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[In my dreams ] - [Red velvet]

From the moment Sunghoon was admitted to the hospital, Iseul hadn't left his side. She'd stayed through the hours, her worry etched into every glance she cast toward him. When the nurses weren't around, she took care of him—adjusting his blanket, dabbing at his forehead with a cool cloth, and making sure he was as comfortable as he could be.

At some point in the early hours of the morning, exhaustion overtook her. She slumped into the chair beside his bed, her head resting on the mattress, her hand instinctively gripping his.

The sunlight streamed through the blinds, casting soft rays on her face. She stirred, groggy and disoriented, her body stiff from the awkward position she'd fallen asleep in. Blinking a few times, she lifted her head slowly, her gaze immediately drawn to his face.

Sunghoon was still unconscious, but his breathing was steady, his expression softer than she'd ever seen. For a moment, relief washed over her, easing the tension in her chest.

She stretched, wincing slightly as her stiff muscles protested. It wasn't the most comfortable night, but she didn't care. Letting go of his hand for just a moment, she rubbed her face, trying to wake herself fully.

Iseul ran her fingers through her hair, letting out a shaky breath as she looked at Sunghoon, his face peaceful yet so distant. "This is unusual. You're sleeping for too long, Sunghoon. This isn't you." Her lips curled into a soft laugh, but the sound lacked joy.

"Tch. Even if you wake, you wouldn't like that I was here. You'd probably kick me out. But I'm here, and I'm not leaving your side."

The words hung in the air, her resolve faltering as silence enveloped the room. Her tears began to spill, unbidden and uncontrollable, streaking down her face. It was getting harder to hold it all in—to keep the weight of everything inside.

"I cannot forget," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I just can't... I don't believe in fate, but why did it happen? Why us? I just don't understand..." A sob tore through her chest, and she buried her face in her hands, the pain she'd buried so deep rising to the surface.

After a moment, she lifted her head, her face stained with tears, and continued in a trembling voice, "I was going to tell you... but I can't. I can't hurt you. I'll go through that pain—for both of us."

Her fingers hesitated, trembling as she reached out to gently brush his hair away from his face. Her touch lingered, tender and filled with all the unspoken words she couldn't say.

Then, the door swung open abruptly, breaking the fragile moment.

It was Rena, standing in the doorway, her eyes widening as she took in the scene. Iseul flinched, her hand quickly retracting from Sunghoon as if she'd been caught doing something forbidden.

Rena's sharp gaze settled on Iseul, suspicion flickering in her eyes. "What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice as cool and cutting as glass.

Iseul felt her chest tighten, the words caught in her throat as her thoughts scrambled. Her cheeks flushed, and she glanced toward the sleeping Sunghoon as though he might offer her an answer. "I... I was just leaving," she stammered, her voice barely audible.

Without waiting for Rena's reply, Iseul turned on her heel and hurried out of the room, her footsteps echoing faintly in the corridor. Each step felt heavier, her heart pounding with a mix of shame and sorrow. She didn't look back.

Rena lingered, turning her attention to Sunghoon. His face, usually so guarded and cold, was uncharacteristically soft in his sleep. His lashes cast faint shadows over his cheeks, and his slow, steady breathing filled the quiet room. Sitting beside him, Rena gently adjusted his blanket with practiced ease. Her movements were tender, almost rehearsed, as though she wanted to imprint herself into this moment with him.

Outside, the sharp afternoon breeze bit at Iseul's exposed arms, making her shiver. She rubbed her hands over her forearms, realizing with a sinking feeling that she had left her jacket behind. The realization frustrated her, yet the thought of returning made her stomach churn.

Still, she turned back toward the hospital, her feet dragging as though carrying her away would mean surrendering something she wasn't ready to give up.

As she neared the room again, the door, slightly ajar, revealed an intimate scene that stopped her in her tracks.

Rena leaned close to Sunghoon, her hand resting lightly on his arm, as though tethering him to the waking world. His eyes were cracked open now, their dark depths reflecting a glimmer of life that hadn't been there before.

"Is that jacket yours?" Sunghoon asked, his voice rough from disuse, but the warmth in his tone made Iseul's breath hitch.

Rena smiled softly, her fingers brushing a stray hair from his forehead. "Yes, it's mine," she said, her tone light, effortless, perfect.

"Thank you so much for staying with me, Rena," Sunghoon murmured, his lips curving into a faint but sincere smile. "I really... appreciate it."

Iseul's heart clenched, each beat a painful reminder of the gap between them. Her hand flew to her mouth as her knees threatened to give way beneath her. She pressed herself against the wall outside the room, her chest heaving with the effort to silence the sobs rising in her throat.

Her vision blurred, but she couldn't tear her gaze away. The scene before her felt like a cruel tableau, framed perfectly to confirm her deepest fears. Her heart, fragile and exposed, shattered in silence.

Blindly, she turned and stumbled down the hallway, her world reduced to the suffocating weight of betrayal. She didn't see Changbin until she collided with him, her hands bracing against his chest to keep herself upright.

"Iseul?" Changbin's voice was low, his brow furrowed with concern as he steadied her. "What happened? Are you okay?"

Her lips trembled, and her tear-streaked face tilted up to meet his gaze. She struggled for words, her voice thick with anguish. "Changbin... please..." she choked out.

"What is it?" he asked gently, though his wariness was clear.

"Don't tell Sunghoon I was here," she pleaded, her words tumbling out between shallow breaths. "Don't tell him I stayed with him... please."

"Iseul, you can't just—"

"Please," she interrupted, her voice breaking as she clung to his sleeve like it was the only thing keeping her from falling apart. "I'm begging you."

He hesitated, the weight of her desperation silencing his protests. Finally, he sighed, his resolve cracking. "Alright," he said reluctantly. "I won't say anything."

Her shoulders slumped with relief, but the emptiness in her chest remained. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice hollow as she stepped back.

Changbin watched her retreat, her silhouette swallowed by the pale hospital light. The faint scent of her perfume lingered in the air, a ghostly reminder of the girl who had just walked away with a shattered heart.

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