"I have no reason to try and appease or get close to you. I think the both of us are beyond the reach of potential friendship or civility. This apology, this admittance is because you are right and I have done something wrong-" "Or it could be guilt and you're only apologising to soothe your guilty conscious" Jeremy cuts him off and Daniel sighs.
"Jeremy, I'm going to be completely open with you and tell you that I don't have an ounce of guilt for hitting you in the head with a tray. Am I sorry for acting that way? Yes, but I feel no guilt so you shouldn't worried about that" Daniel deadpans, feeling the energy and effort of talking slowly drain out of him with each passing moment.
Jeremy looked affronted by this but strangely enough no angrier than he had been before this truth. The male shifts, tilting his head to the side before laying back on the bed.
"Are you saying all this because you want me to drop the charges I'm going to bring forward against you and the hospital?" Jeremy asks instead and Daniel yet again shakes his head.
"It's your choice whether you want to press charges. Like I said, I was in the wrong for hitting you and I am sorry about how my actions have made you feel in the past. You know, for what it's worth I wasn't lying about changing my ways and improving myself. I am going to do that for the sake of my patients, of my uncle and myself" He attempts to convey his honesty as best as possible but it was hard to do so when the person he was talking to was known for hating him.
Jeremy yet again takes a moment to think before sighing.
"Sure. Fine, whatever. I believe that you're going to have a life-changing experience and change yourself into a better Doctor. Cool" Jeremy speaks sarcastically as he crosses his arms. "Just so you know, I'm not going to be pressing charges. Both those fucking legal teams threatened to take away my medical license and ensure that I get kicked out of here and never accepted into any other hospital" He spits out bitterly and Daniel gapes.
They did what?!
"Jeremy I am so sorry I had no idea that's what they told you…actually to be honest I didn't know much about what was going to happen with the lawyers that was all my uncles doing for the sake of the hospital. I told him that I should just face the repercussions of my actions but he was adamant about it…I'm sorry about this" Daniel was quick to state and he did feel bad about this.
Taking legal action against Jeremy to stop him from spilling stuff about Daniel and SNMC was one thing but threatening his career was another. It was horrifying.
Jeremy yet again seems to pause at how honest Daniel was being before grumbling to himself.
"Tch, honest brat" He huffs and Daniel has half a mind to take back his words if it doesn't mean they would probably argue again.
"Anyways, all that aside I also came by to tell you that I won't be around for a while…I'll be going abroad to work on myself and I promise when I come back I'll be a person that is worthy of all the opportunities I've been afforded. You can take that at face value or you could just not care at all. I just wanted to let you know" Daniel blurts out the last bit, wanting to get this done and over with.
Jeremy blinks. Once. Twice.
"You're leaving? Where?"
Not want to give a specific answer because knowing Jeremy he probably would throw a hissy fit over the answer about nepotism unlike Collin who handled it more cordially, he just says "America" and leaves it at that.
Jeremy nods.
"I see"
"Listen, whether you accept my words or not it hardly matters. I just wanted to tell you that I am sincere about everything I've told you" With that, he stands up from his seat and moves to walk out of the room.
He was sure that Jeremy had nothing else to say and to his surprise, he didn't.
.
.
.
He had said his goodbyes to his uncle and mother the morning of the Friday, Seonhui was more than just teary-eyed as she gave her son a tight squeeze.
"I can't believe you'll be going away for so long" She whispers in hushed tones as she pulls away to stare at her son, tears welling up in her eyes as she coos softly. "I know I didn't want you to work at the CC but this…this feels even worse" Seonhui gasps out as Daniel grasps her hands.
"I promise to call as often as I can, and I'll visit during the holidays if I can" Daniel reassures her and she nods as he reaches up to wipe her eyes.
"I know, baby. Mama's just sad that you'll be gone" She whispers.
They exchange a few more words together before Daniel moves on to speak to his uncle. Jinyoung's face was stony, it didn't betray any of his emotions and if anything he looked slightly cold. The only thing that gave away his stance on Daniel's leave was the way his eye twitched every so often.
"Sad?" Daniel teases, feeling the need to lighten the mood.
The Director snorts.
"You wish, brat" Jinyoung grumbles before reaching out and ruffling his head aggressively. "I've arranged everything already for you. When you get to the States there should be someone there to pick you up. You'll also get a sim card for your phone as well as some other necessities and directions" His uncle explains and Daniel nods.
"You've prepared for this, haven't you?" Daniel sighs and Jinyoung nods grimly.
"I'm always prepared," He remarks before directing Daniel towards a car. His suitcase and belongings had already been loaded onto the back and the driver, a middle-aged looking man was waiting patiently. "Manager Kim here will take you to the airport. Tom was able to lend me one of his men for this job" Jinyoung explains and Daniel nods.
"I guess this is it" Daniel hums out only to be hit on the back of his head.
"Don't say it like that. You're going overseas, not dying. You'll be back, brat. I can't get rid of you that easily" Jinyoung jokes and Daniel breaks out into a soft smile.
"I'll miss you too, Uncle Jinyoung" Daniel sighs before walking over and pulling the man into a brief hug. He receives an awkward hug in return before eventually being ushered into the car.
With a brief wave and a call goodbye, Daniel was on his way.
"We should arrive at the airport in about 40 minutes, Doctor Park" Manager Kim informs and Daniel hums out a reply.
"Before we go, could you stop by the CC? I need to drop something off" He asks and the man peers at him through the rearview mirror, looking rather hesitant following through with the request. "I promise I won't take too long" He vows and the driver nods.
The driver to the CC doesn't take long and it doesn't take much longer before Daniel can complete his task. He heads towards his private room first, not to move to collect anything but simply just to look over it. Despite not having been here for so much as a year a sense of sadness befalls Daniel as he takes note of the empty and bare room. All his stuff had been packed away and even though he didn't have much to begin with it was still jarring to see how vacant the room was.
Moving on from the room he heads to his office. Whilst the room itself was still filled with all its necessities and resources the fact that his desk was practically naked didn't sit right with the Doctor. Approaching the piece of furniture he runs his hands against the wood, feeling a sense of fondness overcome him. He opened each drawer, making sure there was nothing left behind before closing them and heading to the file room.
As weird as it sounded, the file room was his pride and joy. He can barely count or remember all the hours he had spent in this little room organising the files and papers, building the stupid shelves as well as how much sweat and agonised over how it was arranged. From his first week at the CC where he passed out from overworking himself due to this room to the moments where he and Gun would spend in there, embraced in each other's arms.
Closing and locking the door securely, Daniel pulls out the handwritten letters he had written the night before and leaves them in a small pile on one of the desks. Open in plain view for Jay or Mira to find and distribute. On top of the pile, he leaves one last letter, one that is more precious to him than any of the others.
Letting out a heavy sigh, Daniel closes his eyes briefly before letting go and walking away. Heading out of the room, he looks back one last time before turning around and never looking back.
.
.
.
Gun had an errand to run for Charles. Picking up some files from the company building and scanning them for the man as he was away on a business trip in Busan. The workload for the CC had slowly become steady, there was still an ungodly amount for one person but it had become bearable, especially after the situation with his family and Daniel had been resolved.
Everything was perfect. Well…it should have been.
'Bzz' 'Bzz'
As he was leaving the HNH building he felt his phone vibrate. Pulling out the device, Gun scowls at the sight of Goo's name but picks it up anyway.
"This better be good" He states once he answers.
"James is awake!" This is Goo's first sentence and it's one that both surprises but also fills him with relief.
"That's good, any complications with-" "That's not the point, you need to get here now!" Goo cuts him off and with how frantic he sounded it could only mean something horrible.
"Is James alright? What's happened?" Gun fires off as he quickly heads towards his car, unlocking it and sliding in.
"It's not James, it's about Daniel. We need you here now" Goo demands before ending the call.
The mention of Daniel's name is enough to motivate him to speed through the roads. He hadn't talked to the Doctor all that much since their night together, their jobs dragging them away from each other. Even after the truth had come out and Gun had realised the role his uncle had played in hurting their relationship the Doctor had seemed far more sombre than usual. Perhaps sleeping together that night had been a mistake, too fast and too raw.
Remembering Daniel's downcasted and miserable face that night had made Gun feel horrible. Sure the younger had been trying to mask his expressions but even so, he had always been horrible with hiding his real emotions. It was plain for anyone to see at the time that he was upset, that there was something inside that was eating him. At first, Gun had simply thought it was because of the conversation with Shintaro and their argument. Thinking back on it now, with their apologies and embrace it didn't seem to make Daniel feel or look any better.
Whatever the case, Daniel was in trouble and it was enough to send Goo calling for him. He arrives at SNMC within 20 minutes, probably passing through several red lights but he could hardly care. Parking takes far too long but once he's done he rushes inside the building, making his way to James' assigned VIP room. All sorts of people send him passing looks, ranging from doctors to nurses to visitors and patients.
Storming into James' room, he's met with the grim faces of Goo and James. One looked downright distraught and the other who had just woken up after being unconscious for days looked exhausted but also guilty.
"What's going on?" Gun demands upon making eye contact with them.
The two look at each other nervously. Letting out a heavy sigh, Gun reels back slightly, he was being far too aggressive over a situation he had no idea about. Instead, he asks a different question.
"James, how are you feeling?" The red-head's appearance was haggard, hair that was usually so perfect was now matted and oily, dark roots having appeared due to his lack of effort in dying it. The Founder slash Idol could only let out a long-suffering sigh.
"Shitty" James replies before gesturing for Gun to come closer, he obeys. "Gun, I need to tell you something. I was supposed to tell you days ago but…of course, with my luck, I was in an incapacitated state and was prevented from telling you…I tried to get Daniel to tell you himself but it seems to me that you're completely in the dark or else you wouldn't be reacting this way" James huffs and each word appears to take all the energy out of him.
"Tell me what?" Gun was getting tired of having to ask all the questions, why couldn't anyone just give him straight answers without all these short phrases?
"Daniel's gone" James states, the words were short and sudden but they were enough to make Gun pause.
"What?" Blurting it out without so much as a thought, the Founder could feel his body go rigid. "What the fuck do you mean by that? Is this some kind of sick and twisted joke?" Gun hisses, feeling his hackles rise at the words.
"No…What I'm trying to say is that Daniel is gone. He's left the country and he won't be coming back for who knows how long" James coughs out, his voice wavering just like his strength in the moment, shaking his head he slumps further into the bed. "I tried to convince him to stay, tried to tell him that him leaving shouldn't be a solution to his problems but he wanted to protect you, this hospital and the CC…he also said something about his wellbeing and getting better, I'm not too sure If I even remember our conversation correctly- COUGH " He coughs, his body quivering with the action and it causes Goo to startle forward, immediately reaching for the redheads side to ensure that he was fine.
Despite his struggles, Gun could hardly care before pressing on.
"What the fuck do you mean he's left the country? I saw him a couple of days ago and he was…he was fine! We were fine! James you're fucking hallucinating right now, your coma probably caused you to dream all that bullshit!" Gun shouts as he pulls out his phone and starts trying to dial Daniel.
"He's telling the truth, Gun" Goo tries but Gun turns away, listening intently into the phone.
One ring.
Two rings.
More.
'Sorry, the number you have dialled is unavailable'
Panic rises. He ends the call and tries yet again to dial the number.
One ring.
Two rings.
More.
'Sorry, the number you have dialled is unavailable'
Yet again he's met with the same response.
"Fuck!" Gun shouts before rounding on his two supposed friends. "This is a sick fucking joke. Why the hell would he just leave the goddamn country without any explanation?! He would have told me if he was going to do something like this!" He sneers before pointing a finger at the two men who watched him with soft pity.
"Don't look at me like that! Just tell me you're joking and this is just one big, stupid prank and I'll let it go. What, did Daniel get a new phone? Is he going to pop into the room now?" Turning away he looks around the room, eyeing every single corner and edge he could find for a sign of the young Doctor. He finds nothing.
"He made a deal with his uncle. It was something about not getting into any more fights at the CC but he violated it. In his fight with that other SNMC doctor, he got into a lot of shit. The guy was practically ratting everything out about Daniel and he even threatened to expose your relationship. Whatever the case, his uncle decided to send him away" James wheezes out as Goo tries to soothe the redhead, and calm him down enough to breathe properly.
"You're fucking lying!" Gun roars back at the man in return.
Denial over the issue was taking control, even when he knew in his heart that James Lee rarely ever lied about anything and never over something so serious like that.
"He's telling the truth" Goo pipes up before holding something up. "When James woke up today he found this letter…it's a letter that was left by Daniel" The blonde informs and Gun marches over, ripping the note out of his hand.
Swiftly, he skims the contents. There were apologies, regrets, and a simple 'get better soon' before it was lined with the process of his removal from the CC, how he had plans set in place to ensure that the CC would have a Doctor in his absence. It went on until it finally reached the end where it was signed in Daniel's name with a simple 'goodbye' in place.
Gun wanted to rip the note up, claim that it was some forged piece of trash and that someone was messing with them. That it was the Kings, the other crews and their people, perhaps even Gitae but the handwriting was inadmissibly Daniel's. His sweet Daniel wrote in this very same chicken scratch that he called handwriting, the very same writing that showcased his tick to write half his letters with cursive and the other half in print like he was some self-taught writer rather than having been taught to write by an educator. No one could mimic handwriting so ugly even if they tried.
This only gave Gun one truth.
"No…" Gun breathes out, a hundred thoughts running through his head several hundred miles an hour as he attempts to understand what the hell is going on. Daniel had left. He was gone because of some argument? A fight? That fight he had a couple of days ago with that other guy from SNMC? Had it been so serious? Gun hadn't even thought that it was important, Daniel had gotten involved in way worse and faced worse so how was this what brings about consequences as damning as this? Gun didn't understand, he couldn't possibly comprehend why Daniel had to leave the country, why did he tell Gun? Didn't they fix things? Weren't they working towards fixing themselves?
"No, no, no, no…" Gun mutters before tossing the letter back and trying yet again to call the other.
'Sorry, the number you have dialled is unavailable'
"No…"
'Sorry, the number you have dialled…"
"No!"
"'Sorry, the nu-"
"FUCK!" He screams, the words exploding from his chest as he shakes his head and starts pacing. "This isn't…this isn't supposed to fucking happen! I fixed it! I fixed things with him! I told him that I was sorry! That I was going to change-Why the fuck would he just leave without saying anything? He could have fucking told me!" Running his hands through his hair he yanks hair, pulling and strapping his nails against his scalp. His other hand loosens his tie, almost taking it off entirely as he pulls at it.
"Gun-"
"No, you don't understand!" Gun snaps back to the two, marching over towards them as he pulls off his glasses so they can see his face. "I APOLOGISED! I FORGAVE him for trying to push me away, for trying to tell me that it would be better if I just went to Japan to start some happy family with a wife and make stupid mini, carbon copies of me! I went to HIM! We were going to fix things! We had a heart-to-heart talk! You have heart-to-heart talks when you want to be vulnerable, right?! We were vulnerable with each other and we were honest so why the hell would he just…we were gonna break the cycle so how could he just-ARGH!" Their lost and confused faces do nothing to ease the rising pain that Gun was beginning to feel. Pushing it down, practically swallowing it, he swings his arm and throws his sunglasses against a wall.
They smash and shatter to pieces but again, no one could care less.
"What the hell is going on in here?" A voice asks.
The opportunity to gain answers comes crashing down. Without a second thought, Gun launches himself across the room and immediately he's latching onto the Director who stands near the door of the room. He probably heard the commotion and came by to check. His pissed-off face turns to one of alarm before morphing into irritation as he grabs onto Gun's wrists.
"You better take a step back" Jinyoung hisses but he falters momentarily at the expression on Gun's face.
"What have you done?! " He snarls, spits flying out of his mouth as he shoves the man back into a wall.
"Gun! Stop it!" Goo was quick to rush over and try to pull Gun away from the older man but the Founder barely pays attention to him. For all the blonde's strength, there was nothing that could rip him away from the man with the answers he needed.
"I see you've just found out. You know, I thought my nephew would have told you…but then again I didn't think you would be the type to have taken the news so lightly. Figures he would do this" Jinyoung spits out through his teeth as Gun shoves him even further against the wall.
"You sent him away. Why?" Gun questions first and foremost and Jinyoung lets out a huff.
"For his safety, in case things went to shit. We also had an agreement with each other, that he had to follow particular rules if he wanted to go back to working at your establishment. He broke them and now he has to face the consequences. I can't just make excuses or be lenient with him just because he's my nephew" Jinyoung grunts before suddenly shoving Gun off him.
With how much power and how little effort that took, Gun and Goo could only pause momentarily in shock. Fixing his collar and turning back to stare at the men, the anger in his eyes dims slightly, instead changing into sympathy.
"I'm sorry that you had to find out about this, this way. But I can't do anything to go against this. He's already on his way to the airport and he's made the responsible decision to do this-" "Did he make it or did you force it onto him?!" Gun cuts the man off, glaring heatedly as he shakes off his shock.
"There is no way you can make me believe that this is the only solution to whatever argument he had with his co-worker. It was one singular argument that went wrong! Anyone could have been egged on like Daniel was!" Gun was still unclear on the logistics and facts of the fight but he knows nothing could have warranted the Doctor into being, what? Banished? In a country like this.
"He assaulted another Doctor. That might not be all that serious in your world, but in the regular world where gangs, crimes and fighting aren't the main purpose for existing, it is a big problem" Jinyoung retorts before letting out a sigh. "Daniel was publicly accused of garnering opportunities in the medical field because of his relations to me, he was called several things and his weaknesses were used against him including his insufficient credentials and abilities to be a proper Doctor which I'm not even sure he's confessed to you three about!" The man shouts, his voice rising with each word.
"Insufficient doctor?" Goo huffs out.
"How could you even say that about your nephew, he is incredible at his job" James calls out from his spot on the bed, still too weak to move and still connected to several different tubes and wires.
"Don't talk as if you could ever understand the struggles my nephew has been through. What you think you see is vastly different to the reality that several others in this hospital, including myself, have had to bear witness to over the last few years" Jinyoung informs, his jaw twitching. "This image of this 'Miracle Doctor' that you have built of him, that he's some young genius has blindsided you to the fact that he struggles. He struggles horribly over different aspects of being a Doctor and it's the aspects that I alone haven't been able to help him recover from. Whilst working at the CC has brought back his confidence and reassurance in his ability it doesn't exactly change the fact that he has yet to complete his residency. If he were to stay there forever then there would be no likely way for him to complete it and figure out his issues. Do you think I just sent Daniel away because I couldn't look at him anymore because he stood up for himself against a bully? I used this as an excuse to send him away so that he could improve himself! So that he could change and prove those accusations to be false, if he stayed he would have only proved them to be right and shamed both the hospital and himself!"
Again, Gun couldn't exactly understand what the Director was saying. Daniel wasn't a good Doctor? But he had seen the younger in action. The sureness in his eyes and body language as he moved around to help people, as he made tough decisions to cut people open or save them in various ways. He wasn't the only one, the rest of the world had seen it too.
"I don't believe you" Gun grits out and Jinyoung shrugs.
"I don't particularly care about whether you believe me or not. It's the truth and I don't need to prove anything"
Director Jinyoung had no reason to lie about anything. If that was the case it meant that the words the man spoke were true…Daniel had been suffering and covering it all up and no one but a select few knew. The situation had grown larger than Gun had originally thought and yet there still lies the point that bothered Gun the most.
"Why didn't he tell me any of this? He didn't tell me about his struggles or that he was leaving…We had just made up…I told him I was going to be staying in Korea and that I wouldn't be the Yamazaki heir…I told him we could be happy so why the hell is this happening?" The anger had fizzled out and all he had left were questions of why this was occurring. It was humiliating.
"For what it's worth, he hasn't left because of you. He may be protecting the secrecy of your relationship but this, this is between Daniel and I. Not you" Jinyoung states almost gently. The man was never gentle with Gun, half the time he spoke to Gun as if he was beneath him the other half was in disdain. To hear his tone of voice now…it was baffling.
Taking a few steps away, Gun shakes his head.
"No" He announces firmly before glaring at the man. "It didn't need to be this way. If you wanted to help him then you should have sent him to another hospital here in Korea, not to a different country on another continent. We had just fixed things and now you've ruined it all…I don't accept this! I'm going after him. Which flight is he on? Where is he going?" Gun demands to know and immediately Jinyoung clamps up.
"I'm not telling you" The man replies and Gun lets out another sound of frustration.
"Tell me you fucking old bastard or else I'm going to put you into the fucking ground!" Gun threatens as the Director scoffs.
"As if you could" Jinyoung challenges back.
"Oi, Gun this isn't okay. There's no need to fight-" "Goo shut the hell up and just stay back and keep quiet! Keep being the useless piece of shit you are but don't fucking try and stop me from trying to get Daniel back!" He bellows at the blonde who reels back in both shock and hurt. Turning back to Jinyoung he raises his arms. "You're Charles' friend, right? I've heard the whispers and put together the pieces, you're one of the 0-gen guys, right? Fight me and if I win you tell me where the hell Daniel is going, understand?"
"Tch, you'd break the rules of your own business just for some guy?"
"He's not just some guy! I love him and there isn't anything you can do that will ever deter that" Gun announces.
Jinyoung scoffs again but this time the bite has decreased and he can watch the younger in pity.
"He's going to Washington DC, his aeroplane takes off at 1:36" A voice interjects and heads turn to see another Doctor standing in the doorway. Collin cowers under all the eyes but his face remains firmly pinned onto Gun. "You can make it if you speed" He adds and that's all Gun needs.
Dropping his hands he charges past Jinyoung as well as Collin, giving him a nod before bolting down the hallway.
"What the hell, Collin?!" Gun could hear Jinyoung grunt in disappointment.
"Sorry sir, but you don't know their relationship like I do. He needs to get Daniel back" Is all Collin could reply with.
Gun speeds through Seoul towards Incheon Airport. He felt like a madman as he drove, swerving and nearly rear-ending several different cars but he didn't care. His mind was set on reaching the stupid airport before Daniel could take off. Several horns were blared at him, shouting and swearing directed at his dangerous driving but Gun ignored it.
He reaches the airport with only a few minutes to spare. He leaves his car in the parking, not having bothered to park before jumping out of the vehicle and racing towards the building. He shoves past tourists, foreigners, businessmen and families. Along the way, he was pretty sure he shoved a kid to the floor but he pays it no mind, even when the kid's mother screams at him.
Checking for the terminals where the flight check-in would be, he catches sight of a number. He races towards the area, twisting and turning his head to make out any figure or sign of Daniel Park. As soon as he gets his hands on the guy he was going to berate him, lecture him on why the fucking ghosting him like this was the most horrible way to go about any sort of relationship no matter how messed up they were. Then he'd tell the Doctor that he wasn't mad, he'd beg him to come home and that they'd find a different solution. That they could work together to solve this. He'd do everything in his power to ensure that Daniel would walk away from this airport and dump his ticket.
Gun skids across the floor to a halt, hitting his body against the desk and scaring the airport personnel.
"S-sir? Are you alright?" She asks but Gun waves her off.
"The flight to DC, there's someone on that flight that I need to talk to. I need you to stop the plane, it's an emergency" Gun orders and she blinks vigorously.
"Sir, I can't-" "I'll do whatever it takes, you want money? I have money. How much do you want?" Gun frantically asks as he reaches into his pocket for his wallet. His hands shake as he pulls out all his cards, throwing them onto her desk as well as the large wade of cash he was carrying.
Her eyes bulge but she shakes her head.
"Sir-"
"Listen, lady. I need you to stop it! Daniel needs to get off the stupid flight and talk this shit over with me! He can't just fucking up and leave like this! So just do your job and help me!" He shouts in her face. Again she shakes her hair, looking off to the side before pointing at the glass wall.
Aggravated by the response, Gun turns his head towards the window only to stop.
There. In the distance. A plane takes off on the runway. Korean Air was written on the side of the vessel and with how the airport lady was pointing it could only leave for one explanation. Heart sinking, Gun collapses onto his knees on the floor.
He was too late.
.
.
.
The view of the buildings grew smaller and smaller with each passing moment until eventually, Daniel could barely make out any of the small figures. The take-off had been scary, the plane shook and thrashed semi violently and all Daniel could do was grip the side of his seat and pray to any God that was listening to him that he make it out of this plane ride alive.
Once they reached the right altitude, only then did Daniel's heart settle. Breathing out slowly, Daniel's head and body slump against the chair and he watches through the window the small specs of society. His society which he knew and loved, slowly faded away from him.
He had never been abroad before and with this all happening so suddenly, it wasn't until now that his brain demanded his attention at just how reality-breaking this all was. His family, his friends, his work and most importantly his Jonggun were being left behind. He had left them all with little explanation and he had no clue whether he would ever see them again.
His hands clench and he bites his tongue to hold back any sounds but no amount of blinking could rid the tears that welled up in his eyes.
"You alright, son?" Another passenger, the middle-aged businessman who sat next to him asks. He didn't look too strict or annoyed by the prospect of his seatmate suddenly bursting into tears but he wasn't overly thrilled either. "First time?" He asks again and Daniel nods, reaching up to wipe his tears.
"Y-yeah, sorry about that. I'll stop soon" Daniel speaks, his voice wavering.
The man offers him a tissue to which the Doctor accepts gratefully.
"I remember my first flight too. Roughly twenty years ago. It can be nerve-wracking but I can tell you this much, flying is one of the safer modes of transport. You'll get used to the turbulence and experience" The man advises softly and Daniel nods.
"I guess it's more that I miss my family and friends" He confides and the man nods acceptingly, a look of understanding falls on his face.
"Yeah, leaving family behind never gets any easier. I have a wife and daughter in Seoul, my girl is turning ten this month but I'll have to miss it because of work" At the mention of this, the man falls into a disappointed slump. It was clear that he wasn't delighted by the prospect of missing his kid's birthday and Daniel could only offer him a sympathetic look. "Any reason you're headed to DC? You look quite young" The man inquires curious, in an attempt at changing the topic.
"I'm going to be working at WU Medical Centre to finish off my residency" Daniel informs and the man's face lights up at this.
"That's amazing, kiddo. I've heard a lot of good things about that place. I'm sure you'll do well if you were given such an esteemed opportunity" The man remarks and Daniel nods.
Yet again he's reminded of the luxury of his opportunities and yet again he mulls over the fact that he was being ungrateful by not being happy about this. So, in an attempt to fix that, Daniel wiped the last few tears that cascaded down his face and resolved to take this all with stride.
There was no going back now.
.
.
.
Gun avoids going back home and he doesn't dare go back to the hospital. Instead, he drags himself back to the CC, marching towards Daniel's room in one last attempt to tell himself that this was all one big fat lie. Slamming the door open, he's met with an empty room, the contents cleared out and the sight causing Gun to feel nothing but nausea. Clicking his tongue, Gun walks away and heads to the medical room. He slams the door with the same vigour and strides in.
Daniel's desk is also bare. Any form of personality that the Doctor had put into his office was voided and all that Gun could taste was disappointment.
Shaking his head and kicking at the wheely chair. Gun pulls out his phone and goes in search of tickets. Surely he could get Kouji to book him a flight to DC, he was unsure of where exactly Daniel would be but after a bit more prying he was sure that he would get that information. Searching through online tickets, he doesn't bother with the prices but rather searches for the next plane out. Of course, he'd need to pack and prepare slightly but he'd catch up and find Daniel with no issues.
He had connections and power, if he asked Charles enough the guy might help although seeing as he was friends with Jinyoung there was a chance the Chairman would say no. If that was the case then he'd have to turn to other ties, maybe even his own family. Surely one of them could help out in some form or way.
As Gun swipes at his phone, something catches his eye. Lowering the object, he walks over to one of the desks to find a small pile of neatly wrapped and folded letters. Spying the names on the covers and the handwriting, it was easy to decipher that they were from Daniel. Slowly, Gun reaches out and shifts through them, observing their names and realising that each one was directed at certain individuals or groups.
Daniel had handwritten letters. He has been prepared enough to write meaningful, personal letters.
Gun's heart twinges. It particularly throbs when he notices one with his name on it. Snatching it up, Gun carefully opens the envelope and smooths out the paper to read its content. Scanning it, rather than energy or fury, he feels himself drain from the initial fight he had been feeling. All efforts to chase after Daniel and dramatically convince him to come back to Korea are ripped out of him within just a few lines.
'To my dearest, Jonggun'
'If you're reading this letter it probably means that you've either discovered what I've done or you're only just now finding out. To put it briefly, I've decided to depart from the CC and Korea, instead I will be attending and working in WUMC to complete my residency. Several people have most likely told you an array of different things but I want to let you know that this is at the end of the day a personal decision of mine and that whatever thoughts or blames you have on yourself should cease to exist.
Before I get into further detail about myself, I just wanted to let you know how proud I am of you and your accomplishment of speaking up against your family. I am proud of you for choosing to stay in Korea due to your own personal goals, ideals and reasons. I am proud that you have found a home and a family to call your own. I am especially proud of you for coming to the decision that I am not your sole reason for you staying here and because of this particular fact I need you to continue staying in Korea. I know you're probably contemplating coming after me, please don't. I haven't been forced out of the country, instead, I've decided to take this opportunity to continue my educational journey as a Doctor and gain more valuable experiences that the rest of the world can grant me.
I apologise if this seems sudden and selfish of me. I know you are probably hurt by my lack of explanation. I should have told you about this in person but I was too much of a coward to tell you. I also feared that if I did confess you would have been able to convince me to stay. All it would have taken were a few words and I would have changed my choice and I can't have that. I need to do this. Nonetheless, I am sorry.
Even as I write this letter to you I can't help but feel sorrowful. There is nothing more I'd rather do than run to you and stay in your arms forever. Just as I have become your comfort, you have become mine. But unfortunately, things intervene with what we want and this just happens to be it. I don't think either one of us is healthy for the other person, no matter how much we argue that we love each other, the us of today would only continue to hurt the other. In our last moments together you spoke about breaking the cycle and changing as individuals to make us work. I agree with this, I believe this space and distance could do well. Or it could ruin us and you could hate me forever for this, I'm unsure. Nevertheless, I leave Korea with the intent of maturing and improving myself and when I return I can only hope to see you again and hope that you would accept me in return.
I'm not sure of how long I'll be gone or of when we will meet again but I know for a fact that our lives have yet to separate.
I love you so much, Jonggun. I will never forget all that you have done for me, all that you have loved me and all that I will love you.
Until we meet again.
Yours truly,
Daniel'
All it had taken was one singular letter to convince Gun of what to do. The despair and loss he had been feeling hurts, it doesn't simply vanish just because of Daniel's parting words but it does make it more bearable. Holding the letter close to his chest, it takes a long while of practised breathing and rereading the words before he can finally come to conclude what he needs to do.
Folding the delicate letter back carefully, he tucks it into his pocket. Picking up his broken heart off the floor, Gun goes to exit the medical room.
He had work to do. It was a Friday, he had a business to operate.