Adrian sat on the edge of the hospital bed, gently pressing a cool compress against his swollen lip. The sting from the slap still lingered.
He glanced over at Ethan's still form, feeling a strange mix of emotions.
After a moment, Adrian pushed himself up and moved to the small couch in the corner of the ward, where he had taken to sleeping each night. He set the compress aside and gingerly applied some ointment to his lip, wincing as the medication touched the tender skin. Once he was done, he laid down on the couch, pulling a blanket over himself.
As he stared at the ceiling, the events of the day played over and over in his mind. He felt drained, both physically and emotionally. His thoughts drifted to the dream he had the previous night—how real it had felt, how safe he had felt in Ethan's arms. Now, with the tension and anxiety weighing on him, he wished he could slip back into that dream world.
Before long, exhaustion took over, and Adrian's eyelids grew heavy. He closed his eyes, letting the darkness of sleep pull him under.
Adrian was back in the water. It was cold, but not unpleasantly so. The sensation of being surrounded by water was oddly soothing, and he found himself sinking deeper and deeper into the inky depths. The further he sank, the more peaceful he felt, as if the weight of all his worries was being stripped away.
He looked around, expecting to feel the familiar panic that always accompanied drowning, but it didn't come. Instead, he felt calm, almost content. The water cradled him like a gentle embrace, and for the first time in a long while, Adrian felt at ease.
Maybe it's better this way, he thought as he continued to sink. Maybe this is what I need—a way to escape everything.
His eyes fluttered shut, and he stopped fighting against the pull of the water. He let himself drift down, down into the darkness, where nothing could hurt him anymore. A strange sense of acceptance washed over him. This was how it would end—quietly, peacefully. There was no one to save him, but for some reason, that didn't seem to bother him.
'Maybe...death is not scary?'
But just as he was about to let go completely, he felt something warm wrap around his waist, pulling him back. The sensation was so sudden, so unexpected, that his eyes flew open in surprise. He was no longer sinking. Instead, he was being lifted, pulled back toward the surface by a strong, familiar presence.
Adrian's heart skipped a beat as he looked up to see Ethan's face, framed by the soft light filtering through the water. Ethan's expression was a mixture of concern and anger as he held Adrian close, his grip firm and reassuring.
"E-Ethan?" Adrian whispered, his voice trembling as bubbles escaped his lips.
Ethan didn't answer right away. He just kept pulling Adrian upward, his eyes locked on Adrian's as if silently reassuring him that everything would be alright.
When they finally broke through the surface, Adrian gasped, taking in the sweet, refreshing air. The water sparkled around them, reflecting the bright sky above. It was a beautiful scene, almost dreamlike in its perfection.
Adrian blinked in confusion, his mind struggling to catch up with what was happening. The peacefulness he had felt while sinking was gone, replaced by a mixture of relief and confusion.
Ethan held Adrian close, his arms wrapped protectively around him. Adrian could feel the warmth radiating from Ethan's body, the strength in his embrace. It was so real, so vivid, that Adrian could hardly believe it was just a dream.
"Why are you always drowning, Adrian?" Ethan asked, his voice gentle but tinged with exasperation. He flicked Adrian's forehead lightly, a teasing smile playing on his lips. "You know I'm going to have to keep rescuing you if you don't stop."
Adrian looked up at Ethan, his silver eyes wide with a mixture of surprise and embarrassment. His long black hair floated around them like a dark halo, giving him an ethereal, almost otherworldly appearance. In that moment, Adrian looked like an enchanting mermaid, his pale skin glowing against the backdrop of the water.
"Ethan..." Adrian started, his voice shaky. "Why are you here again?"
Ethan chuckled softly, his breath warm against Adrian's skin. "I'm here to save my wife, of course. What else would I be doing?"
Adrian blushed, his cheeks turning a delicate shade of pink. He tried to look away, but Ethan's hand gently tilted his chin back, forcing their eyes to meet.
"I... I protected your company," Adrian said suddenly, his voice barely above a whisper. His wet eyelashes fluttered as he looked up at Ethan, the memory of what he had done rushing back to him. "I found evidence of embezzlement, and I told Mathew... I did it for you, Ethan."
Ethan's smile softened, and he looked at Adrian with a mixture of pride and affection. "You did?" he asked, playing along, even though he already knew everything. "Tell me more about how you protected my company."
Adrian nodded eagerly, feeling a rush of happiness at the thought that Ethan was proud of him. He began to explain everything—how he had found the laptop, the files, the confrontation with Lady Sachel. He spoke quickly, almost breathlessly, eager to share every detail with Ethan.
But he left out the part about Lady Sachel slapping him. Somehow, he couldn't bring himself to tell Ethan that part. He didn't want to worry him, didn't want to tarnish the moment with more negativity.
Ethan listened intently, his eyes never leaving Adrian's face. When Adrian finished, Ethan leaned in closer, his expression softening further.
"You did so well, Adrian," Ethan said quietly, his voice filled with warmth. "You protected the company, and I'm so proud of you."
Adrian's heart swelled with joy, but before he could respond, Ethan leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to his lips. The contact was soft, tender, and it made Adrian's heart race. He could feel the warmth of Ethan's lips, the affection behind the gesture, and it sent a shiver down his spine.
"Next time," Ethan murmured against Adrian's lips, "tell me the whole truth, alright?"
Adrian's eyes widened slightly, and he pulled back just enough to look into Ethan's eyes. There was no anger or disappointment in Ethan's gaze, only a deep understanding that made Adrian's chest tighten with emotion.
"I will," Adrian promised, his voice barely a whisper. "Though...I told the truth."
Ethan smiled and pressed another soft kiss to Adrian's forehead before pulling him close again, letting them both float in the peaceful water. Adrian rested his head against Ethan's chest, feeling the steady beat of Ethan's heart beneath his cheek. It was a comforting sound, one that made him feel safe and loved.
As they floated together, the dream began to fade, the water around them growing warmer, softer. The world blurred, and Adrian felt himself being gently pulled back toward consciousness. But this time, he didn't want to leave. He wanted to stay in Ethan's arms, in this dream where everything felt perfect.
But the pull of the waking world was too strong, and soon, the warmth of the water gave way to the softness of the couch beneath him. Adrian's eyes fluttered open, and he found himself back in the hospital ward, the faint light of dawn filtering through the curtains.
He sat up slowly, his heart still pounding from the dream. The memory of Ethan's touch, his kisses, lingered on his skin, so vivid that Adrian could almost believe it had been real.
But as he looked over at Ethan's still form, lying motionless on the hospital bed, reality came crashing back down. Ethan was still in a coma, still unreachable.
Yet, despite the sadness that came with waking up, Adrian couldn't help but smile. The dream had felt so real, so full of hope. It was as if Ethan was trying to reach out to him, to reassure him that everything would be alright.
Adrian touched his lips, remembering the softness of Ethan's kiss. The memory brought a blush to his cheeks, and he quickly looked away, embarrassed by his own thoughts.
He pushed the blanket aside and stood up, stretching his stiff muscles. The day was just beginning, and there was so much to do. But for now, Adrian allowed himself to savor the memory of the dream, the warmth of Ethan's embrace.
As he went about his morning routine, he couldn't shake the feeling that the dream had been more than just a figment of his imagination. It felt like a promise, a sign that even in the darkest of times, he wasn't alone.