Heartbound Enemies

9| Forgiveness

"I don't remember. But if that's true, and I'm here in this hospital because of you—" he paused, his eyes narrowing, "—I'll never forgive you. Ever."
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The rhythmic beeping of the machines echoed softly in the hospital room. Seokjin's eyelids fluttered open slowly, his body heavy and weak. The light from the ceiling seemed too bright, making him squint as his eyes adjusted. His head pounded, and there was a strange, distant ache in his limbs. He blinked again, trying to make sense of his surroundings.

The doctor, standing nearby, noticed him stirring and approached the bed cautiously, her expression a mix of relief and concern. She didn't speak immediately, instead checking his vitals on the monitor. After a moment, she gently touched his shoulder, offering a reassuring smile.

"Seokjin," she said softly, "Can you hear me? Do you know where you are?"

Seokjin's eyes darted around the room before settling on the doctor. His lips parted as if to speak, but he hesitated. His throat felt dry, and the words came out hoarse. "I... I think so. A hospital?"

The doctor nodded, relieved that he recognized his surroundings. "That's right. You're in the hospital. You were brought here two days ago. Do you remember what happened before you got here?"

Seokjin's brow furrowed as he tried to recall the events leading up to this moment. There were flashes—faces, anger, confusion—but nothing solid. "I... don't know. Everything feels blurry. How long have I been out?"

The doctor's expression remained calm, though she studied him closely for any signs of distress. "You've been unconscious for about two days," she said. "It's okay if you don't remember everything right away. Let's take it slow."

Just then, the door opened quietly, and Seokjin's mother stepped inside, her face a mix of joy and worry. She rushed to his side, her hands trembling as they hovered over him before gently resting on his shoulder. "Seokjin, my baby... I knew you'd wake up. I knew you were strong," she whispered, her voice cracking with emotion.

Seokjin looked at her, his expression softening for a moment, but then, out of nowhere, his face grew serious. He blinked a few times, his eyes narrowing as if he was trying to place her. "Excuse me..." he said slowly, tilting his head slightly. "Who... are you?"

His mother's breath hitched in her throat, her heart visibly skipping a beat. Her eyes widened in shock, and she glanced desperately at the doctor, fear etched into every line of her face. "What... Seokjin, what do you mean? It's me, your mother. Do you not recognize me?"

The doctor took a step closer, clearly concerned as well, but before anyone could say anything further, Seokjin's lips curled into a playful smile. He let out a soft laugh and shook his head. "I'm kidding, Mom. I remember you. I just... I had to mess with you a little."

Seokjin's mother, both relieved and frustrated, lightly swatted his arm. "Don't joke like that! You scared me half to death!" she said, her voice a mix of laughter and scolding. But her eyes were still wet with tears of joy.

Seokjin chuckled softly, but then his face grew more serious again as he rubbed his temples. "I still don't get it though... How did I end up here? Was it something bad?"

The doctor exchanged a quick glance with his mother before turning back to Seokjin. "You were involved in a physical altercation at school," she explained, her tone careful, "You've been recovering from your injuries, but you don't have to worry about that right now. Just focus on resting."

Seokjin's mother bit her lip, hesitant for a moment before she spoke. "Do you remember... Taehyung?"

Seokjin leaned back against his pillows, thinking for a moment. "Taehyung?" he muttered. "Yeah, he's the guy behind that awful game at school. But what does he have to do with me being here?"