Grace doesn't respond.
For a brief moment, Julian regrets the words. What if she actually does leave? Despite the strangeness of having someone so close, her presence isn't unwelcome. It's unfamiliar—but not unpleasant.
"I'll leave in the morning," Grace finally says, her voice calm. "After I see you eat breakfast."
Julian lets out a quiet chuckle and checks his phone. It's 12:30 a.m.
"No, really. You should go and get some rest."
His eyes fall to her wrist, noticing the bandage again.
Grace, sensing his gaze, instinctively covers her wrist with her other hand.
"Professor… you're here because of me," she says softly. "This is the least I can do."
Julian shrugs, giving in without further protest.
"All right. If you insist."
Grace picks up a strawberry jam sandwich, unwraps it, and takes a generous bite.
They sit side by side, chewing in silence, eyes avoiding each other. The room grows quiet, save for the faint hum of machines and the muted sounds of the night.
An awkward stillness settles in—neither unwelcome nor comforting, but real.
There's a quiet weight in the air—something more than awkwardness. Piles of questions hang between them, unspoken. Neither of them dares to ask, not because they don't want to, but because something heavier stops them. A quiet tension weaves between their silences, taut and invisible.
It's Grace who finally breaks it.
"So, Professor Julian," she says, glancing up at him, "I was actually surprised to see you at the school."
Julian turns to her, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"Yeah… I definitely didn't expect to see you. Guess the world really is small."
"Honestly, I didn't expect to come back to school at all."
Julian studies her face, trying to keep his tone even. But he can see it now—something beneath the surface of her voice. A quiet sorrow. Not the kind that comes and goes, but something ongoing. Lingering.
Then, just as quickly, she smiles and adds, "But I'm back at school thanks to a really good person. I can't thank God enough for that."
Her smile is a little sheepish, a little shy—but it glows with something genuine.
And in that moment, something stirs deep within Julian. Something quiet, warm, unfamiliar.
"…That's good."
It's all he can manage—but he means it.
Grace shrugs lightly, then, with a small smile playing on her lips, asks, "Were you also surprised to see me at the school?"
Julian hesitates.
"Well…"
His mind races for a second. Truthfully, yes—absolutely. Not just because she's at the school, but because every time he sees her, there's that same flicker of surprise. Something about her—her expressions, the light in her eyes, even the way she speaks—feels uncannily familiar. So close to the girl who lives quietly in the corners of his heart.
But he doesn't let any of that show. He locks the thought away before it can even rise to the surface.
"I guess, yeah," he says simply.
Another silence stretches between them. Not entirely uncomfortable—but thick, as if both are holding back far more than they let on.
Then, Grace's phone vibrates in her hand. She glances down. It's Harry.
"Oh… right. Harry," she mutters under her breath, more to herself than to Julian.
She suddenly remembers the earlier texts she hadn't replied to.
Julian catches the name and subtly looks away, hiding the flicker of something—he's not quite sure what—passing through him.
She hadn't been able to respond—everything had happened so fast at the emergency room.
Without moving from her seat, she picks up the phone.
"Harry."
Julian hears the name and instinctively picks up his own phone, scrolling aimlessly as if he couldn't care less.
"Yeah, I'm all right. It's just that…" Grace pauses, her eyes flicking toward Julian, who's clearly pretending to be absorbed in his screen. "There was a little incident, but yeah, I'm safely back home."
Julian smirks to himself.
She's a good liar.
"Yeah, no worries. Sorry I didn't text back—I fell asleep as soon as I got back… Okay. Thanks. I'll see you in Monday's class."
She ends the call and sets her phone down, then glances over at Julian.
Julian puts his own phone down, the performance over. He looks at her with a slight tilt of his head and a teasing gleam in his eye.
"Oh, so this is home now?" Julian says with a raised brow, a faint smirk playing on his lips.
Grace lets out an awkward chuckle, rubbing the back of her neck.
"Well… for tonight, I guess it is."
"Why'd you lie?" Julian asks, his voice light but curious.
Grace shrugs, her eyes flicking away.
"Well… didn't want to cause any worry? Haha, I don't know."
Julian smirks, leaning back against the headboard, clearly not convinced.
"Harry's not… like, my boyfriend or anything," she adds quickly, an awkward laugh slipping out. "So I figured there was no need to make him more concerned than necessary."
Julian nods slowly, still fidgeting with his sandwich, but a small, knowing smile curves at the edge of his lips.
Why did I even say that? Grace wonders, catching herself. As if I'm trying to make it clear I'm single…
The corners of her lips lift just slightly at the thought.
Julian, not entirely sure why the room suddenly feels a little lighter, taps his fingers against the wrapper and says, "Since you didn't mention tonight's accident to him, let's just keep it from everyone at school too."
Grace gives him a slow nod, meeting his eyes.
"Sure."
"Just don't feel like explaining the whole story a hundred times," he chuckles softly.
That's when his phone vibrates. It's Lena.
Grace's eyes catch the name on the screen, and something in her expression dims, almost imperceptibly. She quickly looks away.
Julian answers, "Hello?"
"Julian! Where were you? I was looking for you everywhere at the party!"
Even from where she sits, Grace can hear Lena's voice—high pitched and a bit loud.
"I'm sorry. I had to leave suddenly… emergency situation."
Julian's eyes meet Grace's across the bed. The look they exchange is quiet but layered—like they're sharing a secret the rest of the world isn't supposed to know.
Back on the call, he continues, "I'm back home now. Everything's fine. Yes, really. Don't worry. I'm sorry again, Lena… okay, great. Yeah… goodnight."
He ends the call and sets his phone down slowly, then looks over at Grace.
Neither of them speaks for a moment.
Julian shrugs casually.
"She's a close colleague," he says, trying to sound nonchalant.
Grace nods, accepting his explanation with a simple, "Okay."
Why did I even say that? Julian thinks to himself, feeling a bit foolish as if he's overexplaining—almost like he's trying to prove something about his relationship status.
"Well… the night is long, so…" Grace says, standing up from her chair and breaking the quiet tension between them.
Julian watches as she pulls out a small foldaway bed from under his bed, her movements efficient but light.
"I might as well just sleep here," she adds with a small shrug, as if it's the most natural thing in the world.
Julian chuckles softly at the absurdity of the situation but keeps his voice casual.
"Okay. But you can leave anytime you want."
Grace flashes him a brief smile.
"All right," she says, lying down on the bed and folding her hands across her chest. "I'm going to sleep."
Julian's gaze drifts to her as she settles in. The bed is lower than his. He smirks to himself, amused by how relaxed she is in this odd situation.
Grace falls into a peaceful sleep, her breath steady. Julian stares up at the ceiling for a long while, the silence of the room stretching out between them. The hum of the hospital, distant voices, and the sound of soft breathing from other patients fills the air.
Finally, Julian shifts his head just enough to glance down at her. She's sleeping so peacefully, her face calm and serene, almost unbearably beautiful in its simplicity. For a brief moment, a soft smile tugs at the corners of his lips.
He closes his eyes, feeling a strange sense of lightness wash over him. The room feels quieter, somehow—almost like everything has slowed down just a little.
Despite the lingering tension between them, a feeling that neither of them fully understands, their hearts beat steadily in the silence, each beat bringing a subtle sense of happiness they can't quite explain.
Julian quietly lifts himself up, careful not to make a sound. He reaches for the blanket folded over the back of her chair and gently drapes it over Grace's sleeping figure. For a moment, he lingers, watching her peaceful face, then lies back down with a soft sigh.
Hours pass.
It's 2:30 a.m. when Julian's eyes suddenly open. In the stillness of the night, he hears something faint—a soft, whispering cry. He turns his head and looks down instinctively at the small bed beside him.
Grace is curled up slightly, her body tense. Even in her sleep, tears stream silently down her cheeks.
"I… I can't find them…" she murmurs, voice trembling through the haze of a dream.