I am Gone

Chapter 4

Jeonghan woke up with his head aching and his loud alarm. He groaned in pain as he stretches his arm to turn off his phone, doing it without opening his eyes at all. Taking his phone again, he turned it on to see the time.

"IT'S NEARLY TEN IN THE MORNING?" Jeonghan instantly dialled Joshua's number. After two rings, Joshua answered. "What the frickety-fudge, Hong Jisoo?!"

"And what vulgar language are you intending to use, Yoon Jeonghan?" Joshua answered back, walking his way to their café's branch.

Jeonghan stands up wobbly, but managed to walk his way to the bathroom. "Why didn't you wake me up? We're supposed to meet the new manager of the branch!"

He opened the faucet, which Joshua heard. "Stay right there, Hannie. Get a rest."

Jeonghan rubbed his face with water. His voice was starting to sound bad as his throat was dry. "Get a rest? How am I supposed to rest when you're working?!"

He just heard a sigh from the other line. Joshua combed his blow-dried hair, thinking how to convince Jeonghan to take the day off.

"Jeonghan. Think I didn't notice, huh?"

Jeonghan was starting to bite his fingernail when he panics. "Uhh, notice what? I, uh, I don't have anything to hide?"

"I saw you taking medicine for headaches, Yoon Jeonghan. And I checked you up before I'm supposed to wake you. You have a fever, so stop being stubborn and listen."

Joshua could still hear the sound of running water, but other than that, Jeonghan was silent.

"Trust me on this, Hannie. That's why we are partners and friends, we rely and help each other. So you take this day off to rest and recover fast, and come back to work when you feel better, okay."

Joshua heard a sigh in surrender, smiling in relief.

"I can't believe I lost the fight to my best friend."

He chuckled, "now go to bed, Hannie. I gotta go."

"Bye, Shuji." Jeonghan ended the call. He then rushed around between the bathroom and bedroom in attempt to prepare himself and catch up with Joshua.

"Did you really think I'll listen, Jisoo? Watch me coming in with a grand entrance."

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In the same morning, Seungcheol was leisurely walking in the park. After a while enjoying the ambience, he crossed the street where lines of establishments stands, planning on having a good coffee with chocolate and banana muffins.

He was wearing wireless earphones, bopping his head on the beat of the music, not caring about those judgemental stares he received.

"지금부터 손에 불 날 때까지, 박수, 짝짝짝- 야아! You scared me."

Seungcheol caught someone falling in his arms. He felt that someone has fever, the arms he's touching gave it away.

"Oh my god, you're sick! You have to go to the hospital," Seungcheol helped that person balance.

The person looked up, showing his face which mesmerized Seungcheol for a second. He's pretty handsome, he thought. His mind has observed his features well; an angelic face and uncombed blonde hair that still looked good on him. Reality check, he stared at him for too long.

The sick person was squinting his eyes, probably not able to see clearly at that time.

"I-uh- I'm sorry! I think you really need to- we need to get you to the hospital."

He pushed Seungcheol away, "I'm fine, mister."

"But you-"

"I need to get to work, but thank you for the concern. Good day."

One step, pretty handsome fainted.

•
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•

Seungcheol was waiting while the sick person was in the city hospital's ER. He was on his phone, scrolling on the contact list. A contact named "Seokmin" was found, dialling it. After the first ring, the other line answers the call.

"Hey hyung~~~! What's up?" A loud and cheerful voice said.

"Seokmin-ah, can you get to the city hospital right now?"

"What?!" There were sounds of falling things on the other line. "Are you sick, or did you get into an accident? Wait, we don't even need the hospital to-"

"Seokmin-ah."

"The other hyungs can stitch you just fine-"

"Seokmin," his voice now warning the younger.

"-and what trouble have you encountered-"

"Lee. Seok. Min."

"Oh, Seungcheol-hyung! What if-"

"Lee Seokmin, do you wish for me to beat you up?"

"죄송합니다~~ (Sorry)."

"Apology accepted. Now, where are you right now?"

"Uh, I'm on my way to the studio. Shooting, you know."

"Good, I think you're closer than everyone else. Come here to the city hospital right now. I'll talk to the PD, tell your manager it's an emergency."

"Got it, hyung. Gotta go, see you later."

Seungcheol ended the call, putting his phone back inside his pocket. He carded his dark hair, sighing that he realized something crucial.

"Oh, shi-"

"Excuse me, are you the one who brought the patient Yoon Jeonghan here?" A nurse asked, interupting his thoughts.

His brows frowned upon hearing the unfamiliar name, "Yoon Jeonghan?"

"The patient with a fever, sir."

"Oh uh, yes. Is there a problem?"

"Not at all. I'm informing you that we have called a relative of his and he's coming anytime soon. As for his condition, his temperature's still high but not burning up, and we gave him medicine for his fever so he will be better some time later." The nurse updated then left him.

"Thank you," he let out his breath in relief.

Seungcheol decided to get a drink. He got himself an iced coffee from the vending machine. Leaning his back on the wall, he lightly hit his head when he remembered what he forgotten.

"What have I done? I met someone, a stranger! A stranger named Yoon Jeonghan. I shouldn't have called Seokmin!" He mumbled to himself, talking like a madman while walking back in the lobby.

When Seungcheol was about to take his seat, a man who looked quite similar to Jeonghan (according to Seungcheol's observation) was running to the information desk.

"Good morning, is there a patient named Yoon Jeonghan? I was notified by the hospital."

A nurse approached him and leads him to where Jeonghan was. Then, less than a minute later, another man entered. He was wearing a mask and sunglasses, looking left and right to search for-

"Seungcheol-hyung!" It was Seokmin who called him, walking on his way with faster pace. When he seated beside him, Seungcheol looked dreadful.

"Seokmin-ah, I did something wrong."