Stay Strong Seventeen

Dino & Vernon 1

Dino rushed to open the door as the bell didn't stop ringing continuously for a few seconds

The younger opened it as soon as possible ... he knew exactly who was standing at his doorsteps

"Where is he?" Seungcheol walked inside with fury followed by DK

"His room ... I-I don't know what happened, he just collapsed on me, I tried to wake him up"

Dino was shaking trying to explain the situation sprinting through the hallway with his leader.

"Hey, hey" DK pulled Dino closer to him, a hand going up his back "You did well, he'll be okay, we'll take care of him don't worry"

Seungcheol walked past the two to Vernon's room trying to get a look at the younger only to find him seemingly sleeping
The leader run towards him trying to see what went wrong ... why would Vernon just collapse like this out of nowhere? He was doing well ... at least he thought he was.

He dropped next and leaned over to examine his face
"Vernon? ... hey, look at me" he patted the boy's cheeks gently wanting nothing but his attention. Vernon however wasn't ready to wake up, he squirmed a little under Seungcheol's touch but that wasn't enough

DK soon joined him "Hansol-ah?" He called loudly and Vernon frowned, the loud voice made him want to punch DK in the face but instead, he reached his own ears trying to block noise

Seungcheol on the other side was a bit less annoying, Vernon could obviously hear them but was too out of it to respond "Vernon? Can you open your eyes for a bit and look at me? Can you tell me where does it hurt?"

The leader asked but all he got in return was a whimper. He frowned deeply as Vernon was basically powerless, and couldn't lift his own head up.

Dino was watching a few feet away "He said he was having a headache, he took a painkiller and that was it" he tried to explain further and Seungcheol appreciated it but it just didn't sit right with him.

Seungcheol brushed Vernon's hair away and made sure he was comfortable. Vernon seemed to be too tired and too hazy somehow swimming in a fuzzy feeling

Dino dropped to his knees next to Vernon while Scoups and DK were talking a few feet behind him. Dino reached over to brush Vernon's cheeks "What happened Vernon? You're scaring me" he whispered to his half conscious friend.

Dino and Vernon got home a bit earlier than usual and they decided to call it a lazy night. Movies, snacks, takeouts and just chill and have fun.
Everything was going great, Vernon seemed to be doing just fine, he made one single comment about cutting down on snacks not to upset his already sensitive stomach.
Dino was completely blindsided when Vernon took a few steps toward the kitchen and collapsed midway through.

The younger run to him and did his best to keep him awake. He couldn't understand what was happening and guided Vernon back to his room to get some rest while he immediately called Seungcheol for help.

DK run downstairs when Scoups asked him to get the car ready.

The leader gently wrapped an arm around Vernon's shoulders and carried him in his arms.

And Dino followed

The entire ride to the hospital was dreadfully silent, the car almost smelled of that rusty anxious smell, Vernon was still unconscious, his head resting on Seungcheol's lap

And Dino felt useless

He didn't know Vernon wasn't feeling well and he panicked and couldn't help him when he needed him

He cried silently on their way to the hospital, his hands shaking holding Vernon's unusually cold hands, and heart racing like the world was about to end.

Admitting him to the hospital was one thing but waiting for an update was another. They couldn't answer any questions and Dino was clueless as well, he felt useless again not being able to answer any of the questions the doctors asked

"We are suspecting some kind of poison but we can't be sure until we get more tests" the doctor announced and Seungcheol's face dropped

"What? How?" The leader mumbled to himself

"He's stable for now but once we get the test results we will know more"

Time was passing by and Dino couldn't think of anything, guilt rushed through his entire body and was frozen for a while. Scoups was busy filling forms and talking on the phone while he just sat there barely could take a breath until DK sat by his side. His warm hand run soothingly across the his back and Dino sighed at the feeling.

"Hey kiddo, are you okay? Look at me"

Dino could barely look up from where his eyes were fixed on the floor. He felt DK's hand cup his cheeks and forcing him to look up, as he did, a tear escaped him rolling down to his jaw.

DK looked worried for a second, Dino wasn't even breathing well "Hey come on, it's okay, we will be just fine" DK coed and pulled Dino gently into a tight hug "Breathe baby ... it was scary wasn't it? I know, I'm here" his hand running gently up and down Dino's back but something felt weird

DK broke the hug to take another look at the younger "Dino? BREATHE ...  BREATHE" His voice got frantically loud, Dino's lips turned almost blue, he was barely getting any air into his lungs and DK was beyond worried "OH MY GOD ... NURSE?" He called loudly and Seungcheol flinched from across the hallway. His head snapped back hearing DK's scream

"HE'S BARELY BREATHING" DK informed once the nurse came running, she quickly checked Dino's vitals and hurried to get the doctor.
Still in DK's arms, Scoups fell to catch a glimpse of Dino's face and his heart fell to his stomach

"WHAT HAPPENED?"

DK shook his head "He was crying ... I I thought he was feeling bad about Vernon ... but I ... I don't know what happened"

Soon, the doctor arrived and took Dino away from DK's embrace.
"We need to put him under a ventilator, I have a feeling that he caught whatever his friend has"

Seungcheol was going crazy

What in the world just happened?

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Requested by httpsjungwonn