BHB 121

“Why are you apologizing?”

“…”

“…This is why I like you.” He added, finally seeming relaxed, with a slightly relieved smile.

“Acting like you don’t care while being kind.”

Chaemin smiled bitterly.

“You’re so warm.” Then he continued as if leaving a final greeting. “…Thank you for everything.”

“…”

“Sincerely.”

It seemed the conversation he wanted to have face-to-face was actually a farewell. Chaemin turned around, appearing truly relieved. 

Watching his retreating figure, Yeowon finally decided to share the words he’d been hesitant to say, “Don’t do that again in the future.”

Chaemin’s steps halted, and his small shoulders flinched.

“If you find someone else like that again.”

“…”

“…If you like them, just say you like them. Be a man and see it through.” Yeowon awkwardly offered his own final words. 

Though it was meant as words of comfort, in truth, it was no different from what he was telling himself. This wasn’t just applicable to Chaemin. It applied to all three of them who had been misaligned from the start. 

To all three who had been dishonest and behaved poorly.

Chaemin paused briefly, then turned back with a smile. 

“Yeah. I will.” He nodded and answered with a refreshed expression before continuing on his way.

Even after he disappeared from view, Yeowon remained standing in that spot for a while. Strangely, he felt his mind becoming more composed. Simply accepting everything made all confusion, anger, and excuses disappear.

He just needed to accept it. How they had liked him, in their own ways. Seeing Chaemin’s final honest, detached expression of his feelings made Yeowon suddenly realize something too. His own feelings, which had been stagnant all this time, became clearer.

He wanted to completely let go of all the difficult, painful, and mean-spirited feelings he’d been harboring.

After standing there for a long time, Yeowon suddenly thought: he wanted to see Taegang. His heart was racing at how much he wanted to see Taegang, to a frightening degree.

“Not late, am I?” In front of the university hospital, Kim Myungjoo, dressed flamboyantly as usual, playfully smiled while shaking his wrist adorned with a gold watch.

“I brought guys who look the part.” Jin Youngchae, looking even more like a gangster in his black suit, gestured with his chin as he spoke. 

Just as he said, men as big as Youngchae himself lined up behind him. About six or seven of them. Any more would just cause a commotion in the hospital; this was just right.

“There are quite a few bodyguards in front of Taegang’s room. Distract them a bit.”

“Okay.” Kim Myungjoo nodded and snapped his fingers. 

Jin Youngchae turned to the employees behind him and gave a brief command, “You heard him.”

His steps toward the hospital felt strangely light. With just one purpose in mind, without any excuses or complications, he felt that nothing else mattered. He had a lot to say to Taegang, many explanations, but right now he had only one thought.

The interior of the university hospital was bustling with hundreds of people even in the evening, almost dizzying in its activity. Among them, Yeowon’s group stood out to anyone watching, but they seemed to enjoy the attention, showing no hesitation. Only Yeowon, standing in the center, appeared somewhat urgent.

“Which floor?” As they entered the elevator, Kim Myungjoo tilted his head and asked. Having checked the ward in advance, 

Yeowon answered tersely, “Ninth floor.” 

There was only one VIP ward in this university hospital.

Despite the situation requiring them to confront professional bodyguards, neither Kim Myungjoo nor Jin Youngchae showed any tension. Instead, they made absurd suggestions like grabbing Taegang and running.

“They’re really overdoing it. How many shoulders are there anyway?” Kim Myungjoo grumbled with dissatisfaction after checking the bodyguards stationed in front of the ward.

“Still, it’s manageable.” Jin Youngchae nodded as if to say it wasn’t bad.

“Don’t fight. We can’t let this escalate.”

When Yeowon cautioned them worriedly, both winked playfully as if to say they understood. Soon, Kim Myungjoo cleared his throat a couple of times, lowered the sunglasses that had been resting on his head, straightened his back, and walked confidently.

“No visitors allowed.”

But they were predictably blocked by the bodyguards. 

Kim Myungjoo twisted his face menacingly, with his characteristically dramatic expression. “What do you mean visitors? I’m Taegang’s friend.”

“…Only family members are allowed.”

“Come on. My friend’s skull is cracked, can’t I at least check if he’s alive or dead?” Kim Myungjoo played his part perfectly. His gesture of removing his sunglasses authoritatively, like an unreasonable customer, was flawless. 

As Kim Myungjoo refused to back down, bodyguards who had been standing apart converged in one place. Eventually, Jin Youngchae, who had been standing back a few steps, moved forward with his subordinates and stood behind Kim Myungjoo. The bodyguards hesitated at this appearance that carried a silent warning not to be reckless since he had companions.

Taking advantage of the bodyguards’ diverted attention, Yeowon pulled his cap down low and quickly hid himself in an empty space. Then, as some nurses entered through an automatic door that opened, he quickly slipped through and hurried to check the rooms. Through the glass door, he could see the backs of the bodyguards still facing off with his friends.

Afraid of being caught, Yeowon checked the names displayed outside the rooms. Having to avoid the eyes of passing nurses as well, he quickly moved into a corner and spotted a noticeable name. 

[Lee Taegang] 

At the sight of those three characters, his heart began to race frighteningly fast.

Without hesitation, Yeowon flung open the door to the room and closed it quickly, afraid someone might see. Leaning his back against the door, he took a deep breath of relief and surveyed the room. The darkened room was so shadowy that even silhouettes were barely visible. As he looked around the house-sized hospital room, a large silhouette soon formed in his view.

The large silhouette was sitting quietly at the end of the bed, just staring out the window. His face wasn’t visible, but his back looked empty. 

After a while of silence, Taegang spoke without even looking at the presence that had stopped behind him, “…At least give me a phone.”

His low voice cracked, sounding heavy. He continued with an unexpected statement, apparently not anticipating who had entered, “Just one phone call would do.”

As he finally turned around, he froze for a moment. Yeowon stared back at him with a frozen expression, more tense than ever.

“…Han Yeowon?”

His face contorted severely, as if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Taegang, who had been quietly filled with resignation, immediately stood up and tried to approach quickly upon recognizing Yeowon. 

But Yeowon quickly stopped him. “Don’t come.”

“…”

“I’ll come to you.” Yeowon said resolutely and began walking. 

Even though it was just a short distance, he was breathing slightly heavily. This was the first time he’d felt so nervous; his entire body was stiff with tension, almost driving him crazy.

“…How did you get in?”

Taegang seemed to fully understand the situation outside. Moreover, he clearly knew he was trapped here, which was why he had first asked for a phone.

“The guys helped a bit.”

Only after standing in front of Taegang could he clearly see his face. Taegang’s features became visible in the moonlight and building lights filtering through the window. His striking face looked especially handsome now, though seeing his injuries made one corner of Yeowon’s heart ache.

“Don’t you know you’re not supposed to come in here?” He snapped harshly, but it was abundantly clear that this anger stemmed from concern. 

Yeowon, who had already thoroughly prepared himself mentally, responded calmly, “I know.”

“…If you know, then why did you come?” Taegang hesitated before continuing softly.

“Because I was worried.” Yeowon carefully examined the bandage wrapped around his head. He bit his lip at the emotion welling up again.

“…Don’t worry. I’m fine.” Taegang said coldly with an indifferent face. That was Taegang’s habit. 

He had never once admitted to not being okay in front of him. Frustrated by this, Yeowon’s face contorted.

“Fine my ass…! You almost died. Do you know that?”

As he glared with an indignant face, his chest rising and falling with rapid breaths, Taegang steadily met his eyes.

“…You were really worried, huh.”

“Damn it, I thought you were going to die.”

“What a wimp.” Even as he said this, Taegang let out a faint smile. 

His face had relaxed considerably as he looked at Yeowon, perhaps already feeling better at the sight of him worrying. But soon he averted his gaze, as if not wanting to misinterpret things. 

Yeowon spoke in a clear tone to Taegang, who was deliberately avoiding his gaze, “Don’t ever do that again.”

At his firm words, a short breath escaped between Taegang’s teeth. “…That’s why I told you to hide.”

“And leave you behind? Am I crazy?”

“You need to know when to retreat depending on the situation. Stupidly confronting things head-on isn’t always the answer.”

“You think I don’t know that? But it was you.” He furrowed his brow as he spoke to Taegang, who was spouting harsh words out of concern. “Because it was you… you know I couldn’t do that.”

At his words, Taegang’s dark eyes trembled slightly, but he soon let out a light, playful jeer. His tone suggested he wasn’t even angry anymore.

“Because I’m your fucking precious friend?”