The Art of Seduction (Alternate Ending)

Fighter

Song for the chapter: 'Til I Hear You Sing by Andrew Lloyd Webber from the musical Love Never Dies

Trigger warning: a little insight into acute stress disorder

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3 days later

The day starts, the day ends, time crawls by...

It's been 3 days. 3 days since Hyun Bin saw Jinnie's beautiful crescent smiles. 3 days since he heard her twinkling laughter.

Between checking in on their princess and staying by Jinnie's side, Hyun Bin was absolutely drained; physically and emotionally. Secretary Kang was particularly worried about CEO Hyun's health. He knew the trauma his boss suffered following Ha Na's death and he recognised some of the same symptoms surfacing now. Ye Jin and their child's situation clearly wasn't helping, and Secretary Kang could only pray and hope that the family would survive.

Night steals in, pacing the floor.

***ASD touched on indirectly here***

With everything that has happened, it was not surprising that Hyun Bin found himself having nightmares when he slept. Those nightmares haunted him during his waking hours as well. They were uncontrollable and downright intrusive to his head.

He hated how his brain decided to replay the memories of the night Mdm Ji Hyun died. Those flashbacks persisted at random hours of the day, threatening to take over his senses as he held onto Jinnie's hand. Her hand was his lifebuoy; the only thing keeping him afloat in the choppy waters.

The moments creep, yet I can't bear to sleep.

Till I hear you sing.

Hyun Bin couldn't even pinpoint what was making him feel so drained anymore. Was it Mdm Ji Hyun's death? Was it the fact he came close to losing both Jinnie and their princess? Or was it because both of them were still in danger? Yet, he knew one thing. He was back to feeling cold and numb. When he wasn't sad, that was all that he felt; or lack thereof.

And in a haze, I count the silent days.

Day by day, he felt the happiness that he worked so hard to secure drain out of him, leaving him dry and empty. Time was passing by so slowly. It might have been only 3 days but these 3 days dragged on forever. Has it really only been 3 days?

Perhaps that was why he was so easily irritable recently. He felt bad for snapping at Secretary Kang but he was just in a foul mood. He also found himself easily startled by sudden loud noises which were evident when Hae In accidentally dropped the book he was reading one day. Hyun Bin had been startled out of his seat that day and it took him a good 15 minutes to stop himself from shaking in pure terror. 

***it's safe***
Summary: some of the things/feelings an individual experiences because of ASD! It really isn't so simple but these typically lasts for less than a month!

Ye Jin needs to wake up.

It is unimaginable what could happen if she doesn't make it.

My broken soul can't be alive and whole. Till I hear you sing once more.

"Jinnie...please." A soft plea for her to wake up.

Let hopes pass, let dreams pass, let them die. Without you, what are they for?

"Jinnie I need you. I miss you. I would give anything for you to wake up. Please. If there is a God out there, please save her. She doesn't deserve this." The broken man sobbed.