"Seriously? I just met you a few days ago, and now this happens? Damn it, why do I care about you?" Seungcheol muttered to himself, frustration and confusion swirling in his chest. "It's not like we're close or anything... but I want to be."
The words escaped him before he could stop them. He didn't even know why he was talking—why he was ranting to an unconscious person, no less. But somehow, it felt right. The words flowed freely, unrestrained, with no interruptions, no consequences. It was a strange comfort.
But it wasn't just idle chatter. It was the truth. His thoughts were spiraling, stress and worry gnawing at him. He had never felt this way about someone he'd barely known for more than a few days.
A sudden thump jolted him from his daze. His gaze snapped back to the bed, first landing on the fallen pillow, and then... on her. Aerin's eyes were wide open, like she'd been caught in the act.
"You're awake!" Seungcheol blurted out, his voice louder than he intended, a mix of relief and shock flooding him. Before he could stop himself, he was rushing toward the door, calling for the nearest nurse.
Aerin, however, wasn't immediately concerned with her own condition. Her eyes followed Seungcheol's retreating figure, her mind clouded by a nagging confusion. Why was he so worked up? Maybe he was talking to someone else? Was he on the phone?
She shook her head, trying to clear it, but the dizziness only worsened as reality set in. The hospital. Why was she in a hospital?
"Miss Kang?" The nurse's voice cut through her thoughts, bringing her back to the present moment.
Aerin's eyes snapped around the room. "Why the hell am I in a hospital?" Her voice was shaky, panic starting to rise within her. She tried to sit up, but the nurse gently pressed her back down, urging her to stay still.
"Wait... the award show..." Aerin's thoughts scattered like leaves in the wind as she processed the events leading up to her collapse. "The members... the award show!" Her eyes found Seungcheol, who had returned and was already holding her hand.
She should've pulled away, but something stopped her. There was a strange comfort in his touch, a calming presence she couldn't quite explain. His thumb rubbed over her hand gently, and to her surprise, the panic that had been creeping up on her faded away, just a little.
Seungcheol turned toward the nurse, silently communicating that he'd explain everything once she was gone. The nurse nodded and, with a soft smile, exited the room.
Aerin's focus never left him, her eyes searching for answers, pleading for them. She wanted to know. Everything.
Seungcheol hesitated, taking a deep breath as he finally looked her in the eye. The moment his gaze met hers, his words faltered. Those eyes... they had a way of distracting him.
"Uh, well, Jihoon... he was with you until about half an hour ago. He had to leave for an urgent meeting with the CEO, so he asked me to check on you." He tried to keep his tone light, but the words felt hollow. Why was he twisting the truth?
His hand tightened around hers as he continued, avoiding the more complicated details. "Like the nurse said, you fainted from food poisoning backstage and hit your head... you were unconscious for a while. We didn't find out what had happened until after the show. I'm... sorry."
"Why are you apologizing?" Aerin's voice was quiet but firm. It cut through the air like a breeze, calm and unshakable. "You didn't do anything wrong."
Seungcheol opened his mouth to argue, but she stopped him, her hand holding his a little tighter.
"Don't apologize, okay? I ate something bad. It's my fault, not yours." Her voice was weak but steady, and she smiled faintly, as if trying to convince herself as much as him.
Seungcheol wanted to protest, but there was something in her tone that made him pause. Maybe... maybe it was better to let her have this moment. Let her believe it was all her fault. He didn't want to push her, especially not now.
"So... what did I eat?" Aerin murmured, her thoughts drifting again.
Seungcheol furrowed his brows, trying to recall anything she had mentioned. "Do you remember anything from yesterday? Maybe small events that can help you recall what you ate?"
Aerin leaned back into her pillow, her eyes narrowing in thought as she ran through the events. "I remember... rushing and ramen, eggs, toast... and tea. And—"
"Tea?" Seungcheol's ears perked up at the mention. "What kind of tea was it? Do you remember?"
Her response was immediate, but it carried a defensive edge. "It wasn't the tea. Hyunjae gave it to me."
Seungcheol's heart skipped a beat. His instincts were immediately on alert. "Hyunjae? Where did she get it?"
Aerin's eyes widened, her brows furrowing as she thought back. "She said she made it herself... she said it was homemade..."
Her voice faltered, uncertainty creeping in. It was clear she didn't fully understand what was happening.
Aerin looked at Seungcheol with a sudden sharpness. "No, no, I'm sure Hyunjae meant well. She just... got the wrong ingredients. That's all. There's no way—"
Seungcheol could see it. The denial, the desperate attempt to hold on to something—anything—other than the uncomfortable truth. He didn't press her.
"Aerin," he said softly, leaning forward, "Have you noticed her behavior recently? You know how the industry works... she might have been jealous—"
"NO!" Aerin's shout cut through the air, her chest rising and falling with rapid breaths. Seungcheol recoiled, stunned by the force of her outburst. Her face was flushed with anger, with confusion, with something deeper he couldn't quite name. "Just stop! I've known her for more than three years! She would never—"
She panted, the words rushing out in a jagged breath, but the moment had passed. Seungcheol sat frozen, unable to respond.
Aerin's eyes softened, her body shaking slightly as she stared at him. "Please... just... leave me alone. You've done enough."
Seungcheol's heart ached at her words, but he knew there was nothing more he could say. The last thing he wanted to do was push her further.
He stood up silently, leaving her phone on the side-table and grabbing his bag as he left the room. Aerin needed time. Time to process. Time to figure out what was really happening. And for now, he could do nothing but give her that space.
