OVER ME [ZEROBASEONE]

XVIII.

Matthew sat in his chair, hunched over his phone, the glow of the screen casting faint shadows across his face. He was engrossed in a post about animals, the images and facts pulling him away from the tense reality around him. The room was quiet except for the occasional hum of machinery, but Matthew didn't notice the sound of someone stirring behind him.

"Hyung..." A soft, hoarse voice called out, barely audible. Matthew jumped, startled out of his focus. He hadn't heard anyone approach or move. He whipped his head around, heart thumping, and was met with the sight of Yujin. The younger boy's red-rimmed eyes blinked blearily, his pale face etched with exhaustion.

"Yujin?" Matthew's voice cracked as a rush of emotions hit him all at once. Relief, disbelief, and joy swirled inside him as he sprang from his seat. He crossed the room in two strides, kneeling by Yujin's side. "Yujin, you're awake! Thank God." His hands trembled as they clasped Yujin's, his grin wide and unrestrained.

Yujin didn't say much, his body too drained to do anything but stare back. His chest rose and fell in labored breaths, his muscles refusing to cooperate. Yet Matthew's presence—his voice filled with unfiltered relief—seemed to bring some warmth to Yujin's gaze.

"Wait here, I need to tell the others!" Matthew exclaimed, practically bolting from the room to share the news. His footsteps echoed through the hallway, leaving Yujin alone in the quiet space once more.

The younger boy's eyes wandered around the small, sterile room. Everything felt hazy, as if his brain struggled to piece together where he was and why he was here. Machines beeped faintly, their monotonous rhythm both comforting and suffocating. His gaze eventually settled on the far corner of the room, where a figure rested.

She lay motionless, half-covered by a thin blanket. Her dark brown hair, matted with sweat and tangled, framed a bruised and battered face. Bandages wrapped tightly around her torso were stark against her pale skin. A heart monitor beside her emitted an occasional beep, a faint sign of life in her otherwise motionless body. Her chest rose in shallow, uneven breaths. She was alive, but just barely.

Yujin's chest tightened as he stared at her. The sight of her broken form stirred a painful mix of emotions. Memories of her actions flooded his mind—what she had done to him, what she had forced him to endure. And yet, the anger he expected to feel was absent. Instead, a heavy sorrow took its place.

She reminded him too much of his older sister. The thought struck him like a blade. His sister, who had worked tirelessly to provide for their family, only to lose her life in a cruel accident. The resemblance was haunting, and Yujin couldn't shake it. He blinked as a tear rolled down his cheek, falling silently onto the blanket covering him.

The sound of hurried footsteps broke the moment. Matthew returned with the rest of their group. One by one, familiar faces filled the small room, their expressions a mix of shock and joy.

"Yujin! You're awake!" Gyuvin exclaimed, dropping to his knees beside Yujin. His hands hovered uncertainly, as if afraid to hurt him. "How are you feeling, brother?"

"I'm fine, hyung," Yujin whispered, his voice weak but steady. His words seemed to ease the tension, and small smiles began to spread across his members' faces. Relief washed over them like a wave.

But Yujin's eyes drifted back to the figure in the corner, his gaze locked on her battered form. "Is she... okay?" he asked quietly, almost hesitantly.

The atmosphere shifted instantly. The warmth in the room was replaced by a chilling stillness. Everyone froze, their smiles faltering. They exchanged uneasy glances, each silently hoping someone else would speak first.