Minutes passed.

Finally, the doctors inside stopped moving frantically. Nurses began stepping away. One of the doctors approached Cassius and Reynold.

"They are doing better now," he said reassuringly. "They are out of danger."

Cassius let out a long breath he did not realize he was holding. Relief washed over him... yet fear still lingered. He wanted to ask about the Helix serum, about the pathogen, about everything. Surely with his father’s influence, these doctors knew something. But his throat tightened.

What if he did not like the answer?

He remained silent.

Reynold, however, spoke immediately.

"When will they wake up?" he asked.

The doctor smiled gently. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

"Maybe a few minutes or an hour. But soon."

"Thank you," Reynold said sincerely.

The doctor nodded and left.

Reynold finally relaxed and dropped onto the chair, relief softening his tense shoulders. His sister would wake up soon. That was all he needed.

Cassius, however, did not feel calm. His mind was in turmoil. He was relieved... and yet terrified. The silence of the doctors regarding the Helix serum haunted him.

Did they not know?

Or were they simply not saying anything?

How long would this peace last?

He did not know.

And that uncertainty felt like a blade hanging above them all.

___

Reynold remained completely unaware of the storm raging inside Cassius’s mind.

While Cassius quietly battled his anxiety, Reynold’s thoughts were already racing ahead, entirely focused on Zephany.

He kept mentally listing the things she might need once she woke up. Water. A blanket. Maybe food. He wondered if she would feel cold. Would she panic when she opened her eyes? Should he hold her hand?

His mind was cluttered with worry, but it was the kind of worry only a brother who loved his sister deeply could carry. To him, nothing else mattered right now except seeing Zephany breathe normally and hear her voice again.

Minutes passed. The silence was heavy, thick with tension.

Then suddenly, the machines beside Kendrick and Zephany began to beep steadily. Cassius’s head snapped toward the glass panel. Reynold shot to his feet.

Inside the room, Zephany’s eyelashes fluttered. Kendrick’s fingers twitched. And then, almost as if they had silently agreed to do so together, both of them slowly opened their eyes at the same time.

"They’re awake," Reynold breathed, relief flooding his voice before he rushed toward the door.

Cassius, on the other hand, moved with urgency but for a different reason. His heartbeat hammered in his chest. This might be his only chance to know what was truly happening inside them. He immediately turned and shouted toward the other room.

"Doctor!"

The doctor who had handled Lian stiffened before hurrying over, leaving nurses to continue monitoring the boy. Cassius did not bother explaining further. Just hearing the urgency in his voice was enough for the doctor to follow.

Inside the recovery room, Reynold had already reached Zephany and gently supported her when she tried to sit up.

"Hey, hey, slow down," he whispered, voice strained with relief. "Don’t push yourself. Just breathe first, alright?"

Zephany blinked groggily, eyes adjusting to the light. Her vision was still hazy, but the familiar silhouette of her brother slowly sharpened into focus. Reynold’s anxious face appeared right in front of her.

"You’re awake... thank god," he murmured, cupping the back of her head gently.

She let out a small sigh. "Rey... you’re too loud..."

He exhaled shakily, almost laughing, almost crying. "You scared me. So much. Do you feel anything strange? Does your head hurt? Are you dizzy? Do you need water? Should I call the doctor again? Or—"

"Brother," Zephany interrupted softly, though her voice was weak. "Calm down..."

Meanwhile, on the other bed, Cassius had already reached Kendrick’s side. His hands hovered over his son’s shoulders as if afraid Kendrick might crumble if he touched him too hard.

"Ken," Cassius called, his voice low yet trembling with restrained emotion. "Look at me. Can you hear me?"

Kendrick stared up at him in silence. For a brief moment, he did not know how to react. Seeing Cassius like this, so worried, so desperate, felt unreal.

This was the man he once thought unreachable, untouchable. The stern figure he remembered somehow felt fragile now.

The way he looked at him with such gentle eyes, filled with concern, felt like a portal to memories he had forgotten.

Slowly, it was as if he was being pulled back to the days when his father’s face had been vivid to him, not just scattered fragments in his mind.

This time, his father’s face was clear as he continued to stare at Cassius, the worry written so plainly on him.

Yeah. How could he forget his father’s face? This was his father. The man he admired the most, the one he idolized.

The man he wanted to make proud when he was still a kid.

Cassius leaned closer, unable to stop himself. "Ken, how do you feel? Are you hurt anywhere? Is your head still spinning? Can you breathe properly? Tell me, son. Are you feeling bad? Good? Why aren’t you saying anything? Is something wrong with your throat?"

Kendrick stared at him, half tired, half speechless. There were too many questions and he barely had enough strength to move.

He let out a faint sigh. "...Water."

Cassius immediately understood. Without hesitation, he hurried to the bedside table, poured a glass of water, and returned. He carefully helped Kendrick sit up, supporting his back while guiding the glass to his lips.

"Slowly," Cassius said gently, eyes never leaving Kendrick’s face.

Kendrick drank, feeling some strength gradually return to his body. He wanted to glare and complain about the excessive fussing, but seeing the raw worry on Cassius’s face... he could only sigh and look away.

Across from them, Zephany was going through the same predicament. Reynold wouldn’t stop fussing.

"Do you feel dizzy? Your breathing, is it steady? Do you feel pain? Tell me if something hurts. I’ll call them again. Maybe you need more tests. Maybe—"

"Reynold," she muttered with slight exasperation, though there was affection in her tone. "I’m fine... just tired..."

He swallowed, nodded, but continued to hover anxiously anyway.