Unaware- 2Jae

01

...not a cloud in the sky,

got the sun in my eyes...

Youngjae fluttered his eyes open. He blinked repeatedly, the sound of the radio playing Top of the World by The Carpenters slowly coming to his senses. He looked around him, eyes scanning the same brown cupboards above him and the television across his bed. He sighed heavily before yawning, stretching his arms carefully. 

A few meters from his bed resided a coffee table where a certain young man sat. Youngjae watched as he transferred what looked like fried sunny-side up eggs from a black container to a white Styrofoam plate. 

"H-Hyung.", he called out quietly but loud enough to hear.

The other male turned his head, flashing Youngjae a smile. "You hungry? Just let me slice up an avocado after this and I'll have your breakfast ready."

Youngjae smiled warmly, sighing once again before resting his eyes. The man who sat at the table was none other than Jinyoung, his best friend since the ninth grade. He had been a constant visitor and took care of Youngjae whenever his mom wasn't present. 

"Mom not here?", Youngjae asked, his eyes still closed.

"She's getting more painkillers downstairs.", Jinyoung explained, proceeding to slice the avocado he had mentioned before. He sliced them prettily, laying them over top of the fried egg in a fan-like shape.

"You wanna eat in bed? Or I can drag you to the table.", Jinyoung chuckled which pass along to Youngjae, causing him to open his eyes.

The younger looked down to his left foot which was even more swollen than the night before. He noticed his ankle and calf, now taking on the same form. 

When Youngjae was in the eighth grade, he climbed a snow bank that November had formed. Upon reaching the top, he slipped on an area of ice hidden under the snow causing him to fall down the small hill and break his left ankle. 

The next ten years of his life consisted of sore feet, swollen ankles and constant doctor's appointments. He remembered a particular field trip when he was fifteen -- skiing before the winter break. He had begged his mom to allow him to go and had even saved up enough money to pay for his own admission. 

Unfortunately, due to his condition she refused even when the school volunteered to provide a special guide for him. It was now his nth time staying at the same hospital with the same doctors who continue to provide for him.

"Uhh, I can crawl -- how's that?", Youngjae joked. Jinyoung smiled as he placed the plate on a wooden tray before handing it to the younger.

~

Staring out the window, Youngjae took in the sight of drenched trees and the pitter-patter of the rain drops against the glass. It had been raining all day which interrupted the radio signal. No more Carpenters, he thought to himself.

"Youngjae.", he heard his mom's voice.

"How're you feeling? I just spoke with Doctor Heo and apparently, he's not the one you're meeting for your consultation tomorrow.", she explained as she sat at the foot of his bead.

"Then who is?", he asked with a frown on his face.

"Some new, well new to this hospital, doctor.", she said. "Anyway, I'll make dinner then you can head to sleep. Where's Jinyoung?"

"He left earlier -- his class needed him."

As his mother proceeded to the kitchen table, he laid fully comfortably on his bed. He closed his eyes, once again listening to the sound of the rain and the faint voices in the hallway. 

Before he knew it, he had already fallen asleep at not even eight in the evening.