Chapter 21
Although they'd never expressed it to each other in real terms, Jung-in was sure Tae-yeon meant what he had been telling her. As she, Soon Bum, and Auntie waited for (and worried about) the inevitable final reveal, Jung-in couldn't help but wonder at the difference in Min's manor. His entire personality had changed when around her. It puzzled her.
Time seemed to drag, as it does in hospital waiting rooms. Soon Bum began pacing. About the third time past Lee, she kicked him in the shin. She then apologized most profusely. Soon Bum continued and three more cycles past Lee kicked him again in the shin… same spot. Lee apologized again and Hwang accepted the apology. This time, though, he continued only as far as the other side of Jung-in, where he sat.
"Min Jung-in?" A young woman removing her hair protection was standing at the entrance to surgery.
"That would be me." Yoo stood up, but so did everyone else. It would have been confusing if she weren't the young, female who spoke.
"If you could come with me a moment?"
That one sentence sounded like a death knell. It would have taken a massive mistake for them to have killed Min Tae-yeon, Yoo thought, but it could have been done. Worse would be that they had finally realized Min was a vampire. But why the quiet sympathy?
In the hallway stood the main surgeon, "I'm so very sorry Mrs. Min, but we did all we could. He'd just taken too much damage. Too much blood had been lost."
"Wait. What?" Jung-in had completely lost touch with reality. It sounded like they were saying Tae-yeon was dead, but of course her husband couldn't die. He was a vampire. Tae-yeon, especially Tae-yeon couldn't be dead. He lived through that explosion. He kept her safe in that explosion. She was talking to him less than an hour ago. See? He couldn't be dead.
"No. No, you don't understand. He can't die. He said we'd live forever."
The doctor pointed Yoo at the nurse and she in turn brought the grieving Jung-in back to her friends. The nurse murmured "I'm very sorry." before escaping back through the door.
Before the nurse could even turn for the door, Soon Bum was slipping his arm around Yoo's shoulder. Soon Bum was better than anyone at comforting people in shock. He'd had plenty of practice in his early years on the force. Now it came in handy as he dealt with his own shock and grief while helping Yoo Jung-in keep from being overwhelmed by hers.