Episode 44
He slowly, very slowly, began to share his breath with me.
Through our touching lips, hot oxygen entered.
Huuu— I gripped Lu’s shoulder and swallowed the breath.
But this was just a temporary measure.
The water was rising higher and higher, and soon we would be completely trapped underwater.
If that happened, our lives would surely come to an end.
But…
‘Should I say… I’m glad we’re together?’
I found solace in the fact that the last thing I saw before dying was Lu.
I didn’t know what name to give this feeling, but at least in this moment, my heart felt at peace.
Another warm breath entered. Lu’s lips were soft and hot.
Splash—! The water surface surged as if a wave had crashed.
Now, it’s really the end… That’s what I thought at that moment.
Beyond the window, a small shadow moved.
Because we were underwater, everything looked slow and blurry, but there was definitely someone there.
‘…Pinky?’
Come to think of it, I had left a letter in the abandoned warehouse, telling them to come to the harbor as soon as they saw it.
Past me, good job!
———!
Pinky pressed a gun muzzle against the window. Then—Bang! A thin crack spread across the transparent glass.
Bang!
Another gunshot. The cracks spread across the surface like a spiderweb.
Just a moment ago, I had resigned myself to my fate, but now my heart felt like it was going to burst.
But there was no time to think.
Bang!
The glass was on the verge of shattering completely. Lu and I locked eyes. At the same time, we started swimming toward the window.
Bang!
The cracked window shattered completely. The sudden pressure difference caused seawater to rush in, momentarily throwing us off balance, but thanks to Lu’s grip, we weren’t swept away. We quickly swam toward the surface.
“Puh—!”
Breaking through the surface, I gasped for air.
My wet hair clung to my forehead, and salty seawater dripped down my cheeks.
My entire body felt heavy from being soaked, but now wasn’t the time to dwell on that—I should just be grateful to be alive.
Haa, haa… I took another deep breath and wiped my face with my palm.
If Pinky had been even a little late, we would have drowned.
“Are you alright?!”
Pinky swam over in a hurry and asked. I ruffled his hair and laughed loudly.
“You little lifesaver!”
“Agh! Stop that!”
Pinky struggled and glared at me.
“It’s a good thing I had a waterproof gun. But seriously, what the hell happened to you?”
“That’s what I’d like to know. I have no idea why we ended up like—”
At that moment, a strange sensation ran down my spine.
It wasn’t just cold or fatigue.
It was a sharp, chilling feeling brushing against my skin.
‘This is…’
Someone was watching us.
A tightness gripped my chest, making it hard to breathe.
I quickly turned my head and scanned the surroundings, but all I could see was the vast ocean and a quiet harbor—no sign of people anywhere.
Yet I was certain that someone, somewhere, was watching me.
This wasn’t just a passing glance.
It was a gaze that had been fixed on me for a long time—heavy, deliberate, and exact.
“Lu.”
I quickly called out to Lu.
“Do you feel it too?”
But there was no response.
I turned my head, worried that he had gone under again.
But Lu’s face looked… strange.
“Lu?”
His complexion was deathly pale, his eyelids trembling slightly. And…
“Why is the water red?”
A pool of red was spreading across the water.
Was the loud noise we heard earlier not just an explosion, but also a gunshot?
Had Lu been shot back then but kept quiet about it?
“Lu!”
I hurriedly swam to him and pulled him into my arms.
His head, limp, rested against my shoulder.
“A-Are you okay? No, wait, you were shot, right? Where? Where were you hit?”
“It’s nothing.”
“What do you mean nothing?!”
There could be many reasons why a gunshot wound wouldn’t bleed immediately, but if the bleeding suddenly started pouring out like this after some time, there was only one explanation.
The bullet was still inside his body.
His back? Or his shoulder?
No, whatever the case, we needed to get him to safety and call for a doctor immediately.
“Pinky, grab his other arm. We need to move, fast.”
“Yes, sir!”
Pinky and I each took one of Lu’s arms and started pulling him along.
As he staggered between us, Lu let out a weak chuckle.
“I never thought there’d be a day when you’d be the one helping me, Charles.”
“Shut up. Stop talking before your wound worsens!”
“Just let me say one more thing.”
Lu tilted his head toward me.
“Let’s choose the dress and tuxedo next week.”
“You—!”
“You have to wait for me. No matter what.”
And with that, his voice faded away.
***
“The bullet was lodged very deep.”
The doctor examined Lu’s body and spoke.
“Fortunately, it missed any major blood vessels, but the muscle tissue was severely damaged. If it had gone any deeper… his life would have been in danger.”
Clatter.
The blood-soaked bullet rolled inside the metal tray, the sound echoing like thunder.
“The right shoulder muscle is torn, so he won’t be able to use his arm for a while. He must remain completely at rest for the time being.”
Of course, this warning wasn’t meant for Lu—he was still unconscious.
The doctor was addressing me and Mardi.
“A slight fever is normal, but if it becomes persistent, contact me immediately. It could be a sign of infection.”
“What… what happens if it gets infected?”
Mardi asked.
If it gets infected?
“…The wound could fester and rot.”
There was even a chance he might lose his arm.
“So be sure to monitor his condition carefully. If anything seems off, call me right away. Understood?”
The doctor, who had just finished wrapping Lu’s wound in bandages, emphasized his words. Mardi and I nodded in unison.
“Yes. Understood.”
“I’ll go prepare the necessary medication, so please wait a moment.”
“Ah, okay.”
Sniffling, Mardi followed the doctor out of the room.
Clack!
Once they left, only Lu and I remained in the room.
Of course, Lu was lying in bed, breathing faintly.
I sat beside him and quietly looked down at him.
His pale face looked as if his life could slip away at any moment, and his chapped lips revealed just how much pain he had endured.
— I… for you…
What was Lu trying to say back then?
Unconsciously, I touched my lips.
The place where his warmth had lingered. The place where his breath had stayed.
• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •By Esraa• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •
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