In Between Us || Zhanyi

|| 43 ||

The car ride to the hospital was a blur of fear and desperation for Zhan, every passing second a silent prayer to God that he hadn't thought of in years. His arms cradled Yibo's limp body as though he could physically will the life back into him, Yibo's pale face eerily peaceful against the chaos churning around them. Zhan's hands trembled as he adjusted Yibo's head to keep him as comfortable as possible, his one hand firmly pressed behind Yibo's head where Zhan suspected the cut was, his heart pounding with dread that this moment might be snatched away from him.

"Faster!" Zhan's voice cracked as he snapped at the driver, his throat dried from suppressing the lump that threatened to choke him.

The staff member volunteered to drive, pressed hard on the accelerator, his knuckles white as he gripped the wheel, speeding through the streets, the car lurching forward as it wove through traffic, tires screeching at every turn. While another staff had volunteered, seated in the passenger seat, twisted back "Sir, do you have first-aid box?" the staff asked both nervous and concerned.

Zhan blinked, his mind blank for a moment, the words not registering. Then, as if on instinct, he nodded. "Glove compartment," he managed, his voice hoarse and barely audible.

The staff member retrieved a cotton roll and a bottle of water then turned back, his own hands trembling as he extended it toward Zhan. "Sir, lets pour some water then press this cotton against the wound to slow the bleeding"

Zhan blinked, his mind struggling to process the words but nodded right away. The staff hesitated. "What?" Zhan rasped.

"Your car~~~" the staff spoke, indicating Zhan's car would get ruined, "hell with the car, just do it". The staff immediately nodded and dampened the cotton gauze first. Zhan adjusted Yibo's head again as they poured the rest of the water over his head. The staff then extended the dampened gauze to Zhan, who grabbed the gauze without hesitation, his fingers brushing the dampness of Yibo's hair as he pressed it carefully against the wound.

Zhan's movements were tender, deliberate, as though even the slightest pressure could hurt him more. The sight of crimson stain spreading across the pristine white gauze sent a wave of nausea crashing through him, but he steadied his hands, his expression locked in determination. He couldn't afford to falter now.

"Faster," Zhan barked, his tone cutting through the air like steel. His usually calm demeanor had fractured, revealing the raw fear simmering beneath. He glanced at the staff member driving, his knuckles white as he gripped the wheel, sweat dripping down his temple.

"Sir, we're doing everything we can," the driver assured him, but the words felt hollow.

Zhan leaned down slightly, his lips near Yibo's ear, his voice trembling despite his best effort. "Hang on, Yibo. Please... Just hang on," he whispered, a silent plea carried on shaky breaths. He smoothed a hand over Yibo's hair, brushing away the stray strands that clung to his damp forehead.

The car hit a bump, and Yibo stirred faintly in his unconscious state, his body jerking slightly against Zhan's chest. Zhan's grip tightened, his arm wrapping protectively around Yibo's shoulders, as though shielding him from the world outside. "Careful!" Zhan snapped at the driver, his patience fraying, though he immediately softened his tone. "Just... be careful."

The cold dampness against his shirt seeped through to his skin, but Zhan didn't care. All he could focus on was Yibo's too-still frame and the fragile rise and fall of his chest, faint but still there.

The car took a sharp turn, jolting them, and Zhan instinctively tightened his grip around Yibo, pulling him closer. His forehead lowered to rest gently against Yibo's, his breath shaky and uneven as he whispered, "Hold on for me. Please...we'll reach soon." His words were a desperate plea, a quiet prayer that spilled from his lips unbidden.

The helplessness was suffocating, a weight pressing down on his chest so heavy he thought it might crush him. Zhan had always prided himself on his composure, his ability to remain rational in the face of chaos, but now, with Yibo's life hanging by a thread, all of that control had shattered.

He brushed a strand of hair from Yibo's pale face, his thumb tracing the curve of his cheek with a touch so soft it trembled. The fear of losing him—of never seeing his shy smile again, of never hearing his voice—wrapped itself around Zhan like a noose, tightening with every faint breath Yibo took.

The car's interior felt unbearably small, the walls pressing in as Zhan worked in frantic silence. The seconds dragged, each passing moment a torment as Zhan's mind filled with worst-case scenarios. He replayed everything over and over—how had he missed the signs? How had he let it get this bad?

The road stretched endlessly before them, but Zhan refused to let his exhaustion show. The pang of guilt gnawed at him like a living thing, but he forced it down, focusing solely on Yibo's fragile form in his arms. Yibo needed him—needed him to stay strong. "I will not let anything happen to you," Zhan whispered again and again, the words as much for himself as for Yibo.

The staff member driving glanced in the rearview mirror, his voice breaking the tense silence. "We're almost there, sir."

Zhan didn't respond, didn't even hear him. His world had narrowed to the fragile weight in his arms, the faint warmth of Yibo's body against his own. He adjusted Yibo slightly, angling him to rest more securely against his chest, as though he could shield him from the reality of his injuries.

For a moment, his own fear threatened to consume him entirely, but Zhan pushed it down, forcing himself to stay present. "Just a little more....stay with me," he murmured, his voice breaking as he repeated it like a mantra. "Please, Yibo... don't leave me."

The glow of the hospital lights finally appeared in the distance, a beacon of hope that Zhan clung to desperately. "We just about to arrive, hold on Love, you will be fine soon" Zhan murmured to Yibo, then straightened, his jaw clenched with grim determination. His heart thundered in his chest, but his arms never wavered as he cradled Yibo closer, ready to carry him inside the moment the car stopped.   

...To Be Continued