dahyun waved goodbye to Nayeon at the bus stop, watching as the bus faded into the distance. With a quiet sigh, she turned back toward the house. The late evening air carried a chill, and she pulled her jacket closer as she entered. Once inside, she slipped off her shoes and went straight to the kitchen, where she instinctively began preparing a cup of coffee for herself. After a moment, she reached for another cup and poured some milk into it for Jungkook knowing his routine by heart after weeks of therapy sessions.
As she stirred her coffee, her eyes fell on the calendar hanging on the wall. A detail she hadn't consciously registered earlier suddenly stood out today was the last day of jungkook's Stage 1 therapy. Tomorrow marked the beginning of Stage 2.
Dahyun paused, reflecting on the significance of the moment. Stage 1 had been emotionally taxing for him. She had seen how he struggled, how hard he worked, and now the real challenge would begin. A small smile tugged at her lips she wanted to show him that she recognized his progress, that his effort wasn't going unnoticed.
Carrying the milk, Dahyun quietly made her way down the hallway. Stopping at the door to his room, she hesitated briefly before gently knocking. A soft thud followed, then the sound of his voice, low and calm, though tinged with fatigue. "Come in."
Dahyun opened the door and stepped inside. The room was dim, the only light coming from the bedside lamp. Mr. Jeon sat at the edge of his bed, his expression softening when he saw her.
"I brought you some milk," she said softly, stepping closer and holding out the cup. "I thought you might want to relax before tomorrow."
He took the cup from her with a nod, his fingers brushing hers briefly. "Thank you, Dr. Kim." His voice was subdued, as though the weight of the day had settled on him.
Dahyun stood by his bedside for a moment, watching as he sipped the milk. The room was quiet, the air between them filled with the unspoken acknowledgment of how far he had come. Finally, she sat down at the foot of the bed, her posture slightly formal, though her gaze softened.
"Mr. Jeon," she began, her voice calm but measured. "Tomorrow is a big day. Stage 2 will be more challenging. It will push you in ways that might feel uncomfortable, but I want you to remember how far you've already come. You've made significant progress, and I believe you're ready for the next step."
He lowered the cup, placing it on the nightstand, and leaned back slightly. His eyes, though tired, met hers with a sincerity that wasn't always present during their more formal sessions. "I don't know if I'm ready," he admitted, his voice quieter than usual. "Stage 1 was hard enough."
Dahyun nodded, acknowledging the difficulty he faced. "Therapy isn't easy, Mr. Jeon. It's meant to challenge the parts of us we don't want to confront. But you've shown resilience. More than you realize."
He let out a slow breath, his gaze dropping momentarily to his hands. "It just... feels like I'm not moving fast enough. Like I'm stuck."
Dahyun shifted slightly closer, her tone becoming more encouraging but still formal. "Progress isn't measured by speed. It's about the small victories—every step forward, no matter how small, is still a step in the right direction. You've already proven that you're capable of pushing through the hard parts."
Mr. Jeon glanced up at her, his expression softening as if her words had eased some of his internal conflict. "I suppose you're right."
"You've come this far, Mr. Jeon, and I have no doubt you'll continue to grow," Dahyun added. "Tomorrow will be a new challenge, but I'll be there, guiding you just as I have from the beginning."
