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The morning light filtered through the half-drawn curtains of the VIP ward, soft and pale. Yunah stirred, her lashes fluttering, opened slowly. A dull ache spread through her body — sharpest in her abdomen where the operation wound burned with every breath.
She winced and tried to lift her right hand — the one free from the IV — but froze when she felt a warm grip around it. Turning her head weakly, her gaze softened.
Noah was asleep, slumped on the edge of the bed, his head resting near her hand, his fingers locked tightly around hers as if letting go would cost him something.
Yunah's chest tightened. She tried to pull her hand back gently, careful not to wake him, but his grip only tightened. The small movement made him stir. Noah blinked awake, and when his eyes landed on hers — open, alive — his expression shifted instantly from exhaustion to raw relief.
He straightened quickly, still not letting go of her hand. "Di… you finally woke up," he said, voice trembling with both fear and relief. His eyes, heavy with sleeplessness, glistened faintly. "Are you hurting anywhere? Wait— don't talk, I'll call the doctor."
He reluctantly released her hand and grabbed the phone from the table, his tone urgent as he spoke to the hospital staff.
Yunah just stared at him — speechless, her heart strangely heavy. The worry in his voice, the tenderness in his eyes… it was more than care. Every time he claimed to stay by her side like a brother, it never quite felt like that. His concern wasn't brotherly. It was something deeper. Softer. Dangerous.
"I called the doctor," Noah said as he walked back to her bedside, his expression still clouded with worry. "He'll be here soon."
Yunah didn't looked away from him. "I'm fine," she said quietly, her voice still weak. "How did you even get here? Weren't you at home?"
Noah hesitated, then sat down beside her, his voice low. "I came back to the apartment last night. But as soon as I did… I heard you were in the OT." His voice cracked slightly, his eyes flickering downward. "Yogesh was terrified and…" He paused, then added, almost in a whisper, "I was too."
Yunah chuckled faintly, the sound small but warm. "You look cute when you're worried," she teased softly — but her tone shifted almost instantly. "How's my mother?"
"She's fine," Noah answered, reaching for an apple from the side table and a knife to peel it absently. "Just external injuries. She woke up last night and wanted to see you, but Yogesh somehow managed to calm her down."
Before Yunah could reply, the door opened and her doctor walked in, followed by a nurse. Noah, who was about to peel the apple, kept it back in it's respective place along with the knife.
"Good morning, Miss Yunah," the doctor greeted with a polite smile, moving to check her vitals. "How are you feeling? Any pain or nausea?"
"I'm fine, doctor," Yunah replied with a faint smile.
"That's good to hear." The doctor exhaled in relief, then glanced at Noah — who sat beside the bed, arms folded, silently observing every movement the doctor made. The air shifted. The doctor's posture stiffened just slightly. "She'll recover within a week," he said quickly. "Make sure she rests, and take her for short walks in the garden when she's stronger."
"Hm." Noah hummed curtly, his gaze unmoving.
Yunah's eyes darted between the two men, confused by the doctor's nervousness around Noah. "Why is he acting like he's scared of him?" she wondered.
The nurse stepped forward, holding an injection. "Miss Yunah, this might sting a little. Please bear with it, okay?"
Yunah's face instantly paled. Her throat tightened, and she swallowed hard, trembling slightly like a nervous child.
Noah couldn't help but smile faintly. He leaned closer, his voice soft but steady. "Hey," he said, catching her attention. "Don't look at it. Look at me."
Her wide, nervous eyes flicked up to his.
"If it hurts," he continued, his tone calm and reassuring, "just squeeze my hand. Or…" — a hint of a smirk tugged at his lips — "you can pinch me too. Fair deal?"
Yunah nodded hesitantly.
As the needle pricked her skin, she immediately gripped his hand tight — so tight that her knuckles turned white. Noah didn't even flinch. Instead, his fingers curled around hers in return, grounding her.
He watched her the whole time, and for a brief, suspended moment, it looked almost tender — too tender. The way her hand fit into his, the soft tremor in her breath, the quiet in the room broken only by her faint gasp.
When the nurse was done, Yunah finally relaxed, still holding onto him. Noah didn't pulled away.
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"Di!" Yogesh burst into the VIP ward, his voice trembling with relief. He rushed to Yunah's bedside and sat carefully on the edge of the bed, his eyes scanning her face. "How are you? I wanted to come the moment I heard you woke up, but Mom needed me then."
"I'm fine," Yunah replied softly, offering him a warm, reassuring smile despite her pale face. "And how's Mom? You didn't have to rush here, you could've stayed with her. Noah's been here with me, taking care of things."
"Oh really?" Yogesh turned his head towards Noah, who was lounging silently on the couch nearby, watching them with unreadable eyes. "Is he taking care of you well?" His tone carried a teasing challenge as he narrowed his eyes.
Noah arched a brow, straightening a little. "Do you have doubts about that, Yogesh?" His calm voice held a faint edge.
"Of course I do," Yogesh replied bluntly, smirking. "I doubt anyone could take better care of my sister than me."
That pulled a quiet, disbelieving chuckle from Noah. He rose from his seat and walked over to Yunah's bedside, stopping right in front of her. "Then let Di decide," he said coolly, his eyes glinting with quiet confidence.
"W–Wait, what do you mean by letting me decide?" Yunah stammered with a nervous smile, looking between the two of them with wide eyes.
"Fine," Yogesh said, standing to face Noah, arms crossed. "I'm confident too. I know she'll choose me."
Noah smirked faintly, sliding his hands into his pockets. "Don't be so sure," he said in a low, amused tone. "Let's hear what she thinks first."
The air thickened between them — two different kinds of protectiveness colliding. Noah's calm yet possessive aura met Yogesh's fiery determination, both centered on the same fragile person lying before them.
Yogesh turned to Yunah, his voice softening but still expectant. "So, Di… tell me. Who takes care of you better — your brother, or this guy who showed up just a few weeks ago?"
The room fell silent.
Yunah looked between them — at Yogesh's hopeful eyes, and then at Noah's quiet, steady gaze that spoke volumes without words. Her chest tightened. She didn't want to hurt either of them… but both were waiting for her answer, serious in their own ways.