After the Storm

Jinwoo's fingers flew across the tablet, pulling up the patient's records. "A private physician," he said, eyes scanning the screen. "They've been doing monthly check-ups, but nothing beyond basic maintenance.

Vitals, nutrition, the occasional scan—just enough to keep him breathing."

Hyunsu's brow furrowed, his voice darkening. "No cognitive therapy? No neural stimulation protocols? Not even a single pharmacological trial?"

Jinwoo slowly shook his head. "Nothing proactive. Just minimal meds. Enough to keep him stable... but nothing more. No effort to wake him up. No hope."

Hyunsu's jaw clenched.

Through the glass, Luna sat silently, dabbing at the last traces of her tears, her face a portrait of quiet devastation.

"They just left him to fade," Hyunsu whispered, his voice rough. "Like he was already gone. Like he didn't matter anymore."

A cold wave surged through him—anger, sorrow, disbelief—blending into a single, electric resolve.

"We're transferring him," he said at last, voice high and absolute. "Effective immediately. I want him under our care."

Jinwoo looked up sharply. "That's not gonna be easy. He's marked as a VIP under private guardianship. We can't lay a finger on him without signed consent."

Hyunsu exhaled hard, the weight of it all pressing behind his eyes. "If we can convince her uncle there's even a sliver of hope… a real chance of recovery with the right approach—maybe he'll agree."

Jinwoo raised an eyebrow, skepticism written across his face. "And if he doesn't? Come on, Hyunsu. There should be a reason why they kept him in dark for so long. Something about this doesn't add up."

Hyunsu nodded slowly. "You're right —there's more here. We don't know yet."

His gaze drifted back to Luna, still seated behind the glass.

"We can't act rashly," he added. "If we do… Luna might be the one to pay the price."

Jinwoo didn't reply right away. Then, with a quiet sigh, he muttered, "So, what now?"

Hyunsu's shoulders rose and fell with a deep breath. "We take it one step at a time. I'll talk to the dean. Try to find a way in—quietly."

Jinwoo gave a low chuckle, the tension in his face softening. "No kidding. Good luck, doc. You're gonna need it."

As Jinwoo walked off, Hyunsu didn't move. He stood there, eyes fixed on Luna, heart heavy with the weight of what lay ahead.

This wasn't just another case. This wasn't just another patient.

This was a buried past coming back to life.

And deep in his gut, Hyunsu knew—This was only the beginning.

It was important to Luna. Which meant—it was more than important to him.

Luna stepped outside, her thoughts thick and restless, looping endlessly like a storm with no exit. Her grandfather—just existing. Locked in a body that couldn't speak, couldn't move. Trapped in a world she had no way of reaching.

All her promises… Were they just empty words in the end?

She didn't notice the hospital doors sliding shut behind her. Didn't hear the muffled sounds of footsteps, voices, monitors. The world had faded into a muted blur. Every sound passed through her, as if her ears had closed off from the pain.

She didn't even realize Hyunsu had been following her the whole way.

He didn't say anything. Didn't try to stop her. He just walked—silently. Close enough for her to sense him. Far enough to let her break, if she needed to.

He watched the way her shoulders hunched against the wind, the way her fingers clutched the ends of her sleeves like she was trying to hold herself together.

Trying to be strong. Trying to survive.

But Hyunsu saw right through it.

Luna....

He wanted to reach for her hand and pull her into him, to tell her she wasn't alone. That she never had to be.

But he didn't.

Instead, he followed her —to the same bench just outside the hospital. She stopped, staring at the empty space ahead like it might offer answers she couldn't find. The wind swept past, lifting strands of her hair across her face. She didn't fix them. She didn't even flinch.

Hyunsu swallowed hard.

Why do you always make me feel this way?

His hands clenched and unclenched at his sides. He warred with himself.

Say something? Or just be here?

In the end, he did the only thing that felt right.

He stayed. In the quiet. With her even if it meant all night, he was ready to do it.

***

After a long night, Luna blinked, completely taken aback as she approached her car. She had barely held herself together until now—grief and exhaustion teetering dangerously close to the surface—when Hyunsu suddenly appeared, standing in front of her.

His expression was unreadable. Calm. Still.

"What's wrong?" she asked, her voice quieter than she expected.

He didn't answer immediately. His gaze swept over her—taking in the paleness of her face, the slump in her shoulders, the way her arms folded across her chest like she was bracing for impact.

Then, his voice came—low and firm, no room left for argument.

"I don't think you should drive in this condition. I'll take you home."

Before the words could register, he stepped forward. His fingers brushed hers—gentle, but sure—as he took the car keys right from her hand. No request. No explanation.

He walked past her, opened the driver's door, and slid into the seat with all the confidence in the world.

Luna stared, momentarily stunned. "Wait—what?"

He was already adjusting the seat, checking the mirrors like he belonged there. His sleeves were still rolled up from earlier, veins visible as his hands moved over the steering wheel with casual familiarity.

The audacity.

She crossed her arms, her tone sharp with disbelief. "Hyunsu. I didn't say you could drive me home."

"He looked at her, his eyes fierce. 'And do you think I'm asking you? Just GET IN....' he demanded."

Her mouth opened, then closed. Speechless.

The confidence—no, the nerve of this man.

Luna ran a hand through her hair, exhaling hard. She was too tired to fight, and if she was being honest, the thought of being alone in the car right now felt unbearable. Too much space. Too many thoughts.

"Fine," she muttered, and moved around to the passenger side. As she got in, she gave him a quick glare. "But this doesn't mean you can hijack my car whenever you feel like it."

Hyunsu smirked—just a little. "We'll see about that."

She huffed, turning to stare out the window.

As the engine purred to life and they slipped into the quiet of the night, a subtle shift happened between them. The silence was thick, but not uncomfortable. There was warmth in it. Understanding. A fragile sort of peace.

Luna's voice came, hesitant but honest. "Thank you…"

Hyunsu glanced sideways at her, one hand on the wheel, the other draped casually against the open window frame.

"No need. I didn't do much."

"I actually heard what you said," she added softly. "To your friend. About my grandfather."

His face didn't change much. He kept his eyes on the road.

"I just… wanted to say thank you. For even thinking about his care. For everything..."

Hyunsu exhaled slowly, a faint sigh through his nose. "It's not for you," he said, his tone even. "It's my job."

She almost smiled.

He said it to protect her—from guilt, from gratitude, from adding another weight to her already-heavy heart. But she knew better. She felt it.

This wasn't just a job to him.

And it never had been.

For a while, neither of them spoke. Then, out of nowhere, Hyunsu smirked.

"So…" he started casually, "do you still think I have gangster vibes?"

Luna's head snapped toward him so fast, she nearly gave herself whiplash. "What?"

Hyunsu grinned wider, clearly pleased with himself. "You know—jerk. Thug. Arrogant. All the charming titles you've probably assigned me."

She blinked. "I—I didn't…"

He tilted his head, feigning innocence. "Didn't what?"

"I didn't exactly think that," she mumbled, looking out the window. "Okay, maybe a little."

He let out a laugh. "Aha! There it is. The truth at last."

She groaned, sinking deeper into her seat. "That's not my fault."

"Well," she began, lips twitching, "you had that look."

"What look?"

"Your face was punchable!"

Hyunsu chuckled. "Wow. Punchable? Now that's a new one. I'll add it to my résumé—Dr. Hyunsu, a certified punchable face."

Luna tried not to laugh, pressing her lips together, but it was no use. "You're so annoying."

"Yet here you are. In my passenger seat."

"My car," she corrected, pointing dramatically. "You hijacked my car, don't forget."

He shrugged. "You let me."

"I was vulnerable!"

"You were drooling."

"I was not!" she gasped, scandalized. "Take that back."

He smirked. "Too late. Evidence recorded. Forever etched into my memory."

"Unbelievable. You are the worst."

Hyunsu chuckled again, but this time it was softer. "Maybe. But it worked—you're not frowning anymore."

She stilled, just for a moment. He was right. She hadn't even realized when the weight on her chest had lightened, or when her shoulders had stopped trembling. But somehow, in the middle of all this ridiculous banter, she felt okay.

Not healed, not whole—but okay.

Then Hyunsu said, voice mock-innocent, "By the way, I know you told Nina I looked like a gangster."

Luna's eyes widened in horror. "Seriouslyyyyy?!"

He nodded solemnly. "Something about 'scary eyes' and 'probably fights alley cats for fun.' Sound familiar?"

Her mouth opened. "She even told you that?!"

He smirked. "Nina tells me everything. I'm her favorite."

"I swear, I'm gonna fire her tomorrow..." Luna groaned.

"Don't you dare. I can't afford her. Expensive sister..." He rolled his eyes.

She laughed at his expression. "Well... I didn't mean it like that! It was just... the first impression!" 

"So you admit now."

"No! I mean—yes? I don't know!" she wailed. "I take it back! I'm sorry, okay? Sorry, sorry, sorry!"

He was clearly enjoying every second with her.

"I think you're way more dramatic than you pretend to be." She paused, then added with mock sympathy. She gave him the flattest glare she could muster.

"You're not even pretending to be offended."

"You're right," he said with zero shame. "I'm actually having a fantastic time teasing you."

She rolled her eyes, folding her arms. "You're impossible."

Their eyes met, and for a beat, the car filled with silence again—but this time it was light, easy. The kind of silence that comes after laughter and lingering glances.

Hyunsu murmured under his breath, almost too quietly to hear, "Finally, you smiled."

Luna turned to him. "What did you just say?"

He cleared his throat and stared straight ahead. "Nothing. You imagined it."

She narrowed her eyes. "You're such a liar."

He smirked, " So are we good now?" 

Luna glanced at him, confused for a second.

He added with a small smile, "I mean… I upset you the other day. But you smiled just now, so… does that mean I'm forgiven?"

She blinked, caught off guard by the sincerity in his voice.

"You didn't do anything that needs forgiving," she said softly. "It was my fault too. I did provoke you. So yeah… let's just call it even."

A small smile curved her lips, and he returned it—this time, gentler.

"Thanks, Luna…"

There was something about the way he said her name. Not rushed, not careless—just soft, almost careful. And for a moment, she looked at him and felt something stir, something she wasn't ready to admit.

By then, they had pulled up in front of her place. She unbuckled her seatbelt and stepped out, then turned back toward him.

"How are you getting back?"

"I'll grab a cab," he said with a shrug.

She hesitated for half a beat, and then—before she could stop herself—blurted out, "You can wait inside. Nina will be here soon anyway. She always checks on me before going home."

Hyunsu blinked, a little surprised. But he didn't question it, didn't make it weird. He just nodded, and a quiet smile tugged at his lips.

"Sure."

And oddly enough… that simple word made him feel weirdly happy.

She stood there, keys in hand, her front door just a few steps away. Hyunsu followed behind at a casual pace, like he wasn't expecting anything more than a quick goodbye and a solo walk home in the cool night air.

Luna glanced over her shoulder. He was quiet now. No teasing. No smirks. Just watching her, waiting—like he always did. Patient. Present.

She hesitated at the door, fingers tightening around the keys.

Don't do it, her mind warned. It's late. You're tired. He's dangerous Hyunsu.

But then again… he is Hyunsu.

The same guy who noticed when she was spiraling. Who walked behind her all the way without saying a word. Who made her laugh even when her heart felt like it was dragging behind her.

She swallowed. It isn't like we are strangers. And it's not like I am inviting him in for... whatever people might assume. She just didn't want the night to end. Not yet.

And honestly? She didn't want to be alone right now. Not in that silent apartment with not enough warmth.

Still, the words stuck to her tongue like glue.

Just say goodbye. Go inside. Lock the door. Easy.