ECHOES IN SILENCE | Yoon Jaehyuk FF |✅

page | 07

-Clinging to fragile threads-

Days passed, and Jaehyuk had grown more determined than ever. He was set on bringing Zumi back, no matter the cost. He needed her to remember him—not just as a fleeting figure in her life, but as her boyfriend, her savior, her supporter, her lover. Each day, he would talk to her about their past, recounting memories in vivid detail, as if his words alone could summon her back to him. Yet, even as the months rolled by, she showed no signs of progress, no hint of recollection, and nothing that pointed to the trauma still gripping her. Jaehyuk was left in a state of confusion, anxiously balancing between hope and despair. Her condition wasn’t getting better, but it wasn’t worsening either.

One bright, sunny morning, Jaehyuk stood by the window of his apartment, staring out at the sky. The weather was perfect—warm and inviting, the kind of day they used to spend together, lost in each other’s company. He clung to the hope that today might be different, that today he could fight for her, just like he always had. After a quick breakfast, he drove over to see Zumi, his heart heavy with the weight of what might happen.

When he arrived, he slowly pushed open her bedroom door, greeting her as he did every day. "Good morning, Zumi," he whispered, though her vacant eyes didn’t meet his. He sat beside her, watching her chest rise and fall with the assistance of the machines. Little by little, his hope flickered, rising and falling like the erratic lines on her heart monitor. Today, he didn’t speak to her. Instead, he kissed her forehead gently, lingering there as if the contact could somehow transfer all his love, all his unspoken fears. Then, he left for work, hoping the day would pass quickly.

Later that evening, after a draining conference meeting, Jaehyuk was walking back to his office when his phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out and glanced at the screen—Miss Lee, Zumi’s nurse.

"Yes, Miss Lee?" he answered quickly, feeling a sudden knot tighten in his chest. "Is everything alright?"

Her voice was shaky, barely holding itself together. "No, Mr. Yoon. It’s Zumi… I don’t know what’s happening, but she—she’s struggling to breathe. Please, come home as fast as you can!"

Jaehyuk’s world shattered in an instant. "What?!" His voice broke as panic surged through him. "I’m coming right now. Don’t let her out of your sight, Miss Lee. I’m coming!" He ended the call without waiting for a reply and immediately dialed another number.

"Dr. Park," he said urgently when the doctor picked up, "Zumi's condition is worsening. She’s struggling to breathe. You need to come to my house—now!" Without giving the doctor time to respond, Jaehyuk hung up, his fingers trembling as he grabbed his car keys and sprinted out of the office.

He drove like a man possessed, tearing through the streets at reckless speeds. Traffic lights, signs, none of it mattered. There was only one thing that mattered now: Zumi. His mind raced with terrifying thoughts, each one worse than the last. He couldn’t lose her. Not now. Not ever.

When he arrived, Dr. Park and his team had just pulled up as well. They all rushed inside, their faces grim with urgency. Jaehyuk didn’t hesitate. He ran straight to Zumi’s room, his heart pounding as he opened the door. Miss Lee was sitting beside her, trying to keep her calm, but the second she saw them, she stood up and moved aside to give them space.

"Zumi?" Jaehyuk's voice cracked as he rushed to her side. Fear and dread filled his every word. He gently took her hand, squeezing it as if it could somehow ground him to reality. The doctors immediately went to work, Dr. Park checking her pulse, another doctor monitoring the machines, and yet another flipping through her medical records.

Suddenly, Zumi’s body began to tremble violently, convulsing in uncontrollable spasms. Everyone in the room froze for a split second, their eyes wide with fear. Dr. Park was the first to snap out of it. "We need to hospitalize her, now!" he barked at his team. He turned to Jaehyuk, who looked pale and paralyzed. "Mr. Yoon, we don’t have time to waste. We need to move her immediately."