dare [h. renjun]

-chapter thirty eight-

"are you sure it's only cigarettes you're smoking?"

-

my eyes opened with my head still feeling heavy. this caused me to let out a small groan while caressing my forehead. i scanned around for realization to hit me that i was laying on a bed in a room surrounded by white walls. the room looked bright and comforting, making my mind flee away from any wariness.

for a brief moment, the memory of what happened to me earlier came flashing through my mind like quick lightning to give me glimpses. most of it being distorted, and only remembering my vision spinning around before falling into complete darkness.

i took another quick scan to realize i was in the school's clinic. however, i'm not in the typical clinic where we go to when we are having a slight inconvenience. the "clinic" was huge, and has three beds meters away from each other.

i froze in my position when i felt a grip in my left hand. my eyes traveled down, then trailing it to the figure in the corner of my eyes. chin pressed down on his hand on the bed, and the other holding mine. the anthracite eyes was fixed on mine keenly. its comforting and tranquil gaze plunged me into serenity, easing my consciousness. the unwavering and warm pair of eyes smiled, leaving me tongue-tied.

"what happened?" i asked, trying to sit up with my back leaning on the backrest.

"you passed out." not a twitch of changed expression move his face.

"i... know," i chuckled, lowering my head down. "what happened after that?"

"sungwon brought you here."

"where is he?" i shifted on my position to scan my eyes around the huge room again.

"his teammates let him go back to the camping grounds."

i merely gave a nod, composing my shoulders down. for another time again, i couldn't seem to look into his eyes for a long time without stumbling my words. with his hand clasping mine, i wanted to escape from it. i used to have this thought back then too, yet my eagerness to get out from it has a different feeling now than before.

"by the way, it's already two days."

my eyes widening out of astonishment, i exclaimed, "i've been sleeping for two days?!"

pure laughter that seemed to seep out from his heart escaped his lips with his eyes squinting, and smiling. "the camping's already two days."

i halted with my lips slightly agape while staring at him sharply; renjun still laughing his lungs out.

is he making fun of me?

"really funny," i rolled my eyes before letting out a puff. "why are you still here? didn't you tell me you need to go to your father's company?"

he halted from laughing, his eyes went calm, and his shoulders still. he pressed his elbow down on the bed while placing his chin on his palm. he gave off a serene smile as his eyes went balmy.

"didn't we promise that we'll be by each other's side when in need?"

for some reason, and an obvious one, my heart warmed up; my mind almost falling into bliss. why was it so nice and comforting to hear those words from him? however, that temporary warmth of feeling, and calming thought vanished in a snap when realization struck me again.

he can't do that forever...

he can't be in my side when in need forever...

"still... it's your father. you need to go."