His heart was thrumming painfully in his chest, threatening to burst through his ribcage. His breathing was erratic and it almost felt like his lungs were imploding both from his abrupt sprinting and his asthma acting up, but he had to keep going. He had to get to her.

He barely managed to put his hands in front of him as he crashed into the information desk, gasping for air and trying to blink away the spots in his vision. The old lady manning the information desk only looked at him with mild concern, years of experience giving her patience. A few moments later he managed to strew her name together enough so that the old nurse could look her up. No sooner had she given him the room number than he was already running again, his body only stilling in the elevator even when he felt like he was a ticking time bomb. He started to slow down as he rounded the corner, only a few feet away from her room. Yongguk was outside her door speaking into his phone.

When Yongguk caught sight of Jiho, his shoulders visibly relaxed and he shook his head in relief. “Never mind Kyung, he just walked in. Thanks. Later.”

Jiho’s breath was still coming out in ragged puffs, but his heart was able to calm down when he saw the steady rise and fall of his sleeping girlfriend’s chest.

“Is she-“

“Sleeping. Doctor said it was normal she’d be tired after the examinations.”

Jiho sighed as a weight was lifted off his chest. Aside from the bandage on her head, she looked perfectly fine. She was ok, so maybe he would be ok as well.

“I tried telling you over the phone that she was ok. She only has a minor concussion and she’ll probably have a scar on her forehead for a couple weeks, but other than that, she’ll live,” Yongguk softly whispered as he rummaged through her purse on the counter. He pulled out an extra inhaler he knew she carried around for emergencies and handed it to Jiho; the boy looked like he was about to collapse any moment. It wasn’t until Yongguk practically shoved the inhaler into Zico’s mouth that Jiho reacted. He looked at Yongguk as if he had just taken proper note of his presence. He bowed his head in thanks before using his inhaler. Yongguk grabbed hold of Jiho’s shoulder and led him to a chair next to the bed.

“Seriously though, man. You had Kyung and I worried sick. Do you not watch dramas? You have to wait until the person giving you bad news finishes giving you the bad news before you hang up and decide to run out from wherever it was you were. I bet you were speeding over here. You could have gotten yourself or someone else hurt.” There was slight admonishment in Yongguk’s lecture, but it was lessened by the kind and understanding look in his eyes.

“I know, I’m sorry.” Zico’s voice was still weak, but the color was returning to his face. “I didn’t exactly hang up. When you told me she was in the hospital, I was already in my car and I kind of dropped my phone. I think it went under the seat and after that I guess I stopped thinking straight. I was just,” Zico’s voice went even softer, but this time of his own choice, “I was so scared.”

Yongguk’s shoulders sagged. He only knew half of what Zico was going through and he already felt for the boy so much. Not only Zico though, but for his best friend who was laying down in a hospital bed right now, not knowing what was going on.

“This is going to have to end faster than I’d planned.”

Yongguk’s eyebrows shot up in surprise, but at the same time, he had been expecting this for a while.

***

It took you a while to remember where you were. The memories bringing a slight pain in your head. You groaned and tried to lift your hand to your temple, but noticed someone had both your hands intertwined with theirs. You smiled down at the top of Jiho’s head. He was still sitting on the chair that he had practically glued to your bed, but his head was resting on his left arm that was on the mattress, his torso twisted in what you could only assume was not a comfortable position. His arms connected together as they held both your hands. You blinked a few times and looked around the room, spotting Yongguk not far from you, sitting by the wall and tapping away on his phone. As if sensing your eyes on him, he looked up. Your eyebrows furrowed together as you noticed the weird look in his eyes. There was concern and sadness. Like he knew something that bad was going to happen to you. Before you could address your worries, however, your boyfriend stirred next to you. Your eyes shot to him and everything else went to the back of your mind. You always knew you were head over heels for the man who spelled his stage name one way and pronounced it a different way; for the most amazing leader of the most amazing group; for the artist that managed both an impressive reputation in the underground world and the idol world; for the boy who used to have trouble knowing when to shut up; for the guy that always made you smile one way or another; for the man that understood you like no one else and had effortlessly stolen your heart; you always knew, but as he grimaced in discomfort from trying to straighten his back, you couldn’t help but be so attracted. You were mesmerized not only by Jiho’s striking looks, but by the love in his eyes as he noticed you were awake. There was so much tenderness and care in the way he fought his exhaustion and scanned your body to make sure it was really you, to make sure he wasn’t dreaming. When he was sure it was reality, his gaze hastily turned to one of worry and he immediately asked if you were ok, if you needed anything, if there was something he could do to make you more comfortable. He would have probably kept going if you hadn’t burst into giggles. He looked at you in confusion as he noticed the giant smile on your face.

“I’m fine, Jiho, I promise.”

“Are you sure? You don’t need me to call the nurse? Does anything hu-“

“I love you.”

He was slightly taken aback, but quickly recovered. The happiness that washed over his face, however, suddenly looking forced. He was obviously troubled by something, but you had no idea what.

“Sorry to interrupt your little moment, love-birds, but I need I need to leave soon and I’d also like to hug my favorite klutz,” Yongguk said, coming up to your bed from the other side. You tore away your hands from Jiho’s grasp and lifted your arms to wrap them around your best friend.

“Alright, alright, enough of that.” You laughed as Jiho peeled you away from Yongguk and wrapped your arms around his neck instead. You smiled up at Yongguk as he watched the both of you in slight amusement and something else.

“Thank you so much for everything,” you told Yongguk, hugging Jiho even harder, “both of you, thank you so much.”

“Anytime, baby girl.” Yongguk laughed when Jiho growled into your neck at the nickname. “Jiho, I’ll be seeing you soon.” With one last wave, he left.

“What was that about, babe?” You asked, untangling yourself his grip, but keeping him close. He was warm.

“I don’t know,” he mumbled, “work, or something.”

“Work’s been kicking your lately, huh?” You wanted to give him his space when it came to work, but it was starting to bother you a little how stressed he’d been because of it and how he wasn’t telling you. Any other time and he would have already been coming to you with all his thoughts and frustrations. What was so different about this time?

“I guess you could say that. But you know how it is. I’ll fix everything soon. I’ll make everything ok, ok?”

“Yeah,” you conceded quietly. You rested your forehead against his and closed your eyes.

“I’m so glad you came,” you confessed. His warmth was just what you needed.

“Of course I came. My flower-petal-lollipop-glitter princess was hurt. I had to come be her knight in shining armor.” He kissed the tip of your nose as you burst into laughter, clutching your stomach and pushing him off the bed small bed in the process.

“But babe, what happened exactly? Yongguk told me a bit but I want to hear it from you.” He let you settle in properly again before getting comfortable himself, snuggling onto your side. When you were both facing each other and you had managed your giggles, you sighed and told him what you remembered.

“I went to my first 2 classes and everything was fine except I have a test in art history next week I think, or maybe just a quiz, I don’t remember. Oh, and then after that I went to get a Starbucks before my last class but then a girl bumped into me and I spilled it all over my shirt. My favorite white shirt! You know how much I love that shirt,” you looked at Jiho and he nodded at you in agreement. He did know. He had bought you the same shirt in Japan a few years ago, but you finally had to get rid of it when it became too worn out. Jiho had bought you the same shirt on his last trip to Japan a week ago. He had said it was hard to find since it was so old, but he was able to pull a few strings. “So anyway,” you continued, “I was headed to the student store to buy a t-shirt that wasn’t soaked in caramel Frappuccino when the pot fell. And that’s kind of all that happened really.”

“All that happened? You make it sound like it was nothing!” Your eyes widened in surprise at Jiho’s tone. He sounded more than concerned for what had happened; he sounded angry.

“I know you told me to be careful this morning, but it was an accident, Jiho. Accidents happen.”

“How many accidents do you know include a flower pot falling from a computer lab roof?” Jiho countered.

“Not many, but it happens,” you tried reasoning with him, “like right before you went to Japan and I was at that diner across the street from my place, remember? And someone stole the wet floor sign and stupid me just had to go and slip.“

“I know. You gave me a scare that day too. How’s your wrist by the way?” He was sounding more and more tired as he spoke. But it wasn’t the type of tired that came with lack of rest, you noted. He just seemed tired with things.

“Like it never happened,” you told him, lifting your wrist to his face. He took your hand in his and kissed the back of your hand.

“Good.”

Both Zico and you jumped at the sudden knock on the door before a young looking male nursed walked in.

“Oh sorry, didn’t mean to interrupt, but I need to check out some things on the monitor.” The young man moved awkwardly towards the monitors while Zico stood up and dusted imaginary dust off his shirt.

“Oh and visiting hours are over, sir.” The nurse mentioned over his shoulder as he exited the room.

Jiho groaned and rubbed his hands over his face. He sat at the edge of your bed again and pushed a strand of hair behind your ear.

“The doctor said you’ll be out of here by tomorrow morning right?”

You nodded and held his hand in both of yours. “Yeah, just for observation tonight, make sure nothing’s wrong.”

“Will you be ok here without me?”

“What choice do I have,” you laughed. “And besides, if that’s the cute nurse guy I get taking care of me all night, I think I’ll be more than alright.” You bit your bottom lip to keep from bursting out laughing as Jiho’s face turned red.

“Ya! You think that’s funny?” He stood from the bed, pouty mode fully activated.

“I kid, I kid,” you soothed. “How can I possibly think of anyone else when I’m with you, huh?” You were way past the getting embarrassed stage in your relationship, but at this moment you could feel your face become warm. But it was the truth. Jiho’s stance relaxed and you bumped your forehead with his.

“I love you. I’ll see you tomorrow morning. Bright and early.” With one last kiss, he left.

***

Zico wasn’t kidding when he said he’d see you bright and early. He was at the hospital even before the doctor, who told you everything was fine, released you. He had a surprise with him as well; “Special day because I love you” day, or so he called it. The whole day was packed with activities and places you loved and you felt like a little kid as you raced into your apartment to take a shower and get ready. While you let your hair air dry a bit and Zico was the one in the shower, you quickly put a load of laundry in the washer. You really hoped your white favorite shirt would survive yesterday’s events as best as possible. Just as you finished up, you felt two hands snake around your waist and you jumped in surprise. The husky laugh from behind you had you relaxing into the embrace. Wow, you loved him so much.

“Ready?” he asked, kissing behind your ear.

“Almost,” you replied, using all your willpower to leave his hug and head to your bedroom to finish getting ready. It took a bit longer than usual because your hair was putting up a fight and your winged eyeliner didn’t feel like flying. Finally, however, you were satisfied with yourself and you had to admit, you looked damn hot.

The time you spent getting ready was put to good use by Jiho as he walked in through the front door carrying two bags of takeout.

“Hey I didn’t even realize you were gone,” you said as you went into the laundry room.

“I figured we could start the day with a picnic and I didn’t feel like making anything, so takeout at the park it is,” he shouted so that you could hear him from the kitchen.

“What the hell!” you screamed and ran out into the kitchen.

Jiho was a mixture of confused and startled when you spotted him. “I guess we could make some sandwiches or something, no need to get so mad, babe.”

“What? No! The laundry, Jiho! It’s pink! And I’m pretty sure this pair of red briefs are yours!”

Jiho had the decency to look sheepish. “Oh hey,” he laughed awkwardly, “how did those get there? I’ve been looking for them.”

“Jiho, you know the white hamper is for whites only!”

“Sorry, sorry, it won’t happen again, I promise.” He was in front of you in two long strides and kissing you before you could say anything else. He was trying to distract you, and he was damn good at it.

“I’ll make it up to you with today, I promise.” Kiss.

“You better, bud. You just ruined my favorite shirt.” Kiss.

“I’ll buy you ten more.” Kiss.

“You promise?” Kiss.

I'm not too happy with how this chapter came out.. I feel it's a bit rushed but I didn't want to keep dragging things... idk tell me what you guys think!