The Odd Doctor Out | A Drama | S. 2

187 🩺 Power Out

The tv was set to the news channel in the Kim and Kang family household. Wooyoung, sat on the couch between Yeosang and San watching the devastation play out, whilst Hongjoong watched from the table, still finishing eating his dinner.

Wooyoung reached to his side and put a gentle hand on San's forearm, gazing at him with worried eyes. 'San-ah, should you ring Mingi? Didn't you say he was going home tonight?'

As the news lady showed realtime footage of the storm passing through, Wooyoung felt nerves and anxiety rise within him. He moved his hands back together to tap his fingers together nervously, biting hard down on his lip as he watched the news where a tree was being shown over the road in one neighbourhood.

San glanced at Wooyoung, exchanging a look with Yeosang. Wooyoung was far more nervous than San had expected him to be, but as Yeosang nodded to the photo sitting next to the tv with Woo's parents on it, understanding tore through San.

'Wooyoung-ah, don't worry too much. He finished work an hour ago. He's probably already home by now.' Out of pure curiosity, San reached forward and took his mobile from the coffee table before leaning back and putting his arm around Wooyoung, letting him fall into his chest. Dialling his number, he could see Wooyoung staring at him, waiting.

But he didn't answer.

Pursing his lips together, San dropped his phone into his lap and then hugged Wooyoung. 'Don't worry too much. Mingi turns his phone off sometimes when he studies so he doesn't get distracted. If something had happened, he would have called me.' Still feeling how tense he was, San ruffled his hands up his back, trying to jar him from his nervousness. 'Besides the point, if the weather was too bad, he would have just stayed and found Hwa.'

'But what about if he left and something happened on the bus on the way...' His wide doe eyes melted San's heart.

'Then we would have seen it on the TV then, right?' Placing a kiss on the tip of his nose, San literally saw Wooyoung calm a little as the logic set in.

'I guess so...'

Hugging him, San glanced over Wooyoung's shoulder to see Yeosang give him a supportive, understanding nod.

'I didn't realise you cared about my friends so much,' San said lightly, brushing his hair.

Wooyoung leant back to roll his eyes where San would see. 'Of course I care. I care because you care.' Turning back to face the television, San felt his skin tingle where Wooyoung idly put his hand down on his thigh innocently, and felt his heart warm.

And then the lights went out, the tv switching off.

Everyone glancing around, Hongjoong stood up to walk over to the kitchen window.

'Looks like everyone's power is out.'

San held an arm tightly around Wooyoung as he felt him stiffen a little.

And then Yeosang stood. 'I think the candles are under my bed somewhere.'

Wooyoung's scared eyes darted to him as he stood, to which Yeosang just reached out and ruffled his hair. 'Woo, give San a hug.' And with that, he darted off down the hall to search for the candles.

Gazing up at San, the worry in Wooyoung's face was glaringly obvious in the dark.

'Wooyoung-ah, what's upsetting you?' San asked, pulling a knee up onto the sofa to turn his body and face him.

Wooyoung bit his lip for a moment before he seemed to decide to open up. 'Mingi...'

Realising he would never calm until he knew he was okay, San picked his phone back up and dialled Seonghwa's number, brushing at Wooyoung's cheeks as he did.

He picked up on the second dial tone.

'Hello? San-ah, are you okay? The weather is wild at the moment.'

San gave Wooyoung a smile. 'Yeah I'm good. I'm with Woo at the moment.'

'Don't go home, just wait till it's over.'

'Wasn't planning on it. Power went out just then anyways. Hey Hwa, do you happen to know where Min is?'

San literally saw Wooyoung hold his breath.

'Yeah actually, I saw him getting a lift with the coffee guy. I didn't know they were friends but I guess that will be a question time for another day.'

San felt himself relax a little - that little bit of him that couldn't help worrying for his friends. 'Did you hear that Woo? Min's fine. He got a lift with a friend.' Turning his attention back to the call, San smiled. 'Thanks Hwa. Be careful.'

'Will do. Nite, tell the guys I say hi~.'

And with that, he hung up.

And Wooyoung relaxed entirely. Leaning forward, he pressed his lips to San, cupping his cheeks and resting their foreheads together. Wooyoung took a relieved breath as they sat together. 'Thank you, Sannie... I'm sorry I worry a lot...' he whispered between them.

And San smiled, his thumbs brushing his side. 'Teamwork, right? Don't feel bad. It's nice to know you care about my friends as much as I do.'

In that moment, movement caught both of their attention, Yeosang walking into the room with a box of candles and what looked to be a pack of cards.

'We have one job, and that is to not burn the house down,' Yeosang announced as he sat down on the floor, pulling out a few candles and using a lighter to light them.

A warm, golden, dancing light erupted in the apartment, and San watched as Wooyoung smiled. But looking closer, the boy wasn't looking at the candles, the little flames flickering mesmerisingly -

- His eyes were resting so tenderly, upon his brother.

And as Hongjoong came to join them, sitting down on the ground beside Yeosang, San couldn't help but notice the way Wooyoung's whole expression lightened a hundred fold.

'Oh? Cards?' Hongjoong asked, picking them up. 'Lol, do you even remember any card games?'

Yeosang glared at him. 'You have such little faith in me. I can play snap.'

Laughing, Hongjoong rolled his eyes.

Feeling Wooyoung move beside him, San helped Wooyoung to sit down with his Hyungs at the table, joining them.

'Sangie what was that game called we used to play with the twenty one cards or something?' Wooyoung asked softly.

Yeosang looked up as he tried to remember.

'He has no idea, look at him,' Hongjoong teased, making Yeosang groan and slap him in the chest.

'Stop attacking me!' he complained, making both Wooyoung and Hongjoong giggle. 'All I remember how to play is Bullshit.'

'Oh lol, why am I not surprised?' Hongjoong teased, and when San saw them interacting, as well as the smile on Wooyoung's face, he couldn't help thinking about how relieved he was that things started to seem like they were calming down under this roof.

And so pulling a blanket from the couch down and tucking it around his and Wooyoung's shoulders, he smiled and laughed along as Yeosang dealt out the cards under the candlelight, and let himself melt under the sound of Wooyoung's soft giggling and the feeling of being accepted into a family where he didn't know when, but somewhere along the way, he had started to feel at home.

~~~