Minseok opened his eyes and the only thing that he could feel was pain, his whole body aching all over. He glanced all over the room and all he sees are blurred white walls. There’s a beeping sound next to him. He tries to call for help but his throat tightens and squeezes him. There is oxygen mask planted on his face to pump sweet air into him, IVs filling his throbbing, hungry veins with blood. Prickles of tears gushes from his eyes when a wave of pain washes over his him. Everything is hurting.Wasn’t I supposed to be dead? Why am I still here?
A figure comes rushing to him with a white coat and wearing a stethoscope on his neck. Minseok whimpered when the latter’s hand made contact with one of his limp hands. His half lidded eyes were widening when a sudden light flashes, checking his cornea. He brushes off the stranger’s hand from his face while muttering under his breath words that come out as whisper. But didn’t go unnoticed by the stranger who he assumed was his doctor.
“D..don’t tou..ch ..me.”
“Too late, I’ve already had to touch your petite body for countless hours, Minseok.”
The stranger straightens his posture as he flashes Minseok his gummy smile, which Minseok doesn’t bother to look at because his headache was just getting worse. Minseok closed his eyes as his face contorted with pain. He wished this stranger, doctor, or whatever he was, would just leave him alone and stop talking.
“I’m Doctor Wu, do you feel any pain?” Minseok groaned in response because everything was hurting like a bitch right now and this stupid doctor was really starting to get on his nerves. He grit his teeth as he shot a glare at the latter.
“Considering that you’re glaring at me, your savior, I take that everything must be hurting, and your eye sight must be not affected by your stunt. “ Minseok furrowed his eyebrows and shot the doctor a confused look before everything clicked. Oh. Right. The doctor was about to stand up when Minseok’s grip on his white coat stopped him.
“How long have I been here?” Minseok’s eyes softened as he lightly tugged at the doctor’s coat causing the doctor to chuckle.
“Hmm… Let see. 3 weeks perhaps, and you’ve regained your consciousness today. Oh right! I have to inform your family about this. You’re such a cute little kid. I wonder why you would do something like this. But let’s save that talk for later.” The doctor claps his hand together and smiles before reaching his hand over to pat Minseok’s cheek.
Family. Minseok felt like he had just been punched in the stomach. “Why did you save me? He whispered.
The other glanced up in surprise. “What?”
Minseok knew he was better left to die. What he didn’t understand is why the heck he’s still breathing. Jongdae wanted him to die. His mother- No. Ms. Hyejung and Jongin would be better off without him. He is a failure. His so called family would be better off without him. Luhan never cared about him. So why would this pathetic excuse of a human dare to save him and refer to himself as his savior? “You heard me. Who fucking gave you the right to save my life?” His chest squeezed as he said the words.
Minseok felt a struck of pain hitting his chest. He clutched his chest while gasping for air as he arched his back in pain. The doctor’s face fell as he rushed to Minseok’s side, checking his pulse. Minseok screamed and his voice broke, a wave of tears were unleashed and then it was dark. Minseok stopped moving once the blackness engulfed him.
Minseok woke up every day for the next week to flowers sitting on the bedside table. He didn't know when they were going to let him out of the hospital, but apparently he wasn't in his strongest form yet, and they weren't willing to sign him out just yet. Minseok heaved a sigh from his full lips. His bed was near the window, so he stared outside at the cars passing by, feeling the warm sun rays on his face. He had been gazing at a flock of birds flying across the light blue sky, wishing he too could just fly away in both the literal and metaphorical sense, when from the corner of his eye he saw someone slide into the seat across from his bed. He turned his head slowly, unsure of what to expect, and was met by the sight of a man in a hoodie with a mask covering his mouth. The hood concealed his hair, but a few orangey-brown strands were hung over his double-lidded eyes. He recognized this man. It was Jongin. His so called brother.
