CHAPTER 28: CHAPTER 28

Woo Min’s POV

I closed my eyes for a second thinking I misread stuff.

The message was still there when I opened my phone again.

Rin was hospitalized.

It hit harder the second time. My thumb just hovered over the screen. For a second, I thought I’d really really misread it wrong, or maybe it was an old message. But the timestamp blinked at me like it was mocking me. Five minutes ago.

My stomach turned cold. Rin. My Baby Rin. The only one who could make Yu Jin drop his guard and make me feel like I wasn’t a total screw-up.

I sat there for maybe ten seconds before moving. I didn’t even remember when I was completely dressed before putting my shoes on. I don’t even think I saw my underwear to put on.

"Where are you going?" Hana’s voice cut through as I grabbed my jacket. She was sitting up in bed, hair a mess, sheet falling off her shoulder.

"I have to go."

"Go where?" she asked, sharp now. "Wait you think you can just show up, you fuck me, and then you just walk out like this?"

I stopped halfway to the door. My pulse was still jumping. "It’s not like that."

"Oh, then what is it like? I thought you were different." She got up, pulling the sheet around her. "You think I’m some convenient stop between your little emotional breakdowns?"

I turned back to her. "My son needs me."

That made her freeze. "What?"

"My son," I said again, voice rough. "He’s in the hospital."

"You have a son?" Her face changed; confusion, disbelief, maybe a little disgust. "You never told me you.."

"You didn’t ask... and why are you acting like I’m your boyfriend? We literally met a few hours ago. I can’t explain right now," I said, already at the door.

"How can you even... you know what? Never mind hold up, I’ll drive you," she said suddenly, grabbing for her clothes.

"No."

"Woo Min, you’re still drunk. I can smell it."

"I’ll manage."

"I said I’ll drive," she insisted, voice breaking a little. "I want to see you..just let me.."

"Hana," I said, and she stopped. "Not now. Please."

Her hand dropped. The room went quiet except for the buzz of my phone. I didn’t even check it again.

By the time I reached the street, the cold hit me in the face. I still smelled like alcohol and her perfume, cheap vanilla, clinging to my shirt. It made me sick.

***

The hospital lights were too white. As a doctor who was always in hospitals I had began hating hospitals.

Yu Jin was there when I walked in. He looked like a ghost. Dark circles under his eyes, hair sticking out, hands gripping Rin’s small one on the bed.

Rin looked tiny. Wires everywhere. Machines beeping like a metronome for death.

Yu Jin looked up when I came in. The moment our eyes met, he stood up and walked straight to me. For a second I thought he’d hit me. Instead, he grabbed me in a hug so tight it made my chest hurt.

I stood there, frozen, arms half-raised.

"He’s okay, right?" I finally asked. My voice sounded wrong.

Yu Jin pulled back, eyes glassy. "They don’t know yet. His blood pressure dropped. They said he needs a transfusion fast."

"Okayy let’s check if he matches me I’ll donate," I said, but my brain didn’t move past blood transfusion.

"Woo Min," he said, swallowing hard. "Rin has his father’s blood type. Park Min’s. The rare one, you know he’s human and Rin is only half human."

The name made my jaw clench. "And?"

"They can’t find a donor. They’re saying we might need to call him."

"No."

"Woo Min..."

"I said no."

Yu Jin stared at me like I’d lost my mind. "You’re serious?"

"Yes."

He laughed, short and broken. "Rin’s in there, our Rin and you’d rather let him suffer than agree we call Park min?"

"You think that bastard would even come?"

"I don’t care if he comes crawling or flying, we need him!"

I looked away, toward Rin. The kid’s chest moved shallowly under the blanket. My throat hurt.

"He’s not dying," I said quietly.

"You don’t know that!" Yu Jin shouted. A nurse looked in, then quickly left.

"Keep your voice down," I muttered.

"Don’t tell me to keep my voice down!" he snapped. "Where the hell have you been, huh? You disappeared, drinking yourself stupid, and now you want to act like you care?"

My stomach twisted. "Don’t start that now."

"No, we’re starting it now," he said, stepping closer. "Because every time something happens, you run. You vanish. You think being miserable is some noble act? You think Rin doesn’t notice when you’re gone? "

"Yu Jin.."

"He keeps asking where you are! Everytime you leave the house in anger!" His voice cracked. "And I lied to him. I didn’t him his daddy was busy drinking cuz I turned him down, I told him that you’re working."

"I’m what?"

He stared at me. "You’re destroying yourself. And for what? To punish who? Me? Him? Yourself?"

I looked at the floor. My hands were shaking. "I’m here now."

"I’m sorry Min. I have no right to yell at you like this. I’m sorry about yesterday too, you’re the only father he’s ever really had. But you know Rin is my life ," he said, his voice low now. "Plus you smell like alcohol. You look like hell."

"Never mind that, but you don’t get to talk like you’re the only one who cares," I said. "I care too."

"Then prove it," he shot back. "Let me call his father."

"I said no."

"God, you’re so stubborn it’s pathetic."

"Pathetic? You want to see pathetic?" I snapped, stepping closer. "You think I don’t remember what that man did to you?"

"I remember everything," Yu Jin said, voice shaking. "But this isn’t about us anymore. It’s about Rin. He needs blood, Woo Min. Not my trauma."

That hit like a slap.

I swallowed hard, looking past him to the small, still figure on the bed. The monitors beeped again.

Yu Jin’s voice softened. "Please. Just this once. Don’t make me do it even if you don’t want me to. The only reason I’m asking you is because...."

I rubbed my face. "Because...? You really think he’d help?"

"If it saves Rin, I’ll do anything," Yu Jin said.

I laughed bitterly. "Yeah, you would."

He flinched. "What’s that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing."

"No, say it."

"You’re always the saint, huh?" I said. "The perfect one. I’m the mess, the screw-up, and you’re the one saving everyone."

"This isn’t about me...."

"It’s always about you!" I barked. "Even now, you’re standing there acting like you’re the only one bleeding for that kid."

His voice trembled. "He’s my son too."

"I know that!" I shouted. The silence after that was deafening.

The heart monitor kept beeping.

For a long second, neither of us moved. Then Rin’s voice, small and weak, broke the air.

"Stop fighting," he whispered.

We both turned at once. His eyes were barely open. His lips pale. "Please," he said again, "don’t fight."

Yu Jin was already beside him, brushing his hair back. "It’s okay, baby. We’re not fighting. Just talking."

I moved closer, swallowing hard. "Hey, kid. You’re okay."

He gave a tired smile. "Father is done with work?"

"Yes baby." I said, kissing his forehead.

He drifted off again before either of us could answer.

I turned away. I couldn’t stay there.

"Where are you going?" Yu Jin asked quietly.

"To get him," I said.

"His father?"

I nodded. "If that’s what it takes."

He stared at me like he didn’t believe it. "Aren’t you being stupid right now?"

"Jin what the fuck is wrong with you."

"What will you even say..."

"What I have to, he has a son in the ICU who needs him, I’ll tell him you kept that baby," I said. "I’ll drag Park Min there myself if I have to."

I started for the door.

"Wait Min, don’t...," Yu Jin called after me.

"What the actual hell, didn’t you want me to agree with you?"

"I just needed you to stop me Min. I don’t want that monster close to my baby."

"You’re sick, I’m going to get him." I said and I left the room

He caught up to me in the hallway. "Min I’m scared what if he still doesn’t want to see Rin"

"Bullshit," I said, and he came grabbing my arm. "You think this is just another errand? I’m going to face my baby daddy for the first time in about his son."

"I don’t need your lecture."

"You never do," he said quietly. "That’s the problem."

I stopped walking. The words hit something in my chest I di

dn’t want touched.

"I’m not doing this for you," I said finally.

"I didn’t ask you to, I know it’s for Rin"

We reached the parking lot.

"You need to make a choice Yu jin, are we telling Park min or not?"