Sunoo sat propped against the headboard, his face pale and tired. A box of tissues lay beside him, a testament to the stubborn cold that kept him bedridden. He could hear the commotion from the living room as the other members prepared to leave for KCON in LA.
The sound of Heeseung and Jay’s hurried footsteps echoed in the hallway before the door swung open. “Are you sure you’re okay, Sunoo? I can skip this. They’ll understand—”
“Jay,Heeseung” Sunoo interrupted softly, managing a weak smile. “It’s just a cold. I’ll survive.”
“But what if your fever gets worse? What if you need something? What if—”
“Hyungs, please,” Sunoo said, grabbing both Heeseung and Jay’s hand. “You’ve both been looking forward to this for weeks. Don’t let me ruin it for you.”
Jay and Heeseung sighed, running a hand through their already messy hair. Both looked torn, glancing between Sunoo and the suitcase they hadn’t fully packed.
From the doorway, Jungwon peeked in, watching the exchange. The leader stepped into the room, followed by Niki,Jake and Sunghoon.
“Jay and Heeseung hyung” Jungwon said gently, “we’ll only be gone for a few days. We can arrange for someone to check in on Sunoo while we’re away. You don’t have to miss this.”
“He won’t be alone,” Jake added, giving Sunoo a wink. “We can even set up video calls, so you can see for yourself that he’s okay.”
Sunoo gave the other members a grateful look before turning back to Jay. “See? Everyone’s got it figured out. Please go.”
Jay and Heeseung hesitated, both stress and worry written all over their faces. But the pleading look in Sunoo’s eyes, coupled with the supportive nods from the others, finally made him cave.
“You better call me if anything happens,” Jay said sternly, crouching down to cup Sunoo’s cheek. Heeseung said while holding Sunoo's hands “I’ll make sure they delay the whole concert if I have to.”
Sunoo chuckled softly, leaning into the warmth of both men. “I promise. Now go. Don’t make them late because of me.”
Reluctantly, Jay and Heeseung stood up, giving Sunoo one last lingering look before stepping out of the room with the others.
As the door closed behind them, Sunoo sighed and sank deeper into his pillows. His heart felt lighter knowing that Jay and Heeseung would go on to perform without guilt.
In the van on the way to the airport, Jay’s phone buzzed. He pulled it out to find a picture of Sunoo, bundled up in blankets, flashing him a peace sign. The caption read: “I'll cheer for you guys, okay? I’ll be watching.” Heeseung's phone also buzzed and smiles when he saw the photo.
Jay smiled, the tension in his shoulders easing. Even from miles away, Sunoo still found a way to take care of him.
The flight to LA felt like the longest Jay had ever been on. Even with the excitement of the event ahead, he couldn’t shake the weight of leaving Sunoo behind. The rest of the members tried their best to keep his mind occupied, but his thoughts kept drifting back to his boyfriend, who was stuck in bed while he was about to perform on one of the biggest stages of the year.
"Hyung, you’re quiet," Niki said, nudging Jay as he sat beside him on the plane. "Something on your mind?"
Jay glanced over at Niki, who looked at him with concern. "I just wish I was with Sunoo. I can’t focus when I know he’s not feeling well."
Sunghoon, who overheard the conversation, shook his head with a small grin. "Jay, you’re being too hard on yourself. He’s fine. He sent us that goofy video of him dancing with a blanket around his shoulders."
