Invisible String || PURINZ

20 • back to your roots

—x—

Chaewon sucked in a deep breath. Her lungs felt like they had exploded, and her head was aching so much that she felt like she might die if she opened her eyes.

Another deep breath in.

Someone was talking in the room, although it sounded strangely muffled. It was as if her ears still had to pop open to allow sound.

"... She's fine... Fall... Oxygen deprivation...", Was all she could make of it.

Whatever she was laying on didn't feel like her hotel bed.

"They want to keep her here for another day. Then they'll transfer her to Korea if it's still needed. They suspect Hypoxia, the nurse said she was surprised that she held out for this long," Yunjin's voice became clearer as she spoke. It sounded like she was on the phone with someone.

The girl hummed. "She's been out for a while, but they said that's to be expected. They were worried about a heart disease–",

She paused. Chaewon tried to open her eyes, despite her entire body telling her not too; but her eyelids seemed incredibly heavy.

"I've got to go, Mr. Kim. I'll update you later." Yunjin quickly said. The girl in the bed could only assume she was setting her phone down when she heard a thump.

Chaewon stirred. She felt around the bed before propping herself up on her elbows. She took another deep breath, finally managing to open her eyes– only for them to fall shut again as if they were magnets.

"Chae-chae, take it easy. You're at the hospital, they drugged you pretty bad. Welcome to America," Yunjin exhaled a chuckle. She stepped towards the bed and rubbed Chaewon's arm.

She blinked a few times. The lights were dancing and the room was spinning. The plain, white walls kept closing in on her and then backing away again.

"They really– really get into the... oh, God... they get into the fun stuff, don't they?" The short girl muttered, brushing her hands over her face to check if it was still there.

Yunjin smiled at her. She was wearing joggers, and a matching tee– the exact same clothes she was wearing when they went to bed. "How are you feeling?" She gently asked.

"I don't feel my body and everything is moving," Chaewon groaned. She looked up at the other, meeting her big puppy eyes. "I can't remember anything past getting out of bed to get some water at midnight."

The smile stayed on Yunjin's face, even though her eyes were red and puffy and her cheeks were flushed. "You passed out on the balcony. Eunchae was with you, and I woke up to a bunch of noise in the living room."

The short girl sat up properly. She sighed as she studied the other's face. "Were you on the phone with my dad? I don't want him to worry, he's got enough going on with mom–",

"You're going back home, Chae. I told him you'd be back soon. I've spoken to the manager and the members–",

"What? What about the concert?" Chaewon asked, frowning.

The other chewed her lip.

"What do you mean 'I'm going back home'?"

Heaving a sigh, Yunjin slowly shook her head. "I took care of it. We'll go on as four for a while. I know it's not what you want, and I'm well aware that you'd just keep at this until–..." She paused.

"What happens when you don't wake back up, Chaewon? It's only getting worse, you're pushing yourself way too hard."

Chaewon stared at her sheets. The patterns on it were laughing right in her face. "I'm not giving up on you. I don't want to give up on you, all of you." She whispered.