When Soobin woke up, he found himself in a scene all too familiar and tiresome. The machine's incessant beeping grated on his nerves as he was struggling to sit up. The sterile white walls and the pervasive hospital smell were so familiar that they felt almost oppressive. He was all alone in the room, gently rubbing his chest as he was still feeling chest ache. Despite wanting to move, the IV line attached to his hand forced him to remain seated. He sighed, finally stood up as his body was stiff from inactivity.
Just then, Eunchae burst into the room. Seeing him on his feet, she rushed over and hugged him tightly. As she held him more tightly, she grew more emotional. Soobin was startled, she had never hugged him like this before. When he noticed her sniffling, he was both surprised and confused. He gently pulled her back to see what was wrong.
"Hey! Why're you crying?" Soobin couldn't help but smile.
*Hick* *Hick* *Hick*
As she couldn't control herself, she kept weeping. Although she wanted to talk, no words came from her mouth because of her hiccups.
"There! There! It's fine! That's fine!" Eunchae came to visit Soobin, but he was the one consoling her.
"I…should…should've l-listened t-to…you. Be…because of me…y-you…" she couldn't continue anymore as she burst into tears once more.
"Hey! I'm fine! Really! Look! I'm totally fine!" Soobin bent over to look at her as she was trying hard to hide her face behind her hair.
At that moment, Yeonjun entered the room, rushing towards Soobin, as he was seeing him on his feet. Though he wanted to speak with Soobin, he held back as Soobin was occupied, comforting the girl in front of him. Yeonjun stood silently beside them, unsure of what to do. When Soobin glanced at him and then quickly looked away, it was as if he was avoiding Yeonjun's gaze out of guilt.
"If that…oppa…. wasn't t-there on t-time…then…then…he'd…he…" she started crying more.
"Look! I'm fine! I'm really fine!" Soobin assured her though it didn't affect her.
"I'm really…sorry. It was all because of m-me!" She hugged him again. Soobin sighed and patted her back.
"It wasn't your fault. I should've informed him before going. I knew it was dangerous." Soobin said with a guilty face and glanced at Yeonjun who kept glaring at the girl, feeling jealous.
"Still! If I didn't give him a chance…" she was holding Soobin as if she was a koala. Soobin pulled her away and held her by her cheeks.
"Listen! Don't blame yourself, okay? It wasn't your fault. Not at all! It was on me. I should've sought help first. But, I'm fine! Nothing happened to me, right? So, don't blame yourself, hm? Now go home and take a rest." Soobin let her go and glanced at Yeonjun again.
"But, how did you know he was there if he didn't inform you? And who are you to him?" Eunchae asked Yeonjun curiously. Her fountain like tears stopped from falling. She wiped her tears and mucus using her palm and arm.
"It's a long story! I'm afraid he doesn't want to brag about it now. And as for who I am? I'm his boyfie." Yeonjun smirked as he felt proud by saying so.
"Eh?" Eunchae was confused for a while as she couldn't get it. She looked at Soobin, making her eyes bigger out of curiosity. In reply, Soobin nodded slowly, grinning with embarrassment.
"Ah! Then, thank you very much for saving us, brother-in-law!" She bowed to express her gratitude.
"Who's your brother-in-law?" Soobin shouted though he was shy.
"Hehe! Yes! Yes! I'm your brother-in-law!" Yeonjun giggled and went to Soobin, holding him by his waist.
"Ah! Stop!" Soobin poked on Yeonjun's stomach, using his arm.
"And if I wouldn't be there for him, then who would?" Yeonjun pulled Soobin closer and said while grinning.
"Oh, yeah! Ms…" Yeonjun forgot her name so he asked.
"It's Eunchae!" She replied.
"Ah! Eunchae-sshi! You were called to the police station again. They expected you to go with your parents." Yeonjun set Soobin free from his grasp and informed her as he just came from the police station.
"Okay, take care of him, brother-in-law." She bowed to them again, making Soobin blush and Yeonjun giggle. After she went away, Soobin and Yeonjun stood there alone. Yeonjun kept staring at him as if he was seeing him after a long time.
"Uh-hm…" as Soobin was avoiding his sight, he coughed to divert Yeonjun's mind away. Yeonjun jolted back and grabbed his arm. He pulled him and made him sit down.
"How are you…feeling now?" He stared at Soobin's face, placed his finger at the corner of his forehead. He brushed down his finger very lightly while gazing into his eyes. All of a sudden, his eyes were filled with tears. As he was trying his best to hold them back, a lump formed in his throat.
"I'm sorry. I should've told you. Actually, I couldn't help after seeing how he captured and locked Eunchae up. I was terrified. I didn't want him to harm her and that's why I hurried up and didn't have time to inform you." Soobin said, staring at him.
"I get it. I get it! You know, you scared the shit out of me. Don't you even dare to do something like this. I'll…I…won't be able to forgive myself if something happens to you." Tears started dripping from his eyes as he was talking.
"I'm sorry. Can you forgive me?" Soobin asked, putting his hand on Yeonjun's.
"Why…." Yeonjun couldn't say what he wanted to.
"Can you promise that you won't hate me after this? I don't know what I'd do if you…" Soobin suddenly began weeping just like a kid. Yeonjun gasped and pulled him, embracing him warmly.
"Don't say that! I'll never ever! Please don't say something like that again. I didn't like you to hate on you!" Yeonjun gently caressed Soobin's back, trying to console him. Despite his own sadness, he fought hard to hold back his tears. Meanwhile, Soobin buried his face in Yeonjun's chest, hugging him tightly and sobbing like a child. Yeonjun pressed Soobin's head gently, softly patting him, unable to find the right words to comfort him.
Half an hour later, some police officers arrived as they needed information from Soobin. They surrounded him with questions like; what had happened, when, and where. Feeling uncomfortable and vulnerable, Soobin clung tightly to Yeonjun's arm during the questioning. Yeonjun softly ran his fingers through Soobin's hair, trying to soothe him.
"Excuse me! May I ask what happened to the phone he was…" Yeonjun asked. He didn't finish his sentence as he knew Soobin might be bothered by it.
"We confiscated the phone and we found some videos. Recently, the man was involved with spreading child pornography indirectly. So, there's many videos as evidence. And yes, as you're worried about the video related to him, we took care of it." One of the officers replied, looking at Yeonjun.
"Thank you very much. If you need further inquiry, feel free to call us." Yeonjun shook hands with that police officer while sitting beside Soobin.
"But, I have a question. He kept saying I ruined him. I shared the video etc etc…do…you know what he was mentioning?" Soobin asked curiously.
"Yes, we've found another video related to you. As you just described, it was from two years ago. But, in that video, your face was completely blurred. So, he thought it was you who filmed it." He replied.
"But…I didn't! He thought it was me and…he did all of this…just for revenge. But, I never did anything like that! I never imagined…he'd…try to …do…that…to me." Soobin's voice slowly faded as he kept clarifying himself.
"We know it wasn't you." Another officer replied.
"Then?" Soobin was astonished and curious as well.
"There was a girl who was also harassed by this teacher four years ago. Although he didn't attempt molesting her completely, she was still traumatized. We went to receive statements from them and we got to know that it was her brother who set up the camera. He knew the criminal would attempt rape on you that day. He was with those students who helped commiting the crime." The policeman was going to say more, but Soobin interrupted.
"W-what are you s-saying? Who? Why? And h-how did they help him?" Soobin's voice was trembling with despondency and grievance.
"We have information that you were bullied at school, right? Do you want to report them? Then, you can come to the police station and report all of them. Anyways, the criminal was the one who supplied cigarettes and drugs to your classmates in exchange for bullying you. And that's why they helped and supported him. Before you went to the criminal's house, your classmates went to his house for the stuff. That was when the previous victim's brother took the opportunity and set the camera to film everything." He replied to Soobin without any expression.
"S-so…it…it was…al-always him? H-he…was t-the…cause…of all…the m-misery…" Soobin couldn't talk properly as his words were getting stuck in the middle. He was so shocked that he wasn't able to think straight. His eyes were dried by then, but he couldn't keep them static. He started trembling and his lips were shaking too hard. As Yeonjun was still holding him, he could feel how Soobin was shivering. He hugged him tightly and started rubbing his shoulder.
"Officers! I'll be in touch! Bet you've got more important tasks to do!" Yeonjun smiled and said as he could understand that the more Soobin would know, the more he'd be hurt.
"Then, we'll excuse ourselves. If you remember more, you can give us a call or go to the station. We'll be glad to serve you." Saying that, they went away. Soobin rested his head on Yeonjun's shoulder, silent and withdrawn, as if there were no words left to express how he felt. His body trembled, though he was numb to all of his emotions. He stared blankly into the distance, as still and unresponsive as a statue.