A GOD'S WAY OF JUDGEMENT

8-Way of time spending

The mild smell of the hospital filled the air as Ronan sat in the exam room waiting for Gerald. When the door opened, Gerald walked in, his face stern as he glanced at Ronan. As the doctor approached, he checked the heart monitor and adjusted his glasses.

"How's it looking?" Ronan asked, his voice low, almost casual.

Gerald raised an eyebrow and checked the readout. "No stress on the heart. It's holding up fine. No irregularities, and it's working as it should."

Ronan nodded, a small smile creeping across his face—a rare sight these days, one that made Gerald blink in surprise. In the midst of the dark times Ronan had been going through, the smile felt like an anomaly.

"Everything seems fine, then?" Ronan asked.

"Yes," Gerald replied cautiously. "But, considering everything you've been through recently, it's a good sign. Just... don't push it."

Ronan's smile lingered a little longer, but his eyes went deeper, as if the fleeting flashes of positivity had already been swallowed up by the shadow of his mind

Without another word, Ronan hung up, a subtle change in demeanor. His fingers move quickly as he types the message to Alex.

"Meet me at the coffee shop. Same place. -R"

He sent it off, then glanced back at Gerald, who was still watching him. Gerald caught the faintest hint of a smirk before Ronan stood to leave.

Gerald didn't say anything, just watched as Ronan walked out of the room. He stood still for a moment, the words ringing in his ears, but his mind kept coming back to the rare, almost human moment—the smile that had crossed Ronan's face. A smile that felt out of place given the darkness that surrounded him. For a moment, the monstrous figure that the world feared seemed just... human.

As Ronan exited the hospital, he slipped his phone into his coat pocket and walked to his car.

Ronan arrived at the coffee shop, stepping through the door with his usual confidence. As soon as his presence was felt, the atmosphere shifted. The few customers inside, some already sipping their coffee, quickly glanced up, their faces stricken with fear. A heavy silence followed as one by one, they stood up and filed out, not sparing a second glance at the man who had caused so much unrest in the world. Even the owner, who usually seemed unaffected by the customers coming and going, shot Ronan a nervous look from behind the counter. Within moments, the shop was empty.

Ronan stood at the entrance for a beat, observing the empty space. He knew that his very presence had driven people away, but he allowed it to happen. There was a time when he could have used his influence to change that—force people to stay, make them comfortable. But right now, changing his image wasn't a priority. The task ahead was more important than the image he projected. He needed to focus, not on how he appeared, but on what needed to be done.

Ronan glanced around, making sure there was no one left but Alex. When he saw the young man sitting by the window, he moved toward the table, a slight, genuine smile touching his lips.

Alex, already seated, looked up as Ronan approached. For a moment, the same tense silence from earlier lingered in the air. But this time, Alex wasn't moving. He had a calm but expectant look on his face.

Ronan sat down across from him and nodded in greeting. "Hey, Alex," he said in a more relaxed, friendly tone. "Thanks for meeting me."

Alex leaned forward; his curiosity piqued. "So, what did you want to say?"

Ronan's gaze shifted slightly, and for a moment, his eyes seemed distant as he considered his words carefully. Then, with a small, almost ironic smile, he spoke.