Haneul’s POV

I was asleep when my phone rang. I had no intention to answer it, but it was so irritating.

“Why didn’t I turn it off? Damn it.” I mumbled as I searched the room for my phone.

I couldn’t find it, and the ringing stopped, so I slumped back onto bed. The moment I closed my eyes, it started ringing again.

“! This better be important!” I yelled as I got out of bed.

I found my phone under my bed. How it got there, I don’t know.

“What is it?!” I shouted, not bothering to even see who the caller is.

“Ha.. Haneul? It’s me..” The voice said.

“Who are you!?” I yelled.

“Doo.. Doojoon.” He stuttered.

“Doojoon?” I asked, looking at the caller name. It was indeed Doojoon.

“Sorry. I was asleep. What is it?” I asked.

“Look, I don’t know what happened between Junhyung and  you, but…” I cut him off before he could finish.

“I don’t want to talk about him, okay?” I said.

“But he needs you.” He said softly.

“He doesn’t! This Junhyung doesn’t need me!” I yelled.

“Haneul ah~” He called out calmly.

Ever since that day, I stopped bothering about him. If he wanted to come back, he would. But he never did. How could someone change so drastically just because they forgot something?

“What?” I said, showing my obvious frustration.

“Could you come over?” He asked.

“No.” I rejected him flat.

“There’s no one to look after him. We have to go for practice.” He said.

“What am I!? His nanny!? He can look after himself for goodness sake!” I screamed.

“But he’s sick. He’s in pain. He can’t even get out of bed.” He said.

“He what?” I asked.

“He’s in pain. His stomach and back hurt so much he can’t even sit up. We don’t know what to do. Whatever you taught us in the past didn’t seem to work. He can’t even sleep at night. It’s been three days.” He explained.

“Why didn’t you call earlier!?” I shouted.

“He wouldn’t let us.” He said.

“THEN LET HIM DIE IF HE WANTS TO DIE!” I screamed, throwing my phone against the wall.

Before I knew it, I found myself washing up and packing my stuff. I was heading to their dorm. My heart won over my pride this time.

When I arrived, I punch in the codes and let myself in. The boys who were preparing to go out were so shocked to see me. In fact, I was shocked to see them too.

“You’re… here.” Doojoon mumbled.

“Sorry about just now.” I said.

“No no! It’s fine. We understand.” He said, patting my head.

“Is he asleep?” I asked.

“He couldn’t sleep because it’s too painful.” Yoseob said, pouting.

“I’ll be here. You guys can go practice in peace.” I said.

“Thank you. It’s been tough on you.” Hyunseung said, pinching my cheek lightly.

“It’s nothing.” I mumbled.

When they left, I made my way into his room. I opened the door slightly and saw him groaning in pain in bed. All my anger from the other day seemed to dissolve seeing him in so much pain.

“Hey~” I called out as I sat down beside him.

“Mmm~” He opened his eyes slightly.

“Where hurts?” I asked.

“Every… where.” He mumbled.

“Why didn’t you call me, hmm? You wanted to kill yourself?” I asked, rubbing his stomach.

He didn’t say anything but buried his face in the pillow.

“Take these first.” I said, trying to help him sit up.

“I can’t…” He choked out.

“Use a little strength. I’ll support you.” I said, holding him by his shoulders.

He screamed in pain the moment he tried to bend his back. I let him lie back down, not knowing what to do.

“Give me a second.” I said as I ran out.

I came back with heat packs and a hot water bottle. I put the heat pack at his back, letting him lie on it.

“Is it uncomfortable?” I asked.

He shook his head.

“Hold this on your own for awhile.” I said, putting the hot water bottle on his stomach.

He was so weak I had to bring his hand to where the bottle was.

“Just hold on for awhile. I’ll be back quick.” I said.

I crushed the painkillers and mixed the powder with water. I added a little glucose powder into the drink so it would taste better.

“.” I said, pushing the straw into his mouth.

“What’s that…?” He whined.

“Nothing that would kill you.” I said.

He shook his head.

“Yong Junhyung, I’m being really patient here. Don’t make me force it down your throat.” I said, controlling myself.

He glared at me, and I glared back.

“Fine. Don’t drink it.” I said, slamming the cup onto the table.

He turned away and buried his face into the bolster.

“Tell me again why am I here?” I said before going out.

Junhyung’s POV

I heard the door slam and I know I had hurt her again. I didn’t mean to, I don’t know why I acted this way either. I reached for the cup and looked at the contents. It was powdery white. What was it actually? I took a sip of it. It tasted sweet with a slight hint of bitterness at the bottom. Did she crush up the painkillers? But crushed painkillers are bitter. How did she make it taste sweet?

I finished the drink and hugged the hot water bottle close to my stomach. Despite the warmth and the painkillers, I still had a hard time falling asleep. I was tossing and turning when I heard a soft click of the door.

I felt a soft, warm palm on my stomach, rubbing my stomach with slight strength. The feeling felt so familiar, like as thou someone did such a thing for me before. It was so comfortable that I fell asleep almost immediately.

When I opened my eyes again, the pain was almost gone. It was just a slight aching now. I saw Haneul asleep on the chair beside me with her hand still on my stomach. Her other hand held tightly onto her iPod but her earphones had already fallen off.

I wanted to move, but I was afraid I would wake her. I looked around, not knowing what to do. I ended up watching her sleep. I started wondering if her neck would ache when she wakes up because of the awkward position she fell asleep in. How could anyone look so beautiful still despite being asleep like this?

I could hear the music playing faintly from the earphones. I took a glance at the screen and realize she was repeating one song only. I fished up the earphones as gently as possible and put them in my ears, listening to what song is it that she is listening to that she could repeat it over and over again.

I don’t wanna be someone who walks away so easily
I’m here to stay and make the difference that I can make
Our differences they do a lot to teach us how to use
The tools and gifts we got yeah, we got a lot at stake

And in the end, you’re still my friend at least we did intend
For us to work we didn’t break, we didn’t burn
We had to learn how to bend without the world caving in
I had to learn what I’ve got, and what I’m not
And who I am

You're still my friend at least we didn't tend
For us to work we didn't break, we didn't burn
We had to learn, how to bend without the world caving in
I had to learn what I got, and what I'm not
And who I am

I won't give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I'm giving you all my love
I'm still looking up
I'm still looking up

I won't give up on us
God knows I'm tough, he knows
We got a lot to learn
God knows we're worth it

I won't give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I'm giving you all my love
I'm still looking up...

This song is so familiar. Where have I heard it before? I closed my eyes, trying to picture the scene while listening to my song. I saw flashes of images of two people kissing and giggling in somewhere that looks like a car, but that’s about all.

When I opened my eyes, a pair of eyes stared hard at me.

“Sor.. Sorry! Sorry!” I quickly pulled out the earphones and returned it to her.

“It’s alright.” She said as she stopped the song and turn her iPod off.

“The song seems.. Familiar.” I said.

She looked up at me, surprised,

“You remember something!?” She asked frantically, squashing my cheeks.

I shook my head slightly.

“It’s just.. The song seems.. Familiar.” I said.

She let go of me and slumped back into the chair.

“I let you hear it before.” She said.

“You did?” I asked.

She nodded and smiled slightly.

“Are you feeling better?” She asked, rubbing my stomach.

“Yes. And.. I finished this.” I said, showing her the empty cup.

She smiled and pat my head as thou I was a little boy.

“Good. Go shower. You’ll feel better. I’ll cook you something hot.” She said.

“Alright.” I said, sitting up.

I got off the bed and we both froze at the sight. I saw a red patch on the bed sheet and I instantly regretted even standing up.

“.” I cursed under my breath.

“I’m so sorry.” I apologized.

“For what? Come on, it’s normal. It happens to me all the time. Now, you really need to shower!” She said, pushing me out of the room.

It was so embarrassing. Why did such things have to happen!?

“Damn you!” I cursed as I slapped my stomach.

I took a warm bath and indeed felt better after it. I went back to my room and gasped when I saw Haneul kneeling on the floor, scrubbing my bedsheet.

“What are you doing!?” I shouted.

She jumped up slightly. I must have shocked her, but that wasn’t part of my plan.

“Cleaning, duh?” She smiled.

“I’ll do it on my own!” I tried to take the brush from her but she kept waving it out of my reach.

“Come on! It’s nothing! Go outside and rest on the sofa! I’m almost done here. I’ll feed you in awhile.” She said.

“How could I let you do this? It’s dirty and gross.” I mumbled.

“It’s not. It’s natural. Go on out.” She said, pushing me slightly.

“Let me do it.” I said.

“GET OUT!!!” She shouted.

I flinched and almost fell backwards if not for the table behind me.

“Hahahaha~ You need me to yell eh? Go on out. Be a good boy. Listen to me or I’ll throw all your coke away.” She said, pointing her finger at me.

“Th.. thank you.” I mumbled.

“It’s fine.” She smiled as she continued scrubbing.

I felt ashamed at myself for letting her clean my mess. I threw myself onto the sofa, feeling upset. I was day dreaming when I heard her scream suddenly.

“MY PORRIDGE!!!!!!!!!!” She screamed as she ran into the kitchen.

“YAH!! THE TA…” I wasn’t in time to warn her about the table. She crashed her hip against the edge of the table.

“AH !” She cursed as she rubbed her hip.

I couldn’t help but laugh at her cuteness. She glared at me while rubbing her hip.

“Yah! Are you laughing at me!?” She yelled.

“I’m sorry. It’s just.. you..” I covered my mouth as I laughed.

“YAH YONG JUNHYUNG!!!” She yelled, laughing as well.

“Aigoo~” She held onto her hip, squatting down.

“Are you alright!? Is it very painful!?” I asked as I went to her.

I helped her sit down.

“Where is it? Let me see it.” I said.

“What? You want to see my bare body already?” She asked.

“I’m not a ert!” I yelled.

She stuck out her tongue at me and pulled up her shirt slightly.

“Ouch~” I whined, looking at the patch of bruise.

“That’s why we should never run around at home.” I said, rubbing the bruise gently.

She suddenly crashed herself onto me, hugging me tightly.

“Han…” I called out but she stopped me from talking.

“I know… I know this is inappropriate… I know… But please… Just let me stay like this for awhile. Just for awhile.” She said with a hint of pleading in her voice.

I didn’t move. I let her hug me, her chin resting on my head. In fact, it felt so nice to be in her arms. I closed my eyes and I saw images of two people cuddling with each other. It felt so blissful. But I couldn’t make out who the people were. Even before I knew it, I was pulling her closer to me, inhaling the powdery perfume.

“Why do you smell like a baby?” I asked unconsciously.

“What?” She laughed.

“You smell like a baby.” I said.

“Hahahaha~ Crazy.” She flicked my ear a little.

We stayed in that position for awhile until I smelt something burning.

“Haneul… Porridge.” I said.

“OH DAMN IT!” She pushed away from me and jumped up.

I covered the table edge so she wouldn’t end up banging into it again.

I laughed as I watch her try to ‘save’ the porridge. I froze when I saw an image of a girl laughing really happily flash across my mind. The girl was…. Haneul.

“Alright I’m so sorry but it’s slightly burnt.” Haneul said.

“Yah, Junhyung! Are you okay?” She shook me.

“Huh? Oh. Yea.” I nodded.

“It’s slightly burnt.” She said, pouting.

I looked at the porridge. Well, it wasn’t slightly burnt. It’s literally, burnt.

“Really?” I laughed, looking at it.

“Fine don’t eat it!” She said.

“No no! I’ll eat it, I’ll eat it.” I said, taking the bowl from her.

“Instead of just bringing me to places, would you tell me more about us?” I asked.

She looked up, as thou shocked.

“I… Just now… I saw some images. But I couldn’t make it out. Everything seems familiar, I just… Don’t know how things actually were. Help me, please?” I pleaded.

“You want to know?” She asked.

I nodded.

“Of course I am more than happy to tell you.” She smiled as she wiped the corner of my mouth.

“Thank you.” I said.

“Don’t mention.” She smiled.

“No. I mean… For everything.” I said.

“I help you, but in the process, I am helping myself too.” She said.

“Huh?” I looked at her, confused.

“If I leave you to be, I lose a boyfriend!” She said.

“Oh. Right.” I laughed.

“Eat up, and then we’ll talk about it.” She said.

I nodded and indulged myself into the surprisingly wonderful tasting burnt porridge.