Aron’s words weren’t filled with anger so much as heartbreak. His tears weren’t out of rage but fear—fear of losing Es again, fear of how much he cared despite the walls he’d built. The weight of his emotions, the desperation in his voice, echoed through the room.
Es sighed softly, a bittersweet smile playing at her lips as she whispered, "I’m still here, Aron."
Except for Helga and Es, no one really understood who Aron was. To the outside world, he seed like a guy who was always at odds with Es—teasing her, challenging her, and always finding a way to get under her skin. But beneath that playful facade was soone with a heart full of warmth and genuine care.
For Aron, Es wasn’t just a friend; she was like family. He had been looking out for her long before Helga ca into the picture. Es was his sister in every way that mattered. Whenever she faced tough tis or felt threatened, he was there, ready to support her. He didn’t just protect her; he wanted her to learn how to stand on her own two feet. Aron believed in her strength, and in doing so, he helped her build confidence.
While Helga acted as a strong shield, fiercely guarding Es from the world, Aron took on a different role. He was more like a teacher, guiding Es through challenges and encouraging her to face difficulties head-on. He pushed her to grow, reminding her that it was okay to stumble as long as she got back up.
Aron’s deep care for Es was sothing both Helga and Es knew well. It was a bond that had ford over countless monts shared, filled with laughter, struggles, and the unspoken promise that they would always be there for one another.
So when Aron held Es tightly, tears in his eyes, it spoke volus about his love and his fear of losing soone so important to him. While others might have seen just the playful banter, Helga and Es understood the true depth of his feelings.
Aron’s brothers, who had been standing quietly to the side, heard Es call out his na. They exchanged confused glances, their brows furrowed in curiosity. "Yes, Es?" one of them asked, clearly unsure of what to expect.
Es glanced at Helga, then turned her gaze to Aron, a playful smile creeping across her face. She burst into laughter, shaking her head lightly. "No, I’m not calling you guys," she said, her voice teasing but weak. "I’m calling him."
In that mont, the brothers shared a look of shock and realization. They hadn’t connected the dots before, but now it was clear. Both Aron’s na and their surna were the sa, and Es had deliberately chosen to address him that way to avoid any misunderstanding.
After a while, Es felt a wave of dizziness wash over her. She instinctively grabbed her head, feeling as though she might collapse. Without hesitation, Ryan rushed to her side, his arm wrapping around her waist to support her.
"Let check you," he said in a calm, soothing tone.
Es looked up at him for a mont, blinking through the haze. A small, tired smile appeared on her lips as she said, "You must be the fourth brother, huh?"
Ryan’s expression shifted, a hint of surprise in his eyes. "You can tell us apart?" he asked, his brows raised.
"Yeah, why not?" Es replied, still slightly breathless.
Ryan chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Most people confuse for Jay."
Es let out a weak laugh, her hand resting on her forehead. "No," she said with a faint smile, "you guys are too different."
Ryan studied her closely, feeling sothing stir in him that he hadn’t expected. When his brothers had told him they were going to marry a woman—and that all of them would marry her—he hadn’t cared much. Marriage didn’t hold significance for him. He was always imrsed in his work, trusting his elder brothers to make the right decisions. So when they introduced Es Balhole as their wife, he hadn’t thought much of it.
But now, standing here with this woman who was so much more than he had imagined, sothing inside him shifted. He wasn’t sure what it was, but for the first ti, he found himself understanding why his brothers had chosen her. She wasn’t just anyone—there was sothing about her that drew people in, sothing that made even a r like him, indifferent and detached, pause and take notice.
Rayan looked at Es with a softened gaze, gently placing his stethoscope back around his neck. He took a calming breath, glancing briefly at his brothers, who were watching with worried expressions.
"She’s fine," he said, his voice steady, though still touched with the concern that had been brewing earlier. "Her heartbeat is normal. It looks like she’s stable... at least for now."
His words seed to ease the tension in the room, though the undercurrent of worry lingered.
After a while, Es drifted into a deep sleep, her breathing slow and steady as the IV drip was carefully attached to her arm. The room felt still, the earlier tension replaced by a fragile calm.
Aron and his brothers stood nearby, their eyes fixed on Es’s resting figure, a quiet mix of concern and relief etched on their faces. Helga, standing beside them, watched her friend with a similar intensity, her usual composure softened in this mont of vulnerability.
For a while, no one spoke, letting the silence envelop them as Es slept peacefully, the weight of the earlier chaos slowly lifting from their shoulders.
"Ryan," Ray called out in a serious tone. Hearing his na, Ryan turned, his eyes eting Ray’s with a question in them, sensing the urgency in his brother’s voice.
Without another word, Ryan, Helga, and the others exchanged silent glances, understanding that there was nothing more they could do for now. One by one, they quietly stepped out of the room, their footsteps barely audible on the floor.
As the door closed softly behind them, only Aron remained by Es’s side, watching her sleep, the soft rise and fall of her chest offering him a small sense of relief.
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