Crave You Forever
Chapter 60: It’s likely a trauma response

Chapter 60: It’s likely a trauma response

Haeun and Yeongsoo exchanged a look, both of them silently agreeing on what needed to be done.

"Can we stay here? At least until we know more about their condition?" Yeongsoo asked.

The doctor hesitated for a moment before nodding. "You can stay, but only for a while. The child will need time to recover, and we’ll keep you updated on their progress."

As they settled into the waiting area, Haeun couldn’t shake the feeling of responsibility for the child. He looked at Yeongsoo, his voice soft but determined. "We can’t just leave them alone. Not after finding them like that."

"I know," Yeongsoo agreed, his hand resting gently on Haeun’s shoulder. "I’ll care of it once the child wakes up.."

Haeun sat in the stiff waiting room chair, his fingers tapping against his knee anxiously. He kept glancing toward the emergency room doors, waiting for any updates on the child. The sterile smell of the hospital made him feel uneasy, and the fatigue from the long day was catching up with him. He leaned back, sighing.

Yeongsoo, sensing his restlessness, placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Haeun," he said gently, "we can’t do much here right now. The doctors are taking care of the child, and we’ll know more soon. Why don’t we stay at the hotel nearby for the night? That way, we’re close if anything happens, and we can get some rest."

Haeun hesitated for a moment, clearly torn between wanting to stay and knowing Yeongsoo was right. "But what if the child wakes up or needs us?"

Yeongsoo squeezed his shoulder reassuringly. "I’ll send a message to my men. They’ll keep watch over the hotel and the hospital. We’ll be the first to know if there’s any update."

With a deep breath, Haeun finally nodded. "Okay. You’re right. We should rest. But I want to be back here first thing in the morning."

"Of course," Yeongsoo agreed, already pulling out his phone. He sent a quick message to his security team, instructing them to set up surveillance at the hospital and to guard the child throughout the night.

He also made arrangements for them to stay at a nearby hotel, ensuring they would have comfort and peace while remaining close.

"They’ll keep an eye on everything," Yeongsoo assured Haeun as he slipped his phone back into his pocket. "Now, let’s go."

The drive to the hotel was quiet, both of them lost in their thoughts. Haeun stared out the window, replaying the events of the night in his mind. He still couldn’t shake the image of the unconscious child, who looked so small and vulnerable in that alley.

When they arrived at the hotel, the receptionist greeted them warmly, and they were quickly shown to their suite. The room was luxurious, with large windows offering a view of the city lights below. It should have felt relaxing, but Haeun still felt tense.

Yeongsoo watched him closely as they settled in. "I know it’s hard," he said softly, walking over to Haeun and wrapping an arm around his waist. "But you did everything you could. The child is in good hands now."

Haeun nodded, leaning into Yeongsoo’s embrace. "I know... I just can’t stop thinking about what could have happened to them. Who would do such a thing to a child."

"We’ll find out soon" Yeongsoo assured him. "But for now, we need to take care of ourselves too." He kissed Haeun’s temple, his touch soothing.

After a moment, Haeun sighed, finally allowing himself to relax a little. "You’re right," he whispered. "Thank you."

They spent the rest of the night winding down, but sleep didn’t come easily for either of them. The thought of the child alone in the hospital lingered in their minds. Even though they were physically removed from the situation, they both felt a deep sense of responsibility.

Eventually, Haeun dozed off with his head resting against Yeongsoo’s chest, the rhythm of his breathing slowly evening out. As Yeongsoo stroked his hair, he sent one last message to his men, confirming that all was quiet at the hospital. Then he closed his eyes, holding Haeun close, hoping tomorrow would bring more clarity to the mysterious situation they’d stumbled upon.

The next morning, a call from the hospital came through just as the sun began to rise. The doctor on the other end of the line informed Yeongsoo that the child had woken up, but there was something concerning about his condition. His voice was neutral, but the underlying worry was clear.

"Thank you for letting us know," Yeongsoo said, glancing at Haeun, who was already fully alert and throwing on his clothes. "We’ll be there right away."

They rushed out of the hotel and drove straight to the hospital, their minds racing with questions. As soon as they stepped into the emergency room, a nurse led them to the child’s room. The sterile smell of the hospital lingered in the air as they reached the door. Haeun took a deep breath, preparing himself for what they might see.

When they entered the room, the child was sitting up, his small body looking fragile against the white hospital sheets. His eyes were open, but something was wrong—his gaze was dull, distant, as if he were looking through them rather tha... at them. He barely reacted when they approached, his expression blank and emotionless.

"Good morning, cutie," Haeun said softly, his voice gentle as he approached the bed. He knelt down so he could be at eye level with the child, but there was no response. The child didn’t even turn his head.

Yeongsoo stood next to Haeun, frowning slightly as he studied the boy. "How are you feeling?" he asked, hoping to elicit some kind of reaction. But the child remained silent, his lips barely parting, and his small hands clenched the edge of the blanket tightly.

The doctor, who had followed them in, spoke quietly from the side. "He woke up about an hour ago, but as you can see, he’s not speaking much. He hasn’t told us his name or what happened to him. His vitals are stable, but psychologically, he seems... detached. It’s likely a trauma response."

Haeun’s heart clenched as he looked at the child. His mind flashed back to the night before, when they had found him alone in the alley.

What could have happened to him to make him shut down like this?