Chapter 93: Kevan’s Responsibility

Upon arriving in the room, Kevan immediately set me down carefully. His face still showed deep concern. He hurried to the wardrobe, took a thick white towel, and draped it over my shoulders.

“Sit here, don’t move too much,” he instructed in a gentle yet firm tone.

Kevan began drying my soaking wet hair with very slow movements, as if I were porcelain that could easily crack. His fingers wrapped in the towel rubbed my head with great care. The familiar scent of soap from Kevan’s body, now also wet, faintly drifted in the air, creating a warm atmosphere amid the cold that was beginning to pierce my skin.

“I already told you, don’t play in the rain. Now you’re cold like this,” he murmured softly, more to himself.

I could only remain silent, enjoying the attention he was giving me. However, that silence shattered instantly when the sound of the front door slamming echoed loudly, followed by hurried footsteps rushing up the stairs.

“Kevan! What are you doing?!”

That heavy, thunderous voice made both of us flinch. Mr. Aditya stood at the doorway with a face flushed red. His eyes glared sharply at Kevan, then shifted to me, who looked pitiful with my shivering body and messy hair.

“Dad….” Kevan murmured. He immediately stood up, blocking his father’s view of me.

“I entrusted the house and Frel to you, and this is what you do? You let her get soaked and fall ill?” Mr. Aditya shouted without giving Kevan any chance to explain.

He took wide steps toward me, ignoring the small protests Kevan tried to voice.

Mr. Aditya immediately grabbed my arm, helping me stand with quick movements filled with panic. “We’re going to the hospital now.”

“But I’m fine, it’s just an ordinary sneeze.” I tried to object in a hoarse voice.

“No objections, Frel! Look at your face, it’s already that pale,” Mr. Aditya cut in with a tone that accepted no rebuttal at all. “Don’t be stubborn. If something bad happens to you, I won’t forgive myself, let alone forgive Kevan.”

Without waiting for my approval any longer, Mr. Aditya wrapped an arm around my shoulders and led me out of the room in a rush.

I managed to glance back, seeing Kevan frozen in place with a gaze full of guilt and sorrow. However, Mr. Aditya kept forcing me to walk toward the car, as if every second wasted was a major threat to my life.

The sharp smell of antiseptic stabbed my sense of smell, emphasizing the cold atmosphere of this hospital corridor. I sat leaning against the treatment bed with a thick blanket wrapping my body up to my chest.

Beside me, Mr. Aditya still stood motionless while staring out the window, while the atmosphere in the room felt suffocating due to the tension that had yet to subside.

That silence broke when the door to the treatment room opened.

Mrs. Viona appeared with a face full of worry, followed by Kevan walking behind her with his head bowed dejectedly.

As soon as their eyes met Mr. Aditya’s, their steps slowed.

Kevan gathered his courage and stepped forward. He stopped right in front of his father.

“Dad, I’m sorry,” he said in a low voice that trembled slightly. “I neglected to take care of Frel. I let the situation get out of control until she fell ill. I truly regret my carelessness.”

Mr. Aditya looked at his son carefully, then let out a long sigh. The anger that had earlier erupted violently at home now seemed to fade, replaced by lines of exhaustion and regret reflected in his eyes.

He approached Kevan and placed his hand on his son’s shoulder.

“I’m sorry too, Kevan,” Mr. Aditya said in a much calmer tone. “I panicked too much and lost control, then shouted at you. Seeing Frel shivering earlier frightened me half to death, and I ended up venting my worry in the wrong way.”

Seeing both men acknowledge their mistakes, Mrs. Viona immediately stepped closer and wrapped her arms around them both. Her warm smile appeared, as if bringing a ray of light into this gloomy room. She then turned to me with a soothing, motherly gaze.

“That’s enough. What matters most now is that Frel has been treated by the doctor and only needs to rest to regain her strength,” Mrs. Viona said gently. “The rain earlier may have brought cold air, but it should not freeze the relationship between us, should it?”

I felt warmth spread through my heart.

I cleared my throat slightly, trying to get their attention. “Mr. Aditya, Mrs. Viona, I’m sorry too. Actually, this is all my fault for teasing Kevan until we both fell into the pool. I was very childish.”

Kevan moved closer to the edge of my bed. The gloomy expression that had covered his face earlier now began to brighten again. He looked at me with eyes that sparkled with renewed life.

“You really are mischievous, Frel. But at least now I know one thing, even though you’re not good at playing the guitar, you’re very good at making an entire house panic.”

Kevan’s joke was met with soft laughter from Mr. Aditya and Mrs. Viona. The atmosphere that had been tense now melted perfectly, leaving behind a deep sense of relief.

Mrs. Viona then opened the bag she was carrying and took out a bottle containing warm ginger tea, its aroma immediately filling the room.

“Come on, drink a little of this so your body feels more comfortable,” Mrs. Viona said as she handed the glass to me.

“Thank you,” I said.

She nodded with a sincere smile on her face.

Mr. Aditya also looked more relaxed. He sat down on the chair beside the bed, observing my interaction with Kevan and Mrs. Viona with a gentler look.

“Let’s forget what happened earlier. After this we’ll go home and make sure no one is allowed to play in the rain anymore, at least until the weather truly improves,” Mr. Aditya concluded, which was met with nods of agreement from all of us.

Kevan sat on the chair on the other side of the bed. Secretly, he reached for my hand beneath the blanket and squeezed it gently. His soft gaze seemed to say that everything was fine and that he no longer felt burdened by guilt.

Amid the scent of medicine and the coldness of this room, I realized that their care was the most potent remedy compared to anything the doctor had given earlier.

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