The room was bathed in a gentle, late-afternoon light that filtered through the blinds, casting soft shadows on the walls. A quiet hum of machinery accompanied the steady beeping of the heart monitor. The air was filled with a chilled and faint scent of antiseptic, but the atmosphere felt peaceful for now.

Aylin lay propped up in the hospital bed, her small frame dwarfed by the white sheets and sterile surroundings. The beeping of the heart monitor was a constant reminder of her situation, yet it was a comfort in its own way. Her older brother, Akira, sat by the bedside.

Aylin's voice, barely more than a whisper, cut through the silence of the hospital room, "Brother, thank you."

Akira, his gaze focused intently on the textbooks sprawled across the small desk, pulled the earbuds from his ears. The soft hum of pop music vanished, leaving only the faint beeping of the heart monitor and the rustle of paper.

He turned slowly, his eyes shifting from the pages of his book to the narrow hospital bed where Aylin lay. Akira's face, etched with fatigue and concern, softened as he looked at his sister.

"What?" he asked, his voice tinged with confusion and curiosity, trying to read the emotion in her eyes. He set the earbuds down on the desk and adjusted his chair closer to the bed, the screech of the chair slicing through the quiet.

Aylin managed a small, weary smile, her fingers weakly reaching out towards him, "Nothing. Won't you leave me here alone?" she murmured, her voice audible.

Akira's throat tightened and she gave a warm smile, his usual composure cracking under the weight of her worries. He reached out, gently patting her head, "Of course, I won't," he replied softly, his voice catching in his throat, "I wouldn't be anywhere else."

"How are you feeling?" he asked, laced with concern. 

Aylin's smile widened slightly, though the effort was clearly tiring. "Better now," she said, barely above her natural loudness. "Just... thanks for staying."

"Having another nightmare, huh?" Akira's voice was soft, yet carried an underlying warmth as he approached. He placed a reassuring hand on Aylin's head, his concern evident. "I told you, those kinds of dramas only make things worse. They stir up more anxiety than what you can take."

Aylin's silence was her only response, but Akira could see the strain in her eyes. He sighed softly, a gentle smile touching his lips. "You know, Aylin," he continued, his voice a tender whisper, "Aidan and you, were there when I lost succumbed in emotions, A few days went by, and after that, this pathetic brother of yours made up all of his mind and made a promise to Mom and Dad's grave, right? That I'd look after you both. Even now, I'm keeping that promise."

He paused, letting his words sink in. "You won't be alone. We're a family, and I'll always be here to take care of you, no matter what, no one will leave."

Aylin's laughter rang out like a phone ringtone but at a little volume, unrestrained, as she recalled a memory that seemed to tickle her heart, and her eyes sparkled with joy.

Sitting across from her, Akira felt a mix of confusion and embarrassment. His cheeks flushed slightly as he tried to piece together the reason for her laughter. "Wha-what? Why are you laughing?" he stuttered, feeling the weight of his earlier words and wondering if they had been that funny.

Aylin wiped a tear from the corner of her eye, her laughter subsiding into chuckles. "Oh, silly brother," she said, her voice light and teasing. "How could you forget that? Remember the promise we made to each other in Mom and Dad's grave to support each other no matter what? You were on the verge of tears back then, and Aidan—trying to lighten your mood—popped the snot-ballon-like right in your face, coming out of your nose."

Akira's expression went from confusion to embarrassment and speechlessness. He couldn't find the words to respond, feeling like a fish out of water.

Aylin continued her laughter now a warm, melodic undertone. "Instead of making you laugh, Aidan just made you angry. You chased him around like a lunatic, snot running down your face, eyes red and puffy. It was a mess, really. You looked like a kid who was being bullied by a younger kid, and no one would take you seriously trying to lecture him at that time."

Akira's face turned a deeper shade of red as he recalled the scene she described. He opened his mouth, but no words came out. He was too stunned to reply.

Aylin, clearly enjoying the memory, leaned back and looked at her brother. "But look at you now," she said warmly. "You've grown into someone so dependable and strong, just like Dad. You're caring and gentle, like Mom, and you've definitely inherited her persistent, sermonizing ways..."

Akira managed a thankful smile despite the teasing. "Thank you," he said, his voice genuine. "If you hadn't added that last part, it would have been even better."

Aylin's grin widened. "Oh, and don't forget, you're also overprotective, just like Dad."

Akira's eyebrows furrowed. "What? No, I'm not."

"Oh yeah? Remember when you questioned Mark?" Aylin replied.

Akira's face stiffened slightly. "Ohh, that was just normal," he said defensively. "I needed to make sure you chose the right man."

"Brother," Aylin said, rolling her eyes, "for the last time, Mark is just one of my friends. We're not in a relationship."

"Who knows if you were hiding it," Akira replied.

Aylin crossed her arms and gave him a mock-serious look. "Back then, I was literally 10 years old! Why would you expect a romantic relationship between a 10-year-old and anyone? We were way too young for that!"

But before Akira could respond, an unpredictable chill swept through the room. It wasn't the kind of cold that merely lowered the temperature; it was a deep heaviness that seemed to seep into their very beings. A weight pressed down on them, making breathing feel severe.

Aylin's expression shifted as the oppressive pressure mounted. Her eyes darted around, trying to identify the source of the disturbing change. Her heart raced, and she could feel her mind struggling to stay clear.

"Brother, I'm scared," Aylin's voice trembled slightly as the weight of the situation pressed down on her.

Akira swallowed hard, his own thoughts feeling like a muddy fog. "It'll probably end soon; just hold on," he replied, his voice strained as he tried to smile and reassure her.