no regrets 。taekai 。

xxix

"you'll be okay! i'm sorry i can't be there with you, tae." taemin nodded even though jongin couldn't see him.

jongin had called taemin a few minutes before his surgery to wish him good luck.

"it's fine." taemin smiled, his hoarse voice making him cringe a bit.

"i'm sorry, i didn't know we had a concert in busan this weekend, i promise i'll go back to seoul as soon as possible." jongin's voice was hurried and taemin could hear very loud noises from the phone.

"you have to go right?" taemin asked as he could faintly hear jongin's manager scolding him in the background.

"i'm sorry." taemin could imagine a pout on jongin's face right now, "i'll call you later, i love you!"

"i..." taemin blushed a little and minho who was watching him from across the room gave taemin a mocking smile when he saw the red on the younger's cheeks, "i love you too."

taemin hung up fast just in time for minho to let out a big hearty chuckle.

"i never though i'd see you blushing, that was gold." minho laughed some more, "you looked like a teenager talkinh to their crush."

minho made kissy noises and before taemin could curse at him kibum entered the room with a cup of water on his hand.

"why is he laughing?" he asked, handing taemin the cup of water.

"he's being stupid." taemin furrowed his brows and took a big sip of his water.

"stop laughing at him." kibum slapped minho's arm making the other groan.

"mr.lee? we're going to start the anesthesia okay?" a nurse came in and said.

taemin could only nod and gulp.

。。。

"wasn't that bad right?" jinki asked from the front seat while taemin struggled to stay awake.

"i don't think he can talk, jinki." kibum caressed taemin's head that was leaning on his shoulder.

taemin felt something on his back pocket vibrate, assuming it was his phone he tapped kibum's thigh.

"what." kibum asked.

taemin tried his best to mimic a phone but he could barely lift his arms, he was so tired.

"phone? you want my phone?" taemin shooks his head and moved a little so his back was toward kibum, his head now resting on minho's shoulder, "ah!!your phone."

kibum picked up the phone and unlocked it, calling back the person who had called taemin.

"jongin! how are you! i haven't seen in you in a while." kibum smiled at taemin and taemin just closed his eyes.

"hm, he's fine for now, the surgery went well."

"he won't be able to talk for a while, the doctor said he..."

kibum stopped talking and that made taemin stir.

"i'll tell you later. do you wanna speak to him?" kibum made a noise of agreement and gently placed the phone on taemin's ear.

"hey, tae." jongin cooed.

taemin internally smiled.

"i'm glad you're okay. i'll be there in three days, i managed to get an earlier flight. take care of yourself, if you want something ask kibum or any of the others. ah! don't turn on the ac when you go to sleep, you'll catch a cold." jongin spoke really fast.

"also i read that you can eat ice cream after surgery, so make use of that if you want." taemin smiled and nodded even though jongin couldn't see him.

"i have to go now, but text me after you've rested well, okay? i love you." taemin had a huge smile on his face, well as huge as the anesthesia would let it be, as jongin hung up.

"glad to see you happy, taem." kibum smiled and patted taemin's head as he retrieved the boy's phone.

"we're all glad. do you want some ice cream or do you want to go home?" jinki asked while looking at the rear-view mirror.

taemin smiled and managed to hold up a thumbs up sign to the driver.

"i think he means yes to ice cream." minho translated.

taemin nodded.

"ice cream it is."