CHAPTER 075

CHAPTER 075
«JARVIS POINT OF VIEW»

«ONE WEEK LATER»

Seven days had passed with no sign of Levi. The police had stopped the search since there were no results. They declared him deceased, finding nothing but a piece of his clothing.

It had been two days since I discharged myself, ignoring the doctor’s warning. I couldn’t sit around knowing my Levi was gone. I didn’t believe it, not when my heart kept insisting otherwise. And here we were again, in the little village beside the ocean where Levi’s clothing had been found, going around, asking anyone we saw if they had seen the man in the picture. So far, no one had recognized him, but I didn’t give up. Even though I walked around with a limp, I refused to stop. I believed Levi was still alive, and I was going to find him. I couldn’t stay in that hospital bed and cry any longer.

"Can we take a break?"

I turned my head, hearing Tristan’s groan, and saw him making himself comfortable on a few rocks beside the seashore. I limped over slowly, one leg dragging slightly, and sat beside him. We both stared at the vast ocean ahead, boats and fishing ships drifting calmly across the water.

"It feels nice around here. I wouldn’t mind living here, just catching fish," Tristan chuckled. “If I ever fall in love, I’ll bring her here.”

I scoffed lightly. "What made you think it’s going to be a girl?"

Immediately, he turned to me. "I turned gay, right? That’s why I’m not attracted to girls anymore. But I don’t feel enthusiastic about guys either. Do you think there’s something wrong with me?"

I let out a short laugh. "Calm down, Tristan. You’re not gay."

Well… that came out a bit too smoothly for a lie.

He raised an eyebrow. "Do I look stupid?"

I shrugged. "You said it, not me."

"What a brat," I heard him murmur under his breath. I almost laughed out loud, but held it in, standing instead and limping toward a couple pulling a boat from the water.

"Hello, excuse me," I said, bowing slightly, immediately gaining their attention. "Can I please ask if you have seen this man?" I asked, stretching my phone toward them, Levi’s photo displayed on the screen.

They took the phone willingly and studied the image for a moment before exchanging a look I didn’t like.

"Have you seen him?" I asked again, my voice tighter this time, as they handed the phone back.

“Who are you?”

I beamed. "I'm Jarvis. My friend and I came from the city, and the guy is my boyfriend. He fell off the cliff a week ago, and we've been trying to find him. Please, help me?" I stared at them hopefully, my heart thudding painfully in my chest.

"Yeah, we have seen him," the lady answered.

I instantly broke into a wide smile, relief flooding through me so fast it almost made me dizzy. I could feel my eyes glinting with unshed tears already forming. "You have?"

"We found him in the ocean. He had a bullet wound. We took him to the village clinic. We couldn’t contact his family because he had no wallet on him, and he has been in a coma since. The doctor said he might not make it."

Instantly, my smile withered, and I felt my heart plunge straight into my stomach.

"Please, take us to him," Tristan spoke beside me, his voice urgent, while mine seemed to have completely dangled in my throat.

~~~

I stared at his pale face. It was pallid, almost lifeless, with a few cuts that were slowly healing along his cheek and jaw. His lower body was bare, covered only by a white bandage tightly wrapped around his chest, sealing the place where the bullet had gone through. His chest rose and fell so faintly it was almost unnoticeable, and that scared me to my core.

What did we do to deserve this?

A heavy sigh left my mouth as I took hold of his cold, white hand and pressed a gentle kiss to it. A teardrop slipped down my face before I could stop it.

All my life, I had never asked for anything more. I wanted him, just him, but why did it feel so impossible to have him? "I don't want to lose him," I whispered.

Tristan patted my back from behind. "You already found him. He's gonna be fine."

"I'm scared… I would die if I lost him."

“I told you to stop being pessimistic and look on the brighter side. If he weren’t meant to survive, he would’ve died before those people found him. We just need to take him back to the city."

I nodded weakly and kissed Levi’s palm again, forcing a small smile through my tears. He was going to be fine.

He had to be.

» SEVEN MORE DAYS LATER»

The beeping of my phone broke the silence. I pulled it out of my pocket and answered, bringing it to my ear. "Mom?" I called, walking into the hospital.

"Are you there yet? Your dad and I are stuck in traffic," Mom’s voice came through.

"Yes, Mom," I replied, passing the front desk as I headed toward Levi’s room.

"We'll be there."

I nodded but realized she couldn’t see me. “Yes, Mom,” I said, then hung up while pushing through the doors of Levi’s room, only for my mouth to drop the moment I stepped inside.

“Levi?” The name slipped from my lips so smoothly, almost involuntarily, and immediately his brown eyes met mine. A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. I found myself moving forward, almost like I was being pulled magnetically. Slowly, I walked closer.

He had on a hospital shirt, sitting upright with his back resting against the wall. I stopped beside his bed, and for a moment, we just stared, me looking down at him, him looking up at me.

“You’re awake?” I breathed out.

Slowly, he nodded. A laugh broke out of me, light, disbelieving, and overwhelmed. I cupped his face without thinking and pulled him into a kiss, my chest tightening at how real he felt again. Warm. Familiar. Safe.

A groan slipped from my throat as I pulled back slightly, my forehead still close to his. “I missed you so much. You got me so scared… I thought I would never be with you again.” My voice cracked. “Please don’t do it again.”

His hand slid up, trailing along my jaw, and he leaned in to press a soft kiss to my lips. “I’ll always protect you. I love you,” he whispered.

I smiled through the tears slipping down my cheeks. “I love you too.”

“Will you look at that. Aren’t they so cute, honey?”

I instantly pulled back and turned my head, only to find my parents standing at the door, watching with knowing expressions.

“How did you get here so fast?”

Instead of answering, Mom walked in and pulled Levi into a hug.

“Good to have you back with us again, son.”

“Thank you, Mom.”

And for the first time in what felt like forever… the room finally felt whole.