Chapter 15

Han Jisung

I wasn't feeling really well to start everything off. We have a fan meet scheduled today and I hate that I hate going.

My body feels weak and I'm lightheaded ever since I stood out of my bed this morning. I thought maybe because I didn't get enough sleep last night.

But my body tells a different story. My body makes me think that it wasn't because of me lacking sleep. I wasn't even feeling sleepy at all.

I just feel really weak.

"We're going now!"

"Shit." I cursed under my breath. I didn't really feel like going but I need to go. I grabbed my bag and lazily swung it over my shoulder.

We entered the van one by one. I got to enter first so I sat on the back next to the window. Minho hyung entered after me.

I just closed my eyes calming myself. My head felt heavy and my body just goes down. I was really feeling ill.

"Are you alright?" My eyes opened upon hearing Minho hyung's voice.

I hummed in response. I want to say something but I couldn't. I thought about my voice failing me. I closed my eyes again.

My head hurts when I tried to fall asleep. So I stopped trying and simply closed my eyes.

"Jisung. Wake up. We're here."

I felt a soft tug on my sleeve. My eyes fluttered open revealing Minho's face close to me. He then stepped out of the van, waiting for me outside.

I repeatedly wiped my eyes with the back of my hand before grabbing my bag and following him out. We entered the venue side by side.

The members are on the front waiting for us. We all entered the backstage slash dressing room and get ready.

I could feel the members' worried glances at me. They might be wondering why I wasn't energetic today not like every day.

I was worried about myself. I want to be feeling well and serve the fans better. I kept trying to be my usual self but always fall to my weak self a minute later.

We came out of the backstage. The fans are already waiting for us.

"2! 3! Step out! Annyeonghaseyo, Stray Kids imnida!"

We greeted. The fans are already taking pictures of us.

The staff gestured for us to sit down. The fan meet started. Some of the fans are questioning me why weren't me my usual self for today. Why weren't me energetic.

I just smiled at them and tried opening up a new topic. And the fans just smiled at me.

I could confidently say that I now have fans! By the number of gifts that I received today, I can consider. That's why I felt sad not being able to be myself for today.

It's our free time with fans. I was really upset with myself. I just weakly waved at the fans waving at me while smiling.

I tried my hardest to keep my knees still. I could feel myself plopping down at the floor and I'm not going to let that happen.

My mind was preoccupied that I didn't even notice Minho hyung walking to my side. I looked at him when I felt him put something under my chin.

I looked at the ground after a second of looking at his eyes. I felt intimidated by his stare.

"You aren't feeling well, right?" He asked me while using the thing he put under my chin to lift my head up, attempting to make me look at him.

I didn't say anything. I just stared at the ground.

"We're close to finishing this fan meet. Hold on." He whispered. I just nodded at him. I tried to look at him.

His face is serious. Is he mad at me?

I looked back down after staring at his eyes for a couple of seconds.

I couldn't stand his eyes. His eyes are so intimidating when he's staring at me with a serious face.

———

Lee Minho

I kept glancing at Jisung ever since he woke up. He's not energetic, he's not even talking to me which is rare.

After that veranda scene, which happened two days ago, he kept bothering me. It's not that I hate it, in fact, I'm kinda enjoying everything that he does to get my attention.

I mean he's cute in everything he does so it doesn't matter to me if he's bothering me.

"2! 3! This has been Stray Kids! Thank you!"

We waved at the fans before going back to the backstage. I waited for Jisung to go back first. His smile immediately wore off after he entered inside.

He proceeds to plop himself to the small chair next to my things. He rested his head before closing his eyes. Chan walked up to him.

"Jisung. Are you al--" Chan didn't even get the chance to finish his sentence when Jisung weakly pushed him away.

I saw how Chan barely managed to bring his hands up to Jisung's forehead, hissing after he barely touched it.

"Damn, Jisung! You're burning!" I grew concern when Chan exclaimed.

"I'm fine." He tried to swat Chan's hands away. I walked to him. I was really worried.

"No, you're not."

I told the staff what's going on and now we're immediately driving back at the house. I was the first one to react when we got inside.

The others left me with him since I volunteered to treat him. He was deeply staring at me while I was doing things to somehow make him feel better.

"Now, sleep. You need to rest." I said as I stood up. I was about to walk out of their room when I felt a soft tug on my sleeve. The same feeling that I put when I woke him up earlier at the van.

"Please stay. I'm cold." His soft voice slowly brings a smile to my face. I turned around to face him.

I drag a chair beside his bed and sat. I wrapped my hands around his hands to somehow give him warmth.

"Help me sleep." He requested while looking at me with half-opened eyes.

I don't know what will help him sleep so I just sang a lullaby to him. After a minute, his eyes just closed all the way, revealing his cute little snores.

———

Third Person

An hour later, Felix peeked at the cracked open door of their shared room to check Jisung without waking him up.

It turns out that Jisung wasn't the only one sleeping. Minho was sleeping next to him. He smiled after witnessing the soft scene right in front of his eyes.

He just smiled it off and let them be in their own little dreamland with each other.

Felix failed to notice the two hands still entwined within each other. The sick one tightening his grip, as a form of 'thank you'.

The older just responded by squeezing his small hands back.