POV: Female Lead (Ha-neul)
The hospital halls were too quiet.
The air smelled like antiseptic.
Ha-neul sat motionless outside the operating room.
Her hands were stained red.
Min-jae's blood.
She clenched her fists.
Time felt frozen.
Jin-ho paced beside her.
"How long has it been?" she asked.
He glanced at his watch.
"Three hours."
Three hours of agony.
Three hours of waiting.
A doctor finally emerged.
She jumped up.
"How is he?"
The doctor sighed.
"He lost a lot of blood. The bullet grazed his lung. We removed it, but..."
"But?" Her heart pounded.
"He hasn't regained consciousness yet."
Jin-ho cursed under his breath.
"When will he wake up?" she demanded.
The doctor's gaze softened.
"It depends on him now."
It depends on him.
Ha-neul staggered back.
Jin-ho caught her arm.
"He'll wake up," he said firmly.
She wanted to believe that.
But what if he didn't?
---
Hours passed.
She sat by Min-jae's bedside.
Machines beeped.
His face was too pale.
She reached for his hand.
It was cold.
Tears blurred her vision.
"You promised to stay with me," she whispered.
No response.
Her grip tightened.
"You can't leave, Min-jae. I won't forgive you."
Still, nothing.
A sharp pain stabbed her chest.
She buried her face in his hand.
Then—
A finger twitched.
Her head snapped up.
"Min-jae?"
A weak groan.
Then, his lips moved.
"...Ha-neul."
Her heart leaped.
His eyes fluttered open.
Tears spilled down her cheeks.
"You idiot," she sobbed. "You scared me."
His lips curled into a faint smile.
"...Missed me?"
She let out a shaky laugh.
More than he'd ever know.
---