DRAWING OUR MOMENTS. | yunhwa

02

—

"And there you go!" Seonghwa's soft voice echoed through the small room.

"Ouch, that hurt, Doctor Hwa," said the little boy, pouting as he rubbed the arm where he had just received the shot.

Seonghwa flashed a warm smile at the younger kid and playfully ruffled his hair.

"Would a sucker make up for it?" he asked, looking up at the kid's mother with a grin, seeking her approval before offering the treat to the child.

The kid's heart raced with excitement as he pleaded with his mom,

"Please, please, please, mommy!" he exclaimed, shaking her arm in anticipation of her answer.

The older woman beamed a gentle, welcoming smile, "I guess that's quite all right." The child let out a gleeful scream and eagerly reached out for the lollipop.

Seonghwa's eyes sparkled with a hint of envy as he witnessed the tender interaction between the two, silently yearning for the same kind of heartfelt connection.

Feeling reluctant to break the moment, it was necessary to exchange a few words with the mother.

"Excuse me, Jiheon, I need to have a word with your mother. Is that okay?" he asked in a soft tone, indicating that he and the mother would step out for a moment.

Jiheon nodded, engrossed in enjoying his lollipop.

As Seonghwa left the room, he let out a deep sigh while gazing up at Jiheon's mother. The weight of the news he had to deliver felt like a boulder on his chest.

The doctor's voice was somber as he delivered the news to the woman. "I'm sorry, but I'm afraid Jiheon's leukemia is getting worse,"

he said softly, his tone low and empty, devoid of any attempt to mask his emotions.

The mother spoke with a tone of fear and confusion, "But during the last check-up, you mentioned that it was showing improvement."

Seonghwa took a deep breath, his eyes reflecting the weight of the world.

"I know, and I truly believed it was. But the latest tests indicate otherwise. We need to discuss the next steps and treatment options."

Tears welled up in the mother's eyes as she struggled to process the news.

"What does this mean for Jiheon? How much time does he have?"

Seonghwa placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"It's hard to say exactly, but we need to act quickly. There are still options, and we won't give up. We'll fight this together."

The mother's hands clenched into tight fists, resting at her sides. Angrily, her hand shot out and made contact with Seonghwa's face with a resounding smack, causing a few nurses nearby to gasp in surprise.

Seonghwa shifted his gaze downwards, deliberately avoiding making eye contact. Before he could finish his apology, he was rudely interrupted.

"Don't speak to me... Jiheon and I are leaving."

She turned away from Seonghwa, opening the door, grabbing Jiheon, and rushing out.

Jiheon waved a quick goodbye to the taller while passing, his innocent smile contrasting sharply with the tension in the air.

Seonghwa stood there, his cheek stinging, feeling the weight of the moment.

Ignoring all the staring from his colleagues, he left to go back to his office, feeling tears form in his eyes.

—
Failure.

A cruel, relentless companion that Seonghwa knew all too well.

The clock on his wall ticked mercilessly, each second a reminder of his inadequacy.

An hour had passed since the incident, and Seonghwa remained frozen at his desk, eyes locked on the file of the young boy he had spoken to.

The boy whose life now hung in the balance.

Lost in the abyss of his thoughts, he was jolted by a knock.

The door creaked open, and a tall brunette's head peeked through, shattering the fragile silence.

—

A/n: Short chapter (honestly a filler chap).