67. Don't Leave Me

"Why are you crying...? Who is crying...?

I'm looking at you sitting infront of me but you have been smiling at me the entire time yet the sound of someone crying still echoes in this place.

It sounds remote yet very familiar to me that my heart breaks just from hearing it.

I'm torn...I don't know...What should I do? They sound so pitiful.

...Right...! This is what I hear all the time. Or perhaps I'm fooling myself...deluding myself into hearing things...things like when you talk to me, telling me how your day was. You never did that before. It's refreshing and I like it. Please don't stop talking to me or else I might forget the sound of your voice.

I like seeing you happy...

Why won't you smile at me..?

It's so cold Yeon. I feel very cold. I'm trying to move my hands but I can't yet whenever I feel this way, you somehow make me feel warm again. If I keep craving for you like this and you instantly grant my wishes, then I don't want to leave this place not even once.

Here, the two of us are alone, no one to interrupt us...no more threats.

I want to live like this. I like living like this...to live and love and to be loved by you, for you, with you.

I'm happy. Too happy to think about my worries. Here, you put my needs first and so do I. You no longer fight me like you used to. You've become more willing Yeon so be willing only with me. I don't want to share you with anyone else. Don't look at them nor pay attention to anyone else. I don't like it. It makes me anxious...envious...angry and jealous.

I'm ridiculously selfish.

I see them, I see them all wanting to have a piece of you. Wishing, tasting your scent in the air and you walking carefree, unaware of the bests that pant after you.

I'm a beast myself...the only beast allowed to be around you, to guard you, protect you.

He is mine..!

...Yet, a part of me keeps breaking by day. If I'd met you sooner... If only I hadn't disregarded you as a nuisance, we'd be together now, dating for years.

I'll forever live in penance without demanding your absolution not even once.

Oh, how nice it would have been to have met you sooner.

We'd go on dates together...plenty of dates. We'd spend holidays together and celebrate our anniversaries... Come to think of it, if I'd met you earlier, we'd have been dating for four years.

Four years Yeon!

...but I do not think I could wait that long to officially make you mine. I'd marry you after six months of dating. We would be happy together. We'd spend all our breaks together too.

If I'd met you earlier, I wouldn't have had a string of failed relationships and neither would you have known what a heartbreak is.

I'd never hurt you. I'd be good to you.

Wait...I can't smell your scent. It's also become cold again...too chilling for me to endure....

I can't see you...where are you? You were right infront of me a second ago.

I told you not to leave...they will find you again..!

Yeon!

Please be careful. I don't think I can take it again if something were to happen to you one more tme.

I feel tired. I'm exhausted.

Do you still hate me? No matter. Even if you do, I'll endure your contempt and strive to make you happy. I won't waiver.

I'll still love you...I'll still want to be with you.

Wait...What's going on? ...It's too bright...

Who is this? What is he saying? This is not Yeon!

Where is he?

He was here moments ago. He was supposed to come back.

No! Did he finally run away? Did he leave me? I thought I promised to be good...to do good...

What is this person saying? It's annoying... Why can't I get up? I have to find Yeon before he gets too far.

He can't leave me...I won't allow it! I won't let him!

I won't let you be free not even in your dreams. You can never leave me Yeon...!

"Hey! Stop moving you little brat!"

"Yeon...Where is Yeon?"

"Robin! Get me some water! His throat is too dry and this fool won't stop talking!" Stan's uncle called out then shot his nephew a fierce look as he tried to push him back to lie down. "First thing you do when you wake up is fight me? How predictable..."

"...Yeon..."

"He is not here but will be here soon now that you are awake..."

Stan's uncle felt relieved when his nephew's body gradually relaxed and slowly laid down back on the bed.

"How are you still so strong after sleeping this long?"

"Where...is...he?" Stan struggled to speak. His voice felt heavy and coarse. He tried to clear his throat but was too dry that he flinched at how painful it felt.

"From your reaction, your nerves are picking up fast and that gladdens me up. Your body will be sore for sometime however do not fret. You'll be moving around soon in no time..."

"Stan!" Dad Robin burst into the room with a glass of water in his hand. He ran towards his son and instinctively pulled him up for a tight embrace.

"Calm down Robin, he just woke up. His brain is still processing a lot of things however, do not be disappointed if all he wants to talk about is Yeon..."

"I know...I know..." Dad Robin said as he let a confused Stan go gradually and gently put him back to lie down. "He's grown thin...I thought we were feeding him well..."

"You've become very emotional Robin that you've thrown your experience out of the window." Stan's uncle mocked then giggled. "Any patient in his case is bound to loose a few kilos after sleeping that long..."

"Be quiet. I don't need a lecture from you especially now Jiwon." Dad Robin retorted, his eyes still focussed on his son. He couldn't help but smile at the look of confusion on Stan's face and as much as he wanted to scold him for risking his life yet again, he decided to leave that for a later time. Right now, seeing him awake was more than enough after being in a coma for that long.

"Where...is Yeon?"

Sighing aloud, Stan's uncle pulled dad Robin to a standing position as he spoke. "He keeps asking that same question over and over. Can you answer him while I check his vital signs?"

"What can you tell for the moment about him?" Dad Robin asked looking concerned.

"His breathing looks faint. His mind and body are probably fatigued that it would be hard to say when he'll get back to normal on his own. Good thing we have Yeonand a few medications I can prescribe to jumpstart his system once more." Stan's uncle said, glancing away at the thought of having to induce his nephew with serum produced from his own blood mixed up with Yeon's.

Dad Robin nodded and turned back to look at his son and replied. "Yeon will be back in the evening. He's been with you almost everyday since the incident..." Dad Robin hesitated before continuing. "Do you have any memories of what lead to you being in this state?"

Stan looked confused but didn't utter a word. Upon seeing this, his uncle asked. "Do you know how long you've been sleeping Stannie?"

"No. Five hours maybe..."

"More like five weeks plus one." His uncle chucked as he went on to check Stan's blood pressure.

"What do you remember last?" Dad robin asked upon seeing Stan unresponsive to his predicament.

"Yeon and I were being followed...I called a taxi to take him home then...there were some people...five of them and two cars. They tackled me out of my car and sniffed on my jacket...I was wearing Yeon's jacket. One of them kept saying 'that wasn't him' and afterwards, I retaliated by letting out a lot of scent. I tried to control it but couldn't....I don't remember much after that until now."

Shifting his gaze between his uncle and his father, Stan continued. "I did call Elric's mother earlier. Did they catch those culprits?"

"All of them were apprehended. The case is out of our hands now since some of those criminals have multiple charges, including the issue concerning Yeon. You did well to have contacted Elric's mother. She advised us to stay out of the case until you woke up or when she gets in touch and we've been doing that so far..."

"But Yeon...did they reach him?"

"No. We were actually having dinner after getting tired of waiting for you to reach home. He arrived in a taxi with was strange since you two had left the airport together that day. Your father and I were the first to leave since we didn't have any check in luggage and hoped to see you two walk in. I had tried reaching you but stopped since Yeon said you had something urgent to take care of. It was only while we dined that Elric's mother informed us of which hospital you had been rushed to but advised us to leave during daylight due to the situation. She said the police weren't sure who else might be hiding, waiting to ambush us, especially Yeon as we drove in the night to check after you."

"Enough with the explanation, ask him why he risked his life like a fool yet again! What is he, a hero?" Stan's uncle yelled, unable to endure his patience any longer. "You had us worried sick!"

"What would I have done in that situation? They would have attacked all of us if I drove home and discovered where Yeon lives. I had to trick them and that was the only thing I could do at the moment. We were far off from the police station too. I know they were after Yeon that I can almost remember them being disappointed to see me instead."

"You could have called the police and us..."Dad Robin exclaimed but was interrupted by Stan.

"I was running away from them. They were chasing after us that the only thing in my mind at that time was to loose them first. If I'd taken a moment to call the police they'd have caught onto us. I was lucky to not have run into the second car at that time. If I hadn't gone back to them, they'd have followed Yeon's scent all the way home and that would have been catastrophic. It was only after sending away Yeon that I began to think clearly and called Elric's mom. If the police took ten minutes to get to me, with her extensive influence, her people would have taken five and that's why I had to buy time, my only weapon being the power of fated mates."

After a brief silence, Stan's uncle finally spoke. "You're still a fool for doing that. You could have died if she didn't get to you sooner. You used up all your scents and ran out dry. Do you know what becomes of a human without scent? They loose their mind and much faster if they are fated. It's still a shock you have yours intact."

"I'm sorry..."

"You better be. The power of fated mates is not something to play with carelessly. Now drink some water before you loose your voice too."

Stan smiled at his uncle's remark and took the glass his father had extended to him. He gulped down the contents in an instant and asked for more to which dad Robin rushed out to get.

Seeing that they were alone, Stan's uncle took the opportunity to scold Stan some more.

"I'm sorry uncle, I won't do that again."

"Don't be. You did what you had to to protect your fated. However I must warn you. This is the second time you've abused that power. If you use it again this year, you'll die."