^^ MINHO ^^

"Ma'am Lee!"

I quickly went to her, pulling her body up before she could collapse on the ground. She leaned on the table beside me, panting hard while whining with pain. I supported her back with my trembling hand, not knowing what to do. I was panicking.

"Oh my gosh, I thought she would faint!"

"Lee Shanshannn. You said that it's just stress but what I see is something worse than that!" I said, biting my lip to stop myself from scolding her. I knew I shouldn't lecture her right now. It would just make her condition worse.

"I'm okay now," she finally spoke, picking her bag after regaining her composure. "You don't have to worry. I am fine."

I looked at her, her firm stare hiding all the pain and exhaustion she felt. She's pretending to be strong and okay. My heart ached because of it. She's trying hard not to make everyone around her worry.

"I'll call everyone in the bar. You are not going. You need to rest," I demanded, pulling her arm.

"But..."

I ignored her, still pulling her while we walked outside.

"Everyone is expecting me to come!" She exclaimed.

I led her to the car without speaking before going to my seat and starting the engine.

"I'm fine now, Min Ho! It was just a headache. I can manage it throughout the party!" She argued, looking at me.

"I don't want you to be tiring yourself out! Rest if you need to rest! Don't make yourself get worse! I don't know what is happening to you but at least listen to me once!" I sighed, holding back all the words I wanted to say to her. I tried to gain composure before talking. "You should go home. Your best friend came to see you a while ago but decided to wait for you at your apartment after waiting for a long time."

"Oh, JK?" she mumbled, gripping on her dress. "Since when did he come here?"

I felt relieved, sensing that I persuaded her to go home after hearing about his best friend.

^^. . . ^^

"I can go alone from here. Thank you, Min Ho," she said in a calm voice.

I closed the door behind her as I helped her step out of the car.

"I'll... leave after making sure that you arrived at your door safely," I said before going back inside the car.

I watched her slowly walk towards her apartment while holding on to her dress. Before she opened the door, she gave me a small smile and disappeared.

I turned my head forward, not minding starting the car.

"Lee Shanshan."

I had a lot of whys. Why does it have to be me? Why does it have to be me always seeing her suffer like this? Why is she keeping her sickness a secret? It gives me anxiety every time I wonder about what she's hiding. Sometimes I ask myself, "Is she dying?" And I could feel my heart shattering from the thought of it. I wanted so much to ask the truth, but I felt afraid. I felt like I couldn't take it if Shanshan would tell me the secret she was keeping from everyone.

I took my phone out and pressed Lily's contact. I waited for like a minute before she answered the video call.

"Why~," she asked in a grumpy voice, complaining because I woke her up from sleep. "Why are you calling at this hour?"

She opened her eyes wide in surprise. "Are you crying? What's wrong??"

I began to sniffle, turning into a sob as uncontrollable tears started to flow from my face. The worry I felt towards Shanshan made me want to hug Lily and tell her everything. "N-nothing. I just miss you, noona. I just miss you."

"Please go home quick. I can't bear this alone." 💔

^^ JUNGKOOK ^^

"JK!" I heard her call from the living room. "Why is it so dark in here?"

Before she could switch on the lights, I came out from the kitchen, holding the small cake while singing Just One Day.

"Haruman neowa naega hamkkehal su itdamyeon, 🎶🎵

(Just one day, if I can be with you)

Haruman neowa naega sunjabeul su itdamyeon,

(Just one day if I could hold your hands)

Haruman neowa naega hamkkehal su itdamyeon,

(Just one day, if I can be with you)

Haruman neowa naega hamkkehal su itdamyeon,🎶

(Just one day, if I can be with you)."

I chuckled. I knew it was awkward. Shashan stood in front of me, the light from the birthday candle glowing between us. 🎂

"I- I didn't prepare anything special for your birthday, but I just want to spend a day with you," I said, jokingly flirting with her. "Lee Shanshan, happy birthday," I smiled.

I saw her quietly smile before blowing the candle. Just then, the living room lit up as I pressed on the remote, switching on the lights.

I nearly flinched, looking at the woman in front of me. "Who... Shanshan?!"

She looked at me, large cute eyes wondering what was wrong.

"O my gosh Lee Shanshan!" Why would she wear a red dress and make-up while going to work?! She even changed her hairstyle! The cake nearly slipped off my hands while I looked at her from her hair to her heels. "I've never seen her like this before. She looks... so elegant and beautiful!"

She looked back with a shy smile, knowing what I was thinking.

"A-ow. Will she call me a pervert again?"

Instead, she opened her arms slowly as tears began to well up her eyes. Her expression seemed calm, but the tears... those tears, I hated seeing them.

"What's wrong?" I set aside my thoughts and immediately set the cake on the coffee table before pulling her into an embrace, her arms quickly wrapping around me tightly. "Hey, you okay?"

"I'm... just happy that you're here," she whispered meekly. "Thank you."

I rubbed her back with my hand, realizing that she was wearing a backless dress. "Why do you wear something too revealing when you are feeling so cold?" I asked gently, feeling her cold skin as I pulled her closer to give her warmth.

"This feeling... we hugged before, but this time it feels odd. Why is my heart beating so loud and fast? I haven't been like this each time we hug. But... why do I feel hot and uneasy. However, I like it. I want to stay like this with her for a while."

Shanshan suddenly gave in her whole weight, making me hold her body as she dropped her head on my neck.

"Stop it, Shanshan. You're too heavy," I chuckled as we swayed from nearly losing balance. "Shanshan?" I glanced at her unconscious face before his body pulled us on the ground, with me kneeling and supporting her back. "Lee Shanshan!!"

I picked her in my arms as I tapped her face. "Shanshan! What's wrong?" I shook her, but her lifeless form kept still. I took her hand. Her fingers were cold and pale. Panic took over me as I reached over my phone. My fingers trembled as I searched for my driver's contact number.

I was about to press 'call' when a cold hand held my wrist.

"Shanshan, you're awake!" I blurted in relief as I looked at her, her eyes half-open.

She shook her head. "Don't... take me anywhere. I just want to go to bed." She said before closing her eyes again.

"A-are you okay now? What happened?" I asked.

Without receiving any response from her, worry and anxiety came to me again. "Lee Shanshan... you there?" My voice trembled as I held her pale cheek.

"Hm." She hummed.

"Oh," a relieved sigh escaped my lips. I held my best friend close to me as I stood up and carried her to her room.

I laid her on the bed, immediately putting the blanket over her to make her warm. I touched her skin and hands. She's so cold. "What should I do? What should I do?"

"Shanshan, are you sure you're okay? W-we can take you to the hospital..." I whispered, not wanting to show her that I was feeling nervous and afraid.

She shook her head again slowly. "Paparazzi..."

I gulped. "I don't care about that. What's important is that we have you get checked."

"I'm okay now... just need sleep." She mumbled while closing her eyes.

I held her hands, rubbing my palms against hers to make them warm while watching her sleep.

Minutes later, she fell into a deep slumber, her face starting to relax and make little snores. I also began to release the pressure I felt, noticing that her hands became warm.

I leaned in to check her cheeks with the back of my hand. "Thank god. She's warm now."

I gave her a kiss on the forehead, tenderly brushing off the hair on her face. Just then, I paused when my eyes fell on her lips, the lipstick coloring them in perfect red. I just froze in my spot, not taking my eyes away from her face.

I swallowed hard as I felt myself grow hot. "Jungkook... what in the world are you thinking?!"

^^. . ^^

^^ Ghaad I reread the previous chapter and there were lots of errors! It happens a lot each time I feel sleepy. T___T ^^

^^ Today is my little sister's birthday! 🎈 08-15-21 ^^