The Hidden Treasure

~34~

They waited in the hallway until the nurses and doctors came out of the room and gave them the okay to go in.

Hyejin followed the older man through the door, her eyes refusing to look up at anything other than the floor. 

"Oh my," whispered the man.  "Namjoonie..."  He walked silently to the bedside of the unconscious man.  His hand picked up the limp one and held it delicately, patting it softly before laying it back down on the bed.  He turned back and saw Hyejin still over by the closed door, hands held tightly together in front of her, face turned to the floor.

"Hyejin-ssi, can you come here?"  He asked, not really wanting to make her come over to the beside, but more to find out if she actually could come over there and keep her composure. 

"I'm trying," she whispered so softly he almost didn't hear it over the beeping of the machines that were monitoring Namjoon's vital signs.

He smiled sadly and walked over to her, wrapping a fatherly arm around her shoulders.  "Let's go together, hm?  He needs to hear us talk to him right now.  He needs to wake up."   The pair slowly made their way to the bedside, Hyejin halting every few steps to take a deep breath and then take a few more steps. 

They reached the side of the white sheeted bed and Hyejin finally raised her head.  The man felt her shoulders begin to shake and he squeezed her tighter.  "Just remember, he's going to be fine." 

She shook her head quickly and wiped away a few tears, a deep sigh escaping her lungs.  "He looks awful," she whispered. 

And he did.  Bruises, scrapes, and cuts decorated his visible skin.  A large bandage covered one arm where fresh stitches were doing their best to hold his flesh together.  Wires were coming out from the neck of his hospital shirt and an IV was connected to his hand.  Machines beeped quietly and the sound of them almost drove Hyejin crazy.  The only sound she wanted to hear right now was his voice.  She wanted to see his smile.  He looked like he was in pain, even though he was unconscious.  She reached up and pressed the wrinkled place between his eyebrows and watched his forehead relax a little.  She quickly drew her hand back, realizing what she had just done.

"I-I-I'm sorry.  I wasn't thinking." 

The man beside her chuckled softly.  "It's quite alright.  I was going to do the same thing but you were closer so I let you do it.  Ahhh my boys..." His voice hitched and Hyejin grew quiet, feeling the seriousness of the situation weighing heavy on her shoulders. 

"This is going to be a problem.  Now please, don't think I'm being cold and heartless here.  But in my position, I have to think about these things."

Hyejin looked up at him with a questioning gaze and he continued speaking to explain himself. 

"See, their comeback was just a few weeks away.  We have the release date for the new album scheduled.  Everything is in place.  But now...now, that all must be put on hold.  Their health is the most important thing to me.  And not just because they bring the most money in to my company.  No, these boys are like sons to me.  I would do anything for them.  I love them like they were my own.  Seeing them like this," he paused to clear his throat, reaching a hand up to wipe at his eyes, "Seeing them like this breaks my heart.  All for the business stuff has to be dealt with, I can't get away from it,  but I want nothing more than to see these boys back to their happy, healthy selves.  I wish I could see them walking out of here right now.  No, wait, I wish they had never even been in here."  He breathed deeply.  "I need to step out a moment.  Stay here with him, hm?"

"Of course," she muttered, bowing her head slightly as he turned to walk out of the dimly lit room.   She walked around the bed by the window and pulled up a chair next to the bed.  She looked at Namjoon sadly and rested her head on the bed rail.