𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐆𝐄 𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 | csc

𝙭𝙞𝙞.

"Seriously, i just met you a few days ago yet. . .this happens. Shit why do i worry about you? It's not like we're close or anything, but i want to be" Tears threatened to fall from Seungcheol's eyes. Damn, he was going crazy, talking to an unconscious person. For some reason, it felt nice though. Being able to ramble on and on with no interruptions and no consequences, it was nice.

But just because it was a ramble, didn't mean it wasn't true. He was in fact stressed. He had never felt this way for someone he had only properly met with in the span of less than a week.

A thump on the ground alerted Seungcheol who had momentarily diverted his attention to the snow falling down outside. His eyes first went to the fallen pillow and then to the girl who had her eyes wide open, as if he had caught her.

"You're awake!" He even shocked himself by his exclamation but nonetheless went to dash into the hall rushing to grab the attention of one of the passing nurses.

Aerin, she was more into the curiosity that came with Seungcheol's presence rather than processing the situation at hand. Her eyes followed his figure as he ran back into the room, a nurse following shortly behind.

In truth, she had been awake for a while, enough to hear Seungcheol's weird monologue, which for some reason was bothering her more than the fact she was in a hospital room. He wanted to be close? To her? Maybe he was talking to someone on the phone and this had nothing to do with her?

"Miss Kang?" The nurse's voice shook Aerin back from her momentary trance. This was when she finally took in her surroundings.

"Why the fuck am i in a hospital?" She attempted sitting up but was ushered back down by the nurse who urged her to rest her body. Her panic started kicking in. What about the award show?

"The members. . .wait the award show!?" Aerin's head snapped towards Seungcheol who moved to hold her hand without a second thought. She would have pulled away but for some reason, she found comfort in it.

He rubbed his thumb over her hand in an attempt to calm her which, to his surprise, worked immediately. His eyes turned to the nurse as if wordlessly telling the girl to his right that he would explain everything once the nurse left. It wasn't definite assurance, but it worked in the moment.

"Miss Kang, you suffered severe food poisoning yesterday and also attained a concussion from your faint, hence why you are here under our care. We have just checked your stats and everything seems to be stable. You should be ready to go in the next 2 hours." And with a small smile and a bow, the nurse was off, leaving the two idols alone. Aerin's head immediately turned to face his. Her eyes begging him for answers, any answers.

"I'll uh start off with why i'm here." He took a deep breath before finally looking Aerin in the eyes. He knew that was a mistake though once he felt himself getting distracted. Those eyes always fazed him.

"Jihoon. . .he was with you up until two hours ago. He told me to come to check up on you because he had an urgent meeting with the ceo." Why was he twisting the story? Aerin shouldn't know, she couldn't know. She would just be weirded out. That was Seungcheol's reasoning in the moment anyways.

He smiled at the small nod from Aerin before continuing. "Like the nurse said, you fainted backstage because of food poisoning and got a concussion, we had no idea what happened until after the award show. . .i'm sorry"

"Why are you apologizing? You have nothing to apologize for." Her voice was now clearer than ever due to the pure silence in the hospital room. It was weak sure, but nonetheless calm and airy.

"But still, if i noticed your uneasy-ness on the red carpet before the show. . ." Aerin suddenly grabbed his hands, placing his in hers causing Seungcheol to snap his eyes to look directly into hers.

"Hey, don't be sorry okay? It was my fault for eating whatever caused this, no one else's." Seungcheol wanted to argue back, but decided it was best to let the one in the hospital bed take the win.

"What did i eat though. . ." Aerin had a tendency to mutter a lot, and Seungcheol caught it this time.

"Do you remember anything you had yesterday?" He asked. Aerin leaned back into the bed and rested her head on her chin, thinking her hardest.

"I only remember having ramen, eggs and toast. . .and tea. . .and-"

"tea you said? Do you remember what kind?" The mutter of the tea caught Seungcheol's attention and so he questioned her further. Though to his surprise, she looked at him almost offended.

"It's not the tea though? Hyunjae gave it to me." Her cute head tilt would have usually made the idol smile, but what Aerin had said just said peaked his interest even more.

"Your member? Where did she buy it?"

"She. . . said it was homemade? She said she made it herself. . ." Her eyes widened in shock. But this was too much of a surprise to think about so she conjured up all other possible scenarios. One would always get mad at the character who was always in denial, until they become said character.

"no no, i don't know what you're getting at Seungcheol. I'm sure Hyunjae meant well. . .she probably just got the wrong ingredients." Even her own bluff wasn't convincing her at this point. Hunjae had been acting differently ever since Aerin was assigned leader 2 months before their debut and it appeared that Aerin hadn't caught that until this ver moment.

"Have you noticed her behaviour recently? You know how the idol industry is, she might have been jeal- "

"NO! Stop! Just stop! I've known Jae for more than 3 years. . she would never!" She found herself panting after her sudden outburst. Seungcheol was taken aback as well as his eyes widened in response.

"Just please. . .leave me alone, you've done enough." Seungcheol was going to speak up but judging by Aerin's face, he really didn't want to push the girl who had just awoken from her coma any farther. He silently grabbed his tote bag and exited the room. She probably just needed some time to process everything, that was it right?