̷W̷e̷.̷ 𝐈 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐝 [MINSUNG] Book Two

Chapter 27

Brain damage. Highly likely. Worst case scenario, permanent.

The doctor made it all sound too casual. They didn't want a casual explanation. They wanted to speak to someone who could understand how they were feeling.

The doctor wasn't a bad man. He wasn't a sociopath who was incapable of empathy. What he was, was a professional, who had been doing this for so many years that there wasn't much he hadn't seen, there wasn't much he hadn't felt. And at a point, he had to teach himself to detach slightly, to avoid causing harm to his own emotional and mental well being. He had to look after himself in order to look after his patients.

Lia was who they wanted to hear it from. Despite not knowing whether or not they actually wanted to interact with her at all.

The doctor left after updating the boys on Jisung's state. They still couldn't go in. And besides, Jisung hadn't woken up. He was probably pale and stiff and dead-looking, something they didn't want to see for a second time in one day.

And so they stayed in the chairs, still barely speaking. It was getting dark and they were getting tired. Sleeping in the chairs suddenly wasn't so horrible.

Most of them had managed to express physical comfort among themselves, with Chan and Jeongin resting their heads on each other, Changbin and Felix holding hands, and Seungmin laying his head on Hyunjin's lap. But Minho refused any physical touch the entire time. He didn't want to talk, or hug, or anything.

In fact, he wished everyone would leave. He wanted to be alone. He wished everyone would just go home and pretend it didn't happen. He didn't like that they knew what had taken place. Not because he wasn't 'special' anymore. But because now the group had seen a side of Jisung that could taint their perception of him forever. He knew all sides of Jisung, and he loved him wholly. But he was aware that not everyone was capable of looking past the heavier details. And so he hated that they were there, because he was afraid they would end up hating Jisung. He'd later come to realize, he was projecting his own anger onto them.

-

"Minho?"

The boy looked up at Felix when he heard his name, still wearing that face of sadness and anger combined.

"I'm sorry for bugging you right now.. I just wanted to know if you want coffee?"

"No."

"Should I go ask someone for blankets?"

"Do whatever you want Felix."

The younger's face fell. He hated how Minho was speaking to him, just as much as he hated that he couldn't help fix any of it. "Well, if there's anything you need, just let us know."

Minho didn't respond. At least not until after Jeongin had snapped and spoken his mind. "Felix, it's not your job to keep everyone happy. Just because Minho is reacting like this, doesn't mean we have to dote on him. Give him the space he so desperately wants. Because he's not the only one suffering, and we need to stop pretending he is. The six of us can depend on each other for support and comfort, it's what we need and want. Minho very clearly doesn't have the same process, and that's okay. But it doesn't mean he gets to be treated differently. It doesn't mean he's more affected. I know you look up to him, but recognize your own needs as well. Stop sacrificing yourself."

"Fuck you Jeongin."

The younger stared daggers into Minho's eyes as soon as the words came out of his mouth. "I just told him to give you space and you're angry about that?"

"I'm angry because you all seem to think we're grieving equally. We're not."

"Bullshit. We all know him."

"Some of us know him better," Minho sneered at him.

"Even if that were true, it doesn't matter. You don't get to decide how other people are allowed to feel while you sit there and wallow in self pity. Let's be very fucking clear here: you're sitting there blaming yourself right now and worrying that we're going to attack Jisung for all of this. I know that's what you're thinking. Because I know you. Just like I know Jisung. Just like he knows me. Just like we all know each other. So stop being such a salty bitch and recognize that we, your FRIENDS, need to be consoled as well."

"You have each other, so let me deal with this my way, and let me do it in peace."

"You selfish bastard. We're supposed to accept your behaviour when you can't accept ours? Fuck you."

"Yes! Yes you're supposed to accept it! That's my boyfriend in that room! My boyfriend, your friend. So understand that whatever you're feeling, I'm worse off. And understand that you don't get to bring your level of sadness, up to my level."

Jeongin couldn't listen to Minho's shit any longer. He got out of his seat, walked up to Minho and punched him square on his nose, making him grab at his face and groan in pain, before swearing loudly and violently.

Minho only stopped swearing and insulting the younger, when he realized that no one else was speaking. He looked at the others and saw that they hadn't held Jeongin back, they hadn't made him sit down again, they hadn't scolded him. They weren't upset.

"You're not going to tell him how messed up that was?" Minho directed at Changbin.

"It was deserved. Hopefully you'll realize that when you wake up in the morning and see just how much you've fucked up. And hopefully we'll forgive you, because if what you just said was due to all the emotions and stress, then we're all good. But if even one sentence that came out of your mouth was something you actually believed, then this is a broken family."