Chapter 2

"No! Caspian, you'll always be the most important person to me! But he could've died!" Naomi exclaimed.

"The doctor said he wasn't going to die." I looked at her calmly.

Naomi's lips moved, but she had nothing to say.

Just then, Luca woke up. The moment he saw me, feigned guilt filled his eyes.

"Caspian… I'm sorry. This is all my fault. I didn't mean to. I just… I couldn't control myself," he stammered.

"When I saw your graduation ceremony, I thought about myself… and I just lost control. I'm sorry. I ruined your graduation…"

Naomi immediately sat back down beside him and gently comforted him. "It's okay. It's over now. Don't think about it. You need to rest."

Then she looked at me with a hint of reproach in her eyes. Her gaze seemed to say, "Look at him. He wasn't in his right mind. You should cut him some slack."

I said nothing and walked out.

Outside the hospital, the summer air felt hot and heavy against my face.

That was when I realized my hands had been shaking the entire time.

…

The next morning, Naomi was waiting outside my dorm with breakfast.

I buzzed her in through the entrance but didn't let her come upstairs.

She handed me the breakfast with an apologetic smile.

"Caspian, I'm apologizing to you on Luca's behalf. He was emotional yesterday. He didn't mean anything he said or did."

"Did he lose his ability to speak overnight? Why do you have to apologize for him?" I asked.

Naomi's expression stiffened. "H-He's still recovering."

"Naomi, forget about him for now. Let's talk about us." I looked at her.

"Our graduation ceremony was ruined, and the engagement party turned into a joke. What are you planning to tell our families and friends?"

She was silent for a moment, then said, "Once things die down, we can invite everyone out for dinner."

"Dinner?" I scoffed. "You think one meal is enough to fix something this big?"

"What else am I supposed to do? It already happened!" She was starting to sound irritated.

"Caspian, I know you're upset, but Luca comes from a poor family, and he almost died. Just feel sorry for him and try to be more understanding, okay?"

There it was again, the words "Be understanding".

I took the breakfast and casually set it on the steps beside me.

"I understand. You should go. He shouldn't be alone at the hospital. He needs someone to take care of him."

Naomi visibly relaxed, thinking I had given in. "I knew you were softhearted. Don't worry. Once he's out of the hospital and doing better, I'll make it up to you."

With that, she turned and left.

I watched her walk away, then I picked up the breakfast from the steps and tossed it into a nearby trash can.

Afterward, I went to the administration building to take care of my graduation paperwork.

When I passed the hospital, I found myself walking inside. I wanted to see Luca.

He was sitting up in bed, scrolling through his phone and chatting with the patient beside him.

They were laughing, and he looked perfectly healthy.

The moment he saw me enter, his smile froze. Then he quickly put on a pitiful expression.

"Caspian, you came," he said.

I nodded. "Yeah. Just checking on you."

I walked over and picked up the chart at his bedside. "Looks like you're recovering well. You should be discharged tomorrow."

"Yeah." He lowered his head, his voice soft. "Thank you for coming all this way to see me, Caspian."

"Don't thank me. Just don't do anything reckless again. Your life is your own."

He bit his lip, and guilt filled his eyes again. "I understand, Caspian. But sometimes… sometimes I really can't take it anymore."

I didn't respond. I put the chart down and left the room.

After leaving, I visited a friend who was interning at the hospital.