𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚. yeonji

𝐬𝐨𝐢𝐱𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞-𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐳𝐞

-.--.-..-.-...-

The steady beeping sound of the machine fills the silent and cold hospital room as rays of sunlight seeped in through the thin curtains by the window, softly illuminating the space and giving it somewhat of a life.

That was the sight that greeted Chand as soon as he went inside the room to where Kali was staying. He could see her laying on the bed and sleeping, her chest moving up and down rhythmically.

Chand could feel his steps getting heavier as he walked towards her. The expressionless mask he once wore slowly peels off, revealing what he truly feels—longing, regret and resentment.

Longing for the love she had denied of him, regret that he wasn't able to take care of her as he had once promised, and resentment for she had kept her suffering away from him.

Now looking at Kali's resting figure, he could see how weary she looks. She had suffered so much yet he didn't know anything about it.

There were signs, he was sure of this. But he was too blind to see it and he hated himself because he couldn't be there through her sufferings.

Chand's fingers treaded slowly and cautiously to Kali's hand that was near his. He put it in his as delicately as he could, as if afraid she'd crumble under his mere touch.

A single tear rolled down smoothly on his cheek when he looks at her, then it was followed by another one, then a couple more until it flowed endlessly as Chand's hold on Kali's became a little bit tighter and his sight becoming blurry to the point that he couldn't seem to make out her figure laying on the bed anymore so.

He hunched down with his shoulders shaking as he tried to muffle the sobs that were threatening to escape. He stayed in that position for minutes then hours all the while never letting go of Kali's hand as if it was his only lifeline.

The once brightly lit room soon lost its color when the sun began to set and the moon rose. Chand, who had been crying silently beside Kali, had fallen asleep.

If looking a little closer, one could see his swollen eyes and his stained cheeks where the dried tears had ran through.

Unbeknownst to the young man, Kali stirred in her spot. It was a minuscule movement, a slight twitch of one of her fingers and a light furrowing of her eyebrows. But this was enough to signify that she had woken up.

Kali's eyes adjusted to its surroundings. It was dark but not dark enough as she could still make out a figure laying by her bedside and is currently holding her hand tight.

Chand?

When she recognized him, it confused her. She had thought that he and the rest of the group had already went back to the city. She had seen them just this morning, riding their van with Declan in the driver's seat.

However, confusion was the least of her worries. The fact that Chand is right here beside her now made her swell with emotions she couldn't even fathom.

Using her other free hand, Kali caressed his flowing hair as gently as she could. She didn't want to wake him up.

She wanted to savor the moment. A moment that she might not get a chance to have again.