Deus Didymus: Rend

Pt2Ch91: Hybe XI

Minho jolted in his chair, sitting up. A small pool of drool sat on his desk where it trickled from the corner of his mouth. Three textbooks laid just beyond where his arms cradled his head, each flipped to a section detailing a different medical study. The first covered the anatomy of the ear, the second the anatomy of the larynx, and the third covered the topic of traumatic brain injuries.

Three soft knocks pulled Minho's attention to his door. Youngeun softly pushed the door open, locking eyes with Minho's exhausted gaze. "I have the medical reports," she said. "Her throat is healthy, so they assume it's nerve damage."

"So it really was me..." Minho buried his face into his hands, shuddering as he took a deep breath. Youngeun approached Minho's desk, but before she could get too close Minho slammed his fist against the laminated wood. He swept his hand across its surface, throwing its contents across the room. "Fuck!!!"

"Minho, it's not your fault-"

"But it is!" Minho clutched his head. His fingers gripped his hair, and tears welled in his eyes. "She can't speak because I didn't heal her correctly. It's my fault. Without Dr. Miyawaki, no one even knows how to fix that shit."

Youngeun cautiously stepped next to Minho, rubbing his back. He mumbled incoherently, but it was clear the words he spoke were only insults. "Look. You only learned how to rid a person of a single virus. The fact that you healed her to near perfect condition is already something you should be proud of. You didn't train in the academy with a healing allele. Most people with healing alleles are unable to heal damage that complex outside their body so why should you hold yourself to the same degree as Sakura?"

Youngeun tugged on Minhoms chin, turning his face toward hers. "You are Kim Minho. You've mastered a variety of alleles at such a young age, and stand at the top with nothing more than your hard work. Sure, that can be fuel for your deprecating thoughts, but you also need to remember you're just a young man. Less than ten years ago you enrolled into the academy still wet behind the ears. Less than five years ago you were a student with a bright future ahead of him. Less than two years ago you weren't even a commander. So tell me, why do you put all this pressure onto yourself?"

Minho turned to his desk and the mess he'd made. Guilt plagued his eyes, but also fear and worry. "Because I have to."

"You don't have to." A small smile formed at the corner of Youngeun's lips, pulling Minho's eyes back to the woman. "I'm your advisor. I was Chaeyeon's advisor, and the advisor of the commander before her. I'm here to lighten the burden on your shoulders. So let me do that, okay?"

With a soft sigh, Minho nodded. He relaxed his posture prompting the woman to rub his head. "Go get some rest."

Minho took a deep breath. He closed his eyes, taking in Youngeun's gentle touch. "Are you wearing perfume, Ms. Seo?"

Youngeun pulled her hand away. She stepped back with her lips pursed and her eyes diverted elsewhere. "Is it noticeable?"

"Yeah," Minho mumbled. "It's not overbearing though."

With a soft smile Youngeun twirled her shoulder-length hair. "I went on a date with Kafu earlier. He got me this perfume, so I thought I'd try it out for the first time."

"So there is something going on between you two," Minho chuckled. The commander stood on his feet, bowing before starting for the door. As he neared his and Chaewon's room, Minho watched Eunbi, Tatsuo, and Mayuzumi step from the room.

The door clicked while their eyes met, snapping Minho from his stupor. Eunbi straightened herself, but before she could walk past Minho, the man grabbed her arm. "Why?" he questioned.