To Be Loved... (BOOK 1)

Hear These Words

Minho's POV:

It's been almost an hour and no word about his condition. Mingi and Yeosang showed up together making us a group of six.

Hongjoong was still inconsolable in Seonghwa's arms. San just stayed quiet with sporadic tears as Yeosang rubbed his back. Mingi and Yunho were actually holding hands for dear life. But I stayed with his parents.

Mrs. Hwang had been telling me all these stories about Hyunjin as a kid. The happier the memory, the more heartbroken she sounded. I went on to tell her how much Hyunjin meant to every single person that's in this waiting room for him.

"Mr. And Mrs. Hwang." A nurse called out. I expected them to receive the news right then and there and know judging by their reactions, but instead they were led into another room. I could only assume it was to see Hyunjin.

I stood in front of my friends and watched as they all stressed and cried.

"It'll be okay, Yuyu." Mingi said, lowering Yunho's head on his shoulder. Mingi wasn't reacting much. The second he got here, all his focus was on his best friend. I hate that this is what brought them back together.

Hongjoong was almost asleep as he still sat on Seonghwa's lap. He must've tired himself out. If this outcome truly is what I think it is, everyone is going to have to keep an eye on him. Being the first one to get the call is traumatizing. If Hyunjin never left his phone on the ledge, we'd have no idea.

San was shaking his leg up and down as Yeosang quietly tried to reassure him the best he could. I know he's beating himself up for not taking matters into his own hands when he very well could've from the start. He knew the truth. He understood Hyunjin. But he was more concerned about Wooyoung. I get it, I really do. Of course I'd be more concerned about Jisung if he was the one getting hurt by someone else.

"Lee Minho." Another nurse called. "Mrs. Hwang requested you." I followed the woman as she led me to Hyunjin's room. She opened the door for me as I saw Mrs. Hwang crying.

I walked fully into the room and a wave of relief rushed through me. I hurried over to Hyunjin and held onto him for dear life. I couldn't believe that I was actually crying. I guess seeing him alive, hooked up to wires and oxygen, really made reality set.

"I'm so sorry." I cried. He seemed completely emotionless. I pulled away and realized he was just staring at nothing. "Hyunjin, I need you to listen to me." He slowly turned his head towards me. It was like making contact with a zombie. "A bunch of us are here in the waiting room. Hongjoong, Seonghwa, Yunho, Mingi, Yeosang, and San. We're all here."

"Go home." He whispered. His voice was so quiet, I could barely hear.

"We're not leaving."

"Just go home." He repeated. Saying that much seemed to be a task for him. But of course, I ignored his request.

"I know you think no one wants you around, but that's not true."

"Yes, it is."

"I'm here. I've walked with you around that track every day and I knew everything the whole time. But you're one of my best friends, you're my little brother too, okay?" I lightly gripped his hand and rested my cheek on it. "I'm supposed to protect you, no matter what."

"But why?"

"Because you're Hyunjin."

"I'm not a good person, you have to stop being there for bad people." I watched as steam disappeared and reappeared in his oxygen mask.

"I almost beat the shit out of Jiung because of you so I'm just as bad." I smiled. He turned his head away from me and let the stray tears fall. "Hyunjin, I know you didn't do anything."

"But Felix and Wooyoung don't so it doesn't matter." I heard the door open and close, realizing his parents had left to give us some space. I know they talked for a while. "Why are you here?" It was San.

"He's been on your side before anyone."

"You're lying."

"Wooyoung doesn't even know I'm here." San said. "I came with Minho and Seonghwa." Hyunjin scoffed at the name and looked out the window. "Seonghwa thinks what he told him is what triggered it." He said to me. Hyunjin stayed quiet.

"I wanna go home." He whispered.

"I don't think you'll be able to." I felt terrible for him in that moment, more so than I already do. "They'll probably hold you for a few days."

"How am I even here right now?" He started to panic. His heart rate was rising.

"Someone saw you and called the police immediately. By the time they got to you, water had almost filled your lungs completely. We didn't think you were gonna make it."

"That was definitely the goal."

San looked down at his phone and sighed.

"They're on their way, aren't they." I assumed. San nodded.

"Seonghwa apparently told Wooyoung it was okay."

"I don't wanna see them." Hyunjin faintly shook his head. "I don't want to see Felix or Wooyoung. Please."

I felt like he needed to see Yongbok. That would be San's call if he thought Wooyoung seeing Hyunjin would be appropriate after everything he's done.

"Hyunjin, listen to me." I sighed. He refused to look at me. "Just see Yongbokie. Let him talk. Just don't tell him to leave. I've never asked you any favors like this before. Just please, don't ask him to leave. Ignore him if you really want to. Okay?" He stayed quiet, but I figured he'd listen. Seonghwa and Hongjoong came next. I guess we had used all our time. "I'll be back."

San and I went back to the waiting room. Yongbok ran into my arms and cried. He was digging his nails into me as he held on for dear life.

I watched as Wooyoung stood up in confusion, having no idea San was here.

"He's alive, Youngie. It's okay." San said softly, holding him close as he cried.

"He probably doesn't want to see me." Yongbok choked.

"He's fragile right now, okay? If he says anything to upset you, don't listen. Try your best. I know it'll be hard. I think we need to have a little talk first about everything though." I looked at San to direct him and Wooyoung onto a couch. San held Wooyoung's hand as I crouched down in front of them. "I need you both to listen to me." They nodded. "I know you're hurt. It's been killing you both for months. But Bokie," I looked to him and held his hand, "Hyunjin loves you more than life itself. You saved him from a very dark place and he was slipping up. He needed you both, but you just assumed he was doing it to be an asshole. This was a cry for help." I know what I was saying was harsh and inappropriate, but they needed to hear it one way or another. "When you're broken like that, you're constantly searching for that solution. He was desperate to be fixed. I know neither of you knew what happened on Christmas so I'm sure it didn't make sense why he started to change the way he did. But no one knows Hyunjin better than you two. San saw right through him, but you two didn't because you refused to listen to reason. Your emotions clouded your judgement."

"Minho, stop." Wooyoung whispered. "This is our fault, we know."

I felt a gentle hand on my shoulder. I turned around to see Jisung. I sighed and stood up.

"Felix." Seonghwa called. He stood up and left to go to Hyunjin's room.

I was slowly feeling drained as I rested my head on Jisung's shoulder. I'm expecting the worst to occur in just a few minutes.