Page 63 of Idol Lives
Seong Hyeon’s eyes flickered open. “Less than an hour, sir.”
Jason nodded, turning back to the window. Less than an hour. Soon, he’d be back in LA, forced to deal with the harsh realities of hospital rooms and corporate intrigue. He could only hope that it wasn’t too late to make things right.
Soon enough, the plane’s tires squealed against the tarmac in Burbank. He’d flown out of Van Nuys but wanted to land closer to the Summit-Levin Medical Center in Beverly Hills. Jason was out of his seat before the engines had even fully powered down, his heart pounding with dread and determination. Seong Hyeon and Carlos were right behind him, descending the steps toward Jason’s waiting SUV.
The camera flashes went off without warning. Someone must’ve tipped off the press–no, that wasn’t it. Naomi’s accident was front page news, so, of course, the paparazzi would be watching for his return flight from Taipei. Carlos helped him into the backseat while Seong Hyeon took the seat beside him. A third bodyguard that Jason didn’t know slipped behind the wheel, followed by more tire screeching as he floored it and the SUV peeled away.
Jason barely registered the motion, his mind already speedingalong with a thousand questions. How bad was it? Had Naomi regained consciousness? Would she even recognize him? The drive was a blur, a symphony of traffic noises as a soundtrack to Jason’s frantic thoughts. He clutched his phone, the screen filled with text updates from Lily, each one a stab of guilt and worry.
“She’s in the Amelia Harris Pavilion,” Jason announced as they turned into Summit-Levin’s main entrance drive. A tasteful, dark-glass covered mid-rise with tailored gardens and a fountain at the entrance, the Beverly Hills institution could’ve easily been an upscale hotel or shopping complex.
Another mob of photographers waited outside the entrance to the Harris Pavilion, held away from the doors by uniformed security. Jason ignored them as Carlos and Seong Hyeon escorted him inside. He’d probably have to speak to them at some point just to get them off his back. But not before he saw Naomi.
The hospital lobby was a luxurious expanse of cream-colored marble and warm, indirect lighting. The air even smelled faintly of jasmine–or, maybe, lavender. Seong Hyeon led the way, his broad shoulders parting the sea of worried faces and medical personnel. Lily was waiting for them by the reception desk, her eyes red-rimmed, her outfit rumpled. Seeing her shattered composure sent a fresh wave of distress through Jason.
“Lily,” Jason said, already fearing the worst. “How is she?”
Lily’s lips trembled as she struggled to speak. “She’s in a coma, Jason. The doctors don’t know if she’ll wake up.”
The words hung in the air, thick and suffocating. Jason’s knees buckled, and he reached out to steady himself against the desk. The marble-tiled lobby seemed to spin before hiseyes, the world tilting on its axis. He wanted to scream, to rage, to demand answers. But all he could manage was a choked whisper. “Can I see her?”
Lily nodded, her eyes filled with tears. “Yes, she’s this way.”
Jason closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. He had to be strong. For Naomi. For Tae Hyun. For himself. He opened his eyes, a steely resolve hardening his gaze. “Let’s go. I need to see her.”
Jason walked on autopilot, following Lily as she led him down a long corridor. Despite the plush carpets and tasteful artwork that lined the walls, the scent of antiseptic, the underlying hum of medical machinery, and the hushed whispers of nurses made it hard to forget that Jason was in a hospital. It was the same hospital his parents had gone to after their accident. The same one where they’d died while Jason was a world away in Seoul.
Lily’s touch on his arm broke through the haze of memory. “The doctor’s there if you have any questions.”
Jason nodded, spotting the white coat standing between two overly well-dressed bodyguards just outside the room. He also caught a glimpse of Naomi hooked up to a tangle of tubes and wires. The sight almost made him nauseous. He swallowed hard, the lump in his throat making it difficult to speak.
“Mr. Park?” The doctor, an older white man with a face liberally sculpted by plastic surgery, greeted him with a professional smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.
Jason forced himself to mirror the smile. “Just Jason, please.” He let his smile fall away, too consumed by worry to put up a needless front. “How is she, doctor?”
The doctor launched into a detailed explanation of Naomi’scondition, but Jason barely registered the words. Internal bleeding, severe trauma, swelling of the brain. Whatever it was didn’t sound good.
“What’s her prognosis?” Jason sharply interrupted.
The doctor hesitated, choosing his words with practiced care. “It’s too early to say. She’s in critical condition, but we’re doing everything we can.”
Jason nodded. “I know you probably hear this all the time, but she gets whatever she needs no matter the cost. Understand?”
The doctor nodded back, his bland expression suggesting that he did, indeed, hear that all too often. “Of course.”
Jason excused himself, his legs unsteady as he approached Naomi’s bedside. Surprisingly, Justice was there, his eyes red and swollen, clutching Naomi’s hand as if it were a lifeline. He’d only just met Naomi’s new assistant and hadn’t realized the two were that close.
“Mr. Park,” Justice said, choked with emotion. “I’m sorry. I didn’t–” He paused, his cheeks flushed with guilt. “They told me–”
Jason waved off his apology. Propriety was the last thing on his mind. “It’s fine. Can you tell me what happened?”
Justice sniffled, wiping away a stray tear with the back of his hand. “I was on the phone with her. She was on her way home. And then–” He choked back a sob, his shoulders shaking. “I heard tires screeching and a loud crash–and then silence.” His voice broke, the words barely audible. “The police are still looking for the other driver. They said it was a hit and run.”
Jason clenched his hand into a tight fist as a knife point of rage twisted in his gut. He should’ve been there. He should’ve protected her. But he hadn’t. And now, Naomi was payingthe price. He– “Wait. On the way home from where?”
Justice’s eyes widened at the sudden intensity in Jason’s tone. “I don’t know, Mr. Park. She didn’t tell me where she was going. She only said to wait in the office until she called.”
Jason frowned. “So, you were in the office when you talked to her.”
