I Feel Pain All Over.

Jade's POV

I slowly opened my eyes, my vision hazy as I tried to take in my surroundings. The steady beeping of machines filled the air, accompanied by the faint yet distinct smell of antiseptic. I was in a hospital room.

A figure sat beside my bed, holding my hand tightly as if afraid to let go. It was Kira.

"Jade?" Her voice was soft, trembling with both relief and concern as she watched me stir. "Can you hear me?"

I tried to respond, but my throat felt parched and scratchy. The only sound that escaped was a weak rasp. Noticing my struggle, Kira quickly reached for a glass of water from the bedside table. She gently helped me sit up before bringing the cup to my lips.

I took a sip, allowing the cool liquid to soothe my throat, and with it, the memories came rushing back. The crash. The pain. The shadowy figure fleeing the scene…

The owner of this body had many enemies, people who wanted her dead. It was clear to me that the person who rammed into the taxi wasn't the same individual who had tampered with the car brakes at the airport. I knew this because I could still remember the scent of the killer. Even though I no longer possessed the divine powers to track him, his scent lingered in my mind like a haunting reminder.

I had placed my trust in the police, believing they would catch the culprit soon, but they hadn't. And now, another attacker had made their move. No, not one...three. The driver of the taxi had been in on it as well. He had willingly given up his life. Perhaps he had been promised wealth, something that would be delivered to his family after his death.

But one thing was certain: they couldn't kill me. Not yet. Not until I was finished with my mission.

And the first of those missions had already been completed. Tristan's death.

"You scared me, Jade. You scared everyone."

Kira's voice pulled me from my thoughts. Her eyes, wide and filled with worry, searched my face for answers. "This is the second time you've been in an accident since stepping foot in this country. Why didn't you just wait for me to bring another car to you?"

She let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through her disheveled hair. "Someone is after your life, Jade. And they won't stop until they succeed. You're in danger. Going out alone is reckless, it only puts you at greater risk."

Her words carried weight, but I remained silent, allowing her to continue.

"The police are working harder than ever to catch the culprit," she said, her voice laced with both anger and determination. "At first, they assumed the first accident was just a result of faulty repairs. But now, after this second attempt, there's no doubt, it was intentional. Someone wants you dead, and the authorities are taking this very seriously."

She exhaled, shaking her head. "The officers will be here soon to question you. Tell them everything you remember. The smallest detail could help in their investigation."

She hesitated for a moment before adding, "Your family will be here soon, too. They were already here earlier, but they had to leave to handle the press outside. It's chaos out there."

I nodded slightly, feigning exhaustion, though my mind was sharp and alert.

My gaze shifted to Kira's, my expression unreadable. "What about the taxi driver?" I asked. I already knew the answer, but I couldn't let her suspect anything. It was only natural to ask about the others involved in the crash.

Kira's lips trembled, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "He's dead." A single tear slipped down her cheek, and she quickly wiped it away.

"You could have died too, Jade." Her voice cracked, thick with emotion. "The doctor said it's a miracle you're alive. You barely have a scratch on you. It's like… like you were never in an accident at all."

I remained quiet, letting the weight of her words settle between us.

Then, with careful calculation, I asked the question I truly wanted an answer to.

"And Tristan?"

I lifted an eyebrow, watching Kira closely, waiting..needing to hear those words from her lips.

Just as Kira was about to respond, the door to my hospital room suddenly burst open. My gaze snapped up, and I felt my breath hitch in my throat.

There, standing in the doorway, was Tristan.

He was dressed in standard hospital attire, loose-fitting trousers and a plain shirt. His left hand connected to an IV drip that was attached to a rolling stand. A fresh pair of glasses rested on the bridge of his nose, replacing the ones that should have been shattered in the accident.

He had made it a priority to get new glasses first? Was he that obsessed with them, or was he hiding something?

A deep, unsettling feeling settled in my chest. I had felt his presence earlier, which was why I had wanted Kira to confirm his death. I thought maybe I was hallucinating. But now, standing here before me, alive and breathing… I wasn't imagining things.

He's not dead.

But how?

I had checked his pulse. I had felt it stop. He was dead. I was sure of it.

What the hell happened?!

"Thank goodness you're alive," Tristan said, his voice filled with relief as he moved toward me. He sat down on the edge of my bed, his concerned gaze fixed on me. "I got scared for a while."

Kira let out a breath, a warm smile spreading across her face. "It's a miracle that both of you survived," she said. "Mr. Tristan D'Leon was brought in earlier… dead."

My body tensed.

"But miraculously, his heart started beating again," she continued, shaking her head in disbelief. "It was incredible."

My blood ran cold.

"That's bullshit!" I blurted out, my voice filled with anger.

Tristan and Kira both flinched, startled by my sudden outburst.

I quickly forced a smile, correcting myself. "I mean… that's amazing," I said, my tone forced and unnatural. "He's alive. I'm alive. Great."

Tristan, seemingly unbothered by my reaction, leaned in slightly. "Do you feel any pain in your heart? Any pain at all?"

His voice was calm, but something about the way he asked made my skin crawl. His hand rested gently on my shoulder, his touch light yet firm.

I immediately shrugged him off.

"You should answer me, Jade," he pressed. "If you feel anything wrong, you need to let me know."

His eyes, hidden behind those new glasses were filled with concern. But was it genuine?

I clenched my jaw. "I feel pain all over my body," I snapped, anger lacing my voice.

Tristan's expression shifted. His eyes widened slightly, his body stiffening as if I had said something impossible.

"Really? Like seriously?" he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.

I scoffed. "Oh, I wonder why," I said sarcastically. "Maybe because I was just in a goddamn car accident? Or maybe because you're here and your mere presence is enough to make my entire body ache?"

His face faltered, but I didn't stop.

"I feel pain all over," I repeated, my voice dripping with venom. "And it's because you won't shut up with your stupid questions."

Frustrated, I reached for the glass of water on my bedside table, lifted it, and downed it in one swift gulp. Setting it back down with a sharp clink, I exhaled sharply before fixing him with an icy glare.

"Now that you're alive, you can go back to your ward," I said flatly.

Instead of listening, Tristan did something that made my blood boil.

He lifted his legs onto my bed, pulled the blanket over himself, and lay down beside me as if he belonged there.

I stared at him, utterly speechless.

He was seriously making himself comfortable? On my bed?

My lips curled into a bitter smirk. "Do you have a death wish?" I asked coldly.

Tristan didn't answer. He simply smirked, closing his eyes like he had all the time in the world.

"Get the hell down," I snapped.

When he didn't move, I didn't hesitate.

With all the strength I could muster, I shoved him off the bed like I was tossing out garbage.

The impact of the fall made him hiss in pain but I didn't care.

For a moment, I thought he might stay down. But just as quickly as he fell, he picked himself up, dusted himself off, and unbelievably sat back on my bed like nothing had happened.

"You said you're in pain," Tristan said, adjusting his position. "You're going to need help with certain things since you won't be able to move around much."

A wide smirk stretched across his lips as he added, "So, I'm staying."

I scoffed, crossing my arms over my chest. "Did you miss the part where I said the pain is because you're here?"

He didn't seem fazed.

"If I'm the one making you feel pain," he said smoothly, "then I should also be the one to make you feel better."