As soon as Lucian realized Kai had run away, panic seized him. "Ohh, please, someone help us! I need to take her to the hospital!"
Suddenly, Lele arrived, rushing through the crowd. "Ohh, Aerin, what happened, Lucian!? I was at tennis practice! Ohh, she fell again?" Lele was worried.
"Lele, can you help me take Aerin to the doctor?" Lucian pleaded. They both tried to lift her.
Just then, Rowan, who had been lingering nearby, saw the scene. Without a word, he strode over, easily scooped Aerin into his arms, and headed toward the car park. All three got into Rowan's car, and he sped toward the hospital.
"Does this always happen?" Lucian asked Lele, his voice tight.
"Ah, almost. Whenever she sees a green jersey person. You know what happened to her six months ago," Lele said, her voice dropping. She continued, "Whenever she falls unconscious, we try to call her parents, but after a few minutes, she gets conscious and goes straight back home without continuing classes."
"Ohh," Lucian worriedly watched Aerin.
Aerin stirred slightly. "Ah, it's okay. I need to go home," she murmured.
"No, you need to go to the hospital!" Lucian insisted, pulling out his phone. "Aunt Rosy, are you home?" Lucian asked Aerin's mother.
"What happened, Lucian? Did Aerin get unconscious again?" Rosy's voice was sharp with worry.
"Yes, Aunt. We're taking her to Dr. Sebastian's hospital. Isn't he your family doctor, too?" Lucian asked.
"Yes, she's taking treatment there. Let me come there in a minute!" Rosy said, ending the call.
At the hospital, Dr. Sebastian was talking with Rosy inside the cabin. Lele sat outside, worried. Lucian and Rowan sat opposite her. Rowan gave Lucian a significant look, signaling him to come with him to the restroom.
"Ah, Lele, wait here. I'll be back," Lucian said, following Rowan.
When he entered, Rowan cornered him, his eyes filled with confusion. "What is this, Lucian? What is happening here!?"
"I know how you feel now, Rowan, but this is the reality of my life," Lucian said, running a hand through his hair. "Both of my childhood friends are suffering with health issues. One is suffering from frustration and loss since childhood, and the other is suffering from trauma from six months ago!"
"Ohhh, so you're suffering between two mentally ill people," Rowan said bluntly.
"Don't say it like that! I know how you all see me now, but both are my friends! I can't see them suffering," Lucian defended himself, his voice shaking.
"Ahhh, don't tell me your and Kai's past is involved with Aerin's trauma as well," Rowan asked, suddenly suspicious.
Lucian's composure crumbled. He remembered flashes of his difficult history with Kai and Aerin. "Ahhh... haa... nothing! There's nothing... You said you were never going to ask about my past...?" Lucian's voice was strained and suspicious.
"Yes, I said that, but I'm asking because I'm worried about all three of you now! Is it that serious?" Rowan pressed.
"Don't ask me this again, Rowan, if you don't want me to be upset!" Lucian insisted, cutting off the conversation and walking back out.
Rowan stood there, confused and worried, watching Lucian's strained denial. What happened between them?
Lucian went straight to Aerin's ward. She was already awake.
"Ah, really, how many times do I have to say this? Was it necessary to come back here again?" Lucian scolded her.
"Lucian...!" Aerin started.
"You shut up! Don't talk! Aunt, you tell me! Don't you all worry about your daughter at all? If not, tell me, I'll call my dad and mom and take her abroad!" Lucian threatened.
"Ohh, Lucian, you don't know how much she forced us to back here!" Rosy sighed. "For us, she's our only daughter, and her father is overly affectionate—you know that already! That's why he himself let her come back here with me. He stayed back for business."
"Ahhh, Uncle really did a bad thing. Is education here really that necessary?" Lucian muttered.
"Ohh, Lucian, you already know she's not here for the education. She's here for that guy who helped her!" Rosy confessed.
Lucian's eyes went wide. Aerin took Lucian's hand. "You know, Lucian, at that time, I fought so much against those three guys! But when I was hurt and unconscious, I don't know where Kai came from! At the time I became bit conscious, I only saw Kai picking me up, and you were worried beside him, taking me to the hospital! You both are my life savers!"
Aerin's eyes shone with devotion. "At the time, I didn't even know who Kai was at all. But now I know him, and my heart says he's my life partner. That's why I'm here! It's okay if my illness is the worst, but if Kai loves me and is beside me, that's my life fulfilled," Aerin finished.
Lucian pulled his hand away, his hands shaking violently. Tears sprang to his eyes. "Ahhh, I'll be back for a minute!" He rushed outside the ward.
Rowan was right there. Seeing Lucian's distress, he walked over and gently wiped a tear from his cheek. "It's okay. You'll handle this," Rowan boosted him.
Lucian's mind raced. Ohhh, Aerin loves Kai this much... what if she finds out Kai was...? His thoughts abruptly shifted. Oh, where's Kai?
"Ahhh, Rowan, did you see Kai? Where did he run?" Lucian asked frantically.
"Haa, no. When I tried to go back to my science department, I didn't see him. I guess before I came there, he had already run," Rowan said.
"Where did he go? Where?
Did he go to his old house!?"
Lucian worried, knowing Kai only went there when he was under extreme stress or guilt.