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Chapter 10

Another round of medical flurries and Wooyoung was settled into his sleeping quarters on request. Yeosang was still out and now moved to the bed in the room, San stayed where he was and Hongjoong ruffling his hair, pacing back and forth. San and Seonghwa peered at their captain cautiously. I could barely lift my head up to watch him, fearing I would throw up again.

"Unbelievable." He muttered.

"We halt business for now. This situation is beyond business."

At that declaration, Hongjoong briskly walked out and the room was in a state of on-edge calm. Seonghwa had taken out three files and wrote notes in them.

Without anything to do, San turned to me, quietly watching my slumped figure. I had closed my eyes and let my breathing even, where I started to drift into a dream.

Sike.

A loud crash sounded and my eyes snapped open. A little 'ooft' left San's mouth when he sat up from where he fell. It was a relief he didn't fall down on his injury or else it would've been disastrous.

"What were you trying?" Seonghwa asked without looking up.

"Nothing, just bored." San scratched his head.

San failed to find purchase on objects nearby to pull himself up. I made the decision to get up and slowly approached him, pushing down the fleeting nausea deeper into my stomach. He looked up quizzically at me. I gesticulate lightly and hovered my hands over his right arm. His lips parted in surprise before he beamed, accepting the offer eagerly.

Assisting a person to stand up was a workout in itself especially when they're taller than you. I slightly squat down to gain a better grip and used my lower body strength to push upwards. San also pushed off the ground with his other arm. I brought his arm around my shoulder to bear his body weight. We both tittered and lurched forward when San suddenly shifted more body weight onto me than I expected.

"Woah careful." San exclaimed.
He exhaled. With the close proximity, I could feel the breath on my face. I puffed out a bit of air and threw a playful glare at San. He chuckled but was cut short when I flung his arm off my shoulder and basically shoved him into the chair. San groaned when he was dropped into the seat without any regards.

"Deserved." Seonghwa murmured.
I puffed out silent laughter at Seonghwa's slightly salty tone and moved past the two to sit at Yeosang's side.

Aside from the blood lost and enormous bandage around his shoulder, he looked ethereal. I lightly brushed back the hair that covered his eyes which also uncovered his birthmark- a little more prominent due to his pale skin.

As I sat back, I was struck with a sudden fear in reminder of the messages. Many thoughts passed through and I dizzily glimpsed through each one. Apprehension grew at the gravity of the threats which punctured the air out from my lungs. My throat closed in on itself and panic rose. That was when I knew it was happening again.

"Breathe, Mist, breathe." Seonghwa was squatting in front of me.
Bro I'm tRyiNg-
"Look at me."
I could barely lift my head by myself, each breath staccato-ing faster and faster. Seonghwa had his hands cupping my face and turned my head to look at him.

"Focus."

I searched into his eyes. They were soft and calming. My shaky hand met Seonghwa's and I firmly pressed on the back of his hand. The combined pressure was enough to ground me for a while. I closed my eyes, focusing on the pressure to adjust my rhythm. In the process, my hand slipped down and circled my own. The pressure from my cheek left and I opened my eyes again. I hadn't noticed Seonghwa move. He had fetched a clipboard and pen, lightly tapping the edge.