"Very good…" Dr. Kwon said with a smile as Suho completed 30 steps without stopping. Hauen smiled proudly. Suho sank into the chair, exhausted.
"That was tiring," he mumbled.
"But you're making progress every day, Mr. Kim," Dr. Kwon encouraged.
Suho sighed. "That's the only thing keeping me going."
Hauen smiled softly. "And that's what makes you special."
Suho returned her smile.
"All right," Dr. Kwon continued, "it's been a week, and your progress is very positive. You don't need to visit the hospital every day anymore. You can practice walking at home, just stay relaxed and don't overpush yourself."
Both Hauen and Suho nodded.
"Come to the hospital once a week to measure progress and adjust medication if needed," Dr. Kwon added.
Hauen smiled, and Suho let out a relieved sigh, happy to be free from daily hospital visits.
"End of today's session. Mrs. Kim, keep a close eye on him in the beginning to prevent any falls. Once he gets used to walking without support, it won't be a problem," Dr. Kwon said.
"Yes, doctor," Hauen replied.
Dr. Kwon smiled warmly. "In one to two months, he should be able to walk with support, and in a maximum of four months, he can walk normally like any healthy person."
Suho smiled. "Thank you, doctor."
"My pleasure," Dr. Kwon replied.
Hauen smiled, pushing his wheelchair out of the cabin. "Woah… Teddy bear, only 3–4 months to get on your feet!" she chirped, full of excitement.
Suho smiled at her energy. "Yes, all thanks to my annoying friend, Kang Hauen," he teased.
"Am I annoying to you?" she snapped.
"More than you think," he shot back, grinning.
"Say one more word, and I'll leave you in the bathroom for a lifetime," she threatened as she walked toward the parking lot.
"No worries, I have Mr. Lee," he said casually.
"Good for you. Marry Mr. Lee and keep him with you forever," she said, smirking.
He laughed. "Not a bad idea, though."
She stopped in front of the car where Mr. Lee was standing. "Mr. Lee," she called.
"Yes, ma'am?" he replied.
"Suho wants to marry you. Congratulations," she said, keeping a straight face.
Suho's eyes went wide, and Mr. Lee's face froze in horror.
"What are you talking about?" Suho gasped.
"What? Aren't you the one who said you'd marry him for a lifetime?" Hauen shot back.
Mr. Lee looked like he'd seen a ghost.
Suho laughed awkwardly. "Lee… don't take her seriously… she's joking."
"I'm not joking," Hauen said, smirking. "He said it seriously. He said he doesn't need me anymore, so yeah, marry him, be his other half, and take care of him for the rest of your life."
Suho turned to her, panicked. "Yaa… Hauen! How can you say that?!" He looked at Mr. Lee desperately, waving his hands. "I'm not into men, and… and I'm married to this crackhead!"
"And I have a girlfriend, sir," Mr. Lee added slowly.
Suho sighed in relief. "Thank God… That's good." Then he looked at Hauen, who was standing there with her signature sassy pose.
"Yaa… Did you hear that? You scared the poor guy. Now help me get into the car," he said, exasperated.
"I'll help, sir," Mr. Lee stepped forward.
"No!!" Suho cut him off. "Not today. She's helping me."
Hauen just stood there, not moving.
"Yaa… Kang Hauen… please don't trouble me, please help," Suho begged.
"You called me annoying," she reminded him, smirking.
"I'm sorry… I take it back," he said quickly.
"Say I'm an angel," she demanded.
Suho sighed, while Lee looked on, completely confused. "Okay… you're my angel," he said.
Hauen flipped her hair. "Fine." She helped him stand and assisted him into the car. Then she slid in from the other side as Mr. Lee started the engine.
Suho gave her a deadpan look, clearly unimpressed.
"Wanna marry Mr. Lee?" she teased.
Before she could react, Suho trapped her in his arms. She laughed and squirmed. "Yaa… Kim Suho! Let me go!"
"Not yet… You pulled the worst prank on me," he said, smirking.
She kicked his legs.
"Ouch! It hurts! Yaa… It's not numb anymore! Don't hit there!" he yelled.
"Leave me first, then I'll stop!" she countered.
They wrestled and bickered like children in the backseat, while Mr. Lee struggled to keep the car steady.
Suddenly, he slammed on the brakes. Both of them looked up.
"What happened? Why did you stop?" Hauen asked.
Mr. Lee turned, exasperated. "You two are really married?"
Suho frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Who on earth wrestles with their wife in the car?"
"Tell him to behave, Mr. Lee," Hauen said.
"And you, madam… which wife wants her husband to marry her bodyguard?" he shot back.
Hauen's mouth went dry.
Suho laughed. "See? That's why I said she's annoying."
Hauen glared. "What about you? You're fighting with a woman physically!"
"You started it," Suho complained.
"I? You called me annoying first!" she snapped.
"Because you are!" he argued.
"STOP!" Mr. Lee shouted.
Both froze, wide-eyed.
"Did you just—" Hauen started.
"Enough," Mr. Lee cut her off. "Both of you stay quiet until we reach home. Say one more word, and I'll leave you here and go on a date with my girlfriend."
Suho and Hauen exchanged glances but didn't dare speak.
"Understand?" Mr. Lee barked.
Both nodded, quiet at last.
Mr. Lee nodded back and bowed. "I'm sorry, sir. I'm sorry, ma'am." Then he started the car, acting as if he hadn't just threatened them.
Both Suho and Hauen sat in stunned silence, exchanging glances, still processing what had just happened. Neither dared speak another word until they reached the farmhouse.
The farmhouse driveway came into view,
Hauen stepped out of the car, pulling the wheelchair. "Get on your throne, teddy bear," she teased.
Suho gave her a deadpan look. "Luxury throne," he corrected.
She smirked. "Alright, Your Highness, let's get you settled."
Hauen helped him transfer into the wheelchair. Suho groaned dramatically as he sank into the seat. "You know, one day, I'll pay you back for all this…"
"For all what?" she asked, feigning innocence.
"For reminding me I can't walk properly and turning me into a circus act for Dr. Kwon!"
Hauen shook her head, laughing. "You make it sound like I did it on purpose. Don't forget, you were the one wrestling me in the car."
Suho's lips twitched. "Touché."
She pushed the wheelchair inside the house and helped him onto the couch, tugging the blanket over his legs. "Alright, teddy bear… relax. You've done enough for today. No more heroics."
Suho looked at her, tired but warm inside. "You… you really make everything easier."
Hauen's heart skipped. "I… just care about you," she said softly, brushing a stray lock of hair from his forehead.
"I know," he said, his voice quieter now, sincere. "And I'm… really lucky. You've been here every step… cheering, teasing, annoying, and saving me from myself."
She laughed, a soft, affectionate sound. "You're lucky I'm patient."
Suho reached out and gently took her hand. "Patient? You're more than that. You're… everything I never realized I needed."
Hauen froze for a second, her cheeks warming. "Suho…"
He smiled, a mix of mischief and tenderness. "Don't worry… I'll still let you tease me to death."
Hauen laughed, squeezing his cheeks. "Then I'll never stop, Teddy bear."
He smiled, genuine, unguarded, something warm blooming quietly in his heart, and he was not even realizing it.