Bound by Shadows .jc

CHAPTER 64

Sibling Rivalry

It was nearing 11 in the morning, and the tension in the hospital room was palpable. The group of boys gathered anxiously, their eyes flickering between the clock on the wall and Jeonghan's unmoving form on the hospital bed. The soft beeping of the monitors was the only sound punctuating the room, its rhythm both comforting and nerve-wracking.

Joshua, Minghao, Mingyu, Woozi, Seungkwan, and Seokmin sat clustered together, each lost in their own thoughts, though their collective unease was clear. Dino had just arrived, his typically cheerful demeanor subdued, casting a heavier atmosphere over the group.

"Where are the others?" Woozi asked, his voice quiet but laced with worry.

Dino sighed, rubbing the back of his neck before responding in a low tone. "They're on their way back," he began, avoiding eye contact. His expression faltered, and he added hesitantly, "Viktor... has been laid to rest."

The words hung in the air like a weight, and the boys exchanged puzzled glances. Mingyu tilted his head, frowning. "Laid to rest? What does that mean?"

Seungkwan, sitting cross-legged on the floor, leaned forward. "Yeah, Dino, you're not making sense. Viktor was the enemy, right? Why does it sound like you're mourning him?"

Dino's gaze dropped to the floor, and he shifted uncomfortably before answering. "It's complicated," he admitted, his voice tinged with sadness. "Viktor... wasn't just some enemy to us. He was a respected senior in the mafia world. Even though he did terrible things, he had his own code. And he... he took care of me when I was younger, before Seungcheol-hyung came into my life."

His confession silenced the room. Dino's words carried a depth they hadn't expected, and the raw emotion in his voice made it clear that Viktor's death wasn't as simple as they had thought.

Seokmin shifted uncomfortably. "I didn't know that..." he muttered, his voice trailing off.

"None of us did," Minghao added quietly, his arms crossed as he leaned against the wall. "It's not something Dino would've talked about."

The mood in the room grew heavier, the weight of Dino's revelation settling over them. They didn't know how to respond, so they remained silent, each lost in their own thoughts.

Suddenly, Dino's eyes widened, catching a flicker of movement from the bed. His heart jumped, and without a second thought, he sprang to his feet. "Jeonghan!" he exclaimed, startling the others as he ran to the bedside.

"What is it?" Joshua asked, rushing after him with concern etched across his face.

"He moved!" Dino cried out, his voice a mixture of excitement and disbelief. "I swear, I just saw his fingers move!"

The others scrambled to their feet, crowding around the bed. Seungkwan clutched Woozi's arm tightly, his eyes wide with hope and fear. "Are you sure?" he asked, his voice trembling.

"I'm sure! Look!" Dino pointed, his hand trembling slightly as he gestured at Jeonghan's hand.

All eyes locked on Jeonghan's form, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still. Then, they saw it-his fingers twitched faintly against the blanket. It was a small movement, but it was enough to send a surge of emotion through the room.

"He's waking up," Mingyu whispered, his voice thick with emotion as tears welled up in his eyes.

"Jeonghan..." Joshua murmured, leaning closer to him.

Jeonghan's eyelids fluttered, his brow furrowing as if the effort to open them was a monumental task. Slowly, agonizingly slowly, his eyes cracked open, and he winced slightly at the brightness of the room.