Swapped by fate

Chapter 30

Jisung’s POV

Hospitals, man. I f***ing *hate* them. Every time I walk into one, it’s like that smell—sterile, like clean floors and hand sanitizer—hits me and sends me straight back to when I was stuck here. The worst part? It’s not even the memory of being stuck in a bed after that dumb motorcycle crash. Nah, it’s the guilt. The shame of knowing I caused it.

But I’m not here for that s*** today. I’m here for *Nami*, and she’s almost free from this place, thank God. After all the chemo, all the nights she spent fighting and pushing through, she’s finally about to go home in a few days.

The whole squad’s here today, like we always are on the weekends. I swear, if we could throw her a damn parade to celebrate, we would. But for now, it’s just us, piling into this small-ass hospital room like it’s our second home. Hyunjin’s there, of course, sitting right next to her, holding her hand like he’s been doing every time I’ve walked in here. He’s got that soft, dreamy look in his eyes—like he can’t believe how lucky he is to have her.

Nami? She looks f***ing radiant. Like, for real. Bald and everything, she’s got this energy now, this life that wasn’t there a few weeks ago. It’s like she’s glowing. No more of that sickly, pale look. She’s almost back to the Nami we all know, the one who laughs at our dumb jokes and throws shade better than anyone.

“Yo, Jisung! Took you long enough, bro,” Seungmin teases as I walk in. He’s perched on the windowsill, as usual, munching on some random snack he probably smuggled in.

“Traffic, man,” I mutter, kicking the door shut behind me. “Besides, you guys always show up early as hell.”

“Or you’re just late,” Changbin adds, smirking. He’s leaning against the bed, giving me that knowing look, like he’s just waiting for me to throw back some dumb excuse.

“Whatever, I’m here now, aren’t I?” I reply, dropping into the chair next to Felix, who gives me a quick nod but doesn’t say anything. Dude’s always so quiet when we’re all together, but I know he’s watching. Always thinking. Especially when it comes to Nami.

“So, you really about to be out of here, huh?” I say, turning to Nami. She grins at me, and it’s wild how much better she looks now. Stronger, healthier.

“Yup, in a few days, I’ll be free,” she says, excitement buzzing in her voice. “No more hospital food, no more nurses poking me with needles. I can finally sleep in my own bed again.”

“And eat real food,” Seungmin chimes in, waggling his snack at her. “You’ve been surviving on... what? Jello and saltines?”

Nami laughs, rolling her eyes. “I can’t wait for real food. First thing I’m doing when I get home is making ramen. The *good* kind.”

“That’s what I like to hear,” I say, leaning back in the chair. “Honestly, you’re a f***ing rockstar, Nami. You fought through all that chemo s***, and now look at you. Practically glowing.”

Hyunjin squeezes her hand, looking at her like she’s the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen. “She *is* glowing,” he says softly. “Even bald, she’s the most gorgeous person I’ve ever seen.”

“Hyunjin, please,” Nami laughs, smacking his arm playfully. But she’s smiling so big, and you can tell she loves hearing it.

Changbin leans in, giving her a look. “No cap though, you really do look great, Nami. Stronger. Like, we all knew you were tough, but you’ve seriously kicked this thing’s ass.”

“Damn right, she did,” Lee Know adds from across the room. “I mean, we always knew you were a badass, but this? This just proves it.”

Nami smiles, that kind of smile that lights up her whole face. “Thanks, guys. Honestly, I couldn’t have done it without you all. You’ve been here through everything, even when I was too sick to talk, and that means more than you know.”

“Don’t get all emotional on us now,” I say, trying to keep it light, but my chest feels tight. She’s right. We’ve all been through this with her, but she’s the one who fought the hardest.

“I’m not getting emotional,” she says, sticking her tongue out at me. “Just saying facts.”

Felix, who’s been quiet this whole time, just watching, finally speaks up, his voice soft but steady. “You’re a fighter, Nami. You were always gonna beat this.” His words are simple, but the way he looks at her? Like there’s not a doubt in his mind that she’s coming out the other side of this stronger.

And he’s right. She is.

Hyunjin leans over, pressing a kiss to her forehead, and I see Felix glance away for a second, his face unreadable. But then he looks back at her, and there’s this small, hopeful smile on his face. He doesn’t have to say anything else. That look says it all.

“Alright, enough with the sap,” Seungmin cuts in, waving his hand. “We need to start planning your ‘welcome home’ party.”

Nami perks up at that, her eyes shining with excitement. “Hell yeah, we do! I want music, food, everything. It’s gonna be legendary.”

“I’ll handle the snacks,” Changbin says, raising his hand like he’s volunteering for some important mission.

“And I’ll make the playlist,” Lee Know adds, grinning. “Gotta make sure the vibe is right.”

“Sounds like a plan,” I say, kicking my feet up on the chair in front of me. “Nami, you’re about to get the best party of your life. You deserve it.”

She laughs, shaking her head. “You guys are too much. But seriously, I can’t wait. It’s gonna be amazing to just... *be home* again.”

And that’s when it hits me. We’re almost done with this. This whole nightmare? It’s almost over. She’s almost back. The weight we’ve all been carrying is finally starting to lift. But I can’t help but feel that familiar twist in my gut whenever I’m in this place. The memories of my own accident, the guilt, the fear—it’s still there, lurking under the surface.

But looking at Nami now, seeing her full of energy, laughing with us? It makes me feel a little better. Like, if she can get through all of *this*, then maybe I can let go of my own s*** too.

“Yo, Nami,” I say, leaning forward, “when you’re back home, we gotta do something wild. Like, road trip or something.”

She raises an eyebrow. “Road trip? You trying to put me back in the hospital already?”

I laugh. “Nah, nothing dangerous. I’m thinking more like a chill beach day. Something relaxing. You’ve earned it.”

“I’m down for that,” she says, smiling again. “Anything to get out of this place.”

We keep throwing out ideas, talking about everything we’re gonna do when she’s finally home. And for the first time in a while, it feels like things are getting back to normal. Like we’re all just a group of friends hanging out, planning our next adventure. No more doctors, no more chemo. Just us.

And as I sit there, watching Nami laugh and joke with everyone, I realize that I’m finally starting to believe it. She’s really gonna be okay.