Drawing Closer: A Love Beyond Time [DISCONTINUED]

Chapter 4

Y/N's POV:

The fluorescent lights hummed above me, casting a sterile glow on the hospital hallway.

It was a symphony of white walls, the echo of footsteps, and the occasional beep of a medical device.

My hand rested on the cold metal doorhandle of Hanni's room, the faint scent of disinfectant clinging to my fingertips. I took a deep breath, then hesitated.

Just as I was about to knock, the door is creaked open a fraction. I peered inside, my heart quickening.

"Uh, Miss Hanni?" I whispered, my voice a rasp in the quiet room.

No response.

"Hanni, can I come in?" I ventured again, this time a bit louder.

Still nothing.

I decided to take a chance. Gently, I pushed the door wider and stepped inside. I peered inside, my heart quickening.

There she was, Hanni, lying peacefully in her bed, her face pale but serene. She looked so frail, so vulnerable, yet there was a strength in her silence that I couldn't quite explain.

I knew I shouldn't be here uninvited, but something inside me pushed me forward.

I walked over to the small table beside her bed, where a vase held a single, wilting sunflower.

Beside it, a finished sketch lay on a notepad. It was a simple drawing, yet it held a depth that captivated me.

A vibrant sunset, painted in strokes of orange and purple, with two empty chairs facing the horizon.

It made me wonder about the stories that lay behind that canvas, the dreams that were yet to be realised.

Suddenly, a voice startled me, sending a jolt through my body.

"Don't just come in without permission." Hanni said, her voice a soft murmur. She was sitting up now, a playful smile dancing on her lips.

"Uh, I'm sorry," I stammered, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

Hanni chuckled, a light, tinkling sound that seemed to fill the room with warmth. "You're in a lady's room here, don't you realize that?" she teased, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

I felt my heart pound against my ribs. It felt like I was trapped in a dream, one where everything seemed both real and surreal, fueled by a mixture of apprehension and a strange, inexplicable joy.

"Sorry. But if it helps," I mumbled, picking up the bouquet of gerberas from the table and holding them out towards her. "I did, uh, bring you these."

Hanni's eyes widened as she took in the bright colored flowers. "Oh, flowers?" she asked, her voice laced with surprise.

"Yes, gerberas," I replied.

"Aw, thank you," she said, a genuine smile blossoming on her face.

She took the bouquet from me and inhaled their fragrance deeply. "Gorgeous. I love gerberas, you know? They're so pretty."

"They're supposed to signify hope," I said, trying to sound confident. "The woman selling these recommended that I should get them."

Hanni's smile faltered. "Hope, huh?" she whispered, her gaze drifting to the window, where the pale light of the city bled into the twilight sky.

"Oh, my bad," I said, feeling a pang of guilt. "I didn't mean it like that."

She laughed, a soft, musical sound that filled the room with warmth and light. "It's okay," she said, waving a dismissive hand. "Don't worry."

She looked away, her gaze falling on the flowers. "I think that the word illness is a truly magical word," she said, her voice a low murmur. "Anyone you don't like, you just say the word illness, and they run away, just like that."

I stared at her, bewildered. Her words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken meaning.

"There's only one person that the magic word didn't work on," she continued, her voice barely a whisper.

"Huh?" I asked, my brow furrowed in confusion.

She looked up at me, her eyes sparkling with a mixture of mischief and sadness. "Nothing," she said, shaking her head.

I just stared at her, my mind reeling from the cryptic message.

"Do you want to get something to drink in the common room?" she asked, shifting her weight slightly.

I nodded. "Yeah," I said, feeling a surge of relief. "I'd like that."

Just as we were about to leave, a middle-aged nurse entered the room, her hands full of charts and a clipboard.

She paused, her eyes darting between Hanni and me.

"Do you have a new friend here?" she asked Hanni, her gaze lingering on me for a moment before landing on Hanni again.

"Uh, yeah," Hanni replied, a playful smile on her face. "We met on the rooftop. This is Y/N. He was born in summer."

I bowed slightly, feeling a rush of warmth spread through my chest. I wasn’t sure why, but it felt like this was a significant event.

There was something about this random interaction that felt monumental in the midst of this very ordinary situation.

"A future Frieze Seoul Artist Award winner here," Hanni continued, pointing at me with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

The nurse smiled, a kind and understanding smile. "I see," she said. "Well, I'm sorry to bother you guys, though Hanni needs to go for her physical exam."

"Oh, yeah," Hanni said, her smile fading slightly. "Sorry."

She turned to me, her eyes filled with a mixture of regret and hope. "Can we get some drinks next time?" she asked, her voice soft.

I nodded, a warm feeling spreading through my chest. "Alright, I'll see you," I said.

I bowed again to the nurse before turning towards the hallway, but then she called out to me. "And, hold on, uh, if it's okay with you, then please, come see us here again," she said, her voice friendly.

I turned back to her, a smile spreading across my face. "I will," I replied.

I bowed again, my heart full of a strange, inexplicable joy. The fluorescent lights hummed above me, casting a sterile glow on the hallway, but I didn't feel alone.

I felt a sense of connection, a fragile, yet powerful bond, that had been forged in the midst of this strange and beautiful world.