small words || jeongcheol

16: paper cranes.

"Did you have a good day?" Seungkwan asked as he came back to their shared room.

Jeonghan looked away and blushed. "Yeah," he replied.

Seungkwan raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

***

"I'm really pleased with your progress, Jeonghan," said Seungcheol, sliding his specs onto his nose as he entered the details onto the computer.

"Mm," he said, sitting down on the opposite side of the examination room.

"You okay?" Seungcheol asked, peering at him over his glasses.

"I'm... good," Jeonghan decided.

Seungcheol grinned. "That's good," he said. "Now, time for breakfast."

***

"Is there a particular reason you came to see me?" Jeonghan asked Dr Kim.

Over the past week, Jeonghan's weight had been increasing, as had his partiality towards a certain black-haired nurse. Not that that was relevant, of course, but the narrative only followed Jeonghan's private thoughts-

"Just seeing how you're doing," Dr Kim said with a smile. "You're looking a lot better."

Jeonghan shrugged. "My skin did get less dry after coming here."

Dr Kim nodded. "What are your thoughts on the treatment?"

"It's fine," said Jeonghan. "Good, actually. Better than... um, whatever. Are we done here?"

"Yes, you may go now, Jeonghan," said the doctor. "I'm glad to hear that you've been making friends with the other residents."

Jeonghan scoffed. "Just one," he said, before leaving the room.

"Hey, bitch," Seungkwan sing-songed, slinging an arm around Jeonghan's shoulders.

"Hey, Kwan," Jeonghan replied.

"What did Dr Kim want?" Seungkwan asked, wrinkling his nose.

"Just to see how I'm doing or some shit," he remarked. "Doesn't matter. I'll be out of here soon enough."

"You think so?" the blond questioned.

"Or at least, I'll be on a high enough level to leave this house," he said.

"True," Seungkwan sighed. "I'm still not on Level Three which absolutely sucks."

"Why? What's so special about Level Three?" Jeonghan asked as they reached the living room.

"Phone privileges," he explained. "I'm just want to call Hansol." He huffed out a breath, his face falling.

"Hey," said Jeonghan, patting Seungkwan's shoulder. "You'll get it."

They walked to the vacant sofa and sat down. Soonyoung was coloring at the table, his tongue sticking out with concentration. Wonwoo was absently folding origami, a little pile of brightly colored cranes in front of him. Junhui was out in the garden somewhere, and Sowon and Yuju were in the games room, actually getting along.

"Easy for you to say," Seungkwan scoffed, plopping down on the sofa, "You're such a suck-up, Nurse Seungcheol gives you extra points for smiling."

"He does not," Jeonghan grunted.

"He might as well," Wonwoo grumbled, flicking an origami crane towards him.

Soonyoung looked up and grinned. "Don't be jealous, WonWon," he cooed, "Jeonghan is just nicer than you."

"Shut up, Soonyoung," he snapped.