Chapter 8: Beyond the Mask

For an hour, the room was permeated with the haunting sounds of grief—soft gasps intermingled with deep, shuddering breaths that echoed like distant thunder. Ji Hoon, overwhelmed by despair, poured out his heart, his voice trembling as he recounted memories that weighed heavily on his soul. The air felt thick with sorrow, each moment stretching endlessly, wrapping him in a cocoon of melancholy. Finally, after what felt like an eternity submerged in despair, Jae Hyuk's voice emerged, breaking through the heavy silence like a beacon of light piercing through a storm. His words, steady and compassionate.

"Hey! What's really going on?" Jae Hyuk's voice carried a sharp edge as he probed, his brow furrowed with concern. "Were you actually close with this Joon Ho guy?" He could see the weight of his words hitting Ji Hoon, whose head hung low, a storm of emotions swirling in his mind as he struggled to gather his thoughts. The sight of Ji Hoon in distress tightened Jae Hyuk's chest with regret. He softened his tone, hoping to reach out and console Ji Hoon, wanting to bridge the gap of understanding between them.

Minutes slipped by, each one weighted with unspoken thoughts, until finally, Ji-hoon switched gears once more. The suddenness of his departure left Jae-hyuk momentarily stunned, his brows furrowing in confusion. He shook off the bewilderment and made his way toward the bathroom, hoping the coolness of the tile and the piercing clarity of the mirror would help him regroup. 

As he stood before the glass, he examined his reflection—a mix of disheveled hair and troubled eyes staring back at him. Waves of questions crashed through his mind: What was happening? What had Ji-hoon cried so intensely over Joon-ho? Their friendship? Yet, Ji-hoon's pain had been palpable, an almost physical presence in the room. It left Jae-hyuk feeling unsettled. In the midst of these swirling thoughts, he couldn't shake the curiosity of where Ji-hoon had vanished to, leaving him alone with his reflections.

With a determined effort, Jae-hyuk splashed some water on his face, seeking to refresh both his body and his mind. As he stepped back from the mirror, the stark reality of the room hit him again. He blinked, frustrated that he couldn't make sense of it all. 

Suddenly, his gaze was pulled from his own thoughts as he became aware of two figures standing silently beside his bedside—a doctor and a nurse, dressed in crisp white uniforms. The sterile scent of antiseptic filled the room, mingling with the faint hum of medical machinery, grounding him back into reality. He paused for a moment, a wave of confusion washing over him, before mustering the courage to voice his concerns, his tone laced with skepticism.

"Who are you?" he demanded, icy suspicion dripping from his words as he studied their expressions for any sign of deceit.

The doctor exchanged a quick, furtive glance with the nurse, their eyes betraying a hint of uncertainty before the doctor finally spoke, his voice steady but gentle. "We were just in the process of changing your IV drip and administering new medications as usual."

His brows furrowed in discomfort, Ji Hoon shook his head, determination hardening his stance. "I don't need an it anymore. Jeong Min didn't say anything about that. You can take it back." he insisted, his voice firmer as he relaxed slightly, trying to mask the worry gnawing at him.

The nurse interjected softly, her tone almost soothing, "But Mr. Cha Bae Hyeon, your uncle specifically asked us to ensure you're taken care of properly."

Ignoring their reassurances, Ji Hoon turned away, stepping toward the table where company files were neatly arranged beside his untouched meal. The papers rustled softly under his fingertips as he sought answers, feeling the weight of their presence lingering behind him.

"You need to take the dripping; it's part of the doctor's prescription. If you refuse, we'll have no choice but to inform Mr. Cha." The threat hung in the air, his voice shaky but laced with intimidation.

Ji Hoon slammed the files down on the table, the papers fluttering like startled birds, and turned his sharp gaze towards them. Striding forward, he approached the doctor, deliberately lifting his nameplate with a flourish.

"Lee Ji Seok," he enunciated, his tone dripping with sarcasm as he emphasized each syllable. "How much did they pay you to ensure I get drugged?" 

His accusation sliced through the room, and Ji Seok, momentarily startled, took a step back, disbelief flickering across his features. The atmosphere thickened with tension as the power dynamics shifted.

"Do you really think I wouldn't notice the changes happening in my body?" he challenged, his voice dripping with both disappointment and irritation. "Do you honestly believe I wouldn't realize when you alter my medication dosages or switch the prescriptions? You think I would just passively accept whatever you administer and let you intimidate me with your so-called MR. CHA?" 

His eyes burned with a fervent intensity as he confronted Ji Seok, a palpable tension hanging in the air. "I can't help but wonder who's really pulling the strings here and under whose name this entire damned hospital was established." 

With that statement, he paused to let his words sink in, leaving the doctor and nurse utterly speechless, their expressions a mixture of shock and unease at his bold defiance. The silence that followed was thick, charged with unspoken truths and unaddressed power dynamics.

Ji Hoon stepped back towards the worn-out sofa, clutching a bowl of cereal in his hands. As he settled down, he fixed his intense gaze on the doctor, his voice steady yet charged with accusation. 

"Now listen here, Doc," he began, his tone both assertive and accusatory. "I know more about you than you might ever realize. You've mastered the art of making money, haven't you? Feeding your insatiable greed by peddling those counterfeit medications. How many accusations are stacked against you and this hospital, I wonder?" 

He leaned forward, his expression hardening. "And what of those shadowy days four years past? In a frantic bid to safeguard the Prime Minister, you engaged in a reckless gamble—seizing the fragile heart of an innocent child without a moment's thought to inform his grieving parents. They remained blissfully unaware, shrouded in ignorance of the horrific choice you made in that moment of desperation. And now, adorned with the mantle of a hero, I can't help but wonder how that burden sits upon your shoulders."

"How the hell…?" The doctor interrupted, his voice a mix of shock and fear, eyes wide with disbelief as Ji Hoon's words hung in the air like a heavy fog. 

"I've told you before—I know more about you than you know about yourself," he said, a mix of mockery and menace lacing his voice. Leaning closer, he lowered his tone conspiratorially, "Now, just picture this: what if I handed over the complete list of your misdeeds to that reporter friend of yours? What was her name again?" He paused for effect, a sly grin spreading across his face. "Ah, yes! Jin Hee. Won Jin Hee. Can you imagine the kind of chaos that opportunistic leech would create with that information?" His tone was a taunting sing-song, each word dripped with contempt.

With a smile that radiated innocence, Ji Hoon gently motioned for them to leave the room. Their expressions were a mix of disbelief and embarrassment as Ji Seok, overwhelmed by a surge of humiliation, stormed out with heavy stomps, his frustration palpable in every step.

Min Hyuk approached the door cautiously, sensing the charged atmosphere in the air. When he entered, he found Ji Hoon still sitting at the table, the remnants of the earlier tension still lingering around them. "Sir, the manager and the guardian of the person in room 704 would like to see you," he announced, eyeing Ji Hoon curiously.

"What the hell? Do I even get to eat today or not?" Ji Hoon exclaimed, his voice heavy with exasperation as he placed his bowl down with a frustrated sigh. 

With a hint of reluctance, Min Hyuk suggested, "I can tell them to go away. You could enjoy your meal in peace."

Ji Hoon's face visibly relaxed at the thought. "Yes, please. If it's not something crucial, I'd rather eat. The doctor will start nagging me beforehand if I don't fill up now."

"Understood," Min Hyuk replied, nodding in agreement as he prepared to address the visitors.

Min Hyuk took a moment to absorb the weight of his words before swiftly making his way to the Manager of Sam Yeong Su and Jung Ha Joon, the charismatic leader of ECHOS—the globally acclaimed boyband comprised of ten talented members, all under the aegis of Eclipse Entertainment. 

Upon arriving, he cleared his throat and spoke with urgency, "Actually, the doctor in charge will be arriving shortly, and it's critical that he completes his meal as per the strict instructions given by the doctor." 

Jung Ha Joon furrowed his brow, a guilty expression shadowing his features. His eyes widened with concern as he took a hesitant step forward. "Oh... umm… in that case, could you please pass this to him?" he asked, his voice laced with urgency. He gestured emphatically, the weight of his request hanging in the air, reflecting the seriousness of the message he wanted to deliver.