A week went by, and the tension between Soobin and Yeonjun remained unbroken. Yeonjun stuck to his routine, cooking his own breakfast every morning before heading to the hospital to visit his grandmother during designated hours. Meanwhile, Soobin continued his volunteer work, dedicating time to Yeonjun's halmeoni, accompanying her to treatments that required her to leave her room. Despite their shared responsibilities, Soobin and Yeonjun maintained a deliberate distance, ignoring each other's presence as if the uncomfortable encounter had never occurred.
Currently, they were in the hospital, surrounded by the beeping of machines and the antiseptic smell of disinfectant. Soobin was massaging Halmeoni's legs, his fingers gentle on her frail skin, while Yeonjun held her arms, attaching them to his cheeks. "Where's my husband?" Halmeoni asked, her eyes wandering, her mind lost in the past. "He went fishing, didn't he? When will he come back with fresh fish for me?"
Halmeoni's eyes, clouded with worry, searched the room for a familiar face. "Where's Ye Jun? My son didn't return from school yet?" she asked, her voice trembling with concern, as if stuck in a memory from decades past. Yeonjun's face contorted in pain, his eyes welling up with tears as he held her arms close, whispering, "Halmeoni, Ye Jun is my father...he's not here right now."
Halmeoni's confusion turned to distress as she looked around frantically. "Why am I here? I want to see my husband and son! Who are you two strangers?" she exclaimed, her voice shaking with anxiety. "Where is this place? Take me home, I want to go home!" she pleaded, her eyes darting between Soobin and Yeonjun, searching for a familiar face.
Yeonjun's voice cracked as he sobbed, "Halmeoni, you're not feeling well, so I brought you to the hospital. It's me, Yeonjun, your grandson. Harabeoji is no longer with us, and Appa , your son Ye Jun, is in Seoul." Yeonjun's body trembled as he wept, his words choked with grief, as he tried to comfort his bewildered halmeoni grandmother.
Soobin quickly summoned Dr. Hong, who promptly arrived and assessed Halmeoni's distress. To calm her agitation, Dr. Hong administered a gentle injection, carefully monitoring Halmeoni's response. She then checked Halmeoni's vital signs, noting her pulse and blood pressure, before softly speaking to her in a soothing tone. "It's okay, Yoon Hee-ssi, you're safe now," she whispered. As the medication took effect, Dr. Hong carefully turned Halmeoni onto her side, ensuring her comfort and safety, and tucked the hospital blankets snugly around her. "Let's get you some rest, Yoon Hee-ssi," she whispered, as Halmeoni's eyelids grew heavy, and she drifted off to sleep, surrounded by the quiet beeps of the hospital monitors.
Dr. Hong's expression turned sympathetic as she noticed Yeonjun's tears. "What's happening to Halmeoni?" Yeonjun asked, his voice shaking. Dr. Hong's eyes filled with compassion as she explained, "She's showing symptoms of her dementia worsening again. I'll do my best to treat her, but I have a request: please don't put too much pressure on her mind by providing her with information about recent events when her mind is stuck in the past. It's best to let her stay in the moment she's comfortable with, even if it's not the present." Yeonjun nodded, wiping away his tears, as Dr. Hong continued, "Let's focus on making her feel safe and loved, Yoon Hee-ssi needs that right now."
As Dr. Hong departed, Yeonjun sat beside his grandma, gently holding her hand, and watching her peaceful face, a mix of sadness and serenity. He wiped away his own tears, trying to compose himself, but the pain of seeing his halmeoni like this was overwhelming. The beeping of the machines and the soft hum of the hospital equipment filled the silence. Thirty minutes passed, and a gentle voice broke the stillness. "I'm so sorry, but visiting hours are over. You'll need to leave now," the nurse said softly, her eyes sympathetic. Yeonjun nodded, reluctant to let go of his grandma's hand, but knowing he had to. He leaned forward, whispering, "I'll be back tomorrow, Halmeoni. I love you." With one last glance, he stood up, and quietly left the room.
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❝ Stardust & Heartstrings ❞ YEONBIN FF
FanfictionWhen the threads of fate entwine, the past and present converge. For Yeonjun, the sudden reappearance of Soobin, the one who had once captivated his heart, awakens a decade-old longing. As they stand before each other, the whispers of their youthful...
