Hospitals always smelled the same.
Too clean.
Too sharp.
Anaya noticed it the moment they stepped inside.
Her grip tightened slightly.
"…I don't like this."
The words slipped out under her breath.
Reyansh heard it.
Of course he did.
"I know."
Simple.
Quiet.
But it made her pause.
Because he didn't ask why.
Like he already—
She shook the thought away.
"Don't overthink."
He guided her through the corridor slowly, one hand hovering near her arm—
Not touching constantly,
But ready.
Just in case.
Inside the room, she sat on the bed, shoulders slightly tense.
Her eyes moved around—
Avoiding the tray.
Avoiding the equipment.
Avoiding—
The syringe.
Her fingers curled into the bedsheet.
"…do I really need this?"
Her voice was softer now.
Less resistant.
More… unsure.
Reyansh stood beside her, watching her closely.
"Yes."
A pause.
"It'll help the fever come down faster."
She didn't argue.
Didn't say no.
But her body—
Was already reacting.
Stiff.
Uneasy.
Her gaze flickered again—
To the tray.
Then away quickly.
Reyansh noticed everything.
The way her breathing changed.
The way her fingers tightened.
The way she avoided looking at it—
Exactly like before.
A faint exhale left him.
"…nothing's changed."
The nurse stepped forward.
"Just a small injection," she said gently.
Anaya nodded.
But her eyes didn't lift.
Reyansh moved closer.
Not abruptly.
Carefully.
Until he was standing right beside her.
Close enough that she didn't feel alone.
"Look at me."
His voice was low.
Steady.
She hesitated.
Then slowly—
Looked up.
"Not there," he added softly. "Here."
Her eyes met his.
And for a second—
The room faded.
The fear—
Didn't disappear.
But it… lessened.
"Just focus here," he said.
Her fingers tightened instinctively—
And without realizing—
They caught onto his sleeve.
Lightly.
But enough.
Both of them froze.
Because that—
That wasn't new.
A flash—
"You're holding my sleeve."
"Then don't move."
"I'm not moving, you are."
"Just stay—"
Anaya's breath hitched slightly.
The memory flickered—
Then blurred.
Reyansh didn't pull away.
Didn't even react outwardly.
"…it's okay," he said quietly.
Not to the nurse.
To her.
The injection was done quickly.
Barely a moment.
But she still flinched slightly.
Her grip tightening just a little more before loosening again.
"It's done," the nurse said.
Anaya blinked.
"…already?"
Reyansh nodded once.
"Yeah."
She let out a small breath.
Relief.
Mixed with something else.
Something quieter.
Her hand slowly slipped away from his sleeve.
But the warmth—
Stayed.
"You did fine," he said.
The words came naturally.
Too naturally.
She looked at him.
A little surprised.
"…you say that like—"
She stopped.
Because she didn't know how to finish that sentence.
Like you've said it before.
But she didn't say it.
Instead—
She just nodded slightly.
"…thanks."
A small silence settled between them.
Not uncomfortable.
Just—
Close.
Reyansh stepped back slightly then.
Creating space.
Even when he didn't want to.
"You should rest," he said.
"Hmm."
She leaned back against the pillow, eyes feeling heavier now.
The medicine starting to work.
But her gaze didn't leave him completely.
"…you didn't have to stay," she murmured.
Half-asleep.
Half-aware.
"I know."
A pause.
Then—
"But I will."
Her eyes fluttered slightly at that.
Not fully processing.
But not ignoring either.
And slowly—
She drifted off.
Reyansh stayed.
Sitting beside her.
Quiet.
Watching.
Because no matter how much had changed—
Some things hadn't.
The way she feared.
The way she trusted—
Without realizing.
"…Ana."
The name slipped out again.
Soft.
Barely there.
And this time—
He didn't stop it.
Because even if she didn't remember—
He did.
And right now—
That was enough.
Anaya woke up slowly.
Not suddenly.
Not fully.
Just—
Gradually.
Her body felt lighter.
But still weak.
The headache had dulled.
The fever—
Not gone.
But better.
She blinked a few times, adjusting to the light.
The first thing she noticed—
Wasn't the room.
It was him.
Reyansh sat beside her.
One hand resting lightly near her wrist.
Not holding.
Just…
There.
His attention fixed.
Focused.
"…you stayed."
The words slipped out before she could stop them.
He looked up immediately.
"You're awake."
Not surprised.
Not startled.
Like he had been waiting for that moment.
She pushed herself up slightly.
"When did you—"
"I didn't leave."
Simple.
Direct.
Her gaze lingered on him for a second longer.
"…why?"
The question was quiet.
Not demanding.
Just—
Curious.
Reyansh didn't answer immediately.
Because the real answer—
Wasn't simple.
"…you had a high fever," he said instead, checking her pulse again gently. "And you hadn't eaten."
Deflection.
But not a lie.
She watched him silently.
The way his fingers rested against her wrist.
The way his focus didn't waver.
Careful.
Precise.
But—
There was something else in it.
Something she couldn't name.
"You checked everything?" she asked softly.
"Temperature, blood pressure… basic things," he replied, already reaching for the thermometer again. "Still a little high."
She let out a small breath.
"…doctor mode."
A faint hint of amusement.
"Someone has to be responsible," he said.
Without thinking.
She blinked.
"…are you calling me irresponsible?"
He glanced at her briefly.
"Yes."
A beat.
Then—
"You fainted."
No room for argument.
She opened her mouth—
Then closed it again.
"…okay, fair."
A small silence followed.
This one—
Softer.
He reached for the table beside him.
"There's fruit," he said, placing a small container in front of her. "Eat."
She looked at it.
"…you brought this?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
This time—
He didn't look away.
"Because you didn't eat."
Her fingers curled slightly around the container.
Something about that answer—
Felt heavier than it should.
"…you notice too much."
The words slipped out quietly.
Reyansh didn't respond.
Because he had no way to explain—
That he always had.
She took a small bite.
Slowly.
Carefully.
And for the first time since morning—
Something felt…
Steady.
Outside the room—
A nurse paused.
Not intentionally.
Just—
Passing by.
But then—
She heard it.
Soft.
Barely there.
"…Ana."
She frowned slightly.
Glancing through the partially open door.
Inside—
Reyansh had said it again.
Without realizing.
While adjusting the blanket slightly.
"Eat properly, Ana."
Anaya froze.
The spoon in her hand stilled.
"…what did you just say?"
Silence.
Immediate.
Heavy.
Reyansh's hand stopped mid-motion.
His expression didn't change—
But something in his eyes did.
"…nothing," he said quickly. "Just—eat."
But it was too late.
Anaya was already looking at him.
Really looking this time.
Because that word—
That name—
Didn't feel new.
Didn't feel random.
It felt—
Familiar.
A flicker—
A voice.
Closer.
Warmer.
"Ana, focus.""Ana, you're not even trying.""Ana…"
Her head throbbed slightly again.
Her breath uneven.
"…you've said that before."
The words came out slowly.
Uncertain.
But real.
Reyansh didn't respond immediately.
Because this—
This was the moment he had been avoiding.
"…it just slipped," he said finally.
Another deflection.
Another half-truth.
But this time—
She didn't accept it easily.
"…Reyansh," she said quietly.
A pause.
"Have we really not met before?"
And outside—
The nurse stood still for a second longer.
Confused.
Because something about this—
Didn't feel like a normal conversation.
Inside the room—
The question hung between them.
Unanswered.
Unavoidable.
And for the first time—
The past didn't feel buried anymore.
It felt—
Close.