Empty Hallways

"Don't worry son. She will be fine. Here, drink some water." Ah Qiao and Su Ling sat by the near seat and comforted Lu Jung who was clasping his head and silently crying.

"Darling, should we drop by her room?" Su Ling spoke up, tiredness clearly visible in her slightly wrinkled, but abiding face. Ah Qiao noticed it and he held on to her hands as he replied.

"We should. It has been one hour since they placed her in the emergency ward. Her operation must have been done by now. Don't worry, she will be totally fine. Have faith, okay?" he hugged her as he tried to comfort.

After a little while, the doors to the long door opened and from there, a pale and frail looking girl came through it. She was crying, while wearing one of the hospital gowns and her haggard face that were teary looked messy. She grabbed on to her head and wandered in her steps, as she held on to the walls.

"Ailin, where are you wandering.." Su Ling was in shock when she saw her.

"Ai, you are awake? What are you doing out here?" Ah Qiao called out too as he went closer to stabilize her. Lu Jung looked up and he immediately ran next to her. He held her hands as he tried to pull her back to the room. His eyes widened and his body trembled over and over. He closed and opened his eyes as he held tightly on to her. "Ai, be obedient, let's go back to the room?"

Ai tiredly looked up to them and she dropped to the ground the next second.

"My baby, what happened to my baby?" She cried out as she covered her face. Lu Jung noticed her tired and disheavled look. His heart felt like it was thorn apart. Without replying to her, he lowered himself and carried her as she slumped back in to his embrace and kept crying.

After settling her back into the room, Lu Jung looked up to the Ah couple who looked beyond devastated and sighed inwardly.

"Ai, our baby is okay. Since you delivered it at 7 months, she was premature and had to be taken care of. She is at the neonatal intensive care unit.

Hearing his words, Ai looked beyond tensed and she held his hands as she questioned.

"Can I see her? I promise, I will only see her and leave.."

"Ai, she is fine, don't worry. We will look at her later on when you are discharged.

"Yes, he is right Ai. Right now, you need to take it easy." Ah Qiao went along as he stared at her anxious face. He smiled and assured her with his old but warm face.

Lu Jung looked up to his father-in-law and spoke up."Father, mother, why don't you go home and take some rest too? I am here and if something happens, I will call you immediately." He put the blanket back on Ai's body as he queried and reassured them at the same time.

"Son, we would be worried. We can't just leave both of you alone over h--"

"Actually, he is right honey.. look at you! You will get sick too. We would rest and then come back tomorrow, okay?" He held her shoulders as he led her body towards the room door.

"It is okay, you two can go. I will be fine." Ai quietly spoke up. Her voice was dry and she coughed a bit to clear her husky tone.

Lending her a glass of water, Lu Jung smiled at the Ah couple. "Dont worry at all. I will call you from time to time to inquire you of the situation over here."

Su Ling looked up at Ai hesitantly and then sighed. She nodded as she walked up to Ai's bed and stared.

"Okay, take care, call if you need anything. I will send you some nourishments later on. It is not good for the pregnant ladies to not eat after giving birth. Eat well and take care." Su Ling spoke as she sat next to Ai and caressed her hair in a motherly way. She then stood up after that and looked at Lu Jung as she also held his hands and smiled at him. "Take care son, and bring my granddaughter home quickly, this old lady is too excited!" she laughed bitterly.

"Everything is going to be fine..don't worry!" He held tightly on to her warm hand as he comforted.

"Okay! We will not take long of your time, lets go darling!" Su Ling smiled at him and let go of his hands. She turned around to leave the room.

After the elders left Lu Jung shifted his calm gaze back onto Ai as he observed her eyes that were lost and staring at a particular wall. He slowly called out to her and when he didn't receive any, he sighed and shook her shoulders in a gently manner.

"We will check on them as soon as you get better, okay? Understanding her state, he didn't prompt further as he explained calmly. Ai looked at him and she suddenly started to get teary eyed. Her shoulders trembled and she seemed to be in a real pain. "Will Aizhe be okay? I feel sorry.." She cried as she rested her head on his chest.

"The chandelier, the blood. I saw it all before passing out. It must hurt.." Ai said, her voice really low and it was trembling as she went on to speak.

"She will be fine. Brother is there with her. Have some trust" He came closer, as he wiped her tears and held her hands.

He smiled as he tried to cheer her modd up.

"And now now, what did I tell you? I only love my cheerful superstar Ai, but right now you are reminding me of the squishy and chubby Ailin, who used to hit and hate me all day."

"What? Don't call me that! It is Ai now. And when did I ever hit you? You are making it sound as if I was a wrestler!" She exclaimed when she heard his words. Looking up, she hit his chest and pouted.

"Okay, okay madam. Ai it is then. By the way, did I talk about how beautiful you looked today?"He started,

"Hmm, what did I do in my past life to get a beautiful partner like you?" Lu Jung then continued as he praised her calmly with a dark and yearning gaze. He suddenly went more closer and before he could take one more step, Ai slapped his head as she chuckled.

"You are dad, have some decency Mr. Jung!" She looked away and smiled brightly.

"Our daughter will not wish to be alone too.." He winked teasingly and tried to get hold of her hands.

"Let's sleep!" She spoke out as she suddenly shifted the blanket and patted the empty space next to her. Getting her indication, Lu Jung frowned but nonetheless got in and pulled her closer to him. He made sure the tubes attached to her were secured and he wasn't hurting her at all.

In the quiet room, the two of them slept next to each other in the wide bed as they hugged and comforted each other's grief and shared their happiness of getting a new member in their lively life.

---

On the other side, in the empty wide hallways, a long wide door opened and from it came hurried footsteps of many older and professional doctors. The hallway smelled of medicine and antiseptics. The heavy eyes of Ah Si shifted from the cold floor to the stretcher that carried his woman.