February 09, 2011

All members trudged to the dorms after a grueling concert and plane ride. The house was stuffy and the smell was enough to turn Eun Hyuk's stomach upside down. Sung Min followed his dongsaeng to the bathroom while Ryeo Wook rung EeTeuk up from the 12th floor. Eun Hyuk had always been sickly and everyone were always worried about him. Ye Sung raised the shades up and opened the windows to let the fresh air and light seep through the whole dorm. The smell of poor ventilation went away eventually as EeTeuk and the rest of the members from the floor above arrived.

"Where's Hyuk Jae?" Like a real parent, EeTeuk went straight to the common bathroom to look for Eun Hyuk without waiting for any response. Soon enough, Eun Hyuk was limping out of the bathroom, EeTeuk and Sung Min hot on his heels.

"You didn't have to call them, Wookie." Ryeo Wook just shrugged and went to the kitchen. "You guys should be resting. I am okay." He sighed as he sat himself on the couch beside Kyu Hyun. He hated that he was so weak and that he always bothered the rest of the members. It’s just that he didn’t eat anything on the plane. He feels bloated whenever he does and the smell of the dorm was not something he was able to handle very well. They were out of the country for almost two weeks and no one had been in the house for as long. To protect the members, they (Super Junior and SM) came to an agreement that nobody should be allowed in when nobody’s around. Hee Chul was the very first to agree, having this irrational dislike (and fear) of hidden cameras.

But the main reason why they came to that resolution was when one of the cleaning Ahjummas was caught selling pictures and some random stuff she found at the Super Junior dorms over the net. Most of the things were of no value and they all felt bad that the old lady had to go to prison but they felt violated as well. Sung Min was no better with his OCD, throwing a fit by the slightest change of positions of his stuff, thinking that someone had broke into the house and stole something again.

"You should be taking better care of yourself, Hyukkie." Dong Hae mimicked his tone.

"Right. You didn’t eat anything before we left and on the plane as well. Let me go get something." EeTeuk started for the kitchen and found Ryeo Wook chopping some vegetables as large pots lay over the fire.

"I am sorry, Hyung." He said weakly. "You asked me to check on Eun Hyuk-hyung always but--"

"It’s not your fault, Wookie-ah." EeTeuk cut him off firmly. "And whatever happened to Hyuk Jae last year was not your fault either." Ryeo Wook didn’t say anything but couldn’t help but remember the time when Eun Hyuk had swine flu. They were all busy for the Sorry Sorry Answer promotions and the extremely cold weather just added to the burden. Ryeo Wook had always been the one to wake the other members up, at least from his own dorm. He waltzed sleepily out of his and Ye Sung’s room and across the receiving room to Eun Hyuk’s. He found him already awake but still in bed, a box of kleenex and a mountain of used tissue beside him.

"Yah, Hyung, gwenchanayo?" Eun Hyuk nodded weakly. Ryeo Wook looked at the small white board mounted just beside the overhead light switch and read the notes. Sung Min made sure everyone had their own where they write their schedule for the week so they don’t forget anything. "You have to film three episodes of Star King today, Hyung. You have to get ready before the van arrives." And he left him. They were working triple time before they embark on the Taiwan leg of their second Asian tour.

That night, the rest of the members got the news from EeTeuk that Eun Hyuk fainted while filming and was rushed to the hospital. But nobody was allowed to see him until he was cleared from AH1N1 virus. Those two weeks, Ryeo Wook felt bad about himself and nobody could pacify him. Somehow, he felt responsible. He thought that if he had paid more attention to his hyung, then he should’ve been treated early. What if it was something worse? What if Eun Hyuk hadn’t survived? He didn’t think he’ll be able to forgive himself.

"Wookie. Ryeo Wook!" EeTeuk banged the table lightly and his dongsaeng flinched, perfectly ending his short trip down memory lane. "You’re not even listening to me." He accused.

"Mianhe. I was just thinking about something."

"And I can perfectly guess what that something is." The leader rolled his eyes. "Stay put guys! We’ll have dinner here!" He yelled and faced the younger man again. "I was told you’re not eating much lately." Ryeo Wook groaned inwardly. "And that you’ve been working out more than Sung Min and Ye Sung."

"Hyung--"

"I don’t want to hear your excuses. You’re no better than Eun Hyuk! You tire yourself too much, you don’t eat properly, what am I going to do with you guys?" He exclaimed in frustration. The worry on the leader’s face went beyond his nutritional needs, Ryeo Wook could tell. But he didn’t want to go to that topic. Not now.

"Wookie-ah," This time, EeTeuk wrapped an arm around him. "You’re not going to get fat again. You were sick then, you had hypothyroidism. It’s not because of overeating, you know that, right? And you’ve long been cured. And these chocolate abs, no one’s asking you to get one!" Nobody can stop EeTeuk.

"But I am tired of being compared to you guys! Even Shin Dong-hyung lost a lot of weight and--"

"Everything is a work in progress, Kim Ryeo Wook. You can’t get it overnight." And he was wise enough not to contradict his hyung whenever he calls him with his full name. "And if you get sick, you will surely get it from me, araso?"

"Yes, Hyung." He nodded.

"Okay. Now let’s get to work." Sniff. "Do I put these in the pot?" He said, referring to the chopped onions. Sniff. "Yah! Stupid onions!" He walked to the stove and saw the bowl of seaweed on the counter. "Why do we--oh." Ryeo Wook knew that the tears escaped from EeTeuk’s eyes were no longer because of the onions.

"What’s for dinner?" Hee Chul asked from the doorway.

"B-Bulgogi." Was Ryeo Wook’s shaky reply. Hee Chul raised an eyebrow and eyed the spaced out EeTeuk.

"I’ll tell the gang." Then he disappeared much to Ryeo Wook’s relief.

"How can I forget? I am bad parent." EeTeuk mumbled.

"It's not your fault we're too busy, Hyung. I just feel bad that nobody even remembered so I thought I'll do what I can can." He didn't tell EeTeuk that the building receptionist asked him earlier where to put the gifts they received. Did they forget he don't leave with them anymore?

"Wookie-ah, thank you! What do we do? Do we call him? Do you know where he is?" He babbled nonstop.

"I don’t know, Hyung." He sat on the island stool sadly. "I called Zhou Mi the other day but he thinks he already changed his number." He heaved a deep sigh. "Do you think it’s okay for them to celebrate?" He asked, uncertainty marring his features. Ryeo Wook got really close to Han Kyung because he was the only member (aside from Si Won) who can speak Mandarin fluently. They became even more at ease with each other when they got to work together for SJ-M. "I hope he’s eaten his seaweed soup already and I hope this birthday isn’t lonely."

They both looked up when they heard a loud crash and saw Hee Chul with a shrieking Hee Bum in tow, not in his best expression, standing on the doorway and a broken wine bottle on the floor. Sung Min's deafening scream followed soon after.

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A/N: You should know which turn it is next, yeah? Comment and subscribe, kay? Kamsahamnida!