After what her aunt said, she was shocked but somehow, collected her thoughts and didn't let her feelings come to her face.
"Congratulations to both of you..." she said, a bit cold.
Everyone smiled, but no one knew what to respond since her mom was still inside, lying unconscious.
"Okay dear, we are leaving now. Ian will drop me and Shasha. Take care, sweetheart. Call us if there is anything. Make sure to have some rest, and ask your father to rest as well, dear, okay?" her aunt said softly.
"Yes, aunty. Good night. Have a safe trip back" she replied.
Her aunt and Shasha gave her a soft hug, while Ian and she said goodbye only with their eyes and a nod.
Their eyes said more than just goodbye — everything that remained unsaid... unspoken.
Her father came multiple times to ask her to rest through the night but she didn't leave her mother's side.
She stayed there all night. Sleep never touched her eyes.
Her father came again in the morning with a coffee in his hand, thinking his daughter would be exhausted.
Little did he know, her love of her mother kept her stronger than she was — stronger than she should be.
Behind him was Ian.
Her heart was slowly moving on, and this time, she felt nothing for him.
No emotions surfaced at the sight of his face — only strange, unfamiliar feeling.
His voice was the same, yet didn't sit right, like a familiar song played slightly out of tune.
"Good morning," he said, his eyes saying more than his words.
She felt weird, as if she was overthinking things.
But, there was something in his eyes — something she couldn't name, but couldn't ignore either.
Why didn't his "good morning" feel like just a normal greeting?
Since last night, his tone felt strange. His behaviour felt... off.
"Ian was on his way to duty and decided to stop by to see us," her father said, but the explanation didn't feel like his.
"What a thoughtful child. Being an officer isn't easy — free time must be rare, yet he still came."
"Not only that, he also brought cold coffee for you and my americano"
"Here, have some," her father said.
She took the coffee and stood up to make space beside her mother.
Her foot slipped, and the coffee spilled over her mother.
The cold liquid spread across her mother's hand... and then —
a twitch.
The next moment was something no one expected, at least not so soon.
"She moved!" Aira shouted, joy brushing through her voice.
"Dad, she moved her finger. Mom, can you hear me?" she said, panic raising in her chest.
Her heart started racing.
"Mom, please wake up... Mom... " she cried, her hand trembling as she held her mother's hand.
She turned to call her father, but he had already rushed out to get the doctor.
Ian stood there, watching everything — happy for her, yet strangely helpless.
The doctors came rushing in with her dad.
Without any delay they checked her mother and something shifted in their expressions — something she dared to believe in.
She'll wake up now... right? That's how it happens in movies.
I never thought I would see this is real life, but I just hope that it happens the same way.
At most... by tonight. My mom will be back, right?
From her long sleep.
It had been four days since she fell unconscious.
Not too long for the world —
but without her mom, it felt like too much.
It felt like ages.
"We're seeing some encouraging signs," the doctor said, glancing at the monitor. "Her reflexes are responding, and her vitals are stable."
He paused, choosing his words carefully.
"But she's not fully conscious yet. We'll run another MRI today."
His tone softened slightly.
"Keep talking to her. Familiar voices can help. Sometimes, patients respond to that."
Aira nodded quickly, holding her mother's hand tighter.
"She'll wake up... right?"
The doctor gave a small, reassuring smile.
"She's moving in the right direction. That's what matters right now."
Her father stepped in gently.
"You've been here all night. You need some rest."
She shook her head immediately. "I'm fine."
"You're not," he said quietly, but firmly. "Go home for a few hours. Freshen up. Come back in the evening."
He picked up his file.
"I need to sort out some paperwork anyway. I'll stay here till then."
He looked at her for a moment — softer now.
"She'll want to see you strong, not exhausted."
This time, she didn't argue.
"I'll check with the doctors about the MRI. Stay here and rest. Go home once I'm back," her father said, before quietly shutting the door behind him.
...
"Did you have breakfast?" Ian asked, his voice careful.
"Hmm," she hummed, not looking at him.
It was an answer —
but not really.
Somewhere in that silence, he heard it clearly:
Go away.
...
"Aira... about yesterday..." he started, hesitating
"I'm sorry. I just... wanted to talk. To fix things."
She didn't respond immediately.
Fine. Let's end this.
"Not here," she said at last.
"My mom could wake up anytime. Let's go outside."
She walked ahead without waiting for him.
She had prepared herself for this.
Or at least, she thought she had.
...
"Go ahead," she said. "What were you going to say?"
He had wanted this conversation.
Now that it was here, he didn't know where to begin.
"I... umm.. that night... I'm sorry," he said, like it was the only thing he could hold onto.
"I know, sorry doesn't fix anything," he continued, forcing himself to go on. "But we can't keep it like this between us. We're adults. Things happen. Can't we just... move on?"
She never imagined him saying something like that from him. To her, he had always been a responsible gentlemen.
And somehow, even though she had thought the same before, hearing it from him still hurt.
She didn't know what to say —
until it suddenly clicked.
"Relax," she said, her voice colder now. "I'm not going to tell anyone. I have no interest in ruining your engagement with Shasha."
"Wait... what?" He frowned. Who?"
She raised an eyebrow, tilting her head slightly.
"Aunty mentioned it, didn't she? She was talking about your engagement with Shasha," she said, a faint smirk forming. "So why the reaction?"
"I — what are you talking about?"
"You didn't tell them anything, clearly," she continued, her tone sharpening.
"But why Shasha?"
Her gaze held his.
"You could've said no. You could've chosen anyone else. Why my cousin?"
The words slipped out before she could stop them —
"Or... were you already involved with her?"
Silence.
Even she hadn't expected that question.
And now that it was out —
neither of them knew what it meant.
And for the first time —
she wasn't sure she wanted to hear his answer.