At the bottom of the stairs, Yi-beom came into view. Kwon Yi-beom, his face hardened like a yaksha.
“H-how did you get here?”
Without realizing it, Eunho took a step back. The edge of the stairs pressed against the back of his legs.
“How did I get here?”
Just like when he had threatened Eunho in the car, Yi-beom’s face was terrifyingly twisted. His eyes were wide, as if he might commit violence at any moment, as he climbed the stairs.
“I drove. Gotta conserve energy if I’m going to sprint with our Eunho.”
“……”
“You going to run now?”
“……”
“What, want me to give you ten seconds?”
What do I do? Eunho’s eyes darted around. He could try running into another alley, but with both the top and bottom of the stairs blocked, there was a high chance other organization members were waiting there too.
Even as his eyes rolled frantically, Yi-beom kept approaching. With only a short distance left between them, Eunho unconsciously opened his mouth.
“Don’t—don’t you want to know why I’m running away?”
At that, Yi-beom stopped walking. After a brief moment of thought, he answered.
“I’m not curious.”
“What?”
Eunho asked back, stunned by the unexpected reply. N-not curious? In the meantime, Yi-beom resumed walking.
“Whether you got sick of me, or found some other guy—I don’t care anymore.”
“……”
“Whatever it is, I’m keeping you by my side.”
An island. Yi-beom’s words about going to a deserted island flashed through Eunho’s mind. No. Just as Eunho, his face drained white, tensed his legs—
The world suddenly spun before his eyes. His body tilted downward, and he heard Yi-beom’s startled voice.
“Jung Eunho!”
A clear blue sky came into view. Sensing danger, Eunho quickly wrapped his arms around his lower abdomen as tightly as he could.
His body rolled down the stairs.
***
Eunho’s body crashed onto the steps. Each time he hit an edge and bounced with a thud, it felt as if his entire body would shatter.
Perhaps because he had ricocheted here and there, his body only stopped after tumbling down about ten steps. Curling into a ball, Eunho panted shakily.
A pair of dress shoes stopped in front of him. It was Yi-beom.
Contrary to expectation, Yi-beom did not pick Eunho up. He didn’t check where he was hurt or ask if he was in pain. He simply looked down at him with cold eyes.
“I was going to break your ankle once I caught you. Guess this works out better.”
At the icy voice, Eunho opened his tightly shut eyes. Meeting his gaze, Yi-beom continued,
“You went ahead and rolled down on your own.”
“……”
“Why’re you looking at me like that? Want me to call you a taxi?”
The memory of Eunho fleeing in a taxi made his insides boil. He wanted to pull Eunho into his arms immediately, but now wasn’t the time. This was better than letting him run again.
Yi-beom clenched and unclenched his empty hand—like he was holding Eunho.
Eunho curled himself tighter. As the bone-breaking pain subsided, another pain crept in. N-no. Without realizing it, Eunho reached for his lower abdomen.
“A-Ahjussi.”
It was wet below. Feeling something thick and sticky flowing, Eunho’s face turned pale.
“M-my stomach hurts.”
“Your stomach hurts again?”
Yi-beom let out a short laugh.
“If you’re going to make excuses, at least don’t reuse the same one.”
“……”
“That way I could at least pretend to fall for it.”
Yi-beom sat down on the lower steps, meeting Eunho’s eyes. After trying so hard to act like a rabbit, maybe his acting skills had improved—clutching his stomach, he genuinely looked like he was in pain.
“If I’d known you could act this well, I might’ve made you an actor.”
With a crooked smirk, he grabbed both of Eunho’s ears and lifted them. “Ugh—” Eunho groaned, squeezing his eyes shut.
Tears streamed from his tightly closed eyes. He couldn’t hear a single word Yi-beom was saying. All he could feel was the agonizing sensation of his lower abdomen dropping out from under him. At the same time, that cold voice kept stabbing into his chest.
“Th-this time, it’s real.”
“I’m sure it is.”
At the utterly unbelieving tone, Eunho trembled. There wasn’t time. Feeling his lower abdomen tightening again and again, Eunho lifted both his paws.
“Ahjussi…….”
Barely managing to grasp Yi-beom’s wrist, he whispered,
“H-hospital…….”
With that, Eunho’s head tilted to the side. When even the paws resting on Yi-beom’s wrist went limp, Yi-beom hurriedly scooped him up.
“Jung Eunho.”
“……”
When no answer came, his heart dropped. A dizzying sensation washed over him as he tightened his hold.
“Eunho……?”
Something wet smeared against him. Thick and metallic-smelling—it was something Yi-beom was all too familiar with.
But something he should never grow familiar with on Eunho.
Seeing the blood on his hand, Yi-beom sprang to his feet. Then, descending the stairs at a frightening speed, he shouted,
“Get the car ready!”
The organization members waiting below scattered urgently. While they brought the car around, Yi-beom couldn’t take his eyes off Eunho.
“Baby, wake up.”
“……”
“Hm? Just open your eyes.”
No matter how much he spoke, there was no response. In the meantime, blood continued to flow steadily below. Unaware that his own shirt was soaking through, Yi-beom stroked Eunho’s face.
Would it have been better to pretend he didn’t know? If he had just watched from behind, he wouldn’t have gotten hurt. Thoughts stormed through Yi-beom’s head. If not for the small belly rising and falling, he might truly have lost his mind.
Younguk, having rushed over after receiving the call, parted his lips. Covered in blood and staring blankly, Yi-beom wore an expression even Younguk had never seen before. Spotting Eunho, he hurriedly opened the car door.
“Hyung-nim, quickly!”
Without hesitation, Yi-beom jumped into the car.
***
Beep, beep.
A steady rhythm sounded. It wasn’t an alarm, nor a clock, but it grated on his ears all the same.
I wish Ahjussi would turn it off.
Then I could sleep more. It was the first peaceful nap in a long time. If not for the noise, he would have slept deeper and longer.
But why haven’t I been able to sleep until now?
The moment the question arose, the memories he had forgotten came rushing back. From making an escape plan with Chanwoo, to deceiving Yi-beom, and then, by luck, meeting Mrs. Kim and staying with her.
When the scene of meeting Yi-beom on the stairs surfaced, Eunho gasped.
At that moment, the rhythm of the noise changed. Beep-beep, beep, beep!
When he opened his eyes, bright light poured in. Ugh, frowning, Eunho blinked several times before his surroundings came into focus. Yi-beom, looking frantic, pressed the call button, and Professor Hwang and other doctors rushed into the hospital room.
Looks like we made it to the hospital.
The doctors touched him here and there, examining his body. Normally, Yi-beom would have growled at them not to touch him unnecessarily, but now he simply stood behind them, watching Eunho with an anxious face.
“You can breathe a little easier.”
After finishing the examination, Professor Hwang sighed. In the days Eunho had been unconscious, he had been constantly hounded by Yi-beom, and dark circles shadowed his eyes.
“For now, it would be best to admit him and observe his progress.”
At those words, the gaze that had been fixed on Eunho finally shifted.
“Are you certain?”
“Yes. He likely won’t lose consciousness again.”
“……”
“Still…… given his condition, the two of you should discuss—”
Before he could finish, Yi-beom raised his hand.
A clear dismissal.
Bowing his head, Professor Hwang left the room with the other doctors. As soon as the door closed, silence filled the hospital room.
Yi-beom, who had been standing as if nailed in place, approached Eunho. The sound of his shoes echoed through the room.
“Baby.”
His voice was gentle. So completely different from the one on the stairs that Eunho’s eyes grew wet.
“Why’re you crying again?”
Sitting on the guardian’s chair, Yi-beom caressed Eunho’s cheek. His touch was cautious, as though even the slightest pressure might break him.
“Why did you sleep so long?”
“……”
“I thought my neck was going to snap from waiting.”
Who knew that saying would feel like he was truly dying. Thinking back on the past few days, Yi-beom took Eunho’s hand.
“What kind of dream were you having, not even talking in your sleep once?”
“……”
“Didn’t you miss me?”
“……”
“Or were you too mad to wake up?”
Yi-beom rested his forehead against their clasped hands. As if trying to suppress his emotions, he exhaled deeply.
It seemed Eunho’s body had unconsciously returned to human form. He didn’t know how many days had passed or what exactly had happened, but Yi-beom in front of him looked utterly exhausted. Just from his disheveled hair and clothes, Eunho could guess the time that had gone by.
He still loves me, I guess. The worn-down sight made his chest ache, yet at the same time it steadied his heart. Eunho wiggled the hand holding his.
“……ngh.”
When his words wouldn’t come out properly, Eunho gestured with his eyes.
“You want me to take off the respirator?”
When Eunho nodded, Yi-beom hesitated briefly. After making a call somewhere and receiving confirmation that it was okay to remove it, he finally moved.
With a cool sensation, he could breathe freely. Haa—letting out a long breath, Eunho looked at Yi-beom.
“Ahjus—kgh.”
