WHEN TRAZE finally wakes up, she immediately notices the white walls surrounding her, hinting that she's not in her room. She sees her mum sleeping beside her with her hands supporting her head. Sitting straight up in bed, she tries to remember what happened last night. All she could remember was that she was waiting at the park and then, Taeyong suddenly appeared. Her thoughts get interrupted when the door swings open. Chelsie enters inside the room with a plastic bag in her hands. "Traze, how are you feeling?" the younger one asks, the moment she sees her sister already awake.

Traze just nods and forces a smile. "I'm feeling better."

"Have you eaten yet?" Chelsie asks, placing the bag on the table.

"I'm not hungry. Thank you. How long have I been here?" Traze asks, touching her temple.

Chelsie moves closer to her bed. "Don't you remember what happened last night?" Traze falls silent, shaking her head. "Taeyong brought you here and called us. Mum was so worried."

"I'm sorry," Traze mumbles, looking at her mum.

Chelsie shakes her head. "Don't be sorry, Traze. I heard that you were looking for Mark last night."

Traze nods. "We were. Did Taeyong find him?"

"Yeah. He was back at their dorm, but he couldn't call Taeyong because his phone died down."

"That's a relief, then. How about... Taeyong? Where is he?" she asks hesitantly.

"He's still outside. He didn't go home at all. Mum already thanked him and told him that he could leave, but he insisted to stay." Chelsie shrugs. "I guess he's worried about you."

I doubt that, Traze thinks. But she can't believe that Taeyong really stayed. She reckons she should at least thank him for helping him despite the misunderstanding that they had last night. "Is he still outside then?"

Chelsie nods, as Traze prepares to stand up, but the former stops her. "Where are you going?"

"I want to thank him," Traze answers.

Before Chelsie can even respond, their mum wakes up, looking at them. "Traze, hun... are you feeling alright now?"

"Yes, mum. Can Chelsie help me see Taeyong outside for a bit?" Traze asks.

Mrs. Collins pauses, looking at her, then she finally nods. "Alright, but only for a minute." Chelsie helps her sister to stand up and assists her all the way outside her room. When they reach outside, Taeyong is nowhere to be found. "He was here a few minutes ago," Chelsie says. "Maybe he just went somewhere a bit."

Traze sighs in disappointment, as they went back inside her room. She was hoping to see him and thank him for helping her so she instructs Chelsie to wake her up if she ever sees Taeyong outside again. For now, she needs to gain her energy back for her to find another job. She doesn't want to be a burden to her mum and sister, but everytime she thinks that way, she always gets herself in trouble. Maybe I should consider Prince Jaehyun's offer already, she thinks to herself, as she dozes off.

♚♚♚

TAEYONG HAS drank 2 coffees for the last few hours so his eyes aren't that heavy, despite the fact that he hasn't gotten any sleep since last night. He can't bring himself to sleep after what happened to Traze and he feels responsible for it. He feels guilty after yelling at her and leaving her alone. If he didn't do that, she's probably well and not inside the hospital room at the moment.

When Traze's mum spoke to him an hour ago, he thought she'd tell him off and blame him for what happened. But she didn't and even told him that he could go home already. He insisted to stay until she wakes up. But now that he's seeing her standing outside her room, as if looking for him, all his courage suddenly disappears. He just came back after going to the washroom, but he instantly freezes on his post a few meters away from Traze's room, hiding behind the vending machine.

He wants to ask her how she's feeling, but his throat suddenly dries up. He feels so guilty that he can't seem to face her. When his phone suddenly rings, he immediately brings it out from his pocket and answers it. "Hey blud, what is it?"

"Aren't you going to your class today?" Mark's voice echoes from the other end of the line.

Taeyong heaves a deep sigh. He can't think of going to any of his classes right now. "No, blud. If they ask, just tell them I'm sick," he answers, as he sees Traze and Chelsie going back inside the room.

"Wait, are you still at the hospital?"

"Ye."

"Is... Chelsie there? Is she not coming to school today?" Mark asks hesitantly and Taeyong can just imagine his brother scratching the back of his head in awkwardness. "I just... want to ask since we have an exam so-" he gets cut off when Taeyong finally responds.

"Chelsie's here. She's wearing her uniform. I reckon she'll go to your class, Mark. Just don't worry about me. I'll call you later," Taeyong finishes the call.

"Uh... excuse me," someone speaks, startling Taeyong from behind him. When he turns around, he sees Chelsie looking at him. "My sister wants to see you."

Taeyong doesn't answer at once. But when he hears that, he suddenly feels relieved somehow. He wants to see Traze as well, but of course he won't say that. "Ah..." He pauses, nodding at Chelsie. "How is she?"

"She said she's feeling better. You can just go inside the room. I reckon she'll be elated to see you," Chelsie says, smiling.

But Taeyong shakes his head. "I'll just stay right here."

"Are you sure?" she asks, to which he responds with a nod. "Alright then. I'll get going. Thank you again for helping Traze."

When Taeyong is left alone again, he stays still, thinking about what Chelsie told him. He wants to see Traze as well anyway. Maybe he should just go. When he finally makes up his mind, he walks towards the directions of her room and knocks on the door. After a few knocks and still there's no answer, he opens it a bit and peeks inside. Her mum isn't there, only Traze.

Slowly, he makes his way in and walks near her bed. She's now sleeping soundly again that he can hear soft snores coming from her mouth. Looking at her pale face, Taeyong remembers how dejected she was last night, but even so, she kept on cheering him on and never left him just to find Mark. Instead, he was the one who left her all alone.

"I'm sorry..." he mumbles, still staring at her. "I shouldn't have taken my anger out on you. My life is just so f*cked up." He pauses, sighing. "I know you'd do the same if something bad ever happens to your sister or your mum. I guess that's one thing we have in common."

Taeyong looks at her for the last time and prepares to leave. Just then, Traze's eyes prop open, catching his gaze and holding his hand to stop him.

♚♚♚

THE MOMENT Traze recognizes Taeyong's voice speaking next to her, she immediately wants to talk to him, but she waits until he finishes whatever he wants to tell her because she knows that he might not be able to tell it when she's awake. When she realizes that he's about to leave, she opens her eyes and sees him still looking at her. "Taeyong..." she says in a soft voice.

"Traze... you're awake?" he asks.

She nods, still not letting go of his hand. "Thank you last night. I owe you one again."

"You don't have to repay me," he answers, looking at Traze's hand still gripping his arm.

When Traze notices this, she quickly drops her hand and looks away. "I know you'd say that. I'm glad that nothing bad happened to Mark."

Taeyong nods. "Ye. But this happened to you."

Traze shakes her head. "I'm just really prone to sickness."

"Then, why are you still exhausting yourself to work?"

"Please don't lecture me about that. I need to work for us to live," she says matter-of-factly.

Taeyong sighs. "Yuta's family owns a gym and they're hiring. If you're still looking for a job, I can tell him that you're-" he stops, when Traze suddenly speaks.

"Yes, please. That'd be a huge help," she says in delight, almost forgetting that she's still sick.

He nods, looking at her again. Seeing her smile suddenly makes him warm inside for some reason. "Alright. I'll tell him. I... should go now."

"Wait, Taeyong..." Traze stops him by the arm again, still smiling at him. "I really appreciate it."

A/N: Hello guys! It's been a while again, yeah? Hope you're still with me in this story. If not, I understand. I'm really trying my best to update this still so I hope you won't leave this until the end.  Let me know your thoughts about this chap. ^^

Thank you for reading again! <3

~neoluv