When Fred opened his eyes, he found himself lying in a bed. The room was clean, quiet, and warm. At first, he couldn't understand why he was there. But then, everything came rushing back to him.
At that moment, Richard's voice echoed from outside. He was talking to the doctor, as usual, in his loud, commanding tone.
"Listen, he's the most valuable person in my life—my best friend. Please, do everything you can. Don't hold back on your help," Richard pleaded.
The doctor responded calmly, "Rest assured, sir. We will do our best."
Footsteps approached, and soon, Richard entered the room. His clothes were stained with blood—Fred's blood, from when he had carried him. Seeing him, Fred instinctively tried to sit up, but Richard quickly pushed him back down.
"No, you can't get up. The doctor won't allow it," Richard warned.
Fred rested his head against the pillow and took a deep breath. "Thank you for helping me."
"No need to thank me. Anyone in my place would have done the same," Richard replied.
Fred shook his head with a smile. "No… no one could ever replace you."
Richard couldn't ignore those words, and a small smile formed on his face. Just then, the doctor walked in, scanning Fred with a meaningful look.
"How are you feeling?" he asked.
Fred nodded slightly, signaling that everything was fine. The doctor, noticing his exhaustion, turned to Richard. "I need you to step outside," he said. Richard obeyed, following the doctor out of the room.
In the hallway, Fred's friends were waiting anxiously. Among them stood his mother, the woman who had raised him alone since his father's passing. Richard's mother, Elina, was also there. She looked at the doctor with desperate, pleading eyes.
"Please, just tell us he's okay. Tell us that he's awake," she begged.
The doctor, maintaining a neutral expression, simply replied, "He's fine."
Elina, still troubled, asked, "Can we see him now?"
"He's exhausted. He needs rest," the doctor answered as he pulled out his phone. He called a nurse and instructed her to administer a sedative to Fred before walking away.
That news brought a small sense of relief to the group. Even the walls, which had seemed to close in on them moments ago, felt less suffocating. But Elina couldn't hold back her tears and started crying. Richard and Ethan gently led her outside to calm her down.
Sheila, unable to bear it any longer, collapsed onto the floor, sobbing uncontrollably. Victoria and Emma tried to comfort her, but nothing worked. Rima knelt beside her, holding her hands tightly.
"Sheila, listen to me. Everything will be okay. Fred wouldn't want to see you like this. At least… don't cry for his sake."
Just then, the nurse entered Fred's room. She asked if he was in any pain, and, as always, Fred simply shook his head, indicating that he was fine. She gave him a sedative and left the room.
Sheila saw her and immediately begged, "Please, let me see him."
But the nurse's response was short and firm: "The patient is asleep. I can't wake him up."