Yuna:
Ethan's hand was still on my cheek.
For a brief moment, I thought he would say it back.
But then his expression slowly hardened.
The softness in his eyes disappeared, replaced by something distant… controlled.
He slowly pulled his hand away.
"Yuna…" his voice was low.
My heart tightened.
"I shouldn't have let you say all that."
The words felt like a sharp sting.
"What?" I whispered.
Ethan looked away from me, staring at the dark window instead.
"You don't understand what love means in my world."
My chest began to ache.
"I just told you—"
"That's exactly the problem," he interrupted quietly.
His voice wasn't angry. It was cold… like he was forcing himself to be.
"You're confusing feelings with something else."
I stared at him in disbelief.
"Something else?"
Ethan finally looked back at me.
His gaze was intense, but distant.
"You're emotional because I almost died tonight."
"That's not true."
"You're scared of losing someone you're used to," he continued, ignoring my words. "That's not love."
Each sentence felt heavier than the last.
I shook my head slowly.
"You're lying."
Ethan exhaled and ran a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated.
"Yuna… go back to your room."
My eyes widened.
"…What?"
"You heard me."
His tone became firm.
"You shouldn't be here."
The room suddenly felt colder.
"You rejected me?" I asked softly.
Ethan didn't answer.
That silence felt like confirmation.
I swallowed the pain rising in my throat.
"Fine," I whispered.
I stood up from the chair.
For a moment I thought he would stop me.
But he didn't.
I walked toward the door slowly.
My hand reached the handle.
But then I stopped.
Something inside me refused to leave.
I turned back.
Ethan was watching me again.
"Why didn't you go?" he asked quietly.
I walked back to the bed.
Without saying a word, I picked up the cloth from the table and dipped it into the bowl of water.
Then I gently placed it on his forehead again.
Ethan frowned slightly.
"Yuna."
"You still have a fever," I said calmly.
"You should rest."
"Didn't you hear what I said?"
"I did."
"Then why are you still here?"
I looked at him quietly.
"Because even if you reject me… you're still injured."
Ethan's jaw tightened.
"You're stubborn."
"Maybe."
I carefully adjusted the bandage on his shoulder.
My fingers moved gently, making sure it wasn't bleeding again.
"I'm not leaving until you're better."
Ethan watched me silently.
Something dark flickered in his eyes.
"You shouldn't stay this close to me," he said in a low voice.
"Why?"
"Because you're making things harder."
I paused.
"What things?"
Ethan didn't answer immediately.
Instead, his hand suddenly grabbed my wrist and pulled me slightly closer.
I gasped softly, losing my balance for a second.
Now I was leaning over him, my face much closer to his.
His eyes were darker now.
More intense.
"You really don't listen," he murmured.
My heart started racing.
"Ethan…"
His gaze moved slowly over my face.
"You think this is love," he said quietly.
Then his hand suddenly moved to the back of my neck.
Before I could react—
He pulled me down and kissed me.
The kiss was sudden, deep, and intense.
My mind went completely blank.
For a few seconds the world disappeared.
When he finally pulled away, both of us were breathing heavier.
I stared at him, shocked.
"Ethan…"
His expression was complicated.
Something between desire and frustration.
Then he said something that made my heart stop again.
"I don't love you."
The words were blunt.
Cold.
"But I desire you."
My chest tightened painfully.
His voice dropped lower.
"And that's exactly why you should stay away from me."
The room fell silent again.
But this time…
Nothing between us felt the same anymore.