Aurora was awakened by the smell of disinfectant, a scent all too familiar to her. As a child, her frail health meant frequent hospital visits, and sure enough, as she opened her eyes, she was greeted by the stark white hospital ceiling.
A few nurses in pink uniforms were nearby, and the drip of IV fluids slowly entered her body. Her mouth was so dry it felt like it was on fire, which was very uncomfortable. However, she wondered, how had she ended up in the hospital?
Turning her head, she saw Julian standing by the window with his hands behind his back. It was deep into the night; the world was silent except for the full moon hanging in the sky. His tall silhouette seemed to be touched by the night’s dew, exuding a chill and melancholy air.
“Julian…” her voice raspy as she spoke.
Hearing her faint voice, Julian quickly closed the distance to her bedside, looking at her with concern.
“Little Bunny, how are you feeling? Is there any discomfort? Are you thirsty or hungry?” Julian bombarded her with questions, and Aurora didn’t know where to begin.
She shook her head, “I’m fine, just a bit thirsty. Could you get me a cup of water?”
“Alright, just wait a moment.”
Julian turned to walk towards the table, but Aurora caught a strong scent of smoke on him. The man before her didn’t smoke, just as she was gradually quitting, but his smell wasn’t from smoking just one or two cigarettes.
Only when deeply troubled did he smoke excessively-could it be that he was too worried about her? Given Julian’s feelings for her, it wasn’t impossible.
Julian quickly returned with a cup of water, and the nurse helped Aurora sit up. Julian, as if afraid she couldn’t drink on her own, even prepared a small spoon for her, which was no help at all for her thirst.
“Julian, it’s just a little cold, no need to be so careful, I can manage,” she said, taking the cup from his hand and drinking it all in one go.
“Slow down, no one is fighting you for it,” Julian said worriedly, as if she might choke just by drinking water.
“Julian, aren’t you overreacting a bit? It’s just water; you don’t need to worry so much,” Aurora said with a slight smile.
“Take her temperature,” Julian instructed a nearby nurse.
“Little Bunny, you don’t realize how high your fever was.”
“I caught a chill the night before last; I thought it was just a minor cold and that drinking more hot water would suffice, but I didn’t expect to become so severely ill,” Aurora reflected, realizing it had been a long time since she’d last been sick, and when she did fall ill, it hit hard.
“Later on…” Julian was about to say more when someone burst through the door.
“Julian, I’ve warned you before, do not harm her,” Asher stormed in, his anger palpable as he landed a punch directly on Julian’s face.
“Ashy, stop!” Aurora was startled by his sudden attack.
Julian had already thrown a punch in retaliation, but remembering that Asher was Aurora’s most important family member, he forcefully restrained himself.
“What are you doing? If you want to go crazy, go back to New York,” he said darkly, his face menacing. Never before had anyone dared to strike him, and yet, for this person, he could not strike back. His inner rage and forced restraint made the veins on his clenched fists stand out.
“What have you done to her? How did she end up in the hospital!”
“Ashy, I’m okay, I really am,” Aurora assured, puzzled by Asher’s explosive temper.
“Aurora, I’ve always told you, if he ever mistreats you, I’m your support, forever. I’ll take care of you for life. No one in this world should make you sad, especially not for his sake. Come on, let’s not stay here anymore, let’s go back.”
“Ashy, could you have misunderstood something?”
“Isn’t it this bastard who has been bullying you, making you unable to even eat? Is your stomach acting up again? Little fox, seeing you like this breaks my heart,” Asher said, pulling Aurora into his arms.
Aurora, aware of how long Asher had flown to get there, rested her head on his shoulder and gently patted his back.
“Ashy, I know you care about me, but things aren’t as you imagine. You’ve misunderstood; Julian hasn’t bullied me,” Aurora spoke softly.
“If he hasn’t bullied you, then why are you lying here?”
Julian watched the embracing pair. If it were anyone else touching Aurora, the consequences would be dire, but not for Asher.
Over those three years, he had been not only a relative to Aurora but also her emotional pillar. Though not lovers, their relationship was just as profound.
This was something he could never be a part of, after all, it was Asher who had been with her when she needed support the most.
After holding her for a while, he finally stepped forward to pull Asher away, “Alright, enough hugging, and you’ve had your say. Now, why are you here?”
“It’s because of this jerk,” Asher grumbled as he recounted the events.
“You flew all the way here just because I skipped breakfast?” Aurora had always known Asher cared deeply for her, but she hadn’t realized the extent of his devotion.
Though Asher often joked, he valued her more than anyone else in his heart.
“You know your own body. Remember how scary it was the last time you had an attack? I thought surely this jerk had mistreated you, and since I’m your only family, I had to come help. Little fox, I won’t let anyone bully you,” Asher said as he gently rubbed her head.
Even knowing Aurora didn’t love him romantically, Julian couldn’t help feeling jealous of their close bond, suppressing the sourness in his heart.
“Things aren’t as you think. Let me explain what happened,” Julian said, dismissing all the nurses so just the three of them remained. He then narrated everything.
Having heard the story, Asher’s eyes blazed with fury, “Outrageous, that scumbag, how dare he do such a thing!”
“Ashy, don’t be angry anymore. Julian has already dealt with him, and I’ll be careful from now on to avoid any dealings with him. You didn’t fly all the way here just to get angry, right? Come on, cool down, look at Julian, look at his face.”
After calming Asher, Aurora then had to soothe Julian, who had taken a punch and was silently enduring, all for her sake-his love as deep as the sea.