Chapter 205

Chapter 205

From Cosmic Rascal to Professor.

Episode 205: Bigamy (10)

There are two things you should never witness in hospitals and funeral homes: a deceased person breaking out of their coffin during a funeral or a patient in the ICU suddenly getting up completely fine.

“How are you feeling?”

“I’m okay, I think? Just experiencing some joint stiffness.”

“That’s normal after being immobile for so long. It will improve with time.”

After two weeks of surviving solely on IV fluids without any solid food, my stomach felt hollow. I knew I needed to focus on gradually reactivating my digestive system with light meals while working on my recovery.

“Ugh.”

My muscle loss was evident. Every step I took sent tingles up my spine.

“Careful now, student.”

“Here, take my hand.”

Surprisingly, it wasn’t doctors or nurses helping me, but professors. Despite knowing I had recovered, they handled me like a precious artifact, carefully guiding me toward the exit.

“……”

I caught Ire’s eyes. I could see her bewildered expression beneath her composed facade. What’s her problem? Why is she looking at me like that?

“Professors, really, I can walk on my own now.”

“We’ll still support you until we’re outside.”

Their concern touched me deeply.

I’m such a fortunate graduate student…

However, that pleasant thought quickly vanished when I saw what awaited me outside: Rustila and Zelnya were staring at me with predatory intensity as if they were ready to pounce.

“Ugh.”

Zelnya and Rustila jolted awake almost simultaneously, roused by a commotion beyond the waiting room.

“What’s that noise?”

“Is something happening?”

“…Aidel?”

The two girls sprang up in alarm.

What if something had gone wrong with Aidel? The mere thought sent a wave of panic through them, instantly clearing any remnants of sleep from their minds.

A crowd had gathered in front of the intensive care unit. Rustila and Zelnya pushed their way through, both women pacing anxiously with a single shared prayer: Please, let Aidel be safe.

Moments later, the soft echo of footsteps reached their ears – dozens of them, moving in unison. Rustila, with her sharp hearing, noticed first, and Zelnya soon picked up on the sound as well.

And then they saw him.

“Aidel…?”

There he was – the man both women loved – walking out of the intensive care unit. Though visibly thinner, he was far from the dying man they’d feared. This alone was shocking enough, but what truly stunned them was the sight of over a dozen physics professors supporting him.

“Ah, hello?”

Aidel offered an awkward smile and wave.

“Aidel…”

“…Honey.”

The two women’s minds reeled their emotions, a complex mixture of joy, relief, and elation – but also, unexpectedly, irritation and anger.

For weeks, they had faithfully visited twice daily, holding his hand, touching his face, shedding countless tears. They’d experienced tremendous emotional turmoil, even quarreling with each other frequently. Each had fulfilled her duty as a fiancée perfectly. And yet, this man…

“…”

“…”

Both women’s lips twisted into hollow smiles. Were they really feeling jealous of the professors? It seemed absurd, and yet…

“You really…”

The truth was, their anger stemmed entirely from Aidel himself. After all the emotional anguish he’d put them through, his first words upon seeing them were a casual “hello.”

Rustila and Zelnya exchanged glares, though with less intensity than before. Under Ire’s mediation, they had developed an unexpected, if grudging, affection for each other. The constant bickering had grown tiresome for both.

They understood well enough that their mutual antagonism stemmed from a single source: their desire to have Aidel exclusively to themselves. Without him in the picture, Zelnya would have spent her time apologizing to Rustila for past transgressions. At the same time, Rustila would have either reluctantly accepted or simply ignored those apologies.

So naturally, their true anger lay elsewhere.

The woman’s eyes blazed with determination. Their shared devotion to Aidel was beginning to overshadow their jealousy of each other.

“Everyone, it’s over now. Let’s head back.”

Ire briefly explained the situation while the professors gently urged Aidel forward, chuckling among themselves.

“Aidel, you have two… no, three girlfriends?”

“Quite the playboy.”

“He’ll be torn apart soon enough.”

The professors spoke from experience, many having complicated romantic histories themselves. After all, it wasn’t uncommon for heroes to have multiple wives, and many geniuses were known to be quite the Casanovas…

“Student, let me offer some advice.”

A middle-aged professor, a veteran of three marriages, whispered into Aidel’s ear.

“When women fighting over a man get truly upset, they tend to unite. Once that happens, all their anger will focus on you. A simple apology won’t cut it.”

“What should I do then?”

“Actions speak louder than words. Don’t just say sorry – give them a hug. Instead of saying ‘I love you’ – give them a kiss.”

“That sounds like a recipe for getting slapped.”

“That’s bachelor talk. Women wearing rose-colored glasses fall for it willingly. And you’ve got the face to pull it off.”

Aidel nodded, bewildered by this unexpected counsel.

“Well, we’ll be going now.”

“Take care of yourself, Aidel.”

“Once you’re recovered, get straight back to that thesis. Understood?”

The professors departed, leaving behind words that might have sounded ominous to others but were merely encouragement to Aidel.

“I’ll be going too. Rest up, and when you feel ready, decide whether to discharge or move to a general ward.”

After Arnold’s departure, silence fell over the waiting room.

“Aidel.”

“My dear.”

Two icy voices rang out in unison. Aidel turned his head mechanically, facing Rustila and Zelnya. Their eyes glistened like oiled glass, tears threatening to spill at any moment.

“Do you know how worried I was about you?”

“Why did you suddenly collapse like that?”

The brief joy of having a professors’ harem was short-lived and quickly gave way to the looming headache of his love triangle predicament.

But since things had progressed this far, he had to manage somehow. For now, he’d pause his research and focus on his original plan of bringing these two closer…

“Hey, Rustila.”

“I know.”

“What?”

Before he could process what was happening, Aidel felt himself being lifted as Rustila scooped him up.

“Ru-Rustila?”

“Aidel, can I stay at your place tonight?”

“Don’t bother asking him – just get on the shuttle. I know the password. Hey, Hazlen? Could you bring that tin can sleeping over there with you?”

In mere moments, the two women had whisked Aidel away to the main line of the Reinhardt estate. Ire, following behind, awkwardly arranged the three pairs of shoes at the entrance.

Still trembling from his recent awakening, Aidel found himself unceremoniously deposited onto the queen-sized bed.

Wait a minute.

How did these two even know about this bed?

“Hey, guys…?”

“Shut up.”

Zelnya silenced Aidel with her lips.

A soft tongue intertwined with his.

“…!”

It was their first kiss.

When Rustila had first stolen Aidel’s lips, Zelnya had felt defeated and inferior. Though they’d shared cheek kisses, their lips had never met.

“Of course, Zelnya had been the first to provoke with an indirect kiss, but people tend to only remember the times when things were done to them.”

So now, driven by that lingering sulkiness, she pushed her tongue forward.

Watching this scene, Rustila felt a twinge of discomfort in her chest, but she chose to let it slide today. After all, her primary source of anger right now was Aidel himself.

“Aidel, answer me.”

Rustila demanded, her voice quivering.

“Did you think I’d be happy watching you work yourself to collapse for my sake? Why did you push yourself to such extremes with your research?”

“That’s… Rustila. I did it for you.”

“If it was truly for me, you should have taken proper breaks!”

“……”

“I told you before – whether it takes 1 year, 5 years, 10 years, even a lifetime! I said I could wait…! When you were rushed to intensive care, I… I really thought we were going to lose you…”

She broke off with a sob.

Zelnya, who had been observing silently, joined in.

“Yes, for once, I completely agree with her. Who would have thought you’d end up unconscious for two weeks just from exhaustion? And then landing in the ICU, hooked up to a ventilator…”

You could have died.

The thought sent simultaneous chills and waves of anger through both women.

United in their worry and frustration, they continued their joint scolding of Aidel.

“Get some sleep, you fool.”

“…If you ever collapse like this again, I won’t be so forgiving. Understand? Answer me!”

Aidel could only nod meekly.

Suddenly, both women’s voices turned frosty.

“Aidel.”

“This is your punishment.”

And then…

Smack!

Twin slaps landed on his cheeks from both sides.

Professor Johnson was right – even rival women unite when they share grievances against a man.

It’s like nuclear fusion: normally, nuclei repel each other but force them close enough together, and a reaction occurs.

Through my collapse, Rustila and Zelnya had realized their feelings for me – both affection and anger – ran deeper than their mutual antagonism. It was genuinely moving.

Of course, they’d eventually return to their usual bickering, but this moment suggested hope for their relationship’s improvement.

Smack! Smack!

My cheeks stung from their synchronized slaps – Zelnya on the left, Rustila on the right. The physical pain was nothing compared to the emotional ache of being slapped by both women I loved simultaneously.

I remembered the professor’s advice: Don’t just talk, act.

Running away now wouldn’t be manly.

Both women watched for my reaction after their slaps. Rustila rolled her eyes in embarrassment while Zelnya made a disapproving sound but avoided my gaze.

“Rusti, Zelnya. Hey, you two.”

When I carefully called their nicknames, their eyes turned to me shyly.

I gently embraced them both.

“Sorry for making you worry.”

My apology wasn’t meant as a retreat but rather as an opportunity to strengthen their bond.

“From now on, I’ll listen to you. I won’t overdo it. When things get tough, I’ll take breaks.”

I slowly patted their backs as I spoke.

“It’s okay. I’m not going anywhere.”

“……”

“……”

Thud, thud.

They both leaned against me – the scent of gardenias from one side, roses from the other.

“As I’ve said before, I want you both to be happy. That’s why I chose this complicated path. I couldn’t bear to abandon either of you.”

“……Idiot Aidel.”

“Take care of yourself, you fool……”

“I will. From now on, I’ll be careful. I won’t overdo it. I won’t leave first.”

Their shoulders trembled. It was surreal – I’d started as a third-rate scoundrel after the possession. Still, through academics, I’d reached this point, holding both Rustila and Zelnya in my arms.

I carefully lifted their heads. Both women fought back sobs, letting only silent tears fall.

Just a week.

One week in a coma.

If our positions were reversed, I’d cry too if someone I loved woke up after being unconscious for a week, especially if they’d collapsed while working for my sake. The mixture of gratitude, anger, and joy would be overwhelming.

That’s why.

Smooch, smooch.

To prove this wasn’t a dream, I kissed both their foreheads. Rustila responded with a bitter smile and drooping eyes, while Zelnya flinched like a startled rabbit, furrowing her brow.

Actions do speak louder than words.

It’s true – a single kiss carries more weight than saying ‘I love you.’ The two women immediately lost their composure, leaning against me.

“I’m tired.”

I collapsed against the bed’s edge like a crumbling wall. Rustila and Zelnya followed, their weight settling against me as they silently embraced me on the bed.

“Are you tired even after sleeping so long?”

“Maybe it’s from not eating. I’m drained.”

“I can make you something right now.”

“It’s okay. The glucose drip helped – I’m not starving.”

I didn’t have the energy to eat anyway.

Pulling the blanket over us roughly, I gently wrapped my arms around them both.

I planted repeated kisses on their cheeks, stroking the abundant blonde and dignified silver hair, holding them close enough to hear my heartbeat.

Actions speak louder than words.

They must have clearly understood what I was conveying.

Rustila was first to close her eyes, placing her hand on my chest with a tearful smile. Her fidgeting and excited breathing carried obvious implications.

Zelnya, meanwhile, tossed and turned restlessly. After about 20 minutes of shifting positions from fatigue and beginning to sweat, she suddenly jerked awake with a start.

“What’s wrong?”

“I forgot my sleepwalking medication……”

Ah, the sleepwalking. Still struggling with that, huh?

I felt a wave of sympathy.

I positioned a long cushion behind her and adjusted my arm as a pillow, making sure she was as comfortable as possible in my embrace.

“……Well, I suppose I won’t need it tonight.”

Zelnya settled down with a wry smile, burying her face in my opposite shoulder before drifting into a deep sleep with soft breaths.

I gently stroked both their heads before closing my eyes.

Come morning, they’d probably be at each other’s throats again.

But for tonight, at least.

They were both my wives.