︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶

Hana POV: 

Whatever he knows now, whatever he has heard now,  it's just the surface. I'm so tired of this endless cycle. I just want it to be over. I want to get better, to feel normal again, but it feels so hard. It's so fucking hard. Every day is a struggle, and even when I try, it never seems enough. The weight of it all is overwhelming. I want to be strong, to fight through this, but sometimes it feels like I'm running on empty. But I need to hold on to the hope that things will change.

When the doctor leaves, the small smile that had managed to touch my lips fades away instantly. Minho settles back into the chair, exhaling heavily as he does. The silence that follows feels heavy, like it's pressing down on us both. Minho looks as worn out as I feel, his shoulders hunched and his eyes tired.

I glance at Minho, trying to push away the heaviness that's settled in my chest. My voice comes out softly but with a hint of desperation. "Do Seungmin and Jeongin know I'm here?"

Minho looks at me with a mixture of sadness and reassurance.
"They don't know yet. I thought it would be best to wait until we had more information. I didn't want to worry them unnecessarily."

"Good. I wasn't planning on telling them. They'll worry."

"About that, they're at our house because I didn't what else to do since they both wanted to come with me, here. So you're gonna have to face them either way."

I take a deep breath, feeling a mix of gratitude and anxiety.
"Thank you for looking out for them. And for being here."

"Hana, I don't understand why this whole thing happened in the first place but whatever the fuck has been happening past few weeks, it stops now."

"I know, want it to be over too," I confess, my voice faltering. "I want things to be different."

"But Minho," I continue, trying to steady my voice, "it's not easy. It's never been easy. And sometimes, it feels like no matter how hard I try, I'm just stuck."

"You've got more strength than you realize," he says, his voice filled with conviction.
"And you don't have to carry it all on your own. Let us help. Let us be there for you."

I don't reply. I just stare at him, feeling the enormity of his words sink in.

"Do you want a hug? You look like you do."

I chuckle, a small laugh escaping despite the heaviness.
 "Really? Lee Minho offering a hug? I must be honored."

He gives a wry smile, but there's warmth in his eyes.
"Don't get used to it. It's a rare sight."

The simple offer hits me harder than I expected. My throat tightens, and I find it hard to speak, but I nod slowly. He holds out his arms he gets up from his chair, moving towards me. The embrace is gentle but sincere, and I let myself sink into the comfort of his arms. It's a small gesture, but right now, it feels like a lifeline. Maybe its not so bad to ask for help.

"Thanks," I murmur into his shoulder, feeling a bit of the weight lift.

"You're so strong. The strongest person I've seen. I can't believe how you went through everything without letting anyone know." 

"I didn't really have a choice," I admit quietly.

"What was that?"
Minho pulls back slightly, still holding me close, and looks into my eyes with a confused gaze.

Just as he does, the nurse comes in.
"You're ready to go- just need to hook you off from this."
She says with a smile.

"You know where to get the medication right? Don't forget to collect them."
She says as she rubs a cotton dipped in rubbing alcohol to peel the sticker off of my hand and Minho moves away.

"Yes, I know. I'll make sure to pick them up," I say, trying to steady my voice.

The nurse finishes her task and gives me a friendly nod. "All set. Whenever you're ready, you can head out and Mr.Lee, you have to sign the discharge forms. "

"I'll go sign the form,"
Minho says, giving me a reassuring nod. "You get ready while I take care of that."

I nod in agreement, watching as Minho heads towards the nurses' station. I take a moment to gather my things, preparing to leave. I open my bag, checking to make sure I haven't forgotten anything. Everything seems to be in place—just my phone, which is resting beside my bed.

I reach for it and tap the screen, which lights up immediately. The first thing I notice is a series of missed calls.

45 Missed calls from Jeong🍞
26 Missed calls from Seung🐶
15 Missed calls from My lovely(eww) roommate🏠

I sigh as I text the group chat

USELESS HOES
baby🍞, puppy🐶 and medic👩🏻‍⚕️

Medic👩🏻‍⚕️:

Just saw your calls

I'm fine

We're coming home

Delivered: 9:10pm

Without waiting for a response I stuff the phone back into my bag and move toward the hallway I'm familiar with, the one that leads to the pharmacy. I stand there, scanning the area for Minho. When I spot him, looking a bit lost as he searches for me, I wave to catch his attention. A smile tugs at his lips as he finally sees me and starts walking over with a prescription and a release form. As he joins me, we head to the pharmacy. The line looks long, but it's moving quickly.

"Just sit here, I'll get it"
He says hurrying to get in the line.

"Minho wait"
I call to the best of my ability

He walks back and I hand him my insurance card,
"You thought I'd let you pay? Go, I'm waiting here."
I say with a small smile.

I watched Minho as he got back in line, fidgeting with the prescription and release form, shifting his weight from one side to the other as he waited. I couldn't help but shake my head at his behavior. It was different from how Jeongin or Seungmin might have reacted—well, maybe not different, but certainly less frantic. Unlike them, Minho remained calm and composed, and I found it quite comforting, because it kept me calm as well.

Every time he was around, he made me smile. He pushed when needed but always respected my boundaries, never crossing them. Even when faced with something that might induce panic in others, he acted as though it was just another day. His normalcy helped me feel grounded, especially during moments when I struggled to feel that way myself.

Before I realized he was approaching, he appeared with a broad smile on his face.

"I got it, I got the meds," he said cheerfully. "Let's go now."

We walk outside and since it's already September, it's colder at nights.
My face flushes at the cold.

"Can we sit outside before we get in the car? I'd like to clear my head."

"You don't have to ask. Yes, Of course, we can. Where do you want to go?"

"There's a garden at the incline behind this building, that's where they let the patients stroll. I'd like to go there." 

"Lead the way."
He said, the smile never leaving his face.

I nod and begin walking toward the garden, but Minho stops me after a few steps.
"Wait," he says, gently taking my bag from my shoulder and the other bag from my hand.
"You mentioned wanting to clear your head. Carrying all this must be tough right now."

"I can—"

"It's not up for discussion. Let's go," he interrupts firmly but kindly.
 He then gestures toward the garden, ready to follow me.

I nod and start walking again, Minho following closely behind. The cool night air feels refreshing against my skin. As we reach the garden, the soft glow of path lights illuminates the way.
The garden is a serene space with neatly tended flower beds, winding paths, and a few benches scattered around. 

I find a bench near a quiet corner of the garden and sit down, letting out a sigh of relief. Minho sits beside me, maintaining a respectful distance but close enough to offer comfort.

We sit in comfortable silence, enjoying the stillness and the gentle sounds of nature. For a brief while, the worries and struggles seem a little more distant, and I feel a sense of peace that's been hard to come by recently.

Minho POV:

"You seem to like this place, You come here often?"
I looked at her as I asked, but she was staring at the scene in front of her.

 "It's peaceful here. It's high up and the view is worth it." She says, looking around at the tranquil surroundings.

"It really is," I agreed, taking in the calm ambiance. 

"I feel much better,"  She says, turning to me with a genuine smile.

I return the smile, "I'm glad you're feeling a bit better."

She turns her head, and her eyes catch the moonlight, shimmering with a gentle glow. Her face, though still pale, appears more serene than when I first saw her in the evening. She truly looks better now. I gaze at her longer than I should have, because now I'm the one with a heart beating faster than it should. Yet, strangely, the rapid beating feels oddly reassuring rather than unsettling.

A cold breeze sweeps by, and she shudders. Without hesitation, I remove my jacket and drape it around her shoulders.

"No, don't," she protests, trying to push my jacket away.
"You'll catch a cold."

"Look, you're already sick and weak," I reply,
"so maybe it's you we should be worried about catching a chill if we stay out here."

She sighs, conceding,
"Alright, let's go home then. I'm not making you sit out in the cold."

I give her a look that makes it clear I'm not moving

"I swear, I feel better. Besides, those two are home waiting for us."

That made more sense. So i got up, holding her bags again.

After a short, brisk walk, we reach my car. I place her bags on the back seat while she hurries around to the passenger side, eager to escape the increasing cold.

I sat in the car, as we both wore our seatbelts.

"At this point I'm not even surprised just disappointed."
I said breaking the silence, catching Hana's attention who was staring outside.

"I was holding up just fine, but working the entire day at the hospital must've been my breaking point."

I hummed skeptically, my gaze flicking over to her momentarily before returning to the road.

"Sure, that's probably the reason. It definitely has nothing  to do with you being emotionally and physically exhausted."
I said sarcastically

"Do you like it when you're told you're right?"
She said groaning and rolling her eyes.

Yes, but I'm right, aren't I?

"Suureeee"
She dragged it out.

The drive home was comfortably silent, since she closed her eyes for the entire ride. Once we reached I called out and said

"Get up, we're here."

I watched as she stepped out of the car and stretched and walking with tired movements.

"You're still exhausted?

"Yeah just a little, but once i get some food, meds and rest, ill be okay."

---------------------------

As Hana and I approached the front door of the house, the comforting warmth from inside seemed to invite us in. 

We stepped inside, placed her bags neatly in the hallway. I glanced around, taking in the soft, welcoming glow of the living room lights. Seungmin and Jeongin were already there, looking anxious but also hopeful, their faces lighting up when they saw Hana

Jeongin rushed over, wrapping Hana in a gentle hug.
 "I'm so glad you're back," he said, his voice thick with relief.

Seungmin joined in, his concern evident in the way he carefully held Hana's hand.
"Why do you have a bandage over your hand? No, wait what happened?"

Hana glanced at the bandage on her hand and then back at Seungmin.
 "Oh, this bandage? It's from an IV drip. I had to get some fluids and medication at the hospital."

She hesitated to continue, but I knew she'd tell them anyway.

"I-uhh.... kind off"

Jeongin's eyes widened with concern.
"Is everything okay now?

"Yeah, it is. I fainted... during my shift. That's all."

They both hugged her again, and Seungmin said,

"I told you to take care of yourself."

Hana hugged them back, her heart warmed by their concern.
 "I know, and I'm sorry."

Seungmin gently pulled back, his expression softening but still filled with concern.
"No don't apologize, it's just that we care a lot about you. We don't want anything bad to happen."

Jeongin nodded in agreement, his eyes reflecting the same worry.
"Yeah, we were really scared. Just promise us you'll take it easy and get some rest."

"Yeah, i will. Thank god it's a weekend."

"Hey, I get that you guys are emotional right now, but don't forget about me,"
I said, trying to lighten the mood.

They all pull me in a hug with them, Seungmin nodded at me with an expression that probably said "Thank you" and I nodded back.

In the warmth of the hug, the tension began to melt away. Hana looked around at us, gratitude and relief evident on her face

"Okay," I said, giving them all a playful squeeze.
"Now, let's just make sure you get some rest, Hana and keep you away from work."

"Since we know you're... somewhat okay now, we should head home," Jeongin proposed.
"You really need to rest."

"Yeah, It's been a long day." Seungmin added 
"Especially for you and Minho."

"I'll be fine. You all look exhausted. Go home and get some rest."
 She said, giving him a reassuring smile.

I pat Seungmin and Jeongin's back and say,
"I know, I'll make sure she doesn't work and take care of her, I know that."

As the door closes behind Seungmin and Jeongin, I take a moment to watch Hana, who looks a bit more at ease now. Her shoulders have relaxed, and her smile, though faint, seems more genuine.

"There's food that I cooked this afternoon, I'll reheat that, just sit down and relax okay?"
I said once she looked towards me.

She nods appreciatively, settling into the couch with a sigh of relief.

I feed my cats and move to the kitchen.

Few minutes go by and I'm standing by the stove waiting for the stew to come to a boil, when Hana walks in.

"Why? Do you need something?"

"No, I don't. Just wanted to keep you company,"
 she replies, her voice soft.

"I know there's more to it. You can tell me if you want," I say, glancing over with a reassuring smile. "I'm here to listen."

"I'm just a little restless, that's all. It's been a long day. I'm sorry I made you worried and come all the way to the hospital."

"Don't apologize for that," I reply, setting two plates of food on the table.
Come, eat.

She shuffles over and sits down beside me, reaching out to take the chopsticks from my hand.

She seems to want to eat. She didn't look like she was forcing herself.

"Good to see your appetite's back," I say, my relief evident.

"It's all thanks to the IV. I've been starving ever since," she admits with a small smile.

"Sure you weren't hungry before you were avoiding food?"

"I was, but it wasn't that bad."

"Not that bad?" I counter, raising an eyebrow.
 Is that why you actually fainted from it?"
I questioned sarcastically.

"Yeah, but that was the only bad part. I preferred to not eat so it wasn't all that bad."

"You sound insane when you downplay your problems like that. So don't do it."

"Honestly though I'm-"

I cut her off by popping a slice of carrot into her mouth. She just smiles and keeps eating, finishing everything on her plate and occasionally sampling a few of the side dishes.

Once we're finished, she helps me clear the dishes and stands by my side while I wash them. I tell her to get ready for bed and promise to bring her medicine once I'm done.

She nods and heads to the bedroom. I focus on scrubbing the last of the dishes, determined to finish quickly. Once the sink is clean and the dishes are put away, I realize I should wash up too, knowing Hana is probably already in the middle of her own routine. I head to my room, change into my pajamas, wash my face, and brush my teeth—basically, my bedtime ritual.
After drying my hands, I go to the living room and gather her things along with the medicine. I knock gently on her bedroom door, wait for her response, and enter when I hear her invitation.

"Are you ready for bed?"
 I ask as she wipes her face dry.

"Yeah, I'm ready," 
she replies.

I glance around, unsure where to put her bags, but she takes them from me with a smile.
"I'll put these away."

While she organizes her things, I check the prescription and select the pills she needed to take right now. I pull up a chair next to her bed and hand her the three pills and a glass of water once she's settled in.

As she settles down into her bed, I gently adjust the covers around her, tucking them in snugly. I smooth every stray strand of hair away from her face and give her a warm, reassuring smile.

"Everything okay?" I ask softly.

"Yeah, much better."
She smiled back, her eyes droopy.

"Hana"

"Hmm?"

"I might be overthinking this, but can you tell me why you asked me to drive you today?"

"Because... I knew I was sick and I've been dizzy this whole week. I didn't want to drive like that."

"So you've been taking the bus all week?"

"Yes."

"Would it really have killed you to ask me for a ride? You know I would have helped."

"I knew you were busy, Minho. It was your first week back."

"Okay it would have made me hardly 10 minutes late to training or I could've reached home 5 minutes late, It doesn't make a huge difference, because at least you'd be healthy."

She looks at me, then closes her eyes.

"I'm not mad, just worried. I'll stay until you fall asleep, so don't mind me. Just close your eyes."

She nods, beginning to relax. I gently pat her head, providing a comforting presence as she drifts off. My heart twists, weirdly. She's just sick, but it hurts so much to see her like this.

︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶

a/n: hi my lovessssssssss what's up

for my other loves who're back to school, how's that going?

take it easy. eat well. drink water. touch some grass (lol).