Chapter 28: Awakening and Realizations

Jae-min's eyes fluttered open, the harsh fluorescent lights of the hospital room casting a sterile glow over his surroundings. His body felt heavy and numb, the lingering effects of the surgery and the medications dulling his senses. As consciousness returned, so did the memories of the brutal attack and Min-ho's desperate fight to save him.

"Min-ho..." Jae-min's voice was a weak whisper, his throat dry and sore. He tried to sit up, but a sharp pain in his abdomen made him gasp, forcing him to lie back down. Panic began to set in as he looked around the room, searching for any sign of the alpha who had become his unexpected protector.

Tears welled up in his eyes as he realized Min-ho was not there. The overwhelming sense of fear and abandonment gripped his heart, and he felt a sob rise in his chest. He had promised to forgive Min-ho if they survived, but now, with the alpha nowhere in sight, a crushing sense of loneliness enveloped him.

The door to his room creaked open, and Jae-min's heart leapt with hope, but it wasn't Min-ho who entered. Instead, it was his boss and a few colleagues from the agency. Their faces were a mix of relief and concern as they approached his bedside.

"Jae-min, thank God you're awake," his boss, Director Kang, said softly. She reached out to gently squeeze his hand, her eyes filled with genuine concern. "We've been so worried about you."

Jae-min's tears flowed freely now, the presence of familiar faces offering some comfort but also a stark reminder of everything he had been through. "Where's Min-ho?" he asked, his voice trembling. "Why isn't he here?"

Director Kang exchanged a glance with the others, a look of sympathy and apprehension passing between them. "Jae-min, Min-ho...he's not here because he turned himself in to the police," she explained gently. "He admitted to killing Hyun-woo and has taken responsibility for his actions."

The words hit Jae-min like a physical blow. His breath caught in his throat, and his heart pounded with a mix of fear and despair. "No, no, no," he muttered, shaking his head. "He can't...he can't be in jail. I need him. Our baby needs him."

His colleagues tried to calm him, but the panic was overwhelming. The walls of the hospital room seemed to close in on him, the sterile environment offering no comfort. Jae-min's hands clutched at the sheets, his body shaking with the force of his emotions.

"Jae-min, listen to us," one of his friends, Ji-won, said softly, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Min-ho did what he thought was right to protect you. He wanted to make sure you and the baby were safe. But now, he needs to face the consequences of his actions."

Jae-min's sobs grew louder, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts and fears. The image of Min-ho standing over Hyun-woo's lifeless body flashed before his eyes, followed by the memory of Min-ho's desperate attempts to save him. The promise of forgiveness he had made felt like a lifeline, but now it seemed fragile and distant.

"I can't do this without him," Jae-min cried, his voice raw with emotion. "I need him. He...he saved me. He promised we'd be together."

Director Kang leaned closer, her expression softening with compassion. "Jae-min, we're going to do everything we can to help you. We'll make sure you're safe and taken care of. And we'll do our best to support Min-ho as well."

The words offered little comfort to Jae-min, who continued to sob uncontrollably. The fear of facing the future without Min-ho, coupled with the weight of the trauma he had endured, was too much to bear. The room felt suffocating, and the presence of his friends, while well-meaning, couldn't ease the deep-seated panic gripping his heart.

The door opened again, and more of Jae-min's colleagues filed in, their faces showing a mixture of relief and concern. They gathered around his bed, offering words of comfort and support, but Jae-min's mind was elsewhere. The reality of Min-ho's absence was a constant, gnawing ache in his chest, and no amount of comforting words could ease the pain.

Ji-won pulled up a chair next to Jae-min's bed and took his hand, squeezing it gently. "We're all here for you, Jae-min. We'll get through this together," he said softly. "Min-ho did what he had to do to protect you, and now it's up to us to make sure you're safe and taken care of."

Jae-min's eyes filled with tears as he looked at Ji-won, his heart aching with the weight of his emotions. "But I don't want him to face this alone," he whispered. "He's done so much for me...for our baby. I can't just let him take all the blame."

Director Kang nodded, her expression sympathetic. "We understand, Jae-min. But right now, you need to focus on your recovery. We'll do everything we can to help Min-ho, but you need to take care of yourself and your baby first."

Jae-min's heart ached with the weight of their words, but he knew they were right. He needed to recover, for the sake of his baby and for Min-ho. The alpha had risked everything to protect him, and now it was his turn to be strong.

As the hours passed, Jae-min's friends and colleagues stayed by his side, their presence offering a small measure of comfort. They talked softly among themselves, sharing stories and memories, trying to lift Jae-min's spirits. But no matter how hard they tried, the sense of loss and fear lingered, a constant reminder of the challenges they faced.

When the night finally came, the hospital room grew quiet. Jae-min lay in his bed, his mind racing with thoughts of Min-ho and the uncertain future ahead of them. He clutched the ring on his finger, a symbol of Min-ho's love and promise, and closed his eyes, willing himself to be strong.

"I'll find a way to bring you back to me, Min-ho," he whispered into the darkness. "No matter what it takes."