A/N - Shorter chapter i know (when i say this, i can't help but laugh because my 'short chapters' are still at least 1000 words+...lol...) but had some medical explaining to do and side-reactions to cover. Next chapter reveals more key info~

@reilsm - sorry, this chapter wasn't so informative >< But the next one is!!! Lots of secrets revealed then like who were those strangers, how are they blackmailing Cheondoong etc etc etc. Look forwards to it~ And yes, i can't wait for the broadcast as well!!!! Sigh full subs, hope SINAQ can get them out quickly. Unlike B1A4 hello baby which seems to take forever and makes me die in the process of waiting...

@wookielove - to be revealed soon~~~

@HanSang - aaahhh Jung Juri and Shin Bongsun, omo, you bring back memories of Idol Army!!! Loved that show so much~~~ My favorite ep had to be the one where Cheondoong holds his own singing competition, the one where its pretty much just all about him >< Can't wait to see more evil Cheondoong again!

Finally, thanks to Riorossa, mehrnoosh and A_MooNStar for subscribing!!! 3 subscribers in one night!!! Woohoo~~~

Chapter 26 – With tears, they investigate

Dara POV

One hour ago, Seungho called me. It was 4am in the morning, but I woke up the instant he said my baby brother was in hospital.

“What?!” I screamed into the phone, waking up the entire 2ne1 dorm.

“Dara?” Minzy asked sleepily as she woke up on the bed opposite of me. “What’s wrong?”

I scrambled out of bed, flinging through my wardrobe and pulling out the first clothes that I could get my hands on. “I’ve got to go.” I said hurriedly, shoving my phone and keys into a bag and dashing down the hallway.

“What?” Minzy sprinted after me. “What’s the emergency?”

“Sanghyun’s in hospital!” The words flew out of my mouth. “I’ve got to get there immediately.”

Minzy’s eyes flew wide open. She opened the shoe cabinet and tossed me my shoes, understanding the situation immediately. “Where is he at?”

“XXX hospital.” I replied.

“You go first. I’ll wake everyone up and we’ll be right behind you.” She promised, knowing I would need support. “Drive safely.” She said in parting and I dashed out of dorms and into the car.

Now I was in Sanghyun’s room, sick of white-washed walls and the way it made Sanghyun look so pale – like he was half on his way to the coffin already. Seungho had told me everything that had happened during the night from them trailing him all to way to some reclusive seaside spot to his meeting with men who demanded he do something that involved money and shady business and finally Joon punching Cheondoong and his break down.

Joon had apologized profusely to me, even forming a kneeling bow on the ground. However I made him stand up. “We all lose control of ourselves.” I told him. “I don’t blame you for being human.”

He had cried at that. He had just slumped against the wall, slid down and started shaking with sobs. I don’t know what thoughts had crossed mind when he punched my little brother, but I can only think that Joon too had his problems.

Right now, that bruise had turned purple leaving a stark imprint against his pale complexion. I gripped his limp hand, shivering at how cold it was and pressed a kiss to it. “Wake up, Sanghyun.” I pleaded. “Wake up and just tell me everything. I’m your noona, so let me help you.”

But of course, he didn’t reply.

Seungho POV

We were crowded in the doctor’s consultation room. “Tell us what’s wrong with Sanghyun, please.” I asked the doctor, feeling myself shake with worry.

The doctor, the same one who had examined Cheondoong’s stomach wound before, gave us a grave look. “To be honest, I believe he’s just exhausted.”

“What?” I responded dully, unable to believe it was just tiredness. We were all tired. Could it be that simple?

The doctor saw the questioning gaze in my eyes and continued to explain. “It’s possible for people to mentally break down if under immense stress. Their systems and minds can’t handle it, so the body responds in the best way which is to stop everything.”

I frowned at that explanation. Was Cheondoong really suffering that much that his body told him to collapse?

“Think about it this way,” the doctor tried to explain it in easier terms. “When a computer is overused, it freezes and forcedly shuts down. What is happening to Park Sanghyun right now is exactly the same.”

This analogy I could understand. “And how do we, uh, cure this?” I asked.

The doctor shook his head at this. “That is out of my control. The best we can do here is prescribe some supplements to strengthen his body, but to be honest the thing he really needs is rest.”

I bit my lip. Rest. In other words, we couldn’t do anything.

“Damn.” I whispered, bending over and shielding my eyes with my hand.

“I’m sorry,” the doctor stood up. “But this is a problem that seems to lie within Sanghyun himself.”

And he walked away.

Dara POV

Exhaustion? Too much stress? I couldn’t understand what was happening to be honest. What was my baby brother undergoing that was so bad it forced him to simply break down?

I looked at his sleeping expression, so vulnerable and angelic it nearly hid the dark secrets he had been amassing. At that moment, I felt like my little brother was a stranger. Were we really family?

“Dara.” It was Seungho’s beautiful, quiet voice. He stood next to me, watching Sanghyun with eyes of regret and sorrow. He placed one comforting hand on my shoulder. “Shouldn’t you get some rest?”

I looked up at him. I could say the same thing with the dark circles under his eyes. But I knew he was the same as me. “I can’t rest.” I whispered. “Not like this…”

He squeezed my shoulder, letting me know that he too felt the same way. Then he spoke again. “We’re going to investigate. Find out what who that man was, what he was talking about and just how much Sanghyun is hiding.”

I bit my lip. “Let me help.” I choked, wanting to help but also not wanting to leave Sanghyun’s side.

“Shhh,” Seungho leaned down to kiss away the tears that slid down my cheek. “I want you to stay by Sanghyun’s side. Just in case he wakes up, I’m sure you are the first person he wants next to you.”

I nodded at this logic even though I knew in my heart that Seungho just wanted to make sure I was somewhere safe. I smiled and kissed his cheek. “Okay, but I’ll be making phone calls and helping out from here.” I said defiantly.

Seungho smiled, but he knew me too well to try and discourage me. Instead, he gripped my hand and turned back to Sanghyun.

“Sanghyun,” he said using my little brother’s real name. “I promise this time we’ll find the truth and this time we’ll help you. So just wait for us, okay?”

Of course, he didn’t reply.

A/N - Two more days till the broadcasting of Idol Manager >< Can't contain my joy!!! 

And did you guys check out J.Tunes new debuting group: Two X. Sigh, so jealous that they can be in close vincinty to my Cheondoongie, ah, but i wish them the best~~~ Their teaser mv sounds promising!