[Doctor's Chamber]
The faint hum of the ceiling fan fills the room. A stack of reports is piled on the doctor's desk. He flips through them casually at first, but then his expression grows more grave. Yoonseok sits in front of him, his leg bouncing restlessly, fingers tightening against his knees. His jaw clenches as he waits for the words he doesn't want to hear.
Doctor (quietly, looking down at the paper):
"The patient you brought in… Ara Jeon, right?"
Yoonseok straightens immediately, eyes sharp, heart pounding. He nods quickly.
Yoonseok:
"Yes… yes, Ara. How is she? She fainted so suddenly… is it anemia? Or exhaustion?"
The doctor hesitates. His voice drops lower, heavier, as though each word carries a weight.
Doctor:
"…Mr. Bean, this isn't just about fainting. Her body…" (he exhales slowly, choosing his words) "…is covered with marks. Not ordinary scars. They resemble torture, hitting… or even…"
The doctor's voice lowers, almost reluctant to continue.
Doctor:
"…assault."
Yoonseok's eyes widen. He shifts forward in his chair, palms pressed tightly against his thighs. His heartbeat quickens, rage and disbelief clouding his thoughts.
Yoonseok (shaking his head, whispering):
"No… it can't be. Not Ara… she—she never… It's not that bad… right? You must be mistaken. It can't be that worse…"
He forces a laugh, broken and nervous, as if trying to convince himself more than the doctor. His throat feels tight, his voice almost breaking.
Yoonseok (inner thought):
How did she even survive this?
The doctor removes his glasses, rubbing the bridge of his nose before looking Yoonseok directly in the eyes.
Doctor:
"The marks… they've healed over time, yes. But healing doesn't erase the cause. And some wounds—" (he pauses, voice grim) "—some wounds don't fade, no matter how long it's been. That kind of trauma… it leaves more than just scars on the body."
Yoonseok swallows hard, his throat dry. His fists clench until his knuckles whiten. His face twists in frustration, confusion, and sorrow.
Yoonseok (hoarse, almost pleading):
"Then what should I do? Tell me, doctor. How do I… help her? She won't even tell me. She just hides everything with that forced smile…"
The doctor sighs, glancing down at Ara's chart, then back at him with a softened, pitying expression.
Doctor:
"What you can do… is be patient. Don't push her. Don't demand answers. Right now, she needs someone to stand beside her… without asking why."
Yoonseok lowers his head, his shoulders trembling slightly. He bites his lip, his eyes glassy with unshed tears. A silence lingers between them, heavy with unspoken truths. Finally, he whispers, almost to himself…
Yoonseok (inner thought, voice trembling):
Ara… what kind of hell have you been carrying all alone? And why… why didn't you let me be the one to protect you?
Yoonseok gripping the edge of his chair tightly, his face shadowed with determination and sorrow, while the doctor quietly puts Ara's file back on the desk. The weight of the truth has just begun to sink in.
[Flashback – High School, 2014]
The classroom buzzed with chatter, but Yoonseok's world was quiet, narrowed down to one figure at the front: Ara Jeon.
She was smiling, helping a classmate pick up dropped papers, laughing lightly. Her presence seemed to fill the room like sunlight sneaking through the blinds.
Yoonseok leaned against his desk, pencil idly tapping the corner.
Yoonseok (inner thought):
She's… unreal. So bright… so careful with everyone, always smiling… and yet, I can never… never say anything. I'm just… me. Just a normal student. She's… her own world.
From afar, he watched her guide younger students in the hallway, correcting homework with patience. Every movement, every laugh, made his chest tighten with something he didn't yet have words for.
Yoonseok (inner thought, quietly):
I… I like her. No, it's more than that. I just… I want her to be safe. I want her to be happy… even if I'm invisible to her.
Days passed, and his routine became simple: watch her from a distance, admire quietly, protect silently if possible, never approach too close.
Then came the day that broke him.
Ara Jeon suddenly dropped out of school. No explanations. Just… gone.
Yoonseok (hearing from a friend, shocked):
"No… no way. She… she left? Why? Did… did something happen?"
He remembered all those small moments he'd cherished: her helping someone pick up fallen books, her gentle encouragement, the way she'd tuck stray hair behind her ear. And now she was gone.
Yoonseok (inner thought, bitterly whispering to himself):
I should have said something. I should have done something. But I was too scared. Too weak. And now… I don't even know if she's okay.
---
[Present – Hospital, 2019]
Yoonseok sat quietly outside Ara's cabin, watching her sleep. Her pale face and fragile breathing made his heart ache in a way he couldn't explain.
Yoonseok (inner thought):
She's… still so… delicate. But she's survived everything. And she's still here. Somehow.
He couldn't stop the memories flooding back: the Ara he watched from afar, always radiant, always helping, always untouchable. And the Ara now… unconscious in his arms, marked by a pain he couldn't fully understand.
Yoonseok (inner thought, tightly gripping his fists):
I promised myself back then… if I ever find her, I'd never let anyone hurt her. And now… now it's real. I can't let her suffer. Not again. Not ever.
As he left the hospital, his gaze lingered, silently vowing that no matter how difficult, how far apart, or how small he seemed, he would protect Ara Jeon—just like he'd wanted to for years.
Yoonseok (inner thought, as he walked away):
From afar, from a distance… from the shadows… I've watched her all this time. And now… I'll finally be close enough to make sure she's safe. Finally.