Embers of Hope// Hyunlix

Chapter - 32

The next morning, Hyunjin woke up with a sense of dread swirling in his stomach. Despite Felix's reassuring words and gentle touches, the fear of facing Eunji lingered in his mind. He dressed slowly, staring at his reflection in the mirror, the scars on his body a constant reminder of his past trauma. He wished he could just stay home, cocooned in the safety of their bed, but he knew he had to face the world again.

At the office, he kept his distance from Eunji, avoiding her sweet smiles and casual conversations like the plague. She seemed to be everywhere—her presence oppressive and suffocating. Hyunjin focused on his work, desperate to block out the anxiety crawling up his spine.

As the day dragged on, he felt a mix of relief and anxiety. Relief that he had made it through the day, but anxiety that he had to leave the safety of the office and head back home. When the clock finally struck five, he gathered his things, eager to escape.

Hyunjin stepped outside, the cool breeze hitting his face as he walked toward his car. Just as he reached the parking lot, he heard "Hyunjin move!". It was Jisung. But before he could say anything, he heard the screeching of tires and felt the ground shake beneath him. His heart raced as he turned to see a car speeding toward him. Panic surged through him, and he froze, unable to react.

The impact was brutal. Pain shot through his body as he was knocked to the ground, the world blurring around him. The last thing he saw was the unmistakable face behind the wheel—Eunji.

Jisung's POV: 

As I stepped out of the shop, a sense of contentment washed over me after picking up a few snacks for our movie night. The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm glow over the street. I turned to head back toward my car when I spotted Hyunjin walking toward his own vehicle.

"Hyunjin!" I called, raising my hand in greeting, but my heart dropped when I noticed a car speeding down the road, barreling toward him without any signs of slowing down.

"Hyunjin, move!" I shouted, panic flooding my voice as I rushed forward, but it was too late. The car collided with him, sending him sprawling to the ground. My stomach twisted in horror as I witnessed the brutal impact.

For a brief moment, I caught a glimpse of the driver's face through the windshield, and my breath caught in my throat as I recognized her: Eunji. But how? She was dead! Confusion and fear gripped me as adrenaline surged through my veins.

"Hyunjin!" I yelled, sprinting toward my friend, who lay bleeding on the pavement, his body twisted at an unnatural angle. I knelt beside him, panic overwhelming me. "Stay with me, Hyunjin! Please!"

His eyes fluttered open, filled with pain and fear. I could see the crimson stains spreading across his shirt, and the sight sent a chill through me.

"Hang on," I said, fumbling for my phone with shaking hands. I quickly dialed Felix's number, praying he'd pick up.

"Come on, come on," I muttered as the phone rang. When Felix answered, concern laced his voice.

"Jisung? What's wrong?"

"There's been an accident! It's Hyunjin! He—he was hit by a car!" I shouted, tears streaming down my face as I tried to remain composed. "You need to get to the hospital now!"

"What?! How did this happen?!" Felix's voice grew frantic.

"I don't know! Just hurry!" I pleaded before hanging up, quickly calling Minho next.

"Minho! It's Hyunjin! He's hurt! You need to get to the hospital!" I said, my voice trembling.

"What? What happened?" Minho's tone turned serious.

"Eunji is back. She hit him with her car!" I could barely manage to get the words out, feeling sick at the thought.

"What?! I'll be there!" Minho exclaimed before hanging up.

I returned my focus to Hyunjin, who was losing consciousness. "Stay with me, Hyunjin. Help is on the way. You're going to be okay," I whispered, hoping against hope that it was true.

Felix's POV:

I barely made it back to my office when my phone rang, the sound slicing through the tense silence like a knife. My heart raced when I saw Jisung's name flash across the screen.

"Jisung?" I answered, my voice steady despite the anxiety bubbling inside me.

"Felix! There's been an accident! It's Hyunjin! He—he was hit by a car!" Jisung's frantic voice sent ice through my veins.

"What?! How did this happen?!" I demanded, my pulse quickening as dread washed over me.

"I don't know! Just hurry!" Jisung pleaded before hanging up.

I stood frozen for a moment, processing his words. My world felt like it was collapsing around me. I grabbed my jacket and bolted out of the office, my mind racing. I needed to get to Hyunjin. He couldn't be hurt. Not again. Not after everything we had fought through together.

The drive to the hospital was a blur. I couldn't shake the feeling of impending doom as the world outside blurred past me. My knuckles turned white on the steering wheel, my heart thundering in my chest. I kept replaying Jisung's words, each time feeling the weight of fear clawing at my insides.

When I arrived at the hospital, I rushed through the sliding doors, the sterile smell of antiseptic hitting me like a wave. Panic surged as I approached the reception desk, my voice barely above a whisper as I asked, "Where is Lee Hyunjin ?"

"Room 304," the nurse replied, her expression unreadable.

I sprinted down the hallway, each step heavy with dread. Room 304 loomed ahead like a dark cloud, and I pushed the door open without hesitation.

The hospital door opened, and the sight before me broke something deep inside. Hyunjin lay unconscious, his skin pale, bruises marking his delicate face and body. His chest barely moved under the bandages wrapped tightly around him. I could hardly breathe. My heart, already fragile, shattered at the sight of him like this.

I felt a sob catch in my throat, my legs weak beneath me as I stumbled closer. Hyunjin was always so full of life, but now he looked... broken, like a fragile doll barely holding on. How could this have happened?

Tears welled up in my eyes as I stood by his bedside, my trembling fingers reaching for his hand. His skin was cold. Unresponsive. My chest tightened, and suddenly, the weight of everything we'd been through felt unbearable. I couldn't lose him. Not now.

"I... I can't," I muttered, my voice barely a whisper as tears spilled down my cheeks. My knees buckled, and I fell to the floor, my sobs echoing through the room.

"Felix..." Chan's voice was soft, full of concern, as he knelt beside me. I buried my face in my hands, the pain too much to contain. "Who... Who did this to Hyunjin?"

I didn't answer. I didn't have the strength. I just shook my head, still cradling Hyunjin's hand in mine, feeling completely helpless.

"It was Eunji," Jisung's voice cut through the silence like a knife. My body froze. Chan, Changbin, Seungmin and Jeongin all went silent. Except for Minho, who didn't react.

Eunji? But she was dead.

"How?" Chan asked, his voice filled with disbelief.

Minho finally spoke up, his voice grim. "Eunji was the one our mom was talking to on the phone. The person she ordered to kill Hyunjin... it was her."

The room fell into a stunned silence, each of us struggling to comprehend the gravity of what Minho had just revealed. I couldn't wrap my head around it. Eunji. She was supposed to be dead, yet she was the one behind this.

Before I could even gather my thoughts, the door opened, and the doctor walked in, his expression somber.

"I'm sorry to inform you, but Hyunjin has slipped into a coma," the doctor said quietly.

My heart sank, and I gripped Hyunjin's hand tighter, trying to keep the flood of emotions from pulling me under. How could this be happening?

I had promised myself to love him, to protect him, but now... now he was slipping away, and I couldn't do anything to stop it.