Crave You Forever
Chapter 61: We keep watch

Chapter 61: We keep watch

Yeongsoo placed a hand on Haeun’s shoulder, sensing his distress. "We’ll get to the bottom of this," he murmured, his voice steady but filled with concern. He then turned back to the doctor. "Has he said anything at all?"

The doctor shook his head. "Not a word. He seems to understand what we say, but he’s not responding. We’ve called in a child psychologist to help assess him further. In cases like this, it’s important to proceed gently."

Haeun, still kneeling beside the bed, reached out slowly, trying to offer some comfort. "It’s okay, you’re safe now," he said softly, his voice filled with warmth. "No one’s going to hurt you."

The child’s eyes flickered briefly, almost as if he heard Haeun, but there was no other reaction. He just stared ahead, lost in whatever was haunting him.

Yeongsoo crouched beside Haeun, his face thoughtful. "Do you remember us from last night? We’re the ones who found you," he added gently, hoping to spark a memory or at least a flicker of recognition. But still, there was nothing.

Haeun looked up at the doctor. "What do we do now?"

The doctor sighed, clearly concerned but keeping a professional demeanor. "For now, we’ll continue monitoring him. If his physical condition remains stable, we’ll focus on his mental and emotional health. Trauma can take time to heal, especially in children. The psychologist will be here soon to try and get him to open up."

Haeun nodded, but his heart ached for the boy. He couldn’t shake the feeling that they needed to do more, but he wasn’t sure what. He turned to Yeongsoo, his eyes filled with worry. "I don’t want to leave him like this."

"We won’t," Yeongsoo assured him. "We’ll be here until we know he’s okay."

Haeun sat quietly by the boy’s side, his heart heavy as he watched the child stare vacantly ahead. He could feel the weight of the boy’s trauma, though he couldn’t begin to imagine what had caused it. It was too painful to leave the room, so he stayed, hoping his presence might offer some comfort, even if the boy wasn’t responding.

Minutes passed, and the psychologist finally arrived, a woman in her early forties with a gentle demeanor. She introduced herself as Dr. Kang and immediately took note of the child’s unresponsive state.

"Thank you for staying with him," Dr. Kang said softly to Haeun and Yeongsoo. "Children often respond better when they have familiar faces around."

Haeun gave a faint nod, his gaze never leaving the boy. "I just want him to feel safe."

Dr. Kang smiled reassuringly and sat down in a chair across from the bed, keeping a respectful distance from the child. "That’s exactly what we’re going to focus on. Building trust, creating a sense of safety. He’s been through something traumatic, and right now, his mind is likely protecting him by shutting everything out."

The doctor spoke calmly, addressing the child with a soothing tone, though she didn’t expect an immediate response. "Hi there. My name is Dr. Kang. I’m just here to talk with you, okay? You don’t have to say anything if you don’t want to, but if you feel like talking, I’ll be right here."

The boy’s eyes remained fixed on the wall, but Dr. Kang didn’t push him. She simply sat there, waiting patiently, her presence calm and non-threatening. It was clear she had experience with children in distress, knowing when to give them space.

After a few moments of quiet, she turned to Haeun and Yeongsoo. "Have you noticed any signs of recognition from him? Any reactions to things you’ve said?"

Haeun shook his head, feeling helpless. "Not much. He... looked at me once, but other than that, nothing. He hasn’t said a word since we found him."

Dr. Kang nodded thoughtfully. "It’s common for children to shut down like this after experiencing extreme fear or trauma. We’ll need to take things slowly with him, make sure he knows he’s safe. Right now, his mind might be too overwhelmed to process what happened."

Yeongsoo, standing by the door, crossed his arms, his eyes filled with quiet determination. "Whatever he needs, we’ll make sure he gets it. I’ve already arranged for extra security around the hospital, just in case. I don’t want whoever did this to him to come anywhere near him."

Dr. Kang looked at him gratefully. "That’s a good idea. We don’t know the full story yet, but it’s clear this child needs protection." She turned back to the boy, her voice gentle. "You’re safe now. No one is going to hurt you."

Suddenly, there was a faint twitch of movement in the child’s fingers, as if he heard Dr. Kang’s words. It was subtle, but Haeun noticed it immediately, his heart leaping.

"Did you see that?" Haeun whispered, hope creeping into his voice.

Dr. Kang nodded slightly, though she remained calm. "It’s a good sign. He might not be ready to talk yet, but his body is starting to respond. We’ll take that as progress."

Encouraged, Haeun leaned in closer. "Hey, you don’t have to say anything, but we’re here for you. We’re not going anywhere."

The boy’s eyes remained distant, but there was something—just a flicker of recognition, a faint glimmer in his otherwise dull gaze. It was enough to give them all hope.

Dr. Kang rose slowly. "I’ll check in on him regularly. For now, just keep doing what you’re doing. It might take some time, but with patience, he may start to come around."

As the psychologist left the room, Haeun settled back in the chair, unwilling to leave the boy’s side. He glanced at Yeongsoo, who remained close, his protective instincts clear in his posture.

"What now?" Haeun asked quietly, feeling a mixture of sadness and determination.

"We keep watch," Yeongsoo replied checking the time, it was almost 11 he needed to get Haeun breakfast now.

"Haeun what would you like for breakfast, it’s getting late, you and the baby need to eat.."

"Baby?"

Haeun froze as he turned to the direction of the voice, he turned the the child staring at him.

"Baby, babies are cute...where are they?"