Chapter 21:- Meeting Jin Woo

After breakfast, we cleaned up together. It was simple, but somehow it felt comforting—two people just sharing a task. She handed me dishes to dry, and I tried to keep the mood light by making silly faces behind her back when she wasn't looking.

Every now and then, she'd catch me, giving me a look that said she was trying not to laugh.

"Samuel, honestly, you're impossible," she teased, shaking her head but smiling.

"Just keeping things interesting," I replied, winking.

Once the kitchen was clean, we moved to the living room. We dusted off old picture frames, straightened up books, and swept the floor, laughing over little memories as we uncovered them.

She seemed lighter, even when we found a family photo from years ago. She took a deep breath, held the frame for a long moment, hugged it tightly but she didn't look sad. Just… reflective. It was progress.

Later, we decided to head out and visit Jin-Woo, the saviour boy who had just come out of a coma. It seems my warnings were useful, but still he needed to get both a beating and a piece of my mind.

My mother grabbed her purse, and I slung my arm around her shoulders as we walked down the quiet street toward the hospital.

"Thanks for coming with me, even when you aren't completely healed yet." she said softly, leaning into me a little. "It's… nice to have company."

"Hey, you're stuck with me now, remember?" I said with a grin. "Besides, Jin-Woo still needs a 'get well soon' beating from me." My fists twitched eagerly, just itching like crazy to beat the hell out of him and teach him a lesson.

My mom had a helpless sigh on her face, as she knew what was gonna happen.

When we got to the hospital, we found Jin-Woo sitting up in bed, his face lighting up when he saw us. His sister, Jin-Ah, was there too, who gave us a grateful smile, hugging me tightly on arrival.

I asked if I could have a moment alone with Jin-Woo. Jin-Ah and my mom left to go see Jin-Ah's mom, leaving the two of us in the quiet room.

I closed the door as Jin-Ah and my mom stepped out, leaving just me and Jin-Woo in the room. He shifted a bit uncomfortably on the bed, clearly bracing himself, but he kept that faint smile on his face. It only made me more frustrated, though I knew he couldn't help it.

"So, you finally woke up, 'Mr. I'll help everyone even if I die'." I said, crossing my arms. Jin-Woo gave a hesitant nod, but he didn't say anything, just waited, probably knowing what was coming.

Before he could react, I jabbed his shoulder—not hard, but enough to make him wince. "Do you have any idea how worried your sister was? Or did that never cross your mind?" I asked, my voice harsher than I intended. He looked down, his smile fading.

"Samuel, I—"

"Don't. Just don't." I cut him off, punching his arm again, a little harder this time. "What were you thinking, Jin-Woo? Throwing yourself in harm's way for people you didn't even know, without a single thought for the people who actually care about you?

For your sister? She was terrified! Watching you lying there in a coma, wondering if you'd even wake up or not… Do you have any idea what her mental and emotional state was seeing you like that?

Do you have any idea what that girl's state was, knowing her father is missing, her mother is in vegetative state, and now her elder brother in coma, do you know what you put her through for that stupid helping others idea of yours?

I don't care what happens to you for that bullshit idealogy of yours, but I care more about Jin-Ah, and I won't let you hurt her."

He stayed silent, looking down, jaw clenched. He knew he was wrong, and that only frustrated me more. I shoved him lightly, and he grimaced but didn't resist.

"You're so damn reckless," I continued, my fists clenching at my sides. "Do you think being 'kind' means going around nearly killing yourself every chance you get?

How is that fair to Jin-Ah? To anyone who cares about you?" I sighed, shaking my head in disbelief, feeling my own anger mix with worry.

Jin-Woo finally looked up, his face a mixture of guilt and helplessness. "I… I just thought… they needed help," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Oh, and you're the only person who can help, right?" I shot back, rolling my eyes. "Do you think Jin-Ah cares about all the strangers you're out there saving when she's sitting at your bedside, crying her eyes out? Worrying about losing you as well and being left all alone in the world.

Do you think any of those people would help Jin-Ah? Do you think Jin-Ah would care if you died a hero, when she'll be left all alone? Just because you think you're strong enough doesn't mean you have to take on every single burden!

That won't help others, it will just make others complacent. What do you think, how many of those people you saved, would do the same thing if the roles were reversed? How many of them would be willing to die and leave behind their own family to protect you?"

He swallowed, still not saying anything, and I could see the weight of my words sinking in, his eyes turning distant. But he didn't try to argue back. Deep down, he knew everything I was saying was true.

I let out a heavy sigh, finally sitting down on the edge of his bed, my fists relaxing as I saw the guilt washing over him. "Look, Jin-Woo, you don't have to be a hero at the cost of everyone who loves you," I said, my voice softening.

"I get it; you want to help. But you're not invincible. And if you keep this up, one day you might not come back at all, or worse, the people who love you might start hating you for prioritizing others over them. "

Jin-Woo looked up at me, finally meeting my gaze, his eyes a little red. "I'm sorry, Samuel," he muttered, his voice heavy with remorse. "I didn't mean to hurt anyone… I just… I thought I was doing the right thing."

I let out a long breath, nodding. "Yeah, well, maybe start thinking about the state you would put Jin-Ah in, who'll be here to pick up the grotesque pieces of your remains if something happens to you.

"You've got very few people who genuinely care about you, man. Remember that. Heroes who save the world often do it at the cost of their loved ones. I'd rather let the world burn than see mine suffer for some idealistic cause.

You're not obligated to save everyone. If they're able-bodied and of sound mind, it's their duty to protect themselves and their loved ones. If their fear outweighs their will to protect, that's on them—not on you. You should just focus on people who actually need you." I placed a hand on his shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

There was a moment of silence between us before Jin-Woo managed a small, grateful smile. "Thanks, Samuel, I'll keep that in mind, and I want you to keep on looking after Jin-Ah and my mom.

Jin-Ah needs you more than me, given how you've always had her back, even more so than I've been able to. It's reassuring to me that she has you protecting her" he said quietly.

I smiled back, ruffling his hair roughly just to mess with him one last time. "Well, I would definitely do that, because I don't know about you, but I hold Jin-Ah very dearly, and would always protect her."

I paused, letting out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding. "But don't make me do this again, alright? You never know when it'll be the last time you see someone. With monsters and dungeons everywhere… it's just too risky."

I said as memories of my dad flickered in my mind—the way he was suddenly gone when I was only ten. I could barely even remember him, just fragments of a childhood that felt like it was from someone else's life.

Maybe that's why I'm so protective now—why I can't help but keep my guard up for my mom, for Jin-Ah and her family.

Losing my dad left this huge gap, and the thought of waking up one day to find someone else gone, someone I care about… I can't stand it. I don't want any regrets. I don't want to look back and realize I didn't spend enough time with the people I love.

So yeah, I'll be there for them, no question. But Jin-Woo? He has to promise not to make them worry like this again.

He chuckled softly. "I'll try."

Author's Note:

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