One Last Time

Warning - mentions of bullying and suicide.

Eunhyuk started the operation along with Ms. An and Y/N who were holding down Jisu. Eunyu wanted to be a part of this and be inside, probably worried about the Jisu. She wasn't backing down and listening to his words. The brother and sister had a complicated relationship, but this wasn't exactly the right moment to argue. Y/N intervened and said turning to her, "Look, first of all he's doing this mostly because of the fact that if you leave Jaehoon with a broken arm and me with a wounded back to look out for monsters, none of us can get out in one piece. He's telling you to stand along with Jaehoon because you can handle it. He's not exactly pampering you like you think all the time."

Eunyu stuttered and looked at Y/N who was standing with a small smile on her face. Clicking her tongue, she walked out of the room. Meanwhile Eunhyuk was standing quietly gaping at her, as Y/N wore a mask and turned to him. "You do pamper her all the time by the way," she chuckled. He looked down at Jisu who was gasping in pain. He was glad to wear a mask, as his expressions weren't exactly fitting for the moment and probably would've given away everything.

This wasn't the time to fawn over Y/N.

When the operation was over, everyone was breathing heavily. Eunhyuk immediately came out of the room and talked to Jaehoon and Eunyu standing outside. "What's going to happen?" Jaehoon asked.

"It's your turn from now on," he replied, "Because its all up to God."

"No, its really upto Jisu, she's going to be fine no matter what."

"How do you know?"

"She grabbed thread on her first birthday."

Eunyu got inside the room, to take a look at Jisu who passed out from the pain. Y/N patted her back and walked out of the room. Eunhyuk was quietly waiting for her outside. She nudged him and they started walking together. Those who went to get supplies were all hurt, but most importantly Yikyung was back.

"....Weren't you going to tell me something?" he muttered, feeling their hands brush against each other.

"Uh yeah but...there's still some stuff we need to look into, right?" she said looking forward. The little conversation before the surgery made them feel closer but she didn't want to push him into this. She didn't want him to think the only way they can interact was if he had romantic feelings for her. Oh, she wanted to hold his hand so badly...but she resisted. She didn't want to force him into all of this just because he was opening up to her. Just because she was probably the only one who felt his fear.

Eunhyuk on the other hand felt a new feeling inside of him, one that instantly made him smile. He noticed the verb in her sentence - 'we' need to look into.

He wasn't alone in this.

Soon they found Yikyung and her first question wasn't as expected. "Is Hyunsu okay?" she asked.

"Are YOU okay?" Y/N asked back.

Yikyung just nodded her head as Eunhyuk replied, "He's the first thing you ask about?"

"Answer me. Any strange symptoms?" she asked.

"What about you?"

"What?"

"You and Hyunsu are very much alike, aren't you?"

Hearing those words Y/N felt like walking into some conversation that she probably should avoid listening. No, it wasn't that Eunhyuk wouldn't tell her now....ofcourse. But she still wanted to respect other's private matters. She was a little reluctant to leave since the last time they talked, she punched him but, "I'll be in my room," she said and left the scene. Eunhyuk pressed his lips, nodding in approval and looked at her walking away slowly in exhaustion.

"What are you talking about?"

"Seo-yeong told me....that you're pregnant. You should've told me."

"So? Are you going to lock me up too now?"

"I can't do that. You're not a monster yet. But you're just a ticking timebomb. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone."

"Do what you want."

"You know I've never done that," Eunhyuk said and turned his to head to the direction where Y/N was walking. She hissed and held her toe, rubbing it to numb the pain she probably got while hitting something on the way. A smile made way on his face and he said, "I think of all of us."

Yikyung stared at his face, as he cleared his throat and turned to look at her, now with a serious expression. "So? What's outside like? How were you able to return safely? I need to know everything," he said.

"Why don't you go first? Why don't you tell me what's going on here and how's Hyunsu doing? Tell me everything in detail. Now."

[ TIME SKIP ]

Y/N waited for Eunhyuk to come back. It took some time, but she needed the time too. To prepare herself. Her past isn't as bad as some of the residents but...struggles should never be compared. It didn't matter how bad someone else had it, if it's affecting one's mental and physical health then it should be taken seriously.

The door opened lightly, as she observed him looking at her. "Get inside," she said and he stepped in locking the door. He sat quietly beside her and looked at his fingers, extremely aware of the little space between them. She pushed him back onto the bed and he fell. Y/N picked his head up and placed a pillow underneath, and then released him. "Get comfortable," she said and rested her head on another pillow, lying beside him.

Turning towards him, she started. "Where do I start?" she asked.

"You don't have to if you aren't comfortable right now-" he said but she interrupted him.

"No, I want to," she said brushing his locks out of his eyes.

"So...it started back in school. High school, specifically. I had a group of friends. Well, it's most like I existed among them - and I was aware of it. It was like I was their friend because all of us needed someone to talk to and pass time. A new guy transferred to our class from...a reputed school. Seeing how alone he was most of the classes, I decided to talk to him. And we became friends quickly. We just had the same sense of humor and shared our problems. The girls I used to interact with started teasing me about him," she chuckled, "Everything was fine until I observed something one day. He...had bruises on his arm."

Eunhyuk looked at her eyes getting glossy but continued listening to her, "He stopped talking to me after I asked him about it. He just...lashed out on me. But you know me. I'm kind of clingy so...I continued asking him and he finally told me. Turns out my cousin along with his group of friends used to bother him. It started with him running errands but it got worse. The worst thing is probably that he trusted me, despite knowing that...his bully and I were related. I tried talking to my cousin but he just didn't care. Just like my whole family, he grew up learning women can never be equal to men and that only the men of the family can handle the business. He didn't give a shit about what I said. And I felt..so powerless."

A tear escaped her eyes, "So I did nothing. I just watched my best friend get bullied every single day and I did nothing. I stopped talking to him cause...h-how do I even show him my pathetic face? This went on until oneday my cousin finally crossed the line and dragged him out of the bathroom in just his...underwear. It was recess and everyone saw it happen. I saw it too. And so did he. He saw me with desperation in his eyes and what did I do? As usual, I decided to look away and pretended like nothing happened."

"Can you imagine the humiliation he went through because of that bastard? He didn't come to school the next day. And...his parents came to collect his things. When I went to ask them...h-his mother just slapped me across the face," she sat up started rubbing her eyes, trying to stop the tears and said, "I probably deserved more cause I was the only one who could've helped him but I was too much of a coward. He committed suicide and he was gone forever. If...if I just said something to stop them, he would've been alive. But..I just remained as a spectator. My cousin still went to school as if nothing happened while I got suspended."

"You got suspended?"

"Yes, I'm not physically strong but I can do other stuffs. I lit all of their bags on fire and started making sure they remain on their toes. I was successful for some time but I got caught ofcourse. My relatives complained a lot to my parents and I had to listen to everyone's scolding. I didn't even care at that point and said whatever I wanted. What can they do? Throw me out of business?" Y/N laughed and then sighed, "So...yeah, I'm a bit protective of Hyunsu."

Eunhyuk rubbed her tears off and held her face, "But...we aren't exactly bullying him-"

"Really? You think so?" she scoffed glaring at him, "I know the look in his eyes. I've seen it before you know?"

"Okay, I'm sorry," he said and pulled her in for a hug. She hid her face on his chest and let the tears flow. Y/N hugged him back and looked up at his eyes, "This is the first time you apologized by the way."

Eunhyuk couldn't help but chuckle, "Are you okay?"

"Well I can't let go of this incident but I'm almost over the crying part," she said and stared at him. Both of them did as they swayed in their arms with smiles on their faces. But then she started pushing him back and moving away.

"What happened?" he asked.

"Nothing...I just have to stop this like you said. You don't want this," she said and got up from the bed, brushing her hair and looking at the ground. Suddenly, she felt arms wrapping on her waist and Eunhyuk's breath near her ear.

"I do want this," he whispered, "I'm just...really scared. I don't wanna lose you."

Y/N's heartbeat fastened and she turned to look at him. He was staring down at his fingers now and breathing heavily. "It's okay to be scared. It...kind of comes with the package but all you have to do right now is trust me."

He looked up at her and she continued, "Can you do that? Putting your trust in me? You need to believe in us, in this relationship. You love me like I love you...right?"

Eunhyuk smiled and brushed his fingers on her hand, "I love you."

"Then believe in this, one last time," she smiled connecting their foreheads and closing her eyes.

Eunhyuk kissed her forehead. One last time.