Fate

Chapter 162

Namjoon's P.O.V.
"What? Did I hear that correctly? Please tell me you're messing with me." Don't panic. Don't shoot the messenger. "Noona, swear on your fiance's head."

A heavy sigh. "I swear. She's okay. She's resting. She's on the priority list now, it might take a day."

At least it didn't burst.. that would be terrifying and painful. How much did that flare hurt? "You're sure she's holding up?"

"Kim Namjoon.. Can't you believe a word your noona says? I'm feeding her the answers nonetheless.." Oh. My. Goodness. That was the voice I wanted to hear..

My throat felt tight, so unbelievably tight. "Kitten... I just needed that sound. Gosh.. Listen, Beautiful. I'll catch the first flight home and-"

Mina always sounded so sweet and confident over the phone. The breathiness and slow pace of her voice was so unlike her. "You're doing none of that.. mister."
If it wasn't for her tone, I wouldn't believe it was her.
"They're letting me leave tomorrow morning.. If everything goes well. This doesn't change the fact you have concerts to do." A strained pause. I didn't call THAT well. A deep breath.
"Make sure they're the best you've done, okay? I'll have all the time in the world to watch them unfold.. Deal?"

F*ck the concerts in Africa and Asia. I'm sorry. I haven't been in the mood for any shows since she told me about that medical issue. My confident genius artist of a girlfriend was terrified of anything medical. Oh, but Namjoon she dissected corpses. The main reason my Moonie didn't become a coroner was because of medical school. If you accidentally cut something on someone dead, there's no danger. They can't be more dead. Wrongly cutting the living was a stress she couldn't bear. Holding a life in your hands is a big deal. All of that to say, let me be blunt, she's a squeamish anxious child in a hospital. Because she knows so much, yet so little, she wants to know EVERYTHING that is going on instead of trusting the staff. At least Moonbyul was there. Thank goodness. But.. I can't say no to her. Min doesn't want me to be MIA from our concerts. She'd chew me out if I did so. "Deal... But I'll be really REALLY annoying. I'll call you often and text you all the time." She didn't answer. "Kitten?"

"She heard you, Joonie." Byul's voice came back to my ears. "It's another flare up.. I'm not letting her out of my sight. Promised." The labored breathing in the background didn't ease my worries at all.

As soon as the call ended, I took a pillow and slapped it against the bed repeatedly before grabbing it and yelling in it. "F*CK!"
I extended that swear until my lungs gave out.

"Hyung?" The door to the connecting room opened.
"Suga hyung and I heard some noise and a scream. What's going on? Are you okay?"

Jimin.. not now. I didn't face him. "I'm- I'm fine.. I'll just go to bed early."

I knew who stomped in. "Cut the crap."
I got the tightest embrace I've had since the woman I love left for my native land. "Did you really think we'd believe you? Hobi was reading his fiancee's text to us when you threw your micro tantrum..How are you holding up?"

I had no energy to argue. My hold on his back was as tight as his on mine. "Tell me she's gonna be okay.. She didn't sound fine. Tell me she's okay."
I'd straighten up later. I REALLY needed comforting. I know you don't care about her as much as I do, hyung, but don't reason with me.

"Don't cry.." Was he.. patting my back?
"I'm helpless when you do." A deep breath.
"You'll hear her enthusiastic voice again. You'll hug her soon. It's not a big surgery. It'll be over in no time. You've seen us go through it, Jimin and I. It wasn't so bad."

My dongsaeng was caressing my hair. How pathetic did I look? "You're worried. That's okay. We're gonna worry about her with you."

"You're supposed to say it's no big deal.." Namjoon, don't lie to yourself. It's a big deal because she's hurting and it became an emergency.

"Don't stay in here like a wounded dog. We're here. Come on. Family is on the other side of that door." Hyung.. Thank you.

Moonbyul's P.O.V.
"You lied. I thought you couldn't do that."

"He's gullible when he's worried. Also.. have you heard me? You can't catch any variation in my tone.. It's perfect for him to take my word for it.." How did she manage to smile after contorting in pain a minute ago? She's insane.. in a good way. Can there be a good insanity? She's the type of person who'd debate someone on it, clearly.

"I don't know if it's scary or sweet that you know that weak point and are using it like this."

She looked at her right hand, IV plugged with some fluids and painkillers that didn't seem to do much for her, if I'm being honest. "Would you have told him the truth? That they're clearing a surgery unit right now and are making sure the two surgeons are ready to do everything today like Hybe asked for convenience? Would you have told him that I've been in and out of consciousness since you picked me up at 9pm last night?" Mina. You're out of breath.. Take your time.
"Would.. would you?.."

Gosh, I didn't expect this. I was that woman's closest friend here and she was well aware she wasn't the closest to me and yet.. When she called, I ran to my car. I had no second thoughts. She was laying all of this down for me as if she wasn't absolutely scared to death. "It's a white lie. That's why you're fine with it."
Not THAT white, but I could lie too. I checked the time on my watch. 7am? Really? Already? "Let me finish up your admission papers outside and I'll be right back, okay?"

"Eonni?"

"Yeah?"

"Have you had surgery before?"

Lie. Lie through your teeth, Byul. "I did. What about it?"

"Is getting put under anesthesia scary?" Sh*t. I didn't think that through..

"It is." I sat next to her on the bed. "Who wouldn't be scared? But you've seen how nice the staff is, right? It'll make you ease into it better. You'll see."

Just as I got up, her fingers brushed against my hand. "Thanks... for bringing me here."

"I'd do it again in a heartbeat.. Get some sleep, okay?" Going to the counter to complete her file.. How did Namjoon know her social security number, her visa number, her blood type and all of her allergies? Fish and shellfish were light, dairy was more severe, nitrile, which was barely heard of and most importantly.. Penicillin was basically a death sentence. I took a look back into her room. Sleeping.. perfect. Let me get that out.. I pulled out an envelope from my purse. I got it at their place. Emergency only. I opened it. It was a duplicate of his banking card. Before getting called a thief, he asked me to use it for anything that would make her stay bearable, like the private room I requested for her. He didn't know she'd get sick. Why was that ready and planned? He thought of everything. That was crazy.. "There you go."
I gave the documents to the nurse. "Do you have news on the surgery unit?"

A smile. "The surgeons will be there at 8am. They should be ready an hour later."
His expression turned sour. "You seem bothered, Miss.. Want me to do a quick check-up on your friend?"

Was my nail biting what gave it away? "Please do. I'm worried she's not just sleeping." Each time. Each time since last night, I felt clueless.

He looked at her vitals, took her temperature, and snapped his fingers by her ears. The glance we shared said it all. "She passed out again. It's the fifth time since you crossed the door."

There was one following each flare, within fifteen minutes or so.. She'd gain back consciousness maybe a minute later, but it had to be from the pain. I was so mad at myself. I wasn't holding her hand. "Think there's a better option than what she's getting?"

"Our options are pretty slim, but we could go for stronger, but it's a bit extreme. A low dose wouldn't hurt."

"What did you have in mind?" Under her partner's name, I was whom to call and make decisions. We were that important to her.. Take a deep breath Byuly. I didn't know much, but I knew the name he just used. That'd do. "Let's do that.. If she hates it when she comes to, listen to her and take it out or trust me.. she'll do it herself."