A Scandalous Pair | Kim Mingyu FF | Svt

Do-hee

I stumbled clumsily into my room, my heart still thumping furiously in my chest. I didn't bother to close the door behind me. With shaking hands, I began digging through my bag, anxiously searching for the medication I always carried with me—pills for my panic attacks. I tossed aside miscellaneous items, discarding them without a second thought in my single-minded pursuit. My fingers, trembling and clumsy, rifled through the bag until I finally felt the smooth plastic of the pill bottle.

However, my hands were shaking too much, and despite my frantic efforts, I accidentally dropped the entire bottle on the floor. The sound of pills scattering echoed like glass shards in the empty room, intensifying my panic. My breathing quickened as I stooped to my knees, desperately trying to collect the scattered pills from the ground. Suddenly, Mingyu appeared beside me. He immediately knelt down, picked up a single pill, and gently reached out to cup my face, urging me to look into his eyes. I lifted my gaze from the ground, where I had been desperately trying to gather the pills, and met his calm, reassuring gaze.

"Hey... hey... look at me, Do-hee," he spoke in a soothing tone, his hand gently cradling my face. His thumb stroked my cheek in a comforting manner as he held my gaze. "Just focus on me, okay? Focus on my voice and keep your eyes on me... Keep looking at me."

The sound of Mingyu's calm and soothing voice pierced through the haze of panic that consumed my mind. My breathing was still quick and labored, and my eyes were wide with fear. Yet, there was something about his gentleness and calm demeanor that made me want to hold onto the lifeline he was offering. My body trembled slightly, the aftermath of the panic attack still gripping me, but I tried to focus on his voice and the soothing pattern of his thumb against my cheek. I swallowed hard, my gaze still fixed on his face.

"I... I can't..." I managed to say, my voice quivering.

He kept his gaze on me, continuing to caress my cheek with his thumb to keep me focused on him instead of succumbing to another wave of panic. "Shhh... Just focus on my voice. Just keep looking at me... Breathe in... And breathe out..." He coached me through my breathing, aiming to keep me calm and grounded. Slowly, I found myself taking deeper breaths, in and out, mimicking Mingyu's soothing instructions and the gentle motion of his thumb against my cheek.

I stared at him, my eyes locked onto his face, the panic gradually ebbing away as I allowed myself to be calmed by his presence. Focusing on his steady gaze and his comforting words, I willed my breathing to return to a more regular rhythm. My trembling subsided slightly as I continued to follow his lead, my chest rising and falling with each deliberate breath.

He observed my breathing becoming more steady and my trembling easing considerably as I listened to his voice and maintained my focus on him. Mingyu continued to hold my face in his hand, his touch gentle and reassuring, his thumb continuing to stroke my cheek in a soothing manner. "That's it. Just keep breathing in and out... You're doing great. Just keep breathing with me." His touch on my cheek was grounding, and I found myself leaning into it, seeking the comfort and stability it provided. I closed my eyes briefly, focusing on the slow, deep breaths that were beginning to soothe my frayed nerves. The shakiness in my body gradually dissipated. "Can you open your eyes for me? Slowly..." Mingyu's voice remained soft and gentle as he prompted me to open my eyes, checking in on my state. I obeyed, slowly opening my eyes to meet his gaze. The tremors in my body had reduced to a minor shiver. His expression held concern, and I felt a pang of guilt in my chest. Here he was, comforting me during a panic attack, while he had an important event to return to. He handed me a glass of water and the pill he had in his hand. "I wanted you to calm down first before taking the pill. I was afraid you might choke."

I nodded gratefully, trying to lighten the situation. "Yeah, thanks Mingyu. I'm fine now. It's nothing."

He let out a small sigh as soon as I said that. "Don't downplay your feelings like that. It's not 'nothing'. You were having a panic attack," he responded, his tone still calm and gentle but with a hint of firmness.