—Woo Jin’s POV—

Elena watched Viora retreat for a few seconds, then she turned around, walked back inside her room, and closed the door.

Only then did I slowly open my door and walk toward Viora.

"W-Woo Jin?"

She heard the sound of my footsteps and stopped just a bit further away from the door to her room.

"You wanted water, right? Wait here. I will go and get it."

"Okay,"

Viora nodded and, as fast as I could, I went downstairs, opened the fridge, pulled out a bottle of cold water, and went back upstairs to Viora.

However, when I reached the place where she was standing, I didn’t find her. Still, I didn’t stop walking and opened the door to her room.

There she was, slowly and carefully placing her foot on the floor and reaching for the bed, with one of her arms stretched out in front of her.

I quickly reached her and helped her sit on the bed because she was just about to walk past it.

"Didn’t I tell you to wait?"

With a hint of anger, I spoke and opened the cap of the bottle before handing it to her.

"Here, drink it."

She grabbed the bottle and started drinking the water from it.

Glup.

Glup.

Glup.

After three gulps, she lowered the bottle from her lips and remained silent.

I stood there awkwardly, looking at her. Or rather... watching her stare into nothing.

Even after spending days around her, it was still strange seeing those beautiful purple eyes that couldn’t actually see anything.

"Better?" I asked.

Viora only gave a slight nod of her head but still didn’t speak up.

’Why isn’t she saying anything now? Just a moment ago she was calling my name loudly, but now she is acting mute.’

I thought as my patience began reaching its limits and I frowned.

"Why aren’t you saying anything?"

I touched my forehead and asked in an irritated voice. Instead of answering me with words or even actions, she just began drinking water again.

’Does she want me to leave again?’

That was the only thing my idiot mind could think of. Maybe that was why she wasn’t speaking up because she wanted me out of her room.

’If that is the case, I will leave her.’

However, unlike before when I was only pretending to be angry, this time I was genuinely bothered by her sudden silence.

"Thank you." After drinking the water, she whispered in a low voice.

Oh, now she speaks? Took her long enough. If she had been a little later, I would have really left her alone.

"It is just water."

That was my response to her thanks, and for some reason she just shook her head.

"No..."

She said that in a really serious tone.

’What is up with this serious voice? And what does she mean by no?’

"What do you mean?"

Asking that, I waited for her answer. For a moment, I thought she wouldn’t speak, but then slowly, she did.

"When you are blind..."

She lowered her head toward her feet.

"...you learn that even small things aren’t guaranteed."

That.

That was some deep wording I couldn’t actually understand, so I just kept quiet and listened to her.

"Now, if I want to get out of this room, there is no guarantee that I will be able to find the door on the first try."

Her voice remained calm, but something about that calmness felt heavier than crying.

"Or the bed. Or the chair."

Viora’s fingers tightened slightly around the water bottle and she forced a smile onto her face.

"Sometimes I reach for something and grab empty air."

Soon, the forced smile began to vanish as she continued.

"And the event just now made me realize something even scarier. It wasn’t just the things or the door. It was the same with you too. Even if I want to, I don’t think I will be able to find you if you disappear right in front of me."

Those were the last words she said that I could properly hear. After that, everything else she said just didn’t sit in my mind since I was too focused on those last words.

Honestly, I wasn’t even sure how to respond to all this. Not because I didn’t understand her words, but because I understood them a little too well.

"You are overthinking it," I finally said. However, Viora didn’t respond immediately.

"I’m not."

That was all she said. The certainty in her voice made it worse. In the back of her mind, she was just too sure of everything.

I scratched the back of my head, struggling to find the right words. Jokes didn’t feel appropriate. Silence felt even worse.

"You think I will disappear or something?" I asked, saying whatever came to my mind. I somehow had to ease the tension.

Viora lowered her head further.

"I don’t think that," she said quietly. "I know I can’t see you."

That sentence landed heavier on me than anything else she had said today.

"If my eyes are open or closed... everything is the same."

She slowly raised one hand, hesitating mid-air as if trying to point at something.

"Room. Door. Wall. You."

With those words, her hand dropped again.

"I only know where you are... because you make a sound. And when you don’t..."

She stood up from the bed and, by tracing my arm, she found my hand and clutched it.

"...the scene of you leaving me in the hospital begins playing in my mind again."

She stopped and, without thinking, I grabbed her chin and lifted her face.

"Look at me. I am here. Right in front of you. Right beside you. And my hand is right in your hand. What more is there for you to confirm my presence?"

"That’s not what I’m scared of," she whispered and I frowned. If this wasn’t it, then what did she want exactly?

"Then what is it?" I asked, clearly confused by her words.

Viora hesitated for a long time. Then, almost reluctantly, she revealed what she was truly feeling.

"I’m scared I’ll get used to you."