CHAPTER 103

The situation was quickly resolved with Anton’s arrival. Taejun lifted Minhee and Rose together, ushering them into the limousine Anton had brought. While that was happening, Anton retrieved various items from the trunk, clearing away the guns and restraining the kidnappers.

Inside the limousine, Minhee held the pale and trembling Rose, at a loss for how to explain the incomprehensible events to the young child. Smoothing down Rose’s tangled hair with her fingers, Minhee steadied her voice, which had become hoarse from screaming too much.

“Rose, you know your uncle has superpowers, right? Some bad people tried to bother you and the teacher, but Uncle showed up and punished the bad people. Uncle got a little hurt in the process, but he’s very strong… a really powerful person, so he’ll be okay.”

This was as much for Minhee’s own reassurance as it was for Rose. The man she loved had been shot right in front of her eyes. Minhee clenched her fists, digging her nails into her palms to keep from losing consciousness.

Outside the window, Anton opened a first aid kit and began wrapping Taeyoon’s shoulder with a bandage. He then cut through Taeyoon’s suit and shirt with scissors.

It wasn’t apparent how serious Taeyoon’s injury was, with his dark suit, until the blood flowing from his upper arm dripped down his fingers and pooled on the ground. Minhee fought the urge to retch and tightened her grip on Rose.

When Anton used forceps to push a sponge-like material into the bullet wound, Minhee felt her breath catch. At that moment, Taejun met her eyes.

Incredibly, he managed to smile at her. He then spoke a few words to Anton, who moved his bulky frame to block Minhee’s view of the ongoing treatment. But Taejun never averted his eyes from her. Minhee wiped away tears, making sure Rose didn’t see.

Taejun mouthed the words “It’s okay” to her, then smiled widely, his dimples deepening.

Just then, the sirens of an approaching ambulance and police cars filled the air. The two men sitting on the ground stood up as police officers approached, with Anton intercepting them. Taejun walked up to the limo and tapped on the window, then slid the door open, his arms covered again by the shredded suit.

In a composed voice, Taejun spoke to Rose.

“Rose, your grandparents are here.”

Rose’s grandparents, who had arrived in New York the previous night and were resting at Taejun’s apartment, had rushed to Randall’s Island as soon as they heard about the incident.

“Grammy!”

Rose cried, running out of the limousine to hug her grandmother tightly. Seeing Taejun injured and Minhee disheveled, Rose’s grandmother turned pale with shock. Her husband, steadying her, approached Taejun.

“We’ll hear the details later. We’ll take Rose with us, so don’t worry, just focus on getting treatment.”

“Yes, sir.”

The ambulance that had arrived first took the more severely injured kidnappers. Taejun, despite having been shot and bleeding profusely, looked surprisingly unscathed. When another ambulance arrived, Taejun, classified as a “gunshot victim” boarded it, with Minhee accompanying him as the “guardian.”

Sitting across from each other, Taejun’s hand gently caressed Minhee’s side. 

For a moment, Minhee wondered if he had gone crazy after getting shot. Then she winced, reminded of the pain in her side that she had forgotten about.

[I think she has fractured ribs, please take a look at her first].

Taejun insisted that the medic check Minhee first, as he had already received emergency treatment. Lifting her clothes, they saw her reddened, swollen side. After a few questions and vital checks, the medic said an X-ray would be needed to determine the extent of the injury and provided Minhee with a painkiller.

They then checked Taejun’s blood pressure and pulse and examined the first-aided arm.

[It’s a clean through-and-through wound. The shoulder injury is just a graze.]

[That’s a relief in a bad situation. You did an excellent job with the first aid. Using a hemostatic sponge for the gunshot wound—it’s like the work of a combat medic.]

Taejun simply nodded. When the medic tried to give him a strong painkiller shot, Taejun declined, saying it wasn’t necessary.

[Taejun, doesn’t it hurt? Are you sure you’re okay? You were shot, how can you be so fine? If you’re telling me not to worry about you, please don’t].

Minhee reached out to Taejun’s injured arm, her voice trembling. Seeing her distress, Taejun asked the medic to administer the painkiller. In truth, after getting into the ambulance with Minhee, the adrenaline had started to wear off, and he was beginning to feel the pain and fatigue.

The potent narcotic painkiller injection made Taejun’s pupils slightly dilate. He languidly called out to Minhee.

“Minhee.”

Taejun sat back against the wall and stared at her.

“Yes?”

“I just…… need you to breathe and stay alive.”

Minhee stared at Taejun, and then the tears she had been holding back burst forth. Taejun, under the influence of painkillers, was unable to hide his emotions with his usual dexterity, and his face wore his feelings plainly on his face: he was stiff as a boxer in the ring with his guard down, swaying unsteadily like a vulnerable boy, and burning with blind affection for her.

He raised his uninjured arm to wipe the tears from Minhee’s face.

“Let’s live together.”

“Sob…”

“I want to be by your side, guarding you until I die. As precious as my own life.”

Taejun’s throat lumped. His eyes were wide and bloodshot. He kissed Minhee’s forehead as she sobbed, unable to speak. 

“So…… please, come live with me.”

Minhee nodded her head repeatedly towards Taejun.

Taejun then fumbled in his suit pocket, pulling something out. His hand trembled as he took Minhee’s hand and placed it on his lap, slipping the ring on with one hand. 

After slipping the ring on her fourth finger, Taejun lifted her hand, reverently kissing her fingertips for a long time, head bowed. 

Minhee threw her arms around his neck and their lips met in a tender, tear-dampened kiss. Taejun buried his forehead in her shoulder and sighed in relief. Minhee gently caressed his uninjured shoulder.

“For getting shot today while saving me, I’ll spend the rest of my life repaying you. Thank you for saving my life, I love you.”

“I can only live if you live. You don’t need to thank me for that-” 

“Taejun.”

Minhee interrupted him, and he lifted his head to look at her. She cupped his face in her hands. 

“Promise me one thing.” 

“Yes, anything.” 

“Never again, like just now, get shot trying to save me. Don’t smile when you have a hole in your body because you’re worried about me. Don’t do that either.” 

Minhee scolded him, forcing a stern expression.

“…….”

“Didn’t you ever think that as much as you love and cherish me, I love and cherish you, too? I have no desire to live in a world without you, so please, take better care of yourself. My precious man, who is priceless to me, I don’t want to see you hurt and riddled with holes ever again, okay?”

Taejun’s ears were filled with Minhee’s sweet, caressing voice. He felt like he could melt right where he sat. Gazing at Minhee with a dazed, intoxicated expression, Taejun broke into a dazzling smile and nodded.

“…I’ll try.”

Hearing Taejun’s response, Minhee let out a sigh. She tugged at his shirt and kissed his smiling lips.

A sob sounded from somewhere. Turning their heads, Taejun and Minhee saw the medics wiping away tears as they watched.

[Congratulations! I couldn’t understand the foreign language, but did you get shot while trying to save your fiancée? Saving her life and then proposing to her is so romantic!]

[I’ve heard urban legend stories from the senior staff, but I can’t believe we actually got to witness something like this in our ambulance. It’s an honor. Congratulations!]

The back doors of the stopped ambulance suddenly swung open.

The nurse holding the chart glanced her eyes.

[The gunshot victim is?]

[Lucy! These people just got engaged!! Right here in our ambulance!!]

[Wow! Congratulations!! So the gunshot victim is?]

[The man.]

[Okaaay! Let’s go. The fiancée should come too.]

Taejun got out first, offering his hand to Minhee. She took his hand and stepped out. As Taejun put his arm around Minhee’s shoulder, she embraced his waist with both arms.

The two of them would stop every few steps to gaze at each other, whisper, share a kiss, and embrace again, until they disappeared from the ambulance staff’s view. The staff let out a deep sigh.

[Ah, the prime of their youth! We had a nice show. Alright, time to get back to our posts!]

*

Dear my little Rose,

Are you doing well in Korea?

I spoke to your paternal grandma a few days ago, and she said you’re happily doing well without any health issues, which put my mind at ease.

I heard you went to Busan to meet Yoonseo. What did you two do for fun?

Other than missing you, the teacher and Santon are doing well.

Santon’s arm is almost fully healed. By the time you return to New York, the traces will be completely gone, so don’t worry.

And just like you said, Santon and the teacher have decided to fall in love. It would make me so happy if you could be the flower girl at our wedding.

I miss you, Rose! Please give my regards to Grandma and Grandpa too.

XOXO, 

Miss Minnie

*

Dear Miss Minnie,

I go to the kids’ cafe in Korea every day. I sweat a lot walking outside because it’s so hot.

I went to the seaside in Busan and played with Yoonseo.

I like being a flower girl! I want to wear a pink dress. Can I also wear a crown?

Santon and Miss Minnie make love in the bed, so please make me a little sibling soon.

I miss you.

Grammy says hi.

XOXO, 

Rose

– End –