The sterile white of the hospital waiting room was a stark contrast to the colorful whirlwind of emotions swirling between them. Hyun-woo and Hae-in sat side-by-side, his hand still holding hers, a silent, comforting anchor. The minutes ticked by, each second stretching into an eternity of silent dread for Hyun-woo. Hae-in, sensing his quiet panic, decided it was time for a change in atmosphere.
She gently squeezed his hand and a small, mischievous smile played on her lips. "You know, Baek Hyun-woo," she began, her voice a low, teasing purr, "I have to admit, you have a real flair for the dramatic."
Hyun-woo turned to her, a confused look on his face. "What are you talking about?"
"The way you carried me," she said, her smile widening. "A full princess carry. The whole office saw. I could hear them all gasping. It was a bit over the top, but… I have to say, I quite liked it."
Hyun-woo's face flushed a deep crimson. "I-I wasn't thinking," he stammered, his mind replaying the chaotic scene. "You were hurt! I just… I just had to get you to the hospital."
"Of course you did," she said, her voice dripping with playful sarcasm. "But a princess carry, Hyun-woo? Really? And the way you used those puppy eyes on me, asking me to get all these check-ups? I should have taken a picture. My powerful, decisive husband reduced to a cute, pleading little boy. It was adorable."
He opened his mouth to protest, but she cut him off, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "And you were so cute when you were worried. Your face was a mess, your eyes were all panicked, your voice was all shaky… it was quite a look on you, Baek Hyun-woo. I've never seen you so flustered. Maybe I should get hurt more often, just to see you act like that."
Hyun-woo's face, already red, turned a shade of scarlet that Hae-in had never seen before. "Hae-in!" he said, his voice a strained whisper. "Don't say that! That's not funny! My heart… my heart can't handle it." His eyes, so full of a genuine, terrified love, were a clear sign that her words, though meant as a joke, had touched a raw nerve.
Hae-in's laughter filled the small room, a clear, beautiful sound that was a stark contrast to the sterile environment. "Oh, relax, you big baby. I was just teasing you. I would never want to put you through that again. You looked so miserable. But it's nice to know you still have a soft spot for me, isn't it?"
He let out a shaky sigh and looked at her, a soft, loving smile on his face. "A soft spot? Hae-in, my entire body is a soft spot for you."
Their banter was a shield, a way to fend off the fear that was still hovering in the room, but it was a shield they were building together. The air between them, once filled with cold silence, was now filled with laughter, love, and a newfound closeness.
Just as their conversation settled into a comfortable silence, the doctor walked in, a stack of reports in his hand. The playful mood vanished, replaced by a quiet, expectant tension. Hyun-woo's hand instinctively tightened around hers, his knuckles turning white.
The doctor, unaware of the silent drama playing out before him, looked at the reports with a serious expression. "Everything looks completely fine," he said, a reassuring smile on his face. "All the scans came back clean. Your vital signs are perfect. There's nothing to worry about."
Hyun-woo let out a breath he didn't even realize he was holding. A wave of profound, immense relief washed over him, so powerful it almost brought him to his knees. He had been so terrified, so consumed by the fear of her diagnosis, that he hadn't even considered the possibility that she was okay. He felt a silent, heartfelt thank you to the heavens, a prayer of gratitude for this second chance. He looked at Hae-in, his eyes filled with a raw, emotional relief that brought tears to his eyes.
The doctor continued, his expression turning a little more thoughtful. "There is one thing, though. Her brain scans showed some signs of high stress. And her white blood cell count is a little low. Have you gone through a highly stressful situation recently?"
Hyun-woo was the one to answer. "Yes," he said, his voice a little hoarse. "She has. We both have." He looked at Hae-in, and their eyes met in a shared understanding. The stress had come from their marriage, their unspoken grief, the years of cold distance. But now, it was gone. It had been replaced by this, a new beginning.
Hae-in, seeing the relief on his face, gently squeezed his hand. Her voice was soft, laced with a familiar, loving affection. "I told you so, you big baby," she said. "I told you I was fine."
Hyun-woo just smiled, a gentle, beautiful smile that reached his eyes. "Yes," he said, his voice a low, loving murmur. "Yes, you did. But you can't blame me for worrying, can you?" He brought her hand to his lips and placed a tender kiss on her knuckles, a silent promise that he would never stop worrying, never stop caring, never stop loving her. And in that moment, she knew, with a certainty that settled deep in her soul, that everything was going to be alright.