"Hauena…?" Mrs. Kim, her mother-in-law, called gently. Hauen's eyes filled with tears.
"What happened? Why are you standing here? You should be resting," Mrs. Kim said, worried.
Hauen wiped her tears and asked softly, "Where is Suho?"
"He's in his room," Mrs. Kim replied.
"Take me to him. I want to see him," Hauen insisted.
"But Hauena, not like this… You need to recover fully. If he finds out about the baby now, it will hurt him even more… He's already been through so much," Mrs. Kim cautioned.
"No, I want to see him. One day he'll know about the baby anyway. It's better now. I haven't seen him for days," Hauen said, still sobbing.
"Okay, come," Mrs. Kim said, helping her walk. Hauen was still in her hospital gown and weak, two weeks having passed since she last saw him. The family had kept her away so he wouldn't know about the baby.
The door opened. Suho was sitting on the bed, his face pale, the right side scarred and still partly bandaged, small patches of hair beginning to grow back. Hauen entered slowly, limping with Mrs. Kim's help.
Suho's voice caught softly as he looked at her. "Hauen…"
Hauen smiled softly at him and sat on the chair beside his bed.
"Ommoni, I want to talk in private," she said. Mrs. Kim nodded and stepped out.
Hauen looked at him gently. "How are you?"
He lowered his head and gave a bitter smile. "How do I look?"
She smiled slowly, sensing the sadness behind his words. She took his hands in hers. "Thank God you made it. I was so scared when you were bleeding," she said softly.
He looked at her. "And you… how are you?"
She nodded. "I'm fine… recovering slowly."
His voice dropped, heavy with emotion. "We lost it, right?"
Hauen lowered her head, eyes burning with unshed tears.
"I knew, Hauen… yet nobody told me clearly," he said, chuckling bitterly.
She looked up at him, her voice barely a whisper. "I'm sorry… I couldn't save it."
He gently held her hand. "Shh… don't cry. It's not your fault. Thank God you're safe, that's what matters," he said, smiling softly to console her.
Hauen studied his face; his charm, handsomeness, and glow were gone. He looked like a shadow of himself. She caressed his damaged cheeks.
He chuckled faintly. "I'm ugly now… all damaged."
She shook her head. "No… It's just an outer scar. That doesn't make you ugly. If anything, you're even more handsome now," she said, trying to cheer him up.
He chuckled, tears in his eyes. Then, his voice grew soft with concern. "How's Yerin doing? Is she okay? I'm worried… what if she is hurt because of this?"
Hauen's heart warmed; this man had faced death itself, yet he still worried for his love. She smiled. "I'll check on her and let you know," she said gently. "Don't worry… she'll be fine. You focus on your recovery, okay?"
He nodded slowly, taking comfort in her words.
As she was about to stand, he suddenly said, "Can you stay here?"
She froze and looked at him.
"I'm feeling bored here… and when I'm alone, unnecessary thoughts come to my mind. Can you stay and keep me company?" he asked sincerely.
She smiled softly. "Okay…" and sat back down beside him.
He let out a small sigh. "I miss Yerin so much… but I'm scared. How do I even face her?" His head lowered.
Her heart ached, but she smiled and gently held his hands. "Don't worry, she'll be fine. Wait, let me call her," she said.
She grabbed her phone from her gown and dialed Yerin's number. After several rings, Yerin's voice came, "Hello?"
"Yerina…" he whispered softly.
"Suho…" Her voice trembled. "How are you, Suho? What happened? I was so scared… I've been following the news. I'm dying here, SUHO." Her voice cracked, almost crying.
A tear slipped down his face. "I'm fine, baby. How are you?" he asked.
She didn't answer; only sobs escaped. "I'm dying to see you… But I can't," she choked out.
He cried too. Hauen, watching them, felt her own eyes sting.
"I missed you," he whispered.
"When are you getting discharged?" Yerin asked.
"I don't know yet," he replied softly.
Then Hauen spoke softly, "Don't worry, Yerin. You'll be able to see him in the hospital. I'll make sure of it."
Suho looked at her, and she blinked, silently reassuring him.
"How will you do that, Hauen?" Yerin asked.
"Tomorrow, you'll meet him, Yerina. I'll make it happen," Hauen replied gently.
"Okay… thank you, Hauen. By the way, how are you?" Yerin finally asked, concerned about her.
"I'm fine," Hauen said slowly.
And just like that, the call ended.
"Thank you, Hauen," Suho said, smiling at her.
"Don't mention it, Mr. Kim. Get well soon," she replied with a gentle smile.
He smiled back, and Hauen stayed with him in the ward, cheering him up. But deep down, the pain from the truth she had heard in the doctor's cabin still weighed heavily on her heart.
Everyone in the family already knew the truth, Suho would never walk again. He was paralyzed.Everyone… except Suho himself.
But he wasn't stupid. Deep down, he had begun to sense that something was wrong.
That evening, Hauen convinced everyone to go home and rest, promising she'd take care of Suho for a few hours. They hesitated at first, but finally agreed, they were exhausted after two long weeks of hospital rounds.
Once the room grew quiet, Hauen slowly stepped inside Suho's cabin and sat beside his bed.
He looked at her and smiled weakly.
"I managed to send your family home," she said softly. "And I called Yerin too. She'll be here in a few minutes."
He smiled, relief flickering in his tired eyes. "Thank you, Hauen… If it weren't for you, I don't think I could've met her until I was fully recovered."
She smiled and said softly, "Don't thank me all the time… I understand how much you missed her. So yeah, I should take care of my temporary husband like a good wife," she teased.
He chuckled at her playful tone.
Then she stood up and walked closer to him. "Let me do some skincare for you, or else your girl might cry seeing how pale you look," she said, half-teasing, half-gentle.
He laughed quietly as she picked up a wet tissue and carefully wiped his face. Then she applied some moisturizer, dabbed a little lip balm, and brushed through his short hair with slow, soothing motions. For a while, the silence between them felt peaceful, calm.
"Here, wear this," she said, helping him into a clean shirt. She even sprayed a bit of mouth freshener near him.
He raised an eyebrow and grinned. "Am I smelling that bad?"
She smirked. "No, but just in case you two end up kissing, you should be prepared, right?" she said casually.
He burst into laughter, his voice echoing in the quiet room.
Once everything was done, she moved slightly to put on his socks. But as she was sliding them up, he said bluntly, "That's not necessary. I don't feel anything down there."
Her hands froze. The air shifted. She slowly looked up at him, her expression soft but heavy, eyes glistening with something he couldn't quite read.
And he noticed it, the change in her face, the way her smile faltered just for a second.
He smiled faintly, a weary curve tugging at his lips. "Is there something else you all are hiding from me?"
Her breath hitched. She tried to look composed, but her trembling eyes gave her away. "W-What are you talking about?" she asked, forcing a small smile that didn't reach her eyes.
He looked straight at her, voice calm but heavy. "It's been weeks, Hauen… and I'm still numb down there. Every wound on my body has started healing, but I can't move my legs. Not even an inch."
Her throat tightened; her hands trembled slightly on her lap. Tears began to well up, blurring her vision.
"Suho…" she whispered, barely holding herself together.
"Tell me the truth, Hauen," he said quietly, eyes fixed on her. "Am I… damaged permanently?"
Her lips parted, but no words came out. A tear slipped down her cheek.
He let out a slow, shaky chuckle, the kind that wasn't amusement, but surrender. "God… how many truths are you all planning to hide from me?" he murmured, his voice breaking just a little. "Just say it already. Why keep it from me? I'll find out anyway. Better the pain of truth now than the false hope later."
His tone was calm, too calm. But behind that calmness, Hauen could see the storm building, waiting for the truth she wished she didn't have to speak.
She quickly wiped her tears and forced a small smile. "Doctors are still trying, Suho. It's not over yet. It's just… taking a little longer than your other wounds," she said softly, trying to sound convincing.
He looked at her carefully. "Then why did it make you cry, Hauen? If it's really going to get better… why does it hurt you this much?"
Her eyes lowered; she had no answer.
He gave a faint smile, tired, broken, but calm. "It's okay, Hauen. I accept it. You don't have to hide anything or pity me."
She shook her head immediately, wiping her tears again. "I'm telling the truth, Suho. The doctors said they'll start therapy soon. It might take time, but you'll be fine. You're still strong… and still handsome," she said stubbornly, forcing a smile through her trembling voice.
He chuckled softly at her persistence.
Hauen took a breath, focusing on fixing his socks and straightening his blanket. She adjusted his collar gently and smiled. "There. Now you look perfect. Yerin won't be upset seeing you like this."
He smiled faintly, eyes softening. "I'm just dying to see her."
And Hauen only nodded, smiling for him, while her heart silently broke behind that smile.