Bubble

40. Waiting Game

Seven Days Later

"You see, he knew his world outside the bunker would never be the same as when he first was hidden away from the world. He knew that his parents could only truly protect him to an extent, so with supplies running low, Bang Chan decided to venture outside his bubble of safety. Once he did, he was met with people that would become his new family."

I.N came to a pause as he looked at Bang Chan's pale and still form on the bed. Sighing, I.N shut the notebook on his lap and put it aside.

"We hope the executives like the idea when we present it to them tomorrow. Bonita and I thought that would be a good direction for your one episode special," said I.N. "After all, all good stories have to come to an end."

Saying 'end' caused tears to lodge in his throat. Turning aside from Bang Chan, he looked out the window beside him at the bright sunny day outside. His mind transported him back to the night of the shooting when Bang Chan had selflessly dove between him and Jongsu.

'He's bleeding! Why is he bleeding?' I.N had cried as Changbin and Han suddenly seemed to appear out of nowhere like angels, throwing themselves on their knees to attend to him.

I.N blinked his eyes again, bringing a hand up to wipe away the tears that trickled free. I.N had thought Bang Chan was invincible, but instead he had gotten himself wounded. Not able to take him to a hospital, Changbin and Han had operated on him the best they could from Chris' bedroom, but Bang Chan had yet to wake up. He wasn't dead yet, but I.N couldn't help but worry that any day he might slip away. It'd be like losing his best friend and stepbrother all over again.

Ever since the night of the shooting, they had all split up shifts sitting beside him incase he woke with Changbin and Han popping in between their shifts to check his recovery progress. Bonita had suggested that maybe writing a happy ending to his show might end up causing him to at least go home, which was better than seeing him die. I.N knew that Bang Chan had been fading anyway and he would rather him be home happy than cease to exist all together.

"It's sunny today, you know," said I.N. "It's the perfect weather for waking up."

When he didn't get a response as was expected, I.N leaned back in the chair to look around the room.

"Chris, I'm not sure if you're here too somewhere, but if you are, I hope you're doing okay."

According to Minho and Hyunjin, neither of them had seen Chris since the day of the shooting. I.N sincerely hoped it was because he had managed to finally pass on. Even though he missed Chris desperately, he didn't want him to be forever stuck in some sort of limbo. After everything he had done for him, he deserved to have peace.

A knock came at the doorway followed shortly by Bonita holding a plate of homemade food. I.N knew that the food was from his mother. Since she had constant foot traffic through the house lately, she had been making a surplus of food to make sure they all stayed fed.

"This must mean it's your turn to sit with him," said I.N as he reluctantly stood up from the chair with his notebook. "The time seems to crawl and yet speed by at the same time when it's your turn."

"I know," said Bonita as she entered the room, putting the plate aside on the dresser. "At any rate, you should go get something to eat. It just came out."