Woo Bin placed his uninjured arm over his closed eyes, trying to gauge if this position would make it easier for him to sleep.

After a few seconds of staying put, he exhaled loudly, moved his arm to the side, and stared moodily at the ceiling instead. Fuck sleeping, then.

He was an idiot, he realized - and not for the first time that day.

Make that the World's Biggest Idiot.

Even a bigger idiot than Go Jun Pyo in his most idiotic moments - and indeed there were many.

Practically forcing a reluctant Yi Jung to sprint after Ga Eul? Probably not the best and the brightest among his usually genius ideas. Who knew what they were talking about now? What if Yi Jung managed to charm his way back to Ga Eul's graces again? What if-

What if they're making up - and making out - this very moment?

Woo Bin shut his eyes, as if the very act alone could help dispel the images now swirling in his brain.

Well.

Well.

If making amends with So Yi Jung would make her happy, then perhaps Woo Bin himself shouldn't stand in their way. After all, that's ultimately what he wanted for her, right? For her to be happy? Even if it wasn't with him?

Ha! Fuck that. He wasn't a goddamned saint - nor was he gunning to act like one any time soon.

But god, what if-

And he'd been so close to tearing down her walls, in making her see how much he could make her happy if she'd only just forget about Yi Jung and-

Fuck.

Fuck.

Maybe he ought to have forced Yi Jung to stay here, instead of pushing him to go after Ga Eul. After all, wasn't that what he'd said before? That he got on the first flight back to Korea soon as he's heard what happened to Woo Bin? Then shouldn't he be here, spending awkward moments with his injured best friend instead of doing god knew what with Ga Eul? Oh god, what if they were renewing their vows to each other? What if So Yi Jung had his arms wrapped around Chu Ga Eul this very moment? What if-

Woo Bin cursed aloud.

The worst thing - the very worst thing - was that he couldn't even do anything about it, even if he wanted to. Couldn't get up, couldn't get out, couldn't get to Ga Eul on time, because he was holed up here in his fucking hospital room whereas Yi Jung had all the time - and both hands! - to convince her to choose him again, whereas Woo Bin-

Shit.

Was he jealous? Yes. Was he acting irrational? Also yes. He couldn't help it, and no one could blame him if he did.

The only thing he could do now, was wait. For what type of news, he didn't know. Just that he dreaded receiving them.

The sound of his door opening had his heart lurching - only for it to resume its non-erratic beating when he realized it was-

"Father," he said, settling back on the bed.

Song Senior smiled slightly at him, then turned to close the door. "You're awake. Good."

"Since... yesterday, I think? Or a few days ago. It's hard to keep count, imagine that." Woo Bin watched as his father made his way to the side of his bed. "I was beginning to wonder when you were going to visit."

"I finished all business in Peru and came back here as soon as I heard," Song Senior said, all traces of smiles now gone from his face as he studied his son from head to toe. "I take it you had none of our men with you that night?"

He shrugged. "I never saw the need for bodyguards. You know that."

"And because of that - you were attacked. Shot at by a hired hand. How-" Song Senior closed his eyes a bit, looking pained. "You could have died, you foolish boy, and all because you were too proud."

"Look, Father, I never-"

In his haste to make himself heard, Woo Bin leaned on his bad side - and placed pressure on his injured shoulder, as a result. He groaned.

"Woo Bin!" his father exclaimed, sounding- terrified?

"I'm fine," he said through clenched teeth. "I'm- I'm fine." Once the wave of pain passed, Woo Bin peered up at his father, finding him seemingly unsure of what to do - which was a rare sight indeed. Perhaps this incident spooked him? Perhaps the thought of losing his only heir caused him to panic? Wanting to placate, he said, "This is nothing. The doctors earlier told me that I might be getting discharged soon anyway, and then I can go back to-"

The door opened again, and Woo Bin threw a cursory glance at it - only for the rest of his words to die because it was, in fact-

"Ga Eul?" he called.

She smiled at him, saw his father - and seemingly froze on the spot. "I- um. I'm sorry, I didn't-" She pointed at the door, "Th-they let me in and-"

"Come in, child," Song Senior said softly.

Woo Bin glanced at his father in alarm.

Did he- did he know who Ga Eul was? Was that why he was making her come in instead of demanding that she leave?

For her part, Ga Eul looked horribly embarrassed and seemed ready to bolt back out the door any time; to her credit, however, at his beckoning she only tucked in her hair behind both ears and slowly but surely made her way to the other side of the bed.

"Chu Ga Eul, is it?" Song Senior asked, and all of Woo Bin's calmness fled out of his body. He was pretty sure he never mentioned her to him - did he? How did-

"Y-Yes," she responded, hands holding the strap of her bag as if it was her lifeline. "I'm-"

"A friend of my son's," his father cut in, glancing at Woo Bin. "Whom he's very fond of, I've been told."

Ga Eul glanced at Woo Bin as well, and he's pretty certain his face looked as hot as it felt, goddamnit. He cleared his throat. "Father-"

"You've been taking care of him?" Song Senior asked her, point blank.

Woo Bin's throat felt so. Fucking. Dry.

Ga Eul swallowed. Then, reaching forward to hold his hand in hers, she answered meekly, "I- I have. I want to. If- if he lets me." She glanced at Woo Bin again.

He stared at their entwined hands, finding himself at a loss for words.

Chu Ga Eul was here.

Holding his hand.

Talking to his father.

Bravely telling him that she wanted to take care of his son-

-him.

Did this mean-

...well.

Because he was The World's Biggest Idiot, however, Woo Bin couldn't help but ask, "But- Yi Jung?"

Ga Eul subtly shook her head.

"Well," Song Senior said, clasping his hands behind his back and looking at them both with an odd expression on his face. He then focused on Ga Eul. "It's good that we met finally. I see now that there's no need to summon you - and for that, I'm thankful. There are some things I wanted to ask you - about the night my son got shot."

Woo Bin turned to him. What could he possibly want to ask Ga Eul, of all people? She was just an innocent bystander there. She had nothing to do with that horrible night. He couldn't possibly suspect her of anything - could he? "Father, that's-"

"Of course," Ga Eul replied, placing a hand on Woo Bin's shoulder as if to placate him. "It's okay. Please, ask me anything. If I can-"

"Did you know," Song Senior gravely said, "that the shooter was there to get you, Chu Ga Eul? And that my son-" He gestured at Woo Bin, "-just happened to get in the way?"

For a moment, the words didn't register in him at all.

"What-" Woo Bin said, pushing himself up despite his shoulder screaming at him, "-what?"

Ga Eul went white as a sheet.

No.

No.

No.

That's-

No!

"That couldn't-" Woo Bin stared at his father. "How-"

"How?" Song Senior asked him back - as if surprised that Woo Bin was even asking him that question. "Our men caught the shooter, Woo Bin. We have him in custody. Of course we made him-" He waved his hand and added, "-talk."

The man was probably dead now, he realized belatedly.

Or wishing he already was.

Ga Eul gasped, making Woo Bin turn to her. He gripped her hand tightly as it limped in his. He saw how pale she'd gotten, and he pulled her close, engulfing her in a one-armed hug. "Listen, listen to me Ga Eul. I'm fine, all right? I'm fine. I'm-"

"W-Woo Bin-Sunbae," she whispered, sounding broken and scared - and he couldn't blame her. "I'm-"

"You've angered a very powerful family, child," Song Senior said, seemingly from very far away.

Woo Bin pulled away from her, cradled her face with his hand. "I'll fix this," he said, overcome with the need to soothe her, above all things. "Don't worry. I'll fix this." He kissed her brow for one moment, two, feeling her tremble, letting her fear feed his anger - and desire to get even.

He let her go for a moment before looking at his father again. "Who-" Woo Bin gritted his teeth, "-which family is behind this?"

Song Senior's lips were thin as he replied:

"The Parks."