Payback AU: What If

Act 2.5 - On a Night Like This

Yoohan had never visited the hospital before. Even when he got injured and beaten, he'd just go into a clinic or took something from the school infirmary. So when he stepped up into the emergency room, he was overwhelmed with the bitter smell of antiseptic. A hint of cleaner's fragrance made him dizzy. Or it was probably the sheer tension of patients crying and moaning in pain, of people arguing and health workers scrambling.

His mother though, wasn't crying or moaning in pain. She just laid there, unmoving, safe for the slight rise and down on his chest. She didn't even seem to get hurt, like she was just sleeping peacefully. If it wasn't for the disturbing beeping sound and the connecting tubes, Yoohan would think she was just passed out from exhaustion.

From what Hansoo told him, which was told by his mother's co-worker that brought her here, his mother suddenly collapsed after an afternoon rush hour. They thought she would just wake up after a while, but she wasn't. When she went into a slight seizure instead, they finally brought her into the emergency room and called their home line. Thankfully, Hansoo was already home to take the call.

Yoohan stared blankly at his mother while listening to the doctor's explanation. Behind him, Hansoo was clutching his arm tightly, tremor flowed into Yoohan's own core.

That's why he couldn't stumble now. He shouldn't.

Yoohan tried to focus his mind on the doctor's words, but this particular resident was the type that didn't take into account his listener's understanding of medical knowledge. Yoohan was barely caught on his mother's exact condition. Something about an aneurysm. Something about a small window of time. Something about surgery.

Something about money for that surgery.

Hansoo was shaking and tightening his small grip on Yoohan's arm when the talk about payment came up—even more than the talk about surgery. The middle schooler didn't really understand everything about their mother's condition, but he understand enough that she wouldn't be able to survive without the surgery. And the surgery wouldn't be able to go without money.

The boy looked up at his older brother's face. Yoohan had been, for the past four years, the central pillar of their household. His Hyung was Hansoo's shield and canopy, and having his Hyung there with him made things seem less scary. But even then, Hansoo knew money wasn't something that could be solved with guts and determination alone. Thankfully, his brother seemed calm, or rather, there was nothing there. Yoohan simply looked like he was focusing hard on the doctor's explanation.

That calmness put Hansoo slightly at ease. Yes, everything will be alright. Hyung is here, so everything should be alright.

When the doctor stopped his explanation, and the nurse started to talk about the treatment plans and hospital fees, Yoohan raised his hand slightly to stop the conversation. He looked at Hansoo and patted his younger brother's head, asking the boy to stay with their mother. The nurse, fortunately, seemed to understand his intention and walked out of the emergency room, waiting for Yoohan.

"Mom will be alright, right, Hyung?" Hansoo looked at his older brother while seating beside the bed.

He didn't know. But Yoohan patted his brother's hair and said that everything would be alright and not to worry, trying to sound as steady as possible.

Yoohan followed the nurse into the empty hallway, every step he took felt heavy the further he was from his family. He need not put out a mask now that he was away, and his calm façade started to crumble.

"When..." Yoohan frowned, every word felt like a lead on his tongue. He inhaled deeply before continuing. "How much time can you give me?"

The nurse looked at him with warmth and pity, but her words were cold and dry—it was business after all. "It will be better to proceed immediately before the blockage worsen. Best to move her for intensive care tonight, but you need a down payment for that. As for the surgery, as you heard from the doctor, after three days, she'll go into comatose without it"