Kingdom: Legendary Love || 2min

<十二>

ᴺᴼᵂ ᴾᴸᴬᵞᴵᴺᴳ : Fine (Taeyeon)

1:00 ───|────── 2:29

↺ ᴿᴱᴾᴱᴬᵀ ‖ ᴾᴬᵁˢᴱ ≫ ᴺᴱˣᵀ ˢᴼᴺᴳ

ᴠᴏʟᴜᴍᴇ : ▮▮▮▮▮▮▯▯▯

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~

Minho narrowed his eyes and squinted at Seungmin, who kept making mistakes. He sighed and paused the music for members to rest. As they went to get a drink, Minho stopped Seungmin. "What's wrong? You keep making mistakes." Seungmin apologetically glanced at him and let out a croaky sorry.

Minho raised an eyebrow as Seungmin grudgingly pushed him out of his way. A few minutes later, the members got to practice their new choreography for I'll be you man. The practice went smoothly until Minho looked at Seungmin, who suddenly took on a pale, ashen look. Then he swayed backward before he crumpled down like a broken puppet with released strings. "Seungmin!" He roared and rushed to catch him.

Minho moved the worried members back as he and Chan knelt next to Seungmin. He lay on the wooden dance floor as still as a corpse and hardly breathing at all. "Call our manager!" Someone, probably Jeongin, took out his phone and frantically dialed him.

Worry gnaws away at Minho as Chan lifts Seungmin up and onto Minho's back. Making sure Seungmin is all good, he paces down the building. He comes face to face with their manager who rushed to tend to Seungmin.

~

"Oh my god, my head is killing me..."

"Seungmin? You're awake!" A guy with freckles popped into his blurry vision.

"Lix?"

"Yeah, it's me. But it was Minho Hyung who carried you back." Seungmin felt Felix squeeze his arms in relief.

"W-what? What happened?"Seungmin bit his lips in frustration at his throbbing head.

"We were so worried! You suddenly fainted, and we didn't know what to do!" Felix climbed into his bed and cuddled him.

"Oh no- I'm really sorry..." Seungmin whimpered out into Felix's shoulder.

"No, why are you apologizing? It's not your fault, okay? Seungmin?" Felix grabbed the older's arms and shook them.

"I'm not letting down the team, am I?"

"No- what? Hell nah, bro!"

"But I fainted at practice and we only have 2 more days left."

"Stop, listen... I know you've been waking up so damn early recently. I once followed you and saw you practicing. I know that's the reason for your dry throat, but don't push yourself that hard! I've seen your efforts and know how talented of a singer you are and-"

Before Felix could continue droning on and on about how amazing his fellow member is, he is cut by a tear rolling down Seungmin's cheeks. Felix started to panic, acting quickly, he brushed the tear off and cupped his cheeks. Felix comforted him as hot tears streamed down his face. A few seconds passed and Felix excused himself to go grab some tissues.

Seungmin sat up in his tangled bedsheets and squeezed his eyelids tightly shut begging the tears would stop appearing. He tried to calm his choppy breath and control his watery eyes. Thumping a fist on his chest, he grabbed a cup of water nearby and gulped it down. He coughed and attempted to sing the high note that he practiced for days once again. He couldn't; that was like a bullet to his chest. Not caring about the pain in his head, he screamed out the note; again and again, higher and higher, louder and louder, but never succeeded in reaching his standard. His worn-out throat was nearly choking him to death. At last, he tugged on his hair in anger and let out a defeated, hysterical laugh, mocking his weak self. He slid down against the wall, sobbing in immense pain and humiliation.

Someone knocked and when he was met with no reply, he slipped in quietly. He approached the younger guy and knelt next to him. Gently brushing his bangs away from his red, swollen eyes, he felt his heart throb painfully at this sight. With a tissue in hand, he wiped away any remaining teardrops. And he leans in, so carefully, and presses a tender kiss on the younger's forehead.

~

"Guys! I'm so sorry I'm late! I was practicing my vocals, and I forgot to set my alarm, and I..." A bewildered Jisung glanced around the empty room he burst into.

"Guys?" Someone else dashed in after him, stopping immediately, "Where's everyone?"

"Hyunjin! Jesus, you scared me. But I don't know, they're all gone."

"Seungmin fainted! Felix told me when I was out buying groceries." Judging by his huffing and puffing, Jisung came to the conclusion that he probably ran here. "Wait, I think they went back to the dorms!"

Jisung grabbed his phone with no hesitation and dialed Changbin's number.

Once the call ended, and Changbin had told him about the situation, Jisung turned back to face a nervous Hyunjin. "Yeah, he's all good now, just resting."

Hyunjin muttered a thank god and finally looked down at Jisung. He raised a slight eyebrow, and asked, "What are you doing here anyways?"

Jisung shrugged his shoulders and explained that he was late for practice. But now everyone was gone, and he had to learn the choreography himself.

Shit. He slapped his forehead as if scolding himself, earning a light chuckle from Hyunjin.

"What?"

"Nothing, it's just I missed the session so I don't know the choreo..." He frowned.

"Wait, show me the video! Let me see if I can help?"

Jisung tilted his head and voluntarily handed him his phone. Hyunjin played the video and slid the dot back and front, replaying the video and etching it into his memories.

Once he finished, he turned off the phone and gestured for Jisung to come closer. "Let's start!"

~

Jisung and Hyunjin lay on the floor, panting from the tiredness. Jisung turned and stared thoughtfully at the worn-out guy. The way he let the rhythm control his movement, the way he glides across the slick floor, the way his body moved with water-like grace, and just the way his narrowed eyes concentrate on every single move impressed Jisung. Is he even real?

"You're amazing you know that right?" Jisung gasped and covered his mouth when it accidentally spilled his thoughts into words.

The older guy abruptly turned to face him, his face flushed cherry red. He jolted up in a coughing fit, "Seriously? You mean it?"

Jisung gave him a little shy nod. And that did it.

Hyunjin threw himself upon the younger, gave him a tight, warm hug, and giggled like a literal child. It was a heartwarming sight that made Jisung sick to his stomach. Sick with guilt. How could I even do this to him? I'm just using him...

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♥ Chapter 13 Preview ♥

╰┈➤ ❝ I don't deserve this happiness. ❞