If This Isn't Love

27: MARCH 2018 - Accident

Luisa sat with a stunned smile on her face as Selina practically danced around her living room. After Yoongi had proposed–on Valentine's Day, no less–Selina threw herself into a frenzy of planning. She was dead set on a traditional June wedding, and time was running out.

"I already have my color scheme picked out," the petite girl said. "But we don't have the venue locked in. I'd love to have the wedding at the ZaZa where I'm having my party next week, but Daddy wants us to book the Ritz-Carlton. Much more respectable, he says." She dropped onto the sofa across from Luisa on the loveseat. "We'll see."

Luisa smiled to hear her friend so casually drop the names of some of the most expensive hotels in Dallas. Her father Rudolph Cortez was the CEO of a top investment bank in the region. But although Selina had grown up among privilege, she never acted superior. In fact, she always went out of her way to assist her friends in anything she could. Her generosity and kindness knew no bounds, and that's why everyone loved her.

And her father could deny her nothing. That is how she was able to get her way and marry Min Yoongi, a Korean aspiring music producer rather than a hotshot banker in her father's sphere of influence.

"Anyway," Selina continued, "you're going to my bachelorette party, right? It's going to be so much fun. I'm thrilled beyond words. You're going to be amazed by the Hotel ZaZa. Yoongi is having his bachelor party the same night, so I think that he and his cronies will end up crashing our party just for fun. Don't you think that would be a blast?"

Selina kept talking about her upcoming party, but Luisa tuned out after she said that the guys might crash the girls' party. That would mean that Seokjin, Yoongi's best man, would be among the crowd. And she would have to see him.

"Is something wrong?"

Selina's question brought her out of her reverie.

"No. Of course not," Luis replied. "The party sounds great. I can't wait."

A week later, Selina's party took place. Everything was extravagant and fun and exciting. The guys crashed the party right on schedule. It was hard to believe that Selina had not also planned that.

Luisa was cordial to Seokjin. He was already quite drunk by the time he got to Selina's party with Yoongi, so it wasn't awkward being around him. He greeted her warmly but without any lingering stares. He was genuinely enjoying himself, and it seemed that he wanted Luisa to enjoy herself as well by not making her feel uncomfortable.

Everyone was having a great time dancing, singing, laughing, drinking, and eating.

And then it happened.

Some people say it's not a party until someone gets hurt. In this case, it was Seokjin who brought about the end to the festivities. He was dancing wildly on the small stage set up in the hall. In his drunken state, he attempted some type of flying kick...and flew off the stage, crashing heavily on the floor.

At first, most of the guys laughed, thinking he was goofing around. Seokjin himself let out his braying laugh. When he tried to get up, he let out a yelp of pain. That's when they noticed that his left hand was bent out of shape.

Hotel personnel were summoned, and Seokjin was quickly loaded onto an ambulance and taken away to the nearest hospital. Yoongi asked Selina to stay with her friends. He made sure to tell the hotel staff to make sure she got to her room safely. Namjoon and Hoseok offered to stay behind and escort the girls to their rooms and then follow along to the hospital.

Yoongi didn't have to ask Luisa to go with him to the hospital. She was already waiting for him by the door with her purse and sweater, instantly sobered by the accident.

At the hospital they were told that Seokjin had suffered a bad sprain in the ligament of the left ring finger, a dislocated left thumb, and a bruised chin. By the time they were let into his room, his entire hand was bandaged, and his chin was black and blue.

He looked up at them as they entered quietly. He smiled sheepishly before he attempted to sit up.

"No, don't," Yoongi immediately said. "Damn, bro, you gave us all a scare. It looked like you were going to pass out. Namjoon was screaming at us not to let you go to sleep in case you had a concussion."

Luisa nodded. "And then he said it was worse because you'd been drinking so much. Thank God the hotel staff acted so quickly. They had their medical person on the spot in minutes."

"And the ambulance showed up just a few minutes later," Yoongi added. "I guess hosting parties like that requires them to have safeguards in place." He looked at Seokjin's bandaged hand. "And good thing, too. So, does it hurt?"

Seokjin shook his head slowly. "Ah, not really. I'm on some good painkillers. Plus, I'm hooked up to this." He indicated the IV line. "The doctor said I needed hydration or something."

"I'll bet," his friend chuckled, remembering how drunk Seokjin had been at the party.

Seokjin's half-lidded glance turned toward Luisa. "Hey, Lu. I'm glad you're here. You look great. You're like a prize. As you can see, drunken stupidity wins the prize. I win the prize." He smiled at her, his eyes closing.

She scoffed lightly. "Even now you're not being serious. You really scared us, Jin. Imagine if you'd hit your head harder or...or you could've broken more bones and then..."

"But I didn't," he interrupted her gently. "Don't worry. Don't worry your pretty head. I'll be fine in no time."

She shook her head. He was definitely loopy with medication. A smile curled her lip. "I'm not worried."

Seokjin kept his gaze on her. "I'll be able to show you how fine I am very soon, my dear. I don't need both hands." He gave her a wink, and she looked away.

"You big idiot," Yoongi said, smiling at his friend's attempts at flirtation. "They must have you on some good drugs. Before you think you can do something you can't, we'll go ahead and let you rest. It's so late that it's early. We'll check in on you tomorrow. I heard the nurse say that you'll probably be released after lunchtime."

Seokjin's eyes stayed on Luisa. He ginned. "Yeah. Okay. I'll see you tomorrow." He winked at her again. "I will definitely see you tomorrow, sweetheart."

"Sure," she said softly. With one last glance, she walked out the door after Yoongi.

After a few steps, Yoongi stopped abruptly and turned to Luisa. "Just a question. Are you two...?"

Luisa shook her head. "No. We're not. It's just the painkillers. He was being silly." She attempted a smile. "Let's go then."

Yoongi watched her hurry away and smiled.