Bandaids & Punches ✔️

18. Bullet to the Heart

Haneul stands frozen in place, hands clammy and heart thundering against his chest. Minji is on the line still speaking, but her words stop registering in the doctor's brain the moment he heard about Dae Ho's accident. He clutches the mobile phone tightly and runs back into the hospital.

His legs are about to give out any second but Haneul doesn't stop. He runs to the stretcher Dae Ho's bloody body lays on. A doctor hovers over him, pressing a bag valve mask on his face. "Prepare the O.R. now!" He orders the others surrounding the moving stretcher.

Haneul holds the side of the stretcher, taking in his friend's appearance. His breath hitches the moment he sets his eyes on the injured man. Dae Ho's face is marred with fresh blood and angry scratches. The white T-shirt under his leather jacket is drenched in red. "He's already lost blood, get the blood bags!"

The doctor notices Haneul when they reach outside the operating room. "What are you doing here? Didn't you leave?"

"H-he's m-my fri-friend." Haneul points to Dae Ho with a shaky finger. "Please...save him..." he desperately whispers, on the verge of breaking. "Let me h-help with the...surgery."

The other man shakes his head. "I'm sorry, I cannot allow you in, you're unstable right now."

"B-but-"

"No, I can't let you in Haneul! If anything happens you may lose it, I know you well."

Haneul's shoulders slump knowing the man is right. He grips his white coat, preventing his emotions from taking over. "I...can't lose him, please."

"I'll do my best." The doctor pats his back before entering the operation theater.

Haneul paces outside the operating room anxiously, impatient to know about Dae Ho's condition. Minji arrives right after the fighter is taken for surgery. Haneul couldn't help but understand the redness the sister had around her eyes due to constant crying. It has been about an hour but he still hears sniffles coming from her.

Every time Haneul assured her everything would be alright, it was also to calm down the cracking storm inside him too. Funny how he worked with a similar case just days ago and he was totally fine. Seeing a loved one injured severely throws one off completely, whether be it a doctor, a criminal, or anyone else.

Haneul is reeled back from his thoughts when a nurse comes out from the operating room, almost running. "What happened? Is everything alright!" he asks, stopping her by getting a hold of her shoulder.

"We need more blood, he has lost a lot. The patient is O-, but due to the accident three days ago, we might not have much of it." She leaves as soon as she informs Haneul about the situation.

"Damn it!" He curses, clenching his fists tightly. Minji's loud sob from behind averts Haneul's attention. He turns to her and crouches in front of the girl in the wheelchair. "Everything is going to be alright...it has to. I'll do something about it."

But Minji pays no attention to his words, instead, she buries her face in her palms and cries again. Haneul gets up, his eyebrows pinched together, thinking of ways he could help. Then it clicks him, Han Jisoo, Dae Ho's twin.

He whips out his mobile phone, dialing his number. "Please pick up, please pick up," the redhead mutters bringing his lower lip between his teeth.

"Hey, hyung. What's up?" Jisoo answers.

Haneul lets out a breath in relief. "Where are you?"

"I'm studying for a test I've tomorrow. Why?"

"I need you to come to the hospital right now, please."

"Is everything alright?" Jisoo questions in confusion.