Seoha’s POV

’Jaemin is back, he’s in the house, he’s Sooin’s mother’

My thoughts are saying, recapping the last things I remember seeing, well, before I blacked out.

I can never catch a break can I?

Three days of happiness, just those three days are all I had, and now everything has gone down the drain.

It’s time to let it go, Taesan deserves better, I have nothing to offer.

With a sigh, I finally open my eyes, and the blinding light shines down on me, making me squint to keep it out.

I’m in a hospital...again, the second time within one month...and because of Taesan.

I take a deep breath, and the smell that fills my nose is a hated one.

I really hate hospitals, always too sterile, too clean, and too perfect.

And maybe the reason I dislike it so much is how often I have visited it in my life.

I’ve been there for treating the wounds from my cousin’s beating, and for visiting grandma when she was sick.

"Ah...I really dislike it" I say out loud before finally opening my eyes completely. I already feel oddly better, and I can feel that the wound at the back of my head has been properly treated.

I can’t wait to get out of here.

I lift my head slightly and I find Minjae sleeping with his head on the bed.

He has his hands on the bed like a makeshift pillow and he’s sitting in a chair, I can tell that the position is uncomfortable, especially for someone in his condition.

"Minjae" I call his name to wake him up, but he doesn’t wake yet, he seems really tired.

It makes me wonder how much stress I have put him through in the past two days.

He sneezes in his sleep and I place my hand on his shoulder, shaking him to wake him up, and when he sits up, he greets me with the coldest glare I have ever received from him.

"Hey" I whisper in greeting, hoping to placate his anger but his glare remains.

"I have always known you’re a bit dumb, but how dumb are you, really?" he asks sassily and I cringe.

I know my best friend means no harm, verbal violence is one of his many love languages, he only ever complains about those he loves.

"I’m sorry for putting you in this position, Minnie-ya" I apologize and he leans back in the seat.

He looks too tired.

He must have rushed down here all the way from work, he’s still dressed in the clothes he left home in, the same shirt, pants and shoes.

"You look so stressed" I say and he gives me a flat look.

"Gee I wonder why, you idiot, I left you at home in a cozy bed, and few hours later I meet you with a twisted ankle? Really, Seoha-yah, I wonder why I’m stressed " he says and I feel even more guilty. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"I really didn’t mean to put you in trouble...I just couldn’t stay away when Sooin needed me" I say, letting him know why I risked my life like a fool.

Yes, I’m a bit dumb, but I’m not completely stupid...I just love a bit more than most people.

"Sooin?" Minjae repeats the name and I nod, careful not to trigger a headache.

"Isn’t Sooin that the kid in the office that day?" he asks carefully and my lips round into an ’O’, remembering that he met Sooin once.

The day Junho kidnapped him and brought him to Mountain Atelier, Sooin had called me daddy, and I told Minjae that I’ll tell him about it later.

Oh.

"Yes, that’s the child" I say now that I have nothing to hide and he makes a face

"She’s with that asshole? Is she his daughter?"

"Yes..." I say.

"Wow, that’s really unfortunate, I’m glad you satisfied yourself by seeing her, but really, I will not let you meet that jackass ever again" Minjae says firmly.

And as I open my mouth to talk, Minjae lifts his hand to shush me, and I give up.

He’ll scold me till I see his point of view, if I think of it properly, maybe Minjae is the reason I’m still alive this long.

"How can you let someone like that even bite you? Aren’t you scared?" he asks me with concern and I bite my lip, feeling more guilt.

"He’s not that kind of person...I promise" I whisper and Minjae holds up his hand again.

"Then what kind of person is he? You keep saying you can’t tell me things, but I keep seeing for myself how dangerous your situation is" he says with a scowl and I shrink into the bed.

"I’m sorry Minjae, I didn’t mean to keep any information from you" I apologize to him.

"Then start talking" the omega says, folding his hands over his chest, looking more serious than I have ever seen him.

"Did you steal from him?" he asks and I drop my head in shame

"Yes" I whisper.

"Oh Seoha" Minjae says softly, I can hear the disappointment in his tone and I cover my face as I start to cry.

All the tears that I held back for a long time, the tears that had no one to wipe them off.

"Why would you?" Minjae asks and takes my hands off my face, but I turn my head away.

"I don’t know, it was stupid and...and it’s the reason I’m here in this mess, but I don’t regret it" I babble and he wipes my tears with his thumb.

He carefully wipes off every drop, not saying a word yet, just cooing at me and releasing his comforting scent for me.

"At least for Sooin’s sake, I don’t regret it" I sniffle and Minjae hums softly.

"We have to save the pup from that man" Minjae says in a low tone and I blink in surprise.

"Eh?" I ask, blinking rapidly to stop the tears and Minjae moves back, rubbing his hand over his stomach.

"What do you mean, ’eh?’, if he can hurt you this bad, who’s to say that child isn’t getting worse treatments?" he asks logically and I can’t help but laugh softly despite my tears.

"Minnie-ya, Taesan will never hurt Sooin, she means the whole world to him" I say and he breathes a sigh of relief.

"If you’re sure, then that’s fine, but I’m serious, you’re not going to have anything to do with that asshole" he insists and gets up.

I want him lift his hands over his head as he stretches, showing off his small baby bump, and it makes me feel worse about making him worry.

"I’ll stay away from Taesan" I say.

My omega whines in protest but I shut him up, right now there are too many things to consider; there’s Minjae’s health to worry about, there’s Taesan’s heart to worry about...

"I’ll stay away, but I just need to get my things and visit Sooin" I say, feigning confidence, but Minjae gives me a side eye.

"Get your things?" Minjae asks and I nod slowly.

"Seoha, No, he will be delivering your things to you, you will have nothing to do with that man" he says, passing the same message again and again.

He really dislikes Taesan, and Minjae is a person who rarely dislikes people.

I understand he is protecting me, but...

"How will I get it? I don’t have a phone, my mom’s guitar is there too" I say with a pout.

Even if I don’t get my clothes, I really don’t care, I just want the guitar back. Guarding the only thing that still means a lot to me is more important.

"I’ll call that annoying hunk to get them, he’s part of this mess too, isn’t he?" Minjae says and I make a face, no one is escaping Minnie’s bullets.

"Thank you Minjae" I say and he finally relaxes into the chair.

"I thought you would fight against staying away" he says, returning to the Minjae I know, the playful and soft omega.

"I know you’re only looking out for me, you’re the only family I have left here" I say and he smiles softly.

"And you’re the only family I have left, well...you and my pup" he says.

"I’ll do better, we’ll both be fine" I say to him, somehow, I already know my words are a lie.

Will I really do better? Will I really stay away?

"Hold on, I’ll get a nurse to discharge you" Minjae says and leaves the room.

Once he’s gone, I lay back in the bed and shut my eyes.

My omega is still whining, mourning the distance between Taesan and I, and it hurts more than I’m permitted to show.

I carefully open my end of the bond, reaching for him, and I find him there waiting for me.

I feel his alpha but as his soft growl reaches me, I shut the bond and open my eyes.