Trochilidae

Chapter 7: The Truth Unfolds

I run to Beomgyu's room at full speed, maneuvering my way past the people passing by while carrying a stack of books in my arms.

I probably shouldn't be running in the hallway right now, especially since I was inside a hospital, passing by doctors, nurses, and visitors alike, but I need to get to Beomgyu as soon as possible.

I need to get to him as soon as I can since I am currently around twenty-five minutes late; late from the usual time that I arrive here.

Truthfully speaking, there was no schedule that I needed to follow. In fact, as I have said before, visiting Beomgyu is simply a personal choice. However, since I have given myself the responsibility to visit him every day whenever I can, I am obliged to arrive at his room at the usual time I visit him and to be punctual.

Although Beomgyu would say that I didn't need to arrive "on time", especially since I wasn't even compelled to hang out with him every day, I deem it necessary that I have to be in his room around the usual time. Every minute counts, so I best not to waste a single second of it.

As I hastened down the hall, I looked up at the passing labels that were next to the doors, looking for the room number that Beomgyu was in. I muttered each number under my breath, clutching the books in my arms tightly until I had found the room that I was looking for. Wasting not another second, I ran towards the room, knocked on the door before welcoming myself in.

Pushing the door open, my eyes immediately land on my best friend, who was lying down on the hospital bed while staring blankly at the ceiling. Even as I have entered (the creaking of the door was pretty much loud enough for him to hear), he remained unmoving, seeming to be lost in his cloud of thoughts, and from how I see it, it seems as if his gaze was looking rather, empty. 

Truthfully speaking, this was a familiar sight to me. Given his situation, being stuck on a hospital bed with tubes attached to you, and being enclosed around four walls, there was nothing that he can do other than to stare blankly at something (usually the ceiling); it was a sight that would usually make me frown.

However, this time, despite the aching in my heart that was filled with sympathy for him, I'm not going to frown.

Now, it's time for Choi Yeonjun to lighten up the mood and hopefully bring back the spark in his eyes.

And for my best friend, I'm going to do my best and smile.

"Hey, Beomgyu."

The patient faces me on impulse with his head still lying against the pillow. "Oh, hi Yeonjun." He showed a tight-lipped smile, one that looked strangely a lot more plain than usual.

"I'm sorry for being late," I placed down the (quite heavy) stack of books onto the couch, releasing a grunt. "I had to do a last-minute seatwork back in school and sir wouldn't dismiss me until I finished it." I drop myself down onto the couch, placing my hand on top of the stack of books as it bounces a bit from my drop. "The good thing though is that I still have time to spare to hang out with you!"

Upon hearing this, a smile of amusement had traced Beomgyu's lips, looking at me with an eyebrow raised. "What do you mean late?" He meekly laughed, almost breathily. "You didn't even have to come here..."

"Hey, hey." I raised a finger, putting on a serious (not-so-serious) look, "I am late because I am way past the time that I usually come." Beomgyu opens his mouth, but knowing what he's going to say, I immediately cut him off. "And before you argue with me, I'd like to say that I am obliged to come here on time because you are my best friend and you are my number one priority no matter what you say. I am obliged to visit you every day, whenever I can, and you cannot change my mind!"