Jihoon had somewhat adjusted to the routine of his recovery, feeling the days blurred together in a slow procession of treatments, nurse visits, and moments of muted exhaustion. But through it all, the support of Ryul made everything more bearable.
The older man remained by Jihoon's side almost constantly, always anticipating his needs before he even had to voice them out. Whether it was adjusting his pillows, helping him eat, or simply sitting close by, Ryul made sure he lacked for nothing.
Whenever the hours stretched too long or his thoughts grew too loud, Jihoon would secretly steal glances at the man seated beside the bed, immersed in a paperback novel.
The way his lips pressed together in concentration, how his eyes flicked across each line of the page, and the way he kept his face relaxed altogether. Jihoon would study them all, memorising each detail as though it might lower the noises in his head.
