After Surviving the Apocalypse, I Built a City in Another World
Chapter 1348 - 1348: Apologies and Thanks (Part 1)

After a few hours, Tim finally gained the energy to open his eyes. He looked at the ceiling for a few moments, as if making sure he was in the right place.

He had been half-asleep for a while, and he had heard of the doctor's diagnosis, so he had some idea of what was going on in the past hour or so.

More prominently, he also felt the woman next to him. He heard her words and felt her presence. He also knew exactly when she fell asleep.

His heart clenched in pain when he looked at her, various emotions filled his body. It was mostly pain and betrayal, and a little hate…

…and maybe a little happiness and relief.

The woman had fallen asleep while she sat, and he watched as her head bobbed. He flinched when she almost fell down. She fortunately did not, waking up just in time

She blinked and then pouted when she realized she had fallen asleep. By instinct, the first thing she did was check on him, and she gasped when she saw him awake.

"Tim?! You're awake!" she exclaimed, her soft voice echoing in their area. "I'm so happy…"

Tim looked at her with complicated eyes. It wasn't to say he did not feel resentment towards her, and his heart had hardened. But he was also aware he still had lingering feelings for her.

He didn't want to be cruel to himself by opening himself up to be hurt again. "I'm a useless man now, Hana," he said, very bluntly. It was better to quickly peel off the band-aid rather than being careful with it.

Hana paused at this and she just stared at him. He thought that he finally shooed her away, and he felt a mix of disappointment and relief.

But then she held his hand with both of hers, and only then did he realize the tears were threatening to flow down her eyes. She leaned down as if pleading with him.

Pleading for what, he did not know.

"It's fine," she said, voice shaking. "We'll get through this together."

His jaw clenched. "I might not be able to give you the life you want."

"I can do it for us."

Tim looked at her with furrowed eyebrows, expressing his utter disbelief at her words.

Seeing him like this, the tears she had been holding back—she wanted to appear strong—finally burst out. "I'm sorry… I'm sorry… I'm sorry for making you feel like you're not enough."

"I'll change… I won't leave you again," she said, placing his hand on her face.

"I… I'll prove it to you, just give me a chance, ne?"

…

On another floor, in a private ward with one bed per room, more space for visitors to rest, and more flexible visiting hours, there were Chris and a few soldiers.

Aditi was at the side of Chris' bed, sobbing a bit, but she was also smiling as she relayed what happened during Fargo's execution. She was also among the people who watched him get burned, buried, and eaten by maggots.

While the story was really morbid as a hospital bedtime story, it still felt apt.

If only she weren't crying at the same time.

Chris smiled gently, wiping her tears. "I hope these are all tears of joy," he told her, and Aditi sniffled. It was odd: he was giving him good news, but her tears wouldn't stop flowing.

"Well, it's a complicated feeling," Raj laughed from behind her. Her brothers, Raj and Ramil, arrived with fruits in hand. They were followed by Penny, Aditi's friend, who also had snacks with her.

While the brothers were just relieved Chris was alive, Penny's eyes were complicated as she looked at Chris. She was both heartbroken for him, but also a bit happy.

Chris and Aditi's wedding would obviously be delayed, and she couldn't help but feel a bit relieved.

No one was privy to her thought. The brothers just patted their sister's shoulders before greeting their future brother-in-law.

"How are you feeling?" Raj asked.

"I'm… decent, I guess," he said, his eyes fixed on his fiance. "Thank you all for checking up on me."

"Well, glad you're alive and well," Ramil said, and then patted his brother's shoulder. The soldiers also said their greetings and made some small talk, though they had to leave after a while since they had to work.

At this, the other guests also decided to excuse themselves, to leave some space for the couple.

Penny pursed her lips, reluctant to go, but she did not have the face to stay behind either—not when Aditi's brothers were looking at her.

Left alone in the private ward, the couple didn't speak for a while. Aditi was sobbing, while Chris was staring at her with a wry smile.

"Why are you crying so much?" he asked. "I'm not dead yet, you know."

She paused and she looked at him. "Idiot! I will cry because I want to."

"Hmn…" he said and, after a pause, he couldn't help but ask. "I understand if you… don't want to proceed—"

Immediately, Aditi lifted her head, sending him her strongest glare. "What? Why wouldn't we?!"

"You still want to marry me?"

"Of course, you idiot!" she yelled, hugging him. "I was crying because you'd look even more stupid when you dance in our wedding!"

…

___

A/N: So I got this new idea for another side project. (I had to, sadly, this story's earning had been on sharp decline the past year and I need to sustain my fam, too).

New story is Bed-and-breakfast with dungeons theme! Hehehehehe. The concept seems fun so far (I feel like I'll enjoy it more than the romance fantasy side chick), and I am enjoying the outline thus far. It has a reformed playboy MC tho, don't hate me. Lolloll. It won't be a harem~

Hopefully, I will publish it before the third quarter of the year, and it's supposed to be a short one. Our story AABC wll probably still be ongoing by the time side chick #2 ended lolol.

That said, Side chick #1 should be publishing within 2-3 months too (It's in another platform so I don't control the schedule after I submit the chaps). If you're into childcare romance fantasy cozy slice-of-life, tell me~ I'll pull you in over there haha. Better yet: JOIN ME ON DISCORD!

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.