Chapter 26: Chapter 26

Sky wongravee

“Nani!”

My voice cut through the chaos as I sprinted toward him, my heart threatening to stop in my chest.

The sight of him, kneeling in the dirt, covered in blood, made my throat close up. For a terrifying moment, I thought it was his blood, that I was too late.

But then I saw Mark slumped against him, his face pale, his shirt soaked with crimson.

“Shit,” I muttered, dropping to my knees beside them. Mark’s chest rose and fell shallowly, blood seeping between Nani’s trembling hands as he pressed against the wound.

“I’m sorry,” Nani whispered, his voice cracking. “I’m so sorry. It’s my fault.”

His words were a broken mantra, spilling out over and over, his tears streaking down his face as he tried desperately to stop the bleeding.

“Nani!” I called his name, but he didn’t respond.

I reached out, gripping his shoulder firmly. “Nani, look at me!”

His head snapped up, his wide, tear-filled eyes locking onto mine. “Sky,” he choked out. “I’m sorry. I didn’t— I couldn’t—”

“Stop,” I said firmly, forcing him to focus. “This isn’t your fault. But Mark needs you now. He needs you to hold it together.”

Nani blinked at me, his lips trembling, but my words seemed to reach him. He nodded shakily, his hands still pressing against Mark’s wound.

Win and Dew appeared at my side, their faces grim.

“We need to move now, Boss,” Win said, his eyes scanning the area. “They’ll be back any minute.”

Dew knelt beside Mark, his jaw tight. “I’ve got him,” he said, his voice low but steady.

“Nani, let go,” Dew said gently, reaching for Mark. But Nani didn’t seem to hear him. His hands remained pressed against the wound, his fingers stained with blood.

“Nani,” I said, my voice softer this time as I leaned closer. “Let Dew take him. Mark needs you to help him back at the mansion. You’re the only one who can save him.”

The words broke through his shock like a slap. He blinked rapidly, his breathing uneven, and slowly released Mark to Dew.

“Yes,” Nani said, nodding quickly. “Yes, we need to hurry.”

Dew lifted Mark effortlessly, cradling him like a lifeline as Win cleared the path to the car.

I grabbed Nani’s hand, pulling him to his feet. He was unsteady, swaying slightly, his legs trembling beneath him.

“Come on,” I said, my grip firm as I led him to the other car.

---

The Drive Back

"Win, clear all the mess, make sure nobody alive. This should act as a warning to Hong. Understood?" I hang up the phone, my rage cannot been described.

"Hurry up, drive faster." After i yelled at the driver i tried to calm down. Looking beside me where Nani sat, his hands shaking violently as he stared at them, blood smeared across his fingers and palms.

He didn’t say a word. He didn’t even look at me. His eyes were distant, unfocused, his chest rising and falling in shallow gasps.

“Nani,” I said softly, keeping my voice calm despite the storm raging inside me.

He didn’t respond.

I reached out, gently covering his hands with mine. They were cold, trembling beneath my touch.

“Nani,” I said again, more firmly this time.

His head turned slowly, his wide, tear-filled eyes meeting mine. “I— It’s my fault,” he whispered. “If I hadn’t gone to Pond’s… If I hadn’t—”

“Stop,” I interrupted, my tone leaving no room for argument. “This is not your fault.”

“But Mark—”

“Mark chose to protect you,” I said firmly. “And he’d do it again in a heartbeat. So would I.”

His breath hitched, and his tears spilled over again. “I can’t— Sky, if he doesn’t make it, I—”

“He will,” I said, my voice steady despite the fear clawing at my chest. “You’ll make sure of it. You’re the best doctor I’ve ever met. And Mark is too stubborn to give up. Trust me.”

He nodded weakly, swallowing hard as he wiped at his face with trembling hands.

I squeezed his hands gently, letting him draw strength from the contact. “We’re almost there,” I said. “Just hold on a little longer.”

---

Back at the Mansion

The moment the car stopped, Nani bolted out, rushing toward the treatment room without a second’s hesitation.

Dew carried Mark inside, blood still seeping through his shirt. Nani was already barking orders, his shock replaced by laser-sharp focus as he slipped into doctor mode.

“Get him on the table,” he said firmly, pulling on gloves as Dew set Mark down. “I need gauze, clamps, and saline. Now.”

Win and Dew moved quickly, fetching supplies as I stood frozen in the doorway, watching him work.

Nani’s hands moved with practiced precision, his focus unshakable despite the blood pooling around him. But I could see the fear beneath the surface—the tightness in his jaw, the slight tremor in his fingers.

An hour passed. Then two.

I paced outside the room, my chest tight with worry. Win stood beside me, his arms crossed, while Dew sat silently, his head in his hands. None of us spoke.

Finally, the door opened.

Nani stood in the doorway, pale and exhausted, his shoulders slumped. His scrubs were stained with blood, his hands trembling at his sides.

Before I could say anything, his knees buckled.

“Nani!” I caught him just in time, wrapping my arms around him as he sagged against me.

“I’m fine,” he mumbled, though his voice was weak. “Just… tired.”

“Shh,” I murmured, lifting him into my arms. “I’ve got you.”

I carried him to his room, laying him gently on the bed. His eyes fluttered shut almost instantly, his body going limp with exhaustion.

As I stood there, watching him sleep, my chest ached.

He blamed himself for Mark, but it wasn’t his fault. None of this was.

And yet, as I brushed a hand over his hair, I couldn’t help but feel the weight of everything I’d dragged him into.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “But I’ll fix this. I swear I’ll fix this.”

---

Nani hirunkit

“Mark!” I cried out, his name tearing from my throat as I jolted awake. My chest heaved, my hands clammy, and the images of last night flooded my mind—the gunshots, the blood, the fear.

I scrambled out of bed, my legs shaky beneath me. “Mark—I need to check Mark,” I stammered, my voice frantic as I stumbled toward the door.

Before I could get far, a strong hand wrapped around my wrist, pulling me back.

“Nani.” Sky’s voice was firm yet soft, grounding me in an instant.

I turned to him, my breath uneven, my heart pounding. “I need to see him,” I insisted, my voice trembling. “How long was I out? Is he—”

“He’s alright,” Sky said, his grip on my wrist tightening slightly, as if he was afraid I’d slip away again. “He woke up a while ago and he is resting now, Dew’s watching over him.”

I sagged with relief, my knees threatening to give out. “He’s okay?” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

“He’s okay,” Sky assured me. “Thanks to you.”

I felt the weight in my chest loosen slightly, but the guilt remained, sharp and unrelenting.

Sky guided me back to the bed, his hands steady on my shoulders as he eased me to sit down. “You need to rest,” he said softly, his eyes searching for mine. “You’ve done enough for now.”

I shook my head, my hands trembling in my lap. “No, I haven’t. I—” My voice broke, and I felt tears pricking at the corners of my eyes.

Memories of the night before crashed over me like a tidal wave—the look on Mark’s face when he was shot, the blood staining my hands, the sound of gunfire.

“I’m sorry, Sky,” I choked out, my voice raw with emotion. “I’m so sorry. I’ve brought nothing but chaos. Everything’s a mess because of me. I put Mark in danger. I put Pond in danger. I—”

“Nani,” Sky interrupted, his voice firm but laced with an unmistakable tenderness. He knelt in front of me, his hands wrapping around mine, grounding me with his touch.

“Look at me,” he said, his tone softening as he tilted my chin up, forcing me to meet his gaze.

I swallowed hard, my tears falling freely now. “It’s my fault,” I whispered. “I ignored your warnings. I didn’t listen. If I had just stayed—”

“Stop,” he said, his voice low but commanding. “None of this is your fault. Do you hear me?”

I shook my head, my chest heaving with silent sobs. “But it is. I was selfish. I thought I could fix everything, but all I did was make it worse.”

Sky’s grip on my hands tightened, his eyes boring into mine. “Mark made his choice,” he said firmly. “His job is to protect you, and he did that because he trusts you. Because he considers you a friend. He put his life on the line for you, because you matter to him. You matter to all of us—to me.”

I froze, his words hanging heavily in the air.

“You are not a burden,” he continued, his voice steady but filled with an intensity that made my chest ache. “You are important to us, to me especially. I would give everything to keep you safe.”

I shook my head again, the guilt still clawing at me. “But—What if it happens again? What if next time it’s Pond, or worst it's you?, that-i can't."

Sky said suddenly, cutting me off. “This world will never be safe, but as long as I breathe, I’ll make sure you, Pond are safe and anyone else who matters to you.”

“Actually, I'm the one that failed you, Nani,”  His voice dropped, raw and unguarded in a way I’d never heard before. “I should’ve brought you to see Pond myself. I knew how much he meant to you, and I still kept you here. I thought I was protecting you, but all I did was push you to take matters into your own hands.”

“Sky…” I whispered, my voice faltering.

“I do trust you,” he said, his voice cracking slightly as he leaned closer, his forehead nearly brushing mine. “I trust you, more than I’ve ever trusted anyone. And I’m sorry I made you feel like I didn’t. I'm scared Nani, scared to lose you, scared that I cannot protect you." His voice trembling.

Tears welled in my eyes again, but this time, it wasn’t just guilt—it was something deeper.

“I told you before,” I said softly “I told you I love you. This is the life i choose, to be with you.”

Sky’s eyes widened slightly, and for a moment, I thought he might pull away, because he still hasn't told me he loves me, and i scared him.

But then he cupped my face in his hands, his touch gentle but firm.

“I love you,” he said, his voice steady and sure, like it was the most natural thing in the world. “I love you, Nani hirunkit. I’ve loved you from the moment you walked into my life and turned it upside down.”

His words broke something inside me, and I let out a shaky sob as I leaned into his touch.

“You don’t have to say anything back,” Sky continued, his thumbs brushing away my tears. “I just need you to know. I need you to understand how much you mean to me.”

I shook my head, a weak laugh escaping through my tears. “You idiot,” I whispered. “I already told you. I love you too.”

Sky’s lips curved into a faint smile, and before I could say anything else, he leaned in, pressing his forehead against mine.

“You’re mine,” he said quietly, his voice a mix of relief and determination. “And I’m yours. Nothing will ever change that.”

For the first time in days, the weight on my chest lifted, and I allowed myself to believe him.