Why Must My Heart Ache?

Chapter 11: Kyu's Got the Flu

    Flora looked around. She could see the bus stop from where they were sitting, but there was no sign of anyone, let alone Heechul. She sighed and pulled out her phone and went to her contacts list. She flipped through the numbers, hoping that she had saved the one she was looking for. She sighed in relief when she found it.

    "Hello?" she heard him say on the other end.

    "Jung Hoon-ssi, I went to dinner with the members, but they all left and Kyuhyun's fainted. He has a fever, too. I don't think I can carry him to a taxi by myself," she explained quickly.

    While she was making her phone call, Heechul and Eunhyuk had just met back up in the bushes nearby. Eunhyuk was worried about the situation. "Shouldn't we go help her?" he asked his hyung. Heechul shook his head.

    If we show up now, then she'll ask questions. I'll go over there in a few minutes, say that I had to use the bathroom, and then help her and Jung Hoon get Kyu back to the dorm. You should go back now, so that it doesn't look weird."

                      .             .            .

    Flora called Jung Hoon first thing the next morning to ask if he could give her the address to the SuJu dorms. He picked her up himself and drove her there. "What's that?" he asked, taking one hand off the wheel to point at the crock-pot on her lap.

    She grabbed his hand and placed it back on the wheel. "Traffic here makes me nervous," she choked out in explanation before telling him that she had make Kyu some chicken noodle soup.

    Jung Hoon laughed. "I bought him something similar. We eat special soups when we're sick as well, but I guess the more he eats, the better." Flora laughed along, though still a little pale and clutching her seatbelt.

    "Were you ever in a car accident, Flora-ssi?" he asked quietly. She sighed and relaxed her grip a little.

    "Almost. When I was learning how to drive, I was scared of the busier roads, especially at night, but I had to fulfill the required hours. One night, my dad took me out for another lesson on the highway. He saw the drunk driver before I did and grabbed the wheel, which probably saved our lives. The drunk hit the car that had been in front of me. We had to stick around for awhile afterwards, since we ran over something and a tire went flat.

    "I saw the ambulance take away four injured, and two dead people. The two killed were the father that was driving the car that was hit, and the little girl that was in the seat behind him. I quit driving after that. I couldn't get the images out of my head. I still can't."

    They were quiet after that.

                          .           .          .

    "That smells so good!" Ryeowook exclaimed when Flora plugged in the crock-pot. "Did you really make it yourself?"

    Flora grinned. "Yep! It's my grandma's recipe, though." She looked around and counted in her head. All of the active members but Kyu were crammed into the living space. None of them must have a schedule for awhile.

    "Anyway, take care of him. Filming starts in a few days. I have to go now; service starts soon," she rushed as she bowed and put her shoes back on at the door. Siwon stopped her.

    "Service? Where do you go to church?" he inquired. She smiled and told him. "I was going to go and record a service for Kyuhyun since he has the flu. May I accompany you?"

    "Of course! Anyone else want to join us? Heechul perhaps?" she suggested half-jokingly.

    "Not even if all you Christian girls dress like that!" he joked back, taking in her outfit and making her uncomfortable, on purpose of course. She was wearing dark, well-fitting jeans, a white frilly-necked blouse, and a vibrant purple sweater vest. She also wore white kitten heels, an amethyst ring, and a simple wooden cross necklace.

    "Is that a compliment or a sarcastic joke?" she laughed, not really caring. She was rewarded with a mere shrug. "Well, since you're the only one staying behind, take good care of Kyuhyun-sunbae."

    After they all left for their services (Yesung, being Catholic, was headed to a different church) before anyone had a schedule, Heechul took some of Flora's soup into Kyu's room. "Ya!" he reprimanded quietly, respectful of Kyu's headache. "You should be resting, not playing on your phone."

    Kyuhyun looked up guiltily once he paused the game. "What was all that noise earlier? And what's this?" he asked as he took the bowl of soup.

    "You missed Flora-ssi because we all thought you were napping like you were supposed to. She brought a crock-potful of that soup for you. Made it herself."

    "Why?" he asked, stirring his soup, staring into the bowl.

    "She was worried about her sunbae being ready for filming in time," Heechul answered, sitting on the edge of the bed.

    Kyu took a spoonful of soup and swallowed. "Not bad. So I guess she actually does care about the drama after all," he said, a little bitter.

    "When did she ever say that she didn't? I do eavesdrop, you know, and she sounded excited to work with you and Park Shin Hye-ssi. Of course she wants this drama to go well. It involves the school she works at, too. I hear that some of the scenes will be filmed there as part of her contract agreement between the director and her principal."

    Kyuhyun mulled over this while he finished his soup. Heebum came into the room, tired of waiting for Heechul to return to the living room. He jumped on the bed and settled in next to his master.

    "You brought the cat with you?"

    "Of course! I have to watch you all day since I have no schedule and I don't go to church. I have to have some decent company," he joked in a serious tone.

    Kyuhyun laughed, finished his soup, took his medicine, and napped until Siwon returned and made him wake up to watch the recording of the service.