You Belong With Me | Jeongcheol Fanfic

Chapter 12

Later that afternoon, Jeonghan, Mingyu, and Seungkwan arrived at the hospital. The sterile scent of disinfectant and the soft hum of machines filled the air, making everything feel cold and distant. Jeonghan's heart raced as they walked down the long hallway toward Seungcheol's room, his palms sweaty with nerves.

Every step felt heavier than the last. He had no idea what he would say to Seungcheol. What if Seungcheol blamed him? What if he didn't want to see him? The thought made Jeonghan's stomach churn, but he forced himself to keep walking.

When they finally reached Seungcheol's room, Mingyu stopped and gave Jeonghan a reassuring look. "We'll wait out here," Mingyu said gently, knowing that this was something Jeonghan needed to do on his own.

Jeonghan nodded, taking a deep breath before pushing the door open.

Inside, the room was quiet except for the soft beeping of the machines monitoring Seungcheol's vitals. Seungcheol was lying in the hospital bed, his face bruised and swollen, a bandage wrapped around his head. His usually vibrant and energetic demeanor was replaced with exhaustion, his body looking fragile against the stark white sheets.

Jeonghan's heart sank at the sight. Seeing Seungcheol like this was worse than he had imagined. He stood frozen at the door, guilt and fear swirling inside him.

Seungcheol must have sensed someone entering because his eyes fluttered open. When he saw Jeonghan standing there, his lips curved into a small, tired smile.

"Jeonghan," Seungcheol's voice was raspy, weak, but there was warmth in it. "You came."

Jeonghan's throat tightened, and before he could stop himself, tears welled up in his eyes again. He stepped closer, feeling a lump form in his throat. "I'm so sorry, Seungcheol," he whispered, his voice shaking. "This... this is all my fault. If I had just—"

"Don't," Seungcheol interrupted softly, his hand lifting slightly, as if he wanted to reach out but didn't have the strength. "It's not your fault, Jeonghan. None of this is."

Jeonghan shook his head, the tears spilling over. "How can you say that? If I hadn't gotten close to you... Jaehyun wouldn't have done this. He... he thinks I belong to him, and now you're paying the price."

Seungcheol frowned slightly, though even that small movement seemed to cause him pain. "Jaehyun did this because he's jealous and insecure. You didn't do anything wrong, Jeonghan."

Jeonghan bit his lip, wiping at his eyes as he sat down in the chair beside Seungcheol's bed. "But I feel like I dragged you into this mess. You wouldn't have gotten hurt if it weren't for me."

Seungcheol managed a weak chuckle, his voice hoarse. "I don't regret anything, Jeonghan. You're worth it."

Jeonghan's heart skipped a beat at Seungcheol's words, his breath catching in his throat. For a moment, he didn't know what to say. He hadn't realized how much Seungcheol cared—how much he was willing to endure for him.

"But..." Jeonghan began, still struggling with the guilt. "I don't want you to get hurt because of me. I don't want to lose you."

"You won't," Seungcheol said softly, his eyes locking with Jeonghan's. "We'll figure this out. Together."

Jeonghan looked down at Seungcheol's hand, which was resting limply on the bed. Slowly, he reached out and took it in his own, squeezing gently. "I should've protected you," Jeonghan whispered.

Seungcheol gave him a small smile, though it was strained from the pain. "You've always been there for me. You don't need to protect me from everything, Jeonghan. Just... be here."