𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐆𝐄 𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 | csc

𝙭𝙞.

"Hyung! We were calling you! Why did you leave all of a sudden?" The maknae's face was the first thing that came into Jihoon's view once he stepped inside the dorm.

As he lightly shoved Dino aside, the boy was met with all of the members sat in the living room, as if having a meeting which Jihoon could infer was because of him. Well, he had basically rushed off the moment he received the text so for all his members knew he could have been kidnapped, hurt, wandering around by himself, and so much more.

"Hyungs! Jihoon-hyung is back!" At Chan's statement, Seungcheol practically sprung off the couch and dashed to the foyer. He was getting ready to lash out and angrily ask the producer where he had gone, but instead, his face calmed and he brought him in for a tight hug.

The members were shocked as well as well as the hugger himself. It wasn't that Seungcheol was mean, it was just that the first thing he always did was ask questions so the fact he acted first, took them aback.

No one decided to say a word and instead watched the two. The group had already started thinking the worst seeing as Jihoon had been gone for an entire 6 hours with no heads-up, which was unlike him.

Once the boys broke apart the hug, Jihoon was shocked to see tears threatening to fall from his leader's eyes.

"Thank god you're okay," was all he said before taking a breath and pulling out his phone, most likely alerting the company he had come back.

"6 hours. 6 fucking hours. I'm not mad, we were just worried. You left with not even a heads-up!" He took a breath to recollect himself

"Just...where were you Jihoon?" The tension in the room was thicker than hoshi's tiger agenda, and no one had the guts to stand up. If a stare could kill someone, Jihoon would be far gone by now.

Woozi gulped and finally opened his mouth to answer, despite Seungcheol's glare seeping into his soul.

"Rin..." At the mention of her name, not only Seungcheol's eyes widened but Jeonghan's as well. It wasn't that he wasn't worried beforehand, but Jeonghan's engagement level hit an all time high.

"...she passed out after the show and got a fucking concussion okay! Right now she's in a literal coma and as her only family member in Korea since my parents are away, I had to be there for her!" His voice quivered as he finished his small outburst. Jihoon normally never raised his voice, he was even surprised by himself.

Seungcheol was at a loss for words. Aerin? Aerin was in a life threatening situation and he had no idea? Then again, they were mere friends, not to mention the fact that Jihoon wasn't even aware that the two knew each other personally. So why, why did he think that he was that important in her life?

"Oh...how is she?" Yet again, another shocking comment by Seungcheol. For all the other members knew, their leader had no reason to care for Ari.

"In a short-term coma." Jihoon said, taking off his shoes and unpacking his small bag he always carried with him.

"Shit!" The producer had a sudden realization as he searched his bag which still held Ari's phone that the hospital had given him for protection of her possessions.

"What? What happened?" Seungcheol questioned.

His co-member turned towards him, his brows furrowed. "I forgot to put Rin's phone in her hospital room, she'll have no form of contact..." His sentence was a mutter, sure, but Seungcheol who had heard it spoke without a second of hesitation.

"I'll bring it to her."

"What?" Jihoon was flabbergasted. Yes their leader would always help his members but in this case, he had no reason to.

Without an answer from Seventeen's producer, Seungcheol threw on his padded jacket, grabbing his keys in the process and moved towards Jihoon again. He put his hand out, signaling for the phone and once he had it in his hand, he made his way out of the dorm with a smile of reassurance.

He was running off of pure adrenaline. Seungcheol hated how he couldn't show his worry for Aerin in front of the public, or even his members. It would be out of his brand to suddenly start caring for a girl he found intriguing.

"Aerin..." He called and no one responded, Seungcheol was only presented with the sight of Ari on the hospital bed.

He pulled down his black mask which had previously rested on his chin and took a seat on the empty chair placed on the left of the bed. Just looking at her, he knew that he couldn't simply leave. They weren't even close, why did he care so much?