“Thank you.” Mother cradles my head and rests it on her lap, she caresses my hair and hums. “Your father’s really happy.”

“Mother, I’m comfortable here.” I straighten up and face her. “He knows. Even if he has a long commute he still visits us.” She smiles and relief washes over me because we have not conversed in so long.

“I’m sorry.” We both say and I nod in understanding. “You were just so bad, I didn’t know how to stop you.” I bite my lip, knowing that I did wrong.

“Are you sure about tomorrow?” She asks me, seemingly annoying me to have asked the question for more than a few times. “Yes, mother.” I pull the sheets up and turn to my side to sleep.

“Am I on time?” Ravi’s back was turned to me but I recognize him. His jacket was dotted with raindrops and my eyes instantly look over his shoulders, almost listening in as he breathes.

“You’re late.” He turns and gives me a serious look which then quickly changes as I am figuring out what he meant. “Just kidding.” He chuckles with his low voice and walks towards a hallway, footsteps slowing down to match my pace.

The hospital seemed so vague, last time I was here I was in such a hurry to leave but the feeling was strangely unfamiliar even though the bright lights and the antiseptic smell of the environment is the same.

“You look more nervous than me.” He returns with a loose fitting hospital gown and catches me looking around the room while seated stiffly.

“Miss, you need to wait outside.” Machines made strange clicking sounds and my hands clutched on the arms of the chair, confirming Ravi’s conclusion. My eyes gaze towards him and he nods, assuring me.

I sat on the chairs adjacent to the room, Ravi was not examined for a long time but it felt like a long stretch of idle time for me. People rarely walked this hall, and if some people do, most of them are the hospital staff just dashing away busy with their work.

My eyes gazed over the door and kept it there until he was already dressed and exits the room. He smiled immediately as his eyes fall on me.

 “Will you be okay?” He was holding in his hands the results of his tests. He offered to walk me to the bus stop but I rejected. I wanted some alone time and walking leisurely seemed like the best idea.

“Danbi. Thank you.” He holds my hand and slightly tightens his grip as he was whispering his gratitude. The way he says my name makes me realize that he’s the only one who calls me by my name but it doesn’t matter anyway Danbi is not my real name. I smile and bow to say goodbye, walking slowly to the direction of the bus stop.

I peeked over my phone and saw it was only 3pm in the afternoon but the sky looked dark and it seemed like it was already 6pm. The wind was cool but not as cool as the still, sterile wind inside the hospital. I gazed over the hospital garden and my feet carried me towards it.

Unlike the hallways, this time every person I pass had their eyes glued on me. Maybe it’s the better lighting or the cool wind lifting everybody’s spirits. I don’t know about them but the greenery contrasting with tall infrastructures certainly makes me feel good.

I sat on a bench and was immediately joined by a nurse pushing a senile woman on a wheelchair. She didn’t have tubes attached on her arm and looks harried. “Pretty~” The old woman managed to say. The nurse smiles in response as I look over to them. “Thank you.” I sincerely say and rest my eyes on her faded and discolored ones. Her eyes must have been black or brown but now they look like murky grey.

The sky reflected my feelings; I felt empathy for the woman. Who knew I would have such feelings and towards a mere human at that. Slowly the raindrops grew and they bade goodbye but I remained seated. “I think we should go now.” Ravi’s low voice shook me out of my trance. He was holding a clear umbrella and his hand was outstretched to hold my forearm and pull me up from being seated.

“You have not gone home?” My eyebrows met. “How could I leave you when you’re looking like that?” Our shoulders were connected yet the small umbrella could not prevent the raindrops from wetting the other half of our bodies.

I gave him an incredulous look and he just chuckles, guiding me forward so as to not get us anymore wet than we already are. “We’re going home.” He announces. Now my back was connected against his chest and I could not prevent my curiosity as I walked slower so that each time my back touches his chest I get a faint idea of how well he’s breathing. I almost frowned at his decision when he stops me.

“I can’t go home without an umbrella, so you’re coming with me.” After what he said, I wanted to frown even more but it was no use, he can’t even see my face.

“Are you done?” He slides the door open, I was dressed, just looking around the room but my shoulders did a little jump and my hand immediately rested on my chest. “Oh, sorry.” He smiled, amused with my reaction.

He gathers my clothes from my hands and I clutch tighter on them, he opens my tightly formed fists, successfully getting my damp clothes, and he sits on the floor. “Where is the owner of this room?” I follow him and situate myself beside him, the warmth of the floor spreading onto my body.

“Younger sister, she should be home by now.” He grabbed a few things from what I suspect is his room and throws the clock a look.

I nod. He threads my clothes in a bunch of plastic things. “What’s that?” “I’m hanging your clothes to dry.” He stands and answers without looking at me.

“So, I’m hungry. You’re a girl, why don’t you help me cook?” It felt like the floor was burning because my cheeks flushed and sweat dripped from my neck to my chest. “Excuse me?” I stand up, his back was to me approaching the kitchen. My teeth were gritted shut and a scowl