ECHOES IN SILENCE | Yoon Jaehyuk FF |✅

page | 06

A promise of love

As Jae entered Zumi’s room, the atmosphere was thick with tension, and his heart immediately dropped when the once rhythmic beeping of the machines shifted to a frantic, alarming screech. Lights on the monitors blinked erratically, signaling something was terribly wrong. Zumi lay motionless, her chest barely rising, and it became evident she was struggling to breathe. Her face had turned a pale shade, her once peaceful expression now contorted with distress. The machines continued to blare urgently, each beep feeling like a knife in Jae’s chest.

For a moment, Jae stood frozen in place, his mind unable to process the sudden shift in her condition. He had just been with her, speaking to her, reminiscing about their past, sharing tender memories of when they first met, of their first date, and how their love had blossomed. Her reaction, a single tear that had escaped the corner of her eye, had filled him with a brief moment of hope—hope that perhaps she was still in there, still able to hear him and feel something, even if it was just an emotional response. But now, it was as if everything had come crashing down. Her shallow breaths became more labored, as though invisible hands were gripping her throat, and her body began to tremble violently, almost as if she were locked in a terrible nightmare, one she couldn’t wake from.

“Zumi!” Jae shouted, his voice desperate and thick with fear. He rushed to her side, grabbing her hand, feeling how cold it had become. “Zumi, what’s happening? Please, wake up. Please!” His words were frantic, pleading, but they seemed to fall on deaf ears. Zumi’s body continued to convulse slightly, her chest rising and falling unevenly as though she were suffocating. In his desperation, Jae fumbled for his phone, his fingers shaking uncontrollably as he dialed the number he had on speed dial—the number he never wanted to call again.

The line clicked, and on the other end, a voice answered calmly, “Mr. Yoon?”

“Dr. Park,” Jae’s voice was frantic, barely keeping it together. “It’s an emergency! Zumi—she’s not breathing properly, and the machines are going crazy! I don’t know what’s happening!” The panic in his voice was unmistakable, and the terror in his eyes could be felt through the phone.

“Stay calm, Mr. Yoon,” Dr. Park replied quickly, his tone shifting into a professional urgency. “I’ll be there immediately with my team. Hold tight.”

The call ended abruptly, leaving Jae standing in the room, the shrill sound of the machines filling his ears. He felt utterly helpless as he stared at Zumi’s fragile form. Seconds felt like hours as he clutched her hand, whispering to her, “Just hold on, Zumi. Please, just hold on.”

Within minutes, although it felt like an eternity to Jae, Dr. Park and his medical team arrived. They entered the room swiftly, their faces masked with calm determination, but Jae could see the concern in their eyes. Without wasting a second, the team gathered around Zumi, checking the monitors, her vitals, and the machines. One of the nurses adjusted the oxygen levels, while another began checking her pulse and other immediate signs of distress.

Jae, still clutching Zumi’s hand, moved back slightly, giving the doctors room to work, but he never let go. His heart pounded in his chest as he watched them work methodically to stabilize her. He could hear them discussing amongst themselves, using medical jargon that was far beyond his understanding, but all he cared about was whether she would be okay.

The doctors worked with precision, adjusting machines, checking her oxygen saturation, and administering medication through her IV. Her body slowly began to calm, the trembling subsiding as her breathing became more regulated, though still weak. The blaring alarms from the machines gradually quieted down, replaced by a steady, rhythmic beeping that signaled Zumi’s vitals had stabilized—at least for the time being.