• hospital •

@★ byun wooseok it felt like they were in a movie. the doctor, wrapped up in his coat, backpack hanging over his shoulder, and the business man, radiating his empowerment. they both stared at each other, the vehicles passing between them. as he had realised that the man is not going to move, sehun took the first step. he kept staring at the unfamiliar man, his warm hand still clutching onto the button. ' I bumped into you earlier. I think this is yours.' he said and looked down at his outstretched palm, a lonely and sparkly button laying there. he waited for the male to take it, meanwhile observing his appearance. the mysterious man in front of him appeared to be his peer, not too young, not too old. he was clad in a business suit, dark hair perfectly styled, without a flaw. he was almost sure that he had seen him somewhere besides the hallway, but he was not sure where. 'have we met before?' he asked suddenly after the said man had taken his button, his hand now clutching onto the strap of his backpack.

@★ oh sehun With so many things to do in a single night, the director felt as that he couldn’t afford to waste anymore time. After all, the deals under the table could only be done when the sun is down and if he missed one night, the deals would only accumulate and he could potentially stretch himself thin. However, a voice echoed throughout the empty carpark. Stopping mid track when he heard someone calling out in the parking lot, Wooseok turned his head towards the sound before pointing to himself, indirectly asking if he was the one the other was calling out to. His eyes blinked as he turned his body to face the other, his arms brought to his back in the attempt to give off a polite demeanour as that is what his subordinates have always done. Deciding to stay rooted to his spot instead of approaching the other, Wooseok stood inches away from his vehicle without blocking the passageways for other vehicles to navigate out of the carpark. Tilting his head as his eyes flickered towards the other, the businessman asked in a gentle and patient tone, despite his busy schedule. “How may I help you?”

@★ byun wooseok he heard a small sound of an object colliding with the marble floor. sehun's eyes naturally went down as he noticed the shiny little button on the ground. kneeling down, he reached for it and stayed in the same position as he observed the button. the engraving on it was unfamiliar to him yet it looked quite important. he was about to call for the other, but the only person in the empty hallway was him.
sehun quickly checked on the children as he did not want to bother them too much, there is nothing more important than proper sleep and rest. they were looking way better than yesterday, cheerful cherubs playing with their toys. it melted his heart.
sehun checked on the i.v. bags and the medicine on the counter, not seeing anything unfamiliar. he was probably tired, maybe the drug he had noticed in the history was a familiar one. maybe he was just dyslexic.
after returning to his office, he took off his white coat and put on his usual one, grabbing his bag and he was out of the way.
he was looking through his backpack, looking for the keys of his car as he waited for the elevator to arrive at the parking lot. as soon as the door opened, his attention focused on the empty lot once more, however, there was one man walking down to his car. the doctor stopped in his tracks and hooked backpack over his shoulders. suddenly he remembered about the golden button in his pocket and slid hand inside to run fingers over it. 'excuse me.' he said out of nowhere as his eyes were focused on the ed, familiar sleeve.

@★ oh sehun Walking down the corridor in a rush, Wooseok didn’t see where he was going either, being occupied with his thoughts. Upon bumping onto someone in a white coat, he nodded his head at the other, hearing the utter. “No worries, my apologies too.” He lifted a smile, not really looking at the other as he walked towards the lift to leave the premise. What the director didn’t realise is the button on his sleeve fell on the ground upon impact. Although he is particular about how he presented himself, he was quite busy throughout the day. It was unfortunate that right before the visitation of his subjects, he went to the laboratory for a quick check, got physically involved with some incompetent workers, and chased after some unfaithful ones to notice the thread on his sleeves loosening. Heading to his next location, Wooseok stepped into the elevator and headed to the ground level, his next stop; the nightclub to make more deals and sell his products to shady club owners. Lifting his lips to return a smile when he passed unsuspecting strangers that smiled at him, Wooseok keeps up the friendly image towards everyone up until he reach his vehicle that is at the carpark of the hospital.

@★ byun wooseok sehun's eyes scanned the history once more. something was fishy about it and he had to investigate. how come that none of the surgeries went well? how come that they had unimaginable complications - starting from getting better to an immediate downfall?
'it was rather late for a visit', he had thought as he looked at the clock. it was a bit after 7 in the evening and he had overstayed his shift. normally, he had a 24 hour shifts, but not today. his body screamed for him to go home, his mind needed rest, but the feeling on the inside kept bothering him.
sehun took his white coat and slid his long limbs inside the sleeves. fixing his attire once more in the small mirror above his cabinet, he left the room.
the doctor was busy fixing his badge around his neck as he walked down the long corridor. he was focused on the grey strap, not noticing how he had bumped against someone, his shoulder hitting the other. without paying more attention, he politely bowed his head, uttering a small 'sorry' as the other seemed to be in rush. 'what an odd man. what an odd time to visit.' sehun thought as he had stopped in his tracks and his eyes stayed on the slowly disappearing silhouette of a man in a suit.

@★ oh sehun In the ward, Wooseok walked towards the bed of a young boy, barely entering his adolescent years, and clearly a long-term patient. Lifting a gentle smile, he glanced at the child from the foot of the bed, his arms leisurely resting behind, at his back. Displaying a gentle demeanour, he nodded his head towards the child, greeting him. “Hello, how are you?” From his vision, the sickly looking boy was putting up a strong front despite his frail frame. Wooseok took interest at how his ‘subject’ have a will to live despite death knocking on their door multiple times, with the background checks he got of the boy. “Please don’t be scared.” Wooseok tilted his head down from his high level before flickering back at the boy. “I’m just here to say that I know of your life situation, it’s so impactful that I wish to sponsor you for your entire treatment.” He brought his arm towards his chest to display how impacted he was. “You won’t need to pay a single cent after you recover. With that said, I hope you recover well.” The director nodded his head again at the child before concluding that it is enough for the interaction. Turning away and walking to another ward where his other sponsee is, he silently eyed at the familiar volunteers that he planted as he passed them by without a single word or greeting exchanged between either parties. Entering the next ward, where a young girl showed tremendous progress of side effects that helped his experiment, he repeated the same words with a polite smile. In his eyes, there is no difference between children or adults. To him, they are either dead or alive. Living in a grey world where shades of white and black are most prominent, he truly believed his empathy and sympathy died off from a young age. Once he is done with his interactions, he turned to leave the ward as silently as he entered.

@★ byun wooseok justice, loyalty and dedication. those are the things sehun swore when he graduated from med school. promising himself that he is going to always follow the oath of hippocrates.
for years he had done what he had promised. and nothing made his heart more full than seeing those little kids being all well. he had worked long hours, read uncountable amount of books and stayed true to his heart.
of course, he was not naive. there was always the dark side. there were always people, who did not care about the others, only their own wealth and fame. he had despised those kind of people, but without good there was no evil and vice versa.
as a very respectable and one of the most promising doctors in his field, he have had multiple offers from various sides. from pharmaceutical companies to hospitals, offering him a generous amount of money, however, sehun had always refused. money was not everything in this field.
he had always done his work with upmost care and dedication, most of his cases were an utter success. however, lately he had noticed a weird phenomenon.
his main job was to sedate the kids before the anesthesia and he always carefully planning every dosage he's going to give, is reading research paper of the drug and etc. yet somehow kids developed weird side effects after his surgeries. he had countless times consulted with his fellow doctors, the doctors of the patients and he had not found a solution. he had studied their cases and read about every detail yet something was not adding up.
one evening he was reading through a patient's history. he had not found anything unusual until his eyes landed upon an unknown drug. 'huh?' he whispered to himself as he read it again, the word being unfamiliar to his tongue. sehun dropped the file on the table and quickly googled the name. he did not find anything related to it yet deep inside he knew that he had to investigate.

@★ oh sehun Supplying the latest batch of medication, Wooseok’s three months under-the-table project was halfway through the progress, spread across various hospitals. Being in the pharmaceutical company is not easy as there is always experiments but not many are willing to be human participants. Hence, he have to come up with ways to trial the compound in such an underhanded method. Having a pool of replaceable volunteers planted around his experimental area, he had them sent for trainings and are licensed to administer such medications, all in various job scopes to ensure that the project is up and running behind the scenes, from prying eyes. Targeting patients who have the least amount of social and familial connections, the experiment tested both poison and antidote by modifying the compound of the medication. The director believed that it is in the best interest of the public and his passion, despite having sacrifices made along the way. As it is a halfway mark, Wooseok decided to pay a visit to personally see his unsuspecting experiments, picking 1-2 patients who have the most progress and sponsoring them as ‘compensation’. Entering the ward, he pretended to look around at various patients before walking over to one of his ‘subjects’ with a gentle smile and a warm greeting.

@★ kim youngdae Mhmm. If you plan to get beaten up again by coming back to the mansion don't even think about it. Stay with your fam, they shall keep your interest in challenges sated from what I've seen. *with that I turn around and leave the room letting you be, wondering if I should visit you again but shake that away as quick as it popped up, you are getting discharged soon and nothing serious to recheck anyway*

@♡ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ /watching as you get up from the chair, a little glint of light was recovered in my eyes when I hear your usual way of speaking, I give you a little nod, still unable to follow your pace, while having a need for personal space for the time being. Hence, I am not going to stop you if you choose to leave. Holding up the smile, I acknowledge your statement.
Mm. I’ll see you back at the mansion, I suppose.

@★ kim youngdae *looks around your face and can tell the way you are forcing a smile which seemed pained more than anything else then "introduce" me to your family. I roll my eyes at that and leans back against my chair, getting the hint of you not wanting to talk about it and I let you*
Yeah I caught on.
*having at least bunch of questions in my head but I keep them to myself, at least for the time being, not one to be interested in customers' lives but since I got dragged into it I wanted to know at least the part that concern me. I lock my gaze with yours and mimic you, looking around your face quietly and calmly for a moment before I pat my thighs once as I get up*
Alright you aren't dying yet and I get no fortune. Seems my job here is done. *gets back to my usual self and exaggerates in conclusion, glancing around the vip room that's bigger and fancier than my own bedroom back at the mansion*
You'll be well taken care of here, Im sure.

@♡ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ /heaving out a deep sigh and massaging the temples of my head, I briefly forgotten your presence until I heard the sounds of chair being shuffled. I glanced up towards the direction of the sound and met with your expression. Lifting the corners of my lips slightly, I tried to lift up the intense atmosphere by giving a very brief and late introduction.
that’s my family.
/I pressed the back of my hand against my eyes to wipe out any liquid that formed in the sockets, haven’t yet to process the conversation. Glancing at your body language, it was clear to me that you seek an explanation but I held my tongue as I am aware that we are not in a relationship that needs self disclosure, but I appreciated the fact that I get to be around you without the need to put on an act, especially right after the intense conversation with my mother. Finding no reason to keep up any conversations, I just let my eyes wandered around your face silently.

@★ kim youngdae *frowning, I look down at the little play you are acting with your mother, bothered you are the one to comfort her even if seemingly but I bite down on my tongue as it's not my place to comment. I usually comment regardless but within the confines of mansion which supposedly assures my safety which even that now isn't guaranteed after getting deactivated against my will too. But given it's matter of customer's family, not even my customer anymore, I remain shut till your mother leave, only responding with a polite nod to her request of taking care of you. Once the room only have us alone again, I take a seat on the chair beside the bed and eye you silently not saying a word but my expression and body language anticipates an explanation*

@♡ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ /after the conversation with my mother, the ringing in my brain started, feeling a pressure pain far worse than any physical blows to my head. Yet I had to endure at the presence of others as my mother had said - reputation is important. Patting the back of my mother while I see her grabbing my forearm and cried, I glanced up at the nurse with a small smile and an apology.
I’m sorry, it itches so badly, I couldn’t help it.
/I felt the nurse helping with the cleansing and sterilisation before she set a new cannula at my hand. Hearing my mother heaving a sigh of feigned relief, I watched her wipe the teardrops away from her cheek very delicately before she thanked the nurse on my behalf. After the nurse is done, I watch my mother turning to me and patting my cheek once more, wishing for my speedy recovery before she stands up, eyes at you to ‘ask’ you to take care of me and took her leave, accomplishing her agenda. I put on my act for a little longer until the nurse left before my hand flew up to my eyes and temples, sighing heavily and unable to focus on anything but the impact of the conversation with my mother.

@★ kim youngdae *calls a nurse and waits for her to bring new set of IV line and I get back with her to your room and I see your father outside with his forgotten mistress obviously sweet talking her and by looks of it she doesn't even mind anything, possibly a typical gold digger. This means you stayed alone with your mother and that brought a frown to my face and I get inside alongside with the nurse that ask what happened and she start with cleaning and sterilizing your forearm and pick a new spot for the new IV line by the back of your left hand. I stand right behind the nurse looking at your face trying to read it and I look back and forth between it and watching what the nurse is doing, not paying your mother any further attention*

@♡ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ /my family's attention went back to you again upon hearing you speak and that was when I realized you were helping me to stop the bleeding on my arm. It was difficult for me to control my eyeroll when I heard you said you had no time for games, but I attempted to control so that my mother would not catch that, but it failed when my father let out an audible scoff, leading my mother to lift up a smirk of her own. When you said you are getting the nurse, the entire family silently trailed our eyes along with you, watching as you made your leave from the room. I could only bite the insides of my cheek as I glanced warily between my parents when the sight of you disappeared, gulping ever so slightly at the thought of having to spend time with them alone, the previous time that happened was a long while ago and without a doubt, it was an unpleasant experience.
Your reputation and image are important, my dear. Especially when you made enough fool out of yourself.
/I looked towards my mother when I heard her, as she pointed out the bruised that I was inflicted with before gesturing me back to the hospital bed with the nod of her chin. My father, on the other hand, was not interested in the conversation my mother and I will be having, hence he walked towards the door and left the room as well, probably in search for his lover or you. Once I settled on the bed, with my mother sitting gracefully on the chair beside me, the one-sided conversation from my mother to me began. As soon as my mother and I sensed the presence of someone entering the room again, my mother would grab my bloodied arm and started sobbing her crocodile tears and play the role of a sweet, caring mother while I'd lift the corners of my lips, visually expressing my gratitude towards her, my eyes however lost its light after the conversation with my mother.

@★ kim youngdae *not expecting you to do anything, I was going to play along till I escape it somehow, nothing a schemer like me wouldn't escape but when you get up after us and yank the IV line off, I gasp and don't realize if I broke off from your parents hold myself or I got pulled away by you. But once Im behind your back, I eye the blood running down your forearm and reach my hand out to grab and press on the vein to help stop it bleeding, looking up at you*
Are you crazy- *mutters to you, a scowl on my face then look over at your parents, wondering how many competitions did you join your family on before. I look back at your arm to check if the bleeding stopped but it didn't yet and I get back to pressing and when I hear your father chuckle, I grit my teeth more knowing he knows the deal, how far from friendship it is, and I have no comment on that. I look at your mother in confusion when she speaks not knowing what she meant by the business part but it sounded condescending. I my dry lips and let out soft sigh, not expecting to witness the day I don't like some sort of attention in. But here I am feeling uneasy under your mother's attention, mostly because of how I seen her treat you so far*
As much as this /friend/ is flattered to have the interest of such beautiful lady, I'd have to decline. I have no time for games. *politely and politically declines and rejects her interest, saying the last bit while knowing 2 of the 3 of the fam knowing damn well if i ever have time it's for games. I let go of your arm, my fingers leaving a bloody print of them against your firearms, looking down at my bloodied fingers and sigh*
Imma call a nurse. *walks from behind you and pass your parents with little to no regards and leave the room, immediately frowning once I'm out to register what the just happened and what mind games parents play with their own son*

@♡ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ Wait-!
/I glanced at the three of you, planning to just leave you to the two if you shown any signs of compliance and followed along with their antics. When I caught your eyes that seemed to ask for help, I quickly pulled out the IV plugs that is connected to my arm and jumped over the bed railings, towards my parents and you. Grasping their shoulders and pulling them away from you, I took the chance to tug you by the arm behind my back as I look between my parents, not caring if there are blood trailing down my forearm.
As much as I’d like to join this competition, Zhengting is here as a friend, mother. Why don’t we use something else as a prize?
/I watched my parents taking a moment to think before hearing them scoff before I hear my father chuckle rather sarcastically.
A friend? Please. Both of you are not that type.
/hearing him, my brows furrowed, remembering that you and my father have some sort of history together, and I didn’t like the thought of it at all. My mother was reading the situation as well. She took a moment longer to ponder before lifting back her sweet smile.
Talk to me again when you (eventually) overtake my annual profits. For now, I’ll continue to take interest in this little /friend/ of yours.
/Seeing her eyeing at my father, myself and then you, I unconsciously clenched my free hand into a fist, feeling rather uneasy whenever my mother shows any hint of interest in my life.

@★ kim youngdae (why dae's mom reminds me of ting? Dhjdjs does dae have mommy issues? Boy is why he falling for ting? Okno LMAO)

*when she reacts to my answer so vaguely and ignore my question, I furrow my brows and glance over at you looking lost and looking for answers in your face. I whip my head back to your parents and can't help but think what an exotic family, speaking of competition? Why would they compete and what for? The answer become clear when all 3 pairs of eyes are on me which send my eyes wider looking between them three*
...huh? *is all what i could utter in surprise trying to register Im being dragged into family competition and Im the prize. I always objectified myself calling myself a product and always thought customers wanna win me as their prize but to so blatantly be called that between two- three competitors and all are one fam, parents and son? Couldn't wrap my head around*
Whoa there where we going- *gasps as Im held by the couple and dragged out, basically nonconned into whatever coming next and my brain works on full capacity to search codes and create new paths as to how to deal and escape this, meanwhile I turn my head back to look at you with confusion plastered on my face, eyes dramatically pleading for help*


(BOY WHAT'S HAPPENING ARE HIS PARENTS DRAGGING HIM FOR ? LMAO)

@♡ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ Mother..
/I’m quite wary whenever my mother speaks sweetly as her ulterior intentions never had a good outcome. Furrowing my brows, my eyes darted towards my father’s, who had his raised in amusement, waiting to hear what my mother have to say.
Good. Good.
/she responded to your answer whilst ignoring your question as she turned her attention back to her family.
Work has been going pretty smoothly. Let’s have a little family competition.
/I tilted my head at her words while from the corner of my eyes, catching my father folding his arms, his question posed to his wife.
What’s the prize?
/Glancing between my father and mother, the whole family trailed our attention back onto you, silently but all with different facial expressions.
Deal.
/my father was the first one to accept, clapping his hand once. My mother follows suit and gives me a dark smile.
We will have a head start first, my dear. Enjoy your 3 day stay (alone).
/watching as their arms were wrapped around your back, it seems like they are prepared to take you out.
Wait-
/clenching my bruised jaws and gripping onto the handle of the hospital bed, I found my mother’s sentence extra motivating to get me out of the hospital as soon as possible.

@★ kim youngdae *bites my lip to stifle my laughter that'd have matched yours but a mere muffled snicker leaves instead till the door is open again my attention is drawn to your mother coming in again with the answer to my question. I look back at you with furrowed brows at the 3 days stay you are going to have at the hospital and I can't help but notice you shifting away when your mother reached your side and I look between you two with new glint of interest and curiosity. Hearing her words, my eyes widen slightly regardless of my evident confusion. I didn't know what your mother was talking about and regardless of her soft and gentle tone, I couldn't help but sense something is quite off and I find myself not liking it for you. I lock your gaze, my own show mixture of concern and confusion before Im pulled by your mother away from your father and scanned which make me raise a brow at her intention. At her question I was at loss for a moment, not knowing if to play along and please her but at cost of my discomfort or just plain honest from the start. Being one not to step on myself for others, I shake my head*
I actually don't. May I know why you are asking, Ma'am?

@♡ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ 10 years ago-
/my eyes darted away, trying to think what I was doing a decade ago and how bored my father could possibly have been, to pick up this hobby and spent his time finding dolls to get his needs met, when he could easily gone to a club or brothel to do so. Chuckling through my facial bruises in amusement when I heard my father admitting something with you, it seemed like he became one of your victims. I only halt my laughter when I sensed the both of your attention on me, an annoyed glare from my father. I was about to shrug as the doctor did not tell me how long I would stay for when the sounds of the door open again, in stepped my mother before she closes the door behind her.
How (un)fortunate. I just talked to the doctor and dae’s discharging in 3 days.
/seeing her approaching me, I unconsciously leaned away from her. Seeing her stopped at the edge of my bed, her back turned towards my father and you, I saw her giving me a condescending look as she lifted her hand towards the bruises on my face, as if stroking my wounds.
Picking fights you can’t win is (so) unwise, my dear. Haven’t you had enough (challenges) from me, or should I give you more?
/watching as she pulled a lock of her hair behind her ear, my mother used in a softer and gentler tone as she speaks. Following her movements as I see her turning her gaze towards her husband who still have his hand around you, I have my gaze on you. She shifted her position and pulled you away from her husband before she turns and scan you up, her grip on your shoulder.
Do you like to receive affection, my dear?
/my mother pose you a question.

@★ kim youngdae *watches your face change expressions as you realize and I know you understood the situation, I shake my head though at your exaggeration and the mischief in your eyes. I, too, look at your father waiting for his answer as I obviously don't remember it, it must be more than 5 years which is as far as my memories go at this point but that realization only makes me feel some sort of way. Old? Consumed? Not sure but that I passed generations? Possibily several even?*
No, it wasn't that far back, son. Possibily only 10 years ago *feels some sort of relief hearing the first and waits for exactly when and when your father reveals it, I can't help but think of having such an age gap with a customer but I purse my lips into feigned disappointment instead*
Awwh. To be memorable after a decade is a flex already but to be memorable for more than quarter of century? That's another level of flex. Seems I left quite the impression? *grins cheekily at your father who rolled his eyes and spoke with hint of grudge* "yeah you left me hanging dry" *blinks at that and only let out an amused laughternand lift my hand off your father's chest to runs finger through my hair*
Of course I did that. Some antics never change. But let's be real if I // you dry back then I would be just another boy you ed anr hence not that memorable.
*returns my attention back to you*
When will you be discharged?

@♡ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ my eyes rolled up at your portrayal, getting conflicted messages from you. On one hand, you seemed to be playing along and scamming with anyone that gives you attention, on the other, I was also relatively aware of your flaws that seemed to slipped since the start of my trial with you. The furrowed brows of mine changed to the raising of my brows when I caught the words ‘back then’, I glanced between my father and you in disbelief. Watching my father leaning in towards you and your reactions to it, which was to lock eyes with me, I covered my bruised mouth and gasped with exaggeration.
Please don’t tell me it was before I was born, my dear father.
/I asked indirectly, my eyes glinted in mischievousness and curiosity. Pondering about my father’s age when he received the same invitation to the mansion, possibly got riled or annoyed up then took you out for a spin. My eyes slightly widened, rather curious about how long has time passed for you since meeting my father and then meeting me.

@★ kim youngdae *presses my lips together not to laugh at how dramatic your grandmother is, basically winning first place in my heart already and second comes your grandfather attending to her drama. I casually lean against your father and watch your grandmother give you more work, I look at you pitifully as the lazy person I am can't relate to having tons of work. I lift my hand to wiggle my fingers goodbye to your mother and your grandparents then look up at your father then to you when he turn us toward you. I send you a sweetened toothy grin and play along with your father*
Indeed. Though, I'd have to choose the father. The son is a lil amateur boy for me. I like me older well experienced /man/. *turns my head to look at your father from the close proximity, smirking flirtatiously at him, my hand coming to rest on his chest as I play the role of a typical alluring sub who likes sugar daddies which is rather opposite of what I shown you*
"Oh? Didn't seem like it back then." *your father raise a brow, I shrug and pat his chest*
I like to play cat and mouse, Im young and playful, sue me. *your father clicks his tongue and leans in, but I lean back teasingly and look at you instead locking my eyes with yours to see if you got the whole situation yet on your own or not*

@♡ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ My blood boils every time I see this family. We’re leaving.
/I heard my grandmother announcing their departure after witnessing the unhinged flirty couple, that she is embarrassed to even called her own son and daughter-in-law, hitting on their grandson’s friend but she seemed to decide not to take any actions about it after we witnessed your reactions to flirt back with the parents of mine. Catching the intense gaze of my grandmother is giving me when I saw her looking back at me, she verbally increased my training as the heir.
Since you have so much free time, why don’t I give you more work to do? My secretary will fax over more projects for you to take on as soon as you’re discharged from the hospital stay.
/Hearing her words, it sounded like I will have more on my plate after this. I could only lift up the corners of my lips, responding to her with an ‘of course’ before watching the backs of my grandparents leaving the room. It seemed like they have completed their agenda of being a concerned pair of grandparents, my mother playing the part of a filial in-law and escorting them out, whipping her head towards us.
I’ll be back soon~
/she chirped before letting the door of the VIP hospital room shut by itself, whatever outside remains unknown. The room quieter down, now it is just us and my father, who seemed to forget his lover outside after he saw you. Eyeing at his arm around your shoulder before looking between my father and you, my father turned the two of you towards me and returned the gaze right at me, his arm slid towards your jaws and cups them. His free hand was brought up over his forehead, brushing his fringe up before I hear a low chuckle emitting out from his lips.
Like father, like son, huh?
/my brows furrowed as I tilted my head, wondering what my father is talking about, I turned my gaze towards you, hoping you’d have a clearer idea of what he was implying.

@★ kim youngdae *amidst the quickly crowding room and the unexpected event of meeting them to begin with, i miss what you are trying to tell me but soon I discover it all on my own. When your father take my hand and pull me closer, I blink but i dont mind the close proximity, I tilt my head away from your father toward you to give him my ear to listen to what he said that had me widening my eyes and they look at yours in surprise*
"I know. You slipped away from me before but here you are in front of me again. Must be fate."
*gasps startled when your father falls into my embrace after the smack of your grandmother, I wrap my arms around him out of reflex, I look down at his face and an amused lopsided smile appear on my face, catching the flirtatious vibe of your family its the vibe I thrive in and thus I play along*
I caught you falling. *tells your father with 'for me' hinted but not spoken and he mimicked my smirk which make my own widen to show my teeth and I laugh hearing your grandmother sounding so done with her son which gives me this happened endless of times before. Just when I thought this was it, grandparents and a player father, I thought the mother is missing from the picture but the door opens yet again and a gracious lady comes in and I freeze in my spot not knowing why I feel like Im caught 'cheating' with someone's spouse but I remember the mistress your father brought and is waiting outside when your mother is looking at her. I thought your parents are divorced with how your father appeared with another women and now is not so subtly flirting with me too but when she addresses your father with 'dearie' and how warm and unbothered her tone is speaking of the mistress is when it clicks. Is this what they call an open marriage? Regardless Im shocked to witness it with my own eyes for first time and with how everything unraveled just now, I linked it all to you and it just makes sense, how a flirt and into a poly you are. Your father get off of me and sling an arm over my shoulder instead as he look at your mother greeting her in laws. When she turns to me, I smile politely but when she winks at me, i could only grin. Of course she is a flirt herself too. Although it's not in my code to flirt with women but nothing a quick brainstorm won't solve, i play along and extend my hand to her but not for a handshake but to take her hand in mine, i bow my head and bring the back of her hand to my lips, i gaze up at her through my lashes and press a tender kiss on her hand*
Madmoizelle- ah *straightens up and act surprised and in realization that she is actually married* sorry, you look too young. *knowing age is a winning topic for women, i play with that and i let her hand slip from my own but without touching all over her soft palm till it slips out from my hold and I support a dreamy eyes as I place my hand over my heart as if fallen in love with her beauty*

@♡ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ /catching your gaze, I lifted a corner of my lip slightly, trying to imply that it runs in the family. All three pairs of eyes were on my father and you as we heard your introduction. Seeing my father raising his brows before his hand extended to hand yours and pulled you in, seemingly whispering something to your ear, I gripped onto the blanket, trying to lean in to hear as well. The relatively long whisper that he seemed to have with you was then interrupted by my grandmother striking her palm onto my father’s back with a loud smack before my father seemingly took the opportunity to wince and fall into your embrace, eliciting another knitted furrow to my brows at the scenario before me. I heard my grandmother huffing at my father before tugging on the back of his collar up, as if she have seen this part of him many times before.
Don’t embarrass me in front of Youngdae’s friend.
/Hearing the commotion, my hand flew up over my eyes, suffering from second hand embarrassment that this is the reputable family that was kept hidden from the media, only to have the flaws unfolded right before your eyes. Just when I thought things couldn’t get worse, the sound of the door opens again, I peeked up at the latest visitor - my mother. Dressed in a preppy formal business wear, my mother stepped into the room, her head turned to look at the side where my dad’s current lover seemed to be waiting at. As I hear her speaking, each word oozes out elegance.
Dearie, is this your new lover?
/Whipping her head back at us as if trying to understand the situation specifically towards my father and you, I saw the corners of her lips lifted into a coy smile as she closed the door behind her.
Ah, never mind~ Mother, father. How have you been?
/hearing her paying respects to her parents-in-law as I see she approaching my bed, catching her eyes that skimmed around you before seeing her beam oh so bashfully and giving you a wink.

@★ kim youngdae *watches your grandmother hitting your head, I try to maintain a respectful polite smile, giving her all right to scold you but when she continues to hit you I can't help but wince with each one wanting to stop her, feeling like I could aggravate your pain myself but not watch others do it but I couldn't move a limb, not wanting to be impulsive in front of strangers. I listen to her words and look between her and you and the grandfather, listening to family drama and gossip which Im not totally against, heck Im taking whatever tea is getting spilled. When she so dramatically fall to the chair and your grandfather attends her, I bite inside of my cheeks not to laugh but my face drops back to serious when you direct your grandparents' attention to me but the door opens and all of our attention is directed there instead to see a man coming in with a woman beside him that doesn't look quite compatible with in age and looks. I blink watching him push her outside then come back in alone and get close and can't help but note how handsome your dad is and now know where you getting your looks from. When he looks at me, it doesn't take me long to catch the look he gives me. Being in "customer service" for years I know this exact look he is giving which make me raise a brow and glance at you with 'what's with your dad??'. Combined with the previous woman and the way he acting so far I can have an idea of what kind of man he is and can't help but link it to you after all*
Im Zhengting. *breaks my silence finally as I catch your father's gaze with my own, my usual lopsided smile adorns my face as I extend my hand to him for a handshake, head tilting slightly as I look around his face and trail my eyes down his figure*

@♡ zhu zhengting ʰᵘᵐᵃⁿ /as my grandmother leans closer to me, I could hear her clicking her tongue and seemingly winced when I feel her gaze on my exterior wounds. My eyes glanced up at her as I see her head shaking disappointedly at me before I felt her fist hitting the top of my head rather firmly, leading to me wincing loudly at the pressure I felt on my head.
Grandmother-
/before I could continue grumbling, my grandmother snatched the timing to scold me, her fist hitting my shoulder.
Fight, continue fighting. Your parents are already such a disappointment and here you are, creating troubles as well. Your family will be the cause of my early passing!
/I see her dramatically leaned back on the chair and my stoic grandfather going over to attend to her dramatic flair before rolling my eyes, my eyes glanced up at you, sheepishly as the dramatic scene of my grandmother pretending to hyperventilate unfolds.
Grandma- there’s someon-
/I tried to warn her about your presence before I heard the door open again. Upon hearing the door, my grandparents stopped their dramatic act and look towards the entrance.Tilting my head to look, I saw my father entering, slinging an arm around an unfamiliar lady.
Oops-
/He seemed to notice my grandparents before he quickly nudged and pushed the lady outside, closing the door behind him, letting a brief chuckle escape his lips.
Well, that’s awkward. Why didn’t you tell me you’re here coming to see your grandson, mum and dad?
/my father pretended like nothing happened before striding over towards us. As he got closer, I catch him looking over at you with a certain interest, making me squint my eyes.