Jeongin pov:
Day 28
Welp, it's almost a month. Time flies when you are thinking of sneaking sunflowers into a certain somebody's room. And tell me about it. I should decorate a shirt with 'Sunflowers are my life' and wear it every time I see him. (I haven't done that but it would be really funny.) And as much as I wanted to get close to him, it was also really fun to tease him and get him all worked up like that.
Not exactly worked up because that man is one hell of a calm person. Or to be put simply, he looked calm. The only time he showed emotion except scowling at me over the weeks was the time I gave him the book. He really loved the book to the point he kept reading like five or six times. Rereading, you know?
And about the sunflower sneaking . . . I asked the nurses to give him a new bouquet whenever they had to go into his room for his daily meals. I couldn't get him to open the door anymore just because I had hit him the last time. Okay, that's only when I said that I don't have a bouquet in my hands. He didn't trust me anymore after that incident. I mean, was it that bad? But when I gave him a book along with the bouquet, he seemed to be fine with it. (More like I had to announce that I had a book with me but this works, too, I guess.) I had been testing the theory a bit. I guess I am making some real progress now.
I was also giving him new books to read. I had already given him like three books in this week. I was literally bribing him. Don't blame me. That's because he showed emotions only when he's reading a book. And maybe when he saw that he had again received those 'those-goddamn-happy-flowers' (as he said). But that was scowling so it wasn't as successful as giving him books. I wonder what grudge he had against the innocent flowers to scowl every time he saw them.
As I said, he had been opening the door only when I said that I had a book with me. Other than that, no matter how much I begged, he would not open the damn door. I had not tried to get into his room with force like the last time again. I had learnt my lesson. (And I definitely did not want to learn it again, thank you very much.) I mean, he was so mad that he was even breathing heavily the last time I did. I believed it's better to not piss him off again.
And then there's the most important part. The treatment. I had absolutely no idea on that. At that moment, the only thing I had in my mind was to just be friends with him first. All because he was so lonely and I honestly thought I should start that only when I get close to him. And subtly as well, he seemed to have some paranoia when it comes down to doctors. It was also because I had heard some extremely good news from the other doctors that he defensed himself with . . . books everytime they tried to treat him. Medicine, it was okay but talking with him without tying him up? That doctor could be said to be lucky if he lasted ten seconds while talking with the infamous Kim Seungmin. He would thrash around. We're talking for more than ten seconds but that did not count. At all. And for some odd reason, he didn't seem to remember that I was one of those doctors he hated so much.
I couldn't keep the smile off my face as I stared at the sunflower bouquet in my hands. Cannot stop including this little tradition we had formed over the weeks. Although this time I included a few purple hyacinths and a few pink roses. Even if purple hyacinths mean forgiveness, I wasn't exactly asking for his forgiveness. I just thought it would be a nice change from the usual yellow and pink. I brought a new book along as well. A romance book. He would like it.
"Hyung? I'm here!" I singsonged. "And I have a book for you!"
He opened the door readily (still not letting me in, sadly and I'm definitely not planning to make him furious anymore. I had said that, I believe.) with an interested glint in his eyes. But when he saw the flowers in my hands, he groaned in annoyance. Know what I mean about him hating those beautiful, innocent flowers?
"Jeongin, I thought I said way too many times about this?" And yes, he remembered my name very well now, much to my pleasure. We were practically on first name basis but here is the thing. Whenever I mentioned something concerned with the medicine or his treatments, he changed back to his stoney face and closed me off. I mean, his expression didn't change much as he had always looked neutral. But when he sees a book, his eyes showed an interested glint and a smile if I gave him a really good book. And that was so rare. I had seen that only once and not anymore.
Truth be told, he looked pretty handsome smiling. If only I could cut his hair off . . . And seeing his smile made me want to make him smile more. Now that I thought about it, I haven't heard him laugh either. I should find a book about jokes.
"What is the book about this time?" Hyung asked and I jolted back to reality.
"Romance."
"Erugh. To be honest, I hate romance books. They're not realistic," Seungmin hyung said, leaning on the door frame.
"This one is way too good. Trust me. I've read the whole thing." And it was true. I had read the book before giving him. But I swear they're all brand new. I was not giving him hand-me-downs, okay? I bought another copy for him.
"I don't. Your choices aren't that good."
"You complimented my gifts the last time?" I reminded him.
He rolled his eyes. "Why do you remember things like this so clearly?"
"It's a talent, hyung. A talent. But for real, you liked them enough to keep them, didnt you?"
"Sure, I did."
An idea suddenly got into my mind and I smirked. "Do you want a spoiler, hyung?"
He immediately scowled. "No spoilers. I thought I said that too?"
"It's very sad. I cried reading it," I said that with a straight face.
"I will see that myself." He closed the door. I was about to leave when he opened the door once again. He was a blushing mess. I blinked at his sudden change. A shy Kim Seungmin. I should probably go buy a lottery ticket already. "And . . . thanks, Jeongin. I actually appreciate your gifts."
I gaped. Is Kim Seungmin actually saying something nice to me? Has the sun risen from the west? Has the sky turned into the earth? I smiled and hugged him hard. Seungmin hyung struggled but I was stronger than him. "I swear I have never heard anything that is nicer than this from you. Sweet god, today is the best day. I should mark the date on the calendar," I told him.
"Jeongin . . . Fuck . . . I can't breathe," hyung wheezed and I let him go, smiling sheepishly. He bit his lip in a shy manner and closed the door quickly. His face was so red. I let out some laughs in a giddy manner. That was truly amazing. I can't believe I finally got a compliment from him. All my efforts were not a waste at all.
"Innie, you're okay, right?" I heard Chan hyung's voice from my back. "You're laughing like a maniac and a dolphin combined."
"Can't help it," I had him in a headlock, smiling happily. "Hyung, this is the best fucking day of my life! I haven't been this happy since Mingyu gave me a whole lot of books and movies (CDs) for a present!'
"Stop, Innie. You're suffocating me!" Chan hyung whined. "And have some dignity."
"I don't care about that now." But I let him go.
"So . . . anyways . . . what happened and why?"
"Come in. I need to tell this to somebody. Good thing you came to check, hyung," I said as I opened the door and went in my room.
"So what happened? You look too excited. It's scary."
I pouted. "I'm not scary. And I'm just too happy because Seungmin hyung told me that my gifts were good."
"Oh. That's it?"
"That's it?! Hyung, this is a big thing for me! He finally told me something nice other than swear words!"
"But that's just it!"
"Hyung, don't burst my bubble, jeez. You know I tried so hard to talk with him!"
"I know but-"
"Come on, hyung," I gave him a skeptical look.
He raised his hands in mock surrender. "Okay, okay, I'm not gonna tell anything anymore, Innie. Do whatever you want."
I just huffed, not knowing what to reply. "But hyung?"
"Yeah?"
"He was blushing hard as he said that . . . So . . . Yeah, it was seriously worth it," I said. And a giddy smile found its way to my face again.
Chan hyung sighed. "Do you like him, Innie?"
I gave him a strange look. "No! Why would I like him? We literally had just exchanged swear words and a compliment. But that's it."
He shrugged. "It looks like you like him to me. Because for real, Seungmin is all you've been talking about. And not to mention, you're smiling too fondly for platonic love," Chan hyung pointed out and I was rendered speechless for a second time.
"I smiled the same way whenever I talk about you guys, too. Does this mean . . ." I gasped dramatically and sarcastically. ". . . I have a crush on you guys?" I shook my head. "Nope. Not at all, hyung. It can be said the same for Seungmin hyung, too."
"But you smile a bit more fondly when you talk about him. And you have this . . . glint in your eyes, too. You sure? Not that I would judge you if you do like him. I just want to know."
"When have you been analyzing my actions, hyung?" I asked dryly.
"I just noticed! I'm not analyzing your actions, Innie, I swear!" He protested. I gave him a doubtful look and shook my head once more.
"I swear, Innie, don't shake your head like that. It makes me feel like you're my dad," Chan hyung said, chuckling.
"Channie, have you been looking at Jeongin's behaviours again? He's not your baby," I imitated as if I was an old man.
He broke into a wide smile, showing his dimples. "Stop it, Innie. Seriously. But anyways, gotta go. I have an appointment later. I just came to check because Minho can't come."
"Okay, then. Bye, hyung!" I smiled brightly as he went out.
I sighed and sat comfortably on the chair, a smile still present on my face.
2 months later . . .
"Jeongin, seriously, when are you visiting? I thought you said you're going to clear your schedule?" My aunt's voice boomed as soon as I accepted the call from her.
I actually forgot about that. "Really sorry, I will come . . . around like . . . " I checked the calendar on my desk. ". . . Next week, maybe?"
"No 'maybe's, Innie. You're going to come next week Thursday. You can't miss that at all. Family reunion," she said, making the decision final. I paled.
"Come on, auntie. I'm not free that day!" I said, giving an excuse even though I was actually free that day. I mean, I had nothing to do except going to Seungmin hyung. But I really didn't like family reunions. They're really bad. With all my relatives babying me? Nope, I hated those with a passion. And by babying, I mean that they always talked about how I was as a kid. It was really annoying.
The only people I could bare to talk to was my aunt and Soyeon noona. And that was saying something since I was a chatterbox. Me being quiet and unhyper is a sight one didn't see often. And if these family reunions could make someone like me quiet . . . So you see how much I hated those family reunions.
"No, you're going to come, boy, no matter what," she said with a tone of finality and I realized that even if I throw a tantrum, she wasn't going to change her decision. Her voice softened as if she knew my distress. "Soyeon and I miss you so much. We haven't seen you in ages, Innie. Please come." She was trying to guilt-trip me. I knew that but it worked considerably on me.
I kept quiet as guilt overwhelmed me. I knew that I kept forgetting my promises to visit her. And to be honest, I missed her a lot, too. But I really hated those family reunions at the same time. They were something I would avoid with my whole life if only I could.
But I guess, I need to go.
"So . . . Are you coming?" She asked again with a hopeful tone. But honestly? It's not like she gave me a choice. It was like 'you come' or 'you come'.
"Yes, auntie. I will come," I decided at last, giving up the thought of avoiding the family reunions forever.
Please let this go right. Hope it doesn't mess up, I couldn't help praying in my mind.