pink champagne [book 2 - mysmes hanahaki trilogy]

2

Jumin sat idly at his seat in the lecture hall, listening to his professor talk about the stock market. He was interested, of course, but class was almost over and he had better things to do. Such as visit MC, who was in the hospital. After his surgery, he had been made to spend at least two more weeks out of school to stabilize his lungs again. Jumin knew from an accident with his father, the paparazzi, and an unexpected sidewalk curb, that the hospital was uncomfortable and dull. He hoped, for MC's sake, that the teenager would be let out soon to go home.

Saeran, Jumin, and the others were in school while MC's mother stayed with her son, on MC's orders, even though Saeran has protested quite a bit. Jumin was indifferent. He didn't know the tall, scruffy-haired teen very well, but he couldn't help but feel a small connection with him from both their shared 'condition' (even though MC's was removed) and how Jumin understood what MC's was going through before with Saeran. Jumin knew that heavy feeling in his gut of unrequited love- he felt it every time he saw Rika and V together.

Jumin packed his things quickly when the lecture ended, throwing on his coat and grabbing his bag before hurrying outside. V was waiting for him in the midst of the crowd, and while faces bustled around Jumin, the only soft features and pink lips that Jumin saw were those of his best friend. Jumin hiccupped when V's bright teal eyes caught his, but his kept his face calm as he met his friend, whose hands were shoved in the front pockets of his jeans. V's photography bag was slung over one shoulder.

"Let's go," Jumin murmured, and the two walked down the hallway together. Jumin steeled himself and looked surreptitiously at V's clothes. Light-wash jeans with a black turtleneck sweater that hugged his throat, along with a grey blazer over it and a beige scarf wrapped loosely around his neck. Jumin exhaled inaudibly and turned away. It was not the time to be admiring V's physique, no matter how good he looked in sweaters.

...

"Good afternoon," Jumin said in a low voice to Saeran as he walked into the hospital room where MC was living. Saeran was seated in a chair next to MC, holding an album of pictures of MC in his lap. Jumin guessed he was testing MC's memory, and while that was probably needed, Jumin couldn't help but recognize the heavy circles underneath Saeran's eyes. His red hair was messy and unkempt and his tan sweater (with maroon and white diamonds on it) was falling off his shoulders to reveal his pale collarbone and shoulders.

"Afternoon," Saeran replied, nodding greeting to Jumin, then V who entered after. Jumin switched his gaze to MC, who was propped up in bed by several pillows. He wore short-sleeved button-up pajamas with snowmen on them, despite the fact that it was only October. His hair was messy like Saeran's, but unlike his best friend, he looked well rested and calm. An IV was injected into his arm, dripping pain meds from a clear bag of liquid beside him on a metal stand, and a clip was secured around his index finger, linking to a heart-rate monitor on his other side. Jumin saw Saeran frequently glancing up at the monitor, watching the white line spike up and then fall in an even pattern.

V placed a hand on Jumin's shoulder, causing a startling shock to shoot down Jumin's spine, and turned to Saeran, "Saeran, why don't you go with Jumin to get some coffee. You look like you need it. Jumin, if Saeran's okay with it, will you call Driver Kim to take Saeran home? I got a call from Saeyoung earlier- he said you didn't come home last night and you skipped class this morning." V looked at Saeran with the kindest, sweetest disapproval. "Please, Saeran. MC will be alright for one night alone, won't you MC?" Jumin melted into the melody of V's voice and nodded to Saeran earnestly. The redhead looked conflicted, but then reluctantly stood up.

"MC, remember to call the nurse if you need anything. And I can be here anytime, if you need me, just call and I'll be here in five minutes. And make sure to keep looking at the pictures." He put the album down on the sheets over MC's fragile body and sighed lightly, then leaned in and pushed MC's hair back from his face before kissing him softly on the forehead. Jumin shivered. His heart thumped in his chest so loudly he could hear it in his head. He knew that if MC was still aware of the disease if he was still draught by the flower petals, he would turn red and lean into Saeran's lips, but the surgery had eliminated that route. Now, it was just a caring teenager kissing his best friend on the forehead. MC would never know anything more than that.