Circuit Broken- Ateez

14 : Road to Recovery PT 1

"There's seven of us so we each can get a day to stay with Hyung. But who goes on what day?"

"We can do it by age. We can do it by height. GSPEC Scores. Who Seonghwa favorites most."

"Let's do it by age and backwards so Jongho gets Sunday, Wooyoung on Monday, Mingi on Tuesday, San Wednesday, Yeosang Thursday, Yunho Friday and I get Saturday."

"I can't wait to hear Wooyoung get scared shitless." (PS. It's Saturday so the first person we have is Jongho. It just makes it easier to remember who I have and haven't done.)

"Will he even be awake? I don't wanna sit and do nothing while he's off letting his body rebuild itself."

"That's mean."

"I mean I don't wanna sit and do nothing but bring your phone, deck of cards, some food, water, anything else. Just keep an eye on him. Doc said he might wake up violently. Jongho and Yeosang might be able to hold Hongjoong down so he doesn't harm himself but the rest of us will likely need help. That's if Hongjoong wakes up and might injure himself."

"Are you ready jongho? Ready to be a caretaker?"

"If it was a kid I'd say no. But for Hyung, yeah. I think I'm ready."

——
Sunday
6:35

Jongho woke up with a pleasant start. Everyone else was likely asleep or at the very least respecting the others and keeping quiet till the sun was higher in the sky. Jongho took a quick shower and dressed into some comfortable casual clothes. A grey sweatshirt that said Monbebe, underneath he had a black shirt with the words "The Clan Part 2 : Guilty". A pair of blue jeans and some comfortable but worn down sneakers.

The youngest strolled through the halls with many things to entertain himself and Hongjoong, if he ever woke up in Jongho's company. In his pockets Jongho had; his phone, a deck of cards, his ID card, and a 3x5 get well card. In his hands Jongho held; a fruit bowl, a water bottle, and a notebook that he drew in.

He himself would say his drawings are crap. He never really finished some, others were kind of rushed and the ones that were finished, he thought were shit. Seonghwa always said they were great, finished or not. Jongho started to think Seonghwa said that because Seonghwa was basically the supportive parent in the group.

When Jongho opened the door to Hongjoong's room the lights were all off and the curtains were closed. Hongjoong's light breathing filled the quiet room. Jongho set everything on the bedside table and opened the curtains. Hongjoong rolled over to face away the light that bled into the room. Hongjoong groaned and covered his head.

"Morning Hyung. Ready for a day of playing cards?"

"Oh."

"Oh?"

"No. I wanna sleep."

"As expected from a man in your condition. But the doctor said you can't be laying down in the bed unless you want an infection. We have to change your bandages, get you fed and hydrated."

Hongjoong sighed, "Fine." With Jongho's help Hongjoong sat up and let Jongho replace his blood soaked bandages. After the bandages were replaced, Hongjoong remained sitting up and ate some of the fruit bowl. Jongho spent most of the morning on his phone glancing up at Hongjoong every 10 minutes. Yes Hongjoong and Jongho kept track of that.

"Is there something wrong Jongho? You can tell me. I don't mind." Hongjoong said as he looked over at the younger.

"No, no , nothing wrong at all. I just... I don't know, I expected this to be less awkward I guess. Like you're a good person hyung. I just sort of expected to be asked to do more I guess is what I wanna say."