21. STUBBORN

STUBBORN

Sung-hoon slowly sat up in the back seat of the car. His head was aching slightly and his chest had a dull ache. He coughed as the cold from the wet clothes were starting to affect him. He still had shortness of breath but it was t alarming. When he had been a lifeguard he had been taught a lot of things and he knew it was normal to have delayed drowning symptoms.

Just then the door opened. Jae-wook stared at him for a while before handing him some clothes to change into and closing the door. Jae-wook had already changed into some sweatpants and a t-shirt.

Sung-hoon picked up the clothes and inspected them. It was a hoodie a shirt and some boxer shorts. He slowly removed his wet clothes and changed into the new set.

After he was done Jae-wook opened the door once again.

"I will take you home." He said as he took Sung-hoon's wet clothes and put them in a plastic bag. " will you stay in the back or front?" He asked.

Sung-hoon looked at him confused for a while before piecing it together.

Jae-wook closed the door as Sung-hoon shifted to the front of the car. Just as he sat down Jae-wook opened the drivers side and got in.

"Seat belt." He stated as he pressed the turn on engine button. Sung-hoon slowly put on the belt same and Jae-wook.

"Se-hee. " Sung-hoon said his expression worried as he started undoing his belt.

"Don't worry she is in safe hands." Jae-wook stated as he started driving the car out of the driveway.

Jae-wook put on the heater when he noticed Sung-hoon was still shivering.

It took a while before the car finally stopped outside the house. He opened the gate and they drove inside.

Silence filled the whole car ride none of them stating anything. The last time they saw each other they were naked and moaning each other's name. Sung-hoon hadn't thought it would be this weird.

It didn't mean anything. Beside that they didn't talk much anyway so it was fine.

Sung-hoon slowly got out of the car his barefoot touched the tiled compound floor. He felt a shiver run through his spine from the clear difference between the outside and the warmth from inside the car. He shook it off before rushing towards the door.

He put in the code and walked inside.

After a while Jae-wook came in as Sung-hoon was about to go up the stairs.

"I will stay for the night." He said taking Sung-hoon by surprise.

Why would he stay over?

It was not like he couldn't take care of himself?

Sung-hoon only nodded before rushing back up the stairs.

**

A sneeze left Sung-hoon as he walked down the stairs. He hated the prospect of catching a cold so he had worn two hoodies as warm pair of sweatpants and socks. He had armed himself to the tooth.

Now all that was left was the final blow. Some boiled ginger and lemon water then he was good to go.

He got his ingredients and got on with making his version of a cold cure.

Since he had been young he had always depended on himself and when he was sick there wasn't anyone to take care of him in return so he just ended up suffering. In the end he did his level best to take care of himself not to get sick and in the end his efforts would pay off except for a number of times.

After making his drink he started making a light breakfast. Toast, eggs and some milk

In the middle of his cooking spree he noticed Jae-wook was nowhere to be seen and he would almost always wake up ahead of him. He went up the stairs towards Jae-wook's room which was opposite his..

He raised his hand to knock but stopped midway as he bit his inner cheek. He tried knocking again but stopped midway. He paced around outside the door before he finally made a decision to leave him alone. Thinking he probably had something to do.

He just turned when the door opened and jae-wook came out.

Sung-hoon looked at him ready to greet him cheerfully that was until he saw his complexion. His eyes were droopy from being tired. His lips were pale and he looked tired.

He walked past Sung-hoon as he wore his jacket.

"Where are you going?" Sung-hoon asked as he rushed behind him.

"I am late for an appointment ." Jae-wook answered

his voice barely audible.

Before Sung-hoon could say anything else a honk was heard from the main gate.

Jae-wook quickly walked out of the house towards the gate.

Sung-hoon stood at the entrance watching Jae-wook as he walked out of the gate.

"You look awful!" Manager Kim said gasping on seeing him.

"Are you okay?" He asked looking at jae-wook concerned.

"Yes let's go." He said. Despite only being a few words it took a strain on him.

Just as director Kim turned he saw Sung-hoon at the entrance of the house. He nodded his head and Sung-hoon did the same before he got into the car.

Sung-hoon got into the house but couldn't say still nor could he enjoy his meal peacefully. He saw an unfamiliar phone on the dining table and that solidified his excuse.

He took a carkey from a car se-hee had told him he could use if he wanted.

Since he came to the house he hadn't used it thinking that it would be taking advantage of se-hee but here was driving towards a place he didn't know.

When he got to a traffic light he finally realised he didn't know where Jae-wook had gone. But, there was one person who would.

He took out his phone and called a sleepy se-hee who despite her grumpy state agreed to help him after he gave her multiple excuses.

Sung-hoon parked the car just as Se-hee was calling.

"He is at the YDS building for a shoot." She said her voice sleepy before he could tell her thank you she hung up.

Se-hee was known for taking her beauty sleep very seriously. No one called her before nine am and now that she was dealing with a hungover she was extra grumpy.

Sung-hoon quickly drove to the YDS building. He parked the car and rushed towards the building. He got into the building but there was a problem he didn't have a key card nor did he have anyone to help him open the security gate.

He looked around and saw a guard seating near the entrance and approached him.

"Hello." He said slightly bowing taking the man by surprise.

"Hello." The man answered hesitantly.

"I am terribly sorry to disturb you but I need your help." He started. The man looked at him attentively as he nodded yes giving him a go ahead. "I was sent to the car to retrieve Raivens phone but I don't have a key and to get past security could you possibly help me out." He said acting a but frantic as he held his hands together pleading with him.

"Ummm....."the man bite his lip thinking for a while before walking towards the security gate and swiping his card.

Sung-hoon said thank you numerous times as he rushed towards the elevators.

Se-hee had told him he they were on the fourth floor. He quickly pressed the button and soon the elevator opened up.

He got in and went to the fourth floor. As soon as the doors opened he saw people rushing about. There were still different rooms and he couldn't pinpoint exactly where he was.

Just them a lady was rushing by.

He politely stopped her and asked where Raiven was. She gave him a quick once over before a voice came through her headset. Wanting to get over it she gave him brief instructions before rushing off.

Sung-hoon walked down the busy walkway before he finally found the door. He knocked on the door but there was no answer.

"Did she tell me the wrong door?" He murmured as he knocked once again this time a soft voice answered.

He opened the door and peaked in. There was no one inside so who told him to come in. He was just about to go back out when he heard someone coughing. He looked around and saw Jae-wook laying on the sofa.

He looked pale but despite that he was sweating profusely. His lips were dry.

Sung-hoon rushed towards him and quickly felt his temperature. He was boiling hot.

"What are you...."

"Come on I will take you to the hospital." Sung-hoon said as he started helping him up.

"No..."

"What do you mean no! You are not okay." He scolded him.

Just then the door opened and manager Kim walked in. He had pills and a water bottle with him.

"Who are you?" Manager Kim asked shocked by the unexpected figure in the room before he finally remembered him from earlier that morning.

"I am taking him to the hospital. "

"I tried but he refused."

"The key is don't give him a chance to refuse."

Before Jae-wook could protest Sung-hoon swang his arms on his back and stood up before Jae-wook could process what was happening Sung-hoon was carrying him on his back.

"I will take him take care of his schedule." He said as he walked towards the door.

Manager Kim quickly opened the door as he watched in a daze.

Sung-hoon quickly walked down the hallway with Jae-wook muttering cuss words at him as he tried to get off his back but in his sickly state his strength wasn't nearly as much as that of Sung-hoon.

Manager Kim rushed in front of them and quickly opened the elevator before entering with them.

He would take them to the car before he came back up to take care of the schedule. Since everything had already been prepared and the staff had worked hard he didn't see it as being respectful if he cancelled through a call.

People looked at them as they rushed through the building some even took pictures.

"This is so embarrassing. " Jae-wook whispered softly as he hid his face in Sung-hoon's back trying to avoid everyone's gaze.

They finally got to the car Manager Kim opened the door for Sung-hoon as he helped Jae-wook into the passenger seat before he got in himself.

Manager Kim watched as the car drove out of the parking lot.

"He had finally met his match." Manager Kim muttered as a smile etched itself of his lips.

The photos taken soon went viral within hours with people posting encouraging messages and sending him get well soon so much so that his name started trending.

****

Sung-hoon was seated on a chair beside the hospital bed in the ER perusing through some magazines as he tried to keep himself busy.

Jae-wook had been given an IV strong that his blood sugar was low and he was also instructed to take a lot of rest and refrain from taking caffeine for some time.

Jae-wook was starting to move after being unconscious for a few hours.

He looked around at the bright room as he let out a sigh before he looked beside him.

Sung-hoon hadn't noticed he had regained consciousness yet.

"You should have at least let me walk." He said his voice rusty as he looked at Sung-hoon.

Sung-hoon looked up from the magazine..noticing he was awake he quickly closed the magazine and placed it on a small table beside the bed.

"So that you can protest the whole time. I dont have time for that."

Jae-wook could not refute his claim as he knew it was true.

"The IV is almost done I will take you home and you can rest."

"Home." Jae-wook whispered. His bounce distant as the word seamed foreign as it rolled out of his tongue.