The hospital room was too cold for Haneul.
He stood next to Haru's bed, shivering from head to toe as the doctor examined her small arm and gently gave the injection.
His hands were clenched so tight his knuckles were white,
His breath uneven, chest rising in tiny, broken gasps.
Lihan stepped closer.
"How is she, doctor?"
The doctor pulled off his gloves calmly. "Nothing to worry about. Not serious like before.
Just a small reaction.
Actually a good sign
Her allergy severity has gone down a lot."
Lihan let out a long breath.
Next to him,
Haneul's lips were pushed out in a full pout, tears falling nonstop, shoulders shaking.
Lihan went to him, placing a hand on his arm.
"It's okay. It's really nothing."
Haneul stepped back immediately.
Lihan's hand froze mid-air before he slowly pulled it away.
Haru was asleep now,
Peaceful, breathing steady, cheeks soft. Completely fine.
But Haneul looked like he had been dragged through a storm, scared to even stand near the bed.
He kept staring at Haru, but his feet wouldn't move.
He looked at Lihan.
"Taekyun?"
"He's coming,"
Lihan said softly.
"I already called him."
[At the same time]
Taekyun's car tore through the streets so fast the engine screamed.
He couldn't hear anything except the ringing in his head, the crushing weight in his chest.
After Lihan's call,
He left everything meeting, documents, staff.
He didn't even remember grabbing his car keys.
His heart had one thought.
Haru.
He reached the hospital, didn't even close the car door.
He ran.
"Sir! Sir..... please wait!"
The staff followed, but Taekyun didn't hear a thing.
Only when Doctor Min
Haru's pediatrician,
Caught his arm did he stop.
"Taekyun-ssi, calm down,"
Min said firmly.
"She's fine. Small reaction only.
She's stable, sleeping.
Oxygen normal.
We gave her antihistamine."
Taekyun swallowed, eyes sharp but shaking. "Anything else?
Tell me everything."
Min placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"No airway swelling like before.
But try not to scare her when she wakes. She's completely fine."
Taekyun closed his eyes for one second,
Only one,
Before heading toward the room.
[Outside the Room]
Lihan bowed immediately.
"Is she inside?"
Taekyun asked, voice low.
Lihan nodded.
"And Haneul?"
"He's also inside. With her."
Taekyun inhaled slowly.
Something steadied inside him
Something that wasn't calm, but controlled.
He opened the door.
[Inside]
Haneul turned instantly.
His eyes red, swollen, trembling hit Taekyun's chest like a punch.
For one second,
Taekyun stopped breathing.
He didn't know why, but seeing Haneul like that hurt.
Really hurt.
More than he expected.
Beside him,
Haru was sleeping peacefully.
Haneul walked toward him,
Slow, shaky steps.
"I… I didn't know she was allergic to nuts"
His breath hitched.
"Or I wouldn't let her eat it.
I really"
Taekyun didn't ask for an explanation, but the fear in Haneul's eyes was too clear.
"It's not because of me,"
Haneul whispered.
"I really didn't know… I got scared"
Taekyun stepped closer.
Haneul looked up at him
Eyes drowning in guilt.
With a low, steady tone,
Taekyun said,
"It's okay. She's fine now."
The moment Haneul heard that, something inside him snapped.
He moved forward and wrapped his arms tightly around Taekyun's waist,
Full body weight leaning into him,
Crying like his chest was breaking.
Taekyun froze.
His hands lifted automatically, then stopped in the air.
His jaw clenched.
His body was burning
Too warm, too aware,
And he hated and liked the feeling at the same time.
Slowly,
Very slowly,
He placed one hand on Haneul's back and rubbed once, twice, careful not to pull him closer even though his body wanted to.
After a long minute,
Haneul pulled away, wiping his face quickly as if ashamed of losing control.
He sat next to Haru.
Taekyun exhaled sharply,
Not angry, not irritated.
Just overwhelmed.
He walked out.
[Hallway]
Lihan straightened.
"You can leave now,"
Taekyun said quietly.
"I'll drive myself."
"I'll head to the office then,"
Lihan said.
"I'll handle everything there."
Taekyun nodded.
When Lihan was gone,
Taekyun went to the restroom,
Washing his face, breathing hard, trying to calm the fire crawling under his skin.
[Back Inside]
Some minutes later, he entered.
Haneul was still sitting in the chair, hands on his knees, staring at Haru like he was scared she would disappear.
Suddenly,
Haru opened her eyes.
"Mm…"
She sat up.
"Haru-ah,"
Haneul whispered, rushing to her.
She reached for him first,
Arms wrapping around his neck.
Haneul kissed her whole face, tears falling again.
Her eyes shifted when she heard footsteps.
"Abba…"
Her voice cracked.
"Abba"
Taekyun moved so fast the chair almost shook.
He sat next to her, took her gently and hugged her tight,
So tight no fear could touch her.
"It's okay. It's okay,"
He murmured into her hair.
"You're fine. Completely fine."
Haru wrapped her tiny arms around his neck, clinging.
Taekyun rubbed her back and hair slowly, steady, calming.
Haneul watched them
Silent tears rolling again.
Taekyun stood,
Carrying Haru, and walked toward him.
"Don't cry,"
He said softly.
He raised a hand and brushed a tear from Haneul's cheek with his thumb.
"She's fine."
His voice was calm.
But inside him everything burned.
So hot it could melt a stone.