RUHAN'S POV
"H-hey..." I called the attention of the girl crouched by my bed. Eliz? She’s no longer wearing a gown; maybe she changed earlier. Has she been watching over me?
She rubbed her eyes before looking at me, a bit startled.
"Ruhan?... OMG! Finally, you're awake!" she exclaimed.
"I'm happy that you're okay..." I said, smiling.
It's good she wasn't harmed because I knew those men were targeting her family.
"You should be the one I'm asking that. Are you okay? Do you want me to call the doctor?" she asked.
"No need, I'm fine. Does Mom know I'm here?" I asked, and she nodded.
"Yes, actually, they stepped out to handle your bills," she said.
I had a feeling something like this would happen.
FLASHBACK
Bang! Bang!
Some people inside the hall immediately started running. I saw three men with guns at the door.
"Ahhh!!"
"W-who are they?!"
"Principal Sevastian! Let's go to the backstage!" Teacher Marie shouted, guiding Grandpa Sevastian to backstage.
"Ruhan! Where are you going?!" I heard Eliz shout, but I continued running down the stage to chase the men.
I pulled out the gun hidden inside my tuxedo and quickly ran towards the men.
I was about to shoot one in the leg, but he managed to run outside.
"Kean, let's go!" I shouted, and we quickly left the hall to chase the armed men.
I saw the man heading towards a remote area of the campus. I clearly saw them running fast to escape us.
"You go there! I'll go here!" I told Kean, and he followed my instructions.
"Ruhan! Nathan! Where are you?!"
What the...?! Is that Eliz?
"I told her not to—Ahhh!" I screamed in pain as I got hit in the back, but it seemed far from the heart. It was in the lower back, near the stomach, but damn, it hurt.
I ignored the pain and continued chasing the man.
Damn! It hurts!
I reached the end of the campus because it was a high wall. I lost him.
I was exhausted, but I couldn't give up because Eliz was in danger now.
That stubborn girl!
I walked towards where Eliz might be when I heard something.
Oh no...
"Don't come closer, or I'll shoot this girl!" a man shouted.
It's Eliz; a man was holding her, and Kean was there too. I didn't waste time and approached them.
"Let her go," I calmly said while pointing the gun at the man in front of me.
He slightly turned towards me and raised his hands.
"R-ruhan..." Eliz weakly said.
I'm thankful you're okay...my Queen.
"Leave, or I'll blow your head off. You're the only one left; the others have already left," I told the man.
Please, let everything be alright. I can't take the pain anymore.
The man ran away, and I gestured to Kean to follow him.
"R-ruhan..." Eliz said, so I approached her.
"I-I'm glad you're okay, Queen..." I said and hugged her.
I didn't want to tell her I got shot because I knew she'd worry.
"Eliz..." I weakly said.
"Ruhan, why aren't you talking—Sh*t!" she exclaimed when she looked at her hands, covered in blood. It came from my back when she hugged me.
"Ruhan! You're shot!" she said, panicking.
My vision was blurring, but I didn't care; when Eliz is here, everything feels alright.
Maybe it's just because she cares so much for the people around her. Even if she can be a bit feisty, I know she cares.
"Eliz..." I managed to say as my surroundings grew dark, but I was still aware of what was happening.
"Damn! Help us! Ruhan, wake up!" I heard her shout.
Even though I couldn't see, I could feel how worried she was. I could also feel the few tears falling from her.
Don't cry, my Queen...
"F*ck! Where are they?!" she said.
"E-eliz..." I forced myself to speak despite the difficulty.
"Shhh... don't speak," she said, and I didn't speak anymore.
I felt my eyelids grow heavy, and I lost consciousness.
Thank you for being here, Eliz.
END OF FLASHBACK
"How's Grandpa Sevastian?" I asked.
"He's okay, the men didn't return. But I'm still scared because I know this isn't over yet..." she said sadly.
"Hey, don't be sad. I'll protect you. Wasn't I the one assigned to watch over you?" I said, holding her hand.
"Tss, look at what happened to you, you got hurt," she replied.
"Did you...worry?" I asked, looking at her.
Did she really worry? Please, don't give me a reason to crumble.
"Of course! You're my King, right? Grandpa said we have responsibilities for each other." she said.
Yes, but from the beginning, you've been my responsibility.
Our conversation was interrupted when my Mom and Dad arrived with a man and a woman—Aunt? Eliz's mom.
"Oh, you're awake! Thank goodness, I thought it would be a week before you woke up." Mom said, placing the fruits on the side table.
"Mom, it's good you made it." Eliz said to her Aunt.
"You're so beautiful, Eliz, no wonder he fell—"
"Mom! Don't!" I shouted.
"Hahaha!" our parents laughed.
I haven't even told her yet, and my mom's already ahead of me. Really, Mom? Do Eliz's parents know too? I'm doomed.
"What fell?" Eliz asked.
"Ahh, I said the— the papers at the hospital, they fell." Mom made an excuse.
"By the way, Ruhan, these are Eliz's parents, Ailyn and Ahrvy," Mom said.
"I already know Ruhan. I met him when he picked up his Queen earlier." Aunt said and smiled.
"By the way, I'm Aunt Light, and this is your Uncle Dark." Mom introduced herself to Keirah.
"Light? Dark? Then Day and Night?" she asked, confused.
Yeah, our names are weird, and I found it strange too, right?