Yours (Taekook)

chapter 36 🍀

As night’s dark mantle lifted, the first light of dawn spilled across the horizon in shades of vermilion. The quiet murmur of voices echoed, tinged with sorrow, as faces gathered in glum assembly. Eyes glistened with unshed tears, hearts raced in unease, and a heaviness filled the air—a stark contrast to the morning's bright promise. Not every sunrise can paint smiles upon weary faces. So it was for the couple seated nearby, asleep but burdened by an apology that lingered like an unspoken vow on their troubled expressions.

the atmosphere is typically charged with a mix of urgency and tension. The air is heavy with the faint scent of antiseptics, and the sterile white walls echo with the soft hum of machinery and the distant beeping of monitors.

Crowds move purposefully, a blend of worried families, busy medical staff, and the occasional chatter of patients. Nurses glide by, their scrubs a blur of color, while doctors engage in hushed conversations, consulting charts or making quick rounds.

Visitors, often anxious, fill the waiting areas, their expressions revealing a spectrum of emotions—fear, hope, and uncertainty. Some sit hunched over, clutching their phones, while others pace nervously, glancing at the clock as if time itself holds the answers to their questions.

The atmosphere is punctuated by the occasional laughter or tears, a reminder of life's fragility. Despite the bustling energy, there’s an underlying sense of solidarity; everyone here shares a common thread of seeking care, comfort, or clarity amidst the chaos.

Around the girl, muffled sounds swirled, but she remained curled up, her head resting in the shelter of her love. Tear stains lingered on her flushed cheeks, and her face twisted, caught in the grip of a nightmare. The sterile scent in the air slipped past her nostrils, stirring a ripple of unease within her mind. She murmured softly in her troubled sleep, her faint words rousing the elder beside her from slumber, as though even her whispers could not go unheard.

“What happened?” Eunwoo’s voice was soft, but his gaze was fixed on the girl, her face still etched with fear and sorrow. She had finally drifted into sleep last night, yet now, as consciousness returned, he worried she might break down again. Gently, he took her hand, brushing his thumb across her skin in soothing circles, a quiet promise of reassurance reflected in his steady smile.

“S...she? M...Oh my god, w...we did a cri—” Her words faltered as Eunwoo placed his hand over her mouth, silencing her. Shaking his head, he straightened, voice firm but gentle. “Forget it. No one’s come looking for her, and no one knows. We’ll pay for her recovery, and when she’s well, she can return.”

His words wove around her like a calming spell, his assurance almost hypnotic. Yet, beneath his charm, she was still painfully aware of every choice she’d made, and the weight of what they had done hung between them, unspoken but undeniable.

Panic surged within her, and she shook her head vehemently. Guilt enveloped her like a shroud, drowning out Eunwoo’s words, which felt reckless and misguided in the face of their reality. She couldn’t bring herself to agree; the weight of their actions pressed heavily on her conscience.

“we hit a person, Eunwoo,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “We have no news about her recovery. How can you say we’ll just pay and walk away? This is someone’s life we’re talking about!”

The gravity of the situation hung in the air, suffocating her with its intensity. Every moment they delayed could change everything, and the thought of simply abandoning their responsibility gnawed at her heart.

“You can’t do this, Woo! We hit a person. We have to inform the police,” she declared, lurching upright without hesitation. But Eunwoo reacted swiftly, yanking her back, his eyes burning with intensity.