"Good. I want to see you shine brighter than you already are. Concentrate on your training and do your best so that you will not have any regrets. Okay?"
"Mhm. I'll do my best, Oemm..." Doyun's words trailed off, caught in the moment and the weight of his mother's encouragement.
Just as he was about to continue, someone's voice called out from behind the draped curtains.
Hyeri, curious and alert, pushed the curtains aside.
Standing there was one of the nurses from the previous day, the same nurse who had been attentive when their mother was admitted.
All eight eyes in the room his mother, Hyewon, Hyeri, and Doyun turned toward her.
Doyun immediately recognized her as the nurse who had called him earlier using his mother's phone. She introduced herself as Jimin, coincidentally the same name as his roommate. A small amusing coincidence, he thought with a faint smile.
"Nurse Jimin, is there a problem?" Hyewon asked politely, though the curiosity in her tone was clear.
"No, there's nothing wrong. But there's something I'd like to discuss with your brother," she said, gesturing toward Doyun. With a nod, Doyun excused himself and stepped out of the room, allowing the nurse to speak freely.
"First of all, let me ask—has anyone informed you about the hospital's anniversary program?" Nurse Jimin asked once they were outside, her tone calm but professional.
"No? I'll have to ask my sisters, but no one has told me anything about that," Doyun replied, his curiosity piqued.
"I thought as much. It's probably because of how chaotic things were yesterday. Understandable. The hospital will be celebrating its centenary in two weeks.
There are a number of programs designed to reward current patients, especially those who have been here for long-term treatment." She paused briefly, then continued.
"If you're interested, you can stop by the front desk for a brochure. You can also read more about the events and programs online—through our website and social media handles. It's all there."
"Sure. Thanks." Doyun nodded politely. "I'll check it out." He waved to her as she left, and then made his way to the front desk, picking up a flyer for more details. With that in hand, he returned to his mother's bedside.
"What did you talk about? Is everything alright?" Lee Baram asked once he returned, concern evident in her tired voice.
"Yes. She just reminded me not to stress you out and to assist you more with certain chores because of your condition," Doyun said, careful not to give away that he had already discovered more than what was necessary. He didn't want to raise their hopes unnecessarily.
The children waved goodbye to their mother and finally left the hospital.
Doyun made sure Hyewon and Hyeri got home safely, then returned to a secret place only he knew about.
His family assumed he was spending his time at his best friend's place, but in truth, he hadn't spoken to his roommate since his father passed away.
This private room had become his refuge, a place to think and breathe away from the worries of home.
"Hey man, what's up?" Bae Jimin greeted him as soon as Doyun entered. They bumped shoulders and lightly fist-bumped, their usual informal greeting.
"How long have you been waiting?" Doyun asked, scanning his friend's relaxed posture. This small apartment, cluttered but cozy, was his sanctuary. It was also where he slept whenever late-night outtings or school kept him from going home.
He knew his mother would scold him if she found out he stayed out this late.
"Not that long. I was about to call when I saw you entering the building. I sent you a text earlier."
"Yeah man, sorry. I was a bit occupied," Doyun said, inserting his key into the door and pushing it open. Bae followed him inside, still half in a teasing mood.
"I even thought you might be with one of them for the night—you know… your mommies," Bae joked, settling himself on the edge of Doyun's small bed.
"If you knew there's a chance I might not be here tonight, why did you still come? Is something wrong?" Doyun asked, hanging his bag on the wall hooks.
Bae shook his head. "I just didn't want to go home yet."
Doyun sighed softly, still confused about why his roommate preferred this small, private place over his own spacious home room. Since it was currently vacation time, returning to the dorms wasn't an option anyway.
A soft ding! drew Doyun's attention. He checked his phone and saw a message from one of his sugar mamas. It read:
"Hey handsome! It's time for Mama's lap. Meet me at our usual place at 9:00 p.m. tonight. See you soon."
Doyun read it once, then placed the phone carefully on the nightstand. "How long do you want to be here? I'll be leaving to see someone at 9:00 p.m."
"You're going to meet one of them, I guess?" Bae asked, a teasing edge in his voice.
Doyun gave no response, merely shrugged, and began unpacking his bag. Bae went back to focusing on his mobile game, lying on the bed with one knee propped up, completely relaxed in the apartment's small space.
Suddenly, the phone started buzzing repeatedly.
Jimin cleared the incoming call, frustration evident on his face. But the phone buzzed again. And again.
"Oohhh!" Bae exclaimed, annoyed.
"What?" He answered, voice sharp.
"Where are you?" Wonshik's voice came from the other end.
"Why? Why do you need to know where I am? Can you just tell me why you called? I'm busy, and you're disturbing me with your calls," Bae snapped, irritation rising.
Doyun, meanwhile, had already left the room, heading to the common bathhouse on his floor. He needed the brief escape and privacy to wash off the fatigue of the day.
"You know I can tell you're angry," Wonshik continued, seemingly unfazed by the sharp reply. "Is it because of Youngmi? She said she was coming over first. I couldn't call and cancel on her because you also wanted to come around, right?"
There was a pause, Bae saying nothing. Wonshik pressed on, "I don't really get what's been going on between you and Youngmi. And none of you will tell me anything when I ask. And now you're angry because I mentioned she was coming over. It's starting to get to me, you know?"
"I never said I was angry. And there's nothing going on between your girlfriend and me. I have to go." Bae hung up, slamming the phone lightly onto the table.
He let out a long exhale, feeling the tension ease slightly after ending the call.
Doyun returned from the bathhouse, the cool air on his skin calming his restless thoughts. He changed into fresh clothes, the quiet solitude of the room providing him the mental space to reflect on everything: his mother, his siblings, his upcoming show, and the tangled web of relationships he had kept hidden from his family.
Bae, noticing his friend's pensive mood, paused his game and watched him quietly. "You're really thinking about a lot, huh?" he asked gently.
Doyun didn't answer immediately. He simply sank onto the bed beside him, letting the weight of the day wash over him. The small apartment was cluttered but safe, a stark contrast to the complicated, demanding world outside.
Finally, he muttered, more to himself than to Bae, "It's… a lot. Mom's health… the show… everything."
Bae nodded, understanding without needing to probe. Some things, he knew, Doyun had to work through alone. The room fell silent, the hum of electronics and distant city noise filling the space.
Yet in that silence, Doyun found a strange kind of comfort—an island where he could gather himself before facing the storms of both his personal and professional life again.