Author POV
The sun had risen fully now, flooding the room with golden light that felt wrong somehow. Too bright. Too cheerful.
The hospital room smelled like antiseptic and exhaustion.
Liam slept in the hospital bed, his face pale against the white pillow, his arm stretched out with an IV drip attached. He looked smaller than usual.
His mother Mrs Luna Cassat beside him, her hand wrapped around his, her head bowed. She had not moved from that position in hours. She had not eaten. She had not slept. Since Liam was placed in a private room.
Most of the others required medical attention themselves, the hospital staff had placed them in the emergency waiting lounge near the emergency department. That way, the nurses could monitor them while Liam underwent his examination in private.
Adrian sat in the corner, his head back against the wall, his eyes closed. He was not sleeping.
Josh sat across from him, his expression unreadable. He had not said much since they arrived at the hospital.
Nika had her feet propped up on a chair. The bandage on her forehead was stark white against her skin. She kept touching it.
"Stop touching it," Mira said without looking up from her phone.
"It itches," Nika said.
"It is healing."
"It is annoying."
"Your face is annoying."
Mira's fingers moved across the screen, typing something, deleting it, typing again. She had been doing this for hours searching, tracking, trying to find any information about Kairo that the police had missed. Her broken finger was splinted and wrapped, but she did not let that stop her.
Aira sat curled in a chair near the corner, her knees pulled up to her chest, her arms wrapped around them. She had not spoken since they left the warehouse.
Enzo, Marco, Diego, and Eren sat in a loose cluster, talking quietly not loud enough for anyone else to hear. Enzo had a bandage wrapped around his forearm. Marco was icing his wrist. Diego had a black eye that was already starting to purple. Eren had a cut on his cheek.
They had fought well.
They had fought together.
And they had won.
Zayn stood by the window. Ruz stood beside him, mirroring his posture with her arms crossed over her chest. Her expression remained calm as she stared out at the hospital grounds. Bandages covered their wounds, and the pain in their injured ribs flared with even the slightest movement.
Rifat sat alone at the far end of the room, his hands clasped between his knees, his head bowed. His shoulders were tense.
No one bothered him.
They all understood.
Azmain walked into the room.
The door opened slowly, quietly, like he did not want to announce his presence. Everyone looked up and straightened.
He looked tired.
Dark circles under his eyes looked like bruises. His shirt was wrinkled, his tie loose and crooked, his hair uncombed. He looked like he had aged ten years in the past twelve hours.
He sat down in the empty chair.
No one spoke.
"I am not going to yell at you," he said finally.
Everyone blinked.
A pause.
"I am too tired to yell. And honestly..." he looked around at their bandages, their bruises, their exhausted faces, their bloodshot eyes and trembling hands, "...you look like you have been yelled at enough for one night."
Adrian opened his eyes.
"That is surprisingly mature of you."
"Shut up."
They all snorted at once.
Azmain leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his hands clasped together. He looked at each of them in turn not just glanced, but took the time to see them.
"What you did was stupid," he said. "Reckless. Dangerous."
He paused, letting the words settle.
"But you also saved your friend. You went into a situation that grown adults would have run from, but you didn't, You fought. You won. And you brought him home."
His voice dropped. Quieter now. Almost gentle.
"I am angry at you. But I am also proud of you, you all."
No one knew what to say.
Nika broke the silence.
"...Can we have breakfast now?"
Azmain stared at her.
"Breakfast?" he repeated.
"I fought fifteen men. I earned food."
"You need medical attention."
"I need food first."
Azmain pinched the bridge of his nose.
"I am surrounded by insane people. Every single one of you. Certifiably insane."
"You raised us," Ruz pointed out.
"I raised Adrian. You were already broken when you arrived."
"That is fair too."
Azmain's expression shifted.
"Kairo is still out there," he said.
The room went quiet.
"The police are searching for him," Azmain continued. "People like Kairo don't stay hidden forever."
"He might try again," Azmain said. "To hurt Liam. To finish what he started."
Azmain looked at Ruz.
"And now," he said, "you are all involved because you stopped him, fought him."
He paused.
"You have to be more alert from now on. Be more careful. More aware. This is not a game anymore."
No one argued.
Because he was right.
Later, while the others distracted everyone on their phones with their parents, the rest scattered around the waiting room in various states of recovery, Azmain walked over to Ruz and Zayn.
They did not move. Only their eyes shifted toward him.
Azmain studied them for a moment.
"Did you notice anything tonight?"
Zayn's eyes flickered.
"The boss," he said. "Kairo. He was talking to someone on the phone."
Ruz glanced at him as Adrian and Rifat approached the group.
"I only caught part of the conversation," Zayn continued. "He said something like, 'We've got the boy. What? She's one of his friends?' Then later he said, 'Good. Let her come. This time, I'm ending her little game once and for all.'"
A thoughtful look crossed Adrian's face.
"Maybe he was talking about one of Liam's friends,one of us." he said, his gaze drifting toward Ruz.
Ruz looked back at him.
For a brief moment, something flickered in both their eyes, a realization neither of them voiced.
But neither said anything.
Liam woke up slowly.
"Mom?"
Luna lifted her head immediately, fresh tears spilling down her cheeks. "Anak, you're awake. How are you feeling?"
"Better," he said, his voice hoarse. Then his eyes narrowed at her red-rimmed eyes.
"You were crying?"
Luna wiped her soaked cheeks.
"You scared me. You were unconscious when we arrived."
"I'm alright," Liam said softly. "Ruz was there with me."
"That girl,"Luna nodded slowly. "She is brave."
"Yeah," Liam said, a faint smile touching his lips. "She always protects me."
"Always?" Luna tilted her head. "What do you mean?"
Liam hesitated, then: "Remember I told you years ago... a girl saved me once?"
Luna's eyes widened. "Yes. You were fifteen. Some guys tried to kidnap you."
Liam nodded. "It was her." His smile faded. "But she forgot me."
Luna laughed softly, a small, tired sound.
"Then make her remember. I'll send her in."
Luna stepped out and walked to the waiting room. Her face was different now, still tired, still worried, but softer somehow. Lighter. Like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders, even if only a little.
"He is awake," she said. "He is asking for you."
Everyone stood up at once.
Chaos returned immediately, chairs scraping against the floor, voices overlapping, bodies moving in every direction at the same time. Nika nearly fell over her own feet. Josh bumped into Enzo. Mira almost dropped her phone.
"One at a time," Liam's mother said, raising her hand.
They looked at each other.
Then, somehow, without discussion, they decided. They looked at Ruz.
Because Liam was really attached to her.
Ruz went first.
The room was dim when she walked in.
Liam was propped up against the pillows, his face still pale, dark circles under his eyes, an IV still attached to his arm. But his eyes were open. Conscious. Aware.
He looked at her.
"You look terrible," he said.
"You look worse," she replied.
"I was kidnapped."
"That's not a good look on anyone."
He almost smiled. Almost.
She sat down in the chair beside his bed.
"How are you feeling?" she asked.
"Better."
Silence for a moment.
"...Thank you," Liam said.
Ruz looked at him.
"For what?"
"For coming."
"I wasn't there for you."
"Then why?"
"I was bored. So I thought I should do something interesting."
"You know you are insane."
They both laughed a little.
She leaned back in the chair, her arms crossed.
"Your mom is worried about you," she said.
"I know."
"She loves you."
He didn't reply.
"Don't make her worry like this again."
He looked at her at her bandaged knuckles, at the exhaustion in her eyes.
"...I will try," he said.
Silence stretched between them again.
Then Ruz spoke.
"How do you know?"
Liam frowned.
"About what?"
"About my trauma."
She stiffened.
Did not answer.
Liam continued, his voice quiet, careful. "Do you remember saving a kid three years ago? Near the old market? He was running from some goons, and you stepped in. You fought them. You grabbed his hand and walked with him to the police station."
Ruz stared at him.
Her mind went back.
Ruz POV
I had been here on her vacation that time, I was walking around. And saw them. Two men. Large. Mean. And a boy. Around fifteen years old. Two grown men were trying to kidnap him.
The boy bit the ear of the man who held him,
The boy escaped and ran.
They chased him.
I stepped into their path.
I didn't think about it. I didn't plan it. Didn't consider the consequences. I just moved. Coz I was angry that day, not at them, at Adrian I fought him that day, a serious one.
"Leave him alone," I warned them.
One of the men laughed.
"Move, little girl. This doesn't concern you."
"It concerns me now."
I was also fifteen then.
"You should've stayed home, kid," one of them sneered.
I rolled her shoulders. "You should've brought more people."
The first man reached for my arm. I sidestepped and drove my elbow into his ribs.
A crack.
He stumbled back with a gasp.
That boy watched, shocked, and took a step back.
The second man swung at my head. I ducked. A punch to his stomach. A kick to his knee. He dropped to one leg.
That boy clapped and guided me: "Look behind!"
The first man cursed and rushed me again.
"Hold still!"
"No."
I grabbed his arm, twisted, and threw him into his partner. Both men crashed to the ground.
I stood over them, calm and breathing steadily.
One of the men groaned.
"What are you?"
She looked down at him.
"The reason your boss is about to have a very bad day."
I grabbed that boy's hand.
"Let's go to the police station first."
We walked together. That boy stared at me the whole way, opening his mouth, amused.
Through side streets. Through the crowded market where the men couldn't follow us as easily.
We reached the police station.
I made sure he was safe.
I looked at him.
"You should be more careful," I said.
"Thank you," he said.
"Stay safe."
"What's your…."
I was already walking away. I wasn't interested in him.
I didn't hear the rest of his question.
I didn't look back.
The Present
"That was you?" I said.
Liam nodded.
"That was me."
"You remembered. When I transferred to Monterrazas you knew me."
"Yes."
"That's why you were always with me. That's why you stuck to me like glue. You wouldn't leave me alone no matter how many times I told you to?"
A paused
"That is why you called yourself my future regret."
Liam nodded again.
"I was angry at you. For forgetting me. For not remembering the person you saved. I waited for you to recognize me, and you never did. So I decided I would make you remember. I will not let you forget me again."
I stared at him.
"You really are an idiot," I said. "Why didn't you just tell me?"
"Because I was angry," he said. "And because I was also afraid that if I told you, you would push me away."
I was quiet for a moment.
"Good. Stay angry with me."
"That is not going to happen."
"And I never regret."
"You will."
"Liam."
"Ruz."
She stood up.
"I am going to check on the others."
"You are running away."
"I am walking away."
"Same thing."
"Goodbye, Liam."
"See you later, Ruz."
I walked to the door.
Paused.
Without turning around: "...I am glad you are okay."
Before he could respond, I came out.
The group was gathered outside, all of them looking far too eager to meet him.
"Don't go in," I said with an annoyed sigh. "You'll regret it."
For a second, there was silence.
Then everyone laughed.
It wasn't a loud laugh, but it was enough.
The tension that had been hanging over them for hours eased slightly, and for the first time that day, the atmosphere felt a little lighter.
The others filed in slowly after me.
Not all at once they had learned their lesson about overwhelming him but one by one, in pairs, in small groups, until the room was full of people and noise and the kind of chaos that only happened when too many teenagers were crammed into too small a space.
Josh stood near the foot of the bed, his expression lighter now, almost normal.
"You missed a good fight bro," he said.
"I was there. I joined you at the last moment," Liam said.
Nika leaned against the wall, her bandaged forehead catching the light. "I got this," she said, pointing at her head, "pulling a guy off you. He was huge. I saved your life."
"I am honored that the great Nika Isabel Flores saved my life," Liam said dramatically.
"You should be."
Everyone laughed.
Adrian stood near the window, his arms crossed, his expression unreadable. But his presence was enough.
Mira sat on the windowsill.
"I tracked your signal," she said. "Without me, they would still be looking for you."
"I am grateful," Liam said.
Aira stood near the door, her arms wrapped around herself, her eyes on Liam. She didn't say anything. But she gave him a small, shaky smile. He returned it.
Zayn stood beside her, his presence steady. He caught Liam's gaze and nodded once.
Liam nodded back.
Rifat stood near the corner, his hands in his pockets, his expression unreadable. But when Liam looked at him, something passed between them not words, not gestures, just... understanding.
"...You owe me," Rifat said.
"For what?"
"For not leaving you."
"I didn't ask you to come."
"You didn't have to."
Liam looked at him for a long moment.
"...Fine. I owe you."
"Good. I'll collect it later."
Enzo, Marco, Diego, and Eren stood at the end of his bed each of them bearing their own injuries, each of them looking at Liam like they were seeing him for the first time.
"...You are trouble," Enzo said.
"Thanks," Liam said.
Later, when the visitors had been chased out by the nurses and the room had been returned to silence, I sat in the hospital cafeteria.
The sun was higher now. Brighter.
Adrian walked up beside me.
"Kairo," he said.
"I know."
"We will find him."
"He must be after me."
"He has a partner, according to Zayn."
He looked at me.
"You are staying away from this."
"I don't think so."
"Ruz, try to understand. It will be dangerous for you."
"I don't care. What if he knows me? What if he is connected with my past? What if…."
"What if he is connected with them?" Adrian cut me off. "What would you do then?"
"I don't care. I'm in now." I looked into his eyes and said, "And that's final."
The anger was clear in his eyes.
"How stubborn you are."
"Who knows better than you?"
A faint smile tugged at Adrian's lips.
"Yeah. Who knows better than me." He let out a sharp breath. "Just don't lose control. I can't handle you this time."
I snorted.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then Adrian's voice softened.
"...She would be proud of you."
The smirk slipped from my face.
I looked away.
"...Or maybe she'd be angry at me."
"Probably."
A quiet laugh escaped both of us.
Then the silence returned.
But this time it wasn't uncomfortable.
For now, I was holding myself together.
For now, I was keeping the rage buried where it belonged.
But if that man was truly connected to my past, if he had anything to do with my mother's disappearance…
Then I would stop holding back.
And I would make sure he learned exactly what hell felt like.