Chapter 2

They quickly set down their things and rushed to help me up. "Why are you sitting on the floor? It's hot, but you know your health isn't great. Don't try to cool off like this. It's not good for you," Flora scolded.

When Flora saw the tears on my face, she stopped short. "Nydia, what happened? Are you feeling sick? Did Sean give you a hard time?"

She shot Sean a furious glare.

Sean grumbled at Flora, "Don't talk nonsense. I wouldn't dare lay a finger on her. If I ever did, you'd probably tear me to pieces."

Then he turned to me, worry etched on his face as he gently wiped the tears from my cheeks. "Honey, what happened?

"Are you feeling sick? I'll take you to the hospital."

I looked at them.

Their concern was so genuine, not a hint of pretense in their eyes.

But as Sean wiped the tears from my face, I caught a flicker of pain and loss in Flora's worried gaze.

Her eyes grew even redder.

I'd never really paid attention to the way they interacted before.

Turns out, beneath all their bickering and teasing, there was a storm of feelings between them, separated only by a thin veil, just waiting for someone to finally break through.

My stomach hurt so badly I was shaking all over.

Leaning into Sean's arms, I couldn't stop thinking about those words from his farewell letters, each line brimming with love.

[Flora, if I make it back from this mission, I'll marry Nydia.]

[I've taken ten years of her youth, and I can't be that selfish... but every time I hold her, I can't help but think of you.]

[Flora, you're the love I can never show the world, the one I trust most. Maybe only after marrying Nydia can I finally stand beside you openly.]

[If there's a next life, I swear I'll be the first to hold your hand.]

I could see the tear stains all over the letter that he must have been hurting so much when he wrote this.

He was always so strong.

But this letter was covered in his tears.

I used to think Sean loved me deeply, that he always put me first and did whatever I wanted.

But in the end, it was all just guilt.

He carried that guilt when it came to me.

That was why he treated me so well.

Suddenly, a sour taste flooded my mouth, mixed with a weird sweetness. I couldn't stop it. I doubled over and threw up hard.

The pungent, sickening smell quickly spread through the room.

The pain in my belly grew sharper, like the baby was frightened and struggling inside me.

Flora and Sean's faces drained of color as they rushed to steady me. Their clothes and shoes got smeared with vomit, but there wasn't a trace of disgust on their faces, only deep concern for me.

As my mind blurred, I heard the sound of an ambulance approaching.

I could hear Flora and Sean's voices, thick with tears and choked sobs.

"Nydia."

"Honey."

"Please, you must be okay."

A warm wetness spread below. I managed to open my eyes, and through the blur, I saw Flora and Sean gripping my hands tightly. Their other hands, almost without thinking, were holding onto each other, as if trying to draw strength from one another.

It felt so torn.

The air in the hospital was thick with the scent of disinfectant.

I lay exhausted on the hospital bed. After the doctor finished the check-up, he gave Flora and Sean a gentle reminder, "The mother and baby are both stable for now.

"But as her family, make sure she stays calm. Don't let anything upset her again."

They both let out a sigh of relief.

After the doctor left, Flora spun around and socked Sean in the arm. "Can't you just skip this mission? It's way too dangerous. Did you even think about it? Nydia's pregnant with your kid."

Sean stood there in silence.

I closed my eyes, not wanting to see the real concern in their faces.

It wasn't thoughts of Flora and Sean betraying me that kept running through my mind.

Instead, it was memories from way back, our story, the three of us together.

When I turned eighteen, I realized what I felt for Sean was more than just childhood friendship. I knew for sure I'd fallen for that sunny, carefree boy.

That night, after dinner and homework, Flora and I curled up together in bed.

Flora noticed I was spaced out and asked me what was going on.

Blushing, I confessed my feelings for Sean to her.

Flora was quiet for a moment, then pulled a disgusted face. "Sean? He actually dared to steal my baby sister away.

"He's not good enough for you. I will find you someone way better."

Back then, I had no idea about the inner turmoil Flora was hiding behind all her teasing.

But after that day, Flora just couldn't stand Sean; she acted like even the way he breathed was wrong.

The day before I planned to confess to Sean, Flora asked me, "Do you really like Sean?"

I nodded, making it clear that it had to be him and no one else.

Flora's face twisted between laughing and crying. She stormed off to have it out with Sean, then came back and hugged me tight. "If you like him, then I support you. I'm your big sister. It's my job to look out for you and back you up."

Things just got worse and worse between them.

Even after they grew up and worked together, every time they ran into each other, it was always a showdown, neither willing to give an inch.

I was always playing peacemaker, stuck right in the middle, trying to keep things from blowing up.