Two days later.
The morning air in The Valley feels even colder as winter in the city finally fully sets in, unlike the previous week.
Evelyn had just finished her walking practice with her personal trainer, sweat lightly clinging to her forehead, her brace squeaking faintly with every careful step. She was proud of herself. Exhausted, but proud.
That was why she nearly thought she had hallucinated when she turned toward the entrance of the ho clinic and saw Oscar walking in.
Not just walking in.
Marching in, sunglasses on, with Jimmy trailing beside him like a very polite, slightly confused escort.
Evelyn blinked once. Then again. But he is still there.
’Am I dreaming? He supposed thousands of miles from this place... Why is he here?’ she wondered, lifting her hand and pinching her own cheek.
Pain shot through her face.
She hissed. ’What the hell! He is really here!’
Oscar pulled off his sunglasses calmly as he called, "Evelyn?"
"Oscar?" Her voice rose in disbelief. "You really ca?"
He did not answer. He closed the distance in three gentle but quick, long strides and wrapped her in a tight embrace.
"You silly girl!" he scolded into her hair. "How dare you get injured without knowing? Why didn’t you contact ?"
Evelyn froze for a second, then carefully patted his back. "I missed you too," she murmured, half laughing. "And, I’m glad to see you, bro."
He finally pulled away, but his hands stayed on her shoulders as he looked her over. And then his expression twisted into outrage.
"Broken bones everywhere? Major surgery? And now you look like this?" His eyes darted to the thin bandage on her forehead, her supported arm, the brace around her leg. "I almost fainted when I heard!"
Evelyn rolled her eyes.
"Gosh, I’m alive. No need to look at like I’m a tragic museum exhibit."
Oscar’s grip tightened unconsciously.
"Ow, ow, ow," she hissed. "Can you not crush my shoulder? It hurts, you know."
He imdiately let go. "Oops. Sorry, Eve. Sorry." Then, as nothing happened, he brightened. "Co, co. Let’s sit and talk over there..."
She nodded, smiled, and began walking toward the window seat. Her steps were slow but steady.
Oscar took one look and panicked. "Let carry you." He was about to scoop her into his arms, but Evelyn stopped him right away.
"No," Evelyn protested, glaring at him. "I need walking practice so my leg can heal quickly."
"But you are so damn slow, Eve," he complained, hovering beside her like a nervous mother hen.
"My goodness, Oscar... Can you be patient...?" She smiled sourly.
Just then, Jimmy cleared his throat.
Both of them turned, realizing for the first ti that the butler and the personal trainer were still standing there, watching them quarrel.
Jimmy calmly rolled a wheelchair from the corner toward Ma’am, "Ma’am, you can use this," he suggested politely.
Oscar laughed awkwardly. "Hey, Jimmy. You’re still here. Thanks for bringing in."
"Sir, it is my duty," Jimmy replied with a small smile before paying his attention back to Evelyn.
"No need, Jimmy. The seating area is only a few steps away," Evelyn said.
The trainer stepped forward. "Madam Evelyn’s recovery depends on movent. She must walk when possible."
Evelyn imdiately pointed at the trainer, like a lawyer presenting evidence. "See? I need to train my feet, or I won’t be able to work for the rest of the year."
Oscar exhaled in defeat. "Fine. But if you fall, I am carrying you, dignity or not. Deal?"
"Deal!" She continued her small, snail-like step toward the sofa.
Jimmy and the trainer soon excused themselves, leaving the two of them alone.
Evelyn settled carefully onto the sofa. Oscar sat opposite her, still looking unsettled.
"Tell ," she said softly, studying his face. "How did you even find out about my accident? And the surgery?"
Oscar leaned back, running a hand through his hair. His sharp eyes were still fixed on her as if he wanted to read her mind.
"I knew sothing was wrong when you stopped answering your phone," he said. "At first, I thought you were just busy. Then the days passed. I called again and again. Nothing. I emailed you. No reply. It was like you vanished from the world."
Evelyn’s smile faded a little.
"My phone was destroyed in the crash," she admitted. "I didn’t even rember most numbers by heart." She tries to humor him.
Oscar shook his head, still emotional.
"Then I tried to contact Oliver. You know, I gave him that iPad for his birthday. I thought at least he would send a sticker or a drawing." He gave a weak laugh. "But the iPad was never accessed. Not once. That’s when I knew sothing was very wrong."
"Oliver didn’t bring his iPad to the hospital, and I bet he didn’t have much ti to play either... he was pretty terrified."
Oscar’s expression softened, but only briefly.
"I booked a flight that night and flew to Elaris without telling anyone. When I landed, I called Axel." Oscar paused, jaw tightening. "When he told you had been in a car accident and had major surgery, I just... stood in the airport like an idiot. I didn’t even know where to sit."
Evelyn’s eyes grew warm. "I’m sorry I scared you."
Oscar scoffed. "Scared ? Eve, I almost flew straight to the afterlife to drag you back myself."
She laughed.
"That would have been very inconvenient for everyone."
He turned toward her fully now, voice quieter. "Do you know how it felt? Thinking you were hurt, and I didn’t even know where you were? You’re my family, Evelyn. Not just my friend."
Her lips softened into a tender smile. "I know."
For a mont, silence sat between them, heavy but warm.
Then Oscar glanced at her brace again. "By the way," he said, narrowing his eyes. "When you are fully healed, we are going on a vacation. Sowhere sunny. Sowhere with zero cars."
Evelyn chuckled. "Deal. But you’re paying."
Oscar grinned. "Obviously. Emotional trauma compensation."
Their laughter filled the room, blending with the quiet mountain breeze outside.
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