What Can I Do

Chapter 26 ~Now is enough.

Wonpil's mind had been racing ever since he left the classroom.

How much had Dowoon heard of their conversation? What could he be thinking right now?

He didn't know why, but he couldn't let Dowoon think that he would wait for Sungjin. Dowoon believed he still loved Sungjin, and for some reason, Wonpil had to let him know that that wasn't true. At the moment, he just wanted to find him and explain that nothing was going to happen between him and Sungjin.

His thoughts raced. Did he still love Sungjin? Wonpil felt that he always would somehow. They had been friends long before Wonpil had developed feelings, and there would always be the ache of a first love. 

But he was tired of waiting for someone who had left him. Was tired of always staring at someone, wishing they would turn around to look at him. He was tired of waiting in the rain, when there was someone else who was carrying an umbrella.

He ran through the streets, trying to spot Dowoon. He called out his name, hoping the other would hear, but there was no sign of him. Wonpil hoped the other boy had just returned to Wonpil's house and sprinted in that direction.

He hurried inside, yelling Dowoon's name as he ran through all the rooms. He was not there. Wonpil wracked his brain for any other places he might be and immediately thought to the roof. But he had heard Dowoon leave out the front doors of the school, and the door to the roof was still inside the school.

He was beginning to worry, and wracked his brain for anywhere else he might be. He could very well be anywhere.

Then he thought to Dowoon's old house, the one he had been running from. Maybe he had gone back there. It was a slight possibility, but the only other place Wonpil could think of. Wonpil didn't know for sure the situation between Dowoon and his family, but it seemed bad enough that Dowoon had run away. It was desperate but possible that Dowoon had headed there.

Wonpil ran out of his house again and onto the next street, having seen Dowoon take this path many times during his walk home. Wonpil had never paid much attention to him before, though, and cursed himself because he didn't actually know which exact house was his.

Suddenly, he heard a loud noise come from inside one of the houses to his left. Wonpil did not think, and printed towards it. The door was left open and unlocked, Wonpil not hesitating to open it. 

Just as he did, he saw a figure falling backwards from the top of the stairs. Wonpil yelled, recognizing the dark hair which could only belong to Dowoon. Wonpil's heart stuttered in his chest as he heard a sickening crunch of Dowoon's head hitting one of the steps.

Dowoon crumpled into a heap at the bottom of the stairs, Wonpil breaking out of his shock and rushing towards him in seconds.

"Dowoon!" Wonpil cried, seeing the other boys eyes fluttering, unfocused.

Wonpil quickly gathered him in his arms, gently cradling his head in his lap, feeling sick at the sight of blood beginning to ooze out of the right side of his head. His cheek was bright red and swollen, a nasty bruise already beginning to form around his eye. Wonpil's heart was ready to climb out of his lungs, anxiety swelling at the severe sight before him.

Dowoon's father stood at the top of the stairs, still staggering staring pale faced at the scene at the bottom of the stairs. 

Wonpil barely noticed him as he quickly pulled out his phone to call 119, tears constantly streaming down his face. He repeated reassuring nothings to Dowoon as he prayed for an ambulance to arrive quickly. 

"Shh, you're okay, you're okay." Wonpil whispered, repeating the words he had said not too long ago, and hoping that they were true.

~~