A/N: Sorry guys, I know I didn't update last week. I had no time to finish the chapter after the Choi bday fic, and then when i did, I realized it was pretty crap, so I decided I'd give a decent one late instead. So here's my chapter...rewritten at least three times...hahaha. Screw writer's block. Hope you enjoy!

MC tapped her phone against her leg, waiting for the vibration. She was already at the hospital. She told Saeyoung she was coming, but he hadn't replied since. She wasn't sure if he was just annoyed or if Saeran was so unstable that he was busy. Either way, her stomach twisted in knots.

She did want to see Saeran again; their last meeting didn't go well, and she wanted to mend that. But at the same time…she didn't want to intrude. Maybe, she won Saeyoung over by being persistent, but that was different. At the time, she had a gut feeling that he kind of cared for her… and she was practically head over heels for him.

She wasn't so sure where she stood with Saeran. How does one approach their kidnapper turned, hopefully, future brother-in-law?

She peered up at the building, her eyes scanning the numerous windows hoping for a glimpse of that familiar red hair. "Well," she said under her breath. "I can see Saeyoung if nothing else."

She entered the building, finding her way to Saeran's room. The sign in sheet indicated Saeyoung was definitely there since very early that morning. In fact, it seemed he barely went home last night.

"Hypocrite," MC muttered. She checked herself in and walked to the door. It was left open for the first time since Saeran was admitted. That was a good sign, right? She was about to knock anyway, when she noticed the younger twin laying on his side, his arm dangling off one side of the bed and his mouth hanging slightly ajar. His mint eyes focused on the ground…or rather beyond it.

It was amazing how he could appear perfectly quiescent, but at the same time, a tumultuous conflict raged behind his eyes; she wondered if she would ever decipher its cause.

His eyes flitted up her frame until they met her own. MC clenched the side of her jacket, forcing down her skittish fingers. She gave him a small wave.

"Why are you just standing there?" he frowned. It was the first time she had heard him speak so quietly…almost in a whisper.

She took his question as an invitation and inched forward. "Good afternoon," she said.

Perhaps it was instinct, but she immediately sought out Saeyoung in the room. She expected to see him absorbed in something…his laptop, a magazine…about to give an excuse as to why he hadn't been answering his calls. But instead, she took in the sight of her boyfriend sprawled out on a chair, a notebook lying face down on his stomach and his glasses slightly askew.

"I don't why he came here this morning if he was just going to sleep," Saeran scoffed. "But I guess he's quieter this way."

MC turned to face the younger twin. He was sitting upright now. His gaze kept drifting to the red head in the chair, as if unsure if he were there.

"He probably didn't mean to," MC sighed. "After the funeral, he went to disable the bomb for the next few days, and then he came straight here. He's probably exhausted."

"Funeral?" Saeran repeated the word emptily.

MC internally cringed. Why did she open her mouth?

His eyes widened in realization, and he stared down at his hands. For a moment, a flicker of remorse danced across his features before he clenched his fists and pressed his lips in a fine line. "You mean…I…"

MC's mouth went dry when he looked up at her for affirmation. Despite his coolness, his brow twitched as he waited for her words.

"Sorry," was all she could say.

He huffed out something between a scoff and a sigh of disbelief. "No wonder you're scared of me," he said, running his fingers through his hair. Initially, he appeared nonchalant. But his gradual distress was evident in his increasingly jittery movements…the tapping of his leg, the unnecessary scratching on his arms, the hard blinking. He noticed MC's staring and hurriedly turned his attention to the window.

She hesitated before taking a step towards the bed. "I'm not—"

"Don't lie to me," Saeran spat.

She chewed on her bottom lip. How could she even deny it now? He had threatened her in the past, forced pain on his own brother—he killed a man in front of her for goodness' sake. She would be lying to herself if she said she was completely indifferent to any of those things.

"Fine," she returned. "Yes, you still…you still make me nervous."

"Good," he said, bring his focus back to her. "So, listen to your fear, and leave me alone." He jerked his chin towards Saeyoung's sleeping form. "And take him with you."

MC took another step forward. It was he who flinched this time. "Just because I'm nervous doesn't mean I'm leaving. I want to…help you if I can, Saeran."

Just like her admittance to fearing him, this statement was equally true. MC believed one's past defined their present—who they were, how they reacted. But she didn't believe it should define their future. People could change.

"And if I don't want help?" he challenged.

The slight waver in his voice contradicted his bold words. "Then refuse it when you leave this building," she shrugged. "But…you don't have to go through this alone, you know."

He snorted and shook his head. He muttered something under his breath, but MC didn't catch it. She cleared her throat and gestured to the chair next to Saeyoung. "S-so, can I stay?"

He regarded her in silence for a few moments. He gave no answer, but turned on his side, facing the window. MC took his lack of protest as a reluctant consent and slowly lowered herself beside Saeyoung.

As the sun beat down on Saeran's cheek, she noticed some of the color had returned to his face. He still harbored aggression in his mien, but she wondered if it was just a defense mechanism.

MC's focus snapped to her boyfriend when he shifted suddenly. Still asleep, he propped his head onto his chin, smushing his cheek against his face. He looked so cute like that, she thought absentmindedly. Her eyes drifted to the notebook on his stomach. He was always thinking of new inventions and robots and doodling them inside.

Curiosity got to her, and she reached out to gently extract the book from his fingers. She barely nudged it when he jolted upward, startling her in the process.

He clutched the notebook to his chest, his wide eyes fixed on her for several heartbeats. "MC?" he blinked. The syllables of her name slurred together as he spoke through the haziness of sleep.

"Saeyoung, you scared the mess out of me," MC breathed, resting her hand over her pounding heart.

He didn't even apologize. His eyes trailed down her frame disbelievingly. "When did you get here?"

"A few minutes ago," she replied. "You were asleep. I did call you earlier."

MC gestured to his phone on the table. He picked up the device and scanned through the notifications. "Oh," he said. "I'm sorry. I didn't even see you called. Is everything okay at the apartment? Did Jumin or Jaehee call or something—"

She chuckled at his frantic tone. "Everything is fine," she pressed a hand against his chest. "I just came to visit you, if not Saeran."

He started at the mention of his twin. He darted his attention towards the bed, his hands gripping the arms of the chair as if ready to jump into action. He exhaled sharply before settling back into place. "Oh…he's asleep."

MC furrowed her brows. She too turned towards Saeran, who was still in the same position as earlier, but his eyes now closed. His lashes fluttered against his skin like they had when she visited in the hospital before. She wondered if he was having those dreams… the ones that seemed to haunt him even in his unconsciousness. She wasn't sure she would ever be able to forget the absolute fear in his soft whimpers.

"How is he?" MC asked, though she couldn't manage to look away from the twin. Like earlier, there was this odd juxtaposition between peace and turmoil. It was both fascinating and painful to watch.

Saeyoung inhaled deeply, twisting the notebook between his hands. He too couldn't seem to look away. "I don't know. He's calmer, but I feel like there's something off. It's like he's always planning to…leave, somehow."

MC understood the implication. She wondered if that's why most of Saeran's things seemed to be shifted to the tables behind them. His side of the room was empty. There were no cups, trays, vases, pill bottles, or even a plastic knife…just an empty paper plate with a half-eaten portion of rice.

When she turned back to Saeyoung, those familiar traces of despair creeped into his fixed stare, curving his lips downward and pooling inside his golden eyes. Eager to yank him out of his own head, she made an over exaggerated sweep towards the notebook. He reacted quickly and held it out of her reach. She pouted. "What's with the secrecy?"

"Just that. It's a secret," he replied, pressing a finger to her lips. "If you even peek once, I will have to take drastic measures."

She crossed her arms. "What measures?"

He smirked, and her stomach flipped. "You want to be the object of my wrath?"

She leaned away with a nervous chuckle. "N-no," she said. "I get it."

Despite the risk of having surfaced his sadistic streak, her motive succeeded when a smile spread across his face, casting away any tension that lined his features. He tucked the notebook neatly inside his jacket, patting it to mock her. "Did you eat?" he asked.

"Earlier," she replied. "But you probably haven't. Why don't you go get something?"

He let out an ambiguous grunt. "I can't just leave him," he said. "I'll get something later."

MC huffed and poked his arm. "Then you'll say the same thing later until you've gone a whole day without food. Just go. He's asleep, and…I can stay."

He turned his head abruptly towards her. Denial was on his lips. She could feel it. But there was something akin to hesitance in the way he kept opening and closing his mouth. He pursed his lips and glanced sideways. "I…I'm not sure that's a good idea. What if he has one of his fits?"

Before MC could open her mouth, another voice cut in.

"The door is open, and she can call for a nurse. They always seem to want to sedate me anyway. It'll give them the chance."

Both of them turned to Saeran, who was awake once more, or, more likely, had never been asleep in the first place.

"You…want me to stay?" MC asked, exchanging confused glances with Saeyoung.

"Well, if he's so unwilling to leave me alone," Saeran said. He eyed his brother with such malice…as if he were the most undeserving trash on the planet. "Then I'd rather stay with you than suffocate another hour with this idiot."

MC winced. She watched as Saeyoung's features fell, weighed down by the chains of guilt he insisted on carrying. "Well, if you say so," he replied. He looked so…weary. She prayed he hadn't been taking Saeran's acidic words to heart. She wasn't even sure Saeran meant them-at least, she hoped it was only his way of keeping himself isolated.

"Saeyoung—" MC began.

He stood from his chair abruptly, and a cheery smile magically arose on his lips. It looked so foreign in a place where his natural, bright grin usually rested. She knew it would be short-lived…disappearing as soon as he walked out of the door. It seemed like he still kept a few of his masks after all.

"I'll get us all some lunch then," he chirped, moving towards the door. He paused near the threshold and discreetly mouthed a "Be careful" before disappearing into the hall.

Saeran stared after his brother, looking aware and almost pleased at the hurt he had caused. MC's grip tightened on the arm of her chair. "You really shouldn't do that," she blurted, the heat of the moment causing the words to tumble out of her mouth. "He's trying to help you."

He raised his brows, obviously astounded at her sudden boldness. "Him? How is he helping by staying here?"

"He's taking care of you," she pointed out.

"I don't want him to," Saeran returned. "I wish he would just disappear and let me exist in peace. All these years, he left and didn't even bother finding out about me, and now suddenly he's changed? Now suddenly he wants me to accept him? I was just fine without him!"

His eyes flashed in building anger, and MC began to regret provoking him. She should have held her tongue. He flung out a few swears before he grabbed for something next to him. But his hand fell through air, causing him to slam his fist against the bedside table. He hissed and massaged the offending area with his fingers.

MC resisted the urge to recoil. She leaned forward to check if he had worsened some sort of injury. "Are you okay?" she asked when there were no blatant bruises.

"No!" he snapped. "No, I'm not okay! I'm so tired of that stupid question. If I was okay, I wouldn't be in this hospital room, would I? I'm tied down to this stupid bed, because I'm too weak to even walk—"

His words died off with his next, gasping breath. Minutes later, and he was still inhaling shallow breaths. Worry undermined any caution MC might have had. She hurried over and sat in front of him on the bed.

"Sorry! Gosh, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to-," she stopped, realizing her words were falling through the air in his state. She forced herself to stay calm as she turned her voice gentle. "Saeran…Take some deep breaths. It's okay…you'll be out of here soon."

She wasn't sure if her words were actually having any affect, but the little color he had attained in his cheeks was rapidly draining. She swallowed against her alarm and continued her attempts to soothe him.

"J-just breathe," she continued, cupping his face when his eyes froze in space for too long. It seemed like an eternity later when his eyes finally manage to focus on her.

His heavy panting quieted into longer, deeper breaths. He fell back against his pillow, rubbing his face with shaky hands. He shifted to the side, and he visibly steadied.

MC sighed in relief before following his gaze towards the open sky. He seemed to have a fascination with it. It was as if it transformed him into a completely different person. His hard eyes turned wide and wondering, and the defenses he put up crumbled when viewing the blue expanse. She wished she knew what was going on behind his head.

"Sorry," she repeated, looking down at her hands. "I didn't mean to irritate you. I know being stuck here is hard…I just wanted to make sure you hadn't hurt yourself further and…" her words drifted off. She huffed and ran a hand through her hair. "So…you like the sky, huh?"

He gave a small grunt, unfazed by the nonsequitur.

MC went on. "M-maybe, when you get out of here, all three of us…could go find a good view of the sky. I know there's some mountains outside of the city. In the daytime, you can see the entire city, but it's far enough away to see the stars at night. You might like it there."

When she turned back to him, he was already staring at her. His hand rested under his cheek as he observed her for a few brief moments.

"I hate you."

MC choked. "Sorry?"

"You sound so much like Sae-like he did," Saeran said. His tone exuded lifelessness, drained from any passionate fury he just held. "Positive and bright and—I hate it. People like you make people like me believe garbage like that is possible."

His words tugged at MC's heart, yanking it in every direction. Despite his bitterness, she could not begrudge him. He was never given opportunity to be happy. For someone to present the idea to him must've been cruel in his eyes…like dangling sweets out of reach from a child.

"It could be possible," MC said quietly.

His forehead crinkled as he mulled over her words. He unfolded his crossed arms and pushed himself into a sitting position. "How can you say that?"

"Easily," she shrugged. "It is possible. Not without struggle, but-"

"That's not what I mean," he said. He examined his own hands. His fingers traced the green lines where his veins protruded from his paper-white skin. "You know exactly what I've done, and you dare to give me hope like that."

Half of his sentence was lost in his strangled attempts to speak, but MC could still make it out. She could still pick up the strife and acrimony interwoven in each word.

"Saeran," she said. In a moment of courage, she placed her hand over his. He was cold to the touch, but even so, a steady heartbeat thrummed against her finger as it rested against his thin wrist. "I know life hasn't been kind to you, but…you're not beyond hope. If you truly want it, you can find something...somewhere that makes you happy."

He lifted his eyes to hers. It was the softest she had ever seen him. In that moment, he wasn't harsh and prickly…he was warm, alive…and hurting.

But then, he laughed. Bitterly. Resignedly. "How can someone as—as—normal as you possibly understand?"

"Then how about me?"

MC didn't turn to look at the source of the voice. She knew simply by the hardening of Saeran's countenance. Saeyoung's shoes squeaked against the hospital floor as he drew further into the room.

"How about me then?" he repeated. "I came from the same background as you. If you're not normal, then neither am I."

"What's your point?" Saeran growled, though his gaze remained fixed on MC.

Saeyoung sighed and placed the bags of food on the table. "I thought the same once, you know. That living was a nuisance for people who had never known happiness. That I could never find it on my own. But I was wrong after all."

Saeran withdrew his hand from MC's and retreated away from her. "Yeah? And how long is this 'happiness' going to last? What happens when she sees you for what you really are you? How you lie? How you act so bright and righteous when you're so filthy—"

"Saeran, stop it," MC interjected quietly.

He obeyed, though MC wondered if it were from exhaustion as he seemed to completely deflate against the mattress.

"It's fine," Saeyoung said with a dismissive wave, though it was obvious Saeran's words affected him. "Anyway, MC, we should leave. The therapist is coming soon, so Saeran needs to be alone with him for the next hour. We can eat together after then."

The younger twin let out a cry of disgust at the mention of the doctor. MC nodded and stood. "I'll see you later, Saeran. And…don't forget what I said. Please, try to think of a happy future for yourself."

His scowl dissipated as he watched her leave, and MC took it as a sign of hope that, at least, a small seed was planted.

She followed Saeyoung out of the hospital, where they could both be away from people for a little while. She watched as he immediately flopped onto the grass underneath a tree. He blew out his cheeks and stared up at the umbrella of leaves.

MC sat beside him, and it wasn't long until his head found its way onto her lap. For a long while, they sat in silence. The soft breeze ruffled his bangs, revealing the deep creases in his forehead. She ran her finger along them, causing him to look up and meet her gaze.

"What?" Saeyoung questioned when she didn't stop staring.

She clicked her tongue. "Nothing," she said. She pressed a soft kiss to his lips. "I love you."

His cheeks colored, as it always did when she said those three words. "W-where's that coming from?"

MC smiled slightly. "Just thought you needed a reminder," she said. "And don't worry about Saeran…He'll turn around eventually. Stay strong, okay? No matter what he says."

Saeyoung fiddled with the cross at his neck. "I know… I just—MC, I have such a bad feeling," he said. "Like something bad is going to happen soon. Am I crazy?"

"Yes," she replied without hesitation, earning a glare from the red-head. "But, trust your feelings. They got you this far."

He hummed meditatively. "Even if they make me do something stupid?"

"What?" MC frowned.

"Er—nothing," he stammered, sitting up and curling his knees to his chest. He glanced at her from the corner of his eye. "Would you completely hate me if I ask you to wait for me here? I think…I need to grab something from home really quick. I'll be back within the hour!"

MC hesitated, unnerved by his sudden outbreak. But she knew he wouldn't hide anything detrimental from her. "I could never hate you, Saeyoung," she said with an overblown sigh. "Even if you tried to make me hate you—which you have—I couldn't. Go on, then. I'll be here when you get back."

He beamed at her before sneaking another kiss. "Oh, and—er—I love you too."

He jumped to his feet and rushed towards the parking lot, sending her a giddy grin over his shoulder. MC watched him go. She trusted him with all her might, but that didn't mean she didn't worry about him.

He once told her that everything he did never worked out. She could see that mindset intruding on happier moments…how he just seemed to drink it all in with an understood acceptance that it would disappear. Even now, he prepared for the worst- whatever he believed that was.

MC wished she could do something to eradicate it forever, but she knew only time could do that. Still…she wanted to secure his happiness as much as he tried to secure hers.

Speaking of which…she pulled out her phone and brought up her most recent text from that morning. The number wasn't saved and the text jumbled in code, but…she had a hunch as to who it was. She dialed it and pressed the phone to her ear. The receiver picked up, and the familiar gruff voice sent a smile to MC's lips.

"Hello, Vanderwood. Listen, about your offer…I need you to check something for me."

A/N: Saeran, my poor child...please get better soon.

As you can see, I'm focusing more on Saeran's recovery rather than the secret end chapters themselves. While I might intermingle some important parts in, I hope to expand more about the in between times. :) Hope you guys like it all the same! Thank you as always for reading, and I always appreciate your feedback and lovely really make my day:) See you all next week~