It's Just A Picture (BL)
Chapter 42: No emergency fever supplements either

Chapter 42: No emergency fever supplements either

I went home as soon as I was done with my work. Seojin probably still had to take off his makeup and change his clothes before going home, but I hoped he’d do that faster, so he could go home to his brother.

I wasn’t sure if he was sick but I had a hunch.

"Seojin should be home by now." I said to myself, glancing at the wall clock.

It had been a while since I got home. I took a bath and just finished preparing my dinner. I was just about to eat when a thought came to mind.

Instead of worrying so much, I should just text him. But... What would I say?

I was still contemplating, while slowly eating my meal.

My mind was in an illusionary war, bargaining if I should call, text, or just go to his door.

But if I chose to call or text, what would I say? If I chose to go to his house and Seojin answered the door, what would I say?

And what if he wasn’t even sick? What if the emergency has to do with something else? What would I do then?

Several thoughts were raging, throwing questioning grenades over to the other side, demolishing ideas, and building up new reasons as a defense.

It was a bloody war zone in my head.

Wait, hold on, the wrecking ball of recklessness just rolled in and destroyed everything. Recklessness wins. No matter the choice, I would be reckless about it.

I was halfway done when I finally decided to text him.

I dropped my chopsticks harshly and cracked my knuckles.

"Let’s do this."

But the moment I picked up my phone, I got a text right away and it was from Seojun. What a coincidence.

I opened it and as soon as I saw the content, I got up in a flash and headed for the door.

Wait, I was just in my pajamas. I rushed back to my room, grabbed my jacket, and started heading for the door right away.

"Meow!" Lily meowed at my sudden restlessness.

"Sorry, Lily, you can go back to sleep. I’ll be back soon." I said and exited my house.

I stood in front of the twin’s apartment, breathing hard, and clutched my phone tightly.

What did that mean? What did that sudden message of SOS mean?

He said he was at his house but I didn’t even know what the emergency was about. What if it’s something I can’t handle? Should I call an ambulance?

My thoughts were in the air again but knowing Seojun might be in danger, I chinned up and rang the bell.

As soon as I did, the door opened and a disheveled Seojun showed himself. There was sweat dripping down every pore in his body, to the extent that his hair and shirt were soaked.

One would immediately conclude that he just came from running a marathon race. Even his breathing was instead.

But I knew it wasn’t a race. Rather...

"Hyung," he called, his voice sounding hoarse, like someone who had a sore and dry throat. And despite his condition, he tried to smile. "You came." He said.

I was shocked and couldn’t even move my feet. I was no doctor, but only with a glance, I knew for a fact that Seojun was sick.

"What happened?" I asked but before he could even answer, he collapsed. Luckily, I caught him before he did and I was almost on my way to the floor as well. "God, you’re heavy." I exclaimed.

His body was flaring. His temperature was so high.

’Did he get through the entire day enduring this?’ I wondered, trying my best to take him to the couch.

I succeeded and got anxious.

’What do I do? I... I’ve never seen Seojun so sick before. In fact, I’ve never seen him sick. The only person who got sick was Seojin, and it was a one-time thing. They were always healthy. They... Arg, snap out of it. I need to get a thermometer to check his temperature and then, and then...’

I went to their kitchen. Normally, first aid kits are kept in kitchens but it wasn’t there.

"What... Are you looking for, Hyung?" Seojun asked and then coughed. I rushed back to him to pat his back.

"Easy there. Where’s the first aid kit? I need to check your temperature." I asked but he shook his head.

"We, we don’t have one." He said.

"Then, that means, there’s no emergency fever supplements either." I said and he nodded.

This was serious. At this rate, we’d need to go to the hospital.

As if knowing what I was thinking, Seojun began to speak with the little strength he had.

"I... I don’t..." He coughed. "Want to go, Hyung."

I looked at him with my lips pursed. Yeah, he was stubborn, alright.

Then, I’d at least need to get medicine from the pharmacy downstairs.

I was about to leave when he suddenly grabbed onto me and hugged my waist.

"Please, don’t... don’t go." He said and still coughed. "I... I promise I won’t be sick anymore. I... I’ll get better right now. I won’t burden Hyung so please... *Cough* please don’t leave me."

"What are you saying?" I asked, confused as to where that thought came from. "I’m just going to get you some drugs. You won’t be able to get better without them and you certainly won’t go to the hospital. So allow me to get your meds." I said and for a moment, he was hesitant.

"You promise?" He asked and my heart broke. Just what happened? Who hurt you?

"I promise." I said and only then did he let go. "Now, rest. I’ll get some rest. I’ll be back right away."

"Hyung, your birthday." He suddenly said out of nowhere. What did that have to do with his condition?

Well, it doesn’t matter. He might’ve been talking nonsense because of the fever.

Seojun kept his eyes on me even as I made my way to the door. I smiled, assuring him I wouldn’t leave him be and come back right away before stepping out.

Outside, I covered my mouth in horror. What did I just experience? Seojun looked so weak, so fragile and so... Broken.

He looked at me as if the world had forsaken him once. The words he spoke. Was that why he never got sick in the past? Well, it’s not like anyone can control being sick, but with a certain will, I heard it worked well.

If there was someone who looked at that kid with a disgusted gaze just because he was sick and weak, then that person needed to be wiped out of this Earth. How dare they? How...? My heart couldn’t stay at ease. It was painful to think about it.

"I’ll call Seojin on my way down. He should know his brother isn’t well."