Shadows of desire : SVT✅

(124) Fading Echoes

Seungkwan, Dino, and DK sat together, tears streaming down their faces, their hearts gripped by the fear of losing Yuri. Memories flooded their minds—her laughter, her kindness, the way she could light up any room. The thought of her slipping away was unbearable. "Why can't we be happy for once," Seungkwan whispered, his voice thick with emotion. Dino nodded, unable to find the words, while DK clenched his fists in frustration, wishing he could do something, anything, to change the situation.

Outside, Jeonghan remained alone, his heart shattered. "My baby, I’m so sorry," he murmured, choking on his tears. "I couldn’t protect you. I couldn’t help you come into this world." The weight of his guilt felt like an anchor pulling him deeper into despair. "But I promise you, I will protect your mom with everything I have." The promise hung in the air, a solemn vow that filled him with a flicker of determination amidst the overwhelming grief.

Joshua stood nearby, his guilt eating away at him. He couldn’t shake the image of Yuri getting hurt right in front of him. The thought haunted him. "If I had just been quicker… if I had been stopped her taking the bullet…" His mind spiraled into a dark place, filled with self-recrimination and sorrow. He wished he could turn back time and rewrite the ending.

In the waiting room, The8 and Jun sat in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. They reminisced about the sweet moments shared with Yuri—the time she had laughed with them , her contagious smile, and the way she made them feel like family. Those memories felt like fragile glass, beautiful yet threatening to shatter under the weight of their current reality.

Meanwhile, Scoups led Mingyu, Wonwoo, and Vernon toward the exit, determination etched on their faces. "We need to find the person who did this," he said, his voice steady, though anger simmered beneath the surface. The sense of urgency propelled them forward, knowing that they needed to act for Yuri's sake.

Hoshi stood staring out the ICU window, his heart heavy. "My cub…" he whispered, wishing he could be with her, to reassure her that everything would be okay. The term of endearment reflected their close bond, and he felt helpless in the face of such tragedy.

Woozi closed his eyes, taking a deep breath as he thought of Yuri’s radiant smile. It was a beacon of light that brightened their darkest days. "Please, be fine," he silently pleaded, wishing for nothing more than to see her happy and healthy again.

In that moment, each member of Seventeen was caught in their own whirlpool of grief and guilt, bound together by their love for Yuri and the shared hope that they could protect her, no matter the odds.

-------

Scoups approached the group, his face set with determination. "Everyone, gather around," he said firmly. “Call Jeonghan over.”

Jeonghan joined them, his eyes red-rimmed, still too shaken to speak. Scoups looked at him, a flicker of understanding passing between them before he turned to the others.

“DK, Dino, Seungkwan, jeonghan and Joshua—I want you to go back to the mansion and rest for a while. You need your strength if we’re going to handle everything coming our way.”

The four of them immediately protested. “No, we’re staying with Yuri,” DK insisted, with the others nodding in solidarity.

Scoups took a deep breath, standing his ground. “I get it, but you’ve been here for hours. You need to rest, for her and for yourselves. We’ll keep watch here.”

After a tense moment, they finally agreed, but Jeonghan shook his head. “I’m not leaving,” he said quietly, his voice filled with a raw edge.