The doctors disappeared behind the doors again.
Yerin stood frozen behind the glass.
Nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
For several seconds, the only thing she could hear was the faint sound of her own breathing.
Then the doors finally opened.
A doctor stepped out.
Everyone immediately turned toward him.
"Doctor?"
He looked at the family.
"His condition is stable for now."
Yerin's shoulders dropped slightly.
"Stable?"
"Yes. But he's still unconscious."
Her hope faded as quickly as it had appeared.
"Can I see him?"
"Only from the viewing area."
Yerin nodded.
"That's enough."
The doctor gave a small nod before walking away.
Yerin immediately returned to the glass.
Ji-hoon was still there.
Still unconscious.
Still fighting.
She pressed her palm against the glass.
"I'm here."
Her voice was barely audible.
"You better wake up."
Behind her, Do-hyun watched silently.
Hours passed.
The hospital became quieter as night settled in.
Yerin refused to go home.
Her mother tried convincing her.
"Yerin, you need to rest."
"I'm not leaving."
"You've been here all day."
"I don't care."
Her grandmother gently touched her shoulder.
"Your brother would want you to take care of yourself."
Yerin looked at her.
"I'll rest when he wakes up."
Nobody had an answer to that.
Eventually, the family settled into the waiting area.
Some sat.
Some stood.
Some prayed quietly.
Yerin remained beside Do-hyun.
She hadn't noticed how exhausted she was until her eyes began closing.
She tried to stay awake.
She failed.
Her head slowly tilted.
And eventually, it rested against Do-hyun's shoulder.
He looked down.
For a moment, he considered waking her.
Then he didn't.
He simply adjusted his position so she would be more comfortable.
His eyes remained on the glass doors.
He stayed awake.
The first light of morning entered through the hospital windows.
Yerin slowly opened her eyes.
She immediately sat upright.
"Ji-hoon."
Do-hyun looked at her.
"He's still the same."
She looked toward the operating area.
"Did the doctor come?"
"Not yet."
Yerin stood.
"I need to know."
Do-hyun followed her.
They didn't have to wait long.
The doctor approached them.
"There's no major change."
Yerin stared at him.
"Nothing?"
"Nothing significant."
She lowered her eyes.
"How long?"
The doctor understood what she meant.
"The forty-eight-hour period is approaching."
Yerin swallowed.
"Okay."
The doctor gave her a sympathetic look before leaving.
Yerin remained standing.
Do-hyun noticed her hands trembling.
"Sit."
"I'm fine."
"You're not."
She looked at him.
He held out his hand.
After a moment, she took it.
He guided her back toward the chair.
A few minutes later, Do-hyun returned with food.
Yerin looked at it.
"I'm not hungry."
"You need to eat."
"I can't."
"You said that yesterday."
She looked away.
Do-hyun sat beside her.
"Just a little."
Yerin didn't respond.
He opened the container and placed it in front of her.
"You don't have to finish."
She stared at it.
Then quietly picked up the spoon.
She took a small bite.
Do-hyun didn't say anything.
He simply waited.
Yerin took another.
"Happy?"
He nodded.
For the first time since arriving at the hospital, the corner of her mouth moved slightly.
It wasn't quite a smile.
But it was close.
Questions
Later that morning, Yerin found her father standing near the hospital window.
"Dad?"
He turned.
"Yes?"
"Who did this?"
His expression changed.
"We don't know everything yet."
"But you said his rivals attacked him."
"We believe that's what happened."
"Believe?"
Her father remained silent.
Yerin's eyes narrowed.
"You know something."
"No."
"Dad."
He looked away.
"There are people investigating it."
"Then why won't anyone tell me?"
"Because you're already dealing with enough."
Yerin shook her head.
"That's not an answer."
Her father looked at her.
"Yerin, please."
She stared at him for another second.
Then walked away.
Something wasn't right.
She could feel it.
And the way her father avoided her eyes only made that feeling stronger.
Do-hyun found Yerin sitting alone near the hospital garden.
He approached slowly.
"Can I sit?"
She nodded.
He sat beside her.
For a while, neither spoke.
Then Yerin whispered,
"I'm scared."
Do-hyun looked at her.
She stared at the ground.
"I keep thinking about him."
Her voice trembled.
"He always protected me."
Do-hyun listened.
"When I was younger, whenever I got into trouble, he was there."
A tear rolled down her cheek.
"He annoyed me all the time."
Do-hyun gave a faint smile.
"Sounds like a brother."
Yerin laughed quietly through her tears.
"Exactly."
The smile disappeared.
"I don't know what I'll do if he doesn't wake up."
Do-hyun remained silent for a moment.
Then he said,
"You don't have to be strong every second."
Yerin looked at him.
"I have to be."
"No."
His voice was calm.
"You can be scared."
She looked down.
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"For staying."
Do-hyun looked toward the hospital.
"You would've stayed for me."
Yerin looked at him.
She didn't know what to say.
So she simply looked away.
Later that afternoon, Do-hyun's phone vibrated.
He checked the screen.
A message from someone connected to his father's business.
He opened it.
His expression changed.
The message contained information about the attack.
But one detail stood out.
It didn't match what Yerin's family had been told.
Do-hyun read it again.
His eyes narrowed.
He locked his phone.
"What is it?"
He looked up.
Yerin was standing nearby.
"Nothing."
She studied his face.
"You're lying."
"I'm just tired."
She didn't believe him.
But she didn't push.
"Okay."
She walked away.
Do-hyun watched her go.
He didn't want to add another burden to her.
Not now.
Another night arrived.
Yerin returned to the viewing area.
She stood behind the glass.
Ji-hoon hadn't changed.
She pressed her hands together.
"You know..."
Her voice trembled.
"You still owe me."
She smiled sadly.
"You promised you'd take me somewhere when this was all over."
Her eyes filled with tears.
"So you better wake up."
She paused.
"I haven't even gotten the chance to annoy you properly."
A small laugh escaped her.
Then she wiped her tears.
"Please."
Her voice became softer.
"Come back."
Do-hyun stood several feet behind her.
He didn't interrupt.
He simply watched.
The next morning came too quickly.
Everyone was exhausted.
The doctor approached the family.
"The forty-eight-hour period is almost over."
Yerin's heart dropped.
"Almost?"
"Yes."
She looked through the glass.
"Is there anything we can do?"
The doctor shook his head gently.
"Right now, we wait."
Wait.
That was all they could do.
Yerin reached for Do-hyun's hand.
He held it.
Neither said anything.
They stood together behind the glass.
Watching.
Waiting.
Hoping.
Minutes passed.
Then more.
Suddenly—
The sound from inside the room changed.
A nurse immediately looked toward the monitor.
The doctor turned.
Yerin's eyes widened.
"What happened?"
The doctor stepped closer to Ji-hoon's bed.
Another nurse entered.
Then another.
Yerin's grip around Do-hyun's hand tightened.
"Do-hyun..."
He didn't answer.
Everyone was staring through the glass.
The doctor's expression suddenly became serious.
He looked at the monitor.
Then at Ji-hoon.
"What's happening?" Yerin whispered.
Do-hyun's fingers tightened around hers.
Nobody answered.
The monitor changed again.
The doctor immediately called another nurse.
Everyone's heartbeat seemed to stop.
Yerin stepped closer to the glass.
"Ji-hoon..."
And then—
the monitor changed once more.
...To Be Continued...