𝕘𝕚𝕧𝕖𝕟-𝕥𝕒𝕜𝕖𝕟 | ᴇɴ-

𝟏𝟏

Jake

Clouds cover the sky, blessing us with a sunless day. For the first time in a while we can go out to play. I can't remember the last time going out wasn't a painful ordeal. It would be perfect if all of us were here, but Jungwon went out to collect firewood. The rest of us are out in the courtyard playing hide-and-seek. Even Jay-hyung gave up his piano to be here and Sunoo showed up.

"Who wants to count this round?" a boy asks.

I look around. Heeseung-hyung stands behind Jay-hyung, who is staring at his feet, clearly not willing to offer. Sunghoon is beside me. He came right from his infirmary duties and has that characteristic smell of medicine and ethyl alcohol wafting off him. Niki is on his other side with a hand covering his eyes, even though there is no sun. Next to him is Sunoo, a strange expression on his face.

"I'll do it!" Rui offers and walks over to the edge of the yard where a tree stands. The rest of us sigh mentally. He covers his eyes and leans into the bark, counting down from 100.

I run around quietly looking for a hiding spot. Some of the others make excessively loud noises to confuse Rui. It dizzies me and I slow down to a walk. The world is spinning. I put my hands on my knees and focus on breathing. Niki zooms past me, laughing. I think I see Sunoo cross the yard towards some bushes.

"Hey, are you okay?"

I look up. It's Jay.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I say, shaking my head. It makes me dizzier.

"Are you guys planning on getting caught or what?" Heeseung-hyung asks us both, walking backwards into a corner to hide behind some containers.

Jay gives me a look, but I ignore him and place myself next to a bunch of potted plants. It's nothing. I'm fine. My body is just tired. It happens. I can't put more weight on my brother's shoulders.

"Ready or not, here I come!"

Rui finishes the countdown and begins to scan the courtyard, walking around carefully. He stops for a bit in the middle of the courtyard, but no one makes a move yet. I'm quiet in my hiding spot, trying not to bring any attention to myself.

Just like that time we played this at the castle.

So much has changed since then. We're trying to get over it though, and I'm trying to ignore what is happening to me. But it's getting harder. First Sunghoon and now me. He still looks sick and pale and gets skinnier every passing day. I still get tired and dizzy. And inexplicably thirsty.

Just then, Jay-hyung bolts from his hiding spot to the tree where he can save himself. Rui hears him and turns to catch him. Niki comes out too. Then another boy. Our maknae is fast and makes it to the tree safely, but the other boy isn't so lucky. He and Rui are inches apart. The boy strains himself to get there first. Rui reaches his hand out. He almost gets him. And then the boy trips.