instagram.

• chapter 1 •

the clock strikes 9 at night when joohyun arrives, and she could see familiar faces everywhere. minhyun is leaning over the wall, with wendy by her side. there's yerim sleeping soundly over jihoon's shoulder. there's also her little brother, jinyoung.

"unnie!!" wendy was the first to realize her presence. she quickly rushed towards joohyun with a worried face. "we are still not allowed to visit yet." she then gives joohyun a tight hug, hoping that it would help to calm joohyun a bit. joohyun returns the hug, but her mind is somewhere else. she can't even think straight at that moment.

"what happened?" joohyun's voice sounds so broken, and everyone there couldn't help but to gaze at her with sympathy.

"i found him by the road near his house. his car was left by the side, too. he was already laying on the ground with... lots of blood and bruises." minhyun answered weakly, as he flinched when he remembered how jonghyun looked like when he found him by the road. it was painful to even imagine it.

"who did this?"

"we don't know, noona." this time, jihoon answered joohyun's question softly, careful not to wake yerim up with his voice. "jonghyun hyung is a great person, i don't think he did anything wrong for people to do that to him."

the image of taehyung suddenly flashed in joohyun's mind, but she quickly brushed it off. there is now way taehyung would do something like that, right?

she sighed, as she took a seat beside jinyoung before laying her head on his shoulder. "jinyoung ah, he would be fine, right?"

joohyun sounded so sad that jinyoung can't help but to feel bad for his one and only sister. he then gently pat her shoulder. "jonghyun hyung is strong, we all know that." he smiles weakly. "he will be fine. he won't let you worry much about him."

"thank you." joohyun smiles at his comforting words. "i barely know him, yet i fell in love so hard with him. is that even possible?"

"it is. you're the happiest when you're with him. plus, he's a great guy. i know i can trust you with him." jinyoung says as he plays with joohyun's fingers. "i have always wanted a great brother in law like him, and you chose the right person. never let him go, okay?"

"i would never." they clasped their pinky fingers together, before bursting into laughter for their cheesy talk.

joohyun was about to drift off to dreamland when the door burst open, revealing a male doctor dressed in white coat.

"he is awake now, yet he can barely speak. one person is allowed to visit him for now."

all eyes were on joohyun. she stands up, bowing as she passed the doctor, before entering the ward.

her heart break into pieces as she laid her eyes on him.

there were bruises and scars everywhere. his left leg is fully bandaged, and with all the wires attached onto him, he could barely move. his eyes are both swollen so badly, too. despite all those, he still shines the brightest in her eyes.

upon realizing joohyun's presence, jonghyun smiled weakly before patting at the seat next to him. "come h-here, j-joohyun ah." he had trouble speaking, and joohyun's heart ached even more as fresh tears spilled down her beautiful face. she quickly wiped it, though.

no, she should not cry in front of him.

she could not be weak in front of him when he, on the other side, is trying his best to be strong in front of her.

she then let out a small laugh before quickly taking a seat beside him, hands quickly finding his as she held it gently. "i am still four years older than you!" she hissed. "but i will let you go this time, be thankful."

jonghyun chuckles before trying his best to reach for her. as joohyun sees how he was struggling, she quickly came closer towards him. jonghyun then reached for her face before wiping her tears gently.

"d-don't cry. i'm f-fine now, r-right?"

she cried even more as her heart ached for him. "no, i'm not crying!" she denied it as her hands are busy wiping her tears.

"i'm s-sorry for making y-you cry when i've p-promised that i would not l-let you c-cry."

"no, no, it's not your fault, baby. you are the best thing i could ever ask for." she said before kissing his rough hand. "never blame yourself, okay?"

he nodded softly as he could feel fresh tears slowly spilling down his face, too. "aish, w-why am i c-crying too?" he laughed softly, and joohyun helped him by wiping his tears.

she then laid her head onto the bed, as she played with his large fingers which were filled with small cuts. "y-you can't s-sleep here, it's n-not comfortable. go h-home and r-rest--"

"--no. i want to stay beside you." she rubbed her hand with his before smiling. the feeling of being close with him is wonderful, as she craves for him more and more.

she could see how his eyelids are fluttered close slowly as he falls asleep. she then stood up, before giving a quick kiss on his clean forehead.

she suddenly craved for more. she then lowered her lips before kissing his unmoving lips.

once she let go, she smiles by herself as she whispers against his lips.

"get well soon, baby. i love you."