Just A Few Numbers Away

Chapter 22

The Secret and the Shadow

Morning came and Yoongi left early to buy them breakfast.

It wasn't that Aen complained about hospital food, but Yoongi had decided to buy some, so she let him; after all, the doctor hadn't said she couldn't eat this or that.

Besides who was she to say no to free food?

While waiting for him, she thought back to last night's events and sighed.

'How did they end up being friends?'

She was supposed to make him stay away from her life.

But now he was starting to get involved with her more.

It was as if the System was a gravity well, and the harder she kicked, the faster she fell toward the center.

Is this fate's way of saying, 'You can never escape the system no matter what,' so they just have to stick to it?

Another sigh left her mouth.

'Friends, huh...'

She looked at her wrist.

5249 steps.

He wasn't that far.

She thought about what he said last night and guessed it was probably true—the pain in her wrist was bearable now.

It couldn't be helped, so she decided to just stick to being friends—nothing , more, nothing less.

***

When Yoongi came back with the food, Aen noticed he had changed clothes again.

She thought he was probably going to work after breakfast, and she suddenly felt a bit sad.

She didn't want to stay in the hospital all alone; Angel was at work already and couldn't stay with her.

She only had him now but she was afraid of voicing it out and being a burden, after all, he had already stayed the night.

"Hey, did I go out for too long? Are you hungry? Do you wanna eat now?"

Concerns were laced in his voice.

'Why? Am I that easy to read?'

"Not really... but yeah... Let's eat now, I'm hungry."

"Ohh... Okay."

And he set the table.

They both ate silently until Yoongi decided to break the silence.

"So, what's the problem? Come on... Tell me."

"Wha- I-It's nothing."

"It's not 'nothing' Aen-ah. I can see it on your face."

Aen’s heart skipped at the suffix—'Aen-ah.'

It was so casual, so familiar, like they had known each other for years instead of days.

"S-see what?"

She looked away.

"That something is troubling you. So tell me."

'Shit.'

"Y-Yoongi..."

"Aren't we friends? You know you can tell me. At least I can try and help you with whatever's bothering you."