Ethan:
The room was quiet.
A faint yellow lamp near the bed filled the room with a soft glow. The night outside the window was dark and still.
Ethan slowly opened his eyes.
Pain immediately spread through his shoulder, making him inhale sharply.
"…Tch."
He tried to move but stopped when he noticed something warm around his hand.
His gaze slowly shifted downward.
Yuna.
She was sitting beside the bed, her head slightly leaning on the mattress, her fingers still wrapped around his hand.
At some point she must have fallen asleep.
Her other hand was still holding the damp cloth she had been using to wipe his forehead.
Ethan stared at her silently.
For a long moment he didn't move.
Her hair had fallen over her face a little, and her brows were slightly knitted even in sleep, as if she was still worried.
"You stayed…" he murmured quietly.
He slowly remembered everything.
The fight.
The ambush.
The bullet.
And Luca's words from yesterday.
"Stay away from her, Ethan."
"You know what kind of life we live."
"If she gets involved… she will become a target."
" ....I know you love her Ethan, you just don't know because you can't feel emotions. If you want to protect her, stay away from her."
Ethan clenched his jaw slightly.
That was why he avoided her all morning.
That was why he didn't even look at her.
Because the moment he looked at her… he knew he wouldn't be able to stay away.
But now…
She was here.
Taking care of him like nothing else mattered.
Ethan slowly lifted his uninjured hand and gently moved the strand of hair away from her face.
His touch was careful, almost hesitant.
Yuna stirred slightly.
Her eyelashes fluttered and she slowly woke up.
For a second she looked confused.
Then she realized.
"Ethan…?"
Her eyes widened and she quickly sat up.
"You're awake!"
She immediately placed her hand on his forehead, checking his temperature like she had done many times before.
"You had a fever earlier. Does it still hurt? Do you feel dizzy? Should I call Luca—"
Ethan suddenly grabbed her wrist.
Not hard.
Just enough to stop her.
Yuna froze.
Their eyes met.
For a moment neither of them spoke.
Ethan looked at her quietly.
"You didn't sleep," he said.
Yuna avoided his gaze slightly.
"…I did."
"You're lying."
"…."
Ethan's voice softened.
"Why are you doing this?"
Yuna frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"You should be scared of me after tonight," he said quietly. "You saw the blood. You saw the bullet."
His dark eyes searched her face.
"But you're still here."
Yuna stared at him for a second.
Then she said softly,
"I was scared and the past that you killed...."
Ethan's expression didn't change.
But inside, something tightened.
She continued,
"I was scared when I saw you bleeding."
Her fingers slowly tightened around his hand.
"Not of you."
His breathing paused for a moment.
Yuna looked straight into his eyes now.
"I was scared of losing you."
Silence filled the room.
Ethan looked at her like he was trying to understand every word she said.
Then he slowly looked away.
"That's exactly why I told you to stay away from me."
Yuna's brows furrowed.
"Did Luca force you to say that?"
Ethan didn't answer immediately.
After a moment he said quietly,
"Your brother didn't threaten me."
Yuna blinked.
"He warned me."
Ethan looked back at her.
"Because he knows what kind of world I live in."
His voice was calm but heavy.
"People try to kill me. They attack the people around me to get to me."
His eyes darkened slightly.
"If they find out that you matter to me…"
He didn't finish the sentence.
But Yuna understood.
Her chest tightened.
For a moment the room was silent again.
Then Yuna slowly moved closer.
Ethan noticed and frowned slightly.
"What are you doing?"
Yuna gently fixed the blanket over him and adjusted the bandage on his shoulder.
"I'm making sure you don't die from your wound," she said calmly.
Ethan stared at her.
"You're not listening to me."
"I am," she replied softly.
Then she looked at him again.
"But I'm not leaving."
Ethan's expression hardened slightly.
"Yuna—"
She interrupted him.
"You said people attack the ones close to you."
"…Yes."
"Then protect me."
Ethan froze.
Yuna's eyes were steady.
"You're good at protecting people, right?"
He didn't answer.
Her voice became quieter.
"So protect me."
For the first time that night…
Ethan had no words.
He just stared at her, his dark eyes full of emotions he had been hiding for years.
Finally he whispered,
"You don't understand what you're asking for."
Yuna held his hand again.
"Then don't make me understand."
Outside, the wind moved through the trees.
Inside the room….
Something between them had changed forever.