Mr. Ex

16. Displeased

"How come Jeonghan was the one drenched in rain but you're the one who gets sick, sheesh--" Seungkwan has been repeating the same thing for the past two hours.

"You're sick?" Seungcheol who just finished his make up asked, now setting up his in-ear monitor.

"I'm fine." You answered in a hoarse voice.

"Only a blind person would believe you, really." Jeonghan added, he was still doing his hair.

Every time a member walks in and out of the locker room they ask the same questions that tire you out.

"That's what you get for not taking the vitamins I gave you." Seungkwan scolded you again, forcing you to drink it right in front of his eyes.

"YOU too." Seungkwan snapped at Mingyu before Mingyu could even say anything.

With a gentle pat on his broad shoulder, Wonwoo dragged Mingyu away.

A few days after Jeonghan got drenched from the heavy rain, you worked so hard that you had a high fever. You plan to take a few days off, unfortunately Seventeen's manager is currently in a worse condition so you are asked to fill in for a few days.

Seventeen will be holding their first concert after a long break. That was why the current situation was so chaotic. The tension was so high, people started talking loudly to overpower the sound of the speakers. When the sun set, the members were getting ready near the backstage stairs.

"Everything OK? OK? Good!" You said loudly--although your voice was barely audible because of the bass speakers, pointing to your ears asking about each member's in-ear monitors.

Fire will be the first song they will perform. Seungcheol, Wonwoo, Mingyu and Vernon were already crouching down waiting for the intro video to finish. When they jumped on stage, the fans went crazy.

During busy moments, time flies too quickly. It felt like the song had just started when suddenly it was almost finished. You count the other members when you realize one is missing. Of course this makes you panic.

"Jeonghan--" You said after counting the members one by one, "Where's Jeonghan??" You ask but no one knows.

"Maybe he went to the toilet?" Hoshi said.

Just as you were about to run back to the dressing room, you saw Jeonghan walking casually.

"Where have you--" You closed your eyes and lips tightly as he placed something directly against your forehead as he walked past you.

The cold sensation startles you. When you touch it, the texture feels like a jelly, it turns out to be a cooling gel patch.

"You're a bit warm, didn't you notice that?" He raised an eyebrow.

The only thing you notice is that he's actually a little pale from up close. His eyes were also look a bit hazzy.

"Are your lips powdered? You look--"

"Sheesh, stop staring at my lips." He covers his lips while looking you up and down.

With a light smack on his arm, you continue, "You look pale, you idiot."

"It's just make up." Jeonghan chuckled. He put on his in-ear monitor properly then proceed to join his members

You are convinced until you sense there must be something wrong with him as time goes on. Whenever he finished performing and went backstage to change his clothes, he would be out of breath. He sweats more than the others. He drank a lot but his lips still look dry.

When the concert entered the second hour, even though all the members looked out of breath, no one was as bad as Jeonghan. He looked more short of breath than out of breath. You're not the only one who realizes that. Some of the crew wanted to help him but he pushed them away.