Angel Smile 34 Scene 34

"You're very lucky. Had you been five seconds late, you might have been a goner already," says the doctor apathetically. He had been the main surgeon that worked on Hyuk's case so he knew just how critical his injuries had been. A few of his ribs were cracked and it punctured an organ, and he would have died from shock had he received one more hit on his stomach.

Luckily, the injuries were safely healed and all that was left was for him to recover with bedrest.

"Thank you, doctor." Yeo Ri bowed deeply towards the doctor. Seeing her highly grateful look, even the usually stoic doctor could not help but smile slightly. It made him remember the first time he saved someone as a doctor; that feeling of fulfilment that was now long forgotten appeared again briefly.

"Take care to not aggravate your injuries," he advised. He sent a pointed look towards Hyuk. The young man looked like a troublemaker and probably got into lots of fights previously. He had seen so many faded bruises and scars on him when he examined the boy earlier.

Hyuk glowered at the doctor, but did not pick a fight. The painkillers were wearing off and he was beginning to feel the pain creeping back in. He had no time to argue with the doctor.

"If you feel any discomfort, just press that button," he blandly instructed. Then, the doctor hurried away to tend to another patient.

"Thank goodness, Oppa," Yeo Ri heaved a sigh of relief. She held his hand, tenderly squeezing it.

"Mm." Hyuk interlocked their fingers. He stared at Yeo Ri, a multitude of thoughts crossing his mind. Now that things have calmed down, memories of that time kept replaying in the back of his mind. Although Yeo Ri pretended to be fine, he knew there was no way she was really alright after... that. He lowered his eyes, hiding his Hannylike facial expression from Yeo Ri. If he saw that b*stard again, he had no confidence in reining back his murderous intent. His hands itched to choke the life out of that b*stard and make him suffer.

"Ah."

Hyuk's train of thoughts were interrupted by Yeo Ri's voice. His head snapped towards the girl.

"Gun-oppa is calling your phone. I'll go answer it, okay?" Yeo Ri excused herself.

"Come back quickly," Hyuk couldn't help but blurt. When he realised what he had said, the tips of his ears reddened in embarrassment. He sounded like a needy child.

Yeo Ri smiled in amusement. "Okay." She patted his arm in reassurance, then walked out of the ward, answering the phone.

Half an hour after the call, Gun came rushing into the ward.

"Gun-oppa!" Yeo Ri stood up to welcome him.

"Yeo Ri-ah!" Gun's eyes lingered on Hyuk's pitiful state for a brief moment before his attention went to Yeo Ri's figure. He dashed forward pulling the girl into his arms. "What happened?! Are you okay?!"

"I'm fine, Oppa," Yeo Ri returned his hug, reassuring him.

Gun gave her a once-over, looking for any signs of discomfort. Seeing the bruises on her face made his heart feel as if it was being squeezed. "My poor Yeo Ri-ah," Gun's eyes reddened.

"The f*ck are you doing? It's not like she died. Pipe the f*ck down, sh*thead," Hyuk grumbled. If only he wasn't hurt; he would have ripped the boy's arms away from Yeo Ri.

Yeo Ri smiled wryly. "I keep telling you, I'm really fine, Oppa."

Gun finally released Yeo Ri, but continued to hold her hand. "Just what happened? Why did Dad hurt you?"

"I—I—" Yeo Ri stuttered. It was bad enough that Hyuk found out. She didn't want Gun to suffer the same fate as Hyuk. Yeo Ri lowered her head, refusing to answer.

"Hyung?" Gun's gaze turned to Hyuk. Since Yeo Ri refused to answer, he could only rely on Hyuk.

"..." Hyuk looked away. If Yeo Ri didn't want to tell somebody else, then he wouldn't too. It was her story to tell, not his. His eyes darkened. Hyuk suddenly felt like he wouldn't mind becoming a murderer after remembering the traumatic scene again.

'Poor Yeo Ri,' he thought. 'My poor sister.' What did she ever do to deserve such terrible things?

"Hyung?" Gun called him again, pressing for answers.

"...He was drunk," Hyuk lied. "No one else was home so he targeted Yeo Ri."

Yeo Ri shot Hyuk a relieved look.

Gun narrowed his eyes. Something still felt wrong. Hyuk's explanation was brief. Too short. But because it was Hyuk, Gun tried to shake off the feeling. Hyuk never liked talking to him, so his answers were usually just as short.

"But Hyung, why were you home so early?"

"..." Hyuk shifted uncomfortably. He coughed, "...I got fired."

"Again?" Yeo Ri exclaimed exasperatedly. Who knew how many times he had changed jobs in the past year alone.

Hyuk glowered at her tone. "That's enough; I'm tired. Go away," he says, turning away from the two. Was it his fault that he always had bad bosses? It was In Guk's fault for introducing him to sh*tty workplaces, he concluded. After shifting the blame to In Guk, he felt better. He closed his eyes, pretending to sleep.

Yeo Ri and Gun exchanged glances, smiling wryly.

"Okay, Oppa. We'll be around," Yeo Ri helped drape the blanket on him properly, then left the ward with Gun. Since Hyuk seemed like he was going to go to sleep, she felt that it was best to not bother him.

Chapter end

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