A doctor shouted at the other end of the room, “No response! Let’s try it again.”Nichkhun became cold. Why did he feel this way? The machine zapped her once again and her body lifted due to the pressure. The monitor made out a weak signal. Doctor Choi pressed his mouth near Yuri’s ear and began to blurt out deafening words.

“Yuri-ah, can you hear me?” There wasn’t a responds. The doctor turned towards Nichkhun and ordered him to call her name.

*Flashback*

   The young boy made a hand motion commanding Yuri to sit beside him on the lunch table. He was hanging out with a few of his friends, who didn’t mind if she was in the middle of their guy conversations. Nichkhun just couldn’t afford to leave the vulnerable Yuri all alone, especially after that other incident.

   She disliked the fact that he was treating her like some sort of baby, but she couldn’t help but smile when Khun acted so protective. He was her crush after all. Yuri hesitated before obeying when seeing other guys accompanied by the prince. She could make up who they were pretty easily: Chansung, WooYoung, Junho, JaeBeom, and Junsu. Taecyeon was normally among them, but the absence of her brother would make it even more awkward. They were nice guys, but there was a tendancy to .

   Nichkhun dragged Yuri to the table and seated her at the edge of the seat beside him, and on front of JunHo.

   “Don’t be scared. They won’t eat you,” he whispered in her ear softly. He turned towards the others. “Guys, please don’t make her feel uncomfortable like last time. Araso?”

   “Don’t worry. We’re harmless,” assured JaeBeom who stuffed his sandwich in his mouth right after. She glanced around and gave her respect.

   “Annyeong haseyo,” she greeted a bit embarrassed at barging in like that. Being the only girl made her feel vulnerable. She could spot groups of fan girls deathly staring at Yuri in the background. Ignoring them, she finally settled beside Khun who already started eating.

   Before even being able to reach for her juice, Junho took her hand with a gently touch. Yuri gazed at his action in complete confusion. Nichkhun’s attention went away from his food and onto that segment with their hands overlapping. Junho smiled almost as charmingly as the prince normally did. Yuri felt anxious as their eyes came across one another.

   “What are you looking at?” she asked while mumbling her words.

   “I’m looking at the most beautiful person here.” Yuri gazed away in awkwardness. Everyone around the table laughed, except for Nichkhun. Even if he knew Junho was just messing around, this disturbed him entirely. Nichkhun pushed Junho’s hand away from Yuri.

   “Yah! Quit flirting and eat. It’s disgusting!” complained the protective prince.

   “What’s wrong Nichkhun, are you jealous?” teased JunSu. Khun’s words came out with great difficulty.

   “I’m… I’m… Who’s jealous? I’m not. It’s just that I hate the fact that you’re hitting on someone who is practically a sister to me. It’s gross.” Junho ignored Nichkhun and turned his guard back at the young lady.

   “Don’t mind him Yuri-ah…” Junho continued. She swallowed hard and sighed nervously. “So, how about Friday night?” Her eyebrows rose when hearing this.

   “Huh?”

   “What I mean is; are you free Friday Night? I was wondering if you could go somewhere with me after school.” Nichkhun became angry and didn’t let Yuri answer.

   “Shut up and eat!” WooYoung nodded his head in the background. JaeBeom, JunSu & Chansung couldn’t help but chuckle at Khun’s hysterical reaction.

   Junho gave in. “Yah, hyung. You clearly knew that I was joking. So, why are you reacting so harshly? Wah, it’s pretty clear how you two will end up getting married one day.”

   “Bwoh?” he reacted in response.

   “No matter how much you deny it, I won’t believe you. Mark my words, both of you will end up together.” Yuri and Nichkhun avoided each other’s guard. A weird feeling crept through their veins. They finished their lunch in a hurry, without a word.

   Soon afterwards, everyone left, clearing up the table for both to be alone. Nichkhun cleared his throat and began.

   “Mianhe. I hope that they didn’t make you feel weird.”

   “Don’t worry. It wasn’t that bad. I’m more concerned about you. Did I make you mad?” Khun didn’t answer at first. Yuri put an arm around him and rested her chin on his shoulder. “Oppa, no matter who asks me out, whether it’s a joke or for real, I still like you best. You’ll always be my favorite.”

   *End of flashback*

   “Keep calling her!”

   “Yuri-ah!” repeated Nichkhun over and over again. “Listen to me! Wake up Yuri. I’m helpless without you.”

*Flahback*

   Only a few weeks after Yoona and Nichkhun began to date, they went to the beach. TaecYeon, Yuri and the other guys tagged along as well. It was a wonderful day with awesome weather for an outdoor event. Yuri tried to avoid getting jealous at the sight of the couple sweetly roaming around the grounds. She spent most of the time in the water, away from them.

   Obviously, that reproach didn’t work for long. By sunset, everyone gathered for supper at the shore, near a small fire. Yuri tried to finish up quickly to get away from everyone and hide in a corner.

   “Yo! Slow down. You’ll choke,” warned WooYoung. The more he told her to stop, the more she stuffed in . He watched her almost fill her checks to the maximum capacity. “Here,” he offered while holding out another piece of bread. 

   “No thanks. I have to go,” she affirmed before being stopped by Junho.

   “Yuri-ah, you can’t leave yet. We still haven’t played a game.” She stopped and looked behind her. Everyone glanced at one another.

   “A game?” repeated Chansung with interest.

   “Ye. Of course. Truth or dare.” No objection was made, and Yuri unwillingly sat back down on her seat. JaeBeom pulled out an empty bottle and placed it in the middle of the table. The game began.

   As the bottle spun, Yuri prayed that it wasn’t going to point at her. And it didn’t. It was directed at Nichkhun. Yuri sighed in relief.

   “Dare,” he picked without hesitation. JunSu stood up as if he knew exactly what to ask.

   “I have one.” Everyone was attentive to what he was going to say. “Since you’ve been dating Yoona, I’ve never seen you two kiss before. So I dare you to do it now.” The couple blushed as everyone made noise in agreement. Yuri held her anger in, and grabbed the bread WooYoung offered previously and stuffed it in . Nichkhun’s lips came closer to Yoona’s as they delicately laid on hers. It looked soft and Yuri wanted to cry. Taec gripped on her hand tightly and tapped her back in encouragement.

   Yuri stood up and left the scene. It was unbearable to watch. Nichkhun glanced over at his friend as the kiss ended. Without even looking at Yoona, he sprinted to catch up with her running. She finally stopped near the water as the dark sky gleamed with its little stars. Nichkhun stood next to her soon afterwards.

   “Are you okay?” he asked with concern.

   “I’m doing splendid." He knew she was being sarcastic.

   “Yuri-ah, don’t be like this and tell me what’s bothering you. Is it the kiss?” As she turned around, he could see her disappointed expression.

   “Why do boys have to be so clueless? Do you think that I liked the kiss if it’s a sure sign of deception? Surely, you’ll never have time to remember me and Taec anymore because of her. You’ll forget your best friends and…” Nichkhun planted a kiss on her check. It was warm and cozy yet she froze on the spot.

   “That was just for you… As a friend, I’m sorry if I made you feel bad…” He began to walk further away from her. “But you better not tell Yoona,” he finished.

*End of flashback*

   “Yuri-ah, you can’t give up. I beg you.” His voice almost faded. It was surely the end of her. What were the chances that she’d live? Just then, within seconds, a constant beep was heard over the shouts.

   “We’ve got a heartbeat!” screamed the doctor. This made Khun’s head lift. The green light staggered on the monitor, rising and falling in peaks. “I’ve got a pulse and blood pressure.”

   Nichkhun perspired all over and his hands were tightly gripping the side of Yuri’s bed. “We got her back, she heard you Nichkhun. You saved her.”