Although Yohan didn't understand, he chose to remain silent so as not to interrupt the conversation. Landon, who was standing some distance away from them, understood from the look on his friend's face that he didn't know what was being talked about. So he approached Yohan and whispered in his ear, explaining what special force was.
Landon leaned in close to Yohan's ear, his voice barely above a whisper. "The special forces are an elite unit of the military. They undergo rigorous training and selection processes to become the best of the best at what they do."
He paused for a moment, gauging Yohan's reaction before continuing. "Think of them as highly skilled soldiers who specialize in covert operations, hostage rescue missions, counter-terrorism... basically anything that requires extreme physical prowess and mental fortitude."
Yohan listened intently, nodding slowly as Landon's explanation sank in. The gears were turning behind those bright eyes now - processing this new information.
"So you're saying these guys are like superheroes?" Yohan asked quietly after a long pause.
Landon chuckled softly at that comparison but didn't correct him outright. In many ways it wasn't far from the truth.
"They have some pretty impressive skills yeah," Landon agreed with an enigmatic smile playing on his lips. "But even more importantly than all their abilities combined? They have the courage to face any challenge head on, no matter how daunting. That's what makes them special."
Yohan leaned in close to Landon's ear, his voice barely audible over the hum of conversation around them. "Isn't it...dangerous?" he whispered hesitantly. "I mean, if that stalker is a former special forces soldier..."
His words trailed off but the unspoken implication hung heavy between them - Kian was still recovering from last night's attack and Yohan couldn't bear the thought of him being targeted again by someone so highly trained.. Landon placed a comforting hand on Yohan's shoulder and squeezed gently.
"You're right to be concerned," Landon said solemnly. "Someone with that level of training and skill can indeed pose a serious threat if they turn against us."
He paused for a moment before continuing in a reassuring tone.
"But we won't let anything happen to you, I promise you that." His eyes held unwavering conviction as he spoke those words aloud.
Kian, who was sitting on the bed next to Yohan, could hear their hushed conversation despite their attempts at discretion. He didn't think that Yohan would be unaware of special forces, but upon reflection it seemed like many people lacked knowledge about military matters since they generally didn't pay much attention.
Gently stroking the back of Yohan's head with his hand, Kian leaned in close and joined the whispered discussion next to him.
"If there are things you don't understand," he murmured softly into Yohan's ear, "there is absolutely no shame in asking questions. We're here to help explain anything that confuses or worries you."
His warm breath tickled against sensitive skin as he spoke those reassuring words directly into the young man's ear - a gesture meant to convey both comfort and solidarity.
Yohan's face flushed a deep crimson as he felt the warm caress of Kian's breath and voice against his ear. The intimacy of that moment, even with such innocuous words, made him feel strangely more embarrassed than their kiss last night. Landon watched this display of lovesickness with an annoyed furrow in his brow.
Unable to hold back any longer, Landon reached out and jabbed a finger into Yohan's forehead until the younger man's head fell backwards sharply. Cyruss chuckled lightly at their antics while Jun remained serious, tapping his chin thoughtfully before fixing Kian with a steady gaze.
"Can you share the details of what happened last night?" he asked directly.
Kian nodded understandingly; it was clear that both Jun and Landon were fiercely protective of their younger friend, and Yohan himself seemed to trust them implicitly.
From the beginning Kian recounted how his stalker had attempted to inject him with a substance that appeared menacing, though thankfully Nathan intervened and pulled him away from harm's reach. The revelation sent a palpable tension rippling through the room as Yohan and Cyruss both blanched at the news.
Especially chilling was learning of his attacker's vicious intent behind each strike - every blow aimed squarely at inflicting injury or paralysis upon Kian without mercy. Even more disturbing still was this madman trying again for a second injection! If not for Kian's injured bodyguard hurling something to disrupt them in time... Kian might have fallen victim to whatever vile concoction filled that syringe needle otherwise...
Just imagining it made an icy dread seep into Yohan's very bones. Kian's near-miss with the stalker's sinister injection left Yohan reeling. The thought of his beloved Kian suffering some unknown fate at that monster's hands filled him with a seething rage, even as it pierced his heart through with sorrow and helplessness.
Yohan's heart ached as he listened, the more he heard of what had happened, the heavier that weight felt on his shoulders. In that moment all Yohan could see was how much danger and strife he'd brought crashing down upon those dearest to him - Kian most especially.
As if sensing the dark turn of Yohan's thoughts, Kian reached out and grasped his hand firmly in a gesture of solidarity. His eyes held unwavering conviction as he spoke.
"Don't you dare think for one second that any of this is your fault," Kian said with quiet intensity. "The actions of that man are solely his own responsibility. His desire to harm those around you has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with you. You did not ask for or deserve any of this."
He paused briefly before continuing in a gentler tone.
"If you still find yourself blaming yourself despite knowing it to be untrue...then try to imagine the roles reversed. Picture him harming you instead of me...would you blame me? Would you say it was my fault for being stalked by a psychopath?"
Yohan shook his head vigorously at that rhetorical question, understanding the logic behind Kian's words even if the weight of guilt still pressed heavily upon him.
"I understand what you're saying," Yohan sighed heavily after a moment. "It just feels easier sometimes to direct all this guilt inward rather than face how powerless I am against something like this..."
He closed his eyes briefly as if steeling himself before opening them again to meet Kian's gaze head-on.
"I won't blame myself anymore," Yohan vowed, his voice gaining strength with each word. "But I need you to promise me something in return."
Kian nodded solemnly in silent agreement. Whatever it was, he would do whatever it took to ease the anguish etched so plainly on Yohan's face.
"You must be more vigilant than ever before," Yohan implored him earnestly. "I can't bear the thought of that man hurting you again because of me. Promise me you'll take every precaution - no matter how small or inconvenient! Your safety is your top priority now."
Kian giving Yohan's hand a reassuring squeeze as he met the younger man's gaze with unwavering conviction. "I promise," he vowed softly. "I will absolutely do my utmost to protect myself better going forward."
"It's just that...you need to understand that when it comes down to it, you will always be my top priority where safety is concerned. Nothing and no one could ever change or diminish how much I care about keeping you safe above all else."
Yohan smiled softly at Kian's heartfelt declaration, the corners of his eyes crinkling with warmth and gratitude.
"I understand," Yohan murmured back warmly. "And I'm so very grateful for your promise. Just know that protecting yourself well is also incredibly important to me too."
The tender moment between them was abruptly interrupted by Landon's curious query, his words cutting through the sweet atmosphere like a knife.
"Yohan mentioned that you were arranging for two bodyguards to start protecting him today. Are they not here yet?"
A flicker of realization crossed Kian's face as he remembered the promised security detail.
"Oh, my assistant is currently en route to pick them up," he explained quickly.
"I just... changed one small detail about the plan based on what we discussed last night. Instead of two bodyguards, I will only be assigning one moving forward."
"Huh?"
Yohan blinked in confusion, tilting his head quizzically as he tried to puzzle out Kian's meaning. Kian had assured him that his safety was paramount, yet reducing the number of bodyguards seemed counterintuitive to that promise.
Cyruss' eyes suddenly widened with enlightenment as realization struck.
"Ohhhh!!!" he exclaimed loudly enough for everyone to hear.
"I'll explain when that person comes," Kian said, his voice laced with weariness. His tired expression sparked a wave of curiosity in Yohan, especially when he also noticed Cyruss staring at Kian with an air of bewildered disbelief.
And just as if summoned by their unspoken questions, the ward door swung open with a resounding bang for the third time that day.
A towering figure strode into view – a man clad in sunglasses and a tight-fitting T-shirt emblazoned with an enormous duck head. The shirt strained against his massive frame, barely containing the impressive display of muscles rippling beneath its surface.
He barreled towards Kian, arms outstretched in a bear hug that threatened to crush anyone unfortunate enough to be caught within its grasp.
"Boss!!!" he bellowed enthusiastically. "I came as you wanted!"
Yohan watched the scene unfold before him, utterly dumbfounded. It wasn't jealousy that twisted his gut; it was something far more painful - an aching sense of displacement and imagined fragility. He couldn't help but think:
If it were me, I'd be broken in two by that hug.
So, Yohan silently pray for Kian's ribs to withstand the force of this enthusiastic greeting...