Presence 💓

Sunday Morning

The sunlight was warmer that day. Ash woke before the nurses came in, and the first thing she saw was Andres, asleep in a chair, his body hunched forward, head leaning on the armrest, his fingers still entwined with hers.

She watched him for a few minutes, saying nothing. Her heart was tight but calm, as if she finally understood something her body had been trying to say for a long time.

He stayed.

She gently squeezed his fingers.

Andres woke slowly, his eyes still heavy, but his first smile was for her.

"Hey."

"Hey," she replied, hoarsely. "Did you really sleep here?"

"Yeah. And it was the best sofa of my life," he joked, stretching. "You look better."

"I think I am."

She lowered her gaze. The silence between them wasn't awkward, it was intimate. Familiar. Like time had slowed just to let that moment exist.

Ash took a deep breath.

"You could've gone home. Come back today."

"But I didn't want to."

The way he said it... calm, without weight, without expectation. Just truth.

She smiled, shyly.

"You know, it's kind of strange waking up and seeing you here. But at the same time... it's comforting."

Andres moved closer, sitting on the edge of the bed.

"I'm not here to look like the right guy."

"Then why?"

"Because you matter to me. And because if things were reversed, I know you'd be in my place too."

Her eyes welled up, but she didn't cry.

She just squeezed his hand. And he understood.

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Sunday Afternoon

The sun was already starting to set behind the hospital's wide windows when the doctor entered the room with a calm smile.

"Everything is as expected, Miss Olviga. But it's important that you rest, stay hydrated, and avoid any stress," he said with gentle firmness.

Ash nodded, still a bit sleepy, her hair tousled from the pillow and cheeks faintly pink from the fading fever.

When they left the room, the nurses waved warmly. Some stole subtle glances at Andres, who walked beside Ash like a protective shadow. He didn't take his eyes off her, not even when he felt others watching. His focus was clear.

Minutes later, outside the hospital, Andres made a quick call to his parents.

"Mom, Dad... can I take Ash to our house? She's better, but still weak. I'd rather not let her stay alone today. I'll take care of her there," he explained.

On the other end, Charlene and Aga exchanged a knowing look. The answer was immediate:

"Of course you can, son. We'll prepare everything to welcome her. We'll take care of her with you," Charlene said, already heading to the kitchen.

Meanwhile, Andres's phone vibrated in his pocket, it was messages from the girls in the cast.

Rafa: "Andres, Ash might need someone with her. We can go to her place, okay?"

Angela: "Does she want company? Let us know anything."

Sara: "Tell us if she wants anything. We'll bring it."

But the response was short and certain:

Andres: "I'll keep taking care of her. I'm taking her to my house."

―――――――――――――――――――

The Muhlach house seemed even warmer with the arrival of the two. Charlene opened the door smiling, apron already stained with vegetable broth. Ash was welcomed like she'd been part of it forever, and in a way, she already was.

Atasha soon appeared, pulling Ash into a heartfelt hug.

"You're home, okay? No formalities," she said with a playful wink, leading Ash to the freshly made guest room.

The room had white curtains, clean sheets that smelled of lavender, and soft light coming through the windows. Ash lay down slowly, finally letting her body give in. She was tired, but for the first time, felt completely safe.

In the kitchen, the mood was different. While Andres helped set the table with his mother, his father leaned against the counter, watching his son with a quiet smile.

"It's the first time you've brought a girl here, Andres," Aga remarked casually.

"And not just that," Charlene added, placing a bowl of chicken soup on the counter. "It's the first time we've seen you take care of someone... with that look in your eyes."

Andres paused for a moment, dish towel still in hand. He didn't reply, but the shy smile revealed more than words could.

"We can tell when it's different, son," Aga said firmly. "And it's okay. If it's serious... we're with you."

Across the counter, Atasha glanced at her brother and gave him a gentle shoulder nudge, smiling:

"Ash is special. We knew it since the first season of Section E. You just needed to realize it."

Andres bit his lower lip, a little embarrassed.

"I already realized. I just don't know what to do with it yet."

Then Charlene said tenderly:

"Just care for her, for you... for both of you. The rest will reveal itself in time."

In the guest room, Ash quietly listened to the voices from the kitchen. She was lying down, eyes half-open, but her heart was fully awake. It was as if, for a moment, all the weight from the past days had lifted off her shoulders.

Not just because of Andres's care, but something greater: being embraced. The warmth of a house that wasn't hers, but didn't make her feel like just a guest.

And for the first time since the collapse, she felt exactly where she was meant to be.