Seojin's eyes twitched open.
Their vision blurred, shapes moving, colors bleeding into each other. They couldn't move. Their body felt heavy, pinned, as if the air itself were pressing down.
Two shadowed figures appeared at the edge of their sight, approaching slowly. Their outlines rippled in the dark, soundless except for the faint hum somewhere above.
One of them reached out, a cold hand pressed against Seojin's shoulder.
"…Yujin. Wake up."
The name echoed.
…
The shadows vanished, the world bled back into color.
Seojin blinked rapidly, eyes adjusting. White ceiling. Bright hospital lights. The smell of disinfectant.
They were lying on a bed, the sheets stiff and clean. Beyond the window, the night sky hung heavy, cut by the silhouettes of tall buildings,
Seojin turned their head.
A nurse stood beside them, a mask covering most of her face. Behind her, at the door, was Kangwoo, his head wrapped in a bandage, leaning against the wall.
The nurse lowered her mask, revealing a bright grin.
"It's me," she said. "Darin."
Seojin froze, then smiled faintly.
"…Oh. Hi."
Darin leaned closer, her grin widening.
Before Seojin could react, she cupped their face with both hands and squished their cheeks together.
"We were so worried about you," she said, pouting exaggeratedly. "How are you feeling?"
Seojin couldn't react, lips pressed together from the pressure of her hands.
"Oh, something happened to your vocal cords?"
They didn't answer, just stared at her, eyes still trying to make sense of everything.
From near the door, Kangwoo spoke.
"We were supposed to be in jail by now," he said, voice dry. "Not being treated in a hospital."
Darin turned her head, frowning.
"Hyung, stop being so negative!"
Kangwoo sighed, pushing himself off the wall. He crossed the room and sat in the chair beside Seojin's bed.
Darin perched on the edge of the bed, her tone softening.
The room fell quiet, save for the faint hum of the fluorescent light above.
Seojin's gaze drifted between them, Kangwoo, whose eyes were heavy from exhaustion; and Darin, who was trying too hard to smile.
Finally, Seojin spoke,
"…How long was I out?"
Darin glanced at Kangwoo, then back at Seojin.
"Two days," she said softly. "You lost a lot of blood. The doctors said you're lucky."
Seojin exhaled slowly. Their fingers twitched under the blanket, remembering the weight of the bat, the cold of the train floor.
Kangwoo leaned forward slightly, elbows resting on his knees.
"After you passed out," he said evenly, "the police came in. They saw everything…"
He paused.
"We were supposed to be arrested on sight."
Darin smiled faintly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
"But that didn't happen…"
…
Click.
The sound of a metal door unlocking.
A figure stepped out.
A black hoodie draped over their shoulders, the hood drawn low.
In one hand, they held a metal bat, its head faintly streaked with red.
The rest of their body stayed in shadow.
The corridor lights flickered, humming softly as the figure walked forward.
Behind the figure was two bodies.
Kangwoo slumped against the wall, unconscious.
Seojin beside him, unmoving. Their hoodie was gone. Their mask, too.
The figure's footsteps echoed down the narrow hall.
The passengers in the hallway parted instinctively, forming a narrow path on either side, their fear palpable. Some stumbled back as the figure's presence seemed to radiate silent threat.
Outside, floodlights washed the platform in white.
Two police officers turned as the figure emerged from the doorway, tasers raised.
"Drop your weapon!" one shouted.
The figure stopped.
…
Clang.
The bat hit the floor, rolling once before coming to a stop.
The figure sank slowly to their knees, hands raised.
The officers closed in, handcuffs clicking. One reached forward, grabbing the edge of the hood, pulling it back.
It was Woori.
His hair was matted with blood, eyes half-lidded, expression blank.
The lights reflected off the tears drying on his cheeks.
…
"...That bastard," Kangwoo muttered. "He took the blame for us."