(Anxin's POV)
The room feels—
Different.
Heavier.
Colder.
—
Jisung is sitting by the window.
Calm.
Composed.
Like nothing happened.
Like he didn't just disappear.
Like he didn't make the entire floor feel unsafe.
—
And behind me—
I can feel him.
Hedi.
Standing there.
Silent.
Watching.
—
I don't turn.
But I know.
I just know.
—
"You left your room," I say, keeping my voice steady.
Professional.
Controlled.
"Did I?" Jisung replies lightly.
My grip tightens slightly around the file.
"You weren't here."
"And now I am."
That smile again.
Too calm.
Too… aware.
—
(Hedi's POV)
He's playing.
Not careless.
Not reckless.
—
Intentional.
—
I step inside.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
—
The air shifts instantly.
—
Jisung's gaze moves.
From her—
To me.
—
And for the first time—
His smile changes.
Not gone.
But sharper.
More interested.
—
"So," he says softly,
"you finally came."
—
(Anxin's POV)
…Finally?
My eyes flicker between them.
What does that mean?
—
"Hedi—" I start.
"Stay back," he says.
Calm.
But firm.
—
That tone again.
The one that doesn't leave room for argument.
—
I don't move.
But I don't step forward either.
—
(Hedi's POV)
He knows who I am.
That's clear.
—
"Leaving your room without authorization," I say evenly,
"isn't a good idea."
Jisung leans back slightly.
Relaxed.
Unbothered.
"Is that a threat?"
"It's a fact."
—
Silence.
—
(Jisung)
"You're interesting," he says, studying me.
"And you're reckless."
"Am I?"
"You don't disappear in places like this unless you want attention."
A small pause.
Then—
"Or you want something."
—
(Anxin's POV)
What is happening?
This doesn't feel like a normal conversation.
This doesn't feel like—
Doctor and patient.
—
It feels like something else.
Something I don't understand.
—
(Jisung)
"And what do you think I want?" he asks.
—
(Hedi)
My gaze doesn't shift.
"Her."
—
Silence.
—
(Anxin's POV)
My heart stops.
"What—?"
—
Jisung laughs softly.
Not loud.
Not dramatic.
Just—
Amused.
—
"That's a bold assumption."
"It's an accurate one."
"And if it is?"
—
The room tightens.
The air sharpens.
—
(Hedi's POV)
Then I take one step closer.
Not aggressive.
Not rushed.
—
Controlled.
—
"Then you stay away from her."
—
(Anxin's POV)
"Hedi—"
"Stay out of this," he says without looking at me.
—
I freeze.
—
Why does that—
Hurt?
—
(Jisung)
"She doesn't seem like someone who needs permission," he says calmly.
"She doesn't."
"Then why are you speaking for her?"
—
Silence.
—
(Hedi)
Because she won't see it.
Because she trusts too easily.
Because she doesn't know what you are.
But I don't say any of that.
—
Instead—
"I don't repeat myself," I say.
—
(Jisung)
"And I don't follow orders."
A pause.
Then—
"Especially not from someone like you."
—
(Anxin's POV)
Someone like you?
What does that mean?
—
My head is starting to spin.
Nothing makes sense anymore.
—
"Enough," I say, stepping forward slightly.
Both of them go silent.
—
"This is a hospital," I continue, trying to ground the situation.
"You're a patient," I look at Jisung.
"And you—" I turn to Hedi.
"You're making this worse."
—
A pause.
—
Then—
Something changes.
—
(Jisung)
He smiles again.
But this time—
It's different.
Softer.
Almost harmless.
—
"Of course, doctor," he says lightly.
"My mistake."
—
Just like that.
The tension drops.
Too quickly.
Too easily.
—
(Hedi's POV)
He backed down.
—
No.
Not backed down.
—
Paused.
—
(Anxin's POV)
I exhale slowly.
Finally.
—
"Stay in your room," I say firmly.
He nods.
Compliant.
Perfect.
—
Too perfect.
—
I turn toward Hedi.
"You too."
—
He looks at me.
And for a second—
That softness is back.
—
"Come outside," he says quietly.
—
(Corridor)
The door closes behind us.
—
"What was that?" I ask immediately.
"That's what I'm trying to tell you."
"Then tell me."
—
He looks at me.
Long.
Steady.
—
"I don't trust him."
"That's not enough."
"It is for me."
"That's not how this works."
—
Frustration rises.
On both sides.
—
"You're not listening," he says.
"And you're not explaining."
—
Silence.
—
Then—
"I'm trying to keep you safe."
—
My chest tightens.
"…From what?"
—
A pause.
Longer this time.
—
Then—
"Something you're not ready to deal with."
—
I stare at him.
And for the first time—
That sentence doesn't feel protective.
—
It feels like a wall.
—
"I don't need you to decide that for me," I say quietly.
—
(Hedi's POV)
She's slipping out of my control.
—
And I hate that.
—
(Anxin's POV)
"I have patients to take care of," I say.
"And he's one of them."
—
Another pause.
—
"Fine," he says.
But his tone—
Is anything but.
—
Inside the room—
Jisung sits quietly.
—
Listening.
—
And as the voices fade—
A slow smile forms on his face.
—
Because now—
He knows exactly where the line is.
—
And more importantly—
How to cross it.