-Haruka POV-
I watched as Levi sat frozen in his seat, his fingers still clutching the phone. The colour had drained from his face, his usual sharp, confident expression replaced with something unfamiliar. Shock.
"Levi?" I called out, but he didn't respond. He didn't even blink. His grip on the phone tightened, and I could hear Lauren's muffled voice on the other end, waiting for a reply.
I frowned, concern creeping onto my voice. "Levi!" Still nothing.
That was enough. Without hesitation, I reached forward, carefully taking the phone from his grasp. His fingers were cold, and I could feel the slight tremble in them. He didn't even resist me taking the phone. Seriously, what's going on?
"Lauren?" I said into the receiver, shifting my gaze to Levi, who remained completely still.
There was a brief pause on the line before Lauren responded, her voice laced with confusion. "Mr. Auclair? Wait, you're with Levi?"
"Yeah. I am." I didn't offer further explanation. This wasn't the time for that. "Tell me what happened. Levi's not responding. He just froze."
Lauren exhaled sharply. "It's about our grandfather. He slipped in the bathroom and hit his head on the sink. The doctors are still assessing him, but they had to rush him to the emergency room. He was unconscious."
A sinking feeling settled in my chest. No wonder Levi looked like this.
I glanced at him again. His eyes were unfocused, staring straight ahead as if he wasn't even here anymore. My heart clenched at the sight. This wasn't the Levi I knew.
"Lauren, we'll head to the hospital right away. Which one?" I asked, keeping my voice steady.
"Your family's hospital. We're in the ER right now." She replied quickly.
"Got it. We'll be there soon."
I ended the call and turned my attention back to Levi.
"Levi." I reached out, placing a hand on his arm. He didn't react. His breathing was slow, controlled, but I could see the way his jaw was clenched so tightly it must have hurt.
"Levi, look at me." I said firmly, squeezing his arm.
Finally, he blinked, his gaze shifting to me. But his eyes were distant, lost.
"We need to go." I said gently, but with enough authority to ground him. "Your grandfather will be fine, so let's go." My voice became softer than before.
For a moment, he didn't move. Then, almost mechanically, he nodded and stood up. He didn't say a word, but the way his hands were shaking as he grabbed his jacket didn't escape me.
I stepped closer, brushing my fingers against his hand briefly. Not stopping him, just reminding him I was here.
"Come on. I'll drive."
-Auclair's Hospital-
I pulled into the driveway of my family's hospital, the weight of the situation pressing down on both of us. Levi hadn't spoken the entire ride. He sat in the passenger seat, his fingers curled into his palms, his breathing steady but eerily quiet.
As soon as we stepped out of the car, the sterile scent of the hospital hit me, and I spotted Lauren standing near the entrance. Her expression was tight, her phone clutched in her hand.
Lauren's gaze flickered to me before she focused on Levi. "They took grandpa into the operating room about 15 minutes ago," she said, voice subdued. "The doctors are working on him now. Everyone is waiting in the waiting room."
Levi gave a small nod, his face unreadable. Without a word, he made his way towards the waiting room. Everyone is there. Levi's grandmother, Levi's father, and their relatives. He walked past everyone and sank into one of the waiting area chairs. His hands rested on his knees, his posture rigid.
I followed him, lowering myself into the seat beside him. "Levi," I started, but he didn't acknowledge me. His gaze was fixed on the floor, unmoving.
I exhaled softly, then leaned in, keeping my voice calm but firm. "Levi, your grandfather's going to be okay. My brother is here too. I trust him with my life."
Levi finally looked at me, his brows furrowing. "Your brother?"
I blinked. "Yeah. You know he's the best neurosurgeon here."
Lauren, who had been listening, hesitated before speaking. "Mr. Auclair… didn't you know? Your brother is the one leading the surgery."
"What?"
"The hospital assigned the best available specialist," Lauren explained. "That's your brother."
A mixture of surprise and realisation settled over me. I hadn't expected this. Well, he's a busy one.
I turned back to Levi, who was still staring at me, his expression unreadable. Then, slowly, he exhaled and leaned back against the chair. His hands unclenched slightly, though I could tell the tension was still there.
"Then I guess I don't have a choice but to trust him." Levi murmured, more to himself than anyone else.
I reached out for his hand, squeezing briefly. I'm not concerned about others who are watching us anymore. "Levi, you're not going through alone. I'm here. We all are."
He didn't pull away. Instead, he closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath. "I just… I don't want to lose him."
"You won't." I assured him. "My brother will save him, I promise you."
Minutes stretched into hours as we sat in the waiting area, the silence only broken by the occasional sound of footsteps or the distant beeping of hospital monitors. Levi hadn't moved much, his eyes fixed on the floor, his mind undoubtedly elsewhere.
I stayed by his side, offering whatever quiet support I could. His family were scattered across the room. His grandmother whispering prayers under her breath, his father pacing restlessly, and his uncles and aunties murmuring in hushed tones.
Finally, the doors to the operating room swung open. All heads turned at once. My breath caught when I saw my brother stepping out, still in his surgical scrubs. His expression was calm, but I knew that look. He was carefully keeping his emotions in check.
Levi was on his feet in an instant. "How is he?" His voice was hoarse and strained.
My brother exhaled before speaking. "He made it through the operation. We were able to stop the bleeding in time, there's no major damage to the brain. However, he's still unconscious, and the next 24 hours are critical.
A wave of relief washed over me, but Levi remained tense. "When will he wake up?" He asked, his voice tight.
"We can't say for certain," my brother admitted. "But his vitals are stable. That's a good sign. He's being moved to the ICU for observation. Once he wakes up, we'll be able to assess if there are any lingering effects."
Levi exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "Can I see him?"
"Once he's settled in the ICU, yes." My brother confirmed. "But only for a short while. He needs rest."
Lauren and Levi's grandmother exchanged relieved glances. The tension in the room seemed to ease just slightly.
I stepped forward. "Thank you." I told my brother sincerely. He met my gaze, nodding once, his usual stoic professionalism intact.
Levi finally sank back into his chair, rubbing his temples. I sat beside him again, watching as his shoulders dropped, just a fraction.
"See?" I said gently. "I told you he'd make it."
Levi glanced at me, his eyes filled with exhaustion, relief, and something else, something unreadable. He didn't say anything, but after a moment, he nodded.
We weren't done yet. But for now, he could breathe.
After what felt like an eternity, a nurse finally approached us, informing Levi and his family that his grandfather had been transferred to the ICU. Without a word, Levi stood up and followed her, his movements tense but controlled. I got up as well, staying by his side as we walked down the corridor.
When we reached the ICU, Levi hesitated just outside the door. I could see the conflict in his eyes. Relief that his grandfather was alive, but fear of seeing him in such a fragile state.
"Do you want me to go in with you?" I asked quietly.
He swallowed hard, then nodded. "Yeah."
I followed him inside. The room was quiet except for the rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor. Levi's grandfather lay on the hospital bed, looking far smaller and weaker than I had ever seen him. His head was wrapped in white bandages.
Levi exhaled sharply, his fingers curling into fists. He took a hesitant step closer, staring at the man who had always been a pillar of strength in his life.
"Grandfather…" He murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.
I stood beside him, offering silent support. Levi didn't move for a long time, his breathing uneven. Then, slowly, he reached for his grandfather's hand, gripping it gently.
"You scared me," he said hoarsely. "You're not allowed to do that again."
There was no response, just the steady sound of the monitors. But Levi didn't let go. He held on, as if grounding himself in the reality that his grandfather was still there, still fighting.
I placed a hand on his shoulder. "He's strong, Levi. He'll wake up." I said that gently.
Levi let out a shaky breath. "He has to."
We stood there in silence, the weight of the day pressing down on us. But at least, for now, there was hope.
Levi and I remained in the ICU for a while, the silence stretching between us. He hadn't let go of his grandfather's hand, his grip firm yet careful, as if willing him to wake up through sheer determination. I didn't rush him. I knew he needed this moment.
After some time, a nurse entered the room, her expression gentle yet professional. "I'm sorry, Mr. Ackerman, but visiting hours are going to be over soon, and I believe the others wanted to see your grandfather too."
Levi's jaw tensed, but he nodded. Slowly, he released his grandfather's hand, standing up from the chair. He lingered for a moment longer before finally stepping away. The moment we stepped out, Lauren and his grandmother entered the room. I just give them a nod before following Levi out of the room.
As we stepped into the hallway, Levi exhaled heavily, running a hand down his face. "I need some air."
"I'll come with you." I said without hesitation.
We made our way outside, there were a lot of people in the hospital courtyard since it's still daytime. Levi leaned against a railing, his eyes locked on the ground.
"I wasn't ready for this." He admitted after a long pause. "I knew he was getting older, but I never thought…"
He trailed off, shaking his head.
I stepped closer. "No one is ever ready for something like this. But he's strong, Levi. He made it through the surgery. That means he's still fighting."
Levi let out a slow breath. "I should've been there. Maybe if I had called him earlier, checked in…"
I placed a hand on his arm. "Don't do that to yourself. This wasn't your fault. Accidents happen. What matters now is that he's here, and he's getting the best care possible."
He didn't reply immediately, but after a moment, his posture relaxed slightly. "I just… I can't lose him."
"You won't." I said with certainty. "And even if things get difficult, you won't go through it alone. I'm here." I said, squeezing his hand softly.
Levi finally looked at me, something unreadable flickering in his eyes.
"Thank you, Haru-chan. Thank you for being here with me." His voice is hoarse, and I could tell he's trying to hold back his tears, holding my hand tightly.
For now, that was enough.
//SKIP//
The next morning, Levi went straight to the office despite everything that happened. I wasn't surprised, work was his way of regaining control when things felt uncertain.
When we arrived, the office was already bustling with activity. Levi walked ahead, his usual composed demeanour in place, but I could see the tension on his shoulders. He greeted a few employees with a nod before heading straight to his office. I followed closely, stepping inside just as he sank into his chair.
"You really didn't have to come in today." I said, closing the door behind me.
Levi sighed, rubbing his temples. "If I stayed home. I'd just keep thinking about it. At least here, I can distract myself."
I understood that, but I still worried. He hadn't slept much, and I could tell he was running on nothing but willpower.
Before I could say anything else, a knock on the door interrupted us. Sophia peeked in, looking hesitant. "Morning, sir. I've sorted out the reports as requested. If there's anything you need regarding that, please let me know."
Levi nodded, accepting the files she handed over. "Thanks, Sophia."
She gave a small, reassuring smile before stepping out. As soon as the door closed, Levi exhaled and leaned back in his chair.
"At least let me handle some of the workload," I offered. "You don't have to do everything yourself."
Levi glanced at me, his expression unreadable for a moment. Then, with a slight nod, he pushed a few documents in my direction. "Fine. Just don't mess it up."
I smirked. "When have I ever?"
He let out a breath that was almost a laugh, shaking his head. "Alright. Get to work, then."
I gave him a small smile before taking the documents on his desk. I glanced at him again. "Remember to call me if you need anything." I reminded him.
"I will." He replied with a smile, and I nodded before stepping out from his room.
The day passed in a blur of meetings and paperwork. Levi kept himself busy, barely stopping for breaks, but I knew better than to call him out on it just yet.
It wasn't until late afternoon that a call from the hospital interrupted the routine. Levi's phone rang, and the moment he saw the caller ID, his entire demeanour shifted. He answered immediately.
"Hello?" His voice was sharp, controlled.
I watched as he listened, his expression difficult to read. But then, I noticed the way his grip on the phone tightened slightly.
"I see… Alright. I'll be there soon."
TO BE CONTINUED!!!