Uncertain Cure

“Something wrong, love?” Victor’s voice was soft, but it carried enough weight to snap Azumi out of her spiraling thoughts.

She gasped faintly, startled by his question. Her lips parted, ready to form some kind of response, but no words came. Instead, she smiled—forced, hesitant—and shook her head.

“It’s nothing,” she murmured, though the weight of her unspoken words pressed heavily on her chest.

It had been four days since her conversation with Adelina. Four days since she learned the truth about their past, about their shared connection to a nightmarish experiment. And the burden of keeping it from Victor was gnawing at her. Every moment she spent in his presence felt like a silent betrayal.

Not telling him felt wrong—unnatural. Victor was her rock, her partner in survival, and yet, she was bound by Adelina’s warning. The less he knew, the safer he’d be.

Azumi cleared her throat, trying to push down the lump that had formed there. She shuffled closer to Victor, who sat beside her on their modest bed. They had just finished dinner with Hiroshi and Adelina, both of whom were now asleep in the living room.

Victor glanced at her, sensing her unease, but he said nothing, waiting for her to speak.

“Love,” she finally began, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Yes?” he replied, his tone calm and patient.

Azumi hesitated for a moment before resting her head gently on his bicep. Her height made it awkward to reach his shoulder, but she nestled close, finding comfort in his warmth.

“When we go outside,” she said softly, her words trailing off as if the mere thought of finishing the sentence was too heavy to bear.

Victor’s arm tensed slightly, but he didn’t interrupt. He simply waited, letting her take her time. Azumi closed her eyes, trying to gather the courage to continue, knowing that whatever she said next might change everything.

“When we go outside, can you promise me you’ll trust me?” Azumi’s voice was soft, but there was an edge to it that Victor didn’t miss.

He moved slightly back to get a better look at her face. She met his gaze, her eyes searching his as if trying to gauge his reaction.

“I trust you, love,” he said quickly, his voice steady and sure.

“No matter what choices I make?” she pressed, her tone quieter but filled with something unspoken.

Victor hesitated, his brows furrowing as he studied her. There was more to her words than she was letting on. “Love, what is this about?”

Azumi took a deep breath, her chest rising and falling as though the air itself was heavy. “It’s nothing,” she said finally, forcing a small smile. “I just need you to trust me on this journey. Besides…” She trailed off for a moment, glancing toward the darkened window.

“It’s only a matter of days before we’re out of here, and maybe, just maybe, we’ll get our lives back once Adelina and I figure things out.”

Victor’s lips curved into a small smile, and he reached over to pinch her nose playfully. “Oh, love,” he said with a chuckle, “it won’t be that easy. But I’ll be here to protect you. Don’t worry.”

Azumi let out a short giggle, though the sarcasm in it didn’t go unnoticed. “Sure, I’ll just count on you for everything, then.”

“Get some sleep now,” Victor said, his tone shifting to something practical as he leaned over to the bedside table, grabbing a notebook. “We’re heading out tomorrow to gather supplies for this big ‘journey’ of yours.”

He turned back to her, flipping the notebook open and holding it out. “Do you need to add anything to the list? Maybe sunscreen? I don’t want my girlfriend’s skin getting damaged out there.”

Azumi chuckled, touched by the gesture. “Oh, that’s sweet of you—”

“And gloves,” Victor added, cutting her off with a teasing smirk. “Your hands are too soft to handle weapons properly.”

Azumi blinked. “Weapons?”

Victor shrugged as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “There’s an 80% chance we’ll run into something dangerous out there. I’ll have to teach you some basics before we leave.”

Her face twisted into a grimace. “I-Is that really necessary?”

Victor raised an eyebrow. “Going out there was your plan, my love. You handle the plan, I handle the strategy. That’s the deal.” He reached over to place a gentle kiss on her forehead. “Don’t worry. I love you.”

Azumi’s brows knitted together, but before she could argue, Victor added with a grin, “And I’m not taking no for an answer.”

She fixed her gaze on him for a lingering moment before rolling her eyes with exaggerated exasperation. "Whatever you say, Mr. Kim," she muttered with a hiss, her voice dripping with sarcasm, before grumpily lying down.

Victor chuckled softly, the sound low and amused, as he leaned closer. His lips brushed against her forehead in a fleeting kiss, a gesture of silent affection, before he settled beside her and fell into a deep, untroubled sleep.

Azumi stirred awake the next morning, drawn from her dreams by the enticing aroma of something cooking. The rich, savory scent filled the air, beckoning her. She hopped out of bed with a sudden burst of energy and padded out of the room. Her eyes widened when she spotted Adelina standing upright, her posture surprisingly steady. Hiroshi hovered nearby, his hands poised to catch her, but his assistance proved unnecessary.

"H-How are you standing already?" Azumi gasped, her voice catching the attention of everyone in the room.

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