35: "Illness" [FB]

   [ ❉ FLASHBACK Chapter - Two Days Before Baekhyun's Birthday - May 04th 2006]

   The steady sound of mouse clicks and keys clacking filled Jongin’s dim room. Crumpled clothes lay strewn across on his unmade bed and scattered on the hardwood floor, but he could only focus on the computer game in front of him. His alert eyes darted left and right for map updates, fingers ready at a moment’s reflex.

   “Ah, I need more ammo,” came Baekhyun’s voice, filled with irritation over Jongin’s headset.

   Jongin shifted his headset, trying to find a more comfortable position. He never really liked how tight it felt around his head.

   “Ah! I’m gonna die!” shouted Baekhyun suddenly, “! I’m dead, ugh, I hate this game.”

   “That’s what you get when you Rambo without any support,” sniggered Chanyeol.

   “I almost had that guy!” retorted Baekhyun.

   “I told you to wait for me,” said Chanyeol. He manoeuvred his toon so that he was jumping on top of Baekhyun’s dead avatar.

   “I don’t need you,” came Baekhyun’s irritable reply.

   “That respawn timer that you’re staring at right now proves otherwise,” laughed Chanyeol.

   “Shut up!”

   In the furrows of deep concentration, Jongin drowned out his friend’s bickering and concentrated on the game. It was an online multiplayer first-person shooter game, and he was currently leading in the ranks with the highest kill-death ratio. His senses were heightened by every movement, there was still a couple minutes left until the end of the session.

   Blam! There was one kill. Blam, another kill. Blam, another. Jongin killed with extreme precision. He was an elite soldier in this virtual world.

   “Look at Jongin carrying us again,” Chanyeol said over their online group call, he didn’t seem fazed that his toon had died once again.

   “He always carries,” said Baekhyun, “But he’s always online, so of course he’s gonna be good. Jongin, don’t worry. I’ll respawn soon, and then you can take it easy because I’ll win the game for us.”

   “Yeah right,” said Chanyeol with a laugh.

   Sure enough, seconds after Baekhyun respawned, his toon was killed off again by a stray bullet. Both Jongin and Chanyeol couldn’t help but burst out laughing at the sight of Baekhyun’s avatar rolling across the floor with its ragdoll physics.

   “Seriously?!” whined Baekhyun. His indignant frustrations were followed by the sound of his headphones clattering across the desk with force.

   “Baekhyun!” called out Chanyeol, unable to contain his laughter, “Baekhyun, get your back here! The game’s not over yet, you idiot.”

   The sounds of Baekhyun picking up his headset again played through Jongin’s headset.

   “Fine,” huffed Baekhyun, “But this is my last game. I can’t take another loss to my record.”

   Jongin sat back and watched as the results of their game flashed up on the screen. Out of all twenty players, he ranked first in kills for their team. A feeling of pride grew within him, and he couldn’t help but grin. They had won because of him.

   “Fine, what do you want to do now?” asked Chanyeol.

   “Jongin?” came Baekhyun’s voice.

   For the first time, Jongin spoke.

   “Yeah, hyung?” he said.

   Jongin was a quiet boy, he didn’t like talking much.

   “Are you coming to my birthday party?”

   All sense of elation from playing his favourite game faded away on Baekhyun’s question. Jongin looked down and started fiddling with the hem of his frayed jumper.

   “I don’t think I can,” he mumbled.

   “Oh come on, you never come out,” said Baekhyun, “Everyone will be there. You can’t miss the party.”

   “Yeah, it’s been like a month since we last saw you,” added Chanyeol, “How are we meant to see you if you don’t come out?”

   “My mum won’t let me,” Jongin muttered, his voice trailing away.

   “Again?” complained Baekhyun, “That woman is a witch, I’m telling you.”

   Jongin could hear Chanyeol laughing at Baekhyun’s comment.

   “For real. You’re not a kid anymore, I don’t get why she’s still so controlling over you,” remarked Chanyeol.

   Jongin didn’t want to reply. He felt guilty that his mother was always taking the blame for him.

   “I’m gonna come round to your house tomorrow and ask your mom in person,” said Baekhyun.

   All of a sudden, Jongin felt very flustered.

   “No,” he stuttered, “Don’t come over, she doesn’t like it when people come around.”

   “I don’t care, it’s my birthday. You can’t miss it, everyone is coming, and ‘everyone’ means you too.”

   “She’ll be mad,” protested Jongin but his voice was too quiet to fight against Baekhyun’s.

   “And everyone misses seeing you, Jongin. Jeongri won’t stop bugging me about when she’ll get to see you next.”

   “Jeongri came round again?” asked Chanyeol.

   “Yeah,” said Baekhyun, “I asked her to help me organise my birthday stuff, and she decided that meant camping out in my bedroom with a notebook.”

   Chanyeol laughed, “Aw, that’s cute.”

   “It’s not cute,” complained Baekhyun rather unconvincingly, “I’ve got like a bruise on my arm from where she keeps punching me. I’m gonna be dead by the time my birthday comes around.”

   “Are you sure that’s not from you teasing her at every opportunity?” said Chanyeol in a knowing tone.

   “Well… She’s too easy to tease,” mused Baekhyun, “It’s her own fault really.”

   “Ah, puppy love…” teased Chanyeol.

   “Shut up,” retorted Baekhyun. He hastily changed the subject back to the topic on hand, “Anyway! Don’t worry Jongin, I’ll change your mom’s mind. Leave the sweet-talking to me. I’ll use the OG Baekhyun charm.”

   “I’ll come with you, Baekhyun,” said Chanyeol, “We’ll convince her, just trust us. Wait for us Jongin, okay?”

   “Yeah, wait for us!”

   Reluctantly, Jongin let out a sound of agreement, no words as such but just a general tone of okay. He mumbled something about having to go and left the group call, finally pulling his headset off after a five-hour gaming session. He peered around his messy and dark bedroom, noting that it was close to midnight and he’d forgot to turn on the lights once again. Resigning himself back to his own reality, Jongin went to lie in his unkempt bed.

   He pulled his arms above over his head and stared at the ceiling. He could imagine his mother’s reaction already if his friends really did show up tomorrow morning. It wasn’t as though he didn’t want to see them, but she was just very strict. She had good reason too, and he didn’t fight her wishes. It was just safer for everyone if he stayed locked away at home.

   Jongin had been a child of boisterous energy, always playing with his brother from the moment he woke up, to the moment when they were forced to go to sleep. They were both heralded as child prodigies from a young age. His brother, Jongdae, was incredibly bright, gifted with his magical powers and also a beautiful voice, and Jongin was b