NCT DOYOUNG FANFIC // Love was the Language I Didn't Know

09: Band-Aid

C H A P T E R   9

Day by day, life seems to get better. Either I'm at Miwon's dorm, or Miwon is at mine. We are overflowed with paperwork, realizing that most of the translating(when videos aren't live or overseas) are just us watching the raw videos and writing the subs as we go through each panel. Especially since both groups have comebacks during this time of year, the videos never seem to end...which also means Miwon and I have now developed a terrible sleep schedule and unhealthy eating habits. I however, braced myself for the worst and frequented with my skin care routine, avoiding the breakouts and eye bags that are becoming more prominent on Miwon's face. We've grown very close over the past month, bonding over foreign experiences and our love of Toku. There are times when NCT 127 think of him as extra or threatening, but they wouldn't - had they known that he actually has a girlfriend(he's very loyal too!). We consider ourselves as the sibling we never had, which gives us only a special level of intimacy and trust. Although I miss Leiyah, I am happy to have someone occupy her spot while we're apart.

Today is our first live translating job, where we translate on the spot the words being spoken, and where I also provide WinWin assistance in finding the right Korean words to say. WinWin and I have only met twice on occasion to study, but it was mostly very burdensome because he was always tired after his schedules, and I was tired from my work load. I promised however that I would make more effort to help him out, and that since today would be our scheduled meet, we would practice right after that.

I meet Miwon at the convenience store, where we buy juice bottles before we walk towards the SM building. We arrive after a quick four or so minutes and part ways. I head up to the fourth floor to find a complete set working on NCT 127: hair, makeup, camera work, everything. I quietly sit in an area behind the PD-nims and cameramen, but still close enough to hear to translate correctly. I see NCT 127 enter joyfully, laughing and hugging as they enter the room. They see the stations and start gasping, some even more excited at the games they see in front of them. Naturally, I smile too. NCT is a happy virus, after all, so I can't help but anticipate the fun day ahead of me. WinWin sees me first and starts to wave, and soon everyone else does too. I smile to everyone, accidentally catching glances with Doyoung. Doyoung... Doyoung smiles happily back, but I don't know how to decipher it. Is he smiling because he forgot, or is he smiling because he didn't forget? Either way, I should pay attention to my duty so that I don't disappoint NCTs fans and my reputation.. I put my confused feelings aside and get to work:

Their V-live starts and I efficiently type the live subs as they speak. NCT introduces themselves and thanks their fans for receiving the rookie award at SMA. Each member then goes one by one, saying a wish for the new year and something they'd like to do for their fans. Every member has surprisingly different answers: Yuta is more sexy and bold when he talks, but Taeil is very reserved and shy, only speaking when he is asked to. Doyoung surprisingly today, is much more talkative than usual. His voice is jumpy and his laughs are long and loud.

"Doyoung, what is making you so hyper today?"

"I think he drank too much coffee for breakfast-- kekekeke"

"Hyper today? I don't know.. I am just...very happy! I get to see my favourite people today"

As I write this down I can't help but be caught off-guard. Surely he's talking about his fans., right? Not me, no no no. He's not talking about me, that's just..

But what if he is? Then..I'm one of his favourite people? Me? The thought should have been worthless to me, but yet I can feel an unconditional smile out of me. What if I am special to him? But is he special to me? ...Stop..just get back to work

I get back to translating, not letting any more "fan-service"-type remarks hinder me and my work performance speed. As I continue to work however, I see a PD-nim quietly approach me:

"Minlee-ah..can you do a quick favor for me? I'll get someone else to substitute for you while you're gone." Obviously, I agree.

"Yes, of course! What do you need?"

"I need you to get a speaker across the hallway. It's large and a little heavy, but you are nice and tall, I think you will be able to do it. I need everyone else here, and it is important because NCT 127 will need it for their next game. I'm sorry, can you do it?"

"Yes yes! I'll go." I quietly exit, avoiding any noises from interrupting the livecast and confusing the fans. I find the speaker with ease, but carrying it is a slow torture. It is large and has lots of switches, which makes it awkward to carry. I enter the room again as quietly as I can, moving towards the table that the PD-nim is directing me to put it. I quickly go to put it on the table counter, but the heaviness of the speaker doesn't match well with the speed in which I walk. I put my effort into lifting the speaker, and as I finally land it on the counter, my wrist scrapes against the table edges. I silently scream in pain, with my facial expression making up for the lack of noise - I surely would've yelled out loud had there not have been a live cast. I see three members sympathetically look at me as I go back to subbing, probably seeing me injure myself. I don't think much of the pain as I work, but immediately after the livestream ends, I begin to let out continuous "OWOWOWOWOWOWOW"s

I take off my cardigan and roll up a bit of my t-shirt underneath to find a large cut on my elbow bleeding profusely. The sight of blood scares me a little, so I rush to the washroom to find some wipes and a bandaid. I go back to the room and try to tend to my cut, hesitantly applying the wipes against my scrape. Out of nowhere, Doyoung takes my first-aid items and starts applying it to my cut himself: Doyoung, it's always you, isn't it?

"Minlee-ah, are you okay? That looks so painful..please take care of yourself. Here, let me wipe it for you"

"It's okay, it's not that painf-ooww" Though the wipe gently brushes against my cut, the moist gel from it is enough to sting a whole lot.

"See, I can tell it hurts a lot. Don't worry, I will take care of you." He applies the wipes and puts on two bandaids on my cut. "Minlee-ah, I don't like it when you are hurt or sad. Please don't hurt me like this. If you can't protect yourself from getting injured like this, I will have to protect you instead. I will not stand to see my favourite friend be in this position".

"Favourite"? Does that mean... he was...referring to me from before? "I will protect you"? What am I supposed to say when he says things like this to me? That he drives me insane? That he shakes up my heart?

"Doyoung-ah...thank you. I really mean it. Thank you." ...Thank you! Thank you for caring for me and always being here for me! Thank you for making me feel special and happy! I want to say this but I can't Because I don't know your feelings for me....and I can't decide my feelings for you too. I want to say this to you...but I don't know how. I don't know.

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