Wish (Jung Hoseok)

Nine

"So this is ..."
"Yeah. You're kind of not ... conscious right now."

Riley tilted her head, staring in her sister's eyes. Natalie was dressed in the same baby blue dress she wore the night of homecoming. It was cut slightly above her knees, and her blue low heels complimented it greatly.

Yet, the girl spoke in English, and Riley understood.

"Why can I understand you? What's going on?"

"You fell into a fever again, and I'm just kind of ... here. Your brain brought me on I guess."
"Oh, so it's not actually you. But a memory of you."

"Exactly. You really need to stop doing this, Hoseok is out there losing his mind because you collapsed." Natalie said, a disappointed look in her eyes.
Riley nodded.

"I know. I'm done now. I got what I needed to be satisfied and now I can work like normal... I didn't want to mess this up."

"Well now you need to wake up in order to do that."
"What do you mean?"

"They put you in a medical coma since you had a stroke last time you overworked. Honestly, Riley. You think you're okay?"

That was enough to snap Riley right out of it, her eyes wide as they looked around.

A familiar feeling settled in her stomach as the room around her was white, and saturated with the smell of hospital.

As she scanned the room, they stopped once she spotted a man slumped in a chair beside her.

Hoseok.

"Hobi..." she croaked, her throat sore. He didn't respond at first, and she grew more scared.

"Hoseok!" Riley's voice was louder, but raspy at the same time.

He jumped, looking up at her with confusion written all over his face. Then, he collapsed, arms wrapped tightly her as he cried. "Riley! Don't ever do that again. When Hyunwoo told me you had that stroke last time I was so scared I can't imagine if I lost you!" He spoke so fast, and Riley could only cry in response as her fear was set aside.

What if I had forgotten Korean?

"I'm sorry. I just wanted it to be perfect."

"It was perfect, and it would've been if you rested! Please, Riley. Don't overwork yourself anymore."

"I promise."

Hoseok smiled down at her, finally able to pull away. His thumb grazed her cheek, right under her eye lashes.

He then said those familiar words.

"I believe you."

-
No matter how long it had been since she was released from the hospital, Riley still gripped the memory of her sister speaking with her. How long had she even been asleep?

She was too happy to be awake to care. "Hobi~ how long was I out?" She asked.

He bit his lip. "Two nights. They kept you under in case you had a stroke again... to keep the fever down. It was pretty high."

"Really? Of course it was." She said, remembering how that comet would twist people's wishes against them.

If she had a stroke again, she surely wouldn't have remembered Korean.

The two were driving home - or more specifically - to the dorms.

It had been two days since the boys heard anything back from Hoseok about her situation.
But they knew not to touch on it in case he lost it.

Hoseok helped Riley inside, closing the door behind them in the best effort to stay quiet.

"Hyung!" Jungkook had been walking by the door when he spotted them. Hoseok sighed but smiled. "Hey... look, I'm sorry I didn't call you guys. I was just worried." Hoseok mumbled, a shameful look on his face.

Jungkook shook his head as the others began to come in, squishing Riley in the biggest hug she's ever been in. "You scared us!" Jimin whined, being the closest one to her as he was wrapped around the girl like a koala.

Riley smiled. "I'm sorry, I just wanted to make sure it went well."
"It did! We cried over those notes you gave us for hours" Jin said, chuckling as he remembered Yoongi even shedding some tears as they all huddled together and read the stories from their Army.

It was almost too much for them to handle, to realize how they really did make a difference to their fans. Somehow, after all this time, they still thought their music was used as party music or summer songs. When really, their lyrics really did reach people.

"I'm glad they worked~" Riley said, relieved. Suddenly, she was pulled from the hug as Hoseok grew worried. "Careful! She's still recovering"

"Is Hobi worried?" Yoongi said with his signature stone cold face, but the corner of his lip twitched.

He was amused.

"Maybe! Come on." Hoseok pulled Riley to his room and helped her get situated on the bed.
"Could it be that you weren't worried, but more... jealous?" Riley said, smiling.

Hoseok winced. He knew she was right. He had been the one that received Riley's attention. Now all at once, she was giving it to them.
Mostly Jimin.

Hoseok of course did not admit this. "Whatever! Get some sleep, I gotta do some work but you'll be okay, right?" He asked.

Riley smiled. "I'll be fine, Hobi. Remember I can take care of my-"

Suddenly, Hoseok pushed a pillow in her face. "No you can't." He said, his voice low. She was thankful she couldn't see past the pillow.

Stern Hoseok didn't really scare Riley, but it made her feel some sort of way she wasn't familiar with.

Sure, it hurt when he was upset with her, but that look in his eyes could send her stomach into butterflies.

The past two times Riley saw it, all she wanted to do was pounce.

It wasn't long before she realized that's what it felt like to want someone.

And that scared her more than he ever could.