The morning light crept into the hospital room, soft and golden, brushing over the s walls and the pale figure on the bed. Jeff lay still, the rhythmic beeping of the monitor the only sound breaking the silence.
Jenn hadn't slept. She sat beside him, her head resting on her folded arms near his hand. Her eyes were red, her fingers gently touching his. Every minute felt endless.
Carlos had dozed off in a chair near the corner, but Jenn stayed awake. She couldn't leave, not until he woke up. Not until she saw him open his eyes.
"Jeff," she whispered softly. "Please wake up. Just once… let me know you can hear me."
Her voice cracked, tears spilling silently down her cheeks. "You promised me we'd fix things. You don't get to leave now."
The sound of the machines filled the silence again. Then — faintly, barely there — she felt movement.
Jenn's head snapped up.
Jeff's fingers twitched.
"Carlos!" she gasped. "Carlos, he's—"
Before she could finish, Jeff's eyes fluttered open, squinting weakly at the light. His breathing deepened, his chest rising with more effort this time.
"Jeff?" Jenn breathed, voice trembling.
His eyes searched the blurry room, confusion flickering across his face until they landed on her. His lips parted, a whisper escaping—
"Jenn…"
Tears blurred her vision instantly. She grabbed his hand, pressing it against her cheek. "You're awake. You're really awake."
Carlos was already on his feet, calling for the doctor. Nurses rushed in, checking his vitals, asking questions, but Jenn couldn't hear them. All she could see was Jeff — alive, looking at her, trying to smile.
When the room cleared again, Jeff's voice came faintly. "You've… been here?"
Jenn nodded, wiping her tears. "I didn't leave."
His eyes softened. "Why?"
Her voice broke. "Because I was scared to lose you. Because I still care, Jeff. No matter how much I tried to stop."
He closed his eyes briefly, tears sliding down his temple. "I'm sorry for making you cry again."
Jenn shook her head quickly. "Don't. Just focus on getting better."
Jeff tried to smile, weak but real. "If you're here… I'm already better."
She pressed her forehead gently against his hand, holding it tighter, whispering, "You're impossible."
"I know," he murmured with a faint chuckle that turned into a cough.
She shushed him softly, helping him rest his head. For a long time, neither of them spoke — their silence said enough.
⸻
Across town, Alden sat behind the wheel of his car in the school parking lot, staring at nothing in particular. He'd barely slept either.
His mind kept replaying the hospital — the sight of Jenn sitting beside Jeff's bed, her tears, the way she looked at him like the rest of the world didn't exist.
He gripped the steering wheel, jaw clenched.
When he finally stepped out of the car, his face was calm — but inside, everything burned.
Students greeted him as usual, but he barely responded. His brothers noticed the shift, the silence that followed him like a shadow.
As he walked toward the hallway, Tessie appeared — her bright smile dimming the moment she saw his distant expression.
"Alden! Hey, I was waiting for you," she said, jogging slightly to match his pace. "You've been so quiet lately. Everything okay?"
He didn't stop walking. "I'm fine."
"Come on," she tried again. "You've been avoiding everyone. Is it about another girl again? and oh, your nanny"
Alden's steps faltered for half a second — then continued. "Don't talk about her."
Tessie blinked. "Alden, I'm just trying to help—"
"By what?" he snapped suddenly, turning toward her. His voice wasn't loud, but the edge in it made her step back. "By asking questions you don't understand?"
Tessie's lips parted, hurt flickering in her eyes. "I didn't mean—"
"I know you didn't," he cut in, exhaling sharply. "Just… not now, Tessie."
She stood frozen as he walked away, her heart sinking at the wall he'd just built between them.
Alden moved through the corridor, his mind in chaos. Every time he tried to hate Jeff, he couldn't. Every time he tried to forget Jenn, she'd appear again in his thoughts — smiling, crying, breaking him in silence.
He leaned against his locker, rubbing his temples. "Get it together," he muttered under his breath.
But deep down, he knew he was losing the fight.
⸻
Back in the hospital, Jenn sat quietly beside Jeff again after the doctor's checkup.
"They said you're going to be fine," she said softly.
"You scared me,Jeff."
He gave a faint smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Guess I have a habit of doing that."
Jenn shook her head, a tear slipping down her cheek. "Don't joke about that. You could've—"
Her voice caught before she could finish the sentence.
Jeff looked at her quietly for a moment. His chest tightened — not from pain, but from the weight of what they'd been through.
"I didn't mean for any of this to happen," he said softly. "I just… needed to think. To breathe."
Jenn wiped her face with the back of her hand. "You don't need to explain. I understand."
He frowned. "Do you?"
Her gaze dropped to their intertwined hands. "I do. We both made mistakes, Jeff. I got scared. I thought I was doing the right thing by walking away, but maybe… maybe I just made things worse."
Jeff gave a small smile. "Guess you're stuck with me then."
She rolled her eyes gently, but her smile betrayed her relief. "Don't push it."
He looked at her, gaze steady. "Jenn, about us…"
She shook her head, cutting him off. "Not now. Let's just… take things slow, okay? One step at a time."
Jeff nodded slowly, his expression tender. "I can do that."
Jenn exhaled, resting her head beside his arm on the bed. He hesitated, then placed his hand gently on her hair.
For a moment, everything was still.
The pain, the fights, the misunderstandings — all seemed to fade in the quiet rhythm of their breathing.
Jenn closed her eyes, whispering to herself, Maybe this time, we can fix it.
⸻
Meanwhile, outside the hospital, Alden's car pulled up again. He hadn't planned to come — he just drove without thinking.
He sat there for several minutes, staring at the tall building, knowing exactly where she was inside.
He clenched his fists. "I can't compete with that," he murmured bitterly.
And yet, he couldn't leave.
Because no matter how much he tried to move on, his heart still pointed in one direction — toward the girl who was already looking at someone else.
⸻