ᴛᴡᴇɴᴛʏ-ғɪғᴛʜ.

She asked the doctors and nurses if she could stay inside the intensive care unit for a few hours because of the Seventh Prince. They let her but they limited her for only an hour. She held his hand carefully while staring at his sleeping yet peaceful face. She cried silently, blaming herself that she wasn't able to save him. She buried her face in his hand while calling for his name. The Seventh Prince is one of the most important people in her life and she would not be able to forgive herself if something bad happens to him.

"Hoku-chan, wake up for me, please." She cried while lightly nuzzling her palm against his cheek. Her eyes widened when she suddenly felt a weak grip on her hand. She immediately called the doctors and nurses and then, they checked up on the Seventh Prince's condition.

"He is already awake but he still needs to stay in the intensive care unit for a few days. He is slowly recovering and it might take him a month to go back to his normal life." The doctor said and she thanked them before going back inside to stay beside him.

"Hello, love." It's been a while since the last time she called him that. He was staring at her and a small smile formed on his lips. There were tubes attached to his body and mouth, so he couldn't say anything yet.

It has been a week and the Seventh Prince finally left the intensive care unit to stay in a private room instead. The Ninth Princess was already discharged but she decided to stay by his side to take care of him. She was walking in the hallways when she saw the Third Prince approaching. She bit her lips gently and then, he dragged her outside the hospital. He brought her in his car and then, he started driving away from the premises.

"Sho, what are you doing? Hokuto needs me there." She said but he didn't answer her until they finally arrived at the tree house. They went out of the car and then, he brought her inside and then, he hugged her tight, burying his face on the crook of her.

"Is there something wrong?" She asked softly while caressing his hair. He tightened the hug and she hugged him back. They stayed in that spot for a few minutes until she decided to release herself from his hug.

"I also need you. If Hokuto needs you, I also need you." He confessed and she couldn't help but to smile. Of course, she missed him. She has been focusing on the Seventh Prince lately and she found herself neglecting the Third Prince and the Student Council President.

"I'm sorry about that, Sho. I promise, right after Hoku-chan gets discharged from the hospital, we will have a date." Her promise felt empty. He released her from his hug and stared into her eyes. She was exhausted because of taking care of the Seventh Prince.

"Take a rest. There are lots of people who can take care of Hokuto. He is not your responsibility and most of all, the accident was not your fault nor his." She smiled faintly and nodded but she couldn't convince herself that she was not part of the fault.

"I'll take care of you. For now, stay here. I'll cook for you." He added and she almost cried. He hugged her once again and she rested her head on his chest. He left a kiss on top of her head and then, they heard her phone ringing. They looked at the name flashing on her phone screen and it was the Seventh Prince's mother.

"Auntie." She said when she answered the call. She bit her lips lightly when the older woman asked where she was. She said that she would not be able to stay by her son's side for a few days and somehow, the older woman's response disappointed her.

"Auntie, I have been by Hokuto's side since the day we had the accident. I need some rest." She reasoned out and just ended the call after hearing the older woman's reply. She sent her twin brother a message and then, she turned her phone off.

"Let's go to the supermarket? Let's buy ingredients." She forced a smile while looking at the Third Prince. She was already crestfallen and he cupped her cheeks, nuzzling it gently. She started crying silently and he kissed her tears.

"I'm tired." She whispered between her sobs. She stayed in his arms for a while and when she finally calmed down, they went to the nearest mall to get the things they needed. She smiled faintly at the sight of him getting so caring about her.

"Love." She called him and he froze from his spot. He turned to look at her, giving her a questioning look if she just accidentally slipped that word from her mouth or not since he was not the Seventh Prince.

"You deserve to be called love more than the other men." She said in a soft voice and she was surprised when he suddenly hugged her. People looked at them and she could hear them whispering, asking if they were a newlywed couple. Her cheeks heated up and she just hugged him back.

"I was.. jealous. I heard it that time. You called him love. I was so jealous." He mumbled and she tightened her hug. She knows that a lot of people will hate her for playing with three men but it is not really her fault that her grandfather decided for it.

"I used to call him that when we were still younger. People thought that we will end up together until we grow old but feelings changed. I changed, I guess." She looked at him and then, she chuckled softly.

"Are we officially together now?" He asked and then, his eyes widened when she nodded. She quickly pushed the shopping cart away from her while laughing gently. For the first time, she felt so carefree and it was all because of him.

"Fuyu!" He called her and she stopped for a while. She found him carrying a bunch of her favorite snacks and she couldn't help but to giggle. She quickly helped him to put everything inside the cart and when they were done getting all the ingredients they needed, they proceeded to the counter.

"Summer vacation will be next week already. Where do you want to go?" He asked as they were back inside the car. They arrived back at the tree house after a few minutes and then, he started cooking his specialty dish.

"I still don't know but I want to go to another country." She answered while watching him chop the vegetables. She bit her lips while staring at it. She doesn't really like eating vegetables but she couldn't say no to him because it is his first time cooking for her.