Unexpectedly In Love With You

twenty-six

Jay winced in pain as Daera silently treated his wound. He laid down on the hospital bed and stared at the ceiling. She exhaled heavily and wiped her tears that escaped.

"Why are you crying?" He asked. She blinked her tears away and leaned closer to take a proper look at the wound.

"I can't imagine if I wasn't there to help you. You'll lose a lot of blood."

He chuckled, "I didn't expect you to be such a crybaby."

She gave him a death stare, "I am not a cry–"

"You're crying right now."

She rolled her eyes and wiped her hands with a tissue, "Get some rest for now. I'll tell your dad that you won't be going to work for a few days," she said before standing up. She was about to leave the room until he grabbed her wrist, "Please. Stay."

"Jay, I–"

"Please," he begged before sitting up and wrapping his arms around her waist. He hugged her and closed his eyes, inhaling her floral scent. She raised her hand before reaching for his hair and brushed it gently with her fingers.

The door slammed open, revealing a sweating Edlyn and a panting Jake behind her. "What just happened?! Why are you stabbed?!" She asked worriedly as she rushed to the bed.

Daera backed away and stood next to Jake, letting the siblings talk to each other. Jake leaned towards her to whisper, "What were you doing in the room alone with Jay?"

"Nothing," she answered blankly. He smirked, "Did you kiss?"

"What?! No!" She whisper-yelled. She glared at the man and was about to hit him until Edlyn approached her, "How can Hojun appear out of the blue? It's been 4 years!"

"I don't know," Daera answered. The door opened again and Heeseung walked in with Sunghoon. Jay sighed, "Okay the room is too full now."

"We checked the CCTV. Hojun asked one of the new nurses where Jay was. And he entered the operating room and stayed in there for almost 20 minutes," Heeseung explained.

"Then when he left, he went to the toilet and then came out in a different outfit. I think it's because the previous outfit he wore got stained with Jay's blood," Sunghoon continued.

"I'm going to kill him with my bare hands," Daera gritted her teeth in anger. "Don't. It might be too dangerous. Sunghoon's house is not even safe anymore since Hojun knows the passcode. You have to stay somewhere else," Jay said.

"Wait, you're living with Sunghoon?!" Edlyn asked in shock. "Relax, Edlyn. People do that nowadays," Sunghoon rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, if they're in a relationship. Are you guys dating?"

"No!" Daera and Sunghoon yelled in unison.

"Jay, can you let Daera stay with you for a few days?" Heeseung asked. Daera widened her eyes before looking at the stabbed surgeon, "Only for a few days. In the meantime, I'll try to search for a place to stay. Since I already earn quite a lot, I can find myself a decent apartment at least."

Jay blushed and looked away while nodding, "Sure."

•

Daera walked back into Jay's room as she held a tray of chicken porridge. He was already sleeping soundly. She smiled and placed the tray on the nightstand next to the bed. She admired his face and her heart pounded an unfamiliar beat as her stomach produced butterflies that danced around.

She moved the hair that was blocking his face and exhaled heavily. She held his hand that was wrapped in a bandage and glanced at his waist, the blood staining the bandage.

The door opened, revealing Sunghoon who walked slowly towards her. He already took off his doctor coat and had his t-shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows.

"Is he okay?" He asked her as he lowered his gaze. She nodded and smiled, "He's sleeping already. He didn't even get to have his dinner."

Sunghoon exhaled heavily, "Can we talk? Please?"

She nodded and followed him as he led her to the rooftop. The air was cold as it just stopped raining. He turned around to face her and took a deep breath.

"What is it?" She asked.

"The feelings you had for me 4 years ago. Do you still have them?"

Her heart dropped at the sudden question. She hugged herself and looked away, "I don't know."

"Why did you leave? The real reason you left?"

"I was about to confess to you during the class dinner. But I saw you kissing another girl that night. And I didn't want to face you the next day so I requested to study abroad."

He sighed and chuckled, "I'm so stupid."

"Do you...like me?" Daera asked nervously. He nodded, "Yes. I like you, Kang Daera. I waited for you for 4 years."

Isn't this what I wanted?

For him to confess to me? I should accept his confession, right? So why am I hesitating now? Instead of feeling happy, I feel awful and miserable now.

She bit her bottom lip, "I'm sorry. I can't return the same feelings to you."