“Open your mouth,” Alax said, holding a fork with a small piece of fruit.

“Stop it. I’m fine now — you’re treating me like a child,” Elara snapped, raising her eyebrows in irritation, though a faint smile tugged at her lips.

Ronan and Lisa were sitting on the sofa across the room, while Alax stayed close to Elara’s hospital bed, stubbornly refusing to move.

“Just open your mouth,” Alax repeated, his tone gentle but firm.

Elara sighed and finally took the bite, glaring at him playfully. Then her gaze shifted toward Ronan.
 “How did you find me?” she asked softly.

Ronan looked up from the floor. “I… found some of your things on the way. Your bag, your bottle. I just followed the trail,” he said quietly.

“Thank you,” Elara murmured. Her expression softened, her voice carrying a weight of emotion she couldn’t fully express. She wanted to say more — but when her eyes met Lisa’s, sitting right beside Ronan, she hesitated and simply nodded instead.

Lisa noticed. Her gaze flickered between Ronan, who was staring out the window to avoid looking at Elara, and Elara, who sat silently, lost in her thoughts.

“So,” Lisa said suddenly, breaking the silence, “are you two dating?” She pointed teasingly at Elara and Alax.

“No, we’re not,” Elara said immediately.

But Alax only smiled. “Not yet,” he said, placing the fruit plate aside. He turned toward Elara, gently taking her hand in his.
 “But maybe in the future,” he added softly, looking into her eyes.

Elara blinked, caught off guard. She liked Alax — she always had — but something inside her had shifted lately. Since learning the truth, her heart had become… uncertain.

“What are you talking about?” she asked, trying to pull her hand back.

“Let’s talk later,” Alax said calmly, helping her lie down. Then he turned to Ronan and Lisa. “She needs rest.”

Lisa nodded and stood up. Ronan followed her quietly as they stepped out of the room.

“You still like her,” Lisa said after a long silence in the corridor.

Ronan stopped walking. “What are you talking about?” he asked, though his tone already gave away too much.

Lisa folded her arms and smiled knowingly.

“Come on, Ronan. I’ve known you since childhood. Remember when you used to bring her those flowers? Your eyes were shining like stars those days. And when you were in Eldoria, I never saw that light again. But now — whenever you look at her — it’s back. The same shine.”

Ronan didn’t reply. He just looked away, the muscles in his jaw tightening.

“Lying to others is fine,” Lisa said gently, “but don’t lie to yourself.”

He smirked faintly. “A few hours ago, you were asking me to get back together, and now you’re saying this?”

Lisa laughed softly. “I still want you by my side. Because I’ve always loved you. But I know you never loved me. For you, I was always just your best friend.”

They stepped outside the hospital and sat on a bench in the garden.

“I didn’t even know if I loved her or not,” Ronan said after a moment. “But one thing’s always been the same — I just wanted to see her. Even if it was from far away.”

Lisa smiled faintly. “how funny….Back then, you tried to love other people but never succeeded. And then, one day, you came to me and asked me to date you — for a few months.”

They both laughed lightly at the memory.

“I thought maybe if I dated someone, I’d stop thinking about her,” Ronan said. “But nothing worked.”

“Did you ever tell her?” Lisa asked quietly.

“Yes. But She told me she liked Alax.”

Lisa took a deep breath. “I’m happy.”

Ronan turned to her. “Why? Because I forgave you?”

Lisa smiled sadly. “That too. But mostly because Elara likes Alax. Now you’ll have no choice but to end up with me.” She laughed softly. “Eventually, we’ll always come back to each other.”

Ronan smiled faintly, but there was pain hidden behind it.

“You know,” Lisa said, lowering her voice, “I used to hate her — because you loved her. Every time you saw her in Alax’s posts, your eyes would light up, and I’d feel that jealousy burn inside me. But now that I’ve met her… I can’t hate her. I tried, but…” she paused, a little embarrassed. “I think I’m drawn to her.”

Ronan frowned. “Are you saying you’re bi? Even if you are, stay away from her.”

Lisa chuckled. “I’m not. But if I were… I’d definitely date her.”

Ronan shook his head, unable to stop a small smile.

“So, are you not going to do anything?” Lisa asked, leaning back on the bench beside him. “Or are you just going to sit still and let her go?”

Ronan smiled faintly, his gaze still fixed on the hospital window glowing in the distance.
 “I won’t try to get her,” he said quietly. “I’m just… glad I can see her from this close. Honestly, I never thought I’d even get the chance.”

Lisa tilted her head. “What was her first reaction when she saw you? Did you tell her that you…”

He shook his head. “No. I didn’t tell her anything about our childhood meeting. Maybe she doesn’t even remember it. The first time I saw her again — in college — she was always with Alax. Talking, laughing, sitting beside him. And whenever she looked at me…”

He paused, and a soft, painful laugh escaped his lips. “There was something strange in her eyes. Like hate. I don’t even know why. Maybe she just misunderstood me. She thinks I’m a player.”

Lisa’s expression softened. “Ronan, I like you — but I don’t like seeing you like this. It hurts.”

Ronan finally turned to her, his smile bittersweet. “So what do you want me to do? Force her to love me back?”

Lisa held his gaze. “Could you?” she asked quietly.

He exhaled, shaking his head. “No. I can’t hurt her. I like her too much for that. I love seeing her happy — seeing her smile. I can’t stand the thought of tears in her eyes.”

His voice trembled slightly. “Seeing her in pain right now… I’m breaking inside. Every part of me wants to protect her. To hold her. But I don’t have the right to do so.”

Lisa stayed silent, watching him as his words grew softer, almost like a confession meant only for himself.

“I want to feed her,” Ronan whispered. “I want to help her stand, to give her medicine, to be the one she can rely on.”

He looked down at his hands, clenching them gently. “But all I can do is watch her from afar and hope… that Alax takes care of her the way I wish I could.”

The wind stirred quietly around them. Lisa didn’t know what to say. She just placed a gentle hand on his arm, her eyes filled with sympathy she couldn’t express aloud.

“Don’t worry,” Lisa said finally, placing a hand gently on his shoulder. “Everything will be fine soon.”

Ronan looked down at her hand, then back toward the hospital window where Elara was resting.

“I know, she will be fine, “ he said softly.

But the quiet ache in his chest refused to fade.