Hunters of the Night

Chapter 4

It was the fourth day for Jimin in the hospital, two of which he'd been conscious. But 48 hours was enough to make him crave going home. Fortunately, In-Ho – Doctor Cheon – had given him the all clear to go home tomorrow. Just one more night.

The only thing that still hurt where his ribs, but In-Ho didn't think that was a reason to keep him in the hospital.

Jimin giggled, thinking of his doctor by his first name. Meeting him felt like such a meet cute from a K-drama. Though it had just been innocent flirting between the two, nothing more.

He was looking forward to going home, back to his 1-bedroomapartment on the side of the river. Having some time for himself, without nurses roaming the hallways or visitors coming into his room unannounced. At home, he could truly relax. And maybe take a stroll along the Han River – if his ribs would not cause a problem.

During their visit yesterday, his mother had said Jimin should come to their house for at least a week. "Just until your ribs have healed," she explained, but Jimin had declined.

"It's important for me to go back to the life I had before my accident, mom," he told her, while looking at the pained expression on his mother's face. "We've been through this. I need my personal space as soon as I get out of here."

His father had agreed with Jimin and he nodded approvingly as Jimin's mother reluctantly agreed to follow Jimin's wishes.

"But I will make you dinner for the first couple of days!"

Jimin agreed to those terms. That was the least he could do to ease his mother's worries. She had been like this ever since her 4-year-old daughter – Jimin's sister Choon Hee – had died from drowning in the pool of their neighbors. That was eleven years ago now. But his mother had not been able to stop smothering her only child since then.

Jimin didn't mind so much. He liked the fact that his mother was so 'motherly', although at times like these it was hard to convince her that he was indeed now a grown man and not the thirteen year old who had screamed his lungs out as he saw his baby sister floating lifeless in the pool.

He sighed and pushed himself up. He placed a pillow against the wall and positioned his back against it, with his legs up, so he could continue the book he was reading in. He grabbed the book, and his reading glasses, from the night stand and took a deep breath as he sought the page where he had ended reading yesterday.

A knock sounded on the door and a dark 'hello' made her look up.

A tall, heavy weight man held up his hand as he stood at the doorframe. "Can I come in?"

He frowned. "Do I know you?"

The man chuckled. "Well, I don't know how much you remember of your accident, but I took you to the hospital. The name's Chris Pandelli."

His eyes widened. "Oh! I'm sorry. Yes, come in!" he signaled him in with his hand, and placed the book and reading glasses back on the nightstand.

Chris took the chair from the corner and sat down.

"I hear I owe you my life."

The man shrugged. "Well, I don't know about that." He looked at his hands. "Me and my friends just happened to be at the right place, at the right time. I was curious to see how you were doing so I spoke to your doctor. Cheon was his name I think."

Jimin nodded.

"He said you'd be going home tomorrow?"

Jimin nodded.

"You know, we weren't even supposed to be on that highway," Chris said and Jimin frowned. "I took the wrong turn and ended up driving for several miles in the wrong direction." He grinned. "Such a tourist thing to do, isn't it? We met up with some friends for a concert that Sunday, three cars in total. I drove the first car and I took the wrong turn. The other two initially followed but after ten minutes or so, pulled over to call me. That's when I saw your car in the middle of the road," he explained, "When I got to where you were lying, two guys were already there."