Yixing woke with a jolt a few hours later when he felt himself shaking as Baekhyun coughed. He opened his eyes and saw Baekhyun’s face red from the effort of holding back his coughs, his arms tight around his body to reduce the shaking. He jumped up in alarm and frantically rubbed his back, reaching out with the other hand to place it on Baekhyun’s heaving chest and tried to soothe him as he wheezed for air.

“I’m sorry, I didn't mean to wake you I’m sorry…” Baekhyun whispered hoarsely when he finally caught his breath, his eyes already streaming red with tears.

Yixing hushed him, rewrapping the blankets around him before he left to get water from the kitchen. The clock on the wall showed 11a.m, and only then did Yixing register the uncharacteristically quiet atmosphere in the dorm. Unwilling to disturb them, the other members must have left for practice by themselves.

When Yixing returned with water, Baekhyun’s face was buried entirely in the covers, his entire body convulsing with each muffled cough. Yixing was wrecked with worry as he helped Baekhyun sit up and rubbed his chest until the fit passed, leaving the weary boy gasping for breath in his arms.

“How long has this been going on? Why haven’t you been telling me?”

Baekhyun blinked and looked away. “It’s nothing, hyung, don’t worry about me. I’m fine.”

The lie felt thick on his tongue.