I took him to see my sister.
Through the thin glass, he looked at the person lying in bed in surprise: "Are you asking me to help find a doctor?"
"No."
I shook my head. "Aren't you always curious why I came back to help you?"
"Because my sister likes you."
I turned to look at his bewildered expression and whispered:
"Mr. Delacroix, my sister, your junior from university, has quietly liked you for many years."
"I used to think you wanted to marry me just to repay my kindness."
"But now I realize I was wrong."
"You came all the way here to spend Christmas with me, bought me balloons, and always follow me... Do you like me?"
"Please don't do this."
"To me, you are either my sister's man, a normal friend, or a stranger."
I looked up and met his eyes, which had darkened. I softly said:
"I'm helping you because I can't bear to see my sister's idol fall from grace."
"Please, don't put me in this awkward position again."
Sebastian left, his steps unsteady.
I knelt on the cold floor beside the hospital bed, my fingers brushing over my sister's closed eyes. "Isabella, he's here. Are you happy?"
"Look, just by taking care of him for a while, I've won his favor. Is this the kind of cheap love you wanted?"
Of course, my sister couldn't respond. I thought of the green balloon.
Before entering the hospital, I let it go, watching it float peacefully into the sky, just like I've been praying every day.
Hoping that my sister and all those I care about would have good fortune and smoothly move upward.
---
Sebastian found me the best doctor.
On the day of the check-up, his assistant came, seeing me nervously biting my lip and handed me a tissue.
"Don't worry, it'll be fine."
"Thank you."
I took it and wiped the blood from my lips.
The doctor's report wasn't great: "All we can do is try our best." I forced a smile. "Thank you."
I walked out despondently. Before I even reached the door, I saw Sebastian waiting for me. My steps faltered.
He walked towards me helplessly. "Are you stunned?"
I snapped back, feeling conflicted.
"...I thought you wouldn't come looking for me again."
Anyone who had been rejected like that wouldn't come back.
But Sebastian smiled, removed his coat, and draped it over my shoulders. "Then you were wrong."
"I'm not the kind of person who gives up halfway."
His words made me feel a little awkward, and I stepped back, intending to take off the coat. Before I could, his cool voice interrupted me.
"Anastasia."
Even when he was sick, he had never spoken to me in such a cold tone. I involuntarily stopped my movements.
"I like you. You don't have to accept it, but if you reject me, it should be because you don't like me, or even hate me. It shouldn't be because you consider me your sister's man."
"I've never even known your sister, so denying me like this isn't fair to me."
I lowered my gaze, feeling inexplicably weary.
Sebastian's persistence in this matter surprised me, and I felt vaguely irritated.
Didn't he have anything else to do? I turned my head, refusing to look at him:
"There's no such thing as absolute fairness in this world... My sister has always taken care of me. She was hit by a truck while trying to save me. As long as I live, I'll always owe her."
"Mr. Delacroix, you're not me. You can't understand the feelings I have for my sister."
"I have my own values and judgment. The things I say are not a joke."
"Please respect my wishes."
The atmosphere was filled with strange silence. The assistant followed me closely, not daring to take a breath. Realizing that my words might have been too harsh, I pressed my lips together.
"Actually, I'm very grateful for your help in finding me a doctor, but I don't want anything beyond friendship between us. I hope you can understand."
Sebastian was silent for a moment, then smiled:
"Your attitude toward me now is really a far cry from when I was sick."
"It seems you're very compassionate toward the weak—toward me when I couldn't stand up, toward your sister who's in a coma... Well."
"But there's something I want to tell you," Sebastian said gently.
"If every relationship starts with mutual effort, then where does forced taking come from?"
