The white fluorescent lights of the emergency ward buzzed softly above them. The scent of antiseptic hung in the air. Rafayel lay unconscious on the hospital bed, his skin pale against the white sheets, a thick bandage wrapped tightly around his abdomen. The doctors had just finished surgery—he was stable, but the bullet wound had been deep.
Outside the room, the others waited anxiously. Jiwon sat hunched forward in the hallway chair, hands clasped so tight his knuckles had gone white. His leg bounced non-stop. His heart hadn’t stopped pounding since the shot rang out.
The surgeon finally stepped into the hallway.
Doctor:
“He’s going to be okay. The bullet missed all major organs. We removed it and stitched him up. He’s stable now—you can see him, but let him rest.”
The group exhaled in collective relief.
But Jiwon was already on his feet before the doctor finished speaking.
---
Jiwon pushed the door open slowly. The beeping of the heart monitor was steady. Rafayel was awake now, propped slightly up with a pillow, pale but alert. His eyes lifted the second Jiwon entered.
Rafayel: (hoarse)
“Hey…”
Jiwon didn’t answer. He walked straight over and gripped Rafayel’s hand, sinking into the chair beside the bed. His other hand trembled, hovering over Rafayel’s chest, not sure where to touch that wouldn’t hurt him.
Jiwon: (voice cracking)
“You’re an idiot.”
Rafayel gave a weak smile.
Rafayel:
“Thought we established that already.”
Jiwon:
“You nearly died.”
Rafayel:
“I told you I’m okay.”
Jiwon: (snapping)
“Stop pretending! You were bleeding all over me, Rafayel! You could’ve—”
(voice breaks, quiet)
“You could’ve left me.”
Rafayel’s hand lifted to brush Jiwon’s cheek with his thumb, gentle despite the IV in his wrist.
Rafayel:
“I didn’t leave. I won’t. Not now… not ever.”
Jiwon pressed their foreheads together, his tears finally spilling over.
---
Through the glass panel, Minho watched in silence. Jiwon, breaking. Rafayel, holding him. Something inside Minho clenched.
Minho: (softly, to Jisung)
“Look at him...”
Jisung:
“I know.”
Minho: (struggling)
“He’s still just a kid to me. Our kid.”
Minho: (voice low)
“He used to come into our room when he had nightmares. Crawl between us like a baby chick and fall asleep. Now he’s sitting there with blood on his clothes, crying over a man who got shot protecting him.”
Jisung: (quietly, gently)
“He’s grown up.”
Minho:
“I wasn’t ready for him to.”
Jisung:
“You don’t stop being his family just because he’s in love with someone.”
Minho let the silence settle between them, watching through the glass as Jiwon gently adjusted the blanket around Rafayel. Rafayel’s hand never let go of Jiwon’s.
Minho:
“I don’t hate Rafayel.”
Jisung:
“I know.”
Minho: (voice tight)
“I just hate that someone else gets to protect him now.”
YOU ARE READING
𝑃𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑜𝑛 / 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑢𝑛𝑔
Fanfiction[SEASON 1 COMPLETED] [SEASON 2 COMPLETED] ch 38 [SEASON 3 ONGOING] ch 74 Prison Guard, Lee Minho is curious to know why there's a cute, infamous criminal in the prison. What do you think happens when he has to be the prison guard to the one and onl...
