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Heeseung & Aiko
Heeseung sat in the chair beside Aiko's bed, his elbows resting on his knees as he leaned forward, staring at her peaceful face. She looked so small, so vulnerable, like the weight of the world had finally pushed her under. The rhythmic sound of her breathing was the only thing keeping him grounded in the silence of the room.
Despite how much he wanted to close his eyes and rest, he couldn't. Not when she was lying there like that. Not when questions about her condition and her mother's true intentions swirled endlessly in his mind.
The door creaked open softly, pulling him out of his thoughts. He looked up to see Dr. Nakamura entering, her lab coat swaying slightly as she approached. She didn't speak at first, simply checking the machines monitoring Aiko's vitals. Heeseung sat up straighter, his jaw tightening.
"She's stable," Dr. Nakamura said after a moment, not looking at him. "She just needs time."
Heeseung's eyes didn't leave her. "She wouldn't need time if she wasn't being put through all this."
Dr. Nakamura finally turned to face him, her sharp gaze softening just a fraction. "I knew it was you."
Her words made Heeseung stiffen, though he didn't flinch. He had been expecting this. It wasn't a matter of if she'd acknowledge it—it was when.
"I knew the moment you walked in with her," she continued, her voice unnervingly calm. "I didn't say anything because I wanted to see how long it would take you to admit it."
Heeseung leaned back slightly, his jaw tight. "Why would I? There's nothing to talk about."
Dr. Nakamura raised an eyebrow. "Nothing? I disagree. The past tends to have a way of sneaking back in, don't you think?"
"It's the past for a reason," he shot back, his voice low. "Let's leave it there."
Dr. Nakamura folded her arms, looking at him like she was assessing a lab experiment. "You know, I always thought you had potential, Heeseung. You were intelligent, resourceful, adaptable. You were everything we looked for in a recruit."
Heeseung clenched his fists. "You mean I was everything you wanted to use."
She sighed. "I did what needed to be done. You knew what you signed up for."
"I was a kid," Heeseung snapped, his voice sharper now. "You preyed on people who didn't know any better. And for what? To make yourself and your lab feel powerful?"
Dr. Nakamura's lips pressed into a thin line. "We gave you purpose. You gave up on it. Walked away. But look at you now—protecting my daughter like she's the last thing you have left."
Heeseung's stomach churned at her words, but he didn't let it show. "You knew who I was all along," he said bitterly. "But you let Aiko think I was just some guy she happened to meet. Why?"
Dr. Nakamura's gaze softened, but it felt more like an act than sincerity. "Because she doesn't need to know about the person you used to be. She trusts you now. Do you really want to shatter that trust by telling her the truth?"
"I don't want to hurt her," Heeseung admitted, his voice quieter. "But I'll do whatever it takes to keep her safe. Even if it means facing things I thought I'd left behind."
Dr. Nakamura tilted her head slightly. "You care about her." It wasn't a question.
Heeseung's eyes flickered to Aiko, still fast asleep. "More than anything."
Dr. Nakamura's expression hardened again. "Then stay out of this, Heeseung. Focus on her. Don't dig where you don't belong."
"You think I'm going to stop?" Heeseung stood up, towering over her now. "After everything you've done—everything you're still doing? I'm not walking away this time."
Dr. Nakamura met his gaze evenly. "You still don't understand, do you? This isn't just about Aiko or you or me. This is about the world. Sacrifices have to be made, whether you like it or not."
Heeseung's voice was cold, unrelenting. "You've already sacrificed enough lives for your 'greater good.' I'm not letting her be one of them. Not again."
Dr. Nakamura's composure faltered, just for a second. "I won't let anything happen to her."
"You don't get to make that promise," Heeseung snapped. "Not after everything."
She stayed silent for a moment, her face unreadable. "I know you blame me for what happened before," she said finally. "And maybe you're right. But this is bigger than you think. You're only seeing pieces of the picture."
"Then show me the whole damn picture," Heeseung said. "Stop hiding behind lies and half-truths."
Dr. Nakamura didn't respond. Instead, she turned to leave, pausing at the door. "You can stay here with her. But if you want to protect her, you'll stay out of my way."
With that, she was gone, the door clicking shut behind her.
Heeseung sank back into the chair, his hands trembling slightly. He looked at Aiko, her chest rising and falling steadily, and let out a shaky breath.
"I'm sorry, Aiko," he whispered. "For everything."
He reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face. No matter what it took, no matter what secrets he had to unearth, he wasn't going to let her become another casualty of Genentech. Not as long as he was there to stop it.
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Yall are not ready for the chapter after this. things are going down.
