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Aiko & Heeseung
The morning sunlight filtered softly through the cracks in the blinds. Aiko sat at the desk in the corner of Heeseung's room, her hair tied messily, deep in thought as she flipped through her notes and ran calculations on a worn tablet. Heeseung stirred in bed, groaning lightly as he stretched, his eyes blinking open to find her already lost in her work.
"You've been up for hours, haven't you?" he mumbled, his voice groggy as he pushed himself upright.
Aiko turned her head to look at him, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Couldn't sleep. There's so much to do."
Heeseung slid off the bed, padding over to her and placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "You need to take breaks, Aiko. Rest is part of saving the world too, you know."
She leaned into his touch for a moment but then shook her head, the intensity in her gaze undeniable. "I'm missing something, Heeseung. Everything I need... it's at the lab. My mom's research, the data—everything we could use to perfect this cure. It's all there."
He froze. The word "lab" hung heavy in the air, dragging the mood with it. His hand dropped from her shoulder, his posture stiffening.
Aiko sighed, bracing herself for the conversation she knew was coming.
➶ ➴ ➶ ➴➶ ➴➶
"No," Heeseung said firmly, his voice cutting through the quiet tension like a knife.
Aiko stood in front of him, her arms crossed but her expression resolute. "Heeseung, listen to me. We can't afford to just sit here and do nothing. That lab has everything we need to make this work. My mom... she was onto something. We need that information."
Heeseung shook his head, his jaw clenched. "Aiko, that place is a death trap. You saw it with your own eyes. We barely got out last time, and—" He paused, the image of her mother's death flashing painfully in his mind. "—and I'm not letting you go back there."
"Letting me?" Aiko's voice rose, her frustration evident. "Heeseung, this isn't about what you'll let me do. This is about saving lives—saving everyone. Don't you think my mom would want me to finish what she started?"
"Your mom wouldn't want you to throw your life away," he shot back, his voice filled with emotion. "She wanted you to save the world, yeah, but not like this. Not at the cost of your life."
Aiko stepped closer to him, her expression softening slightly but still determined. "You don't think I'm scared? I am. I'm terrified. But if I don't do this, what's the point? Heeseung, if we don't try, then everyone we've lost so far—it's all for nothing."
He looked at her, his heart aching at the desperation in her eyes. "And what about you?" he whispered. "What if you don't come back? What am I supposed to do then, Aiko? I can't—" His voice cracked, and he took a shaky breath. "I can't lose you too."
Her resolve wavered for a moment, her own pain mirrored in his. She reached out, taking his hand in hers. "You won't lose me," she said softly. "I promise. But I have to do this, Heeseung. I have to."
Heeseung pulled his hand away, pacing the room as he struggled with the weight of her words. "You don't get it, do you? That place is crawling with neomorphs. It's suicide to go back there."
"And what's the alternative?" Aiko countered, her voice rising again. "We stay here, we hide, and we wait for this nightmare to consume everything? Is that what you want? Because it's not what I want. It's not what my mom wanted."
He stopped pacing, turning to face her. "What I want is for you to be safe, Aiko. That's all I want."
"And what about everyone else?" she asked, her voice trembling. "What about the people out there who still have a chance? Don't they deserve to be safe too?"
Heeseung was silent, his hands balled into fists at his sides.
Aiko took a step closer, her voice softening. "I know you're scared. I am too. But we can't let fear stop us from doing what's right."
He looked at her, his eyes filled with a mix of anger, fear, and love. "You're asking me to watch you walk back into hell, Aiko. How am I supposed to be okay with that?"
She placed a hand on his chest, over his heart. "You're not supposed to be okay with it. But I need you to trust me. Just like I trust you."
Heeseung closed his eyes, his head bowing slightly as he let out a shaky breath. He opened them again, meeting her gaze with a look of reluctant acceptance. "If we do this," he said quietly, "we do it together. No arguments."
Aiko nodded, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Together."
