CHAPTER 97: CHAPTER 97: MY DARLING

Yura pressed her forehead against her mother’s shoulder, eyes glistening but still trying to smile for her. "You have to stay, you have to stay with Dad.." she whispered. "Even if we can’t."

Her mother shook violently, burying her face in her lap as she cried and cried, the kind of grief that had no bottom, no end with no way to soften.

And on the hospital bed beside them, Min‑jae lay utterly still.

Unmoving.

Completely unaware.

His soul elsewhere, while this world broke without him.

***********

The next morning, Min-jae woke up to a low ache in his chest, he rubbed his chest slightly as he sat up.

"Good morning, did you sleep well? Does your body hurt? I’ve called for a physician, need to know if your ribs are okay and if you’re okay generally.."

-_-

Min-jae laid down back, maybe he should really get checked by a doctor.

"Okay.."

Meical who was arranging the desk froze, why was Kaizar so ductile today? He left the desk and walked back to the bed.

There he took a good, long, look at Min-jae.

"Your eyes are sunken, did you get any sleep at all yesterday? Do you have a fever?"

Meical felt Min-jae face and neck, his body temperature wasn’t abnormally high so what was wrong?

"Are you hungry?"

Min-jae shook his head, as Meical sat down next to him.

"You’re not hungry, you don’t have a fever, you’re not angry? Wait did I do anything wrong?"

Min-jae chuckled as he patted Meical’s hand. "I’m okay, I just need a little love from my husband.."

Meical blinked.

Then blinked again.

"A little... love..." he repeated softly, as if committing the words to memory.

He leaned down and pressed a firm, grounding kiss to Min-jae’s forehead. "You don’t need to ask for that. Come, let’s get you up."

Min-jae let himself be pulled gently into Meical’s arms. He wasn’t resisting, just moving slowly, like his body was present but his heart was somewhere far away.

Meical noticed. Of course he did.

But he didn’t comment, didn’t pry, a part of him was scared to hear the truth.

Instead, he slipped an arm around Min-jae’s waist.

"Let’s go bathe together.." he murmured. "I’ll help you."

Normally, Min-jae would tease him. Or roll his eyes. Or shove at him lightly.

But today he simply nodded.

Meical’s chest tightened as he guided Min-jae to the bath, undressed him carefully, his touches slow and attentive, like he was handling something fragile. The water was warm, steam rising gently as Meical coaxed him in.

"Sit.." he said softly.

Min-jae obeyed, sinking into the warmth with a quiet sigh.

Meical moved behind him, his fingers threading into his hair, massaging his scalp with gentle circular motions. Min-jae’s eyes fluttered shut. For a moment, his shoulders loosened.

"You like it when I do this right?" Meical murmured, voice low near his ear.

Min-jae hummed. "Feels nice..."

Meical washed his hair, slow and thoroughly, letting the water flow through his fingers as he poured it over Min-jae’s head.

Then he reached for a cloth and ran it along Min-jae’s back, down his arms, over his shoulders.

Each touch was deliberate and tender.

"My darling..." he said quietly, kissing the nape of Min-jae’s neck. "You can tell me when your heart feels heavy. I’ll carry it with you."

-_-

Had they gotten to nicknames now?

Min-jae said nothing, but his fingers curled weakly against Meical’s thigh.

When they finally stepped out, Meical wrapped Min-jae in a large towel, drying him off gently, even kneeling to wipe his legs. Then he took another towel and ruffled his hair, drying it until it fluffed softly.

He moved to the wardrobe and picked out clothes himself, something soft, comfortable, nothing heavy or restricting.

He helped Min-jae dress as well, tugging the shirt down properly and smoothing it over his shoulders.

Min-jae managed a small smile. "You’re really... doing everything today."

"You’re my darling.." Meical said simply. "If you need pampering, I’ll pamper you."

There was no teasing in his tone. Just fact.

Meical kept running the brush gently through Min-jae’s hair, slow strokes meant to soothe him. Min-jae sat between his knees on the edge of the bed, shoulders loose but his expression still tired, still far from his usual energy.

A soft knock came, and the maid stepped inside with a bow.

"Master, madame, the physician has arrived."

Min-jae didn’t even lift his head.

"Don’t let him come in here..." he said simply.

Meical didn’t miss a beat. "Lead him to the study instead.." he said to the maid.

"Yes, master..."

She bowed and withdrew.

The room settled again. Meical set the brush aside and wrapped his arms lightly around Min-jae’s waist, resting his chin on his shoulder.

"We should go.." he said softly.

Min-jae nodded and let Meical help him to his feet. They walked out together, Meical’s hand resting at the small of his back, guiding him gently through the hallway.

At the doors of the study, Meical paused.

"Go in first.." he said, brushing Min-jae’s shoulder. "I need to get something. I’ll be right behind you."

Min-jae didn’t question it, just pushed the door open and stepped inside.

The study was calm, sunlight filling the room in soft yellow strips. The physician was waiting off to the side, hisnhands respectfully clasped, but Min-jae didn’t approach him.

He simply walked toward the desk, intending to sit and wait for Meical.

But then—

His eyes caught the folder left there.

-_-

Just as he was about to open the folder the physician greeted.

"Good morning sir, it’s been a while since I last saw you, you’ve missed alot of treatment which is not good, last time I adviced you not to stress your ribs or it could lead to other complications, but you walked in just fine so that may be a good sign. But one must not take chances with their health."

Min-jae nodded, he understood what the doctor was trying to say. "I understand, sorry to make you come all the way.."

The physician smiled humbly "it’s no problem, it’s my job.."