Jacob sat stiffly in the dimly lit room, facing Dr. Melvin. The silence between them was deafening, weighted by unspoken emotions and unasked questions. Jacob's gaze was sharp and unwavering, boring into Dr. Melvin as if trying to pry out every thought he harbored.
"Speak," Jacob said, his tone steady but laced with urgency. It wasn't a request—it was a demand.
Dr. Melvin leaned back in his chair, studying Jacob with a smile that seemed both knowing and amused. There was a warmth in his expression, the kind that comes from seeing a long-awaited moment unfold. After a pause, he finally asked, "Do you love her?"
The question struck like a bolt of lightning, cutting through Jacob's guarded exterior. He didn't respond immediately. Instead, his eyes shifted to the door of the adjoining bedroom, where Helix was resting. His gaze lingered there, as though he could see her through the wooden barrier. The stillness stretched on, the room echoing with a silence that spoke volumes.
When Jacob finally looked back at Dr. Melvin, his face was unreadable. His voice, however, was clear and unyielding. "No."
Dr. Melvin's smile faltered for a fraction of a second. He had spent years reading people, dissecting their words and expressions, and this time was no different. Jacob's eyes betrayed him. They screamed what his words refused to admit—an intense, unspoken love for Helix.
Melvin leaned forward slightly; his tone measured but pointed. "Alright, as you say you don't love her, I'll take responsibility for her. She's my patient, after all. You can go home now and leave her in my care. Don't worry; I'll look after her."
With that, Melvin stood, a hint of triumph in his smile as he moved toward the stairs leading to Helix's room. His words were calculated, a deliberate provocation to force Jacob into confronting his feelings.
Jacob remained seated for a moment as if frozen in time. But then, as though jolted by an electric shock, he sprang to his feet and stormed after Dr. Melvin. His strides were long and purposeful, driven by a surge of emotion he could no longer suppress.
He reached the doorway just as Dr. Melvin was about to enter. Planting himself firmly in front of it, Jacob crossed his arms over his chest, his stance defiant and his face a mask of barely contained fury.
"No," Jacob said, his voice low and dangerous. "She's, my responsibility. I brought her here, and I'll take care of her. And if you're waiting for me to say yes to your earlier question, then listen carefully: you'd better not cross paths with me."
With that, Jacob pushed the door open and stepped inside, closing it firmly behind him. Dr. Melvin was left standing outside, momentarily stunned but undeniably satisfied. The doctor's lips curled into a knowing smile. Jacob's actions had spoken louder than any words ever could. He loved Helix, whether he chose to admit it or not.
Meanwhile, across town, an entirely different scene was unfolding at the Highlight Apartment.
Dr. Olive and Rossy arrived late in the evening, the familiar building shrouded in shadows. Something felt off as they approached the apartment. The door was ajar, swinging slightly with the faint breeze.
Exchanging a worried glance, the two stepped inside cautiously. What they found was unsettling.
Hazel sat on the edge of the bed, staring blankly ahead, her face pale and drained of emotion. Beside her, Alex paced back and forth, his phone clutched tightly in his hand. His fingers moved frantically, trying to connect a call that seemed to be going nowhere. His complexion was ashen, as though he'd seen a ghost.
The tension in the room was almost tangible. Dr. Olive cleared his throat, the deliberate sound breaking the silence as a pebble dropped into a still pond.
Alex turned sharply toward the noise, his eyes wide with fear. When he saw Rossy and Dr. Olive, his panic deepened, his expression shifting to something closer to despair.
"What happened, Alex?" Rossy asked softly as she moved to sit beside Hazel. Her tone was calm, but the concern in her voice was unmistakable.
Dr. Olive seated himself across from the group, his analytical eyes scanning their faces. He was piecing together the situation even before anyone spoke.
Alex stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. "N-nothing." He let out a shaky sigh, clearly trying to compose himself but failing miserably.
Hazel, who had been silent until now, suddenly erupted. "Alex, tell them the truth!" she shouted, her voice cracking with emotion. Tears began streaming down her face as she added, "They deserve to know."
Her outburst filled the room, her sobs echoing in the tense air. Alex froze, his phone slipping from his hands and landing on the floor with a dull thud.
Rossy reached out to Hazel, wrapping a comforting arm around her shoulders. "It's okay, Hazel," she said softly. "We're here. Whatever it is, we'll face it together."
Dr. Olive leaned forward, his voice firm but gentle. "Alex," he said, locking eyes with the distraught man. "It's time to stop hiding. Whatever it is, keeping it to yourself won't help anyone. Speak."
Alex's shoulders sagged, his resistance crumbling under the weight of their combined presence. He opened his mouth to speak, but the words caught in his throat.
Rossy pressed further, her voice steady. "Alex, we're not here to judge you. But we can't help if we don't know what's going on."
Hazel's sobs grew louder, her body shaking as she clung to Rossy's hand. Alex finally sank into a chair, burying his face in his hands. He drew in a deep, shuddering breath before finally speaking.
"I tried to protect everyone," he said, his voice muffled and broken. "But I've failed. I don't know what to do anymore."
His cryptic words only deepened the concern etched on Dr. Olive's and Rossy's faces. Hazel's crying quieted slightly as she turned to look at Alex, her tear-streaked face filled with equal parts anger and desperation.
"Protect us from what, Alex?" Dr. Olive asked, his tone gentle but insistent.
Alex lifted his head, his eyes red and filled with anguish. "From the truth," he said simply. "But now, I think it's too late."
As his words hung in the air, the room seemed to shrink around them, the weight of his confession pressing down on everyone. The truth remained just out of reach, but it was clear that whatever Alex had been hiding would soon come to light—and it would change everything.