Perhaps the fascinating part of human mind was not that it could hold grudges, as apart from human other species in the animal kingdom very much capable of doing so. It was how much a human could throw away for another human they love in a moment of acute crisis.

An expression of love, as one might say. To stand in front of the upcoming bullet knowing it would kill you. Yet you did, because your heart said if it did not kill you then it would kill the person you love.

For Han Minwoo, when he saw the woman drawing the gun, his feet had already started moving. Even before she could point it to Seo Dohyun, he had already skipped the benches and launched himself at him.

The gunshot was so loud it almost deafened him. Then as if time had slowed, he could see the bullet escaping the barrel. His eyes and brain registered it, but his body moved too late.

The impact hit him harder than his mother’s baseball bat when it used to land on his stomach. The pain did not appear at first, only the burning hot sensation on the skin akin to when his mother used to push lit cigarette on his palm, perhaps hundred times more.

“Minwoo!” Dohyun’s scream brought him back.

He did not really realise where he was, before remembering he was in the courtroom. Today was the hearing of a case and he had come with Dohyun as an assistant.

Dohyun’s face was close to him, his red eyes were wide, small drops of sweat appeared on his forehead.

“Minwoo! Minwoo!” Dohyun yelled again, “Stay with me! The ambulance is coming!”

Yet, Minwoo knew right now no matter what, Minwoo could not stay.

He opened his mouth, “Dohyun-ah….” He whispered.

Seo Dohyun put his ears in front of his mouth to hear what he was saying.

“I love you.” Minwoo panted, even though you never did.

He left the words unspoken.

“Minwoo! Stay with me!” Dohyun wailed, “Don’t go! Don’t go!”

Hot tears left his eyes and fell on Minwoo’s face. He could feel his legs losing sensation, very slowly and he knew it was coming. Yet, before his hands could lose sensation, he raised his palm and touched Dohyun’s face.

The face he loved for so long was contoured in pain, the eyes he loved looking in was red with tears, the lips he had kissed so many times was now trembling.

Minwoo brought Dohyun’s face closer and touch his lips with his. The lips tasted salty and metallic. His hands fell, unable to hold up anymore.

The room had slowly started to darken. Dohyun seemed to scream louder but Minwoo couldn’t hear anymore. The darkness only became heavier and heavier till the light disappeared completely.

Then Minwoo woke up.

The moment he opened his eyes, the white, fluorescent light above almost blinded him. He closed his eyes again. It seemed the ambulance had arrived on time.

“Baek Jian….” Someone said beside him, “…has been revived.”