Just

The light in the room looked a bit blurry for a while until Jackson's eyes could completely adjust to the brightness from the bulb.

Then he turned his head to the right and stared in shock at Steven sleeping in an uncomfortable position.

"Hey man, wake up." Jackson softly said while tapping Steven a bit on the back of his hand.

It took 5a few more gentle hits for Steven to finally open his eyes. Then he sat back in the chair and did some awkward stretching before letting out a loud yum.

"Your eyes," Jackson mumbled beneath his breath with worry in his voice.

"What about them?" Steven absentmindedly asked while slightly rubbing his eyelid.

"They are puffy and red. You've been crying, haven't you?"

"What! No! Of course not!"

As those words rolled out of Steven's lips, he could tell from Jackson's doubtful expression that he wasn't buying it, and even Steven was not convinced by his response.

"Why?" Jackson calmly said, and yet from his tone, it was clear that he was a bit annoyed.

"It's because of you, bro. You had me worried." Steven said as he avoided meeting Jackson's eyes.

"That's a lame excuse. You knew that I was okay because mom told me that she sent you home to rest. So try again, but this time with the truth."

"I feel like I am being interrogated."

"I'm just worried about you, man."

"Well, you don't have to because everything is fine."

The questionably way Jackson stared at Steven caused him to force a smile and said, "No, really. Everything is great."

From Jackson's gaze to the expression on his face and his body language made it clear that he didn't believe a single word. Yet he returned a smile and replied, "That's good then. Oh, can you please call Chris?"

"Why?"

"I want to sign the contract today."

"Why the rush?"

"It's nothing. I just don't think it is fair to keep a businessman like Chris waiting. After all, he has been nothing but patient with us and the company."

There was a long pause between both of them. Then Steven let out a deep sigh of relief and said, "Sure."

At that moment, the door opened and Julie walked inside. Then she froze when her sight rested on Steven and a frown slowly crossed her face.

"Good morning, guys. I'm going to come back later since there's a one visitor policy for your room." Julie softly said with a stiff smile, hoping that her appearance did not give out the signal that her heart was in pain.

"When do you guys care for such a stupid rule. Plus if they wanted one visitor at a time, then why are the two chairs in here? Come, Julie, and sit down." Jackson deviously said after recognizing the tension in the atmosphere.

It was clear to him that both of them were trying to protect him. But from what was the question he wanted to know.

"I will head out and call Chris," Steven mumbled, raising from his seat.

"Sit your ass down!" Jackson angrily said, completely ignoring the pain hammering against his chest.

Without any hesitation, Steven immediately sat down, hearing the rage in Jackson's voice.

Even though Julie strove to keep it in, the tears settling in her eyes gently rolled out of the corner of her eyelids and strolled down her cheeks.

"Which one of you wants to tell me the truth?" Jackson asked while intensely staring at Julie before glaring back at Steven.

For a second, Julie's mouth opened but words couldn't find their way out. So she sealed her lips and kept her thoughts cage in her head.

The silence dragged on for a while. Then Steven raised his head and anxiously said, "I kissed Chloe."

Those words caused more damage to Julie's heart than she expected, and it took less than a second for her tears to continuously fall uncontrollably as she choked on her sob and softly sniffed back her cry.

"When?" Jackson firmly asked as he stared away from Steven.

It took a moment, then Steven ignored the suffocating feeling in his chest and replied, "Last night."

The moment those words came out, they were like a spear in Steven's heart.

"Get out!" Jackson shouted.

"It meant noth…" Steven replied, feeling a bit shock.

"Get the hell out of my room! God help me! If I was out of this bed, I would have beat the crap out of you! Now, leave. I don't want to see your face!"

"Are you serious right now?!"

"Yes!"

A man usually takes it all in and refrains from showing emotions that make him seem weak. But a moment like this broke Steven down to his core and hit hard at his emotions that he clenched his fists so tight for his nails to deeply wound his palms.

"I will call Chris and pass your message on," Steven mumbled.

Then he stood up from his seat and stiffly walked out of the room, holding his tears hostage behind his calm green eyes.

When Steven stepped outside, he could tell from everyone's expressions that they heard what Jackson had said, and from the frown on Rose's face, he instantly knew that she was disappointed.

At this point, he had no one to blame except himself. So he quietly walked out of the Intensive Care Unit and headed for the hospital garden.

Once it was only Jackson and Julie in the room, he pitifully smiled at Julie and said, "I know that I sound like a hypocrite asking you to do this, but can you forgive him?"

A part of Julie wanted so desperately to give the answer her broken heart desired, and yet her mind roamed with thoughts that made it impossible.

As Julie's vision blurry with tears, she sadly stared at Jackson and mumbled, "I don't think I can."

It hurt Julie terribly to utter those words, but her past scars won't allow her present wound to heal, and every beat her heart made sent a surge of pain through her.

With a gentle smile on his lips and understanding in his eyes, Jackson hid his disappointment behind his calm expression, and said, "I know that exact feeling, and I understand. It's just…"

"It's just what?" Julie asked in concern.

"Nothing. It's nothing. I feel a bit tired. However, we will catch up later."

"Sure. See you later, brother."

The moment Julie turned to leave, Jackson's eyes became dulled with sadness when he felt a terrible pain in his chest.

'It's just that I wanted to leave him, knowing he is happy just in case I don't get out of this place alive.' Jackson thought as the door shut closed behind Julie.