STAY for a while (Taekook)

💜Chapter-16💜

  Pale.......

The tall man sits on the edge of the couch, his posture tense and his eyes fixed on the figure lying motionless on the bed. The dim light casts a soft glow, but it’s the reflection in his eyes that tells the story—a reflection of the one who now lies lifeless. His heart pounds restlessly in his chest, torn between disbelief and dread. The silence in the room is heavy, broken only by his shallow breaths as he battles the storm of emotions threatening to consume him.

After administering the final injection, the doctor straightened, a mixture of fatigue and determination in his gaze. He gestured for the tall man on the couch to rise, and together they stood by the bedside, the air thick with anticipation. The doctor’s eyes held a quiet hope, searching the face of the lifeless man for any sign of change, any flicker of life. Perhaps it was the hope for a recovery, a belief that the younger man might still pull through, that kept him going. That small, fragile hope lingered in the room, as they waited in shared silence.

“Come,” the doctor said softly, breaking the silence. The tae , lifted his eyes from the younger man’s still face—the only part of him visible beneath the sheets—and met the doctor’s gaze. Reluctantly, he followed the doctor out of the room, the tension between them palpable.

“Tae,” He said as they entered the hall, his eyes meeting those of the tall, fair, muscular man standing before him. There was a heaviness in his voice, a concern that Tae couldn’t ignore.

“Tae, I need to talk to you,” He continued, his voice laced with worry. Tae’s eyes searched the doctor’s for answers, hoping to find something that concerned him. But there was nothing—no indication that it was about him, and he sighed inwardly.

“Yes, Hyung, please, come.” Tae led them to the hall, offering, “You sit; I’ll bring—”

“No, thanks,” He interrupted, looking down for a moment, gathering his thoughts. “Tae, sit here,” he said, gesturing toward the sofa. Tae did as he was asked, his heart heavy with unease.

The doctor took a deep breath, preparing himself for the difficult conversation ahead. “Tae, I know this is personal,” he began, carefully choosing his words, “but…”

There was a pause, a moment where every word mattered, and the doctor wanted to ensure his tone conveyed concern, not blame. After all, the man sitting across from him was dear to him—like a brother he cherished deeply.

“As your Hyung, I’ve always put your well-being above everything else,” Seojin began, his tone calm but firm. “But as a doctor, I have a responsibility to my patient as well, and I hope you can understand that.” His words hung in the air, and Tae’s eyes remained fixed on him, blank and unreadable.

Seojin continued, struggling to find the right words. “I know things happen between couples, but… what I witnessed today…” His voice faltered, the weight of what he needed to say pressing down on him. Gathering his strength, he looked directly at Tae. “You did wrong,” he finally said, his voice steady, though his eyes were filled with disappointment.

“What you did was horrible,” Seojin continued, his gaze unwavering. “I see many patients every day, but treating someone in this condition—someone you once knew—it's heartbreaking, Tae. No matter how angry you were, what you did is not acceptable.”

Seojin leaned forward slightly, his voice dropping lower. “Do you know what it’s called when you do this to someone?” he asked, his eyes searching Tae’s, hoping to reach him. Tae’s gaze didn’t waver, locking with Seojin’s, as the gravity of the situation settled between them.

Seojin leaned back, the weight of his words pressing on him. “I’m grateful you called me. If someone else had come, they might have called the cops,” he said, shaking his head in disbelief. His eyes met Tae’s hazel ones, searching for a reaction, but Tae remained expressionless, unmoved by everything he had heard.