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i glance down at jia, her face peaceful for the first time in days, her fingers still curled slightly around my jacket.

''she's learning,'' i say quietly.

''you know,'' she murmurs, ''jia's never loved anyone before.''

''she's never let herself,'' she says quietly. ''she doesn't trust people like that. she cares about me, about dad, about bora - but love?'' she shakes her head. ''i don't think she's ever let herself feel it.''

i glance down at jia, still asleep against my shoulder, her body relaxed, her lips slightly parted.

''but now,'' hana continues, her voice barely above a whisper, ''i think she does.''

i look back at her, raising an eyebrow. ''what makes you say that?''

hana tilts her head, studying me like she's figuring something out. ''because,'' she says simply, ''she looks at you differently.''

i stay silent.

''jia doesn't let people in,'' hana continues, watching me carefully. ''but she let you in. and that's not something she does unless she feels something real.''

something heavy settles in my chest because i know hana is right. i've felt it in every touch, in every kiss, in the way jia tries to push me away only to pull me back even harder.

''she's right.''

i glance up just as bora steps forward, her arms crossed, her gaze sharp.

''she loves you,'' bora says

''and,'' bora continues, stepping closer, her voice dangerously calm, ''i swear if you hurt her-''

she doesn't even finish the sentence. she just lets it hang there, her meaning clear.

i raise an eyebrow, smirking slightly despite the tension. ''what? you'll kill me?''

bora glares, her expression dead serious. ''no,'' she mutters. ''because that'd be too easy.''

hana nods beside her, arms still crossed. ''we'd make you suffer first.''

i chuckle under my breath, shaking my head. ''good to know she has her own little security team.''

''we mean it,'' bora says, her voice firm.

jia has no idea this conversation is even happening but they're right. she does love me. and i'd be a fool to ever hurt her.

i glance back up at bora, my smirk fading slightly. ''don't worry,'' i murmur, my voice lower now. ''i have no intention of hurting her.''

bora studies me for a moment before nodding. ''good.''

after another hour the waiting room is too quiet. there's an unbearable weight pressing down on all of us. then, the door opens. we all snap our heads toward it as the doctor steps inside, his expression unreadable.

''the surgery is done,'' the doctor says, his voice calm but heavy. ''but-'' he hesitates for a second before continuing, ''there have been extreme complications. he'll need to rest, and... we don't know if he'll make it through the next few days.''

i feel jia stiffen against me before she sits up abruptly, her eyes wide, still half-asleep, but fully aware of what she just heard.

''what?'' her voice comes out hoarse, her hands gripping onto my sleeve.

the doctor softens, but his words don't. ''he's stable for now, but his condition is fragile. the next few days are critical.''

hana sniffs, her arms wrapping around herself, tears already forming. bora stays quiet, her face unreadable but her eyes filled with concern.