章 54: Aftermath

Outside a massive white hospital, perched on a bench, sat a teenager dressed in his prom suit. He clutched a pack of cigarettes in his hand, his gaze fixed on the ground.

Slowly, he lifted his head, taking out one of the cigarettes. He carefully traced the cigarette along his lips, savoring the moment before gently positioning it between them.

"Need a light?"

Startled out of his daze, Peter turned to his left, where another man was seated on the bench. The man appeared completely absorbed in a book titled 'The King of Fairies is Now a Demon Lord.'

He wore comfortable gray sweatpants and a plain white T-shirt, that featured playful pig polka dots. The book's pages rustled softly as he read, creating a peaceful contrast to the teenager's somber mood.

Peter's brow furrowed as he studied the man's face. Handsome? No, that would be an understatement. The man before him was nothing short of otherworldly handsome. It was as if he had stepped out of one of those Chinese novels from Peter's past life, with descriptions like "jade skin" and "sword-like eyebrows" coming to mind.

Peter's lips formed a polite but resolute smile, he shook his head, as he declined the man's offer.

"I don't smoke."

The man withdrew the lighter and tucked it into his pocket, his eyes never leaving the pages of his book. Without glancing at Peter, he asked inquisitively,

"Why did you buy a pack then?"

Peter removed the cigarette from his mouth and held it in his hand, his gaze fixed on the slender cylinder. His thoughts wandered as he examined it, memories flooding back.

He confessed, his voice tinged with nostalgia and a hint of regret.

"My father used to request that I sneak him a few cigarettes during his hospital stay, and... well, maybe I bought them to feel a bit edgy,"

The man chuckled and shook his head, leaving Peter unsure of what had amused him. Was it Peter's words or something in the book he was engrossed in? Peter couldn't resist sneaking a peek at the novel as he asked,

"Any good? That novel."

A friendly smile curved on the man's lips, and for the first time, he shifted his gaze towards Peter, to look him in the eye. He spoke casually,

"I suppose it takes one to know."

Peter nodded in understanding and redirected his gaze ahead. The tranquility of the surrounding trees, the gentle swaying of leaves, and the expansive blue sky filled his view. In an impulsive act, his grip on the cigarette loosened, allowing it to tumble to the ground.

He quickly crushed the unlit paper wrapped around tobacco beneath his shoe, as if ridding himself of a weight he no longer wished to carry.

Peter sniffled softly, then abruptly stood up. He turned around and cast a brief glance at the man still seated on the bench, engrossed in his book, the silence between them noticeable.

He casually raised his arm toward the man and offered,

"You want this pack? Half price, 5 dollars."

The man closed his book, lifting his head to meet Peter's gaze, an amused expression playing on his face. He countered with a question,

"Would you like to barter?"

Peter raised an eyebrow, giving a nonchalant shrug as he responded,

"Sure, your loss."

The man extended his hand, accepting the pack of cigarettes from Peter, and in exchange, he handed over the book. With a deliberate pace, he retrieved one cigarette after another, methodically emptying the tobacco from each one.

Peter regarded the man with a mixture of incredulity and curiosity, unable to comprehend his actions. He questioned,

"What are you doing?"

In response, the man offered a warm smile and explained,

"I don't smoke either, but the paper... maybe that can be recycled."

A small, unexpected smile broke through on Peter's face, transforming his previously somber expression. He couldn't help but comment,

"You are one strange weirdo, you know that?"

The man shook his head, a hint of a wry smile touching his lips as he locked eyes with Peter. In a moment that sent a shiver down Peter's spine, the man stated,

"I'm not weird. Everyone else is."

Peter rolled his eyes, the smile still playing on his lips, as he patted the man's shoulder in a friendly manner. With that, he turned away from the bench and started walking back towards the hospital.

As Peter walked away, he suddenly halted in his tracks, pivoting around to face the bench. A look of utter bewilderment washed over his face as he realized that the man had vanished, as if he had never been there. In a quiet murmur, Peter reflected aloud,

"I never got his name."

With a shrug, Peter resumed his walk and just as he was about to step back inside the hospital, a lingering question crossed his mind. In a slightly bemused tone, he lampooned,

'Why did he have a lighter with him if he doesn't smoke? What a strange person.'

Not dwelling on the mysterious encounter, Peter took the elevator to the third floor of the hospital. As he walked down the corridor, he spotted Gwen.

It seemed that she had noticed him as well because she waved almost instantly, her friendly gesture brightening his day amid the hospital's sterile surroundings.

Peter approached Gwen calmly, taking in a deep breath as he met her gaze. He couldn't help but notice that she was still dressed in her prom outfit from earlier.

Peter asked with concern,

"How are they?"

Gwen replied with a sad smile,

"Not that great."

The weight of the situation hung heavy in her words, and it was clear that they both shared the same sense of worry.

Peter nodded, closing the distance between them. He gently held Gwen's hand and offered a wry smile. He brought her hand towards his lips and planted a soft peck on it.

"Thanks, Gwen,"

Gwen's eyes widened with emotion, and without a word, she shook her head, wrapping her arms around Peter in a tight, heartfelt hug. For those precious few seconds, the two clung to each other, finding comfort in the embrace and sharing each other's warmth.

Slowly, Peter released the hug, his eyes meeting Gwen's as he offered a somewhat bittersweet smile.

"I'll go and check on them,"

Gwen nodded in response, her own unspoken feelings mirroring Peter's determination. Though she wanted to say, 'I'll come with you,' for some reason, the words remained trapped within her.

The thought of facing Aunt May and Uncle Ben, the two people who felt like family to her despite the lack of blood ties, was a weight too heavy to bear at this moment. Instead, she stood there, silently offering her support to Peter.

Inwardly, Gwen couldn't help but muse with a touch of self-deprecation,

'Despite being a so-called superhero, I don't even have the emotional strength. I'm such a coward.'

Tears welled up in Gwen's eyes as she turned away, overwhelmed by a sense of despair and guilt. It felt as if everything was falling apart, and a deep-seated feeling of being cursed haunted her.

She couldn't bear to look into Peter's eyes, as doing so intensified her sense of responsibility and remorse.

"I'm sorry, Peter," she spoke softly, her voice trembling with emotion. "I... I couldn't save them in ti-"

Before Gwen could continue her sentence, Peter gently placed a finger on her lips and whispered, "Shhh, it's not your fault. It's mine. I was careless... I forgot how cruel this world can be, but don't worry, I am here and I am wide awake."

Gwen's eyes widened in response to Peter's unwavering tone. She felt the warmth of his hands gently holding her face, compelling her to meet his gaze as he continued to speak.

"I promise, Gwen, I will never let anyone harm my loved ones ever again. Aunt May, Uncle Ben... most of all, you."

Gwen gazed into Peter's calm brown eyes, finding in them a sense of reassurance and warmth that melted away the sadness and apathy that had weighed on her.

A small, tender smile graced his lips as they drew nearer to hers, their breaths mingled together, and his lips pressed against hers, softly grazing against each other.

Their kiss deepened, and Gwen surrendered to the warmth and intimacy of the moment. Her eyes closed as she relished the sensation of Peter's lips and the slow movement of the tongue wrapping around hers, circling around.

"Ahem..." A nurse's discreet throat-clearing interrupted the intimate moment, causing Gwen and Peter to break the kiss.

Gwen blushed with embarrassment, her gaze dropping to the floor. In contrast, Peter chuckled, his expression amused. He winked playfully at Gwen before affectionately patting her head.

Her gaze remained fixed on Peter's back as he entered the hospital room to reunite with Aunt May and Uncle Ben. The fact that they were still alive felt like nothing short of a miracle.

'I-If it's him... maybe he can heal them.'

Gwen touched her lips tenderly, the remnants of her earlier embarrassment giving way to a sense of warmth and affection. However, as the reality of the situation sunk in, her emotions shifted, and a layer of sadness settled over her.

Turning around, Gwen started to walk away from the hospital room, speaking softly to herself, "Guess I'll visit Dad."

Her thighs rubbed against each other as an embarrassed expression crept onto her face. She sighed and mused bitterly.

"Why did he have to make me this wet?"