Purple Rain

2

Two weeks later...

"Junhoe-ya. Junhoe?" Yunhyeong shook him by the shoulders when it was his turn to go into the studio. Hanbin glared at him, but he was simply too tired to be mindful of Tiger-Bin today. He sauntered into the studio like a drunkard.

"Let's take it from the top." Hanbin called into the intercom.

"Hyung~is he okay? Have you both been drinking a lot recently?" Yunhyeong whispered in concern, nudging Jinhwan, who was sitting on the couch beside him, going through his own lines, which had been highlighted on the paper he was clutching. Yunhyeong was worried, because he barely saw Junhoe as well. He went on a crying jag about two weeks ago and then after that he simply suddenly claimed to be tired or sleepy whenever Jinhwan asked him to drink together.

"Aniya. He has been going to bed early, as a matter of fact. Said he felt a cold coming." Jinhwan piped in, wiping the sheen of sweat already pooling across his forehead despite the fact that the whole place was air-conditioned and he was just in a shirt and loose pants ensemble. He went back to the paper and Yunhyeong gazed around the room to see if anyone else was noticing how tired Junhoe really seemed to be today, but everyone seem to be caught in their own worries today. Hanbin had suddenly stood up now and Yunhyeong's brows furrowed, suddenly alert at the sight of his leader, back straightened, gaze fixed at the panel of the studio. There was the faint sound of Junhoe coughing, which was weird, because Junhoe was normally loud even when he was doing something as mundane as sneezing or coughing.

"Are you alright, Junhoe-ya?!" There was no denying the concern in Hanbin's voice and now everyone's attention was piqued. Hanbin had walked towards the studio and Yunhyeong was close behind him when Hanbin stood frozen at the entrance quite suddenly. Yunhyeong almost walked into his back, peeked over Hanbin's shoulder, eyes widened at the sight before him. "Yun-hyung, get everyone to wait outside please, and tell Jaeho-hyung to call a doctor. " For all of five seconds, Yunhyeong was unable to even muster a word. He stood behind Hanbin, trying to fathom the sight before him, but no matter how he looked at it, it seemed quite impossible. "Hyung, please, before the rest sees this." Hanbin reiterated and Yunhyeong hearing the others footsteps, tore his gaze away, just in time to hold Jinhwan from advancing any further. There was a quizzical look plastered across Jinhwan's face.

"Ya~Kim Hanbin? What's going on? What's happened to Junhoe? Is he sick?" Yunhyeong could hear Jiwon coming forward from behind Jinhwan.

"Junhoe is not well. " Yunhyeong managed to choke out the words, but it seem everyone could hear his voice wavering slightly at the mention of the words 'not well'. Everyone who has worked with Junhoe knew that no matter how unwell he was, he would always give his best. It was ingrained in him to be continually dedicated to his craft. Even as he mouthed those words, something light and airy flitted past Yunhyeong's shoulder. Jinhwan must have seen it, because his eyes had gone rounder, surprised by the sight of whatever it is. Yunhyeong followed Jinhwan's gaze above his shoulder and realised that whatever Hanbin needed to keep from them was completely futile now. In the background, Yunhyeong could hear Junhoe still coughing and Hanbin cursing under his breath.

Petals now floated past Yunhyeong in Jinhwan's direction. A spray of striking violet with a tinge of white in the middle; almost like a flurry of purple snow, light enough to be blown into the atmosphere from the air conditioner blasting in the studio. Hanbin had disappeared into the studio, propping Junhoe up. He was weak, probably running a fever from the way he was shivering and more petals were pouring from his mouth.

"Hyung, help me..." Junhoe croaked, voice muffled by another torrent of petals.

"Yunhyeong, doctor!" Hanbin screamed in panic, half carrying Junhoe out of the studio. Jinhwan stood aside, dumbfounded by the petals now trailing across the air to carpet the floor. As it was, Jaeho-hyung had called for the ambulance, which came about five minutes later, to take Junhoe away. Yunhyeong and Hanbin rode in the ambulance with him. The rest stood there in the studio, their feet buried, an inch deep, in a purple-blue pile of petals, utterly puzzled and concerned.