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The smell of hospitals was one thing Seokmin had hated but having to wait in one was ten times worse. Seokmin began to bite on the inner parts of his cheeks as his eyes frantically scanned the waiting room, Wonwoo and Mingyu trying to coax him.

"You don't think he's dead, right?" Seokmin whispers to Wonwoo.

"Of course he isn't," Wonwoo responds. "I'm sure of it." Minutes have passed when a working nurse called the group over and directed them to Seungcheol's room. He wasn't exactly sure why he was feeling burdensome - as if he was the one who caused it, but with each step Seokmin took it started to feel heavier than the last. His footsteps stop once he reaches the room, Jihoon stating he'll be the one to enter first prior to everyone else.

He started to pace back and forth in the hallway as small chatter could be heard from within the room, Seokmin had already told the rest that he'd go in last. Quietly, he peers into the room and notices his other friends gathered around Seungcheol's bed as he's seen laughing about something while Inhyung is seen sitting next to him. Seokmin feels his face loose color as he watches the scene in front of him, in his mind he quickly comes up with a plan of leaving only to be ruined by Mingyu who gestures for him to enter. He mentally curses to himself as he slides the door open, all eyes focused on him.

"It's about time you came," Mingyu says as he nudges him. "For a second I thought you were just going to leave." Seokmin's both grateful and relieved when Mingyu muttered the last part to him, his heartbeat reduced by a little.

"Did we miss anything while we were out?" Inhyung asks, both Mingyu and Seokmin torn away from their conversation. "Anything new?" Jihoon quickly gives her a rundown of what they missed - of course he left out nearly the whole school freaking out about Seungcheol, his condition, and what had happened.

"Nothing too crazy," Jihoon states. "I'm sure they'll give Seungcheol plenty of time to makeup his work, but as for Inhyung I'm not to sure." Inhyung lets out a groan of annoyance causing Seungcheol to shake his head in disbelief at her antics.

"Don't think too much about it, Inhyung." Seungcheol tells her, in which she groans again.

"But what if I have to go back tomorrow?" She complains.

"Then you'll go back tomorrow," He responds. "As simple as that." Before she was able to protest he reassured her that everything will be fine.

"It's getting late, don't you think?" Mingyu asks Wonwoo, Mingyu unaware of how loud he was being. Wonwoo nods along to Mingyu's statement, Mingyu continuing. "Yeah, and I'm getting kind of hungry."

"There's a fried chicken place just down the street," Inhyung offers, Mingyu's face lighting up immediately. "I'll pay for it." The group cheers as they head towards the door, Soonyoung calling for Seokmin to come along.

"I'll stay here," Seokmin replies, everyone stunned by his answer. "I'll keep Seungcheol company." They nod along to his proposal and say their goodbyes prior to leaving, Inhyung being the last.

"Did you want me to bring you back anything?" She offers.

"Seasoned chicken." Seungcheol responds, Inhyung nodding before turning to Seokmin.

"Chicken drumsticks." The door slides closed as their silhouettes disappear down the hallway, Seungcheol turning to face Seokmin.

"You didn't have to stay behind," Seungcheol stated as if it wasn't already obvious to Seokmin. "You could've gone with the others."

"I know," Seokmin sighs. "But I just wanted to make sure you were fine." Already knowing Seungcheol was going to say he was, Seokmin couldn't help but stare at the small bandages that adorned his face as well as the IV linked to his left arm. Seokmin guessed that he was caught staring at the IV which lead to Seungcheol explaining it to him.

"It's for rehydration purposes," He explains. "I haven't been keeping hydrated lately. This is suppose to help replenish the lost electrolytes as well as other fluids."

"Is everything -"

"Alright?" Seokmin nods, Seungcheol continuing. He simply shrugs at Seokmin's question, this causing Seokmin's eyebrows to knit in confusion. "I feel safe, being here is like a temporary escape from all the bad things." Seungcheol props himself against his bed with his arms used for balancing as he lets out a long sigh while his gaze shifts to the window, deep blues setting within the sky. "I know you shouldn't say this about hospitals because of all the thoughts and emotions associated with them but I feel like I'm happy here. Now I'm not saying I want to stay here forever but it's nice to just be away from things, you get what I'm saying?" Seungcheol watches as Seokmin's attention is diverted elsewhere, his eyes scanning the scenery beyond the window. "Hey," He shifts in his bed to poke Seokmin, Seokmin startled by Seungcheol's sudden actions. "What's with that expression?"

"No, it's just -" Seokmin sighs as he tries to think of what to say, Seungcheol patiently waiting. "The incident, I know you probably don't want me blabbering on and on about it but I guess I'm still taken aback by it. Having Inhyung run out to get you while I just -"

"Watched?" Seungcheol cut him off, Seokmin nodding. Silence swarmed the two as neither of them continued with their current conversation, Seungcheol swiftly changing topics. "Were you guys on a date?" Seokmin's expression resembles a deer in the headlights once he hears Seungcheol's question, a lump forming in his throat. Seokmin recalls to that night and how the two had made brief eye contact before Inhyung dismissed herself from the group.

"No," Seokmin says as he tries to find the right words to say. "We were all just hanging out." Seokmin emphasizes on the word 'all' indicating it wasn't just Inhyung and him. Seungcheol nods as he understands, Seokmin continuing. "I remember overhearing how you wanted to confess to her and decided it was best not to interfere."

"Thanks, man." Seungcheol says, lightly pushing Seokmin's shoulder. Seungcheol starts to talk about random nonsense afterwards, Seokmin slowly tuning him out as he couldn't help but feel as if he had lost his opportunity.

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A/N: never really got a chance to watch svt; one fine day and but now i currently am. lmao @ when the fish hit jun's butt i was dying, but then again that fish knows what's up.

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