Request: When you’re sick but try to hide it from him - Kyungsoo.

If there was a single word to describe how you felt it would be death.

Your nose felt swollen, your throat raw and scratchy, your eyes dry and itchy, not to mention your muscles ached somewhat terribly. You barely managed to force your body up into a seating position, your muscles greatly protesting. 

You had the flu. 

You knew it, you knew the symptoms. You let out a strangled groan in complaint, your throat throbbing as the sound escaped your throat. 

This was great. Just great. You were seeing Kyungsoo for the first time in weeks and here you were sick. You knew you should have brought an umbrella the other day when it had decided to downpour. You silently scolded yourself for not doing so in your mind. 

Now you were sick. Sick on the only day you would see Kyungsoo until… heck you didn’t even know. Days, weeks, months. With his jam packed schedule you were surprised when he had wanted to hang out with you on his only free day until who knows when. 

Yet, you were sick. You let out an exaggerated sigh at your sheer bad luck. 

"The rice will be done in a few minutes" you heard Kyungsoo announce as he flittered around your kitchen, stove to counter back to stove and then back to the counter. You were amazed how he moved around the kitchen so naturally. You definitely envied his cooking skills. 

You had decided against telling Kyungsoo about being sick. You knew if you had done he would spend the day treating you like a invalid instead of having fun.

You remembered the time when you were eleven and gotten tonsillitis, Kyungsoo had stuck to you like super glue, tending to your every need and some you didn’t need. You appreciated it of course, though you would prefer not to be babied over today. Not your first day together in… well, a long time. 

"Mhmm" you made a sound in acknowledgement, coming out more croaky then you intended. Your throat had progressed from feeling raw and scratch to add croaky into the mix. Everything sounded as if you were dying of thirst no matter how much you drank. It wasn’t helping at all in hiding your illness from Kyungsoo. 

Thankfully though he didn’t comment on it, instead he continued to work his way around your kitchen preparing all kids of delicious foods. You had to admit that you missed Kyungsoo’s cooking, though your waistband hadn’t. You pretty much lived on instant noodles lately, though they weren’t exactly the healthiest option, they weren’t full of fat either. You were sure though your waistline would suffer this evening. 

You figured you must have dozed off for a second, only snapping back to reality when you heard a soft thud on the wooden table infront of you. You practically jumped in your seat, your eyes flickering open to see Kyungsoo setting dishes on the table infront of you. 

You gave a weak smile when his eyes fell upon yours as he slipped in the seat opposite you, the audible squeak of the chair filling the room as he sat. 

It was silent between the pair of you.

Not those comfortable silences that you didn’t need to feel, those you could enjoy just being quiet with one an other. No, this silence was… awkward. 

You felt like you should say something. Break that uncomfortable silence. You hadn’t seen each other in so long after all. 

"So, how has being an idol treating you? I bet you get lots of girls fall at your feet, eh?" you questioned, trying your upmost hardest not to strain your voice, fearing it would croak. It didn’t, thankfully. Maybe luck was on your side after all.

You watched Kyungsoo’s face stiffen silently before letting out a weak laugh, shaking his head slightly at your comment. 

”.. Sometimes, yeah" he responded meekly, rubbing a hand at the back of his neck. Oops. You’d touched a nerve. You knew Kyungsoo long enough to know whenever he rubbed his neck like that in conversation that he felt uncomfortable. 

Maybe breaking the silence wasn’t so good after all. 

The pair of you ate in silence throughout the rest of your meal. Well, if you could call poking your rice around your plate with chopsticks actually eating. 

You double-y hated being sick today. As if feeling like hell wasn’t enough, you were currently experiencing it. Kyungsoo had cooked your favourite dishes, yet thanks to your sickness you couldn’t taste a damn thing. Your taste buds had upped and away leaving everything to taste dull and drab. To say it put you off your food was an understatement. 

On top of that a migraine had started to brew inside your skull. You felt like your brain was beginning to swell, much like your nose was, pushing against the sides of your skull. You were sure you had winced once or twice involuntarily throughout eating because of it. You probably looked like a twitching rabbit. 

”______, are you okay?" you were snapped out of your thoughts, hearing Kyungsoo’s tender voice. You looked up from your plate, halting from pushing around pieces of rice to look at his face. You saw his large, circular eyes watching you, a look of discontent and worry on his face. 

You bit the inside of your cheek at the sight of it. 

"Yeah, i’m fine. Why?" you retorted back, your throat protesting as you spoke. Your throat felt like you had swallowed a razor blade or at least tried too, the cut up and raw feeling throbbing relentlessly. 

You had drank 3 or maybe 4 glasses of water since you had arrived and yet you still felt like you could drink another 3 or 4 more. Heck, you could probably drink a whole swimming pool your’re throat hurt that much. 

"You haven’t eaten much" you heard Kyungsoo continue, his voice slightly louder than before. He was right, you hadn’t. You had barely half a plate, some of which still remained on it and was scattered across it where your had pushed it about with your chopsticks. You usually had a monster apetite when it came to Kyungsoo’s cooking. You couldn’t get enough.

"And you look kind of paler than usual" you heard him add a moment later.

. You were caught. 

Your eyes widened slightly as his comment, avoiding his gaze by looking down to your plate. You felt like you were a school kid who was just caught skipping class or cheating on a test. You mentally held your hands up in your mind defending your innocence. 

Okay, so maybe you were being dramatic, but somewhere in your mind wasn’t really surprised Kyungsoo had picked up your difference in attitude. It was Kyungsoo after all. You had known him since… gosh, a long time. He probably knew you better than you knew yourself. You considered him almost family, minus the weird part where you would be related.

You let out a low, fake chuckle. You were about to defend your innocence, saying you were fine when you felt a cool palm press against your forehead. 

Kyungsoo’s palm to be exact. 

You hadn’t seen him move. You hadn’t heard him move. Heck, the last second ago you had saw him he was in his seat at the opposite side of the table. How exactly had he moved so fast? 

Or maybe you were spacing out again? It wouldn’t be the first time this evening. 

Your face felt incredible warm compared to Kyungsoo’s palm. Was it the sudden contact or your illness? You didn’t know. You didn’t feel warm before he had touched your forehead though. You couldn’t really feel alot though with your brain pounding relentlessly distracting you.

"You’re getting a fever" he announced, his eyes wider than what seemed possible. His usual owl eyes were huge, though the ones he wore when his face contorted with worry were like planets. Okay, maybe now you were exaggerating a little, though you had always been insanely jealous of his huge circular eyes. 

You blinked blankly at his words. A fever? No, no, no, you didn’t have a fever. You had the flu, maybe, but that was all. Worse yet, you were kicking yourself for Kyungsoo worrying over you. You wasn’t a baby. You were fine. No fever would hold you down. 

"No I don’t, i’m fine real-"

"Come on, you need to rest" Kyungsoo cut you off and with that tugged you up and out of your seat. You practically flopped like a rag doll at the sudden movement, your head spinning as he dragging you by the wrist towards your bedroom. Once your head caught up with you, you compliantly followed, your head hung like a scolded puppy. 

"Here" you heard Kyungsoo speak in a soft voice as he pressed a damp cloth to your forehead. You skin prickled at the sudden coldness however melted into the cool sensation. It felt like heaven against your suddenly burning forehead. 

In a matter of minutes you were tucked up in your bed, your covers wrapped around you up to your neck like a cocoon. You were sure that considering you were hot you shouldn’t be so wrapped up, but Kyungsoo insisted he knew what he was doing. You hadn’t had too many fevers in your life time (thankfully), so you complied and did so.

Even if it did feel like you were would suddenly combust at any second from the heat.

"Thanks" you responded in a weak voice, not attempting to hide the croak or discomfort that your throat gave you. Kyungsoo knew you were sick, there wasn’t any point too hide it now, you had already failed in hiding you’re illness. 

You were somewhat mad at yourself for not being a better actress. Though, this was why Kyungsoo was the idol and not you. You’re acting abilities were nill. 

"You should have told me you were sick" Kyungsoo spoke again, his voice a pitch louder than before as he removed the cloth from your forehead. You let out a small whine at the loss, hearing Kyungsoo let out a small chuckle in response to your whine. You watched as he dipped it in a small bucket of water before ringing it out and replacing it back on your forehead. 

You felt guilt tug at you inside. Here Kyungsoo was taking care of you on his one day off. His only day off until you didn’t know when. You were sure he didn’t know when either, being an idol was like that apparently. You could think of a thousand other things you were sure he would rather be doing than tend to you like a baby. 

”________-ah?" Kyungsoo called your name after you failed to answer, causing you to snap out of your thoughts. Your sickness was causing you to day dream more than usual. 

"I didn’t want you to worry" you finally replied, letting out a small sigh with your words. You were honest, you didn’t want him too worry. You were sure he had more important things to worry about than you and just a small little cold. Heck, he probably shouldn’t even be this close to you while you were sick, he could catch it after all. You didn’t have the energy to push him away though — and if you were honest, you kinda enjoyed him looking after you. 

In some selfish corner at the back of your brain you enjoyed knowing Kyungsoo cared for you. That you were important enough to him that he spent his free time with you, cooked your favourite meals and even looked after you when you were sick. That he’d listen to your very lame jokes and whining about irrelevant things that really were irrelevant and generally just was there for you.

Were you selfish for enjoying him? Probably, yet you couldn’t help but feel that little bit brighter whenever he was around. 

”______-ah" you heard Kyungsoo’s soft voice coo, the hand that was holding the cloth to your head now slowly being run through the ends of your head. You closed your eyes, marvelling at the sensation as well as the gentle tune Kyungsoo began to hum.

You didn’t know humming could sound so… good. So melodic. You figured though with Kyungsoo’s pure heaven voice he could sing the phone book and make it sound good. You could practically picture that image in your mind, Kyungsoo holding open the large telephone book as he sang random names from it, perhaps throwing in some rap here and there. Ha.

Your lips curved up automatically at the thought, holding back the laughter that was bubble inside. It hurt to talk, to breathe through your mouth even, you were sure if you laughed your throat would bleed. Plus, you didn’t want to taint the beautiful tune sounds of Kyungsoo’s humming.

You recognised the tune that Kyungsoo currently hummed, one of his group’s  songs — What is Love.

You knew the song well. You knew all of his groups songs well. Though What is Love was one of favourites, if not your favourite. You somehow suspected Kyungsoo knew that, hence why he had chosen to hum that one in particular. 

You couldn’t help but mentally run through the lyrics as you listened to him humming. You remembered the first time Kyungsoo had played it too you, asking you what you thought and how he did. You were practically adorned with it, listening it to a second time over immediately and of course telling him how great he sounded. 

Though Kyungsoo could sing anything and make it into a success. You hadn’t forgotten about the image of him singing the telephone book in your mind.

You were half way on falling asleep when you heard the tender humming stop. It took you a few seconds to realise the room was no silent, only the sounds of the pair of you breathing and the faint sounds from the outside world. 

The feeling of sleep slipped away from you as you cracked your eyes open, meeting Kyungsoo’s gaze. You shivered under his intense gaze, his eyes boring into yours stopping you from looking away. If it wasn’t for your body already on fire you probably would have heated up from his stare. 

"What is it?" you finally uttered after what seemed like forever. You noticed your voice croaked less and didn’t feel like it was bleeding as you spoke. You were surprised you were feeling better already, though knew it was probably only from Kyungsoo being with you. 

You watched as he finally tore his gaze from yours, using his hand to rub the back of his neck and a small smile on his lips. His discomfort tick again. 

"Nothing.. it’s just…" you heard him begin to mutter, barely audible. 

He probably had a schedule to go too, that was what he was going to say you thought. You should have known he couldn’t have spent the whole day with you, or wanted too anyway, especially with you being sick. He could catch your illness. Kyungsoo being sick was much worse than you being sick. You wasn’t the one who had to belt out the high notes.

You bit your lip in anticipation, waiting for him to speak. To voice something. It seemed as if hours had passed until he finally spoke again.

"I guess now isn’t a good time to tell you I like you"

You let out a inaudible sigh. You were rig- Wait a second.

You mentally back tracked over his words, the last three ringing over and over in your mind.

I like you.

I like you.

Your eyes almost widened as much as Kyungsoo’s in realisation. What did that mean, I like you? Of course he liked you, you liked him too. You were friends after all. Friendship required liking in order to be a friendship, duh. 

Though you couldn’t help but ignore the part of your mind that told you that he didn’t mean the friendship type of liking. He had meant the other type of liking. The like liking. 

You felt your heart thump harder slightly just from the thought. Did that mean Kyungsoo like liked you? No way. You were only friends after all. Good friends. Perhaps even best friends. You had known each other long enough to quality for that position. 

Then there was the factor of Kyungsoo being and idol and you being … well, you. You wasn’t flashy or amazing or anything attention worthy. You were … you. Not an idol. 

You usually didn’t care much about not exactly being the prettiest flower in the bouquet, yet somehow now you felt like a drab and dull boring daisy. Heck, you didn’t even like flowers. 

In the midst of your thoughts you had realised it had been over a minute of silence between you after his confession. You caught Kyungsoo’s gaze once again, his eyes weak as if he waited for an answer, a response, or at least something. 

"… I.. " you managed to utter. A single letter, that was all, but at least you were making progress.

What could you say? Alot, but most of which wouldn’t be relevant. Only realises on why he shouldn’t like you. You were you after all. On how you were a mere daisy and nothing special and a variety of reasons why you basically wasn’t good enough for his affections. Unintentionally you had never felt so insecure with your thoughts. You blamed your sickness for messing with your brain. Blah. 

"… You’re right" you finally spoke something coherent, your voice finally making it’s way to your throat. You saw confusion flash across Kyungsoo’s face from your words, as if your answer hadn’t been one he had been expecting. “This isn’t a good time for you to tell me" you added. 

The confusion from his face washed into regret. Into hurt. As if you had rejected his confession — though you sort of had. You couldn’t help but feel your chest tighten at the sight of his upset. 

You hadn’t given him a straight answer, a yes or a no that you liked him back. Instead, side stepped around the question. You saw Kyungsoo’s hand twitch slightly, almost as if he was about to rub his neck once again. You quickly found your voice once more. 

"But… " you began, your voice coming out shaky and quiet. 

"I like you too."