Chapter 1: The Accident
POV: New
The world blurred in red and white. Sirens, shoes slapping against wet asphalt, voices shouting. All I could focus on was the name hammering in my chest - Tay. Tay. Tay.
By the time I stumbled into the hospital, my shirt clung to me, sweat and rain tangled in my hair. I grabbed the front desk, breathless.
"Accident victim - Tawan - Tay. Where is he?"
The nurse didn't answer at first, just looked at me with pity,I didn't have time to understand. Finally, she nodded toward the end of the corridor. "Room 307. He's there."
I ran. My heart pounded with each fluorescent light I passed until I skidded to the doorway.
There.
Tay lay on the bed, pale, an oxygen tube under his nose, IV line dripping. His eyes fluttered open weakly, but when they landed on me, a small smile appeared.
"New..." His voice was hoarse, a whisper.
Relief broke through the terror. I rushed to his side, clutching his cold hand. "You're awake. God, you're alive. Don't ever do this to me again, do you hear me?"
Tay's lips curved faintly. "Sorry... scared you."
My throat tightened. You nearly destroyed me. But I couldn't say that. Instead, I squeezed tighter, as though I could anchor him to the world by sheer force of will.
POV: Tay
Through the haze of pain, I saw New - wide eyes, trembling lips, a hand clutching mine like it was the only thing keeping me here. Maybe it was.
How long had I waited for this moment? To see his face so close, unguarded, so raw with emotion.
"I'm still here," I whispered, though every word burned like ice. "As long as you stay... I'll be here."
POV: New
I sat down heavily on the chair by the bed. My hands wouldn't stop shaking. "They said it was bad. The car-" I cut myself off, choking. I couldn't bring myself to describe the wreckage.
Tay squeezed faintly. "But I'm here."
"Yes. You're here," I echoed. I forced a watery smile, brushing the damp hair off his forehead. "And you're not leaving me, you stubborn idiot. I'll be here every second. I'll talk, you'll listen. That's the deal, okay?"
He gave the smallest nod.
I let out a shaky laugh, trying to keep myself together. "Remember the time you dragged me out in the middle of the night because you wanted to see the city lights from the bridge? And I froze half to death while you just stood there, saying it was 'worth it for the view.'"
Tay's lips twitched upward. "It was worth it."
I swallowed hard. "It's always worth it with you."
The room settled into silence, broken only by the faint beeping of machines. For the first time since the phone call, I let my head drop onto his arm, whispering into the sleeve of his hospital gown.
"Don't leave me. Please."
And though he didn't answer, I swore I felt the faintest stroke of fingers against my hair.
✨ End of Chapter 1 ✨
