𝐌𝐚𝐟𝐢𝐚 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 ( 𝐀 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬)

•22•

Jongsuk’s eyes fluttered open, the sterile white ceiling above him seemed familiar to him, and the beeping of machines filled the room. His body felt heavy and restrained, with IV drips attached to his arms and various monitoring devices connected to his chest.

Panic surged through him as memories of the warehouse and the chaos he’d experienced came rushing back. He attempted to sit up, but sharp pain radiated from his head to his arm and leg, forcing him back down.

Suddenly door to the room creaked open, and walked in Hye-joo, her face a mixture of worry and relief. Her eyes widened as she saw him awake.

"Jongsuk!" she exclaimed, rushing to his side. "You’re awake! Thank God."

Her voice was filled with a blend of relief and concern as she gently placed a hand on his shoulder, trying to calm him.

"Where am I?" Jongsuk croaked, his voice barely audible.

"You’re at home," she said softly, tears brimming in her eyes. "You were brought back here after the medics stabilized you. You've been unconscious for a while."

As Jongsuk tried to process this, the door opened again, and his sons Jin, Namjoon, Hoseok, and Jimin walked in. Their faces were a mix of anxiety and relief as they quickly gathered around the bed.

"Dad, you’re awake!" Jin said.

"How are you feeling?" Namjoon asked, his eyes searching Jongsuk’s face for any signs of distress.

"We were so worried," Jimin said quietly.

Jongsuk attempted to speak but his throat was dry. He looked at his sons, trying to convey his concern through his tired eyes.

Hye-joo looked at Jongsuk with concern. "You need to rest. You’re in no condition to move right now."

Jongsuk’s gaze turned to his sons. "I can’t just lie here. What’s happening outside?"

Namjoon placed a reassuring hand on Jongsuk’s shoulder. "We’ve got everything under control. The teams are working hard, and we’re making progress. You need to focus on getting better."

The room fell silent, the weight of the situation hanging heavy in the air. Jongsuk’s strength was waning, and the pain in his arm and leg was a constant reminder of his current state. He slumped back against the pillow, feeling a mix of frustration and helplessness.

Hye-joo gently brushed his hair away from his forehead, her voice soothing. "Please honey, you need to recover. We all need you strong and healthy."

Jongsuk closed his eyes, overwhelmed by the emotions swirling within him.

"Okay," Jongsuk said softly. "I’ll rest."

"We’ll take care of everything," Jin assured him, gripping Jongsuk’s hand. "Just focus on getting better."

Jongsuk settled back into his bed, the pain in his arm and leg throbbing with every movement. Exhaustion began to overcome him, and he closed his eyes, trying to focus on rest. The room was quiet, the only sounds were the beeping of the medical equipment and the occasional murmur from outside.

The door creaked opened again and Seojun, walked in. Seojun had been out of town on business, but he had rushed back upon hearing the news of his Jongsuk's condition.

"Dad," Seojun said softly as he approached the bed, "I just heard about what happened. How are you feeling?"

Jongsuk opened his eyes, offering a faint smile. "Better, just trying to rest and recover."