Everything Seventeen

Minghao (The8)

First thing in the morning, I called Minghao only to hear him speak in a raspy voice with pauses in between words to sneeze.

"Ah, you're sick. Are you going to practice?" I asked him.

"No. The members themselves advised I stayed in the dorm. Jun offered to stay behind to make sure I was ok but I rejected his help," he answered.

"Oh ok, rest well. I love you. Bye!"I ended the call.

Right after that call, I messaged Jun and asked him a few questions. After that, I got ready, took a trip to the pharmacy and supermarket then headed to the dorm. Jun was waiting outside. He let me into the dorm before leaving for practice.

I stepped slowly towards the corridor of rooms. I peeped in the first room but it was empty. I cautiously checked the second room. No one. Ok. Last room. I slowly poked my head into the doorway and looked around the room. Huh? Where was he?

"Carat... What are you doing here?" A voice called out a distance from behind.

"To take care of you, of course! Why aren't you in bed? Go get some rest!" I scolded him.

"Yeah yeah. Whatever. I just went to get a drink."

"It had better be water."

"Yes, dear, it's pure drinking water. Not alcohol or orange juice. Why get drunk on alcohol when I can get drunk on your love?" he smiled jokingly.

"Ok, that's enough! Just go to bed and get some rest,"

I held his arm and led him to the room he shared with his members. His arm felt warm. When he laid on his bed which was the bottom bunk, I felt his forehead with the back of my hand. He was burning hot.

"You're running a fever."

I took out a pack of cooling gel pad. I moved his bangs away and pasted one on his forehead.

"I feel like a child. You don't have to do this but thanks anyway," he commented.

"Nah, I'll take care of you anytime," I said to him.

A small smile formed on his face. I pulled the blanket up halfway and told him to get some sleep. While he slept, I cleared up the place a little because a cleaner place could help him recover faster.

As it was nearing lunch, I decided to cook some porridge for him. I let the porridge cool a little before pouring it in a bowl. I sat by his bed and gently woke him up.

"HaoHao, get up and eat lunch," I called him softly.

He stirred as he woke up. I adjusted the pillow so he could sit up.

"Can you not call me that? It's embarrassing..." he grumbled.

"Well your mum calls you that and you don't say a word about it," I mentioned, laughing.

He shook his head. I picked up the bowl, took a spoonful of porridge and blew on it.

"Ok, HaoHao, open up," I teased him.

He rolled his eyes and opened his mouth. I fed him and he seemed to like the porridge. It was only halfway through that he realised I had been feeding him the whole time.

"Screw your dignity. I'm your girlfriend. Your members aren't around. You're sick too. Do you want to recover quickly and dance again or not?" I reasoned with him.

He saw some sense in it and gave in. Due to his sore throat, he did not say much either. Though, he did strain his throat just so he could say,

"Goddammit. I love you so much. Thank you," with a warm smile on his face.