The night curtain still enveloped the room in silence, but that silence did not truly penetrate the hearts of the two people lying in silence. Rafael finally gave in to the inner urge that compelled him to look at the face he longed for so much. Slowly, he turned and looked at Aurora's back, which was still facing him.
His gaze was filled with uncertainty, his fingers reaching out to touch Aurora's shoulder, but stopping midway. He was afraid of touching a wound he didn't know about. He only wanted to erase the distance, to erase the unusual coldness he felt.But before his hand could touch her, Aurora moved first. She turned slowly and found Rafael staring at her. Their eyes met in a brief moment of surprise, both sensing the unspoken longing, and also realizing they were both still awake.Rafael spoke first, his voice low and soft. "Having trouble sleeping?"Aurora nodded slightly, her eyes never leaving Rafael's. "I was just about to sleep, but it feels a little..Aurora stepped out of the ICU with slow, heavy steps, as if every movement carried a burden too great to bear. The glass door closed automatically behind her, and the cold air of the hospital corridor greeted her instantly. Her face was pale, though she tried to keep her emotions in check. Rafael and Marissa, who had been waiting on the seats along the hallway, immediately turned toward her.Marissa, her eyes swollen from crying, quickly stood up. “How is Rey?” she asked anxiously.Aurora took a deep breath, forcing a faint smile even though her heart still trembled with the weight of Reynaldo’s last words inside.“He… seemed fine. He opened his eyes for a moment and even smiled. That’s a good sign, Marissa. You need to stay strong.”Marissa covered her face with both hands, sobbing softly. “Thank God,” she whispered over and over, as if trying to convince herself.Aurora stepped closer, gently taking the woman’s hand. “Rey needs you more than
Rafael clenched his fists. The world seemed to weigh down on his shoulders again. One burden had just ended, and now another awaited. But he knew he had to stay strong for Aurora.“Listen to me, Aurora,” Rafael tried to steady his voice. “Stay there. I’ll come to you right away. Don’t leave Reynaldo for even a second. You’re not alone—I’ll be there soon.”On the other end, Aurora could only nod though her tears kept flowing. “Please hurry, Rafael… I need you here.”The call ended. Rafael lowered his phone slowly, his gaze sharp with determination. He immediately signaled Haris to prepare the car.***Rafael’s footsteps echoed quickly across the cold hospital floor. The sharp scent of medicine pierced his nose as he walked through the long, dimly lit corridor. Night had grown late, but the emergency ward was still busy with restless patients and families. Rafael’s face was tense, his eyes scanning for the woman he longed for and worried about Aurora.And at the end of the hallway, he f
On the other side of the city, Edgar ran through a crowd of pedestrians. His breath was ragged, sweat pouring down his forehead, mixing with raindrops dripping from the rooftops above.“Stay back! All of you, stay back!!” he shouted, brandishing a sharp-bladed knife. Panic broke out. Some people screamed, others scattered in fear. The calm of the night dissolved into chaos.Edgar knew he was cornered. Every exit was blocked, every alley searched. He had little time left. In desperation, his eyes fell on a young woman just stepping out of a convenience store, carrying a shopping bag. She froze when she saw the knife in Edgar’s hand.“Don’t come closer!!” Edgar roared, yanking the woman toward him, pressing the knife against her neck. She screamed hysterically, her bag falling as apples and instant noodles scattered across the pavement.Police officers surrounding the area immediately raised their weapons.“Drop your weapon!”“Don’
The atmosphere at Rafael’s house that evening was serene. Aurora and Rafael had just returned from the hospital, their bodies weary, yet their hearts somehow felt a little lighter. There was a warmth that couldn’t be explained, like a brief pause from all the chaos that had haunted them.Aurora dropped herself onto the long sofa and rested her head on a pillow. Her hair was slightly messy, her face still carried traces of last night’s emotions, but her eyes looked clearer. Rafael watched her for a moment, then walked to the table and poured a glass of cold water.“Drink this,” he said, handing it to her.Aurora gave a faint smile, accepted it, and took a slow sip. “Thank you…” her voice was soft, as if drained of energy.Rafael sat down beside her. “Are you sure you’re okay?”“Yes.” Aurora nodded, then turned her gaze toward the window. “I just need a little time to… accept everything. But I’m okay.”Silence lingered. Only the ti
The morning air was still cold as sunlight slowly slipped through the gap in the bedroom curtains. Rafael opened his eyes earlier than usual, accustomed to a disciplined routine. But this time it wasn’t work, nor a pile of documents that woke him first it was the figure beside him.Aurora was asleep with a calm face, her breathing steady, as if all the tension of the past few days had finally melted away. Rafael gazed at her for a long time. Gratitude filled his chest, mingled with relief. He could watch this woman sleep peacefully without worrying about where she would go.Carefully, so as not to wake her, Rafael got up from the bed. He tucked the blanket more snugly around Aurora, then went downstairs. His kitchen was rarely used, especially by his own hands. Today, Rafael wanted to do something different. He wanted Aurora to feel cared for, to feel that this house was also hers.He opened the fridge, staring at its modest contents. A few eggs, bread, so
Reynaldo was finally moved to a VIP room in the hospital that afternoon. The room was spacious, clean, with a large window overlooking the city view. The bed was soft, complete with a warm blanket and a small television in the corner. Marissa looked surprised, her eyes welling up as she saw her little boy now enjoying a comfort she had never imagined before.Aurora stood by the bedside, holding Reynaldo’s still weak hand. The boy already seemed a little better, his breathing steady, though his face remained pale.“You’re so strong, Rey,” Aurora whispered softly, her voice full of love.Not long after, a knock was heard on the door, and Rafael appeared. In his hand was a large bag filled with food and a smaller bag containing children’s toys.“I thought Reynaldo might need something to cheer him up,” he said with a faint smile. He approached the bed and placed the toys on the small table beside it. There were toy cars, a small robot, and a few picture books.Reynaldo’s eyes lit up a li