Step 521st

𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟐𝟓, 𝟐𝟎𝐗𝐗

"His vitals are good, I think in any minute now he'll wake up, and soon I think we can remove it the dressings already."

Youngjae notices that voices are audible everywhere. His mother and doctor were talking, and after the doctor said goodbye to his mother, he heard the sound of the door clicking. Finally, he had the surgery. Fortunately, they didn't need to travel to the US for it because Jaebeom's Dad used his connections to find a donor for him. He wanted to inquire as to how it occurred, but he surmised that money played a role.

Him and his mother couldn't stop thanking their family, without them this operation is not possible.

He took a turn and let out a low groan to let them know that he's already awake and his mother quickly rushed to him.

"Youngjae-ah." He felt a soft touch on his cheek and he knew it was his mother's.

His lids are still close and he could feel a gauze wrapped around his head. He tried to speak but he felt the dryness of his throat, so he held on his mother as he slowly pushes himself up to sit.

His mother must have understood as him as he felt a plastic straw against his lip that he immediately took, to have a sip and quenched his thirst. 

His mother bombard him with questions that he couldn't process yet so he just held up his hand as if signaling her to wait. He understands, she must've been really nervous. 

"Mom, I'm fine. I think you should let the doctor know that I'm awake now." He said in whispers and he heard a sniff before his mother came back to her senses too and soon called for his doctor to have him check. 

After a while, his mother came back with the doctor as he heard footsteps coming. 

The doctor asked how is he feeling and did his routines before he tapped his shoulder.

"I think you're good. Are you ready to take this off?" His doctor asked and suddenly he was filled with worries, excitement and joy.

Nearly a lifetime of darkness has been with him all along and now that he would be able to see the world around him, he couldn't get his head wrapped. Everything still feel surreal, the words of his doctor when they told him they already had a donor for him barely registered and now he's already here at the moment. He took a few deep breathes before he nodded then his mother hold his hand.

"I'll remove the bandage now." The doctor said and he felt the dressing loosens slowly as the doctor unwrapped it around him. 

His mother is squeezing his hand throughout the process, and when the doctor finally removed all the covers, he got dazzled by the lights so he covered his arm on his eyes. His vision wasn't this bright ever since, so it's hurting him a little and the doctor told him it's normal as he's still adjusting so they wait for a few moments for him to open his eyes. 

When he finally did, his mother's crying face was the one that welcomed him.

He just knew it is his mother at how the woman hold his hand tightly while crying and looking at him. His eyes landed on the man on the other side wearing a white lab gown, smiling at him and staring at him as if observing his movements. 

The doctor stretched his eyelids open with his thumb and forefinger on one hand. His senses picked up on the touch, and he knew it was his doctor. The doctor grinned when Youngjae's eyes reacted and noticed the penlight he had shone into them. In front of his eye, the doctor waved his hand, and Youngjae saw the motions. In order to check on his eyes, the doctor performed a few additional tests before telling everyone the good news.

When he finally experienced a vision, his mother cried with ecstasy, threw herself onto him, and Youngjae let her unload all of her feelings onto his shoulders.