"Is Tae-pyung still not answering?" Min-hee asked, her voice laced with anxiety as she repeatedly tried to call her son, her hand trembling slightly with worry.
"His phone is turned off," Ji-hwan replied, his expression equally tense. "Have you tried calling Dong-hoon? Tae-pyung might be with him."
"He said they haven't talked. Where could that child be again? It's late, and the rain is pouring so heavily." Min-hee expressed, her voice cracking with concern. She could feel her chest tightening as each minute passed without news of Tae-pyung.
Moments later, Min-hee's phone suddenly rang, shattering the silence in the room.
"Hello, yes, this is... What?! What happened to my son?!" Min-hee exclaimed in shock, her voice trembling as the words reached her. Her heart skipped a beat.
"We need to go to the hospital right now," the voice on the other end said urgently. "My son..." Min-hee's voice faltered, and she felt her legs nearly give way beneath her.
"Calm down, Min-hee," Ji-hwan said, his voice steady but filled with concern. He reached out to steady her. "He's in the hospital now. Let's go."
-----
Meanwhile, Eon-jin had arrived at the park, her heart pounding with each step as the rain continued to pour. She looked around frantically, but there was no sign of Tae-pyung. Her worry grew with each passing second.
"Tae-pyung! Tae-pyung, are you here?!" she cried out desperately, her voice trembling as she sobbed. "I'm here, please. I'm sorry. Where are you, please?"
From where she stood, her eyes caught sight of a small, hunched figure under the slide. Without hesitation, Eon-jin rushed over. Her heart nearly stopped when she saw him—Tae-pyung, unconscious, lying motionless on the ground.
"Tae-pyung, Tae-pyung, wake up! Tae-pyung, please, I'm here! Wake up!" she cried, her voice breaking with panic and fear. When he didn't respond, Eon-jin's hands began to shake as she pulled out her phone to dial for help.
She clutched his limp body, tears streaming down her face as she whispered through her sobs. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Tae-pyung. Please wake up, don't leave me."
The ambulance arrived shortly after, and both Eon-jin and Tae-pyung were loaded into the vehicle, soaked to the bone from the relentless rain. Eon-jin held his hand tightly, not willing to let go as the nurse quickly checked his condition.
"His fever is very high, and his blood pressure is dangerously low. Are you related to the patient?" the nurse asked as she worked.
Eon-jin nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm his girlfriend."
The nurse gave her a sympathetic nod and handed her a towel, noticing how Eon-jin's body was shivering from the cold.
They arrived at the hospital, and Tae-pyung was immediately rushed into the emergency room. Eon-jin, feeling lost and powerless, called her mother and informed her of the situation. She told her she would come right away. Eon-jin was unable to stop the tears that flowed freely as she waited for news, her heart heavy with worry.
After what felt like an eternity, a nurse came out carrying Tae-pyung's belongings and informed them that they had also contacted his family.
"How is he, Doctor? Is he awake?" Eon-jin asked anxiously, her voice thick with emotion.
"The patient is still unconscious. His fever is still high, and we've administered medication. He hasn't eaten much, and he's severely dehydrated and exhausted. I recommend he stays here for at least two days for observation," the doctor replied, his voice calm but serious.
