Bandaids & Punches ✔️

19. To Make Things Right

29 October, 8:03 A.M.

Minji buries her head in the crook of Dae Ho's shoulder and cries. Although, this time she cries tears of happiness. She woke up to the sound of Haneul's voice when he found the fighter awake. Dae Ho slowly speaks comforting words to Minji, trying to make her stop crying, still not out of the influence of anesthesia completely. He strokes her head lovingly, eyes trained on the ceiling.

The girl lifts her head, wiping the tears with her sleeve. "I-I was so worried about you. I didn't know what to do when I received the call about your accident," she says, again on the verge of breaking down.

Dae Ho has a lazy smile on his face, he brings his hand on top of hers. "Everything is alright now, you don't have to worry."

"B-but-"

"Minji, remember we don't dwell in the past, the present is what matters most. The accident has already occurred, I'm alive and will recover eventually. Don't worry about me, instead, look at your state. If you don't want me to be concerned about you, take care of yourself too."

Haneul smiles at the interaction, noticing the adoration Dae Ho's eyes hold for the girl. He understands how Minji is the driving force for the fighter. He slips out of the hospital room silently, not wanting to disturb the moment between the siblings.

He walks to the on-call room, fishing out a toothbrush and toothpaste from his duffel bag placed under the table. He proceeds to the bathroom and freshens up. 'So much for sleeping in today.' The doctor chuckles splashing cold water on his face and running a wet hand through his hair, styling them to look presentable. He leaves the bathroom and goes to the cafeteria to get breakfast. His phone rings, a call from his grandfather.

"Hello, harabeoji."

"Haneul, are you free? Come to my office."

"I'm getting breakfast from the cafeteria, do you want anything?"

"No, I'm good."

He hangs up and strides to the hospital cafeteria to get a chicken sandwich and coffee, proceeding to his grandfather's office after he's done eating the sandwich.

"I heard your friend was brought in last night, he was in a road accident from what I've heard."

Haneul nods, sipping his black coffee. He sits on the sofa adjacent to Kim Raewon, the director of Saenghwal hospital.

"Is he okay now?" The old man asks adjusting his round spectacles.

"Yeah, he is stable."

"How are your appa and eomma doing?"

"Why don't you call appa yourself," Haneul states, pitying the old man with a bittersweet smile.

"What about you, how are you?" Raewon asks instead.

"...I'm alright, why wouldn't I be?"

Raewon chuckles, a small smile curving up to his wrinkled face. "My boy, I know how you are. Last night must've been tough for you. I'm giving you off for a week to rest."

Haneul places the half-drunk coffee on the glass table and shakes his head. "No harabeoji, I'd like to work for now, at least until Dae Ho recovers. It's easier to keep an eye on him that way."

Raewon thinks for a while, his face pensive. "How about I ask Min to lessen your workload? My poor grandson looks drained, both physically and mentally."

Haneul laughs at the man's worries. "I didn't know the director had such a soft spot for me," he teases with a wide grin.

The grandfather gets up and ruffles Haneul's almost faded red hair. "I'll take care of my family, not letting the same mistake repeat. Your father is still angry—"