POISONED YOUTH: TWISTED

CHAPTER 55

If anyone ever said soulmates were nothing more than a beautiful story people told themselves, they had clearly never witnessed what a soulmate bond could do.

After days of darkness, fear, and uncertainty, the faintest sound of a whimper finally broke the silence of the medical room.

Two pairs of hands twitched.

Then, slowly, two pairs of eyes fluttered open.

The first thing they saw was the familiar white ceiling above them. Their bodies were covered by clean white sheets, and their hands were still intertwined between them, as if even unconsciousness hadn't been enough to make either of them let go.

Yeoreum blinked several times, trying to make sense of where she was.

"Donghyuck...?"

"Yeah." His voice was weak, but it was there.

Yeoreum turned her head.

Haechan was already looking at her.

For a few seconds, neither of them said anything. They simply stared at each other, relief slowly replacing the confusion in their eyes until small smiles finally appeared on their faces.

"Did you sleep well?" Yeoreum whispered.

Haechan's lips curved upward. "If it meant sleeping beside you, then I did."

Yeoreum smiled.

"Seriously, Taeyong is really mean—"

The familiar voice came from outside the room.

Both soulmates turned toward the doorway just as Jaemin walked in, still complaining about something.

He stopped, then his eyes widened.

"Oh my god."

"Hi, Jaemin," Yeoreum greeted with a tired smile.

The blonde's face immediately lit up.

"YEOREEUUUMMMIE!" He rushed toward the bed with his arms already open.

"Stop!" Haechan quickly ordered. "Your arm's bleeding."

Jaemin froze. He looked down at his own arm, where a bandage was wrapped around a fresh wound.

Then he looked back at Haechan.

"Oh my god, Jaemin, what have you done?!" Yeoreum's sudden yell echoed through the hallway.

Outside the room, Jeno stopped walking. He slowly turned toward Renjun.

"Tell me you heard that too."

"I did."

"Guys!" Chenle's voice immediately followed. "They're awake!"

The entire mansion erupted into movement.

For the first time in days, the atmosphere wasn't filled with fear. It was filled with relief.

Haechan sat upright against the headboard with a tray of food in front of him, eating as though he hadn't seen food in years.