Heart of Ice

Harm

The following morning, Yewon hoped that Seungcheol would come to breakfast, and he did. What's more was that he took the seat right beside hers and wished her a good morning.

They were small things, but they were significant coming from him, for they felt like signs that told Yewon that things were going well between them, and lately, things had been going well. Ever since he saw her at the hospital that day, it felt like something had shifted, as if he'd suddenly gone from viewing her as the person who represented the hated enemy country to viewing her as someone he had no reason to hate. He even told her that he was fond of her. Whenever she thought about it, she always found herself in disbelief. Did he really say that to her?

There was only that one time since then when she yelled at him when he prevented her from seeing Wonwoo. She regretted yelling at him now. She now knew he only did it because he did truly believe that Wonwoo was using her. In many ways, she realized, the fact he prevented her from seeing Wonwoo showed that he cared for her, at least to some extent.

Or maybe he really did prevent her out of pride, she began to think. Whatever his motive, at least he hadn't intentionally lied to her. And if it had been the truth, she definitely would have appreciated that he told her.

She snapped out of her thoughts when a shaky arm began to serve her food. She turned to see that it was Seokmin; he looked ill and was sweating from his forehead.

"Seokmin, are you okay?" she asked him, pushing her chair back to turn to him.

"I'm fine. I'm fine," Seokmin replied, but from the way the words came out in a wheeze, Yewon knew he was starting to have another panic attack.

Soonyoung, who had been sitting right in front of Yewon, got up from his chair and made his way to where Seokmin was. Seokmin had to put down the tray he was carrying to hold his chest as his gradually began to gasp for air.

"Breathe, Seokmin, breathe," Soonyoung instructed.

Seokmin tried to breathe, but instead he collapsed on the floor, desperately gasping for air.

Yewon knelt beside Seokmin as well, holding his hand like she had done last time. Seokmin made eye contact with her, his eyes so deep and fearful. It looked like he had something to say to her, but his heavy breathing did not allow a word to come out of his mouth.

He suddenly squeezed her hand tight and closed his eyes as he tried to catch his breath again. Yewon had never seen Seokmin have an anxiety attack that bad before. He had gasped for air, but never had he started to wriggle on the floor the way he was now.

"Get the physician!" Soonyoung called to one of the guards, who immediately rushed out. Soonyoung lifted Seokmin's upper body so that he was sitting up against his chest and loosened Seokmin's buttoned up uniform around his neck so that he had more space to breathe.

Seokmin's face suddenly turned white and his lips went blue as he squirmed, and for a second, Yewon felt like was actually going to die.

Seokmin finally calmed down enough to stop squirming, much to Yewon's relief. His breaths were still loud and dangerous, and it took a good many seconds for them to finally calm down, leaving Seokmin in cold sweat, panting and exhausted in Soonyoung's arms.

"You should rest, Seok," Soonyoung told Seokmin softly stroking his shoulders. "Go to bed, and I'll send the physician to you."

When Seokmin could move again he pulled his hand away from Yewon's and got up from against Soonyoung's chest, taking hold of chair to pull himself to his feet.