The next evening, Alina dragged herself through the last delivery of the day. And returned to the cafe when she realized that the cafe was closed. She got her phone from her pants and dialed Maya's number. One ring. Second ring. As soon as she picked up without saying hello, she questioned her, "Where are you? The cafe's closed."
On the other end, Maya's voice was hushed, a little breathless. "I'm at the hospital. My friend… he had an accident."
Alina sat up straighter, her exhaustion forgotten. "Hospital? Which one?"
"St. Thomas."
"Okay. I'll come."
"No need..." Before Maya could complete the sentence, Alina had already ended the call, throwing on her coat.
The smell of antiseptic was everywhere. The hospital lobby was quieter than she expected, with its polished tiles and dimmed white lights, which felt suffocating. Alina stepped inside with hurried steps, the air heavy with disinfectant and faint murmurs of voices echoing down sterile white corridors. Her heart was searching for Maya in the sea of white coats and worried faces.
She spotted a familiar figure hunched on a metal bench. Curled up, arms crossed, her phone lying untouched beside her. Maya's posture was tired, but her eyes lit up faintly when she saw Alina.
''You actually came'' Maya whispered, sounding both surprised and relieved. Her eyes were tired but softened.d
"I was worried," Alina said, lowering herself onto the bench beside her. Noticing the half-empty water bottle clutched in Maya's hands. "You said accident. What happened?"
Maya sighed, rubbing her temples. "My friend… he met with a road accident. His parents are abroad, and no one is with him. Someone has to stay. What am I supposed to do? Leave him here? Her voice cracked on the last word.
Alina frowned. "No one else? No family?"
"He has a girlfriend." Maya's lips tugged into a small, sad smile. "But he doesn't want to worry her. She worries too much. He begged me not to tell her''
Alina's chest tightened; she'd always known Maya's heart was too big. Maya was always stepping in, holding the world together when no one else could.
"You've been here all day?"
"Yeah," Maya admitted. "But he needs someone, you know?"
Alina looked at her friend's pale face and the shadows beneath her eyes. Without a second thought, she stood. "Wait here. I'll bring you coffee. You've worked too hard; something warm will refresh you."
Maya reached for her hand, but Alina pulled away with a smile'' I will be back before you can even miss me''
Alina gave her a playful salute before turning toward the long corridor, her shoes clicking softly against the sterile floor.r
The cafeteria was at the far end of the corridor. Alina followed the signboards, her pace quick, but midway down the hallway, a sound made her pause. Not the usual hospital, hush. Not the clipped toe of nurses or the beeping of monitors.
Laughter. Gentle, rippling laughter, threaded with something that didn't belong in that place, where hope and despair fought daily. Something pulled her. Alina's brows knitted together. Her feet slowed until she reached the pediatric wing. She turned her head, drawn like a moth, and froze. Through the half-closed glass door of one ward, she saw him.
Her breath stopped. Kai Arden.
The only thing she can see is his face, that's all. Is he injured? But why is he in the pediatric wing? Does he have a child?And he is taking care of them? And what's worse, she can think of nothing other than this. Her flood of thoughts got a full stop when the two doctors who were having a sip of coffee near the coffee machine started chit-chatting, their conversation floating to her ears like fate itself.
"Remarkable, isn't it? Not every celebrity would agree to this."
"Yes. The girl's only wish before her surgery.''
''It's today, right?'' One of the doctors asked the other one.
''Yes, Open-heart operation tonight… and her only wish was to meet him. Kai Arden didn't hesitate."
Alina's heart skipped. So he's not hurt. He's ... here for someone else?
Drawn like a magnet, she slowly edged closer to the glass, and what she saw rooted her in place until the room unfolded before her eyes.
Inside, a young girl, fragile and pale, lay propped against a pillow. IV lines trailing from her arms. Her skin was pale, lips tinged with fatigue, but her eyes glowed alive, .. oh, her eyes stoned. And they shone only because of the man sitting beside her bed, Kai.
And Kai… Alina's breath hitched.
Not the Kai who stormed into offices with sharp words and a colder glare. Not the Kai who tangled her thoughts until she couldn't breathe. There was no arrogance. He was a whole different personality.
This Kai had his jacket tossed carelessly over the chair, his sleeves rolled up. He learned forward, elbows on his knees, as he listened with his whole being to every word spilling from the girl's lips.
When she laughed, he chuckled too, his deep voice softening into something almost boyish. When she pointed at the IV pole and made some silly joke, he mimicked it with exaggerated expressions that had her giggling until she coughed. He immediately leaned forward, panic flickering in his eyes, gently adjusting her blanket as though she were glass.
Alina gripped the wall for support. She'd never seen him like this.
So careful, so protective. So .... soft
The girl reached out weakly. Her small fingers are clutching his wrist. Alina expected him to freeze, to pull back with that same guardedness he always carried. But instead, he covered her hand with his own, warm and steady as if he was promising silently: I wouldn't go anywhere. I'll be here until you wake up.
Something broke inside Alina.
This wasn't the man who barked at employees, who moved through life like a fortress of ice. This was someone else, entirely gentle, protective, almost… cute. So he can be like this. He can care. He can smile.
Her reflection in the glass, her eyes stinging with emotions she couldn't name.
Who are you, Kai Arden? Which one is the real you, the storm or this? What are you, Kai Arden?
The question burned in her mind as she stood rooted to the spot, watching him unravel piece by piece, revealing a softness she never thought existed.
Her chest tightened as she watched him brush a strand of hair from the girl's forehead, his voice low and steady, like he was anchoring her to this world. She couldn't look away. Not from the way he leaned close, whispering something that made the girl beam despite the pain. Not from the way his own smile softened into something so beautiful
Alina's throat ached. Her heart… her heart was pounding too fast, too hard. Alina pressed her forehead lightly against the glass.
Maybe ScriptBreaker was right. Maybe I don't know him at all. Maybe I've only ever seen half the story, and for the first time, Alina wondered if she had ever known him at all.
By the time Alina forced herself to step away from that glass door, her palms were damp, and her pulse hadn't settled. Every step back towards Maya felt heavier than the last, as though her heart had been left behind in that room, sitting beside Kai, watching him unravel in ways that the world had never been allowed to see.
The paper cups of coffee trembled slightly in her hands. When she reached the bench, Maya was scrolling her phone half-heartedly, eyes swollen but steadier than before. She looked up, relief softening her features.
"Took you long enough," Maya teased weakly, accepting the cup.
Alina sank beside her, forcing a smile. "I had to wrestle with the machine''
Maya chuckled, sipping the coffee. "You're ridiculous." Then, her face sobered as she glanced toward the ward. "He's still inside. The doctors said he'll be monitored overnight. I'll stay here until morning."
Alina nodded, clutching her own cup so tightly her knuckles whitened. Her mind was too full... Full of Kai's laughter, Kai's worried glances, Kai's hand wrapped around that fragile little girl's.
Maya tilted her head, studying her. "What's wrong with you? You're quieter than usual."
Alina blinked rapidly, dragging herself out of the whirlpool in her head. "N-Nothing. Just tired."
"Hmm." Maya's suspicious gaze lingered, but she didn't press. She leaned back against the wall, sighing. "Honestly, today has been exhausting. If it weren't for you showing up, I would be so alone."
That tugged at Alina's heart, grounding her momentarily. "You don't always have to carry everything alone, you know. Next time, call me sooner."
Maya smiled faintly. "I will."
They fell into silence after that, sipping their coffees. But while Maya's eyes slowly drifted shut, Alina's mind raced. Every time she blinked, she saw Kai's face reflected in that glass. Not the polished actor, not the untouchable man people worshipped on screens, but someone real, someone she wasn't supposed to see. And it terrified her.
Because for the first time, she wasn't sure which side of him was the mask… and which was the truth. Her chest tightened painfully, and she whispered into the rim of her cup, so low Maya couldn't hear:
"Who are you really, Kai Arden… and why do I feel like I'm falling into something I can't escape?"