In the morning, Han woke up at 8 AM—mostly because he couldn't bear lying down and drowning in his thoughts any longer.
Chaewon was already in the kitchen, preparing something simple for breakfast.
"Hyung, you're awake? You're getting disciplined day by day," he teased with a soft smile.
Just seeing Chaewon eased something inside Han's chest.
"Chaewon… I'm not doing well these days," he admitted quietly. "And I don't think I can handle everything alone. But having you here… makes it a little easier."
Chaewon was genuinely stunned by the sudden confession. He smiled, his ears turning slightly red.
"I'm happy… that I can be useful to you."
Their eyes met — longer than usual. Deeper. Warmer.
In that silent moment, Chaewon felt himself falling even harder for Han.
Before anything else could be said, Han's phone rang sharply.
It was Jun.
"Han! Our teammates got into an accident. Come to the hospital right now!"
Han jumped to his feet.
"What!? Send me the address — I'll be there in ten minutes."
He grabbed his coat and keys. Chaewon followed immediately without saying a word.
---
At the hospital, chaos surrounded them. One teammate sat with scratches and a broken arm — shaken but stable.
But the other… he was badly hurt. His leg fractured, his body bruised and bleeding, rushed into ICU.
A nurse hurried toward them.
"We need immediate surgery — please sign the documents and pay the advance fees."
Without hesitation, Han stepped forward.
"I'll do it," he said, handing his card with trembling hands.
Then came the long wait.
Five agonizing hours of silence. Anxiety. Fear.
Chaewon and Han sat side by side on the cold metal seats — both praying.
Finally, a nurse exited the operation theatre with a reassuring smile.
"The surgery was successful. He's stable now. We'll move him to recovery. You can visit one at a time, but he's still under anesthesia."
Relief washed through them like a wave.
The uninjured teammate approached Han, bowing with gratitude.
"Thank you hyung… I'll pay you back for everything."
Han shook his head gently.
"Focus on recovery, not the money."
---
After Jun left to escort the other boy home, only Han and Chaewon remained.
The hospital hall felt too quiet — too heavy.
Chaewon stepped away to answer a call that suddenly came in.
Han watched him from behind.
His heart clenched.
That must be Seokmin…
And he was right.
After an hour, Seokmin arrived — arms full of snacks like always.
Without even acknowledging Han first, he pulled out a chocolate bar.
"Chaewon hyung, didn't you say you liked this one?"
Chaewon smiled, but it was an awkward smile… almost guilty.
Han's expression darkened, though he masked it quickly.
He took the chocolate and shoved it inside his pocket without a word.
Seokmin and Chaewon continued chatting happily — laughter echoing as if nothing was wrong.
Meanwhile, Han sat silently — suffocating in his thoughts.
Finally, he stood up.
"I'm going to get some fresh air."
"Okay!" Seokmin replied cheerfully, waving him off.
---
Han stepped into the cold evening wind.
Does Seokmin know about Seungmin and me?
Jisoo's words spun like blades in his mind.
Is he also part of this game?
Were all three of them tricking me this whole time?
No.
He couldn't believe Seokmin would do that.
Not his baby.
Not the child he raised like a little brother.
If Seokmin knew…
That would hurt more than anything else.
When Han returned, the injured boy's mother and sister had arrived.
They insisted the boys go home and rest.
Walking out of the ward, Seokmin whispered something to Chaewon, then said loudly:
"Hyung, I'll go with him. Don't forget to eat, okay? I might be late."