Work Text:
Jaegal Lin was typing away on his computer when he felt a jolt in his chest.
It was strange — his chest hurt, but it wasn’t a physical pain. Instead, he felt like something had hit him inside, striking the core of his heart.
It was strange, far too strange, and Jaegal Lin had to chuckle awkwardly to ease the gnawing feeling in his chest.
His office was empty — his loyal secretary, Yooho, was handling some matters — the silence didn't matter though. As a CEO, Jaegal Lin’s office was top-notch. Everything he needed right now, everything he wanted, and everything he might use in the future were all here.
Even with all the luxury items sprawled across the room — the wine cabinet, the Phillipe Patek watches, the million-dollar paintings, and even the high-quality HD television that was playing the news in the background — Jaegal Lin’s sole attention was on a simple photograph by his table.
It was quite an old photograph, really. In the picture, he was smiling with his beloved son, award-winning doctor, Jin Cheonhee.
Cheonhee was famous, not just for being Jaegal Lin’s son and heir, but also because of his own achievements in the medical field. He had graduated early from the best university, worked as a doctor for several years and had a good reputation, and, just recently, he had discovered the cure for cancer. Everyone knew who he was now, and while people applauded him and spoke highly of him, the one who was the most proud of him was, of course, Jaegal Lin.
Jaegal Lin loved his son — no, that was an understatement — he practically lived because of him. Jin Cheonhee, Jaegal Lin’s adopted son, was the only one who brought Jaegal Lin happiness and gratefulness in his busy life.
Usually, Jaegal Lin would look up from his work and look at his son’s photographs, smiling and wondering if Cheonhee had eaten yet.
Now, though, as Jaegal Lin gazed at his smiling son’s face in the frozen picture, his gut did yet another twist.
His heart was pounding so loudly that Jaegal wondered if his employees could hear it — it was so loud, surely they could hear the rapid thump-thump-thump — even if their cubicles were several floors below his!
The jolt in his chest — no, his heart — struck him again, and Jaegal Lin grimaced.
Something was wrong. Something was terribly, terribly, wrong.
Jaegal Lin set aside his computer and stood up, going to text his son, but then he saw an unfamiliar number calling him.
An unknown caller.
Jaegal felt like he was doused in ice water.
This was his private phone. Only a few people had this number.
Stiffly, Jaegal Lin picked up the call and brought the phone to his ear.
“Hello? Hello? Yes, I’m calling because you’re the emergency contact of this person named… Jin Cheonhee?”
Jaegal’s heart clenched painfully, and Jaegal forced himself to stay calm.
It was fine… this was fine… Probably a scam call….
“Hello? Are you there?”
“I’m here,” Jaegal’s voice was hoarse.
“Yes, well… This person, Jin Cheonhee, has just suffered an accident, with numerous injuries on his head, hands, and torso…. The extent of his injuries are—”
Jaegal Lin’s brain ignored the rest of the man’s words and his hands shook.
Cheonhee had just had an accident.
An accident.
“—and in critical danger…”
Cheonhee.
“—possibility of death, so—”
“Where?” Jaegal Lin’s voice was deathly cold.
“What? Oh.”
The caller gave an address of a hospital, and Jaegal wordlessly hung up.
Jaegal’s hand fell limply to the side and he felt like his knees were giving away, but Jaegal gripped the edge of the table and gritted his teeth.
Now was not the time to be weak.
What storms had he not faced in his time as CEO?
Many — he had faced many tribulations….
Jaegal’s attention was drawn by the television in his office, the one he had been ignoring for quite a while now.
“And right now, we’re here with some BREAKING NEWS! The renowned doctor, Dr. Jin Cheonhee, son of the famous Jaegal CEO, has just gotten into an accident! It was reported that a drunk driver came speeding down the road, and, in an attempt to save a child from getting hit, the Doctor was hit by the car. This is Doctor Jin Cheonhee, the man who recently discovered the cure for cancer and was on track to receiving a Nobel Prize. Here we have CCTV footage of the accident, and we can see the moment Dr. Jin shields the child and gets struck with full force by the swerving car….”
The television was playing a report about his son, Jaegal Lin realized slowly. His son, the one whom everyone knew as the doctor who found the cure for cancer, had just risked his life to protect a random child and got hit by a car instead.
Perhaps to other people, Cheonhee was just “that famous doctor” — but to Jaegal Lin?
That was his son. His fucking son. The one child he cared about the most. He didn’t care if some random child got hit. He just wanted his son to be safe and happy. Was that too much to ask for?!
Jaegal had told himself not to be weak. He had faced may trials as a CEO….
But he had never faced something like this.
Jaegal Lin sank to his knees.
Jaegal Lin didn't even know how he arrived at the hospital. The minute the car stopped, he had practically leapt out and dashed towards the front desk.
“Where is he?!” Jaegal Lin demanded.
“Sir?” The startled receptionist flinched at his sudden question.
“My son! Where is he?” Jaegal Lin growls.
Understanding dawn's on the woman as she recognizes his face, and she looks at him with pity.
“Dr. Cheonhee is in the VIP room, #349, Sir—”
Jaegal Lin didn't wait for the rest of the lady's words. He moved with quick steps, ignoring the stunned passerbys and the few people who even started filming him.
He had to find his child. He had to find him.
He couldn't let him suffer alone. He had to hold his hand, he needed to see him, he needed to make sure his son was going to be alright.
He needed to see Cheonhee.
Now.
Room Number 349 was empty. Was he in the wrong place?
Jaegal Lin frantically checked the room number on the door.
Yes, VIP room number 349. There was no mistake about it.
Why wasn't his son here?!
The room was empty, so empty, and even the hallways were void of people.
Was the nurse wrong?
No…. What if… The room was empty because Cheonhee was already dead?
Jaegal Lin felt like shooting his head for even thinking of that word.
His son wasn't dead. His son was alright, his son was—
“Sir?” A nurse was looking at him worriedly.
What the fuck did she want?
“If you are looking for Doctor Jin…. He is currently in the operating room, Sir,” the nurse stated.
“Operating room?” Jaegal Lin echoed.
“Yes…. His injuries are…” the nurse swallowed. “Too severe.”
Jaegal Lin felt like he was getting hit blow after blow today.
But then again, being in the operation room was better than being in the morgue, right?
“How long has he been in there?” Jaegal Lin asked, rubbing his hands together.
“Uhh, I'm afraid I don't know, Sir, but I could lead you there…?”
“Let's go,” Jaegal didn't bother saying any unnecessary words, and the nurse briskly led the way.
Once they were in front of the operating room, though, Jaegal Lin grew restless again.
His son was inside that room, fighting for his life.
And here he was, unable to do anything.
Jaegal slumped on a chair and buried his head in his hands.
At this point, what could he do other than wait?
He could wait, and wait…. And wait and pray to the gods to save his son….
Or….
Jaegal's thoughts took a turn and he looked up, a glint in his eye.
Rather than wasting time being sad like this, he could take revenge.
He would find that drunk driver….
And make him public enemy number one.
And in the mean time…..
“Cheonhee….” Jaegal looked at the closed doors of the operating room and bit his lip.
Please….
Don't die….
Your father is still here, waiting for you.