The next week arrived faster than either of them expected. The morning air outside was crisp, painted with the faint smell of rain-soaked earth. Inside the car, silence lingered, not uncomfortable, just heavy with quiet anticipation.
Suho sat by the window, his hands clasped tightly together. He'd been restless since morning, his usual teasing gone. Hauen glanced at him while driving. "You're awfully quiet today, teddy bear."
He exhaled, still staring outside. "I'm just… nervous. What if it doesn't work again?"
"It will," she said softly, eyes still on the road. "Even if it doesn't today, it will someday. That's why we're trying."
He looked at her, her tone steady, sure. Sometimes he wondered where she got this endless faith from; maybe she borrowed his share, too.
At the therapy center,
Machines hummed quietly in the background. Suho's wheelchair rolled in, Hauen pushing him gently toward the treatment room.
Dr. Kwon greeted them warmly. "Welcome back, Mr. Kim. Ready for your first NMES session?"
"Ready," Suho said, though his voice cracked on the word.
They helped him transfer to the therapy bed. Electrodes were placed along his thighs and lower legs, connected to a small machine with flashing lights.
Dr. Kwon explained, "You might feel tiny electric pulses. It'll make your muscles contract slightly. Don't panic if it feels strange."
Suho nodded, his throat suddenly dry. Hauen stood beside him, her hand resting near his shoulder, close enough for him to feel her warmth.
The machine started. Tiny pulses flickered under his skin, soft at first, then stronger. His body twitched involuntarily. His brows furrowed.
"Feels weird," he muttered.
"That's your muscles waking up," Dr. Kwon said. "Let them."
After a few minutes, the stimulation increased. His thighs tensed, something he hadn't seen in months. The sight alone made his chest tighten.
"It's working," Hauen whispered, eyes wide.
"Not yet," Suho said, his jaw clenching. "It's just the current."
But Dr. Kwon smiled knowingly. "Current or not, your nerves are still responding. That's something we can build on."
The minutes stretched. Sweat formed near his temple as the machine continued, sending wave after wave of pulses.
"Okay, that's it for today," Dr. Noh said finally, turning the machine off. "You did great for a first session."
Suho's legs felt heavy, but somehow alive. He looked down at them, his voice barely above a whisper. "It's been so long since I felt anything there."
"That's a start," the doctor said, smiling. "We'll go slow. Don't lose patience."
As the therapist left, Hauen crouched down beside him, handing him a towel. "See? What did I say? It's working already."
He looked at her, his lips parting to respond, but emotion choked him. Instead, he blinked fast, trying to hide the tears gathering at the corner of his eyes.
"Hey," she whispered. "It's okay to cry when you feel hope again."
That was all it took. His tears slipped down quietly, unrestrained this time, not out of pain, but out of relief. She reached out, wiping them gently with her thumb.
"You're doing so well, Suho," she murmured. "You'll stand again, I know it."
He gave a faint, trembling laugh. "You sound more sure than I feel."
"I have enough faith for both of us," she said, smiling through the softness of her tone.
He exhaled slowly, eyes drifting to her, the woman who had somehow rebuilt his will to live piece by piece without even realizing it.
Back home that evening, Hauen brought his dinner tray to the bed. He was still quiet, lost in thought.
"Does it still feel strange?" she asked.
He nodded. "It's like my legs are buzzing. I can't stop thinking about that moment when I felt… something. It was small, but real."
She smiled. "That's your body remembering what hope feels like."
He looked up, eyes meeting hers, a faint smile tugging at his lips."You really should've been a therapist."
She grinned. "Too late now. I'm stuck being your personal one."
He chuckled softly, then said after a pause, "Thanks for not giving up on me."
She looked at him, her expression gentle but firm. "I told you before, Suho. I'll keep holding on until you can stand again, and then, you can walk away if you want."
His gaze softened, lingering longer than usual.
He smiled, slow, tired, but genuine. And for the first time in months, Suho fell asleep that night not with pain, but with purpose.
Three weeks have passed since Suho's first NMES session.The morning routine had changed, not just for him, but for both of them. The quiet apartment that once echoed with silence now hummed with small, familiar noises: The sound of water boiling for tea, and Hauen's cheerful voice from the kitchen. Her giggles with Bora while trying new recipes.
Suho sat on the therapy chair, watching her through the open door as she was cooking.
"Why are you watching me like that?" she called out, glancing over her shoulder.
He grinned, "Just checking if my nurse is slacking off."
She turned, ladle in hand. "Excuse me? I'm your chef, driver, nurse, therapist, emotional support system, friend, and contract wife, shall I continue?"
He laughed quietly. "You forgot personal alarm clock and part-time bully."
"Glad you noticed," she smirked, walking up to him and ruffling his hair. "Drink your protein shake before it melts, teddy bear."
He sighed dramatically. "You know I hate this flavor."
"Then pretend it's your favorite flavor," she said, setting it in front of him with that firm tone that left no room for arguments.
He stared at the shake, then at her, and drank, with a weird face.
"Good boy," she teased.
He rolled his eyes. "You talk to me like I'm five."
"Because sometimes you act like one, and sitting on this chair, you look no less than a toddler, chubby, fluffy, cute, and annoying," she shot back playfully, heading back to the kitchen.
He couldn't help smiling. This, the small laughter, the teasing, had slowly started replacing the silence that used to weigh him down.
At the therapy center,
Dr. Kwon greeted them with a proud smile."Well, Mr. Kim, your muscle response has improved quite a bit. Let's try some assisted movement today."
Suho blinked. "Assisted movement?"
"Meaning, we'll try getting you to move, just a little."
Hauen's heart fluttered with hope. She stood beside Suho, holding his hand without even realizing it.
"Relax your mind," Dr. Kwon instructed. "Focus on your thigh muscles. Try to lift, even if it's just a small twitch."
Suho inhaled slowly, his gaze fixed on his legs. His fingers tightened around Hauen's hand unconsciously.Seconds passed.
Then a faint, tiny motion. Barely visible, but real. His thigh muscle contracted on its own.
Hauen gasped softly, covering her mouth. "Suho… you did that!"
He looked at his leg in disbelief, then at her. "That wasn't the machine?"
Dr. Kwon smiled, "No, that was you. Pure muscle response."
Suho's lips parted, a quiet, trembling laugh left his chest. His eyes watered again, but this time he didn't hide it.Hauen's eyes shimmered too as she bent down, squeezing his shoulder. "You see? You're doing it, Suho. You're coming back."
That night, Suho received a call from his Haraboji.
"Suho-yaa, how are you doing, my boy?" Haraboji asked warmly.
Suho forced a small smile. "I'm fine, Haraboji."
"Hm… and how is Hauen doing?" he asked.
"She's good, taking really good care of me," Suho replied, smiling softly.
There was a pause on the line before Haraboji spoke again, his tone slower this time. "Suho-ya… I wanted to talk to you about something."
Suho felt a chill in his chest. "What is it, Haraboji?"
"Since the accident, Mirae Cosmetics has been under mismanagement. The board of directors has called a meeting tomorrow to vote on a new head for Mirae Cosmetics. I just wanted to inform you… If you could be there for the meeting," Haraboji said carefully.
Suho's heart sank. "But Haraboji… how can they? I mean… It's not like I'm avoiding this on purpose. Everyone knows what I'm going through. I… I need some time. Why the sudden decision to change the head of the branch?"
"I understand you, my son… but it's everyone's decision, and I have to consider the shareholders' opinions," Haraboji replied.
Suho let out a heavy sigh, his heart aching. "I worked so hard for this, and now suddenly…"
"Let's see what happens in tomorrow's meeting. Come tomorrow, and we'll decide there," Haraboji said before disconnecting the call.
Suho sat silently, his mind heavy with worry and frustration.
Hauen stepped into the room, her eyes immediately noticing him sitting quietly, lost in thought. "Suho… what's wrong? Are you okay?" she asked softly, concern lacing her voice.
He looked up at her, his expression heavy. "Haraboji called… tomorrow I have to go to the office. The board of directors has called a meeting… they're planning to replace the head of Mirae Cosmetics," he said slowly, as if weighing each word.
Hauen sat beside him, concern written all over her face, her eyes wide with disbelief. "You mean… they're replacing you?"
He nodded.
"How can they…? Don't they understand that you're still under treatment?" she asked.
Suho chuckled bitterly. "If they understood, why would they call this meeting? Anyway, I have to attend tomorrow. Let's see what happens… maybe it'll be another disaster in my life."
Hauen's eyes flared with determination, her hands tightening around his. "No. Tomorrow you are not losing your position. I won't let that happen," she said firmly, her voice unwavering.
He looked at her curiously, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "And what exactly will you do this time?"
She didn't answer, only held his hands more tightly, her gaze locking onto his.
He shook his head slightly, a soft smile breaking through his worry. "Let it be, Hauena… don't stress too much for me. So many things have already gone wrong in my life… this won't make much difference. I'm used to it," he said, his tone resigned but tinged with quiet sadness.
Hauen leaned closer, her voice gentle yet fierce. "No, Suho. Don't ever lose hope. Tomorrow, you are keeping your position, that's my promise."
He searched her eyes, captivated by the fire and determination shining within them. He couldn't help but wonder, what gave her this courage? And why was she putting so much effort, so much care, into him, of all people?