped walking again.
"…Oh my God," she muttered, closing her eyes for a second.
Julia raised an eyebrow behind them, clearly entertained. "…That sounds like a very different request," she said dryly.
Ray looked back at her like he expected support.
Kate turned her head toward him, expression flat.
"You're one sentence away from sleeping outside," she said.
Ray blinked. "…It's a hospital—"
Kate tightened her grip on his hand again and pulled him forward.
"Keep talking," she muttered.
Julia followed, a faint smile still there.
"It could be like—" Ray started, glancing back at Julia, already too into his own idea. "I fucked my hot teacher while my girlfriend slept next door, you know?"
Kate stopped so abruptly he almost walked into her.
Slowly—
very slowly—
she turned her head toward him.
"…What?" she said, completely flat.
Ray blinked, like he didn't immediately see the problem. "I'm just saying—"
Kate let go of his hand.
Julia let out a quiet breath through her nose behind them. "…And there it is," she muttered.
Ray looked down at his now free hand—
then back at Kate.
"…Okay, I may have miscalculated—"
Kate hit him.
Harder this time.
"WHAT is wrong with you?" she snapped, stepping closer, face red again.
Ray flinched, half laughing, half defending himself. "It was a scenario—"
"STOP TALKING."
Julia shook her head, still following, a faint smile there despite herself. "…He really commits," she said.
Ray was still feeling it—conscious now, but drunk as hell.
Not enough to walk crooked—
but enough to say stupid things.
As he looked at Julia, his grip on reality clearly loose—
"Take me with you, madame," he said, a crooked grin forming. "Break me."
Julia blinked once.
Then raised an eyebrow slowly.
"…Absolutely not," she said, calm as ever.
Kate turned her head toward him instantly.
"…You are unbelievable," she muttered, already stepping closer again.
Ray just looked between them, like he didn't see the issue.
"I'm exploring options—"
Kate hit him again.
"STOP exploring," she snapped, grabbing his sleeve this time and pulling him forward.
Julia let out a quiet breath through her nose, following behind them. "…He's consistent, I'll give him that," she muttered.
"I'm not only consistent with my words," he added, winking.
Kate stopped mid-step.
"…No," she said immediately.
Ray blinked. "…No what?"
"No more sentences," she snapped, grabbing his arm again and pulling him forward.
Julia let out a quiet breath behind them, shaking her head slightly. "…That was your worst one yet," she said.
Ray frowned a little. "That wasn't even that bad—"
Kate tightened her grip.
"Stop talking."
Ray raised his hands slightly. "Okay—okay."
"Fine, no pussy for me!" Ray shouted—
loud enough that half the hallway turned.
Kate froze.
"…Oh my God," she muttered under her breath, eyes widening.
Julia stopped behind them, already covering her mouth slightly. "…Inside voice," she said.
Ray let go of Kate's arm and pushed the door open, stepping outside like nothing just happened.
Kate stood there for a second—
then dragged a hand down her face.
"…I'm not with him," she said quietly, more to the people around than anyone else.
Julia stepped past her, still amused. "…Too late," she muttered, heading after him.
Kate let out a breath—
then followed.
He checked his pocket—
fingers brushing against something familiar.
Then he felt it.
"…Ah, yes," he muttered, pulling the pack out. "Just what I needed dealing with that crazy woman."
Kate stepped out right behind him.
"…Excuse me?" she said immediately.
Ray didn't even look at her, already lighting the cigarette.
Julia came out a second later, glancing between them, already knowing where this was going.
"God, please allow me some peace," Ray muttered, taking a drag like he earned it.
Kate stared at him.
"…Peace?" she repeated, stepping closer.
Ray exhaled slowly, not looking at her.
Julia leaned lightly against the wall nearby, watching them.
"As she hit me, broke me, rejected me—" Ray went on, gesturing vaguely with the cigarette. "All I want is some sleep!"
Kate stared at him for a second—
then stepped closer.
"…You are unbelievable," she said, shaking her head slightly.
Ray glanced at her finally, like he was the one being wronged.
"I'm a victim," he added.
Julia let out a quiet breath through her nose, arms loosely crossed. "…Tragic," she said.
He took another puff slowly, exhaling as he turned—
then started walking toward the car like the conversation was over.
Kate stood there for a second, watching him go.
"…Unbelievable," she muttered again, then followed.
Julia pushed herself off the wall, falling into step behind them, still quiet, still watching.
"How do I explain to her…" Ray muttered to himself, taking another drag as he walked. "…I like Julia's boobies… but her boobies as well?"
He paused for half a second.
"…Eh."
Kate, right behind him, went completely still.
"…I'm going to actually kill you," she said quietly.
Julia let out a short breath through her nose, looking away. "…At least he's honest," she muttered.
Ray glanced back at them, like he didn't see the issue.
"I'm just communicating—"
Kate grabbed his arm again.
"Stop communicating."
"Hey baby," Ray called out suddenly, turning toward a random woman passing by, around their age. "Are you a dryer? Because I'm gonna make you wet."
Kate froze mid-step.
"…No," she said under her breath.
The girl slowed slightly—
then winked at him.
Ray blinked, a bit surprised it worked.
Julia raised an eyebrow, watching the interaction. "…Oh, that's dangerous," she muttered.
Kate stepped forward immediately, grabbing Ray's arm and pulling him back.
"Keep walking," she said flatly.
Ray let himself be dragged, still looking over his shoulder.
"…I still got it," he muttered.
Kate tightened her grip.
"Don't."
"And then—" before Kate could even react—
he turned his head back and shouted his number to the girl.
Kate stopped dead.
"…You did NOT just do that," she said, staring at him.
Julia let out a quiet breath through her nose, watching the girl disappear down the path. "…Confidence is insane," she muttered.
Ray turned back like nothing happened, taking another drag.
"She seemed nice," he said casually.
Kate just looked at him—
then hit his arm again.
Hard.
"OW—"
"Hey, I told you," Ray said, pointing at himself like that proved everything. "I'm a polymoary king!"
Julia laughed, shaking her head, actually amused now.
"…Yeah," she said, glancing at Kate. "He's definitely something."
Kate just stared at him—
then looked away, exhaling through her nose, trying not to react.
"…Get in the car," she muttered.
Ray grinned, taking one last drag before flicking the cigarette away.
"Your king obeys."
Kate hit his arm again as he passed her.
"Stop calling yourself that."
Julia slipped into the back seat, still smiling faintly.
Ray dropped into his seat like nothing happened.
Kate followed a second later, closing the door a bit harder than necessary.
No one spoke for a moment.
The engine started.
And just like that—
they drove off.