RARE MATE

Healing scars

The days passed in a blur as Seokmin walked into the path of recovery from the trauma his body had endured.

He was still weak, but every day brought a little more strength, a little more life back into his eyes.

Soonyoung was with him every step of the way. He refused to leave Seokmin’s side, even as his friends urged him to take care of himself.

The hospital had become a second home to him, the sterile walls and the steady beep of machines a constant backdrop to his days. But none of that mattered as long as Seokmin was getting better.

The healing process was slow, each day a struggle, but Seokmin was resilient. His body was fighting back, scars forming where the burns had been. Yet, it was the emotional wounds that worried Soonyoung the most.

One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm orange glow across the room, Soonyoung sat by Seokmin’s bed, a bowl of broth in his hands. “You need to eat,” he urged gently, holding out a spoonful.

Seokmin wrinkled his nose, his appetite still weak. “I’m not hungry,” he mumbled, turning his head away.

Soonyoung sighed, his heart aching at the sight of Seokmin’s hollow cheeks and sunken eyes. “Please, Princess. Just a little. For me?”

Seokmin glanced at Soonyoung, the pleading in his eyes breaking through his resistance.

He opened his mouth, accepting the spoonful, grimacing slightly at the taste. Soonyoung smiled encouragingly, feeding him another spoonful. It was a small victory, but it was a victory nonetheless.

After Seokmin managed to eat half the bowl, he lay back against the pillows, exhaustion evident in his every movement.

Soonyoung set the bowl aside, pulling his chair closer to the bed. “Do you want to talk about it?” he asked softly, his eyes searching for Seokmin’s face.

Seokmin was silent for a moment, his gaze fixed on the ceiling. “I keep seeing the fire,” he admitted, his voice barely audible. “Every time I close my eyes, it’s there. I can’t... I can’t get it out of my head.”

Soonyoung’s heart twisted with pain. He reached out, taking Seokmin’s hand on his own. “It’s okay to be scared,” he said gently. “What you went through... it’s normal to feel this way.”

Seokmin shook his head, tears pooling in his eyes. “I feel so weak,” he choked out. “I hate feeling like this.”

“You’re not weak,” Soonyoung insisted, squeezing Seokmin’s hand. “You’re one of the strongest people I know. You survived, Princess. You fought, and you’re still fighting. That’s not a weakness. That’s strength.”

Seokmin’s lips trembled, and he blinked rapidly, trying to hold back his tears. “I’m scared, Soonie,” he confessed, his voice breaking. “What if... what if I can’t be the same again? What if I can’t be the Seokmin you love?”

Soonyoung’s heart ached at the vulnerability in Seokmin’s voice. He leaned closer, cupping Seokmin’s face in his hands. “Listen to me,” he said firmly, his eyes boring into Seokmin’s. “I love you for who you are, not for what you can do. You don’t have to be the same Seokmin you were before. You just have to be you. And that’s more than enough.”

A single tear slipped down Seokmin’s cheek, and Soonyoung brushed it away gently. “I’m here, Princess. I’m not going anywhere. We’ll get through this together, one step at a time.”

Seokmin nodded, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. He reached up, his fingers lightly grazing Soonyoung’s cheek. “Thank you,” he whispered, his voice filled with gratitude.