before & after ‣ 엔하이픈

026 ; present

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AERI

Aeri arrived at the doorstep of the infirmary, suddenly coming to a halt in front of it as if she was actually thinking if going inside would be the best idea.

She had ran towards the infirmary with no hesitation, and by that, it also means she did it without thinking of what she would actually do when she reached her destination. What was the first thing she would say to him even? Would she even have anything to say to him?

It had taken Aeri a good minute before she mustered up the strength to give the door a knock and twisting it before anyone could open it from behind. There wasn't any nurse inside, however she did quickly find Sunghoon laying in one of the beds with a phone at hand as his injured feet lay on a pillow of its own. When he heard footsteps coming from the door, he made a quick glance before meeting eyes with her own, which had surprisingly shocked him.

"Aeri? What are you doing here?" Sunghoon asked, trying to sit up straight but couldn't without taking his ankle away from the comfortable spot it was at the moment.

She sighed after hearing such an absurd question from him. "Seriously? Do you even have to ask that? I just saw you cry in pain because of your fall."

"Cry?! I did not cry!" Aeri wanted to facepalm herself because of everything she said, that was what he fixated on. "It isn't that painful, anyway. The nurse said I just took a bad fall but with a little rest and ice baths, my ankle will be as good as new in the next game."

Aeri couldn't show how much that knowledge relieved her because she was really worried that he may not be able to participate the next game due to his ankle. She tried her best to hold the sigh that was about to escape her lips, and thankfully, he didn't catch her holding it in or the way her tensed body relaxed for just a brief second. The last thing she wanted was to confess how much she cared about his well-being, about how genuinely scared she was when she first saw him fall. She didn't want him to have that much power on her.

"Well, that's good. At least you won't be benched for your first season since you returned." She says.

"You genuinely hurt me with your words, Min Aeri." He scoffs, pouting even. "The least you could say to me right now is that you're worried for me."

"I was but seeing you all cheeky now shows that there's absolutely no reason to be worried about you." She flicked him in the forehead before crossing her arms. A chuckle escaped her lips as she watched him wince in pain.

The door of the infirmary opened and the two of them looked over to that direction only to see the nurse and the assistant coach of the soccer team enter the premise. For a second, their eyes landed on Aeri, which quickly made them confused as to what she could possibly be doing there. But they didn't linger on it and decided to focus on the actual problem, and that was checking on Sunghoon's welfare.

Aeri meant to step completely aside, but Sunghoon's gaze staying on her had stopped her from going far enough from the hospital bed.

"The nurse tells me you can play in the next game if you rest properly. Think you can manage till the next game?" The assistant coach asked.

Sunghoon nods, without hesitation. "It's fine. I'm sure an ice bath would be enough."

"I think it's best you go home for now and rest, Park Sunghoon, if you really want to recover fast enough to be alright for the next game." The nurse instructed. "Perhaps your friend can bring you home? Will it be alright with you?"