Bam!
Shin punches the moment he gets near Leon.
Thud!
Leon instantly falls to the ground with a thud.
The scene changes to a midshot, showing Shin's expression when he speaks in a raspy, cracked voice containing fury that he was trying to keep under control:
"You bastard..."
He didn't yell, but his slightly trembling and cracked voice conveyed more than what a thousand yells would convey.
Shin's lips trembled as his eyes threatened to stream tears from them.
He bends down and grabs Leon by the collar.
The camera captures his hands trembling but then tightening their grip.
He forces Leon up to his feet and looks him in the eye.
He yelled:
"How could you..."
His voice breaks and lowers in volume at the same time when saying the next words:
"Let her get hurt?"
The camera shifts to a close-up of Shin's face.
His eyes showed a mix of pain and fury, but most of it was pain.
His lips were trembling, but then he pressed them together to stop the emotions that were trying to come out.
Then the camera shows Leon, apologetic, not even daring to meet his gaze.
The focus returns to Shin's face, the screen showing the first tear streaming down his cheek, just when he begins speaking in a raspy voice filled with pain, questions, and regret.
"I left her with you..."
Another tear falls, his voice softer than before.
"Because I believed..."
He presses his trembling lips, unable to speak due to the overwhelming emotions, as two more tears streams down his cheeks.
He tries again.
"Because I believed that you,"
He gulped.
"Could keep her safe."
He lets go of Leon's collar as his hands trembles ever so slightly.
He looks away just for a slight moment as if to hide his tears.
In that moment, his eyes squeezes shut, glistening his lashes wet.
He then returns his gaze and raises his voice to Leon, who was evading his gaze even now, looking down in shame.
"Atleast look at me, bastard!"
And then, as if a dam broke, his tears flowed nonstop.
He opens his mouth, but no voice comes out.
It was easy to guess he was choked due to emotions.
But he still refused to cry out, as only his eyes showed the immense pain he hid.
Leon finally looks at him, surprised to see him struggling to stop his tears.
He then says in a low voice, pointing behind him.
"She is in the ICU. You can go and meet her."
Shin shifts his teary gaze to the ICU door and hesitates, only for a second before rushing inside as if she would disappear if he were late.
The screen shows him entering the ICU, looking at her from afar, then wiping his tears and forming a broken smile on his face.
He goes and stands beside her, silently looking at her pale face.
And that's when the second shot connects.
Aren noticed it unlike others.
Then everyone watches him trying to touch her but not being able to do so, as if afraid to hurt her.
Every slight movement of his said a hundred words.
His cracked voice carried pain.
But the viewers got chills when his eyes squeezed shut for a brief moment, as if he was trying to suppress something darker rising from his chest.
And when he opened them again, the tears were still there.
But the softness was gone.
His jaw tightened.
His fingers slowly clenched into a fist at his side.
His eyes turned cold.
"Who did this to you…?"
The words were quiet.
Too quiet.
But they carried a dangerous weight.
The viewers felt goosebumps just from his cold gaze and voice.
"I'll make him regret ever touching you."
He didn't yell, but in that moment, his words were more powerful than even roars.
His fist tightened until his knuckles turned pale.
"No one touches what's dear to me… especially not you..."
He leaned closer, his voice lowering, trembling no longer with sadness—
But with fury barely kept under control.
"They'll come and apologize to you…"
His teeth clenched.
"I'll make them."
For a second, the anger cracked.
Pain slipped through.
His hand loosened, trembling as it hovered near her hand, afraid to grip it too tightly.
"This is my promise…"
His voice softened, breaking at the edges.
"The promise of someone who loves you... more than himself."
The words left his lips like a confession.
His forehead lowered, hovering close to her hand, his breath uneven.
"I won't let this end like this…"
And then, the screen turned black, and in huge words appeared—
To be continued in season 2...
The credits rolled and the episode ended.
Aren was looking at the screen with wide eyes, disbelief evident in them.
He remained staring at the television screen for a few moments and then suddenly rolled up the sleeve of his shirt to stare at his arm.
His eyes widened when he saw his hairs standing from the sheer goosebumps and chills he got from the scene.
Even though his acting had been fabulous, it had been enhanced even further by the director's genius direction and background music.
It was uplifted to the level where even someone like Aren, who had worked in the industry for so long, was stunned.
"Was that really me...?"
Aren asked with a blank expression; however, he knew no answer would come in response.
Then, his phone rang with notifications.
He picked it up and checked.
They were messages in the drama's official LinkChat group.
Gisha:
[Whoa... I had goosebumps just now. What a finale!]
Then she sent another message instantly.
[Also, Aren, you were just amazing. I knew you were good, but not this good. I'm glad I will get to act alongside a great actor like you in the second season.]
Leon:
[I second that. I don't think even veterans can act better than that. Aren's acting was just on another level. This will surely shut those haters. 😁]
Then the group chat began to flood with congratulations and praises for Aren.
Aren replied to them appropriately.
Meanwhile, Sasha was having a different reaction.