"where the fuck are you!?"

jisung got inside the convenience store after buying a box of macaroons which he had to wake up early for because of how far it is and he wanted to walk instead of waiting for a cab or a bus. ❝i'm out.❞

"you shouldn't be, are you killing yourself?" jaemin groaned loudly on the phone. "you are sick and here you are, going out of the house."

❝i'm fine.❞

"don't say that to me jisung park." jaemin said sternly, jisung's full name being called out just to show that he was serious. "i went to pay a visit last only to be greeted by you sleeping at the kitchen! then i found out you are sick. you need to rest jisung."

❝i am now fine hyung, i promise!❞ jisung tried his best to be enthusiastic for jaemin to believe that he's really fine but then a sneeze just ruined everything.

you could say that jaemin was furious behind that phone call. "i'm standing in front of your house and i want your ass back here this instant."

❝ah hyung.❞ jisung whined as he sniffed once he felt his nose itching. ❝i'm still buying a gift for chenle.❞

"chenle, chenle, chenle, it's always chenle!" jaemin honestly felt happy that jisung is starting making an effort to fix his relationship with chenle but right now, jisung's attitude is upsetting jaemin. "stop thinking about him for a while and try to worry for yourself."

jisung let out a chuckle as he made his way to a specific section to buy his purpose for coming inside this freezing cold convenience store. ❝thank you, really, for worrying about me.❞

"jisung."

❝but hyung i'm really fine.❞ jisung scanned the shelves and frowned, but he tried to keep his tone positive so jaemin won't suspect anything. ❝i would have collapsed in my bed the moment i woke up if i wasn't fine.❞

"park, if you don't get your ass here i'm—"

❝oh look hyung, i'm losing signal! i can't hear you anymore.❞ jisung made some noise that's like a static, getting louder and louder. lucky for him, there weren't that much people inside the convenience store. ❝hyung are you still there? jaemin—❞

and that's how jisung ended the call before he could let jaemin speak again. putting his phone inside his pockets and ignoring the messages jaemin is bombarding him with, jisung went to look at the shelves and just let jaemin be. he's going to get scolded at once jaemin will get his hands on him but for now, he needs to find chenle's favorite strawberry milk.

❝why is it all banana milk?❞ jisung groaned and leaned his head rest on the shelf once he felt a piercing pain on it. ❝my head is hurting.❞

okay, maybe he lied a bit. he's still not getting better even if jaemin took care of him well last night. he is still sick, very sick, but he still forced himself out of his bed and get ready early to surprise chenle with his gift. he wanted to buy a box of macaroons, which he had already done it, and a pack of strawberry milk but seems like they are out of stock.

❝this is my fourth store.❞ jisung complained as he took banana milk from the shelf instead. ❝who on earth would buy all of the strawberry milk in this town?❞

also taking food for his breakfast, since he went out without eating one, jisung made his way to the cashier and place the things down to be scanned. the girl handling behind the counter kept on stealing glances at jisung and couldn't help but bite her lower lip but jisung paid no attention to that.

staring down at the banana milk, jisung let out a sigh. ❝i just hope that chenle will not throw this away.❞

but if the chinese would throw it, jisung will not get mad. after all, he has done it once with chenle. remembering it made, not only jisung's heart ache, but also jisung's head. it hurt so much and is starting to regret pushing himself from doing this but there's no turning back anymore. jaemin is waiting in front of his house and that boy is surely going to strangle him.

jisung just has to be strong and push himself farther. he'll survive, jisung just hopes that he does.

❝hey there handsome, my name is—❞ the cashier blinked as jisung took the plastic bag and immediately walked away without even sparing a glance at her.

jisung felt like passing out, but he kept his eyes open. he started this, he needs to fix what problem he had cause. this is not only for him but also for chenle and their relationship.

their relationship. are they even in a relationship?

🐋

chenle forced his feet inside the campus and yawned very loudly. he didn't know why he woke up earlier than ever but since he didn't have anything to do at home then might as well go to school early and sleep there. that was his plan, sleep until someone wakes up when the class starts.

walking down the silent-filled hallways, chenle now started to get the chills. it was his first time coming to school this early and he now somewhat wanted to change his mind and go back home to sleep. but he's already here, he can't do that.

❝rainbows, butterflies, and angels.❞ chenle reassured himself, staying positive. ❝there are no ghosts, only angels. angels won't hurt you.❞

and in a blink of an eye, he already reached his destination. he smiled, he was too busy calming himself down and reminding himself to even realize that he was walking fast to his respective classroom. suddenly, coming to school early isn't so bad.

having silent surroundings, no students running around, no one to bother him about his video, and no jisung.

no jisung.

that's where he is wrong.

just as chenle was about to open the door, pantings and heavy breathings that now echoed along the once silent hallways caught chenle's attention. turning to the side, chenle's eyes widened and his insides were panicking.

no, he wasn't seeing a ghost. it was something much more than that. someone, perhaps.

❝c-chenle...❞ the person called out with his breathing still not steady.

he looked very ill, chenle almost cared.

he was holding a box of macaroons and a plastic bag on the other hand. chenle didn't know what is the purpose of those he is bringing, where he has been since he was having a hard time breathing, and why he looked like he's about to pass out any second from now. neither did chenle even bother to be curious at those questions.

he came here to rest, not to deal with jisung.

❝chenle!❞ jisung grabbed hold of chenle's arm and stopped him from getting inside the room.

it was their first contact after that night happened and the scenes came flashing inside chenle's head like bolt. jisung noticed how chenle froze when he held his arm thus making jisung let go and take two steps away from him, getting far as possible.

forcing out a smile despite of how his body is hurting and head spinning right now, jisung raised the box of macaroons and the plastic bag that's full of banana milk. ❝i bought you these.❞

chenle only glanced for a second before looking away.

jisung thought that chenle may have lost interest because he saw banana milk. ❝i c-couldn't find strawberry m-milk at any store so i had no choice but t-to buy banana milk.❞

he was having a hard time speaking and that finally caught chenle's attention. he fully turned to face jisung and he could see how red his face is, and not to mention how his chest is going up and down so fast.

he's starting to get worried.

❝and you once told me that macaroons makes your day.❞ jisung celebrated on the inside when he heard himself not stuttering. maybe he can survive the day even with this high fever of his.

or maybe not.

❝i just..❞ jisung shut his eyes tight and opened them when his vision started to get blurry. no, he needs to stay strong. ❝i just hope that you like this..❞ jisung felt himself leaning to the side which is why he quickly moved his foot to balance himself.

this is not good. he's about to pass out.

❝if you don't then i'll buy you something else..❞ jisung continued to speak even though he was in the verge of fainting. ❝name anything, i'll buy it for—❞

just as chenle started to open his mouth to speak, jisung dropped the macaroons and the plastic bag he is holding and his body leaned forward. with chenle standing in front of him, chenle let out a yelp when jisung's body leaned towards him. not having time to think, chenle wrapped an arm around jisung's waist and his other hand went to jisung's shoulder to stop him from falling.

their faces were dangerously close and chenle could see those dark circles under the younger's eyes. removing his hand from jisung's shoulder, he let the younger place his head on his shoulder and also took this chance to feel his temperature.

❝he's sick yet he still went out to buy these.❞ chenle mumbled, holding jisung very tight as he eyes the macaroons, which are thankfully still fine, and the plastic bag down the ground.

stupid.

❝jisung, you're stupid.❞

another figure then appeared by the end of the hallways and chenle shivered seeing that person fuming as the figure walked towards their direction. chenle gulped as he could now clearly see who that person is and he was glad that it's someone familiar and not just some stranger.

running a hand through his hair, the person grumbled after seeing jisung's heavy body being held by chenle. ❝this boy is really stubborn.❞

chenle just let jaemin get jisung's body and nodded when jaemin mumbled a thank you. the chinese then picked up the box of macaroons and the plastic bag down the ground and then turned to face the person with a worried look on.

❝jaemin hyung..❞

jaemin complained as he kept on shuffling and throwing jisung around just to find a perfect position just to carry jisung back home. ❝what is it lele?❞

❝is..❞ chenle couldn't believe himself, he's caring for someone who just ruined him. ❝is jisung going to be alright?❞

❝i'll kill him if he doesn't.❞ jaemin joked as he carried jisung up. ❝don't worry chenle, i'm taking care of him.❞

don't worry chenle. yes, chenle should not worry.

🐋

but the whole day, he was worrying.

he couldn't focus in class, his eyes were on the board but he was trying to imagine how jisung is right now. he was physically there but mentally away. all day, he kept on questioning himself how jisung is doing when he himself has no idea.

he wanted to call jaemin and ask but he didn't want to show that he cared.

coming home from school, chenle held the plastic bag that had untouched banana milks meanwhile he was holding the box of macaroons on the other hand. he didn't dare to eat the macaroons, he didn't feel like it. well, he mayhaps ate one piece, or two. okay, maybe he ate four but he didn't finish it all.

standing in front of the gates, chenle's eyes went to the side and stared at jisung's house. having the urge to just bardge instead and see if jisung is doing well.

shaking at the thought, chenle faced forward. ❝jaemin hyung is there to take care of him.❞

jisung won't need him, that's what chenle had thought.

but why was he walking towards jisung's house instead of going to his? okay, chenle will admit that he is slightly bit worried and just wants to check jisung.

honestly, he is worried as fuck, not just a bit, and just wants to take care of jisung till he gets better.

❝there's no harm in checking up on him, right?❞

⚊ t b c ⚊