Swapped by fate

Chapter 24

Lee Know’s POV

Damn, what a fucked-up morning. Everyone was dragging their asses around Stacy's house, nursing hangovers like it was a contest. Jeongin and Jisung looked like they'd been through a war; Felix was downing coffee like it was his last meal; Seungmin was grumbling about the noise and the lights being too bright. And Stacy? She was a whole other level of messed up.

I noticed her right away. She walked out of her room with this look on her face like she’d just seen a ghost or something. It wasn’t just the typical hangover look. No, this was serious. She had that stressed-out, guilt-ridden expression that made my stomach twist.

“Hey, Stacy, what’s up?” I asked, leaning against the kitchen counter.

She didn’t answer right away, which was a huge red flag. Stacy’s usually the loud one, the one who’s all about making jokes and keeping the mood light. But today, she was quieter than a damn whisper.

Felix, always the concerned one, looked up with a frown. “Stace, what’s wrong? Did something happen?”

Stacy took a deep breath, looking like she was fighting back tears. She grabbed a glass of water and stared at it, like it was her only source of comfort. “Okay, so… I need to tell you guys something. Nami’s sick. Like, really sick. She has leukemia.”

The room went dead silent. I felt like someone had thrown a bucket of ice water on me. My eyes widened, and I looked around at the others—Felix’s face went pale, Jisung and Jeongin exchanged horrified glances, and Hyunjin? He looked like he’d just been hit by a fucking freight train.

“No way,” Hyunjin said, his voice cracking as he tried to process the news. “Are you serious?”

Stacy nodded, looking like she was about to break down. “Yeah. She didn’t want anyone to know. She didn’t want pity or anything, but after last night… I had to tell you. She’s been going through this all alone.”

Felix’s mug of coffee trembled in his hand, and he set it down with a loud clink. “She’s been fighting this alone? Why didn’t she say anything?”

Stacy’s face twisted in frustration. “She didn’t want to be seen as the ‘sick girl,’ and she didn’t want anyone worrying about her. But now that it’s out, we need to do something.”

Hyunjin was practically frozen, staring into space. His usual cool demeanor was gone, replaced with something raw and unfiltered. He looked like he was about to explode. Without another word, he stormed down the hallway to Nami’s room.

I followed, just in time to see Hyunjin rip the door open with a force that made it slam against the wall. He stood there, looking at Nami, who was lying in bed, looking like she hadn’t slept in days.

“Why the hell didn’t you tell me?” Hyunjin’s voice was a harsh whisper, but it was laced with anger and concern. His eyes were wild, a mix of fury and hurt. “Why did you keep this from me?”

Nami blinked up at him, her expression a mix of surprise and guilt. She looked smaller and more vulnerable than I’d ever seen her. “Hyunjin, I—”

“No!” Hyunjin cut her off, his voice cracking. “I thought we were past all the bullshit. Why did you hide this from me?”

Nami’s eyes welled up, and she looked away, unable to meet his gaze. “I didn’t want anyone to know. I didn’t want you to see me like this, to see me as weak.”

Hyunjin’s fists clenched at his sides, and he took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. “I’m not here to see you as weak. I’m here because I care. You think you can just push people away and deal with this on your own?”

Nami’s eyes filled with tears, and she tried to sit up, but the effort seemed to exhaust her. “I just didn’t want anyone to pity me. I wanted to handle it myself.”

Hyunjin’s expression softened a bit, but his eyes still held that fierce intensity. “You’re not alone in this, Nami. You don’t have to fight it by yourself. We’re here for you. Don’t push us away.”

The room was heavy with tension, and it was clear that this situation was far from over. Hyunjin was barely holding it together, his anger giving way to concern and hurt. His face was flushed, and his breaths came in short, sharp bursts.

After a few more moments of strained silence, Hyunjin’s emotions seemed to reach a breaking point. He turned abruptly, his anger spilling over. “I need to get some air.”

He stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him. The sound echoed through the hallway, leaving everyone in a stunned silence. Nami looked even more distressed now, her tears flowing freely as she stared after him.

I stayed behind, trying to process everything that had just happened. The tension in the room was palpable, and it was clear that Hyunjin was struggling with a lot more than just anger. His feelings for Nami were complicated, and this new revelation was throwing everything into chaos.

As the door closed behind Hyunjin, I glanced over at Nami, who was lying back against her pillow, exhausted and defeated. I could tell she was trying to hold it together, but the weight of her illness and the situation was taking its toll.

I knew this wasn’t over. The confrontation between Hyunjin and Nami was just the beginning of a much larger struggle. Everyone was reeling from the shock, and it was going to take a lot more than just words to get through this.

Hyunjin needed to clear his head, and Nami needed to deal with the reality of her illness. As for me, I was stuck in the middle of it all, trying to figure out how to help and support them through this mess. It was going to be a tough road ahead, and I hoped that somehow, we’d find a way to navigate it together.

Too be continued...