the one that got away | seongjoong (✓)

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an hour had passed and seonghwa had barely moved an inch since he had first gotten into the room. he was still holding onto hongjoong's hand, glancing up at the boy every so often to make sure he was doing alright. the only difference now was that he had taken out his phone to pass the time.

so here he was, scrolling through instagram, gently running his thumb across hongjoong's hand as he sat patiently waiting for the boy to wake up. he soon switched to searching up hongjoong's name, finding article upon article about the boy being taken to the hospital and how fans were demanding his concert be postponed. he knew he had to keep hongjoong from seeing any of this, as the younger would feel guilty and begin to overwork himself again to prove things were okay.

hongjoong soon let out a soft groan, catching seonghwa's attention. he quickly locked his phone and looked at hongjoong carefully, checking to see how he was doing.

"hey, joongie..." he whispered. "how are you doing?"

"mm... hwa?"

"yeah... i'm right here, love."

hongjoong's eyes fluttered open and he gently squeezed seonghwa's hand, humming lightly at the sight of the boy. seonghwa just smiled, happy that the boy was awake.

"t-the dancers probably hate me f-for making such a scene..."

"joong... don't talk like that..."

"b-but—"

"hongjoong... there's no way they can hate you for being exhausted, okay? you've been working your ass off for this concert for god knows how long. you needed a break and your body couldn't handle it anymore. i'm sure they're happy you're safe and that you're getting treated."

"i-i need to call youngjae and apologize..."

"yunho already spoke to youngjae, yeah? stay off your phone for a bit, you still need to rest."

"seonghwa, i—"

"i'm not taking no for an answer. the last time i did that you landed yourself here."

hongjoong frowned and looked away.

"i-i'm sorry..."

seonghwa cupped hongjoong's cheek gently, looking him in the eye. the younger looked broken, and that alone broke seonghwa's heart.

"you have nothing to be sorry for, joong... i just need you to take care of yourself."

hongjoong nodded just slightly, then seonghwa leaned forward and pressed a kiss to the boy's forehead.

"when you get discharged, i'll come to yours and spend a few days with you. if you want, of course."

"i-i'd like that..."

"okay... i'll still have to go to work, but you're always welcome to join me and take over my office."

hongjoong laughed slightly before nodding, then he squeezed seonghwa's hand.

"i really needed you... i-i'm glad that you're here with me," hongjoong admitted softly.

"i'm never leaving your side again, joong."

"promise?"

"i promise..." seonghwa whispered, kissing hongjoong's forehead again.

"i missed getting forehead kisses..." hongjoong whispered in response, closing his eyes.

"yeah?"

"mhmm... i missed a lot of things."

seonghwa could tell hongjoong was getting tired again, so he smiled small before he responded.