“I’m your brother, for heaven’s sake! How could you go physical on me? You nearly broke my ribs,”


    Axel grumbled and pouted.


    He’d never show this side of his character to anyone but his brother.


    Jonah remarked, “That was a punishment for running your mouth. Hope you learned your lesson.”


    “Gosh. I was joking. Don’t you have a sense of humor?” Then, Axel stole a nce at his crotch and


    scoffed unhappily.


    Like any man, he was oddlypetitive over everything.


    “By the way, isn’t Lyse bored out of the mind, staying by Jasper’s side? She doesn’t eat, drink, sleep, or


    check her phone at all,” Axel asked with curiosity.


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    “No. You’ll never be bored when you stay by your lover’s side.”


    Axel frowned at the reply. “I don’t get it…”


    “Axel, we’ve always felt you were the smartest amongst the few of us, but you’re slow when ites to


    matters of the heart. I bet you still can’t grasp the meaning of being deeply in love with someone,”


    Jonahmented.


    With that, hepsed into deep thoughts. Some vague memories resurfaced. He added, “You won’t be


    lonely, even if all you have is a photo of your love.”


    They heard footsteps approaching them. Looking up, Jonah saw Julien heading toward him, hands in


    the pockets of his white coat.


    As Julien smiled, his eyes shone brightly, like a ray of light illuminating Jonah’s soul’s deepest corners.


    Julien called out, “Jonah.”


    Julien’s voice echoed in Jonah’s mind. Julien’s figure ovepped with a certain figure from Jonah’s


    memory.


    Jonah trembled, a realization striking him like lightning as pieces fell into ce.


    Jasper’s room was enveloped in silence. Alyssa, as usual, murmured bits and pieces of their near-


    death experiences into his ear.


    Julien had advised her to engage with Jasper through conversations, especially about certain


    unforgettable memories, as external stimuli might help arouse the patient from aa.


    She would not give up as long as there was a sliver of hope. She whispered, “Jasper, wake up. I’ll tell


    you a secret if you do.”


    Then, she relented, “Fine. I’ll spill everything if you wake up.”


    Finally, she broke. “Wake up, please?” She teared up while mumbling. into his ear, fighting the urge to


    burst into tears.


    She wanted nothing more than for Jasper to return to her life. He was her sunshine.


    Yet, Jasper remained unresponsive. Tears glistened in her eyes. With trembling fingers, she took his


    hand and wrote the three words she was too embarrassed to say aloud.


    After she was done writing, her emotions got the better of her. She broke down and sobbed pitifully.


    Suddenly, she felt a slight movement in Jasper’s thumb