Arshaka's car stopped in front of the hospital a short while later.
As soon as he turned off the engine, Arshaka got out and opened the door. Without wasting any time, he carried Naira inside.
"Nurse!" he called to one of the staff members near the registration desk. "Please."
The staff member hurried over.
"What happened?"
"She has a fever. Her body's hot, and she's weak."
Naira opened her eyes again.
"Shaka..."
Arshaka lowered his head.
"Relax. We're here."
His voice remained flat, but his arms never once loosened around Naira.
A short while later, a nurse arrived with a wheelchair.
Arshaka only set Naira down after making sure she was sitting comfortably.
"Take her to the ER first," he said.
Naira looked at him weakly.
"Where... are you going?"
"I'm staying right here."
Arshaka's answer was brief.
Naira seemed like she wanted to say something, but her body was too weak.
Arshaka bent slightly toward her.
"I'm not going anywhere."
Naira's eyes closed again.
Only after the wheelchair disappeared behind the ER doors did Arshaka let out a long breath.
His hands clenched into fists.
His phone vibrated again.
This time, he looked at the screen immediately.
A message had come in.
[Dad's awake.]
Arshaka closed his eyes for a moment. A small sense of relief spread through his chest.
The calls that had kept coming in throughout the drive from the village hadn't been for no reason.
For the past few days, his father's condition had made it difficult for him to relax.
And now, for the first time that day, Arshaka could breathe a little easier.
Still, he didn't leave right away. Arshaka continued standing in front of Naira's examination room.
Waiting. A few minutes later, the doctor came out.
"Naira's family?"
"How is she?"
"Her fever is fairly high, but she doesn't need to be admitted. It's most likely from exhaustion. We've treated her and given her medication."
"She's safe?"
The doctor smiled faintly.
"She's fine. But she needs to rest."
Arshaka nodded.
"Can I see her?"
"Go ahead."
Arshaka entered the room.
Naira was still asleep.
Her face was no longer as pale as before, though she still looked extremely exhausted.
Arshaka stood beside her bed for a long while. He silently studied the girl's face.
Then he pulled Naira's blanket a little higher.
"You really know how to make people worry."
Arshaka's voice was very soft, as if he didn't want to wake her.
His phone vibrated again.
This time, Arshaka answered immediately.
"Yeah."
"Arshaka?" someone said from the other end. "Arsen is awake and asking for you."
Arshaka glanced at Naira.
"I'm coming."
The call ended.
But before leaving, Arshaka turned to the nurse who had just entered.
"If she wakes up, call me."
"Okay."
Arshaka then left the room.
His steps carried him toward the hospital's upper floors. The closer he got to the patient room, the more his expression slowly changed.
He no longer looked as calm as before. A tension he'd kept hidden all this time surfaced in his face.
He stopped in front of the door to a VIP room. His hand closed around the doorknob. Then he opened it.
Arshaka fell silent.
On the bed, a middle-aged man sat propped up against the headboard.
His gaze was still sharp. It was as if pain couldn't diminish his natural charisma.
Beside him, his assistant was talking with a doctor.
When the door opened, everyone turned to look. His father's gaze immediately settled on Arshaka.
"Just getting here?"
Arshaka approached.
"Dad's awake."
Arsen raised one eyebrow.
"Looks like it, doesn't it?"
"Yeah."
"Where have you been?"
"Taking care of a friend."
"A friend?"