off limits ✧ zb1 applyfic

✧ ninety five

It wasn't in Irang's habits to wake up late, but the pain medication she'd been taking for the last few days had the strange power to knock her out until almost noon. With a groan, she rubbed her eyes clean of any lingering sleepiness, sliding off her bed with barely any determination. She was swiftly reminded of why as soon as her feet touched the floor, and a jolt of pain shot up her leg. Though the doctor had reassured her it was a minor sprain, walking still felt like she was being stabbed repeatedly in the leg, every time she took a step. She grabbed the ankle brace she'd left on the floor, and firmly wrapped it around her ankle, sighing at the thought of its bulky ugliness. It was only for a few weeks, the doctor had said, but it was very much a bother anyway.

The brace did not do much to reduce the pain, but if it meant her already fragile ankle wouldn’t twist again, she could bear with it. With small, hesitant steps, Irang walked out of her room, combing through her hair with her fingers. Looking pretty was certainly not her priority these days, and she’d stayed in her pajamas throughout the day more than she'd admit — that is to say, absolutely one hundred percent of the time. Today would be yet another one of these days, spent watching whatever was on TV, waiting for her ankle to heal enough to run out and have fun.

When she dragged her feet to the living room, Irang figured she was having a hallucination, for there was no other reason Yujin could be sitting on her couch right now. Maybe her medication had that as a side effect — not that she would know, Hanbin had been the one to read the instructions. Before she could rub her eyes again, her mom swooshed past her, jacket on her shoulders and bag in her hand.

"Oh hey, Irang, good morning," she greeted her. "Are you okay? Is your ankle still painful?"

Irang furrowed her eyebrows as she glanced past her mother. Yujin was still there, and she was growing increasingly suspicious this was no hallucination. "It's not too bad. But, uh..."

"Ah, I'll be gone until evening, but Yujin said he'll take care of you." Then, she planted a kiss on her forehead. "You two be careful, okay? And don't hesitate to get takeout! See you later, sweetie."

And just like that, Irang's mother ran out the door, under her puzzled gaze. The door shut with a slam, and in the sudden silence following it, Irang felt awfully aware that she and Yujin were here, alone, and she probably looked like a total mess. Maybe she should have stopped in front of the mirror for a minute, after all. When he rose from the couch, a timid smile on his face, Irang felt her ankle tingle. Did she really need a babysitter?

"Why are you here?" she asked, a pout on her face. "I can take care of myself, you know. I can stay home alone for a day."

Yujin did not look fazed by her half-hearted defiance. "You're injured. I thought I could be of some help to you."

All Irang could do was grumble under her breath, as she limped her way to the kitchen. "Alright..."

Though Irang had been babied all of her life, courtesy of being the youngest of her family, it certainly felt a little strange when adulthood was just in reach. Even more so when it came from Yujin, who had always been the only person to treat her as an equal, a friend. Although her ankle was in a brace, she still felt capable enough to make herself some breakfast.

"Are you angry?" he dared, his voice small. "I'm really sorry about your ankle, you know..."

She grabbed a bowl and a box of cereal from a cupboard, and walked to the dining room. "I'm not angry, I told you already. It doesn’t even hurt all that much."

But she knew that no matter how many times she would repeat that, it wouldn’t quell anyone's worries. Hell, whenever Hanbin was home, he liked to ask her every ten minutes if her ankle hurt, as if it could change so dramatically, so quickly. Shaking her head, she sat down, and Yujin followed like a puppy, watching her every move. Just as she poured the cereal into her bowl, Irang clicked her tongue.