"Hello?"
"Yah… young woon ah… it's me"
"Jungsu hyung?"
"Can you come and pick me?"
"Aren't you in camp?"
"No, it's my off day today. I just didn't tell you guys."
"Hyung, did you drink?"
"No… I'm at the park, you will be able to find me."
"Okay hyung"
After Leeteuk hung up on him, Kangin went to borrow a car from the manager, saying that he needed to run some last-minute errands. He quickly drove over to the park and found Leeteuk waiting at the carpark for him. He got off and approached the leader, unsure of what was happening.
"Hyung… what's wrong?"
"I don't know Young Woon ah…"
Leeteuk rarely called Kangin by his given name. Usually, when he did, it was when Kangin did something disappointing or wrong.
"Do you want me to bring you back to the dorms? You can sleep there tonight. Nobody would mind."
"No… I don't want to go anywhere today."
"Hyung, how long have you been out?"
"Since I left camp."
"Hyung, it's less than 5 degrees out. It's freezing."
"I know, but I'm not cold."
"Hyung! You are wearing just a thin jacket!"
"I know, Young Woon, I know."
"Hyung, please get into the car where the heater is on. I will drive you to the dorms. Get some rest before you return to camp, please? I don't want you to catch a cold."
"Okay fine."
Kangin was still confused. He knew something was up with Leeteuk, but Leeteuk evidently did not want to say anything. As he watched Leeteuk close his room door behind him, Kangin let out a sigh of frustration.
"You mean… what happened before he enlisted?"
"Yeah."
"But, he said it was okay, he was okay."
"I think there's more to the story."
"Do you think he will…"
"I don't know, hyung. I don't know anymore."
"HYUNG!"
"How's Leeteuk hyung?"
"Is he okay?"
"What did the doctor say?!"
"Yah yah yah! Back off and give me some AIR! The doctor says hyung will be fine with some rest. If we finish practice early, we can go visit him. He was asleep when we left."
"Oh okay! Then let's quickly practice!"
Leeteuk opened his eyes. His world was no longer spinning, and his head hurt less. His vision was more focused and he could make out the time on the digital clock on the wall in front of him.
5.37 PM.
How long had he been sleeping? His stomach felt empty, and his throat still parched. He gingerly reached out for the glass of water on the nightstand next to his bed.
The door to his room creaked open. Leeteuk looked up. It was the doctor and two nurses.
"Hello Jungsu, are you feeling better?"
"Yes, thank you."
"Okay, we will just be doing a routine check up. One of my nurses will take your temperature and the other will replace your IV drip bag. I will be taking a blood test as well."
At the mention of the blood test, Leeteuk stiffened. He could feel his heartbeat rising, his breathing becoming faster. The machine next to his bed began to beeping really fast.
"Whoa whoa, Jungsu, calm down. Your heartbeat's going crazy."
"Can… can we wait for my members to come before taking my blood test?"
"I guess we could, if they are coming later today. Did they say they would come?"
"I don't know, but they will come."
"Okay, if they don't come by 8pm, we will have to take your blood test then."
"Okay."
Leeteuk prayed fervently that his members would turn up. He knew they would if they could, but he didn't know when practice would end. What if they didn't turn up before 8pm?
"Okay Jungsu, your temperature has lowered to about 38.5 degrees. That's a good sign. I will come back at 8PM to do a blood test for you. The nurses will bring some dinner for you in about an hour."
"Okay, thank you."
The door closed and Leeteuk was left alone again. This time, he noticed that his phone had been placed on the nightstand. He reached out and switched it on. Messages began to pop up.
"Hyung! We will come visit you after practice. Get well soon! Get plenty of rest!"
"Hyung! You gave me such a scare just now, we are practicing hard so we can come and see you!"
"Leeteuk hyung, the manager said we could come visit you at 7.30PM!"
Leeteuk relaxed a little. His members might still be able to make it in time for 8PM.
It was 7.15 PM. The nurse had brought in his dinner half an hour ago. Jungsu's stomach rumbled, but he did not have an appetite. He had been poking and pushing his food around. It was porridge with a side of soft vegetables and mashed potatoes. It was bland.
Kyuhyun could cook better than this…
Next to him, his phone screen lit up.
"Yah Jungsu-yah, I know it's dinner time so eat the food that's on the table right now, although it's probably porridge and you hate it."
Leeteuk chuckled softly and smiled to himself. Kangin knew everything, especially how much he hated bland tasting food, especially plain porridge.
The door opened and Leeteuk opened his eyes. He must have dozed off.
"HYUNG!"
Leeteuk smiled. It was his members. And they were just in time too. Shortly after they came, the doctor came in to take his blood test.
"Okay, everyone out!"
With that command from Heechul, the throng of humans trickled out of the ward to wait. As Heechul turned to leave as well, he felt a hand grabbing his arm. He turned around and saw Leeteuk's panicked eyes.
He nodded, understanding immediately.
"Okay Jungsu, we are going to do your blood test now. Heechul-ssi, you can take his left hand."
Leeteuk looked up at Heechul, who was holding his left hand tightly.
"Hyung, just look at me."
"You are not him."
I wrote this quite a while ago, but couldn't find the time to update. I will be updating less frequently now because my finals are coming up. But once those are over, I will update a lot more frequently!
But ahh my heart and head hurts so much. Two beautiful angels left so quickly, too early. But they are in a better place.
I ask that if you are reading this, as a fellow kpop fan, to take a minute to pray for these two angels, and for the remaining members. Then take a minute to go hug your loved ones, tell them how much you love them.
Life is short, and precious.