Mr. Smith watched the scenery with a beaming smile. Those words, 'not yet,' were pregnant with meaning. Perhaps in a few days, he would indeed be her boyfriend. Curiosity piqued, he strained to catch any interesting bits of conversation.
Melanie's first call went unanswered. She frowned and tried again. An inexplicable unease crept into her heart. On the second attempt, after several rings, someone finally picked up, but it wasn't Asher's voice. Instead, a pleasant female voice greeted her, "Hello, this is B City Hospital. Are you a friend of Asher's? Asher was in a car accident half an hour ago..."
It was as if something exploded in Melanie's mind. Her phone slipped from her grasp with a clatter, tears spilling from her eyes.
Mr. Smith, who had been preparing to eavesdrop on some gossip, was stunned. He quickly retrieved the phone and inquired about the situation. "Miss, we'll head to the hospital right away!"
Mr. Smith hadn't anticipated such a turn of events. After offering reassurances, he hastily plotted the course to B City Hospital.
Melanie managed to regain some composure, wiping away her tears. She reassured herself that Asher couldn't be seriously hurt. After all, in her previous life, Asher had smoothly climbed to the peak of his career. This life would be no different. Even if she was a variable, she hadn't interfered in Asher's affairs, so logically, he would surely escape this danger unscathed.
Among the countless scenarios she had imagined for their reunion, meeting at a hospital had never crossed her mind. Despite her attempts at comforting herself, tears threatened to overwhelm her once more. Her rebirth was a gift from fate, not a chance to repeat past mistakes.
At B City Hospital, the pungent smell of disinfectant filled the air. She detested this scent. Fear, worry, and terror intertwined within her. Melanie rushed into the hospital, her heart pounding.
Mr. Smith, unable to match her pace, jogged behind, huffing, "Be careful!"
Melanie was fortunate; she quickly obtained Asher's information from a nurse, who also comforted her, "He's not in serious condition. Don't worry too much."
Mr. Smith, catching up, heard these words and breathed a sigh of relief. It was fortunate Asher was alright; based on Melanie's reaction, it could have been disastrous.
Melanie thanked the nurse in a daze. Asher was okay. Thank goodness he was okay...
She stumbled towards the ward. Through the small window on the door, she saw Asher lying pale on the bed, a wound on his forehead, seemingly asleep. This was the closest she had been to Asher since her rebirth. The young man was just as she remembered. She forced a smile, her fingers that had been clutching her collar relaxing. Melanie exhaled deeply, wiping away her tears to compose herself. She entered the room quietly, her reddened eyes stinging.
Lowering her gaze, she berated herself for her lack of composure. Despite all she had been through, she still struggled to control her emotions. Pulling up a chair by the bedside, she sighed softly, gazing intently at the boy, overwhelmed with emotion.
This time, they would be together.
Turning to Mr. Smith, she gestured for him to handle the admission procedures, whispering, "Mr. Smith, please take care of his hospital admission."
"Of course," Mr. Smith replied, glancing at the familiar-looking young man on the bed.
