Hyuk barely closed his eyes, sitting on the edge of the bed and clutching the phone that no longer rang. Every minute dragged on like an hour. Only one thought echoed in his mind: "He's there... alone... he needs me."
A knock on the door came unexpectedly. Hyuk jumped up, his heart pounding. The secretary stood on the threshold. His strict suit and reserved expression hadn't changed, but something else shone in his eyes - weary, but humane.
"It's time," he said quietly. "We don't have much time. Mr. Kim is in negotiations, and he won't be back for the next few hours."
Hyuk didn't even ask questions. He just grabbed his jacket and keys and followed him out. Silence reigned in the car. The journey seemed endless, but every second brought him closer to Minjun.
***
The clinic corridors greeted them with a sterile smell and soft light. The secretary led him past the nurses' stations, confidently, as if everything was going according to plan. And then - the door to the ward.
"He's inside," the secretary said, nodding slightly. "Just be quiet."
Hyuk pushed the door open. His heart almost leaped out of his chest.
Minjun lay on the white sheets, pale, with a thin IV drip in his arm. His hair was slightly disheveled, and his lips trembled in his sleep. But when the door creaked, he opened his eyes.
For a moment, their eyes met. A sigh escaped Minjun's chest, tears instantly welling up on his lashes.
"Hyuk..." his voice was weak, but it held such a power that Hyuk couldn't bear it - he walked over, sat down next to him, and firmly took his hand.
"I'm here," the alpha whispered, touching his forehead to Minjun's palm. "I'm right here, Minjun."
Minjun trembled, his fingers clutching Hyuk's as if afraid he would disappear. Hyuk gently ran his hand over his cheek, wiping away the tears, and every gesture was a promise: "I won't leave you."
The omega closed his eyes, breathing in his scent. A thin thread of the alpha's pheromones filled the room, soft and tender. The monitors nearby even registered it - his pulse evened out, his breathing became calmer.
"You smell... so calm..." Minjun whispered, pressing closer. "I've missed this so much."
Hyuk held him tighter, almost pressing him to his chest. His lips touched the omega's hair.
"You are strong, Minjun. But now you don't have to hold on alone."
At that moment, the door slightly ajar - the secretary stood there, watching silently. Then he said quietly:
"I'll help you leave. Not now. But... soon. While his father is busy, we'll have a chance. You must be together."
Hyuk looked up, and for the first time in a long time, gratitude flashed in his eyes. He gave a short nod.
Minjun managed a weak but sincere smile. His fingers intertwined with Hyuk's. He felt the warmth, the pheromones, the love. And even the fear that lived inside him began to recede.
***
They spent the evening in silence. Hyuk sat by his side, holding Minjun's hand, occasionally leaning over and kissing his forehead. Minjun whispered simple words: "You're here," "Thank you," "Don't leave." And each time, he received an answer - soft, confident: "Never."
When the omega dozed off, clutching his hand, Hyuk allowed himself to breathe calmly for the first time in a long while. In the small space of the hospital ward, only their world existed - fragile, but real.
And as the secretary left the clinic, he thought: "I'm breaking orders. But maybe, for the first time in my life, I'm doing the right thing."