If You Want Me - Episode 117
<Episode 117>
Upon hearing the unbelievable words, Seo-won asked in surprise, and Do-gyeom nodded his head.
Really? It’s hard to believe, I thought it might be a hidden camera prank, but Do-gyeom would never do that, so there was nothing to say.
Although his whole body ached and hurt as if he had a flu, it was hard to believe that he had nearly died. That’s because he had no memory of entering the operating room. He had been anesthetized for the surgery and only regained consciousness now.
When Seo-won asked with his eyes what had happened, Do-gyeom let out a heavy breath and opened his mouth.
“The baby was born well, but you couldn’t regain consciousness for a long time. The doctor said it was just because you used up all your strength during the surgery, but you didn’t wake up for four days…”
“…”
While Do-gyeom was talking through sobs, Seo-won thought to himself that the baby was born well in the midst of it all. He understood that he had been in a critical situation, but it felt so unreal that he couldn’t empathize with the situation Do-gyeom had gone through.
As Seo-won was blankly comprehending the situation, thinking “I see…”, a strange thought suddenly occurred to him.
It’s been four days, but how is hyung here?
Before the surgery, Do-gyeom had come, but he heard that he had only gotten permission from Madam to come out briefly. It didn’t seem like the Chairman would have allowed him to take care of Seo-won for four whole days.
“But how are you here, hyung? At that time, didn’t you only get permission to leave the residence for one day?”
“I told you I’d stay by your side.”
“…”
Do-gyeom answered seriously, looking into Seo-won’s eyes as if he had done what he was supposed to do.
Did he keep the words that Seo-won had said like a whim before going into surgery?
Although he wanted Do-gyeom to be there after the surgery was over, Seo-won had said those words not knowing that he would be unconscious for four days. He felt sorry for making Do-gyeom watch over him for four days when he had no consciousness. Moreover, he felt even more sorry thinking about how much pressure Do-gyeom must have received from the Chairman.
“Still… I bet he didn’t allow you to take care of me.”
“I got permission from my parents. And… about our relationship too.”
“…What?”
Seo-won’s eyes widened at Do-gyeom’s words.
The Chairman and Madam approved of their relationship? While Madam had a soft spot for Do-gyeom so that could be possible, it was hard to understand that the Chairman had given permission.
All Seo-won had done was lie down after the surgery and be on the verge of death. But he gave permission after seeing that? Isn’t that even more difficult? Especially since the last and only time Seo-won had met the Chairman, they had an argument, so he thought he would have been recognized as an omega with no money and manners…
Seo-won tried to think of any justification the Chairman might have had to approve of him, but no matter how much he thought about it, nothing came to mind.
“Why, why? What did I do to get his permission?”
“…Actually, while you were unconscious, my parents came. They came to take me back since I wasn’t returning, but they saw the baby.”
Do-gyeom slowly began to explain the situation that day.
According to Do-gyeom, the Chairman had come to the hospital room with Madam to take back Do-gyeom, who was not returning home to take care of Seo-won, who had lost consciousness after the surgery.
At that time, Do-gyeom was cutting the umbilical cord, and just as he was about to grab Do-gyeom as soon as he came out of the operating room, he saw the baby being moved to the neonatal intensive care unit.
Do-gyeom said that on that day, as he was leaving the operating room, he recalled what Seo-won’s father had said and was on guard, fearing that they might take the baby away. But then, Madam said something while looking at the baby, and the Chairman turned around.
‘He looks just like Do-gyeom when he was a newborn baby… Don’t you think so, honey?’
The baby was born a boy, and his newborn appearance was the spitting image of Do-gyeom when he was little.
When Madam asked, immersed in memories, the Chairman quietly looked at the baby and silently turned around. Without telling Do-gyeom to return or taking any measures to take the baby.
Do-gyeom seemed to be recalling that day with a bitter expression, then adjusted his expression and continued.
“And the next day, my mother got a call from my father saying that he approved of our marriage.”
“…Do you think he had some thoughts after seeing the baby?”
“Well… I’m not sure, but my mother said that my father was extremely happy when I was born. So she said maybe he was reminded of that time.”
Do-gyeom answered Seo-won’s question in a somewhat uncertain voice.
At his guess, Seo-won narrowed his brows, thinking “Hmm…”. Is that really the reason? From what Seo-won saw, the Chairman seemed like a person who wouldn’t shed a single drop of blood even if pricked, but still, parents are parents. Maybe there are no parents who can beat their children.
If that’s the reason, maybe he’s more humane than expected… Although the Chairman Seo-won saw didn’t seem like that kind of person, he couldn’t say for sure since he had only seen him once. Moreover, just as he hadn’t known that they liked each other despite being together with Do-gyeom for such a long time, it was difficult for Seo-won to understand the Chairman’s intentions even if he saw him several times.
He wasn’t sure, but it was joyous enough to raise a toast that the Chairman had approved of their relationship. If he gets to meet the Chairman next time, maybe they can have a normal conversation instead of a battle of nerves. Although there were unpleasant things that happened, he felt that their relationship would gradually improve from now on.
As Seo-won was harboring such expectations, Do-gyeom, who had been quietly looking at Seo-won, opened his mouth.
“Come to think of it, the baby did a lot. Connecting our relationship and getting approval for our marriage.”
“That’s right. Oh, but where is the baby?”
As they were talking, Seo-won wanted to see the baby. The Chairman and Madam had all seen the baby, but the baby was nowhere to be seen to Seo-won.
As Seo-won expressed his desire to see the baby right away, Do-gyeom answered with a slightly difficult look.
“Actually, the baby is still in the neonatal intensive care unit… They said the baby will be okay soon. If you want to see the baby, I’ll ask about visitation.”
Seo-won wondered why Do-gyeom looked troubled, but it seemed that the baby’s condition was not very good since the baby was born prematurely.
It wasn’t good news that the baby was in the neonatal intensive care unit, but Seo-won only thought that he would have surgery and lose the baby. So, although others might take it as hopeless, it didn’t feel that way to Seo-won. Just the fact that the baby was born felt like getting another chance.
Far from being sad, Seo-won opened his mouth with a face full of anticipation.
“I want to see the baby.”
“Okay. It will be possible soon.”
At Seo-won’s purely sparkling eyes, Do-gyeom forgot that he was worried Seo-won might be sad about the baby’s condition and laughed.
As they were talking for a while, Mom returned with a nurse and doctor.
Do-gyeom immediately adjusted the angle of the hospital bed backrest so that Seo-won could lean back comfortably. Once Seo-won sat properly, the doctor and nurse checked various things, asking Seo-won how he was doing.
The medical staff carefully examined Seo-won, thinking that there might be a big problem since he hadn’t regained consciousness for four days, but fortunately, there was no such issue.
The doctor seemed surprised by how much Seo-won had improved and tilted his head slightly while looking at the chart.
“Maybe it’s because you’re young. Your recovery is fast. At this rate, you’ll be fine soon. You don’t have to worry too much.”
“Ah! Doctor…”
The doctor was about to leave, thinking his business was done, but was stopped by Seo-won’s words.
“Do you have any other questions?”
It seemed from the doctor’s expression that he wanted Seo-won to quickly say what he needed, probably because it was time for him to do his rounds. Seo-won felt a little sorry, but opened his mouth firmly because there was something he really wanted to ask.
“Is it okay for me to go see the baby?”
Although Do-gyeom had said he would ask earlier, Seo-won couldn’t wait. He wanted to go see the baby right now.
When Seo-won asked with hopeful eyes, the doctor thought for a moment and opened his mouth.
“Well… Your wound hasn’t fully healed yet, so it will be hard for you to move around in that condition.”
“I’m okay.”
Seo-won’s eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. He didn’t care about the pain and wanted to go see the baby right away if only given permission.
As Seo-won looked at the doctor with eyes full of passion, the doctor couldn’t answer easily and slightly frowned his eyebrows. The doctor seemed to be pondering for a moment, then opened his mouth very carefully.
“It’s best not to move as much as possible for the wound to heal well… But you can go see the baby in a wheelchair. Don’t hold the baby though, as your arms may lose strength.”
“Yes, I’ll do that.”
“Then you can come at the scheduled time… Oh, you can see the baby in thirty minutes. Shall I match the time for you then?”
“What? Yes! That’s great.”
Seo-won nodded his head vigorously. Whether in a wheelchair or not, if he could just see the baby, thirty minutes was nothing. He could wait for hours.
When Seo-won loosened his stiff expression and smiled brightly, the doctor also softened his expression. He looked at Seo-won for a moment, then noticed Do-gyeom’s cold expression and cleared his throat. The doctor hardened his expression as if he had never softened it and spoke businesslike.
“Then I’ll let them know, so rest.”
“Thank you, Doctor.”
When Seo-won thanked him, the doctor turned around. Following the leading doctor, the people who had rushed in to examine Seo-won all left, and Seo-won, who remained in the hospital room, smiled beamingly.
As the smile on Seo-won’s face didn’t seem to disappear easily, Do-gyeom, who was sitting next to him, also softened his expression and asked.
“Are you that happy?”
“Of course!”
Seo-won answered as if asking why he even had to ask. He could assert that he would be the person who wanted to see the baby the most out of anyone, but he was going to see the baby last, so he couldn’t express how desperate he was.
As Seo-won spoke excitedly, unlike usual, Do-gyeom immediately got up from his seat as if he understood the feeling.
“I’ll bring a wheelchair, so wait a moment.”
“Thank you.”
Do-gyeom slightly bent his waist and cupped Seo-won’s cheeks with his hands, then lightly kissed him, making a smacking sound.
After kissing him lightly with just soft lips touching and parting, he went to get the wheelchair with light steps.
Not long after, Do-gyeom returned to the single room with a wheelchair. Do-gyeom helped Seo-won sit in the wheelchair by putting his hands under Seo-won’s armpits.
As Seo-won waited to leave after hanging the IV on the wheelchair, Do-gyeom put on his outerwear and opened his mouth as if he had forgotten something.
“Wait a second.”
“What for?”
There was still time to spare, but time commitments were golden in the hospital. Seo-won was anxious that if they dawdled and were late, he might not be able to see the baby today. Even if he couldn’t see the baby today, there would be plenty of chances to see the baby next time, but he couldn’t wait.
As Seo-won asked as if urging him, Do-gyeom took something out of the locker. As Seo-won stared at what he was taking out, it was none other than a thick navy blue jumper.
“It’s cold outside.”
Saying that, he draped the jumper over Seo-won’s shoulders. It was difficult to put on clothes because of the IV in his arm.
It was a dry and chilly winter, but it wasn’t cold at all inside the hospital… Still, it wasn’t bad that Do-gyeom was taking care of him, so Seo-won was thankful to accept it. Then, Do-gyeom suddenly knelt down on one knee in front of him.
Seeing Do-gyeom kneeling reminded Seo-won of the day he had proposed to him. As Seo-won blushed with embarrassment, Do-gyeom’s next action was something he could never have imagined.
Seo-won was wearing slippers that Do-gyeom had brought for him to wear and take off easily, but he suddenly took off the slippers and touched Seo-won’s bare feet.