In the Hospital
Seungmin lost consciousness halfway to the hospital.
His body went limp in the back seat, head slumping against the window, lips drained of color. Jisoo noticed first.
"Seungmin—"
No response.
Jisoo's hands shook as he grabbed his phone and called Mr. Jaehan.
He arrived within minutes.
Too fast.
As if he had never been far to begin with.
The hallway outside the examination room was sterile and painfully bright. The smell of antiseptic burned Jisoo's nose. Everyone stood frozen, staring at the closed door like it might decide Seungmin's fate on its own.
A nurse came out and gently took Jisoo by the arm.
"You're injured. Come with me."
"I'm fine," Jisoo snapped.
She didn't argue. She guided him away anyway.
Inside the examination room, Seungmin lay unconscious on the bed, wires attached to his chest, his breathing shallow but steady.
Mr. Jaehan sat on the couch with his legs crossed, leaning back, perfectly composed — like this was a business meeting, not a hospital room.
The doctor entered, glanced at the patient, then at Jaehan.
"Sir, I'll need privacy for the examination."
Jaehan didn't move.
"You can do it in front of me."
The doctor paused.
Something felt wrong.
Still, he nodded and began checking
Seungmin's vitals.
Blood pressure — low.
Blood sugar — low.
Heart rate — elevated.
The body was in survival mode.
"What happened to him?" the doctor asked.
"He fainted," Jaehan replied calmly.
"And before that?"
"I don't know."
The doctor's jaw tightened. "Then call someone who does."
Jaehan gave a small gesture. One of the bodyguards stepped outside.
Chahyuk was brought in.
"We had a fight," he said nervously.
"Someone pushed him. He hit a table."
The doctor approached Seungmin and reached for the buttons of his shirt.
"Stop."
Jaehan's voice cut through the room like a blade.
The doctor froze.
Jaehan nodded to the bodyguard. "Take him outside."
Chahyuk was escorted out immediately.
"Doctor," Jaehan said, standing up now, "just wake him up. We're taking him home. No further treatment."
The doctor stared at him, stunned.
Then he ignored him.
He unbuttoned Seungmin's shirt.
And saw everything.
Old bruises.
Faded marks.
Healing scars layered over newer ones.
Not from tonight.
Not from one fight.
From a long time ago.
Jaehan pulled out a gun and placed it against the doctor's head.
"Stop."
The doctor didn't flinch.
"What the hell are you doing to this boy?" he shouted. "Do you even feed him? Look at how weak he is. This is abuse."
"I'm calling the police."
Jaehan removed the gun slowly.
"Go ahead," he said calmly. "What do you think will happen? Do you think the police can save him?"
The doctor's voice trembled. "That's their job."
Jaehan's eyes were cold. "If they could, he would've gone to them himself. There are things in this world you can't fight. Systems you can't touch."
He stepped closer.
"If you call them, you'll only make it worse for him."
Silence swallowed the room.
"Give him IV fluids," Jaehan said quietly.
"Then we're leaving."
The doctor's eyes filled with tears.
"He's just a kid," he whispered. "No one deserves this."
Jaehan exhaled sharply. "I know."
"I'll take him out of it."
"When?" the doctor demanded.
"S o o n."
The doctor scoffed bitterly as he prepared the IV.
"I hate you, Jaehan. You left me for this life. For torturing children."
"I didn't do this," Jaehan replied.
"But you let it happen."
The IV line slid into Seungmin's vein.
Jisoo tried to enter, but the bodyguard blocked him.
"Why can't I go in?" he shouted.
Jaehan turned. "Let him."
Jisoo rushed inside and froze when he saw the doctor.
"Yechan hyung…?"
Jaehan stepped closer. "Why are you here?"
"Because Seungmin got hurt because of me."
Jaehan's voice hardened. "Didn't Mr. Choi tell you to stay away from him?"
"Yes," Jisoo snapped. "And then he put him in my class. What do you want me to do? Pretend he doesn't exist?"
Jaehan studied him carefully.
"Jisoo," he said slowly, "do you like Seungmin?"
Jisoo shut down.
"…It's not like that."
Jaehan smiled without warmth. "Look at yourself. You do."
Jisoo exploded.
"What's wrong with liking someone? You can be with the doctor, but I can't be with him?"
Yechan spoke quietly. "We're not together anymore."
"I don't care," Jisoo said. "If I like him, I'll be with him. No one gets to stop me."
"I'll tell your mother," Jaehan said.
Jisoo's voice dropped instantly.
"Hyung… don't."
"She'll be disappointed," Jisoo whispered.
"She talks about grandchildren every day. If she knew I was gay too… it would break her."
Jaehan stared at him for a long moment.
Then, coldly: "Go outside."
"No.
Jisoo walked to Seungmin's bedside and sat down.
"I'll wait," he said softly. "Until he wakes up."
The doctor left the room.
Jaehan followed.
The door closed behind them.