The Second Chance of A Suicidal Idol

Fire (9)

Joon-woo sat upon an infirmary table and his face stung.

He had taken the hit for Mi Yong. He had, the senior that rested in Ha-rin's age of 29, stepped in front of Mi Yong as 27th's fist collided with Joon-woo's face. At the moment it seemed like a good idea, as it would save him from evil editing. Taking a hit for someone? Wouldn't viewers swoon over that?

He had begun to regret it though, not because of the pain, but because now he would be pitied twice as much more. He had seen the effect the moment he crashed against Mi Yong's chest due to the force of the punch. He had seen the shock in the eyes of Team One, the regret in the eyes of 27th, and the panic in every other contestant's faces.

Joon-woo smiled bitterly, as the cameras had caught it all, staff only restraining 27th after Joon-woo had fallen into Mi Yong's grasp in a daze. And soon after Reggie had a good reason to run over to Joon-woo and did so with worried English.

Yeah, maybe Joon-woo should've let Mi Yong take the punch.

Upon the infirmary table, his cheek was slightly puffy. Upon the table he had been sitting for at least five minutes now. The nurse had practically jumped to his aid, swooning over the 18 year old with concerns that were quite unnecessary in Joon-woo's humble opinion.

She had left just 5 minutes ago to deal with some suspiciously unspecified concerns. And it was in his waiting, a familiar face burst through the door. A face Joon-woo really, really hadn't expected.

Ryeo Hyun walked into the infirmary with a calm frown, his eyes immediately panned to the bruise on Joon-woo's cheek.

"They sent him back to his company, the guy that punched you." Ryeo Hyun informed, leaning on the infirmary's decorated counter.

Joon-woo nodded, "Okay." He replied, detached and long over from the situation.

"Your face, does it hurt?" Ryeo Hyun asked after a moment of silence.

Joon-woo sighed facing the plain white walls. They seemed to be freshly painted, even accommodating to the camera in the corner of the room.

"My face is fine, Hyung." Joon-woo dryly replied, trying to make his annoyance clear.

Ryeo Hyun raised a brow and slightly tilted his head, "Are you gonna convince Mi Yong that?" He suddenly asked with a scoff.

Joon-woo was a bit taken aback by Ryeo Hyun's cold attitude.

"What?"

Ryeo Hyun watched Joon-woo's confused expression amused, "He's upset at himself for letting you get hurt." He revealed, "Started mumbling about not moving fast enough to protect his hubae."

Joon-woo frowned, as he truthfully hadn't wanted to stress anyone out. He just didn't want anyone to be hurt (and also a good image). He thought back to Mi Yong's gestures.

Mi Yong cheered him on whenever he caught Joon-woo's anxiety creeping up on him. Mi Yong was the only one on the team that even wanted to talk to Joon-woo during practice, the only member that cared to give him pointers.

"Oh." Joon-woo replied, just realizing how much Mi Yong had done for him despite only knowing Joon-woo for a short time. Was it because of their age gap? Joon-woo shrugged.

"Yeah."

"And Reggie?" Joon-woo asked, as he had seen some interaction between the two.

Ryeo Hyun shrugged, gesturing towards the door. "See for yourself." He joked, turning the door knob and opening the infirmary door to reveal Reggie pacing impatiently in front of the door.

Joon-woo pursed his lips into a smile at the sight. Ryeo Hyun noticed the dynamic immediately, watching Reggie run into the room and study Joon-woo with concern.

"Joon-woo-ssi! Your face..." Reggie cried, placing his hands on Joon-woo's shoulders as he examined Joon-woo for injury.

Joon-woo rolled his eyes, "I'm fine, Reggie..." He insisted.

Ryeo Hyun watched the interaction with a smile, sneaking away with a soft smile. As he exited, the nurse awkwardly stood at the door, face sweaty with supplies gathered in her hands. Just as she went to enter her office again, Ryeo Hyun shook his head and mouthed, 'let them have their moment...' and gestured to Reggie bombarding Joon-woo with English worries.

The nurse peaked inside her office and got a glimpse of Reggie and Joon-woo. Joon-woo appeared to be reassuring Reggie more so than the opposite in which she expected. She turned to look back at Ryeo Hyun but instead found that the man had disappeared.

She began to look frantically left and right for Ryeo Hyun who she swore was just in front of her but he was nowhere to be seen. She sighed, looking back into her office from the outside. With pursed lips she entered as quiet as possible into her office, sneaking a glance to Reggie and Joon-woo.

"Yes Reggie, I'm really fine..." Joon-woo insisted like he had done it many times already.

Reggie lightly shook at Joon-woo's shoulders, "[But you did so well and all that happened in reward is you getting punched!]"

The nurse had no idea what Reggie had just said, as it was spoken in fast English, but judging by the mark on Joon-woo's face, she knew she had to get it patched up quickly. She frowned at the idea of separating the two.

"Um... I'm very sorry, but I must fix Joon-woo's face." She shyly excused, looking anxiously at Reggie's 6'0 figure.

Joon-woo sent Reggie a knowing glance, "Now you must go–" He said, forcing Reggie's hands off his shoulders. "She has to heal me." He reasoned when Reggie sent him puppy dog eyes.

"Okay..." Reggie sulked, turning towards the door with his shoulders slumped.

The nurse looked at the sulking Reggie as he disappeared down the hallway and then to Joon-woo with a smile. "He really cares..." She admired, preparing a bandage at the small counter.

Joon-woo nodded, "He does." He replied, rubbing at his shoulders Reggie had just grabbed.