A soft knock echoed faintly through the quiet hospital room. Kiyonari turned his head toward the sound just as the door slowly slid open, revealing the familiar face standing behind it.
"Knock, knock," Seong-jun greeted with an easy smile, lifting the plastic bag in his hand like proof of his arrival.
A warm expression immediately crossed Kiyonari's face. He straightened himself slightly on the bed and let out a small breath of relief. "Hey, there you are," he said. "Where have you been?"
Seong-jun stepped inside, closing the door behind him before walking over to the bedside table. He carefully placed the bag down and let out a quiet sigh.
"I was getting hungry," he explained. "And I figured, why not run a quick errand and grab something to eat?"
Kiyonari leaned forward slightly, peeking into the plastic bag with curious eyes. The moment he caught sight of the familiar restraint logo, recognition lit up his face.
"You bought my favorite?"
"I sure did," Seong-jun replied proudly, giving him a playful wink. He reached inside the bag and pulled out a neatly packed lunch box, lifting it like a prize. "I figured after losing half your blood and nearly dying, you'd probably appreciate something warm and comforting."
He opened the lid, and the rich aroma of beef broth instantly filled the room.
"I knew you'd want this," he said. "A nice, hot bowl of soup. Perfect recovery food."
Kiyonari couldn't help the small smile that formed on his lips. Inside was a steaming bowl of clear beef broth, deep golden in color, with tender slices of beef, soft radish, green onions, and the comforting scent of garlic and slow cooked bones rising with the steam. It was simple, but warm in the kind of way that felt like home.
He picked up the spoon slowly, staring down at it for a moment. His eyes stung unexpectedly, almost threatening tears.
"Thanks... always, Seong-jun," he murmured quietly, his voice softer than usual.
Seong-jun stared at him for a second before clicking his tongue dramatically.
"If you're going to thank me," he said with a pout, crossing his arms, "at least treat me to something expensive next time. Like steak. Or a full-course meal."
"Yeah, yeah." Kiyonari chuckled, already taking a sip of the broth.
"I' lm serious, dude," Seong-jun replied, giving him a completely deadpan look.
But Kiyonari only let out a quiet laugh and shaking his head slightly as warmth, both from the soup and the company that settled around him.
Seong-jun's expression shifted, his playful attitude fading as brows slowly furrowed. "Hey," he said, tone turning serious, "I'm not kidding though."
Kiyonari looked up from his meal.
"Do you have any idea how worried I was when they suddenly called me?" Seong-jun continued, his voice lower now.
"They told me you were badly injured. I was shocked and almost felt my heart dropping from a tall building. There was no explanation how'd you ended up here in the first place."
He leaned in slightly, the frustration in his eyes more honest than anger.
"For a second, I thought..." he stopped himself and let out a breath. "Never mind. The point is—you scared the hell out of me."
"..."
"You gotta remember, man. You may be as strong as a gorilla, but not invincible. Why do you always risk yourself in danger?"
Kiyonari paused, the spoon in his hand growing still. His expression softened, and brows slowly drew together with a quiet guilt.
"I'm sorry," said with a low voice. "I really didn't mean to make you worry like that..."
Seong-jun stared at him for a moment before sighing and leaning back.
"It's fine," he said. "Yeah, I was worried a lot. But I also knew you'd make it through somehow." A small smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "You're annoyingly just built that way."
Kiyonari listened quietly, letting the words settle. Seong-jun folded his arms and added, almost casually.
"... Though if there was someone who looked like the world was ending, it'd probably be your boss."
Kiyonari blinked. "Eh?"
He stared at him, caught completely off guard.
"My boss?" He repeated, surprised written plainly across his face. "You mean... Director Je?"
"Uh-huh. Who else?" Seong-jun replied as if it were obvious.
Kiyonari sat there in stunned in silence for a second. While the man narrowed his eyes slightly, studying him.
"Seriously," he said leaning forward again, "what exactly happened that nigh"
*****
[That night]
Seong-jun ran with everything he had, shoes striking hard against the pavement as he rushed toward the hospital. Breathing came out ragged and uneven, chest burning from the sprint, but didn't slow down, not even once. The moment the call came, everything dropped and he left the company without a second thought.
That alone was enough to send one's mind spiraling.
By the time Seong-jun reached the hospital lobby, nearly out of breath, he staggered toward the reception desk. One hand braced against the counter while trying to steady himself.
"E-Excuse me...!" He managed between breaths. "P-Please... I'm here... for M-Mr. Soo..."
The receptionist looked startled at first, but quickly guided him to calm down before asking for details. After forcing himself to breathe properly and answer, he was finally given directions toward the room number.
He was moving again. Fast.
Footsteps echoed sharply through the quiet hallway as he hurried forward, nerves twisting tighter with every step. Cold sweat slid down the side of his forehead and thoughts refused to stay still.
What if it's serious?
What if I'm already too late?
What if something worse happened to him?
The worst possibilities clawed at mind, making his chest feel even tighter. As he turned to the corner of the corridor, a loud voice suddenly rang through the hall.
"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?!"
Seong-jun froze.
The voice was sharp, raw, and filled with so much panic that it instantly caught his attention. It was Soo-hyun.
Standing just outside one of the emergency rooms, he looked like nothing like the usual composed self. His voice shook with anger, but beneath it was something heavier... fear. The same Seong-jun had been carrying since the phone call.
The doctor standing in front of him tried to remain calm, speaking carefully. It was obvious Soo-hyun was already overwhelmed, emotions pushed far past control. One wrong word could make everything worse.
Dr. Seon stepped forward, her voice gentler.
"Soo-hyun, calm yourself down. The doctors are doing everything they can to keep Mr. Soo stable. He's not dying."
"And how can you be sure?!" Soo-hyun snapped back immediately, voice cracked.
"That guy was bleeding so much... I thought he..." His words faltered as anger crumbling into something much quieter. "I really thought he died in my arms... there was so much blood..."
Flashbacks surged, flooding the mind, sending a terrifying chills down the spine. A heavy weight of guilt pressed on the shoulders, head pounding with anxiety as the sight of thick blood covered his hand, slowly blurred the view.
Silence.
Even Seong-jun, standing at a distance felt the weight of those words.
Dr. Seong stepped closer and gently placed a hand on his back, trying to ground him.
"That's exactly why I'm telling you to calm down," she said softly. "Mr. Soo is not going to die. I promise you. He's unconscious, yes but he'll be fine. Just give the doctors time, okay?"
Soo-hyun stood there in silence, fists clenched tightly at his sides. The fear hadn't disappeared. It was still there, heavy and suffocating but forced himself to breathe.
Because deep down, he knew they were right. What would anger solve now?
Nothing.
"... Alright," he finally said with strained voice. Then lifted his gaze, eyes sharp again.
"But I don't want just any doctor handling him."
He looked directly at Dr. Seon.
She met his stare, then gave a small nod. "I understand."
*****
Seong-jun zipped up the bag containing the clothes Kiyonari was now wearing, giving it a quick pat before glancing over his shoulder.
"So... are the clothes okay?" He asked.
Kiyonari turned toward him, a small smile forming. "Yeah," he replied. Then after a brief pause, he added, "but the socks don't match."
Both of them instinctively looked down. Sire enough, the mismatched colors stood out almost immediately, one darker and the other noticeably lighter.
Seong-jun let put a wry sigh. "Well, sorry for rushing," he muttered. "I just grabbed whatever my hands landed on."
The memory of earlier flashed through his mind fumbling through the closet, barely thinking straight and too anxious to care about details like matching socks. All that mattered at the time was getting something or anything for Kiyonari.
"Hey, it's fine," Kiyonari said with a soft sheepish chuckle. "I don't mind wearing mismatched socks."
He glanced at him again, smile warming. "If anything, it just shows how much you cared."
Seong-jun immediately snapped his head toward him, clearly flustered. "Do you think that makes me feel better?" He barked.
"No," Kiyonari replied lightly, a teasing edge in his tone. "But it makes me feel better knowing you love me, buddy."
"Ugh!" Seong-jun groaned, scowling as he turned away. "You're being gross. Stop that."
Kiyonari only laughed lightly.
Knick, knock.
The sudden sound from the entrance cut through the lighthearted moment. Both of them turned at once as the door slid open, revealing a man in a sharp business suit stepping inside without hesitation. Kiyonari's gaze lingered on him, curiosity flickering across his face.
There was something familiar about the man like someone he might have seen around the company, but no clear memory surfaced. Was there someone like him there? He wondered.
The man offered a polite bow. "Good day, Mr. Soo. I'm glad to see you're doing well and ready for discharge."
Kiyonari blinked, then gave a small, uncertain smile. "Y-Yes... thank you...?" His tone carried a hint of confusion.
The man straightened. "Pardon me, you may not recognize who I am." He cleared his throat before continuing, composed and formal.
"My name is Guk Joon. I serve as the head secretary and personal assistant to Chairman Je."
"The Chairman?!"
Both Kiyonari and Seong-jun reacted at once, their surprise evident. But what truly caught them off guard was what followed.
He quickly stood, posture instinctively straightening despite the lingering stiffness in his body. "It's a pleasure to meet you, sir," he said as voice tightening slightly. "If I may ask... what brings you here, Mr. Guk?"
Joon inclined his head once more before answering. "The Chairman sent me personally to express his gratitude for saving the young master."
Young master?...
Kiyonari's thoughts paused. Did he mean Director Je?
A polite smile returned to his lips as he shook a head modestly. "It's nothing really," he said. "I didn't do much."
A brief pause.
Then, more quietly he added, "If anything... I feel like going there only made things worse."
His smile faltered, turning sheepish before fading altogether as disappointment creeping into his expression.
Joon observed him calmly. "We believe otherwise," he said. "According to Detective Lee, you protected the young master by shielding him with your own body."
Kiyonari's head lifted slightly, eyes widening in quiet surprise. To him, it had been reckless, impulsive, and dangerous. Yet here it was being spoken of as something admirable.
A small, reluctant grin tugged at his lips. "That is precisely why," Joon continued, stepping a little closer, "the Chairman wishes to invite you to his office for a private dinner, so he may thank you personally."
"Eh?!"
Both Kiyonari and Seong-jun jolted, eyes widening in shock.
"W-Wait...!" Seong-jun stammered, pointing slightly in Kiyonari's direction.
"You mean he wants to meet Kiyo—I mean, Mr. Soo?!"
"Yes," Joon replied simply.
"No way..." Kiyonari murmured under his breath, still trying to process it.
The chairman wants to meet me? His thoughts spiraled.
There's no need for that... covering my hospital bills and sending someone like this to show his gratitude is already more than enough.
He couldn't quite wrap his head about it. No matter how many times the boy tried, the way people at that level operated, the scale and weight of their gestures felt overwhelming.
It all just seemed too grand for him.
Because now, Kiyonari found himself standing at the entrance of an enormous office, completely overwhelmed by the sight in front of him. Boxes upon boxes were stacked high, wrapped neatly in expensive paper and ribbons, forming what looked like small mountain of gifts that nearly blocked the way inside.
"W-What is all this?" He muttered under his breath, eyes wide in disbelief.
"Gifts from the Chairman," Joon answered calmly as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Kiyonari could only stare.
Before he could even begin to process it, another presence entered the room. The atmosphere shifted instantly and with a voice that carried both authority and flair, the man made his entrance.
"Welcome, Mr. Soo, to my little abode!"
The voice rang out across the spacious office. "Or should I say... my humble office."
Silence followed.
He call this humble?! Kiyonari screamed internally. This place is bigger than my apartment!
The chairman beamed, clearly amused. "How do you like all these gifts, hmm?"
Kiyonari forced a sheepish smile, still trying to keep up. "I-It's... too much, sir. But thank you..."
Joon began, "Mr. Soo, this is Chairman Je—"
"Ah, Secretary Guk, no need for introductions," he cut in lightly, waving a hand. "I'm sure this young man already knows who I am. Right?"
Kiyonari nodded quickly, a bit stiff. "Y-Yes... Chairman Je."
The elderly man laughed heartily, clearly delighted. "Good! Come, come. My personal chef has prepared something special just for you."