𝐒𝐔𝐂𝐊𝐄𝐑 𝐏𝐔𝐍𝐂𝐇

#.. TWENTY-NINE

jungsu and hyeongjun were the next to visit gunil.

having found out where he was through seungmin, they sat down on the chairs next to the bed.

his throat was covered by a huge bandaid this time. and hyeongjun noticed something else.

due to gunil's hospital gown having shifted a little, his collarbone got revealed. and the J engraved into his skin made its appearance.

"maybe gunil did love jiseok..?" the younger asked and jungsu just furrowed his brows.

even if he did, he still hurt his best friend. jungsu just scoffed. "so what? why would he kiss seungmin then?"

it grew quiet again, both of them just looking towards the unconscious boy. until jungsu pointed something out.

"is that a tear?"

and indeed it was. rolling down his cheek, it was the first sign of him living - if one ignored the constant sounds of the heart monitor.

was he conscious? perplexed about the situation, neither of them really said something.

till gunil blinked his eyes open. he didn't seem to be confused, apparently his hearing returned to him before he was able to open his eyes.

"i'm sorry.." he just mumbled in a hoarse whisper, his eyes widening as his hand darted out to lay on his throat.

as if he forgot what he did to himself. jungsu's eyes furrowed. gunil looked so fragile and vulnerable, the complete opposite of how he has been acting.

"please tell jiseok i'm sorry..." it was hard to hear him, his voice sounding like he just went to ten concerts in a row.

"think about yourself first" hyeongjun sighed, tapping his foot against the floor. "it's you who tried taking your own life."

jungsu texted seungmin in the meantime, telling him that gunil woke up again. and that he survived his second attempt.

gunil just leaned back on his bed, taking a deep breath. his whole throat felt strained, his vocal chords felt non-existent.

maybe that's why it hurt to talk? or swallow?

"i told seungmin. he's coming" jungsu exclaimed, locking eyecontact with the eldest in the room. "he's so mad at you, be prepared."

and gunil just nodded. "i understand why" he answered. "i promised to tell him when i feel that bad again.."

it was obvious he didn't. seungmin would be able to hold him back from attempting to kill himself.

"don't you think we should call a doctor first?" hyeongjun then asked, looking over to jungsu, who just sighed, not really answering.

so hyeongjun pressed the blue call button next to the bed, alarming the nurses that the patient needs something.

it didn't even take seconds where nurses and a doctor came running inside, asking the two teens to step aside.

"don't talk! your vocal chords might rip!" the doctor immediately warned him, before gunil even could say something.

oh. that explained the pain whenever he tried talking. jungsu and hyeongjun left the room, feeling like the medical staff needed some alone time with gunil in order to explain what would happen next.

they stayed silent, not knowing what to say. and how to describe what they just experienced.

seungmin came jogging by, just stopping as he arrived in front of his friends. "a doctor is in there" hyeongjun explained, sensing that the elder would ask why they were standing outside.

at the moment, he was breathing heavily, trying to catch air as he propped his hands on his knees, nodding.

"but i'm glad he's alright.. that bastard i swear. next time he won't tell me that he's struggling i'll end his suffering myself."