✓ IF YOU STAY | HEESEUNG

45 - 10 Things I Hate About You

Panting, Y/N rushed inside the hospital and quickly stammered through the questions at the reception desk. "Heeseung... Lee Heeseung, is he here? What's his condition?" The receptionist, a middle-aged woman with kind eyes, looked up from her computer and smiled in confusion. 

"Uhm, one second," She quickly typed on the keyboard, retrieving his information. "Yes, Lee Heeseung is in room 305. As for his condition, I'm afraid I don't have detailed information. You may want to check with the attending doctor."

Without wasting a moment, Y/N sprinted towards the elevators, her heart pounding in her chest. The hallway on the third floor seemed longer than ever as she rushed towards room 305. The door was slightly ajar, and she cautiously pushed it open, her eyes searching for any sign of Heeseung. He was there, lying on the hospital bed just like he did in her dreams. It felt surreal, like a nightmare repeating itself. But he didn't look sick, not the way he did in her dreams. The rise and fall of his chest seemed steady, and the only visible sign of distress was the weariness etched on his face.

"Heeseung?" Y/N called softly, not wanting to startle him. His name sounded like a prayer on her lips, a plea for him to be okay. His eyes fluttered open and then they widened at the sight of her, as if he couldn't believe she was really there. "Are you... okay?" She approached him but all he did was stare at her, at the way her dress clung to her form as if he was seeing her for the first time, and at the way her eyes glistened with unshed tears. 

"Y/N..." He finally spoke, sitting up to face her more directly. "I didn't expect-"

"Are you okay?" This time, her voice was higher and it sounded more like a desperate plea. She took a step closer, reaching out to touch his arm, needing the reassurance of his warmth to confirm that this was real. "Are you..." She tried to speak, to ask him about everything and anything, but her voice caught in her throat and her sobs started to rise, betraying the flood of emotions within her.

"Hey, hey," Heeseung interrupted gently, pulling her into a comforting hug. He could feel her trembling against him and his hand went to her hair, gently stroking it as he continued to hold her. "I'm here, Y/N. I'm okay. I'm not sick. It's just pneumonia, they say. Nothing serious."

"What?" He watched her as she pulled away and looked into his eyes, worry written all over her face. "I heard that you're sick and I just- I thought that-" But before she knew it, he had cupped her cheeks and pulled her into a kiss, effectively silencing her words. She had been hungry for his touch, for the taste of his lips against hers, for the warmth that only he could provide. At that moment, the worries and fears that had consumed her began to melt away.

Heeseung pulled back slightly, his forehead resting against hers. "I'm not sick, Y/N. I promise. Just tired, and maybe a bit worn out from everything. You weren't home and I just... I missed you." Y/N knew he wasn't blurting the words, he was speaking from the depth of his heart, and the sincerity in his eyes reassured her. Relief washed over her like a wave, and she couldn't help but smile through the lingering tears. "I missed you so much I ended up pulling a late-night at work more often than I should."

Her eyes softened as she gently traced the outline of his face with her fingertips. "I thought I was going to lose you in this life too. I missed you too, you know. I missed you so much you don't even realize how many times I reached for my phone to call you. It's not easy being away from the person who means the most to you." She leaned in and kissed him again, a sweet and lingering kiss that spoke volumes of the emotions they had both been holding back.

"I'm sorry," Was what he said as he looked into her eyes. "I shouldn't have put you in a tight spot. I know I've been a little too harsh- okay, not just a little, a lot too harsh. I never wanted to raise my voice at you, which I really regret, and I never want you to feel like you're losing me. I wanted to give you space, but I didn't realize how much I needed you until you weren't there."

"No, I'm the one who should apologize," That was her attempt to speak through a choked voice. She held his gaze, her fingers gently tracing little hearts on his blanket. "I talked to Haejun about... us, about you and me. And I realized how much I hurt you. I never wanted to make you feel like you were just a second choice or that I was still figuring things out. I love you, Heeseung. I love you more than

Heeseung sighed, his thumb brushing away a tear that escaped from the corner of her eye. "We both made mistakes. I should have communicated better, and I shouldn't have let my insecurities get the best of me. But we can learn from this, right?" He smiled gently, a softness in his eyes that made Y/N's heart flutter. "Because I don't want to let you go and this break really shattered me. I never wanted that. I spent the days thinking about you, thinking of all the things I hate about you-"

"Hate...?" That sounded wrong. So wrong. But before Y/N could react, Heeseung chuckled softly, a warmth returning to his eyes. 

"I mean the things I hate about not having you around. I have a pretty long list of all those things if you ever want to hear them one day." Heeseung smiled a little, pulling her closer as she sat on top of him. A gasp echoed through the room while her hands rested on his shoulders. "I hate not being able to hear your laughter from my apartment. I hate that I can't just knock on your door whenever I want to see your beautiful face. But most of all, I hate not having you to love. It's like a missing piece, Y/N, and I can't stand it. So please... please come back home."

Her tears were now tears of joy, and she couldn't help but smile through them. "Home, huh?" She whispered, leaning her forehead against his. "I missed our home too-" The door opened and the two of them paused, turning their attention toward the entrance. A nurse with a warm smile stood there, holding Minjae's small hand while his eyes widened in disbelief. Then a big smile lit up his face, realizing that his favorite noona was there. 

"Mommy!" The word echoed through the place as he ran to Y/N, his arms wrapping around her in a tight embrace. Y/N froze, her heart racing. The realization that this was a moment she had both longed for and feared made her breath catch in her throat. This little boy, who had been left by his own mother, had come to see her as his own. It was both a heartwarming and sobering realization. To be called 'Mommy' and to have someone look at her with so much love and trust made the tears stream down her face uncontrollably. She knelt down to Minjae's eye level, cupping his cheeks in her hands.

"Minjae, my sweet boy. I missed you so much." The little boy muttered a shy "me too", his voice muffled as he buried his face in Y/N's shoulder. "Danbi missed you a lot, too." 

Heeseung's eyes lit up with joy, and he approached, kneeling down beside them, his eyes softening as he looked at Y/N and Minjae. "You really missed your mommy, huh?" he said, ruffling Minjae's hair gently while she stared at them with utter love and contentment. The sight of Heeseung with Minjae, the three of them forming an unexpected but undeniably beautiful family made the fear of history repeating itself fade away. 

She wrapped her arms around the two of them and closed her eyes, feeling the warmth and comfort surrounding her. This time, she wasn't going to be alone. he wasn't going to have her heart broken and then spend the rest of her life regretting that she didn't fight for the love she deserved because her soulmate was there, holding her close. 

The world wasn't so harsh and cruel anymore, Y/N thought while staring at the love of her life and the little boy who was going to fill their lives with laughter and joy. 

The world is finally letting us breathe, she mused silently. It's finally giving us a chance to build something beautiful. And I know my world will be brighter—only if you stay.