the boy next door • donghan

07

kwon eunbin

"oppa, i swear, as long as you wake up, i'll never bicker with you again. really. i'll let you have whatever food you want to eat, i'll let you buy the newest iPhone and i'll just use the one you used, i'll let you sleep with all my soft toys if you want to. i'm serious, so just wake up will you?" i said softly as i placed my chin on top of my hands, staring down at my sleeping brother.

it has been 3 days since the accident occured. my brother's surgery was a success, thank god, but he had still yet to wake up.

i've been heading to the hospital everday after school, sitting by my brother's side and talking to him for hours and hours, hoping he'd get too tired of hearing my voice and just wake up.

but he didn't.

"alright, i can't stay long today oppa. i've a huge test tomorrow, and i promise you i will study hard for it and ace this. so you must wake up soon and be proud of me, okay?" i chuckled sadly.

"okay."

i looked back to see my mum giving me a small smile.

"you promised your oppa that, so you better go back and study so he won't be disappointed when he wakes up. and it's getting late, be careful when you're going home," my mum walked up to me and ruffled my hair as i smiled slightly.

"okay, i will, see you eomma," i told my mum and she nodded. then, i picked up my school bag and took onr last glance at my brother before bidding goodbye to my mum and leaving the hospital ward.

"hey."

i turned back, and as i expected, it was donghan.

"hey," i smiled a little.

"how's your brother?" donghan asks.

"he's fine, although he has yet to wake up. but the doctor reassured us that he was fine, and he would wake up soon," i said, while letting out a small sigh of relief.

"how about your brother?" i asked him back.

"ahh, he's all good. he woke up eariler today and the doctor checked on him saying he's alright and just has to focus on recuperating," donghan smiled.

"that's great!" i smiled widely.

"yeah, i was worried sick about him. i'm so glad he's okay," donghan smiled again. it's the first time i've seen him look so bright and smiled so much, and not to lie, he looks absolutely adorable.

"me too," i chuckled.

"are you heading back home now?" donghan asks.

"yeah, we've a test tomorrow and i've to head back to study," i told him.

"i'm going home too, do you wanna head back together?" he offered and i nodded. after all, it was getting quite dark and at least donghan would be with me if anything happens.

our walk home was silent, but we did have small talks here and there. i didn't mind though, i was feeling really tired and i didn't feel like talking either.

the silence wasn't awkward, it was just, well, silent.

"um, i'll head to the convenience stall to get some cup ramen. do you wanna go back first?" i cleared my throat and asked.

"oh, i'll wait here for you," he said and i gave him a quick nod and hurried away.

i entered the convenience store and saw a whole row of new flavoured cup ramen. after contemplating for forever, i ended up buying five cups of the original kimchi flavour, my all time favourite.

i exited the convenience store and ran back to where donghan was waiting for me eariler on. but, he wasn't there.

puzzled, i looked around, trying to spot him.

then, i heard a faint wail coming from behind me.

i spun back and squinted my eyes in the dark to see 2 men beating up someone else at the corner of the street.

i gasped as i realised it was non other than donghan who was getting beaten up.

"YAH! STOP BEATING HIM!" i yelled as i ran over to them, glaring at the men.

then i recognised one of them. it was the same guy that harassed me the other day.

he walked over towards me and smirked as i took baby steps backwards, still glaring at him.

"oh, it's you again," he laughed hysterically as my back hit the wall.

i glanced at donghan to see the other man kicking him repeatedly.

"stop it! you're hurting him!!" i cried as i tried to escape from the men but he pinned me against the wall and snickered.

"so much for trying to save your nosy little boyfriend, who do you think you are?" he spat and my lips trembled.

just then, a bright light was shone onto us and i squinted my eyes.

"what's going on here?" a loud voice said, which belonged to a policeman on patrol with another policewoman.

the man released his grip on me and quickly escaped with the other man as one of them policeman chased after them.

i hurried over to donghan and squat down beside him.

my hands were shaking as he whimpered, bruises all over his face and body.

"are you okay? do you need to go to he hospital?" another voice asked and i turned back to see a policewoman looking down at donghan.

"yes plea-"

"no it's okay," donghan cut me off and i turned to look at him.

"i'm okay," he said to me softly.

"but you - " i said but he lifted his hand to grab my arm while shaking his head slightly.

"alright then," the policewoman said before hurrying off, leaving me and donghan alone. (a/n erm, normally a police officer wouldn't just leave them alone but well, just deal with it HAHA)

"you're injured, why don't you want to go to the hospital?" i asked him in concern.

"my brother's hospital bills are already massive, i don't want to burden my parents," he replied, clutching onto his stomach.

"but...but can you even walk back home in this state?" i asked as i touch his wounds lightly, causing him to flinch.

"it's okay," he reassured me as he tried standing up. i snaked my hands around his waist and supported him up.

thank god we were already pretty near our house and i supported donghan as we quickly made our way back.