Seo Suho’s body was the very picture of what extreme stress could do to a person. Not only could he not bring himself to eat, even swallowing a sip of water felt like a struggle. With no proper nutrients going into his system, it was inevitable that he kept losing weight, and whenever his condition worsened, intravenous fluids were the only option left. The constant nosebleeds and chronic sleep deprivation only made things worse.
Had Min Yugeon not been by his side, things might have taken a far worse turn already.
Unable to return to his ruined home, Seo Suho began living in a new residence provided by the higher-ups. He hadn’t stepped outside even once since moving in. Min Yugeon had anticipated such a situation from the beginning and moved in to live with him.
“Just one spoonful, Suho. Please.”
Min Yugeon held out a bowl of porridge, his voice full of desperate pleading.
“The meds are strong. You need to get down at least a little or your stomach won’t be able to handle it again.”
“……”
Seo Suho stared at Min Yugeon, who hadn’t returned to his own home in days. He had suspected it when Yugeon first came with packed bags, but he never expected him to last this long. The sleepless nights and constant care had taken their toll—Min Yugeon’s face had grown noticeably gaunt.
Still, Seo Suho didn’t reject Min Yugeon’s efforts to stay by his side. Even if he wanted to be alone, to sink endlessly into despair, he couldn’t push away someone who fought so hard to pull him back. He understood just how terrified Min Yugeon was of his instability.
But destroying himself in the process—Seo Suho couldn’t accept that. He couldn’t deny the comfort Min Yugeon’s presence brought, but more than anything, he couldn’t stand to see Yugeon falling apart because of him.
“Min Yugeon.”
His voice came out cracked and broken. Seo Suho grasped Yugeon’s wrist, lowering the spoon he held, and spoke firmly.
“Go.”
Min Yugeon’s eyes widened slightly.
“…What?”
“Go home. Now.”
Since the accident, Seo Suho had only ever nodded or shaken his head to communicate. Hearing his voice after so long brought a fleeting moment of joy, but Min Yugeon froze.
He slowly set the spoon back in the bowl and stared at Seo Suho with a hardened expression.
“No.”
The reply came out with surprising firmness, even to himself.
“I’m not going.”
“……”
“How could I leave you now?”
He’d always been on the lean side, but now he was skin and bones—there was no other way to describe it. A sharpened jawline, cracked and dried lips, trembling hands barely strong enough to lift a cup. His legs, still far from fully recovered, made daily life a struggle.
He had no will to feed himself. Breathing was the most he could manage. If Seo Suho were left alone like this, he wouldn’t open the door to anyone.
And if, in that state, he collapsed from malnutrition or something worse and couldn’t move…
Min Yugeon clenched the table tightly. The edge bent with a loud creak under the pressure of his grip. Seo Suho watched him with a blank expression, but his eyes grew cold.
“Don’t you think about your mom?”
It had been over a month since Min Yugeon started staying by his side. Even if his classes had ended and he had nothing but free time before graduation, not attending school at all and not going home would surely have people worried.
Min Yugeon, who hadn’t received his Watch yet and thus couldn’t contact Lee Minha, pressed his lips together tightly.
“I already explained everything to her.”
“Even if you told her beforehand, if you’re still not showing up… she’s bound to worry.”
Even as he spoke, Seo Suho’s vision swirled. He did his best to pretend he was okay.
Min Sanghan had come to check in a few times. Maybe he had reassured Lee Minha that Min Yugeon was doing fine, but it was still natural for her to worry. If she’d heard Yugeon looked exhausted, it would only make things worse.
“She probably doesn’t come herself because she’s afraid it’ll make me feel pressured.”
“……”
Unable to refute that, Min Yugeon lowered his gaze and stayed silent.
“I’m fine. I’ve gotten a lot better.”
He pointed to his head, where the bandages had been removed, with a thin, bony finger.
“Thank you for everything you’ve done. I know what you’re thinking… but when you take care of me this much, it actually makes me feel more anxious. Like I have to respond to your concern.”
“…! What? No—no, absolutely not!”
Min Yugeon shot up, panic all over his face.
“I never meant to make you feel that way…”
His voice caught in his throat. He couldn’t finish. His face contorted in pain, and Seo Suho took in a quiet breath. His chest throbbed with unbearable sharpness. His mouth, so dry it felt like it would crack, made it hard to speak harsher words—but if that was what it took to make Min Yugeon stop, he would say more.
Min Yugeon squeezed his eyes shut and muttered curses under his breath—aimed not at Seo Suho, but at himself.
Everything he had done for Seo Suho’s sake had been nothing more than a selfish attempt to reassure himself. The realization that he was making things harder for Suho only filled him with revulsion.
Who am I to judge my father? I’m just as selfish, putting my own thoughts and feelings first.
Watching Min Yugeon spiral into self-loathing over a single remark, Seo Suho parted his lips as if to say something, then hesitated.
“I know. But that’s how I feel. I think I’ll only feel at ease if you start focusing on your own life again.”
“……”
“Yugeon.”
“…Yeah.”
Min Yugeon’s head drooped wearily between his broad shoulders. Seo Suho instinctively reached out across the table but flinched and withdrew his hand before Yugeon could look up.
Old habits were frightening.
“Got it.”
Min Yugeon’s voice came out sunken, hollow.
“I’ll clean up the porridge and head out.”
Seo Suho was about to refuse, to say he didn’t need to, but he caught sight of the shadow in Yugeon’s eyes peeking through his hair and kept quiet. When he gave a small nod, Min Yugeon slowly rose to his feet and began clearing the table with heavy movements. He didn’t stop at just tidying up the food—he arranged the water and medication neatly within reach for Suho, then packed his belongings and cleaned the house thoroughly, including the bedding.
As he made his way to the front door, Min Yugeon paused and turned to look back at Seo Suho.
“Will you… come to the graduation? I can come pick you up, if you want.”
“No.”
It was unclear whether he meant he wouldn’t attend the graduation or didn’t want to be picked up—but at least the latter was unmistakable.
“I’ll contact you.”
“Okay.”
Min Yugeon forced a faint smile and nodded. He couldn’t leave looking completely defeated—he didn’t want to weigh Suho down even more.
Seo Suho, pale as ever, silently watched Min Yugeon’s back as he stepped out the door.
***
“Min Sanghan, are you insane?! You’re not even human!”
Back home, the usual shouting match between Lee Minha and Min Sanghan was already in full swing.
“How could you do something like that—!”
“Keep your voice down! You planning to let the whole world know?”
In broad daylight. Was today one of the days his father was home?
Min Yugeon, numb, merely thought that to himself and headed for his room. The shouting was more violent than usual, to the point where it seemed one of them might faint at any moment—but he didn’t feel annoyed, nor did he feel like intervening. He was too consumed by the guilt of having disappointed and hurt Seo Suho, who was already struggling. He dropped his bag carelessly and sat down on the floor, rubbing his dry face with both hands.
Time passed slowly, like a thick curtain of darkness had fallen over everything.
Wearing his uniform, Min Yugeon attended the graduation ceremony. As he received his diploma and exchanged goodbyes with friends, his eyes constantly scanned the crowd. But not even a single strand of the person he was looking for appeared.
Lee Minha, who had come to celebrate her son’s graduation, naturally noticed this. She glanced around gently, mirroring Min Yugeon’s searching gaze.
“…Are you looking for Suho?”
“Yes.”
Min Yugeon answered without thinking. Even after the diploma ceremony had ended and the crowd started thinning out, he stayed, waiting for Seo Suho.
Even though he knew Suho wouldn’t come.
Lee Minha stood quietly beside him, her face somber and shadowed. Unlike Min Yugeon, who kept looking as if hoping to spot Suho any minute, she seemed more like someone afraid of what might happen if they did meet. She nervously brushed her arm or bit her lip, clearly wanting to leave. Just as she opened her mouth, seemingly about to say something—
“Ah, Yugeon! There you are.”
A familiar voice called from nearby.
Min Yugeon turned to see his teacher approaching, looking like they had been searching for him all over. The teacher greeted Lee Minha warmly and congratulated Min Yugeon on his graduation. But they had come for a different reason.
Holding out a certificate, the teacher gave an apologetic smile.
“Sorry, but I need a favor.”
It was Seo Suho’s diploma.
