take a chance with me
eoharu
Summary:
arranged business marriage of ryu sheoh x eun dahnoh.
Notes:
hi i'm finally attempted to write full length fics based on this prompt: /dohvva/status/1801298472810987778
please thrown away your logic when reading bc i dont really know how drug works lol
english isnt my first language so expect for many grammar error (i tried my best pls be kind if you want to correct me)
warning there's a bit of cursing and violence (i'm writing sheoh after all...)
also i only watched one ep of namsoon and only seen sheoh in the lab but i do look for his gifs and his story summary so i hope it won't stray too much from his og character.
lastly, i hope you enjoy reading this!
Chapter 1: puzzle
Chapter Text
All of this started with a business deal and an agreement.
Something about shares and stocks, and something about turning the company's image by presenting a madly in love newlyweds concept starring the CEO himself and the businessman's daughter. To show everyone how every dark rumor about Doogo isn't true, and to divert everyone's attention from the CEO being mafia to the CEO being a devoted husband.
And to one's amusement, there's still many layers beyond that. In exchange for the businessman tons of money and resources - including his own one and only sick daughter, they will secretly provide Doogo's technology to develop a "cure'' for Dahnoh's heart condition - the name of the sickly daughter, the heroine of this play initiated by her own father and a tall man named Ryu Sheoh, the said CEO. Later Dahnoh found out it's a strange drug to enhance one's power instead of legit cure, but she did not feel disappointed at all. She already lost all hope to be normal and healthy. She already gave up on that idea and has decided to just live as easy as she can till her time comes.
As so, Dahnoh follows the path her father has laid to her without question. Being a loving wife and hiding her lifetime sickness as not too obvious to public eyes are what all she needs to do. All this fake engagement and putting up a brightest smile ever even though your heart is shattered to pieces, she's done this before and has no problem doing another. It's not a big deal. The first one involved her real feelings and left her some sort of trauma, so compared to this total fake play with the man she barely knows anything about should be a piece of cake.
Or so Dahnoh thought.
Dahnoh who just regained consciousness fighting her headache to process the scene in front of her. Her driver coughed up blood, and on top of him there's Sheoh with anger so evident it makes her shudder.
"What are you doing?" Dahnoh tried so hard to get her hoarse voice heard despite Sheoh's cane sounds beating up the driver overpowering her voice. "What are you doing?!" she tries again with a louder voice and Sheoh finally stops.
"He is a driver and he can't fucking drive." he hissed, there's blood splatter on his face, "He has one job and he can't do it. What do you say? He deserves a beating, isn't he?"
Dahnoh tries to recall what just happened. She is on the way to attend company dinner with Sheoh's important business partners, and she went with a driver that usually drives her to Sheoh's schedules. Dahnoh then remembers they got into a little accident, no one seriously got hurt - just a few bumps and a little shock that caused her to faint. She doesn't remember anything beyond that and just wakes up now to this situation.
"Please stop, stop it." Sheoh's anger seems to have not died down yet because he is landing another smash upon hearing Dahnoh's weak voice. Dahnoh's eyes widened because the driver could really die at this point.
"Stop it!" she yells, sending him a glare, "it's just an accident!"
"You could die." Sheoh growled, and his expression just darkened because he really hates how it sounds out loud.
"I could die anytime. I'm dying even now. I will die anytime soon. What's the matter?" Dahnoh sighs. Sheoh seems just getting angrier hearing her remarks. He tossed the cane so harshly to the other side of the room and it only took him three wide steps to reach her, towering over her and looking at her with such intensity that it sucked all of the air surrounding her. Dahnoh tries hard to keep calm and look at him back without letting her shoulder down. So far, Sheoh always treats her gently - let it be during their act or not. He never lays his hand on her even though she is aware of his worst temper and habit of lashing out to people nearest his reach. Even though she is scared of the possibility, she still believes Sheoh won't hurt her.She hopes so.
"Precisely. Your heart could stop beating anytime and this fucking idiot is just about to make you die faster. As if mocking my effort to keep you alive."
Dahnoh did hear Sheoh and his trusted team are in the process of inventing a kind of drug to something that can make her life longer. Dahnoh never takes it seriously so this feels like a joke to her. So, she chuckles a little.
"That drug? I'm going to die first before you even succeed." Dahnoh instantly regretted what she just said because Sheoh just snapped. He looks outraged and Dahnoh doesn't know how to soothe it. His hand reached for her cheek, and she just unintentionally flinched. She can't lie that this Sheoh makes her terribly unsettled.
"Don't you dare die on me." he threatened, his thumb striking her cheeks ever so slightly but his eyes shaking with rage, and Dahnoh felt dizzy because she could smell the blood so clearly from this close distance, "no one will take you away from me, even death."
Sheoh held his gaze on her for so long that Dahnoh's heart rate watch started to beep. Hearing that snapped him back to reality and finally broke away from her. He looks confused for a second, as if don't know what to do with himself. In the end, he strides outside, leaving a breathless Dahnoh and a passed-out driver, covered in blood.
They are doing so well faking their lovey dovey moment for public eyes all these past months, and Dahnoh could always tell where's the line between acting and what he actually feels. This one, Dahnoh doesn't quite understand. The Sheoh who hours ago beat his driver to pulp with a cane just because a minor accident couldn't possibly fake it. One thing Dahnoh knows for sure, Sheoh wouldn't fake nor hold back his anger. She just doesn't understand the reason why he looks so mad and lost. He could just go on with his day after knowing she's fine, he could just check on her and go back to work, or quite frankly he could just ignore everything because he doesn't need to fake being a devoted husband for no one to see. Why was he there and why did he look so upset with this whole situation, more than her?
Dahnoh thinks then she must be a precious asset to his drug research. Where else can he find an object that is willing to be a guinea pig? Of course, he can't let her die before he tries the drug on her. But even so, is it that important that he canceled all of his remaining schedule, drove her home by himself, dismissed all of her caretaker and insisted on feeding her himself, and now is leisurely taking a bath?
Dahnoh is so lost deep in her thoughts that she didn't hear Sheoh just walk into her bedroom. His peculiar bath soap scent filled the room as soon as he was inside and made Dahnoh snap back to reality.
"Hey, what are you doing here?"
"Just to make sure." he said flatly. "I will sleep here tonight."
"What? Excuse me?" Dahnoh's eyes widened. They never sleep together unless for the act when the situation forces them to do so, and it usually happens in hotels when they are traveling for business purposes. They never share the same bed in this house, never by his or her own will.
Sheoh doesn't give a single care. He pulls Dahnoh along with him so now they're laying next to each other, his arm staying wrapped on her waist. Dahnoh struggles to let out of his grip so she just lets him be in the end and see where all this goes.
"Go back to your room." Dahnoh sighed, trying her last effort, "stop playing around."
Hearing that Sheoh just pulls Dahnoh even closer there's barely any space left between them. This never happened before, they always sleep with pillows stacked between them so this makes Dahnoh quite flustered even though she did not want to admit it out loud.
"Listen, Dahnoh," he started, finally breaking the long silence that feels like an eternity. He paused for a second as if he was struggling to get the word out of his mouth. His eyes meet hers, looks so soft and oddly vulnerable, totally different from hours ago. "I need you to never mention death so lightly again."
"Why?"
"You just need to stop thinking about it."
Dahnoh scoffed. As if it was easy. "I'm always so close with death it's impossible to not think about it." Dahnoh can feel Sheoh's grasp getting tighter.
"You might give up and not value your own life anymore, but that's not the case for me."
Dahnoh was taken aback. Sheoh keeps surprising her today, and she did not like it because unexpected Sheoh makes her need to rack her brain of how to respond. It's also the first time someone ever said to her directly how she already gave up. She did not expect that out of all people, it's Sheoh who noticed it. People always perceive her as a bright and strong girl, that no one ever notices how she's breaking down inside every single day.
"What can you do, anyway? My dad was already looking for all the best doctors he could possibly find, and they all said the same thing; my heart is beyond repair and I did not have much time left."
"They just don't care." he scoffed, mocking the doctors he never even met, "I'm different. I can say I'm the only one who cares for you more than anyone. More than your dad.More than yourself.Your dad's hopeless last effort led you to me. And I did everything I could to keep you alive. I work day and night to perfect the cure. The medicine you took everyday… it worked so well so far, right?"
"What?"
"That medicine you took earlier. And the one you took yesterday. And days before." Sheoh smiled proudly, "that's the one I worked on, and I see the difference even with a little dose. You rarely faint, nowadays, right? Except today," he looks annoyed before continuing, "You're doing so well."
Dahnoh literally doesn't know what to do with this newfound information. She rarely checks up what medicine she consumed and totally lets her doctor take care of the whole thing, and at this point Dahnoh should've known that the doctor is Sheoh's trusted person so of course letting a strange drug in between her medication should be very possible. Dahnoh just realizes how dangerous it is, and how Sheoh is holding her life in line. But Dahnoh then realized she never really cared to begin with, she said her marriage vows with a mindset that she can die either naturally because of her illness or because of this man. But this information still scared her.
"You let me consume it without my knowing, without my consent?" Dahnoh asked in disbelief.
"You did give me consent." he said easily, "it's on the contract. And I told the doctor to inform you, but maybe you didn't listen. Since you got here, you look so willing to die you don't care about anything else."
Dahnoh cannot say anything to that. She wants to deny it but it's true. Her mind is trying to make sense of this situation. So Sheoh noticed how she gave up with her life, worked on finding the cure, and already tested it on her without her realizing it. And strangely, itworked.What he said is true. He rarely faint nowadays, her heart rate's watch rarely beeping out loud. Dahnoh knows how Doogo is basically a distribution company on the surface but a big drug research on the inside. That top secret information was what led Dahnoh to this arranged marriage after all. Dahnoh did read how Sheoh spent years completing his degree in medical science overseas and came as a top graduate; she once read his biography in a magazine stating that he is agenius.Dahnoh heard how her father boasted that Sheoh has a team consisting of not only talented but also meticulous researchers he personally recruited all over the country for thatpersonalproject he worked on, but Dahnoh did not expect that they are really doing the research to find her cure all this time. All along she thinks it's only lip service to get on her father's ridiculous wealth. And one big question suddenly popped up in her head,
"Why?" Dahnoh asked, "Do you need me to stay alive to keep the contract going, to fund your drug business?"
Sheoh moved his hand that stayed on her waist to caress her cheek. Dahnoh flinched a little and Sheoh noticed and chuckled.
"That's the initial reason. It has changed now though. I just need you to stay alive. Period."
"Why?" Dahnoh asked again. "Why would you need me to?"
"Do I have to make it clear?" he challenged, his eyes shifted to her lips, "Can you handle it?"
Dahnoh knows Sheoh meant it and has a gut of what he implies, but it still sounds ridiculous in her mind that she shoves away the possibility. Dahnoh carefully looks back at his past actions to find the rebuttal, but instead she remembers the Sheoh that always appears so cold and intimidating but beaming at her sight. The Sheoh that would scream and beat up his subordinates whenever he is displeased but always treats her with utmost care and gentleness, that she herself is surprised he is capable of doing so. The Sheoh that looks doesn't care about anything except his company but takes care of her so intently whenever her heart grows weaker than normal days no matter how busy he is. The Sheoh that once embraced her to sleep when death feels way too real for her is terrifying. But Dahnoh always thought that was either an act or consideration. So, she's looking for what the truth could be, but while she racked her brain thinking of another reason that makes more sense than whatever Sheoh implied, he just put his thumb on her lips that make her brain short circuited.
"I think it's time for you to know that it was never an act for me." he whispered as if he heard her own train of thoughts. He looked her in the eyes, observing her reaction and Dahnoh hates how she can't hide her bewilderment. After he makes sure Dahnoh gets what he means, Sheoh's eyes divert back to her lips, now with newfound determination, and a sprouting excitement he tries to hide.
He leaned his head closer in slow motion, to give Dahnoh enough time to escape and he promised himself he won't be disappointed and forced his way if she did, and when he finds Dahnoh didn't move an inch when he is close enough to feel her breath, he look at her once again in the eyes just to make sure she won't regret this. After two seconds that feels like eternity, Sheoh tried his luck and brushed her lips slightly with his own, and back to look at her eyes waiting for her reaction. Dahnoh just looked at him back, Sheoh couldn't tell what her expression meant because finding Dahnoh didn't run away from him at this point already made his heart pounding so wildly he can't think about anything else. He smirks and closes the remaining little gap between them.
This is not their first kiss. They kissed during their marriage ceremony, kissed in front of many of his colleagues and subordinates, kissed whenever they felt like it's proper time to convince people how madly in love they were. And yet this is the first kiss where they both meant it, a kiss that started with how their lips touched but unlike the others now it lingers - a kiss that weirdly feels warm and tender and makes their hearts racing.
Was it supposed to feel like this? Dahnoh wondered.
Sheoh breaks away from the kiss and it's almost ridiculous how Dahnoh feels disappointed how it ended quickly. "Open your mouth a bit." he requsted, and Dahnoh couldn't stop herself from blushing when she realized it's just the beginning. Dahnoh's reasoning was thrown out of the window because she just obliged without question, opening her mouth awkwardly and looking so flustered. It shocked her too how she wants this.
Sheoh chuckles at how lovely the sight is, her cheeks grown pinkish, and she doesn't know where to look. Feeling satisfied and motivated, Sheoh goes for another one, different from all of previous kisses he now crashes his lips slowly and deeply until he can taste the strawberry he just fed her earlier. Sheoh doesn't really know how happiness works, his life has always been bleak and dull, but when he feels Dahnoh tries her best to match his pace - move her lips along with his in-sync Sheoh shut his eyes tight and thinksah, this is what happiness must feel like, and he didn't expect it would feel this exhilarating to the point it drives him insane.
Dahnoh heard her watch beeping, it's so loud but Sheoh seems so lost and has no intention to stop anytime soon. It's weird, though. The watch has always been a reminder for her how she's dying, but the sound now, along her thumping heartbeat, sounds like she's very much alive.
Chapter 2: heather
Summary:
Initially Sheoh thought all of this would be a hassle.
Oh, how wrong he is!
Notes:
thank you for your enthusiasm that I able to write next chapter right away! I read every comment and plan to reply later, but if my social energy give up first and I didn't reply in the end, please know I still greatly appreciated it! thank you so much!
anyway the drug part is definitely fantasy so dont try to make sense out of it heheh
also I added another extraordinary you's character but just in case if anyone wondering no I will not include haru (if haru exist well dahnoh can live happily with him and won't ended up in second arranged marriage kjasghas)
lastly i hope you enjoy this one as well!
(See the end of the chapter formore notes.)
Chapter Text
Doogo's conflict with Gold Blue escalated so quickly beyond his control. The news about him being a ruthless, vicious and barbaric drug mafia is all over the news. His days in Russia where he still directly works under The Big Boss and beating people up to pulp as his daily routine is also widespread. Gold Blue got him badly this time, Sheoh noticed they sent a spy between his employees but thankfully Sheoh was able to get the rat quickly. Even so, the rumors are out regardless, and when his team works hard to deny every rumor and blast long and detailed rebuttal articles, the company still gets badly affected by it. Sheoh doesn't care about his own rumor since it's all true, but lost stocks and resources that hinder his research and business? He cannot let it happen.
And when he was looking for a business partner to prevent the company loss even further, Extra group owner personally contacted himself, asking if the rumor about his drug that gave "superpower" ability has some truth in it. Sheoh did not expect that it's Extra who personally approached him for a business deal out of so many mega corporations out there. It's also surprising because Extra is the only company that would match Gold Blue's worth, exactly what Sheoh needs right now.
"Please save my daughter." is the only one Eun Mooyoung—the Extra owner—needs. Long story short, after many meetings and a contract that is reviewed over and over again, they finally reach a satisfying conclusion: Extra would fund Doogo's business project, both the distribution business that is legally known to the public and the illegal drug research and distribution that keep hidden. To ensure Doogo's top secret and to keep trust between the two companies, an arranged marriage with the daughter is also set, with the sidequest purpose to retrieve Sheoh's public image as devoted husband—as Sheoh's advisor suggested. In return, beside the business deal formalities on legal paper, Doogo will develop a drug that is specifically invented to cure heart disease that Dahnoh has—Eun Mooyoung's daughter whom he is about to marry. Quite frankly, Sheoh doesn't know yet if his drug that is still currently going under various tests is able to keep her alive. Sure, the drug increases one's power and such, but he doesn't know if that power could fix the damaged heart. Well, if he could, it would be another achievement for him and his drug could reach a wider and more varied consumer. It's a win-win solution.
So after a contract—both the legal and the secret one—is signed and published to the media (and how insane Extra power is that impactful they really could turn the tide to their favor!), he finally meets the daughter. She is only as tall as his chest, looking so small and fragile he is sure he can easily break her to shreds. Before meeting her Sheoh has so many scenarios played out; will she cry and beg him to save her too just like her dad? Or will she look at him with disgust for all of his morally dubious business? Will she fall over head for his face and wealth? Or will she tremble in fear for he is a mafia with so many violence records as it was told in the news all over the country?
Sheoh introduced himself and she introduced herself in return too.
"Eun Dahnoh." she tells him. Sheoh observes her, finds her pretty cute, and half relieved she doesn't seem to be frightened of him. At last that will do.
"I was told by my father that I am going to marry you for business purposes by the end of this month. Please tell me right now if you have someone else you love or if you don't actually want this." she started, looking at him seriously.Wow, straight to the point,Sheoh thinks to himself and is grateful he did not have to entertain her with small talk.
"Do you have someone?" Sheoh asked back instead. Dahnoh sighs and flatly says no. "Then do you not want this?"
Dahnoh paused for a bit. "To be honest, I don't care. As you know, I'm sick and my lifespan is short. All of this doesn't really matter to me. But you, a young successful business man in prime, definitely have a different story from mine. This marriage—it could matter to you. It could change your whole life trajectory even if it's fake and only for plays. So I want to make sure that you are totally on board. I don't want to ruin someone else's life ever again."
That was the reaction that did not cross his mind before. She never even met him, she would probably know all of the rumor surrounding him if she is interested enough to read and none of it are positive, yet there she is, considering his well being. In his life that is only filled with superior and subordinates, employees and his gang underlings, big boss and his annoying dogs that always keep him under watch, business partners that could always stab him in the back and business rivals that are always trying to ruin his life, people around him either fear him, want to take advantage of him, or want to kill him. There is never a person he newly meets considers what he wants or what his feelings and thoughts are about certain things. Sheoh can't help but smile.
"How nice of you." Sheoh complimented her that sounds like a mock to Dahnoh's ears even though he genuinely meant it. "But glad we are on the same page. I only care about my business and relieving my public image through this marriage. I would be satisfied if Ms. Dahnoh could play along till there's an article about me being a devoted husband instead of a barbarous mafia drug dealer."
"Okay then." she quickly accepts, totally ignoring the last part Sheoh tried to emphasize to fish her reaction which failed miserably because she just shrugged her shoulders without care, "to what extent should we play this fake marriage off? Since it's to save your business, I would like to know a concept you had in mind so I can prepare accordingly." she suddenly let out her notebook and a pink pom pom pencil from her bag. Sheoh chuckles, it's just so bizarre to see cute stuff like that around.
Dahnoh just gave him her side eyes, "Can we please focus? I need to go back to the class after this."
Sheoh gives Dahnoh—who is so ready to note everything down—an amusing smile. Oh, Sheoh knows for sure then, that this marriage is going to be so interesting.
Sheoh almost meets Dahnoh every day after that first encounter. His team are doing their best to orchestrate this arranged marriage to perfection so they can reap the utmost advantage from it, so Sheoh has no choice but to be seen attending every single schedule regarding his wedding—including wedding gown fitting, checking the hall, meeting with important business partner that will be benefited from this wedding, and being seen to pick up Dahnoh from her college. The paid and planned paparazzi are ready everywhere ready to capture every moment.
Initially Sheoh thought all of this would be a hassle. He was so annoyed to think he must go through all of this just to save his image, but much to his surprise he enjoys it so far. He already makes sure Dahnoh is aware what kind of person he is, and her attitude still remains as nonchalant as ever. So he enjoys her company, her quick drastic change of expression from acting like a spoiled baby around him to being annoyed and in disbelief by her own ability to act to that extent, amusing him so much it never gets boring. He also enjoys today—wedding dress fitting schedule—seeing her in dresses he carefully picks himself, looking beautiful and radiant. It reminds him of a fairy from the children's book he used to read when he was first learning the Russian language. He used to imagine that the fairy must be so pretty for the heroine to be blinded. Now that he sees her smiles he kind of gets what that book means. Even though he knows that smile was fake and carefully planned, he still loves to see it anyway.
"Which one is to your liking?" Sheoh asked. Somehow he knows she does not care and wants to finish this as soon as possible, but she is committed to this play so she acts to think hard. "I think the second one will do. It covers most of my chest and neck area, so my scar won't be seen."
Sheoh smiles slowly fade away. He did notice the big scar that goes up to reach under her collarbones, but given how he himself has so many scars all over his body he forgot that it's not normal to have one. It should've occurred to him that it was a scar from her surgeries, and it was something she would likely cover since it shows to everyone how she is sick and she doesn't like to show it, but he was too busy admiring how gorgeous she looks.
"Just pick what you like the most and don't mind the scar. It's not something you should be ashamed of. If anything, it shows your resilience and you should proudly show it." how odd that the words come out so smoothly. He can see from the corner of his eyes that both Dahnoh and his secretary are taken aback with what he just said. His secretary thinks it's surprising how Sheoh is so good at acting to be a gentle and caring soon-to-be husband given his lack of experience and ruthless personality, and Dahnoh is secretly touched because no one ever said a good thing about her scar. Her own dad would look away in pain whenever he sees it. Even the employee who helped her dress earlier looked at the scar with shock and pity.
"Don't you think it's ugly?" Dahnoh genuinely asked this time. "It will be a grand wedding."
Sheoh swears he always pursues perfection. He often lash out and assault people whenever he feels dissatisfied. Yes it will be an important and grandiose wedding. Yes he wants everything to be perfect, especially the bride. Strangely enough when it comes to this,grand wedding be damned.He must have gone crazy when he said with a smile, "it is not, and it has nothing to do with it anyway."
Dahnoh still has many classes left to attend before the wedding ceremony and honeymoon phase break. It is both her dad and his advisor's request to pick up her directly from her school, for her dad worrying about her health given the busy schedule and his advisor looking for content to make. So Sheoh drove his car to her campus, waited for her in the most crowded place so the paparazzi could take better photos of him. His luxurious car and his streaking figure instantly become the center of attention, and Sheoh just hates the idea how people look at him as if he is the strangest creature ever. After making sure he gave enough time for paparazzi to take his photos, he walked inside the campus, looking for her instead of waiting for her.
Perhaps that's a bad decision.
"So you are really getting married?" some tall man speaks to Dahnoh. Sheoh instantly notices how hostile he sounds. His curiosity makes him just wait nearby to see where this conversation goes. "Did you make sure he wasn't forced into it?"
"Baek kyung, can you just congratulate me and go?" Dahnoh sighed.
"Well, I have to make sure there is no other victim like me."
Usually at this point Sheoh would've landed a punch already. Sheoh has to repeatedly make mental note that this is public space and any violence coming from him his image would be irremediable.
"Yeah, luckily enough he's very agreeable, unlike someone." Dahnoh retorted. Baek kyung doesn't like how Dahnoh looks down on him. She used to beg for his affection, crying every time he said he hates how sick she is, hates how he needs to be the one that takes care of her and how everything is such a drag. At some point Dahnoh finally has some self respect for herself and calls off the engagement herself, after years of holding on to him and trapping him for years. Baek kyung still can't forgive those years, where he needed to endure his father beating whenever Dahnoh got sick. Which is often, and almost every time.
"Yeah you're lucky enough he's a criminal, surely doesn't need to take the blame and take the beating whenever you're sick."
"Yes, because he is the one who does the beating and he will beat you up too if you keep this up." Dahnoh clapped back. "Listen, just don't come. Tell your dad to not come too."
The mention of his dad surely triggered something in this Baek kyung guy that he stepped closer with clear ill intention. Before Sheoh could react, somebody else stopped him—apparently another tall man—and even though Sheoh halfheartedly thankful he doesn't need to insert himself in this situation, he just doesn't like how Dahnoh is surrounded by them.
"Baek kyung, that's enough." Dohwa blocked Baek kyung to move closer, "Just… go. Your girlfriend must be waiting for you."
"You sucked me dry all of these years and spat me out like used chewing gum. Now you want me to congratulate you on your marriage? How funny. You don't deserve to be happy, Eun Dahnoh." Baek kyung gave Dahnoh his hatred gaze for the last time, stepped up on the wedding invitation he purposely dropped and walked away angrily.
"That jerk." Dahnoh huffed, picking back up the wedding invitation, "I can't believe I used to like him so much."
While Dohwa tries his best to comfort Dahnoh, Sheoh is trembling with rage and pouring every strength in his body to hold himself back not to run after this Baek kyung guy and smash his skull to the ground. He imagines every way to make this guy suffer as consolation, and thinking his painful scream must be music to his ears.
Lost in his thoughts, Sheoh is late to notice then that Dahnoh spotted him and she quickly wipes away her tears in surprise. Sheoh is thinking maybe it's only right for him to kill Baek kyung right this instant, but his instinct leads him towards her instead. Dahnoh is evidently panic because she is not ready to act lovey dovey yet when her feelings are this messy, and also she hates the fact Sheoh see this side of her, but all of her worries stopped when Sheoh pulls her into a big, tight hug. She is completely buried on his chest, covered and hidden from people's eyes and makes her have enough time to collect herself.
"I was looking for you." Sheoh started, caressed her back, and planted a kiss on top of her forehead. Dohwa, who is still there, chuckles awkwardly. "Oh, hello Mr. Ryu Sheoh. I'm Lee Dohwa, Dahnoh's friend. I don't know if Dahnoh already told you, but I'm going to play violin for your wedding. Congratulations in advance."
Sheoh, still not letting go Dahnoh, looks at Dohwa's hand that reaches for a handshake. He did not want to, but reminded again that he needs to look like a sweet husband, and a sweet husband must be polite to his wife's friend. So he shifts his hand that earlier caress Dahnoh's head to accept Dohwa's handshake.
"I'm very pleased. Thank you Mr. Lee Dohwa." he forced a smile.
"Then please excuse me, my next class is about to start. Dahnoh, I'm going." Sheoh doesn't even let Dahnoh bid a goodbye to Dohwa and still wrapped her in his embrace. After Dohwa was gone, Sheoh whispered to her ear, "are you ready?" and he can feel Dahnoh nodding. Then only after that Sheoh released her and was automatically greeted by her bright, fake smile.
"I didn't expect you to pick me up!" she beams, and he sees how she tries hard to appear so, "Thank you dear."
Sheoh paused and looked at the traces of her tears, and her red eyes.You don't deserve to be happy, Eun Dahnoh.Baek kyung's voice ringing in his ears. A familiar phrase that he himself heard countless of times. He has done so many vicious deeds all of his life, he thinks such mockery is just an inevitable thing that becomes part of his jobs. His life is full of misery since the beginning anyway, those words that are supposed to be hurtful hardly faze him anymore. He also finds some part of himself agreeing that happiness is just a luxury far beyond reach for a sinner like him.
But Dahnoh is totally different from him.
"I'm glad you're happy to see me, I'm afraid it will be a burden to you coming unannounced like this," Sheoh recited his lines, and added his own opinion while patting her head, "I hope you're always happy.No,I'll make sure you are always happy."
Notes:
I have seen gifs where sheoh is totally sweet to namsoon so i think it won't be hard for him to naturally act sweet to dahnoh too, especially if his first meeting with dahnoh impressed him. i just think sheoh is the type to easily fall for people who genuinely nice to him without expecting anything given his past and surrounding, and dahnoh happen to be that kind of person :) what do you think? as always i'm looking forward to your thoughts!
Chapter 3: beauty and the beast
Summary:
It just occurred to her that for the wedding to be a perfect wedding, a kiss is inevitable.
Notes:
disclaimer i'm as inexperienced as dahnoh so if this came out as cringey i hope you forgive me bc i write it solely based on wikihow lmao (i still hope you enjoy it though!). this one specifically for a commenter said they want more kiss from them so i shall oblige!
as i always, i'm looking forward to your thoughts3 enjoy!
Chapter Text
It just occurred to her that for the wedding to be a perfect wedding, a kiss is inevitable. Dahnoh doesn't want to admit it out loud that she never has experience on it yet. Given only ever like one man that never reciprocated her feelings is what led her to this doom. She just doesn't know how to bring this topic to him, nor to his advisor that makes the script of how the wedding should go by—including how the kiss should look like so it will be good for a press release. Sheoh just listened with his default serious and cold face, while Dahnoh tried her best to keep her cool. She's waiting for the right time to bring it up, but unable to do so until the meeting ends and even when Sheoh's car is already in front of her house.
Sheoh is about to go out of the car to open the car door for her but she stops him.
"Wait." Dahnoh holds the hem of his black coat, "I need to talk to you about something."
Sheoh sat back straight again. "And what is that?"
Dahnoh bites her lips. The wedding is the day after tomorrow. She probably won't meet him tomorrow as she needs to do a bunch of beauty preparations from head to toe and he needs to work overtime to finish all of his work so he can go to honeymoon undisturbed. But why is it so humiliating to confess she has never kissed anyone before to him? Dahnoh guesses it must be some kind of inferiority because a man like him must have kissed thousands of times before. She worried he would look displeased and annoyed just like how he treated his employees whenever they are lacking. But if she didn't tell him about this now, and ruined the wedding later, he might even throw a bigger fit.
"The thing is…" Dahnoh murmured, leaving her words hanging in the air.
Sheoh notice Dahnoh's worry expression. He can't guess though what it is about, and for a second he is afraid she might want to cancel this wedding after she has seen enough of him. Could that be? Sheoh tries to put that thought aside.
"Just tell me." Sheoh forced her a small smile.
"I know you must have been dating many times, and you must have so many experiences, but as embarrassing as it is, I don't have that many experiences yet. So…."
Sheoh raised his eyebrows, let her continue even though he badly want to address some part regarding his dating history,
"SoIneverkissanyonebefore." Dahnoh finished her word quickly in one breath and shut her eyes in embarrassment. Sheoh is taken aback for a while, "What?" is his only reaction.
Dahnoh sighed in defeat. "I said I never kissed anyone before!" she unintentionally raised her voice in annoyance, "So I'm worried about the kiss for the wedding later. I have no idea how to do it properly! Ah, this is so embarrassing…." Dahnoh buried her face with both of her hands, too humiliated to see Sheoh's reaction.
Sheoh needs some seconds to process that before breaking into a laughter. For a moment there Sheoh really thinks Dahnoh wants to cancel the wedding and he is already thinking of many ways to keep her stay—be it by her own will or by his own force. He did not expect at all that out of so many possible concerns, akissis what she is worried about.
"Is this so funny to you?" Dahnoh scoffed, "This is for your own sake too! Stop laughing!"
"You're so unexpected I'm mesmerized." Sheoh applauded. "Well, does that mean you want to learn from me? Right now?"
"Well," Dahnoh looks so embarrassed that her whole face is burning red, "I mean, who else I can learn from and it's not like we have time to meet tomorrow! And the wedding is the day after tomorrow!"
"Alright, alright. I'll teach you." Sheoh said at the end of his laugh. He can stop the laugh, but the corner of his mouth can't stop smiling. It just put him in a good mood that he will be Dahnoh's first kiss, and he will be the one who's teaching her how to. He will be the only one that is able to kiss her in the future too. And to make it better,she is willingto do it. Albeit fake and with other intentions, but Sheoh can easily overlook that.
"Don't you think it's better to just do it right away instead of me explaining how to?" Sheoh suggested, shifting his whole body to face her. "You can try to kiss me and I'll give you a review."
Dahnoh looks hesitant at first, but what he said does make sense. Well, she needs to kiss him many times in the future if a lovey dovey concept is what they are going for, so Dahnoh needs to get this done no matter what. She mustered her courage and resolution then said, "Okay then. Can you close your eyes? It's embarrassing."
Sheoh tried his best to hold his smirk and put on a serious face before closing his eyes. It's insane how he finds himself anticipating this so much. He waits and waits, and it feels like forever. "Dahnoh?"
"Okay okay I'm coming!" she nervously replied. Sheoh can feel she put her hands on his shoulder to get better position, and he can also feel her presence get closer. When she is close enough Sheoh can also feel her breath. Sheoh can't help but kill his curiosity; he open his eyes and finds her tilted her head in confusion.
"Hey, I said close your eyes!" Dahnoh shrieked. Sheoh chuckles. "You took so long I thought there might be something wrong." Dahnoh grumbled some words and she finally went for it at lightning speed. Her lips barely touched his, it's more like she smacked her lips to his cheek but Sheoh's heart just skipped a beat. Still not breaking away from their close distance Dahnoh looks at him, pondering something. Sheoh about to say his comment before Dahnoh shuts him up with second tries, this time with more conviction, and with both hands cupped his cheeks and her lips rightly placed on his. After giving him a second light peck, Dahnoh awkwardly clears her throat, "Second one better, right?"
Sheoh is feeling his heart burning. Heck, Dahnoh right, he has had so many experiences with women before and has kissed a bunch of times he lost count, but why is this light peck that only brushes his lips stirring his feelings in a way he never felt before?
"Yeah." Sheoh finally found his voice, "But it can be better than that."
It's now Sheoh's turn to cup her cheek, and look at her lips. "Take your time, look at your partner's lips briefly, and don't pucker yours. Instead, keep it partly open, and either go for lower or bottom lips. Tilt your head, lean in closer, no need to rush." Sheoh explains while doing all of the steps himself. He goes for her upper lips, and gives it slight pressure. He closes his eyes and puts so much self restraint to not press it harder.
When he finally breaks the kiss he looks at her, waiting for her reaction. She looked dazed, and nodded her head in amusement. "Indeed, you're a pro."
"So how does it feel?" Sheoh curiously asked, because his own feeling is a total mess right now.
"It's wet." Dahnoh simply commented. She breaks away and sits right back on her seat. "Well, I think there'll be no problem then!" she sighed in relief.
Sheoh looked at her in disbelief. Was he that unattractive in her eyes that is all that she can think about? Sheoh still lost it when he opened the door car for her, ready to send her home. When Dahnoh turned her back to get into the house, Sheoh stopped her out of spite.
"I think there is still a problem though." he smirked, "We have quite a big height difference, I think we still need practice kissing while standing, you know? Just like how we will do it at the wedding."
"Oh shoot." Dahnoh groaned. "Yes, how do I reach your lips if you're that tall?!"
Sheoh laughed. "Come here, let's do a trial." Dahnoh sighed and walked towards him again in defeat.
"I'll bend down and you practice what I taught you earlier, okay?"
After Dahnoh nodded Sheoh bent down his back enough for him to reach her eye level, and Dahnoh wrapped both her hands on his cheek, doing what he taught earlier step by step. She recited the steps while doing it and Sheoh needed to hold back his smile or she would complain again.
"Look at the lips," she mumbled, looking at his lips, "don't pucker, keep it partly open, go for bottom or upper one… since you try upper earlier I'll go for bottom one, then." she decided, "tilt the head, and lean in…" she leaned in slowly, and landed her lips safely on the bottom of his lips. She forgot one last step which is to put pressure just because Sheoh did not say it earlier, so Sheoh did it in her stead. Dahnoh is quite surprised she almost fumbles so Sheoh holds her waist, keeping her steady. Dahnoh is not sure when to break away so she stays still and lets Sheoh be the one who breaks it first.
"You're learning so well." Sheoh marveled with a giddy smile.
Sheoh's husky voice in this close distance makes her quite flustered. Perhaps because she heard so many awful words from Baek kyung all this time his compliment feels new she doesn't know what to do with it. "Alright then, see you at the wedding hall." she quickly bids him a goodbye and runs inside her house.
Little did they know, the paid paparazzi caught every moment of it. Sheoh's team used the material and wrote the article in speed of light, boasting it everywhere when everyone fell asleep. Many people wake up to the news, and to no one's expectation, the articles are spreading like a wildfire. It becomes viral just in a span of hours, the blurry picture because of night time of them kissing in the car and in front of her house are everywhere. Whether it's a business or gossip column, it is all filled with them. When their arranged marriage was announced, people were skeptical about it saying it's only a diversion or power play between giant companies. Now that the article is out, the height difference kiss with an additional image of how Sheoh's dimple smile could be clearly seen after Dahnoh went inside is making everyone crazy. They say something about beauty and beast, beauty princess from Extra corp and beast mafia from Doogo. Funny how Sheoh's mafia rumor—and his dimple smile in contrast—make their relationship swoon over by the whole country. Others also noted how their marriage only a few days ahead but they look so in love and cannot be parted even after in front of the girl's house. The serious one are discussing the joint power between mega corp Extra that been steadily go around for years as most trustworthy company, with rising but promising Doogo that only go around three years but could already considered one of the best, are going to make changes in the industry given the arranged marriage is based on real love and will last for years.
In Doogo's headquarter, Sheoh's advisor complimented Sheoh for his acting that finally resulted in a positive change in public's eyes. Sheoh looked at the articles, at the picture of them kissing. He can't process any word his advisor said, and look at the other one, where he smiled like a fool. Sheoh smiled, satisfied and saved all of the pictures to his phone gallery.
Meanwhile Dahnoh only realized the articles went viral when she went to the hair salon later in the afternoon. She can't believe people are going crazy over this. But what is more shocking is the series of Sheoh's smiling pictures after she went inside.
"Is he making fun of me?!"
Chapter 4: solace
Summary:
Sheoh used to be a weakass child.
Notes:
since we already have so many fluff let's get into the angst now:)
(tw/implied suicide)
(as always, hope you still enjoy it and let me know your thoughts!)
Chapter Text
Sheoh used to be a weakass child. Being sold by his own father for an amount of money that he spent for gambling and lost at once, made him end up in a strange and faraway land. His very first day in Russia was spent by weeping every single day, begging anyone to send him back home. He got beaten up to shut up, but then he would cry and beg again. No one understand what Sheoh meant, nor Sheoh understand what all these people that look so different from him meant. Little Sheoh was put up in the ring everyday without fail, got beaten and lost every single day too. He would cry himself to sleep, curl himself into a ball, hugging the wound no one care enough to tended to.
Sheoh really spent the tears of his lifetime in his first month in Russia, he cried so much till nothing left except exhaustion and defeat. All of the kids are bigger than him, he would always lose to them so Sheoh just accepted the beating and endured the pain to simply let it pass.
His fourth month was when he finally found some solace. One of the grown ups finally decided that Sheoh couldn't properly learn to fight because he doesn't know how to and can't understand their instruction either. So besides being thrown into the ring, Sheoh also has a special class along with other kids that look like him to learn Russian, although the other boy also speaks a different language from him and the grown ups he doesn't know what language it was (later Sheoh found out he is a Japanese).
Sheoh was given so many children's books to learn from after class, and learning how to read it along with admiring the beautiful illustrations made him smile for the first time in forever. Unfortunately for Sheoh, genuine happiness is strange and unacceptable in that kind of place, so the other kids that are led by the strongest one tear away the books with mocking laughter, not knowing what it meant for Sheoh.
Sheoh never felt such intense emotion before. He jumped on the strongest one and beat him like he was madly possessed by something. Not only throw a sickening punch, he also bit the strongest boy till his face was ruined. The strongest one, being the strongest, still able to throw the mad Sheoh and fight back. The other kids, recovering from their shock, were also coming at him, beating him up while hiding the fact that they were shook by the image of Sheoh's mouth that full of blood.
Being the most different one made Sheoh easily ignored by everyone, so no one noticed how Sheoh stole and kept a knife used for dinner for a plan to kill himself someday if it's getting too unbearable or when he is brave enough to do it. He always carries it with himself, keeping it close so he can end himself whenever bravery visits him. Today, he found his adrenaline rushing, Sheoh never thought he was brazen enough to finally use the knife not to slice his own wrist, but to slice his bullies neck, shoulder, arms, calf, face, any part of bodies that his knife could reach.
It was when he panted hard and found time to catch his breath he realized he was soaked in a pool of blood and lies in front of him—twenty bodies injured, scattered, all bled. No one ever dared to touch him again after that day.
Seeing all of his bullies attending his wedding uninvited makes the memories all flooding back; he can't help but feel the anger from old days reappearing. Their smirks looking at Dahnoh make him want to use the knife used to slice their wedding cake to kill them instead. He must unconsciously tighten his grip on Dahnoh's waist, making her wince in pain.
"Hey, what's wrong?" she whispered.
Dahnoh's question is left unanswered but she can partly tell the reason for his sudden change of air surrounding him. Some of foreign people approach them with a cunning smile that makes Dahnoh uncomfortable. They greet them in foreign language, Dahnoh guesses it must be Russian because Sheoh replies to them fluently. Once Sheoh speaks some word to one of them their face turns red with anger and their eyes are looking at him with clear disgust. Sheoh, still smiling, said another word that made them leave with a grunt.
"They're my lackeys." Sheoh introduced them to Dahnoh in Korean once they were far enough, "Rude lackeys that need to be put back to their places. You must never talk to them." Sheoh smiled at Dahnoh, and it just sent shivers down her spine because that smile is the total opposite of the smile he used to show her, "just treat them like they're nonexist. Call me right away if one of them tries to talk to you."
Sheoh's mood clearly went sour after that brief encounter. His hand never left her waist, he always makes sure he keeps Dahnoh sticking to him but also his warm demeanor totally vanishes. Dahnoh herself is too occupied to entertain the endless guests; she can't ask further nor entertain him to make him feel better. The wedding is going on and on and feels like forever. When it finally ended Sheoh was nowhere to be found and she went to the hotel booked for their first night without the groom. His advisor said he has urgent matters to attend to, and Sheoh will follow shortly after her. Dahnoh is actually grateful she had time for herself to breathe. And it's not like they are going to spend the first night like any normal couple do either—even if their room is now totally set up for so.
When Dahnoh finished her bath Sheoh still had not come yet. She happily lies on the bed, looks at the ceiling and lets out a long breath.What a hectic and long day…Dahnoh didn't expect the day of her wedding to finally come. She thought she would never make it, partly because of her illness and other part because the only one she actually wanted to marry hated her to death. Dahnoh recalled her father's happy tears when he walked with her to the altar, that made her brim in tears too. For giving this precious moment to her beloved Dad that went through so much for her, Dahnoh will be forever grateful to Sheoh on this matter.
Wanting to say it directly to him, she waits and waits. But she is so tired and the bed is way too comfy she drifts to deep slumber and could not see how Sheoh came to the room later past midnight with his white wedding dress tainted with red.
Sheoh takes a bath, clears the blood that once soaked him again. He sits on the sofa after he cleans himself, cleaning the knife that he never fails to bring with him anywhere and sips the wine in between. His eyes shift between his dirty wedding dress, to sleeping Dahnoh, and to his own naked upper body reflection on the glass. He sees red, he sees the sleeping princess, and he sees the beast that is himself, with scars and black veins on his neck down to his torso with the knife that he has been using to hurt so many people.
Sheoh reminded again why he did this wedding in the first place. The lackeys earlier are sent by The Big Boss, relaying his congratulatory message for his wedding. The way they send the lackeys that will trigger his certain memories when he was tied for days and almost killed by the Big Boss himself after he injured the twenty boys—and one of them is his son—is surely a clear message that whatever big changes he makes to challenge him, he will never be able to free from the shackles he was put into.
The reason why Sheoh was so desperate to keep his business and research afloat is precisely for this. Sheoh needs to beat The Big Boss, and to beat him is to make him lose what makes him powerful in the first place.The drug.Sheoh needs to make a drug that is far better, reach wider and faster, and make those bastards have no place anymore in this business. In addition, Sheoh specifically invented a drug to get himself stronger—in a way beyond anyone's capability—because he swears he is going to tear down that group and kill every single one of them by his own hands.
Dahnoh's quiet breath takes him back from his own misery. These past days spent with her have been delightful; it makes him lose his vision of what's most important. Now that the wedding is done and his public image is already restored, he needs to pour all of his focus to elevate his business and research. He can't afford wasting any more of his time fooling around with her.
Sheoh put down the cleaned up knife—the knife he used to tear down the lackey's mouths earlier. Then at that moment he just noticed pink sticky notes below the table, and surely Sheoh knows who's the owner of it. On the sticky notes written a message with cute handwriting;Thank you for giving me and my dad precious memories of today. Good work for today! P.s: I'm so tired so I'll sleep first!The corner of Sheoh's mouth lifted. He placed the sticky notes carefully in between the back of his phone and the phone case.
Then right after Sheoh put on his shirt and walked to the bed. He stares at Dahnoh and promises himself this will be the last time. He gets on the bed as careful as possible as to not wake her and lie beside her, watching her sleep. Sheoh then moved closer and closed the gap between them, curled himself, snuggled his head onto her neck, his hand wrapped on her trying to get her warmth passed on him. He lets out a satisfying breath and stays like that until he himself drifts to a dreamless sleep.
Back then when he was a child he spent countless painful and lonely long nights curling and hugging himself, he used to pray for somebody to come and hug him, to give him some warmth to help him pass the night. His prayer never answered, but today when he feels the familiar feeling creeping on him after trying his best to press it down and pretend it never existed, Dahnoh is right on his side. The Dahnoh that makes him forget and feel at ease. Maybe this is the answer he has been looking for.
Chapter 5: coastline
Summary:
sheoh doesn't have favorite food and dahnoh determined to find him one.
Notes:
thank you for your comments and sorry for the long wait! real life matters caught me up and from now on forward i wouldnt be able to update everyday (i will try my best to keep updated!). also im sorry but i really hope you wont comment how short the chapter is because thats really discouraging & disheartening i tried to make time to write but if your only thought is how short the chapter is thats really make me sad... anyway i hope you enjoy this one as well and let me know your thoughts!
Chapter Text
Dahnoh once daydreamed about her ideal wedding and honeymoon. Been engaged since she entered high school it's natural for her to daydream such things; especially if she engaged with her childhood friend that she has had a crush on for a long time. But that crushcrushedher instead, all of her hopes and dreams. She buried all of those a long time ago, but when she just had a dream of Sheoh kissing her cheek so softly it awakened something in her. So, this late morning when she found there is no trace of Sheoh's at all it reminded her again of her dream to wake up to her beloved's sleeping face first thing in the morning, hoping to give him a little sweet kiss and a good morning. Of course Dahnoh didn't mean to do any of that to him but found the empty bed sheet does make her disappointed a bit. Did he not come at all? Dahnoh is fine with marriage without love, but if there is something that she makes her hopeful with this fake marriage is that she hopes Sheoh will not make her feel lonely at least. How unfortunate she is that she already feels like it on their very first day of marriage.
"Mrs. Ryu," someone knocked on the door, "I was sent by Mr. Ryu to help you prepare for the flight. Can I come in?"
Dahnoh was a bit surprised not by the knock but by the way she called her with Sheoh's surname. She forgot that this marriage is real for anyone but them.
"Yes, please come in." Dahnoh just remembered they needed to fly to Jeju for their honeymoon. At first they will go to Rusia but considering Dahnoh's condition, they chose a place that is quick to reach. Dahnoh is actually excited because it's been so long since she saw the sea.
"Where is Mr. Ryu?"
"He is at the office at the moment." she answered with a smile. "He will come to the airport after he finishes his business."
"He is still working?" Dahnoh asked in disbelief. So that means he went back straight to work after the wedding ceremony and there she was sleeping like a pig. Dahnoh applauds his energy because how can he work after such a tiring event? Her sickly self could never.
"Can he actually go for the honeymoon?" Dahnoh wonders. If he is that busy, why does he take a whole week off for honeymoon? She understands it is for making their marriage believable, but two or three days will be sufficient just for paparazzi to make content if he is indeed that busy.
"He will come so Mrs. Ryu doesn't have to worry." she answered again, with the same formal smile.
Sheoh did come and during their flight he is even busy doing his work. Dahnoh noticed how serious and cold his face is during work; she thinks it must be so stressful. Even if she is the only heir his dad never forces her to do anything with the company (well, except for business marriage) and let her do whatever she wants to do. So she is always clueless about things regarding the company.
Doesn't want to disturb his work, Dahnoh let him be and listened to the music and busy looking for Jeju's famous restaurants.
On the other hand, Sheoh fully realizes it his own decision to distance himself from Dahnoh but he is disappointed how little interest Dahnoh has for him she did not ask him anything at all and just busy with her own world. Sheoh sighed and went back to his papers, convincing himself that this was all for the best.
It didn't take a long time till they arrived. The sea scent is so strong he can basically smell it right after he went outside the airport. His secretary and advisor left in Seoul to handle all business matters so they both left alone. The rented car is already parked in the airport and Sheoh has to drive himself. It was his decision, but now he kind of regrets it.
"You will drive?" Dahnoh asked, she looked worried. Sheoh can't help but feel a little happy Dahnoh finally talked to him. "Are you sure? Let's just call a designated driver so you can sleep."
"Sleep for what?"
"I heard you spend all night in the office. And you don't even sleep at all on the airplane. And now you will drive? When will you rest then?"
Consideration.Again. Sheoh is oblivious where Dahnoh gets the idea that he was awake all night in the office because last night he sleeps so well hugging her like a koala, waking up so refreshed because it's the first time since forever he had dreamless sleep. He even went as far as to give her a little peck on the cheek when he woke up early in the morning, he just can't help it. He is actually in his best condition right now, but he will never tell Dahnoh because seeing her worry over him makes him feel good.
"It's okay. I can sleep later in the hotel."
"You sure?"
"Yeah. I had a sleep last night, don't worry."
Dahnoh is still not convinced but she gives up anyway. "I'm sorry I can't drive."
"You don't have to be sorry for something trivial like that." Sheoh reassured her, "I will call the driver if I'm tired, but I don't feel like that at the moment. So, where do you want to go?"
His secretary actually already planned the places they should have to go to but Sheoh asked Dahnoh instead and it's a good thing because Dahnoh's expression lightened up. She shows her phone and places she wants to go.
"Actually, I visited Jeju once when I was on a high school's trip." Dahnoh told him once they're in the car, "I visited this restaurant before and theirkalguksuis really delicious! I really want to try it again." Dahnoh's mouth already watered by imagining it. Her high school's trip wasn't really a fond memory. She was humiliated in front of everyone by Baek kyung, her gift was flatly rejected, and he thrown stone of love to the sea instead of breaking it. It was thiskalguksuthat comforted her. Every once in a while, she eatskalguksuthat is available in Seoul, but the taste isn't just the same. When she bedridden in hospital she was always craving Jejukalguksuthinking that could be her last wish before death. She is happy she could eat it again before she dies and the happiness is so evident until Sheoh asked him,
"Are you that happy? Is it really that delicious?" he chuckled.
"Yeah," Dahnoh didn't realize she just giggled, "Have you tried one before?"
"Not yet." There isn't much Korea's cuisine Sheoh has tried and he didn't even bother anyway.
"Then you're lucky your firstkalguksuis thiskalguksu!"Dahnoh beamed, "But it's unfortunate also because otherkalguksuwill just never taste the same."
On the way to the restaurant Dahnoh then kept talking about food she wanted to try again and the food she never tried but wanted to and Sheoh just listened to her attentively. Sheoh's resolution this morning is to enjoy this week to the fullest before he gives his full attention to the business. So he gives his full attention to Dahnoh who is cheerfully talking about everything now, savoring every moment of it he makes sure he won't miss even a second.
When Dahnoh finally tried thekalguksushe smiled so wide and almost moved to tears. Sheoh looks at her in amusement. Thekalguksuindeed is tasty but he wonder was it really tasty for her that she shed a tear? He didn't ask and let her be. Little did Sheoh know, Dahnoh is just so happy he can replace the memory of her crying heartbrokenly eaten thekalkguksuwith the memory of her eating it with happy tears.
"What is your favorite food?" Dahnoh asked when they finished, "I think we should go to look for your favorite food next."
"I don't have one." Sheoh answered the truth. He never has a favorite food. Food for him is just a way to continue living or to make him healthier and stronger. He never romanticizes food to have a favorite.
"You don't have one?"Dahnoh looks confused. "Well, that could be. Maybe because you live abroad so long you don't have one favorite Korean food yet? The how about Russian cuisine? What is your favorite?"
"I mean it generally. I just eat." Sheoh explained.
"Well, that's a bummer." Dahnoh pouted, but back to her cheerful self again, "then we can look at what is to your liking! For starters, you can add thiskalguksuto your favorite. You said it was indeed tasty earlier!"
Sheoh smiled, and just nodded. "Well,kalkguksuthat is." he agreed.
Dahnoh smiled, satisfied. "Now let's look for a dessert! I think this one looks tasty," she showed him her phone, "what do you think?"
They are going around Jeju the whole day to checklist all Dahnoh's food wish list that by the end of the day Sheoh already has three favorite foods on his list;kalguksu,omegi rice cake, and the soft-serve ice cream they tried at the cafe that famous for its fresh ranch milk. They are now walking along the coastline, hand in hand while the other free hand is holding the ice cream.
"I'm so full." Dahnoh sighed in satisfaction.
"But you still eagerly eat the ice cream." Sheoh lets out a small chuckle.
"Well, there is always a place for dessert."
The sight of Dahnoh smiling with her lips smeared with ice cream, cheeks flushed because they are under the sun all day and her hair messy because the wind weirdly makes Sheoh's heart skip a beat. She's just so beautiful right now that he just said something out loud without thinking twice,
"Should we kiss?"
"Huh?" Dahnoh was clearly surprised.
"I mean," Sheoh tried to convince her, "We haven't given the paparazzi good content yet. And the timing now looks good. It's sunset and all. And there is no better time than now, right?"
"UH…" Dahnoh cogitated, "You're right… "
"Don't worry," Sheoh convinced her, "I'll do the job."
Sheoh leaned in and kissed her, finding his lips cold with the ice cream on her lips. He swipes it with his own and finds the ice cream tastier and sweeter than ever; he thinks it could be his number one favorite food now.
"Don't be that stiff, others will find out." Sheoh smirked once the kiss broke, "wrap your hand around my neck this time, okay?"
"Yes, but let me wipe the ice cream fi—"
Sheoh did not let Dahnoh swipe the ice cream on her own and instead swipe the rest with his own lips. He can feel Dahnoh hold her grunts and is obliged to wrap her hands around his neck and in turn Sheoh wrapped her hands around her wrist, no longer care about the ice cream he just let it fell. Still not breaking the kiss Sheoh pulled her slowly to the air until her feet no longer touch the ground. When the kiss broke Dahnoh now for the first time looked down at him.
Sheoh smiled, and Dahnoh smiled back at him although silently cursed him in her own mind because how can he be so good and natural at this? And how important his image is to the point he is so dedicated to this act? How could his cold and stoic face now smile this innocently? Dahnoh is taken aback, she finds herself staring at him in awe. The golden hour sun hitting his flawless face is really a sight to behold. Dahnoh is well aware Sheoh is an attractive man, but only at this time she genuinely thinks so too. When they lock eyes suddenly Dahnoh can't hold it for longer than a sec, so she buries her head on him.
Sheoh then spun around with her still in his arms, attracting her loud laugh.
"Hey, stop!" but he didn't stop and Dahnoh's laughter just got louder. Sheoh didn't realize he was laughing along.
"Stop, stop!" Dahnoh pleaded and he finally stopped the spin and put her back down.
They're breathless and still hugging each other.
"I think they already have enough." Dahnoh commented.
"Yeah." but Sheoh still did not let go of the hug.
"There is still something I want to do though."
Sheoh finally let go of her and looked her in the eyes, "and what is that?"
"I want to try this stone." Dahnoh let out the love stone she secretly brought earlier when Sheoh was parking the car, the same exact stone Baek kyung thrown to the sea, "will you do it?"
"What is this?" Sheoh did not understand.
"We need to break the stone at the same time, and they said the one who has the bigger part has the bigger love. It's for fun anyway, don't take it seriously. I just want to try it out of curiosity."
Sheoh then holds the other side of the stone. "Well, let's do it then."
Dahnoh knows Sheoh wouldn't put much meaning into it and she won't either, but when they broke the stone and Sheoh has of the stone Dahnoh can't help but laugh. "Wow, are you obsessed with me? Look at the stone! You almost take it all."
Dahnoh said it as a joke, but Sheoh just realized that he might really be obsessed with Eun Dahnoh at this point he isn't sure how to live without her now.
Chapter 6: night tide
Summary:
it was never real.
(was it?)
Notes:
hi everyone i hope you guys still excited for this chapter! i feel too emotional writing this aaaa i hope i could relay those feeling to you... please do me a favor, read this slowly and listen to this song while at it! https/open./track/57n72Nv2cQLelfjsU7LsmN?si=216ca9d39a174695
(as always, thank you for all of your comments it really is my driving force to continue this story! also please let me know your thoughts3)
Chapter Text
Growing up in a family that was ridiculously wealthy for generations, Dahnoh always had everything she ever wanted. Doting father, caring mother, and being the only pretty daughter that becomes everyone's center of attention; she is loved through and through. She never finds it hard to get a friend because her upbringing allows her to be sweet and kind to everyone without having to think twice, and her status always makes it easy anyway. Really, her life is going so perfectly fine until God decides she needs to learn what pain is about.
It was when she was 10, finding her own mother fainting and then hospital took her for good. She never makes it home after that, and Dahnoh spends five years going back and forth to hospital witnessing her mother wilting like the flowers on the nightstand her Dad forgot to change when he was too occupied in his business. Dry and fall. One fine evening her mother fell too eventually.
She was 15 when she attended her first funeral.
Pain and loss is a strange concept for Dahnoh; she had a hard time grasping what it meant to lose forever. She always got what she wanted without fail before this, yet no one could ever bring her mother from the cold grave back to her warm bedsheet. She never sleeps alone, her mother always tucked her in and read her story from faraway land where everything magical and beautiful her heart always swells in excitement. Her mother always chortled at her own never ending questions instead of getting sleepy, never finished the story and saved it up for later or else Dahnoh will never shut her eyes. Dahnoh remembers the last time her mother hugs her; not too tight but warm and comforting regardless. Her mother never finished the story and Dahnoh never found out how the story ended.
For the first time in forever, Dahnoh also learnt what it means to feel lonely. And she loathes that feeling so much. Not knowing how to express her own sadness her body got to do it instead. Her health deteriorating quite fast she found her chest hurts agonizingly till she lost her consciousness quite often. Not too long Dahnoh finds the reason why her mother died,a heart disease,the same disease that makes her chest in pain too. At first Dahnoh didn't know how to react to her father's howling hearing her own life's expectancy, knowing her mother could only last for five years. Sometimes Dahnoh thinks isn't it a good thing then? She has something else that resembles her mother beside the dimples. And isn't it also a good thing because she can finally meet her mother that she missed so badly soon?
Deep in her own dark thoughts she is having for the first time, Baek kyung came like a light at the end of a tunnel. He came unannounced in one fresh morning after pouring right all night long before, with a big bucket of flowers, stuttering, wishing for her fast recovery. Dahnoh has been hospitalized for weeks with only her caretaker and nurses so she was so delighted to see someone around her age come. But looking at the flowers she is reminded again of her mother, and the realization and the pain that comes with it suddenly hit her like a big rush of waves. She finally let out a painful cry she didn't know how to do before.
"My mother died and I'm going to die in the same way too. Like those pretty flowers. They will soon wilt and die. My mother… and I too…soon…."
Baek kyung didn't know how to react. His father forced her to visit her, and he did because, well, he thinks it won't hurt to wish a classmate a get-well-soon albeit it's only for gaining cookie points for his father's business wellbeing. He didn't know at all the gravity of the situation so he just awkwardly patted her shaking shoulder from crying so much.
"No you won't. You're still young, though? Dad said surgery will do. You will be fine."
Baek kyung's naive words was what motivated Dahnoh to think she will be fine too, she won't die and leave her father experiencing this excruciating pain twice. At that time her only motivation was to wait for Baek kyung's visit and bragging at how well she ate the big medicines, how obedient she was to the nurses, and how brave she was to finally agree to do her first major surgery. Baek kyung visits increased from time to time and Dahnoh, inspired by the movie she watched randomly, proposed to Baek kyung right before her surgery.
The surgery was a success, her high school's life began albeit late, and Baek kyung's hell life then just started.
"He loathes me." Dahnoh tells Sheoh. "But at that time I really liked him so much and he was my only motivation to hold on to my life. That's why I keep holding on to him even though he treats me like a cockroach that never dies no matter how many times you try to kill it. It's only now that I realize I was really a spoiled brat. I basically forced the engagement and made his life miserable for years."
It's their first night of honeymoon and Dahnoh just suggested playing leggo to kill the time after they clean themselves. Sheoh just goes on with the flow and lets Dahnoh lead and speak to her heart's content. She already told him about so many random trivial things, only just now after they played the fourth round Dahnoh told him about her first fiance. ThatBaek kyungguy.
Sheoh just realized when Baek kyung and his dad attended their wedding that they come from BB Company, a company that was above Doogo only until two years ago. He noticed the CEO is Mr. Baek, a rude and ruthless man that was approaching Doogo only to stab him in the back. He knows now for sure why BB Company never made it big and always left behind. The CEO always used a cheap trick to get instant results and he hates the idea how Dahnoh was ever involved in his scheme. His hatred now just found solid ground and raised tenfolds. He makes mental notes to do something with them later.
"Then what is your motivation now?" Sheoh asked, while successfully pulling a block safely.
"Now?" Dahnoh pondered. "I don't have any." she answered lightly, pulling another block. The tower shook faintly. "I don't need it anymore, anyway."
"Why?"
"You know what? My mother has the same disease as me. And she only lasts for five years." Dahnoh explained, and Sheoh was quite amazed at how lightly she bring this topic to him, "My doctor said I have five to ten years left. My first surgery was a success so I lasted more than five hence I am here. But the doctor said my heart was acting up again he said I could only last one or two more. Well, I already survived a year, so perhaps this year will be my last."
Sheoh failed to pull another block safely and the tower shattered.
"Now I'm just living my remaining life easily—" Dahnoh stopped midway and chuckled a bit. "Why are you so surprised? You know well I'm dying. Aren't you agree on this marriage because I will die fast and it's convenient for you?"
It's bizarre, even for Sheoh, how he felt his anger build up in his stomach up to his choked throat. It's weird because what Dahnoh said is true, he agreed knowing she is dying, he agreed knowing it's convenient for him. He signed the contract thinking he doesn't even have to put an effort to find the cure if her life's expectancy is so short he could reason his research just doesn't have enough time. He only plans to keep her alive until everything settles within his company. He really has no serious plan to find the cure—because the drug itself is totally different from medication. He sees the tiny possibility, yes, but he needs to put a big amount of resources into actually seriously looking for a cure. He plans not to put such a big risk on someone so insignificant.
But that's because before he even met Dahnoh, and to face those facts again after how they shared their lips and laughter earlier in the afternoon makes him want to throw up somehow.A year? That short?What could have he gained from a year? Even if he did start the research seriously now, will Dahnoh last that long until he succeeds? And doesn't he also have his own agenda to catch up? He just found his resolution yesterday to focus on his drug business so he could overthrow The Big Boss soon and once for all, he couldn't be shaken in less than twenty four hours.
"Hey, stop looking so serious." Dahnoh laughed. "My father promised he will keep the business contract going even after I die. Yes, I already convinced him to do so and it's on legal paper. You don't have to worry."
That's not what Sheoh is worried about right now. But he missed the timing to say something because Dahnoh just rose from her seat. "Leggo is getting boring now. I think I'll go to see the sea. You're busy with work, right? I'll go alone."
"I'll go with you." Sheoh rose too, but Dahnoh shook her head, rejecting his company.
"I'll go alone. I want to be alone now."
Dahnoh grabs her jacket and hurriedly goes outside. Sheoh held himself back not to go after her so he only saw her back gone from his sight when she closed the door. He stayed still for a moment, until a call dragged him back to reality.
"Sir, I'm sorry, I know this is the bad timing, but you just told me to call you anytime if it's urgent so—"
"It's fine." Sheoh massages his forehead, deciding that it's all for the best. His marriage is fake and the business deal is already secured anyway, another thing is irrelevant. Dahnoh herself is so well aware, it's really luck on his side. Sheoh tried his best to keep every other thoughts aside. "It's okay, I have time. What is it?"
The Big Boss already noticed how Sheoh sliced his 'watch dogs' mouths apart so they decided to strike back by blocking one of his biggest distributors. Sheoh directly went back to his working mode, left Dahnoh sitting alone in the dark seaside hoping he would come somehow but never did.
Dahnoh looks at the night tide and its haunting sound. Will death look like that? Dark and cold? Dahnoh wondered how death actually felt. Will it really be as painful as her aching heart, or will it be thrice worse? Dahnoh never said it to anyone, but nowadays death feels so real to her it's actually frightened her. She did already accept her fate, but sometimes when life feels so beautiful she hopes she could hold onto it longer. Like this afternoon. Like that moment when Sheoh's smile looks so beautiful more than the sunset, a smile that is sogenuine.The moment when his embrace feels safe and warm more than the sunrays, reminds her of how her mother used to hold her for the whole night warm under her wings so she never had a nightmare. The way he spinned her in the air, the laughter and the catching breath, remind her of the time before tragedy looming in her small world; when her father used to have more time to play with her and share his laughter with her. For that split moment Dahnoh hoped that moment could be her everyday, but looking at how Sheoh didn't react much to her news of dying with not much time left and left her alone in the sea somehow confirms Dahnoh's suspicion.
It's not real. It was never real.
"Yeah, good for me." Dahnoh quickly wipes away a tear before it escapes her eyes, "I know now. I can't be fooled again like that time. It was never genuine; their concern, their smiles, their flowers. My worth only lies within my father's wealth and that's all they ever wanted from me."
When she said it out loud she just realized how painful it is to never be genuinely loved. For the first time in a while, Dahnoh felt the same haunting loneliness just like the time she fell asleep hugging her cold mother in the mortuary, not wanting to let her go. The feeling of being alone in this whole big world. Helpless and defeated.
This is precisely why Dahnoh wants to stop hoping. A slightest hope that ended up in vain could really kill her inside before her disease could.
It was 2AM when Sheoh finally finished the urgent work. He didn't notice it was already that late and Dahnoh still hasn't come back yet. When he dialed her phone and couldn't find her answer, he started to feel bad for letting her go alone. He did order some of his bodyguards who stay alert to guard her, so she should be fine. Maybe she just really enjoys the sea or goes somewhere to try another food.
So Sheoh called the bodyguard's number instead. 3 seconds passed and Sheoh knew then something definitely went wrong. His heart just fell, waiting for two more seconds just to make sure, but his call never answered. He called another one, and when his phone kept ringing unanswered he shot from his seat.
Dahnoh.He called her name, and ran outside.
His shaking hand barely dialed his secretary number. Before he could even say anything, his secretary panic voice started the call,
"Sheoh. This is bad. They are coming for you."
Sheoh doesn't even have to ask who. His step stopped abruptly and he froze on the spot. He knows who is coming and finally realize how fucked up this situation is now.
"I can't reach the bodyguards nor Dahnoh. Gather the boys and come here."
"Ms. Dahnoh is not with you?!"his secretary shrieked.
Sheoh should have not let her go alone, he should have known the deep grudge they had for him. But they were so obedient and faithful to their masters just like a dog that Sheoh did not think they would still stay in Korea and act on their own. Moreover, Sheoh did not think they would come for Dahnoh instead of him.
Sheoh called a number and he could hear Lev's laugh at the end of the call.
"Well Anton, took you long enough. Too busy saving your pocket money, huh?"
If Sheoh could reach him and choke him through this call he really would. How he hates his sounds, the way he called his Russian name in never ending mockery. How hehatesthat name so much and the bad memories that come along with it. Sheoh take a breath, suppressing his anger so he could give a reply,
"Where are you?"
"Just sent you the place. Come alone! Let's relive that day, shall we? And oh, look at the picture I sent you! You finally have another thing other than those silly books."
Sheoh, still on the call, looked at the two attachments Lev just sent him. The gmap location and a picture. Picture of Dahnoh, unconscious, looking so pale with her hair and jacket soaking wet, holding his favorite books he used to cherish back in the days.
"She struggled so much, you know? We need to drown her so she can stay still."
"I will fucking kill you." Sheoh growled in Russian and ended the call.
Sheoh never felt this much anger in his whole life before till he found himself hard to breathe. Gathering his last shred of sanity, his shaking hands dialed back his secretary,
"Send a doctor and ambulance for Dahnoh to this place as soon as possible. I will kill you if they don't come in time."
The secretary takes the fastest flight to Jeju right after the call with the rest of the gang and Dahnoh's doctor who is confused as hell to be suddenly kidnapped at dawn with no explanation at all. They straightly ride to an unfamiliar place right after landing with the ambulance that is already waiting for them with another doctor. On the way to the place he does not know yet, everyone looks so tense and he wonders what kind of madness awaits him. And whatever imagination he had in mind, it will never prepare him for the sight that is now in front of him.
Seeing blood is part of his job but to see this bloodbath is definitely the first for him. He can't count how many bodies lie with evidently knife's wound all over their bodies and especially the neck part. Twenty? Thirty? He lost count because his eyes kept catching bodies no matter where. He doesn't know yet if he is needed here to take care of all of this body, but the man in suit who kidnapped him earlier—Sheoh's secretary—drags him from his own shock to the further end of the storage-like building and he finally sees a familiar face.
Eun Dahnoh, his long-time patient, looks lifeless in someone's embrace that he can't recall yet because he is way too shocked to find Dahnoh in this situation.
"Dahnoh!" he cried out, "what happened to her?!"
The doctor finally noticed Sheoh, with his upper part naked and all wounded because he just used his clothes to wrap Dahnoh so she could be clean from all the blood that stuck to his body. The doctor, with the poor lighting and all the cuts and blood on his face couldn't tell at first, but when the man looked up at him straight in the eyes with distraught, he finally realized that it was no other than Ryu Sheoh, the man Dahnoh married two days ago.
"Save her. Save her,please." Sheoh pleaded, trembling.
There are no single tears visible, but the doctor knows somehow that he cried.
Chapter 7: lost/found
Summary:
all you wanted was to be found
come to the sea
—will you follow me?
Notes:
yo quick update for this one! since i wont able to write anything till next week! i hope you enjoy this one and yes pls keep do in mind the drug use in here is totally fictional!
as always thank you for your comments & enthusiasm, and please let me know your thoughts of this chapter as well3 enjoy!
p.s: the summary is lyrics from this song, highly recommended! ( https/open./track/6FWuyADtfbxVE7qKJ9hmam?si=14fd529adb89422d )
Chapter Text
Secretary Yoon had spent most of his time serving Sheoh trying to bury all of his crimes and hideous drug business without fail. It's not a job that he is proud of, but he is always in dire need of money so he has no choice but to dedicate himself to it since Sheoh pays him well more than any normal company he applied for would. But now, for the first time in his career, he faced the most dire difficulty because how can he bury exactly 56 corpses altogether without anyone noticing? Not only that, he also needs to bribe the doctors, ambulance drivers, and grave diggers that come with them to not ever leak this everywhere with a hefty amount of money. End year financial report will be an extra headache to take care of.
Secretary Yoon's stomach clenched when he remembered the madnessdid not stop there.Out of so many people, Sheoh kept Lev—the mastermind of all this chaos—alive but barely and now detained him like an actual dog—far worse,even. Secretary Yoon has seen so much of Sheoh's ruthlessness—-the way he never hesitates to swing his golf club whenever he is displeased or stabs his knife whenever someone disobeys him—and when he think he used to it, he realize he just seen the tip of the iceberg.
No one expects the night of his honeymoon will turn into a bloodbath. Cold blood rushed in Secretary Yoon's body the moment he entered that building, he swore the smell of blood mixed with dust, rancid and rusty iron smell will always haunt him. The moment he saw Sheoh, who was soaked with blood holding on to the weak and unconscious Dahnoh, pleaded to the doctor to save his fake wife, Secretary Yoon slowly became aware of the gravity of this situation.
"Take care of this." Sheoh's cold voice echoed in that huge vacant building and it made Secretary Yoon shiver. As if know the meaning of Secretary Yoon's muddled look Sheoh added the necessary information,
"They're all dead."
Secretary Yoon was visibly gulping hard.
"Ah, except this one." Sheoh kicked the man nearest him who looked the most worrying out of all men. His face ruined, Secretary Yoon had no idea who he was not until the doctor cleaned up the wound and only gave him bare minimum medication for the sake of keeping him alive. It was Lev, The Big Boss's son that came out of wedlock. From the little information that he got from Sheoh a long time ago, Lev is Sheoh's natural nemesis because they are The Big Boss most valuable 'asset' and they always put up against each other to compete.
Secretary Yoon walked, and walked faster to the long end of the dark corridor. He let out his handkerchief when he arrived at his destination to wipe his sweat on his temple. He took a deep breath to prepare to face Sheoh that genuinely scared the shit out of him since that day. Moreover, the news he is about to bring is not something light and pleasant.
Sheoh did not move at all when Secretary Yoon approached him. His eyes still fixated on Lev, both hands chained to the air, his face barely recognizable anymore and fresh wounds spread throughout his body Secretary Yoon prefer did not want to know how he got all of those.
"Tell me something useful, will you?" Sheoh sighed dryly.
Lev just smirked and Secretary Yoon did not know where all of his audacity came from given his situation. It's already been a week, it's a miracle he did not cry begging for forgiveness yet given Sheoh always spare his time to torture him amidst his super hectic day. Not that Sheoh will forgive him anyway, but that wound will just add more and more if he keeps this up.
"Dad will kill you. He will come and kill you." Lev muttered in Russian.
Sheoh repressed a snort with difficulty. Lev is astonishingly stupid Sheoh can't believe there was a time he actually felt scared of him. The first thing Sheoh did after that night was to take over all Lev's drug business at the speed of light. Sheoh already planned to do so but in the right order, right timing with minimum risk. Now that he has poured everything to take it over, he loses so much of his resources but also the result is extremely in his favor because the mishap in Lev's business directly affects The Big Boss business. It makes Sheoh have the upper hand on this matter—-they agree to call this a truce and will not disturb each other for the time being—-and Sheoh can have time to make everything back in place as a result.
Sheoh grabbed a handful of Lev's hair, jerked his head so he could look straight into his swollen eyes. Sheoh looked carefully at those eyes, eyes that used to look so vile and scary, eyes that used to make Sheoh squeak in fear. Sheoh can't believe he ever let Lev beat him up so much back in the days when he looked this pathetic now.
"Lev, you think I am still the same me who will let you beat me up? The same me who swung my knife just for the sake of survival? The same me who was begging for forgiveness when they torture me for weeks just because I ruined your pretty face? You think I'm still the same foolish me who will obey everything out of fear and let you take what I have without consequence?" Sheoh let out his knife, and slightly sliced Lev's temple till the blood slowly streamed out. His other hand grabbed his head so Lev stayed still.
"I think you're greatly mistaken about something." Sheoh stopped with his knife and looked him back in his eyes, "You think having Dad's blood running in your body makes you special? Don't piss me off." Sheoh scoffed, his temper rising. "If Dad actually cares he will come right this instant. Seven days passed and you're still here acting so big. Dear Lev, you really did not know Dad at all." Sheoh tossed Lev's head harshly.
"Lev, if you're this stupid and useless, Dad will throw you away. Well, he already did. How come you didn't know that?"
Sheoh ignored Lev's grunted cursing and his eyes finally locked into Secretary Yoon. "Well?" He raised his eyebrows, while cleaning his knife with his handkerchief.
Secretary Yoon gasp in surprise and straightened his posture quickly, cleared his throat and pray Sheoh will not throw that knife to him when he deliver the news,
"She is still unconscious. The doctors said they did not see the improvement of her condition. Also, Mr. Eun just came and pleaded to take Ms. Dahnoh back to the hospital. He is currently still waiting for your approval." Secretary Yoon trying his best to talk loud and clear.
Sheoh's face darkened more than before. He still can smirk earlier, now that completely gone too. He grabbed the glass on the table and Secretary Yoon automatically shut his eyes in fear, already prepared for the worst but luckily when he heard it shattered he did not feel pain at all. Sheoh just smashed the glass to Lev's head. Fresh blood gushing in, Secretary Yoon actually feels so relieved it's not his head who is bleeding.
"You hear that?" Sheoh growled, took the golf club that was sitting on the corner of the room which was already covered in dry blood and swung it with full force on Lev's body. "She—-is—still—-not—-wake—-up—-yet!" Sheoh landed a hit with each word ferociously. The room filled with Lev's scream and the golf club smashed against his bare skin. Secretary Yoon closed his eyes, hoping this moment would end quickly. He has no idea how much time has passed because Lev's scream can no longer be heard and now it's just Sheoh's panting breath.
Sheoh tossed the bloodstained golf club to the corner of the room.
"Treat all of his wounds and feed him. Make sure he won't die." ordered Sheoh before he stormed out of the room. Secretary Yoon looked at Lev's worrisome condition and grimaced. Lev has just become Sheoh's personal punching bag and Secretary Yoon makes a mental note for himself to never,neverbe on Sheoh's bad side.
"Mr. Ryu. Let me take Dahnoh back to the hospital." Mr. Eun greeted him as soon as he entered the room. The room is placed right within his drug research facility, which he specifically assigned for Dahnoh so he can monitor her condition closely and make sure no one can touch her. Perhaps this also applies to her own dad.
"I'm sorry Mr. Eun, I can't do that. Dahnoh is way safer here than in the hospital." Sheoh still maintained to be polite.
Mr. Eun looked back at Dahnoh and sobbed. "I hear a little bit of what happened the night of the accident. Dahnoh drowned and she was late to be found. Where the heck are you when all of that happened?!"
Sheoh did not answer. More than that, he can't say it out loud that it is indeed his mistake that Dahnoh ended up in critical condition.
"I don't think you can take care of Dahnoh. Please just let me take her back to the hospital so I can monitor her and know she is safe. We will talk about marriage and business later."
Sheoh sighed, and forced a smile, a smile that he failed to make it to be polite nor formal because the surprised expression in Mr. Eun is so visible.
"Mr. Eun," Sheoh talked in a low voice, "I don't think you understand. I am already married to Eun Dahnoh, it's all everywhere in the news and it means it also reaches my enemy's ears. You know the hideous business I did is not something I came up with smoothly. Too many people want my downfall. And that directly put Dahnoh in danger. Now, stop with that look," Sheoh started to feel impatient when Mr. Eun looked at him with both fear and judgment, "You know well the risk that comes to be associated with me. I already warned you. But weren't you the one begging me to save Dahnoh, enough to ignore everything else? This is exactly what I'm doing right now. So please don't get in my way."
Mr. Eun is lost for words. Sheoh did not pay him any more attention and walked closer to where Dahnoh lay, with all the medical equipment attached to her body to keep her alive. He traced Dahnoh's pale face, and it reminded him again of that night. The night where he stormed into anyone coming at him and killed them within seconds with no hesitation just so he could reach Dahnoh who lay unconscious on the further end of the building, laid on the dirty and cold stone floor. Beside her there was Lev who played with her, and that sight alone was enough to make even the devil fear him.
When he finally could reach her and hold her, he felt his body crushing down. He felt a dull, sinking sensation in his stomach and a feeling of hopelessness plagued him. He can't even hug her tight; afraid of hurting her even more. At that moment nothing ever mattered to him beside Dahnoh. At that moment, after forgetting how to for so long, he prayed again so she would not go to the place he can't reach even though he did not know exactly to whom his prayer directed at. At that moment, Sheoh sobbed even though there were no tears. He was too shaken to form one.
The doctors tried everything they could, but Dahnoh still won't let her eyes open, condition still weak they're thinking of doing another surgery but the risk is too big given her condition. Frustrated, anxious, and also mad at their incompetency and his own, Sheoh moved Dahnoh to his facility and called the other doctor he personally knew. Not to ask about surgery, but to ask about the possibility of the drug he created as a cure and its possible effect on Dahnoh. They were still debating, but the more hours passed the more desperate Sheoh became. He formed a team in a short amount of time to develop the drug with himself as lead researcher. Seven days straight and he did not see the sunlight. His days are filled with going back and forth between the laboratorium, Dahnoh's room, and steaming off his anger to Lev. He did not sleep, did not eat, and relied on the drug itself to keep his body functioning.
Sheoh's mind wanders, taken aback by the shrill voice that breaks the silence, coming from Dahnoh's monitor. Sheoh froze as if someone was just drowning him in cold ice water; he never heard a sound as terrifying as this. His hand pressing the emergency button, and soon the doctors come rushing in to check on her. Mr. Eun also rushed in, panic took over him.
"Dahnoh, Dahnoh!" Mr. Eun cried devastatingly. Sheoh could not move nor say anything watching the doctors moving here and there to prepare a first shock. Then, as his frustration and fear peaked, his conviction suddenly rose.
"Tell them to bring the drug." Sheoh ordered one of his men. The doctors, the men and Mr. Eun stopped on what they were doing for a moment and looked at Sheoh in disbelief.
"But, it's still—-"
"Did you not hear me? Tell them to bring it, RIGHT NOW!" Sheoh roared. One of them then ran automatically out of the room, asking no more questions. The doctors are now focusing back on Dahnoh. Mr. Eun look at Sheoh, wiping away his tears as he walked closer to him,
"Drug? What drug? Did you already find a cure? Is it already guaranteed to be safe?"
"Please escort Mr. Eun back to his car." Sheoh ordered his other men instead of answering. Mr. Eun now looks visibly terrified. "Is it safe? Is it safe?"
"She will wake up soon." Sheoh told Mr. Eun who is forcefully dragged away by his men,
"I'll make sure she will. Don't worry, Father-in-law."
Dahnoh does not know where she is. Her surroundings look unfamiliar, and she can't recall why she is here in the first place. She blinked her eyes several times and found herself faced by a vast ocean when her vision started to get clearer. It's sunny and everything looks so brightly blue. She looks at her own feet, buried in warm white sand. It's a very beautiful sight, the sun is right up on her head but it's not hot and the wind gives her a cool, pleasant breeze. She looks around but can't find a single person other than her.
She started to walk along the coastline, deciding to first enjoy this moment and not to think of anything. She started to get excited and try herself running, and surprised she did not hear a beep sound nor feel the ache on her heart. She just realized then she doesn't even wear the watch.
"What is this?" Dahnoh exclaimed. Excited by this new experience, she runs and runs faster and is so happy because she can breathe properly and her heart is just racing with excitement, not pain. She also tried jumping, once, twice and several times till she decided to do something else. She doesn't know how to swim, but her heart acts first without thinking and she walks to the sea till the water reaches her chest. She then descended slowly below the surface of the water, and just swam like it's the most natural thing to do. She could hold her breath for so long and enjoyed the beautiful underwater view. She doesn't know how long she swims, and when she reaches the island again she laughs so hard and lets herself lie comfortably on the sand.
That's when her eyes catch a familiar building on the cliff quite far away from where she is now, she finally recalled something from her memory. The building was a cottage owned by her mother, and it's a place where they usually spend their holidays. Dahnoh never visited it again since forever, and she is excited by the thought that her mother is waiting for her with her freshly baked cookies and cold chocolate milk—her favorite. So Dahnoh stood up and got ready to get there before someone appeared before her.
"Can't you not go there?"
"Uh…. Sheoh?" Dahnoh hesitated. The man is indeed Sheoh. He sits under the palm tree, looks so disheveled and awful. There are clear dark circles under his eyes, his usual neatly hair now is messy, and he only wears his white shirt that is improperly buttoned. The usual prim and proper Sheoh is nowhere to be found.
"Don't leave me, Dahnoh." Sheoh looked like he was about to cry. Dahnoh is still confused with this whole situation, but she walked closer to him regardless and crouched in front of him.
"Why do you look so sad?"
"It's because you play too long here without me."
"Why would you want to play with me? I thought you didn't care?"
"Who said so!" Sheoh was utterly offended.
"Whoa, relax." Dahnoh laughed. Sheoh looks so pitiful now and strangely Dahnoh finds it cute.
"Please come back to me." Sheoh pleaded desperately, he reached out his hand. "I swear I'll treat you right. I'll love you with my whole being. I'll never let you slip away again like the last time."
His promise sounds promising but somehow some part of Dahnoh still wants to go check the cottage instead of taking Sheoh's hand. Her eyes divert from Sheoh back to the cottage, contemplating which one she should choose.
"If you leave me I really don't know what to do with my life anymore." said Sheoh, sniffed. "So please come back to me, yeah?" Sheoh suddenly leaned in closer and stole a peck. Dahnoh's eyes widened because she didn't expect that. She doesn't know why she did it, but she looks around just to see if anyone sees them.
"No one around here except us." said Sheoh as if he knew what was on Dahnoh's mind. "And I did it because I wanted to." He leaned in again, and now kissed her animatedly. Dahnoh's corner of eyes still can spot the cottage on the cliff faraway behind his back, before she gradually falls onto the sand with Sheoh's body on top of her, blocking her view and all she can see is his sad eyes.
"Alright," murmured Dahnoh between the kisses, "I'm coming with you."
She closed her eyes and thought the cottage could wait.
Chapter 8: haze
Summary:
In a long dream we'll be forever.
Notes:
so sorry for the long updates! been so busy with irl stuffs and voting thingy glad we won the vote haha i hope you still find this enjoyable! as always im looking forward to your thoughts3
anyway, song reco you can listen while reading this: https/open./track/2tFWnGfPfPAg1yvGNyqBNb?si=4f02eb6a397e4aea
Chapter Text
Life after her marriage isn't very different except now Dahnoh is picked to attend meetings and parties every now and then, more often than when she was an Extra's heir. When she was still her dad's only daughter, she could skip those kinds of boring events most of the time and her dad would easily let her be. Now she has a job to keep Sheoh's reputation afloat, she has no choice but to let her maid put the dress on her.
"Another dinner party?" asked Dahnoh. The maid nodded in silence, still focused on buttoning Dahnoh's back dress.
Dahnoh sighs.
Two months passed since she finally awakened and regained her strength. Her first two weeks were so hard, she hardly remembers anything and she can't differentiate between dreams and reality. It felt like roaming in an endless haze, trying to put things together but to no avail. Her memories jump from one another, most of the time it brings her back to the beach. Sometimes it was pleasant and she was lucky enough to see her mother's back in one of those dreams, other times it was a total nightmare; she felt someone dragged her forcefully and drowned her and she couldn't breath. When that moment took control, Dahnoh could feel death right in her throat. She's always sure she was going to die at that moment, but some invisible force somehow always manages to bring her back alive. It was like that for days and it feels like years of torture.
The first time she was finally conscious and awake enough to tell that this is her reality, she found Sheoh sitting near her bed with his bunch of documents. She was not familiar with the room, it is not her usual hospital room nor her bedroom. She just stares at Sheoh, unable to speak and too weak to move a finger. Sheoh was way too engaged on his papers to notice her, and the more Dahnoh looked at him, the more he looked haggard and cold more than ever. Dahnoh wishes she could erase the wrinkles on his forehead and see him smile instead.
How nice that would be,and Dahnoh drifted to another deep slumber.
Dahnoh had another series of long dreams. Various dreams where Sheoh loves her from the bottom of his heart and would kiss her tenderly. Her favorite one is a dream where this Sheoh has such a sweet smile that never left his face, who looks content and in peace. They would slow dance to classical music in their little cottage house, hugging each other and find themselves giggling over nothing. Dahnoh usually didn't like classical music but at that time it felt nice. It felt warm. Unfortunately the image and the sound faded slowly into nothing and after a long period of darkness, the scene changed.
She would see Sheoh covered in blood instead, dead bodies scattered around him. He sneered at her while stabbing another person coming at him. The blood would splatter to any direction she could feel the warm sticky texture on her cheek. The scene flashed into another scene of torture, Sheoh drowning another people but she who was watching on the sideline also feel choked and couldn't breathe. She was screaming for help but Sheoh was just laughing looking at his prey struggling. At one time, Sheoh finally glanced at her and mouthedrun—and Dahnoh would find herself unable to move at all like she was stuck on the mud, it was strange and terrifying. Those dreams ended up with her shot back to reality, but once again too weak to even mutter a word, so even though she doesn't want to go back to sleep and experience it all over again, she still lost her consciousness in the end.
It was one morning when she woke up and stopped feeling drowsy after a minute of being awake. She realized she has moved to another room where she now has a window to tell that it's morning time. A sunrays peeked through the half-closed curtains and Dahnoh thought for a long time that perhaps this is heaven and she's dead. A surprised nurse greeted her then went out of the room again. Not too long a pack of doctors came; noticing one of her usual doctors amongst these faces of strangers Dahnoh finally realized she's still alive.
"Fascinating." one of the doctors whispered. "Mr. Ryu is right. He would be very pleased. Please inform him immediately." and the nurse nodded and ran outside again.
Dahnoh opened her mouth, but none of the words came out from her mouth. The doctor checked up on her, and told her to try not to fall asleep again. Without being told so, Dahnoh is determined to stay awake this time. She managed to stay awake long enough to see Sheoh rushing inside with gasping breath, and staring at her in disbelief when she stared back at him.
When Sheoh collected himself he walked closer, crouched beside her and held both of her hands, bringing it close to his temple. "Thank you for being alive, Dahnoh." she heard him say, and if she wasn't mistaken she noticed his voice was shaking.
Dahnoh mustered all of her strength and forced herself to speak, "are you real?"
So many versions of Sheoh she had seen throughout her long dreams she isn't sure if this Sheoh is not also a fragment of her imagination. Sheoh finally raised his head to meet her eyes. Dahnoh noticed how wet his eyes were. He paused for a moment, and then nodded. "Yeah, I am."
"So you are." Dahnoh mumbled. "That's a relief."
It was really a huge wave of relief knowing she's alive and able to back to reality that Dahnoh couldn't help but feel sleepy. She fell asleep again but luckily this time she had a dreamless, peaceful sleep. After that her condition improved faster and faster, and after many days passed she could finally come back home.
Except the home this time was a building that she never set her foot on.
It was a big house with a big window and big garden, and although the interior looked very plain and gloomy, she quite liked how her own room was decorated with a bunch of pinks. Beside her own bedroom, there is also a shared bedroom that was designed to Sheoh's taste, but Dahnoh never mind it because well, yeah, she's confident she won't ever use it anyway.
Beside this unfamiliar place, Dahnoh also gets to know many unfamiliar faces. Numerous maids that take care of the house and numerous caretakers that are specifically assigned to meet her needs, her new doctor, the driver, the bodyguards… are all new people under Sheoh's command now watching her 24/7. It feels suffocating at first, but Dahnoh tried not to mind them much. She asked the details of her accident and how she ended up hospitalized because her own memories failed her to her dad at first, but her dad just told something useless that she already knew and did not help much. The maids and doctors also did not give her any helpful details except that she had been in a coma for a month and spent time recovering her stamina for another whole month. She gives up after several tries that they won't speak and the very reason is the one who paid them.
What is most annoying is that the one who paid them aka Sheoh is never seen at home explaining things himself. He is so ridiculously busy that the only time she could meet him is when he summoned her through her driver. Be it for a ten minutes morning walk before she went to campus just for people to see they have healthy relationship, a dinner with his probable business partners so he could make big empty words brag her as his beloved wife to gain cookie point, or a party to celebrate his long time colleague's son wedding so he can display his own wife to everyone. In between those times Dahnoh had to act and she never found proper time to have an actual conversation with him. And Dahnoh also strongly feels that he keeps doing it so Dahnoh couldn't find time to bring up the topic.
This night is no exception. It is another dinner party and Dahnoh practices her smile on the way to the hall because she is afraid she wouldn't be able to do so out of annoyance. Once she arrived at the hall Sheoh was already waiting to pick her up, and Dahnoh gave her a nasty glare.
"Who do I need to please this time?" she asked while slipping her hand on to his arms.
Smile erased from Sheoh's face and he coldly answered, "No one."
"Funny." Dahnoh retorted. Sadly for her she can no longer put on a sour look and immediately smile when the door opens and they are greeted by many faces with polite, bland smiles.
"Mr and Mrs. Ryu. Looking as fine as usual." one of them smiled at them, and Dahnoh tried hard to remember his name.
"Thank you, Mr. Byeon." Sheoh handshake the apparently Mr. Byeon, who Dahnoh still couldn't remember which company he is from.
"Let's sit here and continue our last conversation…." and here we go Dahnoh boring long nights listening to their talk about business and such that Dahnoh paid zero interest. Dahnoh counted the times while keeping her smile, usually it's polite to excuse herself for toilet break after several minutes passed for a breather. Sadly she can't escape this time because the party started and Sheoh just put his hands on her waist she can't go anywhere nor make space between them.
"I know it's boring," Sheoh whispered to her ears, "but bear with it. I'll let you go to try every food here once he finishes speaking. They say they hire a famous great chef for today's cuisine."
Dahnoh just smiled at him even though she wanted to drag him back home right now to interrogate him. Sheoh smiled back at her, and just kissed the top of her head out of nowhere and smiled a thank you. From the corner of her eyes, she can feel Mrs. Byeon is looking at them with great interest and a sheepish smile.
What's with him…Dahnoh is even more greatly annoyed right now. Like how could he act so caring and loving like this but suddenly act like she's nonexistent whenever she wants to ask about what happened two months ago? Dahnoh can't wait for this night to end.
Once the one who holds the party finishes his speech they are surrounded by so many people who try to get on Sheoh's good side. They would usually compliment how beautiful she is first and how dreamy their relationship is before getting into the business and forget her completely. Being excluded from the conversation is disheartening at first but now Dahnoh finds it convenient because she can slip away easily. Just like now. Sheoh has no choice but to let go of his arm on her waist and let her go just like he promised.
Dahnoh tried the various foods displayed—her only source of comfort, and was surprised to find Dohwa is also eyeing the same tiramisu cake as her.
"Lee Dohwa! Fancy seeing you here." Dahnoh is actually very happy to finally see a familiar face enough to give Dohwa a brief hug.
"Eun Dahnoh!" Dohwa beamed, "I feel like it's been ages since I saw you! What are you doing with your two month break? Have a passionate honeymoon, eh?"
Dahnoh stopped smiling and looked at Dohwa who still gave her a teasing look. "You don't know I was in a coma?"
Dohwa almost spitted out his tiramisu when he shouted "WHAT?" so loud all of the heads are turning into them.
"Stupid, low down your voice!" Dahnoh has to smile at everyone looking at them with a weird look and grit her teeth to hiss at shocked Dohwa.
"Act like usual, you're gaining attention and it's no good for me!" she whispered. "I'm sorry, it's nothing! It's just the cake, just surprisingly so tasty! Hahaha!" Dahnoh let out an awkward laugh and put the cake up on air for everyone to see. Luckily everyone just chuckles and goes back to their own things.
After she makes sure no one pays them attention Dahnoh drags Dohwa outside the hall, to a more secluded place so she can have a proper conversation.
Little did Dahnoh know, Sheoh's eyes are following her with an unpleasant look.
"Is there no news at all about me being in a coma?" asked Dahnoh in disbelief. With her sudden rise in popularity and great interest in their marriage, it feels impossible for the public to miss out on her accident (whatever it was) which caused her coma.
"I swear I only see news about your marriage and honeymoon news recycled all over again till I'm sick of it. Do you know how many times I see your pictures kissing on the beach? Sometimes people still talk about it even now. And yeah, Baek kyung would smash anything near him if he caught people talking about it. Don't you know his temper has somehow just worsened? I avoided him nowadays because he just scared me—"
"Lee Dohwa, focus!" Dahnoh cut him off, "so no news about me at all beside my honeymoon pictures?"
"Yeah. Anyway, are you for real? Are you really in a coma for that long? What happened?" Dohwa somehow still hardly believes it.
"I don't know." Dahnoh sighed. "My memories are so distorted nowadays. I can't tell whether this is my real memory or my imagination. But you talk about the beach… Can you show me pictures of it?"
"You just have to look for it, it's everywhere." Dohwa typed something on his phone and showed Dahnoh the result of his searching. It's true what Dohwa said, the image of her and Sheoh kissing on the beach exists in every angle. Dahnoh glared at it and realized that this one also replayed on her mind throughout her countless sleeps although in a slightly different version.
"So this one is real." Dahnoh mumbled to herself, feeling weird because they looked so genuinely in love there and that could only be possible in her dream. Perhaps, she really has talent in acting? But Sheoh then is more talented than her.
"Are there no more pictures than this?"
"Why are you asking me? Aren't you the one who should look into your own phone? Didn't you take many photos together?"
Dahnoh checked her phone. There was only a picture of food, Sheoh's back-figure photo when he queued for ice-cream, and a dark beach as the latest photos. Dahnoh felt so unsettled looking at the last photo but she really can't remember a thing. She could only confirm her real memory now up to that afternoon beach moment. The rest is blurry and uncertain.
"What happened to you?" Now Dohwa looks genuinely concerned looking at quiet Dahnoh. "Is your heart acting up again? Is that why you were in a coma? I'm sorry I don't know. But I visited my brother's hospital several times and you weren't there. My brother also didn't tell me anything. Where were you hospitalized? Did you change your doctor? Why?"
Right,Dohwa's brother is her long time doctor. Dahnoh thinks she saw him once when she first regained her consciousness, but now she isn't really sure either. She doesn't know where she was hospitalized and no one tells her where either. So many questions and she has no answer for it.
"Sheoh changed my doctor, the new doctor said they would use new medication for me. I couldn't really grasp what he said to be honest. I would love to be back to your brother again, but I think he refused because he can't keep watch on me 24/7. And anyway I don't want to bother, like your brother needs to focus on his own career instead of me."
"That's right, father actually already discussed inheriting one of the hospital branches to him. But you are not a bother, my brother adores you, you know that?"
Dahnoh smiled at him and nodded, "Of course I know! Your brother did a lot for me these past years. I'll make sure to visit him sometimes and say thank you myself. He is so busy you know? One time I sneakily went to his hospital but he wasn't in his room."
"Yeah, he is so busy…" Dohwa nodded in agreement. "Anyway Eun Dahnoh, next time tell me right away if something happened to you! I can't believe you just went through something that serious and I just know it now. I'm really glad you look healthy now. Your heart… your heart is okay now, right?"
Dahnoh isn't sure how to answer that. The fact that she can regain her consciousness without undergoing another surgery is a mystery even to herself. But she just takes it as an extended time before her actual time comes up, not a sign to a promising future. She doesn't want to nurture another futile hope.
"It's fine enough to the point I can attend all my classes now, you don't have to worry." Dahnoh smacked the back of his back and grinned. "Let's play sometimes if you have time! I'm really bored in my new house."
"Bet your new husband is really busy? Poor Eun Dahnoh." Dohwa mocked her playfully. "Let's try the new restaurant after your tomorrow class then, I have coupons."
"Why would you need coupons!" Dahnoh laughed. At that time Dohwa who is laughing along with her abruptly stops his laugh and stands so straight. He awkwardly clears his throat, "Oh, good evening Mr. Ryu."
Dahnoh finds Sheoh standing in front of them, puts on his cold smile Dahnoh knows right away something annoyed him. Has his business talk failed? Why is he here?
"I came to pick up my wife." Sheoh announced, "I didn't interrupt you two, right?"
"No, not at all!" Dohwa chuckled, "I already finished talking, you can take Dahnoh back!"
Dohwa has always been afraid of Sheoh that Dahnoh finds it hilarious but at this time she can't be pleased because she wants to talk about many things longer with him and Sheoh just appeared out of nowhere and made Dohwa run before she could even stop him.
"What is it? You need to display me somewhere?"
"Your mood isn't really great tonight." Sheoh noted. They walked back to the hall and while Dahnoh maintained her smile she managed to scoff at him, "and guess who is the reason?"
"I know I've been so busy." Sheoh confessed, "but it can't be helped. But we can have some time tonight."
Sheoh then led her to go outside the building where their car was already waiting for them. Sheoh opened the car for her, "well?"
Dahnoh had so many questions but she happily went inside the car. It is a good thing he decided to leave early, perhaps tonight she can have a proper conversation with him. But before she could even ask, Sheoh made his move firstㅡmake her heart leapㅡchecking her temple with his hands and nodded to himself.
"You no longer have a fever. That's a good thing."
Dahnoh had a slight fever in a previous event but that's not what's important right now.
"So when will you tell me about my accident?" Dahnoh went straight to the point.
"How's the food? Is it to your liking? Since we skipped the main course we're going to eat somewhere else, any place you would like to visit?"
"Until when will you ignore my question!" she snapped, but her growling stomach stopped her and made her flush in bright red.Why would her stomach need to act up at this moment!
Sheoh just chuckled, "let's eat first and we will talk."
Dahnoh stays quiet during their way to the restaurant that Sheoh picked since Dahnoh no longer wants to utter a word. It is not too far away so they arrived quickly. It looks like a fancy restaurant but with great, cozy ambience vibes. Dahnoh quite like it, but it will be no use if the food tastes meh.
"Secretary Yoon picked this, since I don't know a good restaurant." Sheoh tells her, leading her to their booked seat near the window. Dahnoh looked at the menu and everything looked great. One thing after her coma, she somehow always finds herself starving and eats more than usual. She just ate the snack and cakes back at the party but it seems that leaves no trace now because she just ordered many things out of hunger. Sheoh looked pleased and the waiter left them alone after noting their orders.
"Your appetite looks great too. That's good."
"Yeah, wonder why I always feel hungry all the time." Dahnoh sighed. "Now, will you tell me?"
"What exactly do you want to know?"
"I don't know! Anything. Perhaps something about why my memory is so scattered and I can't exactly remember the last time before I went into a coma… like what happened? I don't think I was like this after my first surgery… my mind and my body feels so weird nowadays. What happened to me exactly?"
"It is because of your medication." Sheoh simply answered, "and about your accident, I have a reason not to tell you. Isn't it a good thing you don't remember it? I don't want you to remember something awful."
"Yeah, but it's very annoying to not remember a thing." Dahnoh pouted.
"The most important thing is that you're here alive and well now." Sheoh smiled at her. "And you just need to continue to do so."
Dahnoh swears she has had so many questions before but after hearing that Dahnoh is not sure what to say anymore. So instead of interrogating him further, she just blurted out nonsense.
"And why are you so damn busy anyway? I have never seen you come home."
Sheoh's smile is just getting wider. "You want to see me come home?"
"Well, it's your house! And yet I never see you there! It's just weird. I'm just asking because I'm curious, okay?"
"I come toourhome." Sheoh answered, make sure Dahnoh heard the word 'our' loud and clear, "But so late at night you are already fast asleep."
Dahnoh is oblivious to the fact that Sheoh has to keep both his job and his research going; he has no choice but to work harder than a cow he hardly had any sleep. He will come home very late at night just to watch Dahnoh sleep well as his way of resting, make sure her sleep undisturbed with any more nightmares where she will cry and shout for help in between. He had to make sure Dahnoh would not drift to her sleep forever and that is exactly what he has been doing every night since he injected the drug on her himself. Making sure to be there to hold her when the side effect of the drug causes her seizures, make sure to wipe away her tears and soothe her.
It's a relief that she's getting better and her seizures and nightmare no longer visit her in her dreams lately. But Sheoh still could not let his guard down, he is making sure to find a cure that will perfectly cure Dahnoh. And he is also making sure to keep his business thriving so no one will dare to touch them. That's why the only moment he can spend with Dahnoh is through events and parties, where he can summon her and she will come regardless if she likes it or not, where he can display his affection to his heart's content and Dahnoh will reciprocate it albeit fake. Sheoh never likes to attend such events to socialize, now he is always looking forward to it.
He was going to keep this pace not until he saw how Dahnoh could laugh freely with her friend earlier. It makes his blood boil with jealousy, the way she was so close to him, hug him with ease and even planned for after class lunch together. Sheoh immediately abandoned the party and let Secretary Yoon take care of the rest so now here they are. If it's possible he would love to keep her stick close to him forever.
"That was really yummy. Secretary Yoon has a great radar for good restaurants." Dahnoh commented once they finished with the food and now strolling at the park near the restaurant. Dahnoh looked at him again with a suspicious look, "you sure you have time for this?"
"I do." Sheoh lied. He holds her hands and makes Dahnoh jolt in surprise. Dahnoh realizes they're in public where people can easily spot them so she lets him be. Sheoh hums, satisfied, which make him sway their holding hands happily.
"Will you be back home or back to the company?"
"Do you want me to go back with you or back to the company?"
"Why do you keep asking me back?" Dahnoh grunted. "Anyway, I'm saying this for your own sake, it'd be nice for you to have a sleep, regardless where that will be. You really look awful nowadays."
"So you can worry about me too. That feels so nice."
Dahnoh looks at his smile and wonders if that really is a genuine smile. Sheoh caught her looking at him, stopped his track and faced her.
"What is it?"
"I just think this moment may not be real and is one of my dreams instead."
Sheoh let out a soft chuckle. He lifted his hand so slowly and traced her face with the back of his hand, staring at each of her beautiful facial features with both fondness and fear of hurting her so he is not touching her but still hanging close enough Dahnoh still could feel his warmth. Sheoh then put the strand of her hair back to her ear, and muttered something Dahnoh don't quite grasp the gravity of his words,
"For the first time in forever my goal has changed. It is not to bring them down anymore, but to keep you alive like this."
you are now the center which my life rotated to, eun dahnoh.
Chapter 9: drowning
Summary:
I want to become that forest over there
Even if my clothеs get soaked in tears
Oh, did I mеntion it was the sea?
Then can I throw away all my tears?
Notes:
hi sorry for the long update i'm at a bit lost of where to bring this story next haha i think i will ended this in a few chapters ahead... but do not be too disappointed as i already planned to write another lovrun au! thank you so much for those who still read, give kudos and comment, and still waiting for this story. i greatly appreciated it! I hope you like this chapter as well, as always i'm waiting for your thoughts as it really is my driving force to continue this!
the chapter summary is from this song, i just discovered it today and like it a lot;-; https/open./track/33xRp6ZX1DKraRFHR9ZDck?si=91cefce97ad44102
Chapter Text
Dahnoh wonders when all this medical check up will end. Sheoh insisted that she needs to be checked thoroughly before deciding whether she is healthy enough to go along with his abroad business trip. Dahnoh tried to convince him that she will just stay here and she promised she won't cause trouble if he is that worried, but leaving her here without being able to immediately reach her when things happened is equally worst for Sheoh.
"I think she will be okay, as long as she manages to maintain her current condition." the doctor concluded and Dahnoh sighed in relief.
"You will go along and monitor her condition." Sheoh told the doctor. The meeting ended and Dahnoh needed to request another short break for her class for this business trip. She won't be able to graduate at this point (not that she intended to do so anyway, given her short lifespan, but she did wish to graduate before she died and now it seems impossible).
The day of the departure finally comes. Dahnoh did not see Sheoh for a week prior to this, and she can't help but feel a little happy to finally see him again. The doctor's explanation somehow did not get through her mind, for she is way too busy imagining the places Sheoh will take her to and the many new dishes she can try. Once his work finished, he promised to be her guide visiting famous tourist spots in Russia, the place Sheoh mostly spent his life in. Dahnoh is excited thinking he will take her to visit the place that holds special meaning for him, like it's a getaway to get to know him better because Dahnoh just realized she doesn't really know him at all beyond his image that he let her know this far.
Sheoh on the other end doesn't feel quite delighted by this. Bringing Dahnoh abroad along with him takes so much risk, but the other option is out of the question. He knows he will not be able to work if she is separated from him that far and that long. But it'sRussia,a place he greatly loathed. Nothing about this place holds memories worth to recall, if anything it will make his nightmare become more vivid. And come to the place where The Big Boss and his scoundrels could attack him anytime, he feels restless imagining the worst possibility that will happen to Dahnoh.
"You will come with me anywhere so you have to be ready anytime. I only bring along one of your caretakers, so please listen to her and follow the schedule accordingly." Sheoh said seriously. This is not their first business trip together, but usually Sheoh will let her explore the place along with packed bodyguards when he does his business. It's a hassle, but it's better than to be locked for hours watching something she does not understand nor interesting enough to listen to. So thinking she won't be able to roam around makes her a little sad.
"Alright. But you have to keep your promise to take me on a trip before coming back."
"Okay, I promise."
They do not talk much after that. Sheoh is busy discussing something with his secretary, and Dahnoh is busy watching the show until she falls asleep.
In her dreams she saw something that her mind tell her it is Russia, the vast land where wide lakes, meadows, forest and mountains, and sky with its gigantic clouds spread gorgeously it makes her mouth wide open in amazement.
She runs through it and it seems to never end. Her eyes catch the sight of someone back from a far, a familiar back standing facing the lake. Dahnoh stopped running and waited for him to turn his back and face her. When he kept looking at lake Dahnoh yelled, calling him. He finally turned to face her, it was no other than Sheoh.
Dahnoh smiled and ran to him, but suddenly the earth began to shake. She did not know what just happened, but she just kept running even though she fell and stumbled several times. The shaking just gets intense, the water in the lake begins to form a high wave.
Dahnoh screamed at Sheoh to stay away from that lake, but Sheoh did not seem to hear. He is just looking at her emotionlessly. Dahnoh could hardly run anymore, the trembling is just so great that the land starts to crumple, before she could mutter another word, earth swallowed her to darkness, and Sheoh just stood still, watching and letting it unfold without doing anything.
Dahnoh shot back to reality. She thought it was a dream, but oddly the shaking did not go, if anything she feels it stronger than before. Still not recovered from the shock of her dreams, she sees how the plane shakes and it makes her panic. Her watch heart beeping so loud, and she feels the excruciating pain come back. She did not know what happened, but it feels so reassuring to have Sheoh hold her hand tight, trying to calm her, not just stand still emotionless.
"Relax, Dahnoh, it's just the turbulence, it will pass anytime soon." he said with the most soothing voice he could mutter, while injecting something to her, she doesn't know what it is, perhaps her medication to help her feel better.
But the pain did not go away, and the never-ending shaking makes it hard to concentrate and relax. She sees people swaying here and there and she sees water coming from nowhere, it was making the floor just wet at the beginning but it began to rise and swayed along creating mini waves. The lights keep blinking every second and the turbulence makes everything shake so much and create spine-chilling sounds; people scream in a high pitched tone begging it to stop. Above it all, her heart watch sounds the most terrifying.
"Dahnoh, breathe, breathe—"
Sheoh's voice even sounds so distant and keeps drifting away until she cannot hear it anymore. She shut her eyes tight, but it makes her head hurt so much like somebody splitting it in two. She opened her eyes again, but the sight in front of her did not make it any better. She saw how water began to come from nowhere, so quickly until it was already up to her ankle, and it rose, and rose in speed of light it was about to drown her. Tears begin swelling in her eyes when she feels like the plane just rotated and fall and crash and the waves rolled over and swallowed her—
"Dahnoh, look at me." Sheoh hands turn her head to face him, "it's okay, it will end anytime soon, you are with me, you're fine—" Sheoh wipes away the tears and keeps caressing her to soothe her, he regrets his hasty decision to inject the drug once he saw she clutched her heart in pain.
Now the side effect of the drug—hallucination—takes over Dahnoh and she keeps shouting in panic even when the turbulence ended a minute ago. The doctor who sits behind them can finally let go of the seatbelt and rummage something in his bag. "Quick!" Sheoh roared to the doctor, and it made Dahnoh jolt in shock.
Sheoh's rising voice triggered something which made Dahnoh sobbed and trembled in fear, "No, no, don't do it! I'm drowning, I'm drowning, I can't breathe, save me, save me! Stop pushing me into the water, please, I beg, stop pushing me, I can't breathe!" she shouts in panic, her whole body jolted again and again.No… not this again…Sheoh held his breath and hugged her, held her to stay still, and could do nothing more except praying that this will pass soon.
"No one hurt you here, Dahnoh, I'm here, I'm holding you, you are safe with me, please, Dahnoh, listen to me…"
In order to keep Dahnoh alive, Sheoh injected the half-made drug urgently. It miraculously made her stay alive on the brink of death. But Sheoh still could not find a way to make the hallucination go away. In those days of her coma, almost everyday Dahnoh talked in her sleep, begging someone to stop pushing her and screaming for help saying she was drowning. Sheoh hates that the side effect of the drug he made made Dahnoh keep revisiting the day of her accident. But he needs to do it anyway, because losing her is much more devastating even just thinking about it.
The doctor is finally done with moving the usual, legal drug he uses to his patient before surgery. It takes quite long given his hands keep shaking due to turbulence earlier. He moves swiftly and injects the anaesthesia to Dahnoh, and not too long her sobbing subdued until it could no longer be heard. Dahnoh finally stopped moving, Sheoh could feel her whole body weakened and slump onto him. She fell asleep, and was still asleep when they finally arrived in Russia.
"What happened?" asked Dahnoh as soon as she woke up. She hates that she has no recollection of memories prior to this, she doesn't even know where she is nor what day it is.
"You fell asleep on the plane and have just woken up now." her caretaker named Juda explained. "Mr. Ryu will be back soon, he is currently having a meeting on another floor. Do you want to take a bath first or dinner first?"
Dahnoh felt her headache made her lose her appetite so she chose to take a bath first. When Juda told her how she ended up in a hotel room and slept the whole day because of her medicine Dahnoh finally recalled that she flew to Russia for the first time with Sheoh for his business purpose. She recalled something about water and shaking planes, but it feels too blurry to remember the details. Anyway, knowing Dahnoh once again fell into a long slumber, she can't help but feel anxious that she will fall into a coma again.
The hotel room feels way too spacious after Juda excuses herself. And she can't go out, several bodyguards who stand by outside her room were told to make her stay and did not go anywhere even to the hotel lobby. So Dahnoh could only sit and watch the red big sun illuminating her dark room, slowly set and finally left her room all dark, as dark as her thoughts.
When Sheoh comes to the room late in the evening, he finds a dark hotel room to greet him and when he turns on the light, he sighed in relief to find Dahnoh still awake. He hurriedly takes a shower to clean himself, and when he leaves the bathroom he still finds Dahnoh sitting on the same spot, unmoved even a bit.
"What are you staring so intently at?" Sheoh asked, walking closer to her. Dahnoh is still emotionlessly staring at the city light outside, unbothered to answer his question. Sheoh looked at the table, at the untouched food. Sheoh knows then something is wrong. He carefully placed his hand on her arms, but Dahnoh still won't meet his eyes.
"Dahnoh? What happened?"
"I remember I was so excited coming here." Dahnoh finally started to speak, eyes still wondering outside. "But then I don't even quite remember how I ended up here. I keep falling asleep for so long and having endless weird, scary dreams. It feels so bizarre to feel so lost, to not be able to remember many things when I woke up. Not knowing what day it is or what time it is. I feel like I was suddenly thrown here. As I was here, locked and unable to go or do anything besides watching the sun set, the room was so quiet and perfectly still. It feels like I'm drowning. I always feel like I'm drowning. I always feel like it's soclose."
Sheoh felt his throat tighten uncomfortably. "What's that so close?"
"My death." Dahnoh answered with a weak smile. "When I woke up from my long coma I couldn't help but grow a little hope that perhaps I will survive anything and live longer than what they expect of me. But it feels like my body keeps telling me otherwise. My heartache tells me otherwise. My weak mind tells me otherwise. When I woke up and the room was so still I thought perhaps maybe this was all unreal, that I'm already dead, perhaps my body already burned and my remnants already spread throughout the cold ocean. Perhaps that's why I always feel like I'm drowning." Dahnoh spoke in a trembling voice, "I'm such a bother, right? My body is broken and now my mind too. You know it too, right? You should've just left me in Korea, you should have just let me—"
Dahnoh did not get to finish her sentence as Sheoh hurriedly crashed himself to her, embracing her whole petite figure tight.
"Do not say it.Don't."
Dahnoh tears brimmed in an instant. The contrast of the room that felt so cold hours ago to his soothing body heat just reminded Dahnoh again of how lonely she is to face all those scary thoughts alone, that she very much needed this, craving for this warmth.
"What if, what if someday—" Dahnoh hiccupped, "I fell asleep again for so long and never woke up? Or what if, what if someday my mind can't ever tell if I'm dead or not?"
Sheoh hugged her tighter, his hand caressing her head down to her back. He did not know what's the best word to say to comfort her. He thought watching her having an endless nightmare is already the worst, but to witness awake Dahnoh breaking down and sobbing like this is far much worse.
"Dahnoh, you're strong enough to survive this. You've survived this far, you will continue to do so. And I promise you I'll be here to make it come true. Dahnoh, just say you wanted to be alive, and I shall make it come true.I promise."
Dahnoh did not believe Sheoh could fulfill such a hard promise. But as sound as impossible it is, Dahnoh takes his words to her heart, at least for now, for this moment where she desperately needs the courage to hold onto her slipping life.
"I want to be alive, at least, at least until I go to places you love to visit. At least until the end of this trip. I want to try the food you always eat here, and I want to be awake and remember all those memories." Dahnoh cried like a child. "But I feel like it wasn't even possible."
Sheoh let go of his hug to look at her face, softly wiping away her tears. Sheoh gave her reassuring smile, "Tomorrow, Dahnoh, when the sun is up again we will go to all the places you want to and eat all the foods you want to too. Nothing is impossible. We will spend all day playing. Okay? We will take so many photos, every moment of it. So on a day when it's difficult to remember, you can look at it and tell that it is real."
Dahnoh kept sobbing, but his words had some magic in it to make her look forward to tomorrow and days much later when she forgot and just could reminisce about the moment through photos.
"And it will not be the last, we will visit many places and try as many foods as we can. It's okay to look forward to it. You can do so. You do not have to worry about anything else. Alright? You may seem not to believe it, but you're on your way to recovery. All you have to do is to believe me, okay?"
Dahnoh looks at his soft gaze, Dahnoh hopes she is not mistaken when she thinks those gaze means affection. Dahnoh wonders if it's the same Sheoh whose default face is cold and stoic, the Sheoh who shouts in anger and punches or stabs when he's distressed. How could he become this Sheoh, whose hands are so big and warm, whose embrace so comforting and reliable, whose voice so soft and enchanting, whose big doe eyes hold so much something that resembles love?
A sudden flash of memory comes to her mind, a Sheoh on the beach who holds the same gaze as he is right now, along with his back on the hotel room back in Jeju who stayed still and did not chase after her makes her heart ache. She was reminded again about a thought on that dark beach, that her worth lies within his father's wealth, that it was never about genuine care and love.
Dahnoh is conflicted. Sheoh makes her conflicted, confused,and scared. She wanted to ask to make sure, but she is too afraid to do so. If she knows the truth now, she may not be able to see tomorrow. So she puts aside the thought and decides she will ignore whatever his intention is and be selfish for now.
"I don't want to sleep. I'm afraid to fall asleep now. But I'm so sleepy… so…"
"Yes?"
"Hold me. Hold me until I fall asleep and wake me up. I don't want to wake up alone in an empty bed and try hard to recall my hazy memories. I want to wake up and see you, I want you to tell me that I'm alive and well and it's real."
Sheoh smiled. Dahnoh, who used to nag so much about stacking pillows and keeping proper distance whenever they need to share a bed, is now asking him to hold her all night long, something he sometimes did in secret.
So he happily obliged, he lay and spread out one of his arms so Dahnoh could rest her head on it, his other hand wrapped on her, pulling her snugly to his chest, tugged so close, close enough to hear his drumming heartbeat. Sheoh then moved his hand to her head, stroking her hair gently. They remained like that wordlessly Dahnoh did not know how long it was already.
"Honestly, there isn't anything really interesting here for me." Sheoh softly mumbled, breaking the silence, and Dahnoh listened closely even though she already felt so drowsy.
"I loathed everything here. The places I often visit and the food I eat, all of it are nothing but a nightmare for me. But the way you want to live another day just for it, perhaps all of it would change tomorrow and that thought alone already excites me."
The drowsiness takes over her, but somehow, even though the room is now dark and she can't see his face, she knows he is smiling. Knowing that, Dahnoh falls for a peaceful sleep, and hopefully will be a dreamless one.
But softly, before her sleepiness takes over her completely, she hears Sheoh mumble another word, but the sounds drift away and she can't tell what really is….
"I just need you to stay alive, but being one of the reasons for it, you had no idea how it makes me feel, Dahnoh….."