Ren pushed open the living room door, the image of his phone's message still burning in his mind. He was met with an unexpected sight – Hana, nestled on the plush armchair, fast asleep. She looked so fragile, her head and ankle elevated and tilted at an awkward angle, her brow furrowed in unconscious discomfort.
He approached her cautiously, his movements silent as he crouched before the chair. The overhead light cast a soft glow on her face, highlighting the exhaustion etched on her features. Her arms were exposed to the cool air of the apartment. Without a second thought, he reached out and gently draped his jacket over her.
As he adjusted it, a sigh escaped his lips, a mixture of frustration and something else he couldn't quite define.
"I shouldn't have dragged you into this," he murmured, his voice barely a whisper.
Yet, here she was, caught in the crossfire.
The guilt of having exposed Hana to his dysfunctional family was a heavy weight on his chest. He hadn't meant to involve her, to make her a pawn in the never-ending game with his mother.
Suddenly, Hana's head dipped forward, threatening to fall. Instinctively, Ren shot out a hand, catching her head mere inches from the armrest. A startled gasp escaped his lips, followed by a chuckle that surprised even him.
"You are truly something, Hana Shizumi," he murmured, his voice tinged with a hint of amusement and a growing sense of wonder.
How could someone, anyone, sleep so soundly after such a stressful event? The shy nurse who had captivated him at the hospital was proving to be even more intriguing.
Whether he liked it or not, Ren had to admit, the shy and ever-professional Nurse Shizumi was starting to hold a strange significance in his life.
***************
Hana jolted awake, her heart pounding in her chest. The unfamiliar white ceiling loomed above her, a stark contrast to the comforting familiarity of her bedroom. The absence of her usual alarm clock only heightened her disorientation. Work, she was late. Nurse Crystal was going to chew her out.
A wave of panic washed over her as she scrambled to sit up, her mind racing to piece together the events of the previous night. Where was her phone? She could picture the endless number of calls and texts from Mira.
As she swung her legs over the side of the bed, a sharp jolt of pain shot through her ankle, reminding her of the previous night's mishap. Ignoring the discomfort, she stood up, her balance wavering slightly. She needed to get home.
As she limped towards the living room, the sight that greeted her was unexpected.
Ren stood at the stove, his tall frame filling the kitchen space. The casual way he moved, the ease with which he flipped with a spatula, could be compared to the way his hands moved when they held a scapule.
The sight of him in this domestic setting was a stark contrast to the composed, almost aloof doctor she was used to seeing.
As she limped towards the living room, the sound of sizzling bacon and the clinking of utensils reached her ears. He turned at the sound of her footsteps, his expression shifting from surprise to concern in an instant.
Ren watched as Hana scrambled to collect her belongings, her cheeks flushing a deep shade of pink. He couldn't help but smile at the sight of her flustered state.
"Morning," he greeted her, his voice softer than usual. He quickly turned off the stove, his movements smooth and efficient.
Hana froze, her hand hovering over the strap of her purse. A wave of embarrassment washed over her, the realization of her intrusion hitting her like a cold shower.
YOU ARE READING
Eternally Yours
Romance"...Even if our love takes a century to reignite, this wanting heart will wait two..." Haunted by a childhood trauma, Hana, a gifted but introverted intern, walks the halls of the hospital with a secret burden. Kidnapped on her fifth birthday, the e...
