Kai and the Cat [Completed]

Part 7: The Falling

The hospital waiting room was filled with a heavy blanket of silence after the members who had to return to the dorm left. They all wanted to stay, of course, but the management would not let them. "Your dance instructor is available tomorrow morning, and the members who haven't got this dance down will have to practice tomorrow. Go to sleep, you'll see him tomorrow after your schedule."

Even though they knew their schedule wouldn't end till far past the visiting hours in the hospital, they had no choice but to leave, waving goodbye to the lucky 4 dancers who were allowed to stay.

They waited. Minseok paced back and forth, and the rest sat in the hard, plastic chairs.

When the silence grew unbearable, Lay stood up. "What do you guys want to drink, I'll go to the coffee shop downstairs." His voice shattered the silence.

One by one they looked up, and gave him their drink orders. All wanted coffee, except Sehun, who requested lukewarm chocolate, since they didn't think the coffee shop would have bubble tea.

When Lay left, the atmosphere grew even darker. When he came back, balancing a drink tray and his wallet, the room brightened again, like a switch had been flipped. As Lay handed out the drinks (turns out the shop did carry bubble tea) with a warm smile or a caring words, the members felt a little better, a little more hopeful.

It was just that small glint of hope that sparked Baekhyun into some semblance of his former self.

"Ah, you guys. Quit being so whiny. We have to cheer up. Someone play a game with me."

"What game?" asked Sehun disinterestedly.

"Kawi bawi bo!" Minseok's head flew up, suddenly interested and less mopey, as he exclaimed the name of EXO's favorite game.

"No, hyung, we play that all the time," Sehun complained.

"How about 007 Bang?" Baekhyun suggested.

"Ani," Lay joined the discussion. "That's way more fun with more people."

Baekhyun deflated. "Then what do you want to play?"

Minseok was about to speak when the door into the patient wards opened.

"Are you here for Kim Jongin?"

Lay was the first one to come to his senses. "Yes, we all are. Is he alright? Can we see him"

"Soon you can see him, but first may I ask you some questions?"

A chorus of "Nae".

"Do you see him daily. On a regular basis?"

"Yes, he lives with us."

"Ah, so you know that he's been under a lot of mental stress lately then?"

Sehun felt a sinking feeling in his chest, as Lay replied: "Yes, he has been."

"We discovered he hasn't been eating or drinking sufficiently, especially for the amount of exercise he does. We also noticed his sleep patterns are irregular, and we had to sedate him in order to calm him down tonight. He seems to be losing a lot of sleep lately, probably due to the stress he's under. You seem like very good friends to him though, so I'm sure you're helping him through whatever is happening."

All didn't reply except Lay, who nodded vigorously. Even if he hadn't gotten his sheet music back, he still took care of all the members, especially the younger ones, and he certainly didn't approve of almost all of the members ignoring the dancer.

"You may see him now, although he is still sedated. I will speak to you about taking care of him and when he will be brought home before you leave." The doctor pushed open the door to the patient's ward and lead them into a room.