dino's twin sister ➳ seventeen

Twelve ➵ Decision

The boys, Kim Eui and I decide to stay overnight at the hospital and sleep in the waiting room.

Unlike everybody else, I can't sleep. My mind is too busy racing about Vernon's decision.

After my rant, Eui ignored me because even she knew she couldn't make a scene in the hospital.

I sigh and look to my side, seeing Joshua asleep beside me, his head resting against my shoulder. He's snoring softly and I stare at him, wondering how I managed to get so lucky.

Dino is asleep opposite us and every now and then, I check to see he's still asleep. Ever since Joshua and I's kiss, I've been a lot more conscious of Dino around us. If he finds out, I'll probably never be allowed to see Joshua again.

After around another sleepless hour, I gently move Joshua's head so it's leaning on the cushioned chair instead of my shoulder. I get up quietly and walk out of the room, heading towards Vernon's.

I glance through the small window and see he's also awake, staring blankly at the wall. I knock gently and open the door. His expression doesn't change when he sees me, he just turns and looks at the wall again.

"Can't sleep either?" I ask, shutting the door and leaning against it.

"My ribs hurt every time I breathe, so yes."

I sit on the edge of his bed and he moves slightly away from me.

"Please don't do this, Vernon." I whisper.

He stays silent.

"Vernon, I know you don't hate me. Please don't act like it."

"I'm not prepared to talk about this, Areum." He says in a monotone voice.

"That's alright. I understand."

Once again, silence fills the room and I don't know what to say. I glance at the clock which reads three in the morning and I sigh, knowing I won't be able to sleep.

"Do you want me to get you some more tablets?" I ask and he nods slowly.

"If you don't mind."

"Of course not." I stand and walk out of Vernon's room, being immediately met with the dim corridor.

I see a nurse at the end of the corridor and I quickly walk towards her.

"Excuse me?" I say and she turns around, looking terribly tired.

"Yes?"

"My best-I mean, my friend, needs some more painkillers. He can't sleep because of the pain."

"Name?" She asks.

"Hansol Choi."

"He isn't due any painkillers yet, but one or two sleeping pills won't harm him. I'll bring them to his room when I get them."

"Thank you so much, Miss." I bow and return to Vernon's room where he's still sat up, wide awake.

"Any luck?" He questions.

I nod. "A nurse is bringing you some sleeping pills."

"Thanks."

"It's alright." I say softly and sit on the chair next to his bed.

Again, it's silent and awkward between us. Breaking the uncomfortable silence, the nurse from before walks through the door with two pills in her hand.

"Here you go, Hansol." She says kindly and hands him the pills.

He thanks her before swallowing the pills with a glass of water. He winces in pain when he lifts up his arm to drink, and the sight saddens me. He looks in so much pain and I would do anything in the world to stop the pain he's feeling.

"Miss, you're not supposed to be in here but I will give you time, I'll come back in half an hour."

"Thank you." I tell the kind woman.

She says goodbye and leaves the room, leaving Vernon and I alone once again.

"I was really worried about you, you know..." I say softly.

Vernon's emotionless, cold expression falters for just a short second before he stares again like I'm a stranger.

"I didn't know what to think, I didn't want to lose my best friend."

"Areum-"

"No, hear me out. Please," I beg and he sighs in defeat. "I've never felt more worried. I know you said we're no longer best friends but Vernon, please know, that you will always be my best friend."

"Areum." He says, his voice cracking slightly and his eyes beginning to water.

"I just want my best friend back. Please stop treating me like a stranger." I beg.

His eyes begin to slowly close and I know the medicine is beginning to slowly kick in.

"I'm sorry for the way I treated you." He apologises slowly, his voice sounding simultaneously tired and pained.

"You don't need to apologise, Vernon. You just need to rest right now."

It's quiet again but this time, the atmosphere isn't awkward but instead, calm and relaxing. Vernon's eyes fully shut and his breathing turns slow and steady, and I assume he's asleep.

I get up, ready to leave but before I walk out the door, I look at Vernon once again.

He looks so peaceful, even with the bruises and cuts covering his face and body.

I put my hand onto the door handle and twist it, jumping when I hear a voice from behind me.

"I believe you, Areum."

Author's note:

Sorry this chapter is just lots of Vernon fluff please excuse me he's my bias

The reads are going up like crazy, thank you all for reading and voting, I really appreciate it :) and also, I love reading your comments

New chapter will be up soon, feel free to comment what you want/expect to happen next :)

Also, do you like Areum being with Joshua or is there another boy you think she's better with? ;)