Fate

Chapter 165

Mina's P.O.V.
"I missed that? At least, I'm the first one that wished you a happy birthday!" Byul, that's not a difficult task.

"You only left to take Mushu to his little vacation home with Bam. Of course you got to tell me at midnight on the dot."

"Oh? You're being sassy now? Smells like your hospital stay is coming to an end, girly."

No way, I was far from good to go. The stitches just started doing their job of fusing the skin together, 24 hours after it. They upped the dose of my painkillers. It was per my request, no worries here. I just asked when Moonbyul was gone. She worried enough since she brought me here. I reassured her each time I'd twist or wince. She didn't need more of that, I didn't want pain like that anytime soon. "In your dreams, eonni."
There was a knock, but no one entered. Nurses would come in straight after knocking. "Who's that?"

She.. didn't seem worried. "Remember when you gave me access to your phone?"
She covered my legs properly and wrapped a blanket around my back and over my arms.
"Does that make you more comfortable?"
It did hide the wrapping on my upper arms. I nodded. "That's what matters. I'll get the door."
She opened it. "You said you'd be here after 1pm. You're early."

"Sunbae said Mi dongsaeng was awake, so we're here! You did say it was okay, Moonbyul-ssi. Right?" That person wasn't close to her, but I knew only three people who called me like that.

"Aish, Moon sunbaenim. Don't torture us. We can hear eonni laughing." Eonni?

Finally, my eonni fully opened the door. "It's the Hybe kids~"

To her, we were children. Obviously. The youngest in the room was ten years younger and the second eldest was six years younger than her. "Are those balloons?"

Jake, Heesung, Yunjin, Soobin and Yeonjun all had one or two balloons in hand. "Well, yeah! We couldn't bring you a cake, so we settled for balloons." Soobin took a few and tied them to the edge of my bed.

"It's not as nice as last year, is it?" Yeonjun, don't make me laugh.

"Really? What makes you say that?" My sarcasm did result in a few giggles.
"Making new friends at the club versus recovering from an appendectomy? The choice is obviously difficult."
But.. "I can't believe you showed up here."
The longest I knew some of them was a year exactly today. "It means a lot."

"Don't get all sweet on us, eonni. Do so when you see what we got you."

"You got me a gift?"

Heesung smiled. "Showing up empty handed to a hospital room and a birthday greeting? We're not ill-mannered."

Jake leaned against the end of my bed. "Namjoon sunbaenim said he was gonna send you a video with Bangtan sunbaenim, but it wasn't good enough for his taste, so he's redoing it."

"That does sound like him. Awfully so."

He sat where Moonbyul sat yesterday, on my bed. "I know you're not left-handed noona sunbaenim, but I don't want to risk your right hand."
He lifted his hand. "Wanna try?"

That was quite considerate of him. He's the only one who didn't seem too uncomfortable at the situation to approach me. I did the same. "I'll be terrible. I'm warning you."
I was just messing with him, but he took his time. "Not as bad as I thought."

Jake flashed me a grin.
"You? Capable? I'd never guess!"
He turned to his group's hyung who made a little back move with his head. "I'm in your space, right?"

Meh, not as in my space as the nurses have been. "No, but I think you have better places to be."
Saying this was gonna sting.
"It's your last comeback performance tonight, isn't it?"

Moonbyul gently slapped my hand. "Don't bring up work."

Jake moved back and scratched his nape. "It is, but we have it covered. Don't worry."
How? We didn't have back ups. "We took that one out of the set."

It's your title track. How? "Jake, can't you keep your tongue?"

Yunjin, don't scold him. Yeonjun sighed in a chuckle. "Did we say we were chaotic?"

"Didn't expect anything else."

Soobin guided them towards the door. "Next time, we'll see you on your feet?"

I gave them a thumbs up before waving. "Sure thing."

When the door closed, I processed what happened. I looked at the balloons. Pink and purple. It wasn't a secret, was it? They were my favorite colours.
.
.
.
"Mina."
I blinked at the faint voice and it rang closer. "Min. Want to talk about it?"

I shook my head. "Not particularly.." I wanted to cover my face, but my arms felt so heavy and achy. It didn't hurt, but the discomfort was something else.
"I'm fine."

Byul's thumbs brushed against my cheeks. How did I not feel how wet my face got? "You're allowed to shed as many tears as you want. Even if it's a bucket full."
Why wasn't I honest with him? I mean.. I knew why. But I began to realize it was selfish, stupid and unjustified. Yet, I was stuck with this secret and I HATED secrets.. I wanted a hug so bad, but it'd squeeze fresh wounds and pull at the stitches on my lower back. Did I do the right thing? I just let the tears flow. "Took you long enough.. Jeez.. How can you bawl your eyes out at the ending of Tales of the Nine-Tailed, but not at the fact that this situation wasn't your plan?"
Because I don't cry around people! And.. that drama was tugged at my heartstrings somehow..
Her fingers brushed my hair softly. "You know that it's not because they didn't come close that they don't like you."

Oh, I know. I may not look fit for the underworld, but I sure as hell came close to it. "..I want to call Namjoon.." I needed to.

"Face to face?"
I nodded. She half smiled. "We can arrange that in a few hours. Look at the time."

What about it? "It's 7pm there. He'll pick up."

"Girl, it's Friday there." It's concert night..

"Can you still ask?"

Namjoon's P.O.V.
I jogged exiting the stage. I needed my phone. "Did it ring?"
A member of staff shook their head no, before handing it to me. I did have notifications. Face to face?Alone? Min would let me see her face? How could I say no? "Jungkook! I'll need the room for myself for half an hour. Is it okay?"

"Yeah! I'll be in Hobi hyung's."
Perfect. Perfect.. I couldn't wait to be at our hotel.

Once we were, I opened my computer. I'd see her better that way. "I can't believe she was still up when we started the show."
Looking at the time. "5am? Would she answer?"

Oh, Min would. Very sleepily, but she did. Camera off, for now. "Hey, oppa."
I haven't heard that in a while. "Give me a minute, okay?"

"Take your time, Kitten. Did I wake you?"

The answer surprised me. "Not really. I woke up an hour ago or so? I was nodding off after trying to look decent."

You always look more than decent. "Where's Byul?"
She opened the camera to show her friend on the room's couch. If she wasn't helping her set things up..
"Min, take your time setting up. I don't want you to get hurt."
I didn't want to trick her into revealing anything she didn't want to, but hearing deep breaths and French Canadian swear words getting thrown around like seeds to birds made me think about one thing.. Problems. What if her stitches got undone or were getting pulled at? Was it the wound on her stomach or the five other ones? Was she just physically exhausted from not getting much other than broth and juice to drink?

"My arms are just hu- just having trouble not being a clumsy mess. I'm not moving them much."

Wonder why, huh? Honestly, woman. Noona had to stop you from moving around multiple times while the anesthesia wore off.. "Because you're resting. That's kind of the point."

A chuckle. "Right. Listen, handsome.. I'm probably looking atrocious, so be nice.."
As if I would not be! "I'll turn on the camera."
Finally..