Victor still lay unconscious on the bed. His forehead was bandaged, and his mother sat silently beside him, worry etched into her eyes. Rafael stood by the window, staring outside, his face clouded with concern.
Suddenly, the door swung open abruptly.
— “Victor!” a girl’s voice echoed in the room.
Rafael spun around. At the doorway stood a tall, slender girl, about nineteen, wearing a peach-toned top and black jeans. Unrest mingled in her expression.
— “Sima?” Rafael asked, surprised.
Sima rushed to Victor’s side and kneeled beside him.
— “What happened to him? I came as soon as I heard. Why is he bleeding so much?”
Rafael replied calmly,
“It was a small accident. He was hit on the head by a stone.”
Sima’s eyes widened.
— “A stone? Who threw it?”
Rafael’s face stiffened; he remained silent. Sima grabbed Victor’s hand and said softly,
— “You’re always so stubborn… but I never imagined you’d collapse like this.”
Rafael then asked,
— “Weren’t you coming with your father? Where is he?”
Sima replied,
— “He’s downstairs at a business meeting. I came up alone. I just felt this unease… his forehead feels hot—does he have a fever?”
Rafael nodded,
— “The doctor warned he might develop one. He needs rest.”
placing her hand gently on Victor’s forehead, she whispered,
— “Open your eyes, Victor… you always said, ‘I never give up.’ And now you’re lying here?”
Rafael watched her quietly.
Just then, Lily stirred a little from beside the door. Sima spotted her.
— “Who are you? What are you doing here?”
Lily’s throat turned dry. She lowered her head.
Rafael stood beside her and said,
— “This girl is the one who accidentally threw the stone.”
Sima's eyes widened as she said firmly,
— “You threw a stone? Do you know how much pain it caused him?”
Summoning courage, Lily answered,
— “I didn't intend to… he was teasing Sugar…”
Sima softened slightly and continued,
— “You know Victor never forgets when someone hurts him. You may have hurt him more than you realize.”
Lily’s chest tightened, tears forming, but she remained silent. Rafael glanced at Sima and said,
— “Enough, Sima. She’s just a child.”
Sima narrowed her eyes but said nothing further. After a moment, she stood and announced,
— “When Victor wakes, let me know. I’ll wait downstairs.”
She walked from the room, leaving silence behind.
Lily still trembled. Rafael stood next to her. He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder and quietly asked,
— “Are you okay?”
Lily didn’t answer at first, then whispered,
— “Will Victor hate me?”
Rafael studied her face and softened his voice.
— “I don’t know. But will you have the courage to stand before him when he wakes?”
Lily nodded eyes downcast, her heart pounding. At that moment, Victor’s eyelid fluttered.
---
Victor opened his eyes slowly. His headache was intense, and he could hardly remember his own name. He whispered in the hushed room,
— “Who was there?”
By the window, Rafael stood, a cigarette between his lips (unlit).
— “Your little enemy was one. The others were just bystanders.”
Victor furrowed his forehead.
— “My little enemy?”
Rafael smirked faintly,
— “A thin, wild girl—Lily. She threw a stone at your head.”
A faint, odd smile crossed Victor’s lips. He asked,
— “Why did you spare her?”
Rafael answered,
— “For your sake... and hers. She still doesn’t know who you are.”
---
Outside…
Lily knelt in a garden corner, avoiding Rafael’s household staff as she waited.
She thought: What if he had died? Would they have blamed me? Would Rafael have punished me? No, he wouldn’t have… but what if he wakes and looks for me?
---
Inside – Lily and her mother:
Lily sat at the foot of her bed with stern eyes.
— “It’s all his fault! Victor’s.”
Her mother replied calmly,
— “How can you say that?”
Lily retorted,
— “He always tormented me—making fun of my name, calling me a child. I couldn’t take it anymore! Yet everyone’s blaming me!”
Her mother stroked her hair softly:
— “No matter who he is, you must behave responsibly. A small mistake causes blood—this isn’t a game.”
Tears streaming, Lily said,
— “I don’t want him to hate me… but I don’t want to see him either—he’s so irritating!”
Her mother comforted her:
— “Do what you feel, but one day you’ll have to face him. Speak honestly then.”
---
On the balcony – Rafael and Sima:
Rafael lit a cigarette and Sima joined him. She broke the silence.
— “You still smoke? You said you’d stop.”
Rafael sighed.
— “Not with Victor’s head wound and the tension in the house.”
Sima then asked softly,
— “Victor is very special to you, right?”
He responded flatly,
— “He’s my brother. Even though he’s younger, he’s entirely his own person. He doesn’t care about much, and that makes me worry.”
Sima smiled.
— “He’s a lot like you.”
Rafael turned his gaze away.
— “I’m not as emotional as Victor. What he thinks, that’s what he shows.”
Sima nodded:
— “Still, you always stand by him. That sets you apart.”
They both fell silent, gazing at the sky.
At that moment, a maid rushed up:
— “Dada-babu! Victor Babu is calling you!”
Rafael’s face hardened. He turned and said nothing, then walked down the stairs. Sima watched and whispered softly,
— “I’m not going in. You go.”
Rafael nodded without a word and descended.
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