"The gynecology department...?" Ian asked faintly.
The question caught Aira off guard.
For a brief moment, panic flashed across her face.
Why now?
Just when she had finally made up her mind.
She couldn't let him find out.
Taking a steady breath, she forced herself to remain calm.
"Actually... um... yes, the gynecology department."
She awkwardly rubbed the back of her neck.
"It's a little embarrassing to say, but... women's problems."
The excuse came to her surprisingly fast.
Almost believable.
"But why are you here?" she asked, quickly shifting the focus.
"Oh, there was an accident on the road. I happened to be on duty, so I came to take the victim's statement. She's pregnant, so she was admitted here."
"Oh..."
Aira clasped her hands together.
She glanced at him briefly before looking away.
Anything to avoid meeting his eyes.
In the end, however, she felt her explanation wasn't convincing enough.
"Actually, I got a urinary infection. Unfortunately."
She laughed awkwardly.
Then, ignoring the possibility that her lie might backfire, she added another.
"And since I was already here, I thought I'd get my mother's prescription renewed as well."
Ian frowned slightly.
"Oh... but Aunt doesn't usually visit this hospital, right?"
Aira's heart skipped a beat.
"Is that so?"
She quickly looked down at the paper in her hand, pretending to read it.
"Oh, right. You're correct."
She laughed lightly.
"That's why I thought this place looked different. I couldn't find her doctor anywhere."
Then she immediately took a step back.
"Thank you so much. You just saved me a lot of time."
Her words came out so quickly that she barely left him any room to respond.
Ian watched her carefully.
Something felt off.
Aira had grown up in this city.
She had only been abroad for a few months.
How could she suddenly forget something so basic?
"You forgot your hometown already?" he asked with a doubtful smile.
Aira froze for a second.
Then she forced out an awkward laugh.
"No, no. I was just confused."
She knew she couldn't stay any longer.
Every additional second felt dangerous.
Without giving him another chance to question her, she turned to leave.
"Anyway, goodbye."
Then, remembering something, she added,
"And thanks for today. See you at Shasha's engagement."
As she started walking away, a voice suddenly called out from behind.
"Ma'am! The doctor is back!"
The nurse's voice echoed through the corridor.
Aira's entire body stiffened.
Panic surged through her chest.
Looking back wasn't an option.
Not now.
Not when Ian was standing right there.
She continued walking as if she hadn't heard anything.
Her pace remained steady.
Only after turning the corner did she quicken her steps and disappear from sight.
The nurse stared after her in confusion.
Then she simply shrugged and walked away.
Ian remained where he was.
For a moment, he wondered if he was imagining things.
He took a step toward the nurse, intending to ask a question.
Before he could, another voice interrupted him.
"Sir, the victim is conscious now and stable. You may question her."
"Sure..." he replied.
Yet his gaze remained fixed on the hallway where Aira had disappeared.
"Please make sure not to overstimulate her," the nurse advised. "She's still in shock."
Ian nodded.
The nurse who had called out to Aira had already left.
With no one left to ask, Ian followed the other nurse toward the ward.
Still, his thoughts lingered on the strange encounter.
Something about Aira's behavior didn't sit right with him.
Aira headed straight home.
The moment she entered the house, she hurried toward her room.
Her mother, who had been sitting in the living room, immediately noticed how flustered she looked.
"Aira?"
Aira didn't even realize her mother had called out.
She rushed into her room and shut the door behind her.
That only made her mother more concerned.
A few moments later, there was a knock on the door.
"Aira, dear, are you alright?"
Aira closed her eyes and forced herself to calm down.
Only now did she realize how suspicious she must have looked.
"Yes, Mom. I'm fine."
"Can I come in? Or could you open the door, sweetheart?" her mother asked gently.
Aira took a deep breath.
"One minute. I'm changing."
She hurried into the bathroom and splashed cold water onto her face.
The icy sensation helped clear her head.
After quickly changing clothes, she opened the door while wiping her face with a towel.
"Haaah..."
She released a dramatic sigh.
Then she smiled playfully.
"Yesss, Mommy?"
She hoped the act would ease her mother's concerns.
Unfortunately, it didn't work completely.
"Are you okay?" her mother asked. "You rushed straight to your room, and you looked panicked."
Aira laughed nervously.
"Actually, I was in a huge hurry because I really needed to use the bathroom."
Her mother blinked.
Then nodded in understanding.
"Oh."
Aira secretly celebrated her successful diversion.
"But why are you back so early?" her mother continued. "Weren't you meeting your friends? I thought you'd be out much longer."
"I did meet them."
Aira nodded.
"We had coffee together, but everyone had other things to do afterward. So I came home early too."
Before her mother could continue questioning her, Aira quickly wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"But that's not important."
She smiled warmly.
"I missed you."
Her mother laughed.
"What a smooth talker."
"I'm serious."
Aira gently turned her mother toward the living room.
"I really missed you."
"You've only been gone for two or three hours."
"So what?" Aira grinned.
"I miss you every second. Even when you're sitting right in front of me, I miss you."
Her mother shook her head in amusement.
Then something occurred to her.
"Wait. You only had coffee?"
Aira immediately nodded.
"I'm starving."
That was all it took.
Her mother's attention shifted instantly.
"Then sit down. I'll get you something to eat."
She stood up and started toward the kitchen.
Halfway there, she glanced back.
"Oh, and by the way..."
Aira looked at her.
"You should turn your dress the right way around. Wearing it inside out isn't exactly fashionable."
Aira froze.
Her mother laughed and continued into the kitchen.
Aira stood there for a moment before returning to her room.
She faced the mirror and released a long breath.
Relief washed through her.
She stared at her reflection.
The encounter at the hospital replayed repeatedly in her mind.
Would Ian tell anyone?
Had he believed her?
Would he start asking questions?
Pushing those thoughts aside for the moment, she freshened up properly before joining her mother for lunch.
The warm food soothed her nerves.
With every spoonful of soup, the tension inside her gradually melted away.
When the warmth traveled down her throat, her eyes closed briefly.
For the first time all day, she felt herself relax.
Unexpectedly, the simple meal brought her a sense of peace.
After finishing, she thanked her mother and stood up.
"Mom, I'm feeling a little tired."
She placed her dishes in the sink.
"After that meal, all I want to do is sleep."
"Then go get some rest," her mother replied.
Aira smiled and returned to her room.
The moment she lay down on her bed, her thoughts returned.
The hospital.
Ian.
The lies.
She had almost been exposed.
She had been lucky this time.
But luck wouldn't always save her.
She needed to hurry.
Staying here any longer only increased the risk.
After thinking it through carefully, she finally made a decision.
In a few days, she would return overseas and continue everything there.
That would be safer.
The following days passed quietly.
She paid close attention to her diet and health.
She didn't want any complications before the abortion.
Yet somewhere along the way, something unexpected began to happen.
The caution she had forced upon herself was slowly turning into something dangerous.
Attachment.
She had never imagined herself enjoying these moments.
Yet she found herself doing exactly that.
Her hand would occasionally drift toward her stomach without realizing it.
A strange warmth had begun settling inside her heart.
And little by little, a tenderness she hadn't expected started growing.
Something within her was changing.
Would it lead her toward a mistake?
Or had fate already chosen a different path for her?