Chapter 267: The Purple Hair Miracle [June’s POV]

I slammed the car door a little too hard and screamed.

"WHY ARE YOU JUST SITTING THERE?!" I yelled.

Dominic was in the backseat grinning at me.

"Fuck, June," he snapped. "You scared the hell out of me."

"Why didn’t you tell me Dominic is in the car?" I hissed, turning to glare at Ren. "Do you want me to take back my forgiveness?"

Ren looked panicked. "June! Don’t...he’s not..."

Dominic’s head popped up from the backseat. "Yeah, juney, chill."

I rolled my eyes. "Don’t sass me, Dominic."

I was about to get out of the car when Ren reached forward and grabbed my hands.

"Please. Just listen to him too.."

I groaned. "Uh, I don’t think you need to be involved in..."

"Please!" Dominic cut me off. "I need your help. I... I want to talk to Ash."

"And why should I help you?" I asked, folding my arms.

"Because... we’re friends," he said.

I burst out laughing. "Friends?!"

"Don’t bullshit me with friendship," I snapped. "You hurt my best friend, humiliated him, ghosted him for weeks, and now you want me to help you mess with him again? This is ridiculous."

Dominic’s shoulders slumped. "It’s... complicated. I love Ash so much, and I’m terrified of losing him. I hate myself already. Please... I need to talk to him today."

I shook my head. "Not happening. Don’t pressure him, don’t ruin today for him. His mom just woke up. Don’t bring your... main character syndrome into his hospital room."

Ren snorted quietly from the driver’s seat.

Dominic froze. "His mom... woke up?"

"Yeah, yeah. Don’t look so shocked," I said.

"Oh my God..." His voice softened. "This is... amazing news."

"What about tomorrow?" he asked cautiously.

I shook my head. "Exam starts Monday. I don’t want you distracting him."

"Yeah... that’s true," he dropped his head.

I thought for a second, and softened. "You know what? What about... next weekend?"

"Ohhh... is that okay?" he raised his head, looking hopeful.

"Sure. We’ll be done with exams, and Alia’s birthday is next weekend. That’s your perfect excuse to see Ash. I’ll also have the whole week to soften him up, and convince him." I rolled my eyes, grinning.

"Yes, please. You will do that for me?"

"Maybe. What are friends for?" I teased.

"Thanks, June. You’re literally the best." His smile was soft, but I caught the sadness behind it...his pale skin, the sunken eyes. Like someone holding too much regret in one body.

It scared me a little.

Because I’m starting to understand something about love...

You don’t always get unlimited chances.

And sometimes the bravest thing you can do is forgive before life makes the choice for you.

I just smiled back, not ready to say anything else.

He really needed Ash right now. My heart tightened.

Ren kept driving, giving me a teasing glance.

Dominic leaned forward suddenly. "Oh, and Ren...that was romantic. I thought you were about to propose to June, when you knelt down. The boys are gonna see this."

"Oh no. Don’t. You didn’t..." Ren widened hus eyes.

"I recorded it," Dominic burst out laughing.

Ren groaned. "Dude, you were also crying on the phone last night because you needed to see Ash too. And yes... I recorded that too."

Dominic gasped dramatically. "Fine! I’ll delete it... fine!"

I burst out laughing, covering my face.

By the time they dropped me in front of the hospital, my cheeks hurt from laughing. I waved goodbye at them, still giggling.

"Thanks, you two... for, you know... everything," I said softly.

They drove off, as I walked to the hospital corridor.

I spotted Marcus standing outside the hospital entrance with his hands shoved deep into his pockets, staring at the sliding doors.

"Hey," I said, walking up to him. "Why are you out here? You allergic to hospitals now?"

He huffed out a nervous laugh. "Honestly? I’m scared."

"Of what?"

He shrugged. "Of it being real. Of walking in there and... I don’t know."

That hit me a little. I softened. "It’s real," I said quietly. "She’s awake."

He nodded. "I’m waiting for Ash. He said he’s almost here."

Right on cue...

"June!"

I turned just in time to see Alia sprinting toward me. She slammed into me, wrapping her arms around my waist.

"Oof...hi, baby!" I laughed, hugging her tight. "How’s my favorite human?"

She pulled back dramatically and removed her hoodie cap. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

I gasped.

Marcus burst out laughing so hard he had to bend over.

Ash, who had just reached us, dropped his face into his hands. "Oh no."

"Alia..." I stared. "Why is your hair purple?"

It wasn’t even a cute pastel purple. It was messy. Like a grape exploded on her head.

She groaned. "Violet’s brother, Jerry, poured purple dye into her shampoo. He said it would look cool."

"What?!" I gasped.

"Their mom kept apologizing," Ash added quickly. "They both look like that."

Marcus opened his mouth. "Damnn!"

"It looks..." Ash started.

I quickly put my hands on Alia’s shoulders. "It’s really not that bad."

It was bad.

Like really really bad. But we won’t tell her that. I would ruin her confidence.

Marcus wiped tears from his eyes. "She looks like a rejected anime character. I can’t..."

"Marcus!" Ash and I snapped at the same time.

"It’s not funny!" I said, trying not to laugh again.

Marcus straightened up. "Okay, okay. Sorry. I’m done."

Alia crossed her arms dramatically. "I hate it."

I leaned down to her level, smoothing her frizzy hair.. "It’s temporary. And honestly? You kinda look iconic."

She sniffed. "Really?"

"Nobody else in this hospital has purple hair. I support it."

That made her smile a little.

Ash looked at me over her head.

"Can we go in?" Marcus asked softly.

Ash swallowed. "Yeah."

I squeezed Alia’s hand as we walked inside. The hospital hallway suddenly felt too quiet.

Right before the room, Ash stopped.

He knelt in front of Alia, holding both her hands.

"Ali," he said gently. "There’s something you need to know."

She blinked up at him. "What?"

He slowly pushed the door open.

"Mom is awake."

For a second, Alia didn’t move or blink.

She just stood there, frozen at the doorway.

Inside, their mom was sitting up in the hospital bed, raising her hands slightly toward us.

Alia’s mouth dropped open.

Then.....

Her scream ripped through the hallway.

"MOOMMMM!!!"

Their mom’s lips trembled. "Alia..."

She ran forward so fast Ash barely caught up with her.

She climbed onto the bed, sobbing instantly, hugging her mom.

"Mommy! You’re awake! You’re awake!" she kept repeating.

Their mom started crying too, her weak hand kept moving to touch Alia’s purple hair.

"Oh my baby," she whispered.

Tears streamed down Ash’s face.

Marcus looked away quickly, blinking hard.

I felt my own throat close up.

Alia pulled back suddenly, staring at her mom’s face like she still couldn’t believe it.

"It’s real?" she asked, touching her cheeks. "You’re actually moving?"

"Yes baby," her mom whispered.

Alia burst into tears again. "I thought... I thought you were gone."

That’s what love really is.

Being terrified it’s over, and then getting one more chance.

Ash finally moved, stepping forward and wrapping his arms around both of them, trying to be strong but failing completely.

Marcus quietly wiped his face beside me.

And me? I didn’t even try to stop the tears.

Because for the first time in what felt like forever....something beautiful actually won.