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The dorm buzzed with the usual pre-adventure chaos. Laughter bounced off the walls as shoes thudded against the floor, jackets were tossed around, and voices overlapped in a mixture of excitement and impatience.
“Where’s my phone? Did someone take it again?” Jeongin’s voice echoed down the hallway.
“You left it in the kitchen again,” Changbin called back, half-laughing as he zipped up his hoodie.
“I’m hungry already. Do you think they’ll have corn dogs where we’re going?” Han asked, dramatically clutching his stomach like he hadn’t just eaten two bowls of ramyeon an hour ago.
“Can you all calm down for one second?” Bang Chan chuckled from near the front door, trying to herd the group like a patient but exhausted parent. “Let’s make sure we have everything before we leave.”
As the chaos continued, Lee Know turned on his heel and walked quietly toward the far end of the hallway, his socks making no sound on the polished wood floor. He stopped in front of a door left slightly ajar. The room beyond was dim, lit only by the faint glow of a cloudy afternoon leaking through the curtains.
“Hyunjin-ah?” he called softly, knocking on the doorframe with the back of his knuckles.
There was a rustle from the bed. A tangled mess of blankets shifted, and Hyunjin’s voice emerged, low and hoarse. “Yeah?”
Lee Know stepped inside, eyebrows drawing together when he saw the other boy curled up tightly under a thick blanket, one arm cradling a pillow against his chest. His buzzcut hair did little to hide the exhaustion etched into his face, and his cheek was still creased from where it had been pressed into the pillowcase.
“We’re heading out. Everyone’s ready. Come on,” Lee Know said gently, stepping closer to the bed.
Hyunjin barely opened one eye, his voice laced with sleep and exhaustion. “I’m not going.”
Lee Know frowned. “You’re not coming? Why not?”
Hyunjin let out a soft sigh and shifted just enough to bury his face deeper into the pillow. “Tired… My body hurts. All of it. I just… I really don’t feel like moving today.”
His words were muffled, but Lee Know could still hear the weight in them. Not just fatigue, but something heavier, deeper. He crossed his arms and tilted his head slightly.
“You sure? It’s just a small trip. You don’t have to walk around much. We’re just going to eat, maybe take some pictures…”
Hyunjin slowly shook his head, his eyes still closed. “Mm-mm. I can’t. I need to sleep. My legs feel like lead, and my back… hurts. Everything hurts.”
Lee Know sighed quietly and sat down on the edge of the bed. The mattress dipped slightly under his weight, and Hyunjin instinctively curled tighter around his pillow, like he was trying to disappear into it.
“You’re not sick, are you?” Lee Know asked, his voice softer now.
“No. Just tired,” Hyunjin mumbled. His voice was so faint now it almost blended with the hum of the outside world beyond the window.
Lee Know was quiet for a moment, just watching him. The way Hyunjin clung to the pillow, his fingers curled loosely in the fabric. The subtle tremor in his breath. The way his eyelashes fluttered slightly, like he was already halfway back to sleep.
“Alright,” Lee Know finally said “We’ll go without you. I’ll tell the others.”
Hyunjin gave the faintest nod, not bothering to open his eyes. “Thanks, Minho…”
Lee Know stood, casting one last look over the boy on the bed—so vulnerable in that moment it tugged something in his chest—and then turned to leave, pulling the door gently closed behind him.
He stepped out of Hyunjin’s room, gently closing the door behind him. For a moment, he stood still in the hallway, his hand still resting on the doorknob. His expression was somewhere between concern and frustration, laced with something quieter. Something almost helpless.
He turned slowly and walked back toward the living room, where the others were still gathering their things. Felix was tying his shoelaces, Changbin was stuffing snacks into his tote bag “just in case,” and Seungmin was going on about how the weather app said there might be light rain later, so someone better bring an umbrella.
As Lee Know stepped into view, all heads turned to him expectantly.
“Well?” Jeongin asked, half-hoping, half-knowing the answer. “Is he coming?”
Lee Know exhaled through his nose and shook his head slightly. “No. He said he’s tired. Said everything hurts and he just wants to sleep.”
There was a beat of silence.
“Seriously?” Han groaned, dramatically flopping onto the nearest couch cushion. “Aw man, that sucks. I thought he was finally feeling a bit better.”
“I wanted to take that group photo with everyone,” Seungmin muttered, adjusting the strap on his crossbody bag. “It’s been ages since we’ve all gone out together.”
Felix gave a small, disappointed pout. “I saved a seat for him in the van…”
Bang Chan didn’t say anything at first, just glanced toward the hallway Lee Know had come from, then back at him. “He okay?”
Lee Know shrugged one shoulder, looking down at the floor. “Said he’s not sick. Just really tired. Body aches, you know? He looked…” He trailed off, then shook his head. “He looked like he needed the rest.”
There was a collective sigh from the group. Not angry—just bummed.
“I miss when he had the energy to come out with us,” Jeongin murmured, half to himself.
“Same,” Felix nodded, then glanced up. “You ready, hyung?”
Lee Know opened his mouth… and then hesitated. He looked toward the front door, then back at the hallway again. There was a flicker in his eyes. And then he said quietly, “I’m not going.”
Heads turned.
“What?” Han blinked. “Wait, you’re not coming either?”
“I thought you were already dressed to go,” Jeongin added.
“I was,” Lee Know said, crossing his arms and leaning casually against the wall. “But then I realized I left my skincare routine unfinished. Can’t risk clogged pores, you know.”
The silence that followed was filled with the sound of everyone not buying it.
Seungmin raised an eyebrow. “You’re skipping the street festival… for toner?”
Lee Know shrugged. “It’s an essential step. My face deserves better than sun and sweat and—ugh—crowds.”
Han squinted at him. “Nothing to do with the fact that Hyunjin’s basically a human burrito in bed right now?”
“Completely unrelated,” Lee Know replied flatly. “It’s just skincare. And maybe I also forgot to charge my earbuds. Total coincidence.”
Felix grinned. “You’re literally glowing with denial. Classic tsundere.”
“I am not” Lee Know snapped, a bit too loud. Then he turned abruptly and muttered, “Go already before I change my mind and come just to ruin your fun.”
Bang Chan chuckled softly, stepping over to grab his keys. “Alright. We’ll head out. You two stay here, rest up. I’ll bring back some food for you guys.”
“Get something with soup,” Lee Know called after him. “Nothing too greasy.”
“Yes, mom,” Han teased, dodging a light swat from Lee Know as he passed.
As the group gathered near the door, Jeongin turned back one last time. “Tell Hyunjin we miss him.”
“I will,” Lee Know replied, watching them all start to file out.
“Take care of him,” Seungmin added, softer this time.
Lee Know just nodded.
The door clicked shut behind the last member, and quiet slowly reclaimed the dorm. The kind of quiet that hummed low in the background, like it was holding its breath.
Lee Know stood in the middle of the living room for a moment, hands in his pockets, eyes drifting toward the hallway again. Then, with a soft exhale, he turned and made his way back to Hyunjin’s room.
The door creaked softly as he pushed it open.
Inside, nothing much had changed. The dim light still slipped lazily through the curtains, the room smelled faintly of fabric softener and shampoo, and Hyunjin was still curled up under the blanket, hugging that pillow like it was the only thing keeping him grounded.
Only now, his eyes were open, barely.
Lee Know stepped inside and closed the door quietly behind him. He didn’t say anything at first—just walked to the bed, kicked off his slippers with a quiet thud, and climbed onto the mattress with practiced ease. He sat down cross-legged at first, but then shifted until his back was resting against the headboard. His movements were calm, casual… but there was a softness to them. A quiet kind of care.
Hyunjin blinked slowly, his voice low and groggy. “You didn’t go?”
Lee Know glanced down at him, already half-nestled under the blanket again. “Nah,” he muttered, eyes averted. “Didn’t feel like it.”
Hyunjin furrowed his brows slightly, his voice still raspy with sleep. “Why not? I thought you were all dressed and ready.”
Lee Know made a noncommittal sound in his throat and leaned his head back against the wall. “Wasn’t in the mood. Too loud. Too bright. Too many people.”
Hyunjin stared at him for a moment longer, a flicker of something warm passing through his gaze. “You stayed ‘cause of me, didn’t you?”
Lee Know scoffed. “Nope.”
“You totally did.”
“No, I didn’t.”
Hyunjin smiled faintly, his voice dropping to a whisper. “Liar…”
Lee Know didn’t answer. He just huffed through his nose and shifted a little to get more comfortable. His arms rested loosely at his sides, fingers tapping absently against the blanket.
The pillow that Hyunjin had been hugging suddenly didn’t seem so appealing anymore. He let it go, letting it flop to the side, and instead rolled over, inching closer to Lee Know until his head found a spot on the other’s stomach. His arms wrapped lazily around Lee Know’s waist, his fingers gripping the edge of his hoodie.
Lee Know stiffened for half a second, caught off guard.
“Thanks, hyung…” Hyunjin mumbled against the soft fabric of his hoodie. “For staying.”
His breath was warm, his voice barely a whisper now, already starting to slur with sleep.
Lee Know blinked down at him, lips pressing into a thin line. His hand twitched like it wanted to move—maybe to touch the soft buzz of Hyunjin’s hair, maybe to push him off. But he did neither. Instead, he rolled his eyes dramatically and let out a long sigh.
“Yeah, yeah. Don’t make a big deal out of it,” he muttered. “Just… go to sleep already.”
Hyunjin didn’t answer.
A few seconds later, his breathing evened out, slow and steady, rising and falling gently against Lee Know’s stomach.
Lee Know stayed there, back against the headboard, arms resting on either side of the boy now clinging to him like a sleepy, oversized cat.
He looked down once more, eyes softening just a little. Just for a second.
“Idiot,” he whispered, but his voice held no bite.
Then he let his head fall back against the wall again, closed his eyes, and let the silence wrap around them both.
++++
An hour had passed.
The room had settled into a tranquil kind of stillness—the kind that lulled even the most alert minds into soft forgetfulness. Outside, distant city sounds hummed like white noise, filtered through thick curtains and sleep-heavy air.
Lee Know hadn’t intended to fall asleep. He really hadn’t. But with Hyunjin’s slow breathing and the warmth of the blanket and the weight of the day pressing down on his limbs, his eyelids had gradually grown too heavy to fight.
He stirred when a faint, broken sound reached his ears. A quiet, pitiful noise—barely louder than a whisper. But it pierced through the silence like a crack in glass.
“Mmh…”
Lee Know’s eyes opened, still a little glazed from sleep. He blinked slowly, adjusting to the low light. Something felt off. Wrong.
He looked down.
Hyunjin was still lying against him, body curled close, arms loosely wrapped around Lee Know’s middle. But his face had changed. No longer peaceful. His brows were scrunched tightly together, and his lips were parted in a pained grimace.
“Mmh… ngh…”
Another soft whimper escaped him—so quiet, yet so raw it made Lee Know’s stomach twist.
“Hyunjin-ah?” he whispered, voice husky from sleep.
No answer.
Carefully, he leaned forward, supporting Hyunjin’s head with one hand while the other moved toward his face. His fingertips brushed across his temple, and then gently pressed to his forehead.
The heat hit him like a slap.
“Shit,” he hissed under his breath, jerking his hand back instinctively.
His eyes widened. “He’s burning up…”
His heart gave an anxious thump, fast and heavy.
He sat there for a second, frozen, staring at Hyunjin’s flushed cheeks and the way he twitched ever so slightly in his sleep—like he was fighting off something in a dream, something painful. Sweat clung to his hairline, and his lips looked dry, almost cracked.
Lee Know swallowed hard, breath catching for a moment in his throat. Then he moved.
Slowly, with the kind of care that only came from deep familiarity, he started easing Hyunjin off him. One arm slid from around his waist, the other gently guided his head down onto the pillow. Every movement was precise, quiet, barely disturbing the rhythm of Hyunjin’s shallow breaths.
“Just stay asleep,” he whispered under his breath, brows furrowed in worry. “I’ll be right back.”
He gently tucked the blanket a little higher around Hyunjin’s shoulders, letting his hand linger for a second longer than necessary before withdrawing.
Then, quietly as he could manage, he climbed off the bed, bare feet touching the cool floor with a soft tap. He crossed the room in a few long, silent strides, heart pounding in his chest now—not from sleep, but from the rising wave of concern building st
eadily in his gut.
Time to get the med kit.
++++
Lee Know returned just a few minutes later, med kit clutched tightly in his hand, a cold compress and thermometer sticking awkwardly out the side of it. His breath was a little uneven from moving fast, but his hands were steady. His expression, though, had changed. The usual cool detachment was gone—replaced by a tight line around his mouth and a flicker of unease in his eyes.
The moment he stepped back into the room, he went straight to Hyunjin’s side.
The younger boy hadn’t moved an inch.
Still curled up under the blankets, still pale and damp with sweat, still letting out those tiny, unconscious whimpers that made Lee Know feel like someone had their hand wrapped around his chest and was squeezing—slowly, cruelly.
“Okay…” he muttered under his breath, crouching beside the bed and unzipping the med kit quickly. “Let’s see how bad this is…”
He pressed the thermometer to Hyunjin’s forehead—one of those quick digital ones—but those few seconds felt like forever. His eyes flicked back and forth between the little screen and Hyunjin’s flushed face.
Then it beeped.
39.4°C.
Lee Know stared at the number, and his stomach dropped.
“No, no, no,” he whispered, the panic starting to bleed through his voice now. “You weren’t this hot earlier—how did it spike this fast?”
He stood up abruptly, pacing one short, agitated step back from the bed before forcing himself to breathe and crouching again. He wiped the sweat clinging to Hyunjin’s hairline with a tissue, his hand shaking just slightly.
Hyunjin whimpered again in his sleep, his head turning weakly to the side, his brows still furrowed, and his breathing shallow.
Then, without warning, his body jolted—and a choked, gurgled sound escaped him. Lee Know froze for half a second, instincts kicking in just as Hyunjin’s stomach convulsed violently.
“Shit—!” Lee Know scrambled for the small trash bin beside the bed, barely managing to get it under Hyunjin just in time as he retched, weak and shaking.
The sound was awful. Wet, miserable, helpless.
Lee Know held the bin steady with one hand and the back of Hyunjin’s neck with the other, keeping him upright as his body fought through wave after wave of nausea. When it finally eased, Hyunjin slumped weakly back onto the pillow, eyes still shut, face pale and damp with tears and sweat.
Lee Know’s throat tightened as he wiped Hyunjin’s mouth gently with a clean cloth. “God… You’re burning up and now this? What are you trying to do to me, huh?”
He grabbed the cold compress, activating it quickly before pressing it gently to Hyunjin’s burning forehead. The skin beneath it was scalding, and the coolness of the pack made Hyunjin shift slightly, a soft groan leaving his lips.
“I know, I know,” Lee Know murmured, voice suddenly lower, gentler. “It’s cold. Sorry, baby. But you need it.”
He reached for another clean towel from the kit, dampened it with bottled water he’d brought from the kitchen, and began dabbing it lightly across Hyunjin’s neck and arms, trying to cool the fever down without waking him.
Hyunjin’s skin was clammy. His lips had taken on a pale pink hue, and a slight tremor ran through his limbs every now and then. He looked fragile. Smaller, somehow. Like the confident, dramatic dancer Lee Know knew had been stripped away by the weight of the fever.
Lee Know’s jaw clenched as he adjusted the blanket, peeling it slightly down to help with air circulation while still keeping Hyunjin from getting too cold.
“You really don’t do anything halfway, huh?” he whispered, glancing at the younger boy’s flushed cheeks. “Even getting sick, you’re dramatic about it…”
His voice caught slightly on the end of the sentence. He reached out again and gently ran his fingers over Hyunjin’s forehead—just short, bristly fuzz now, the buzzcut damp with sweat but still somehow soft beneath his touch. His hand lingered there for a second, resting lightly against warm skin.
“You should’ve told me you weren’t feeling good earlier,” he murmured, his voice quieter now. “You always push yourself too hard…”
Hyunjin didn’t respond, only gave a small twitch and another tired noise—his body still burning, still locked in fevered sleep.
Lee Know sat back on his heels, rubbing at his eyes, then leaned forward again and replaced the cold compress with a fresh one. His movements had become methodical now—careful, efficient, but soft. Like he was trying to protect something breakable.
“Just stay asleep,” he whispered again. “I’ll take care of it.”
And so he did. He kept watch by the bedside, eyes flicking to the thermometer every fifteen minutes, fingers constantly checking Hyunjin’s pulse, his breathing, replacing compress after compress with quiet, devoted patience.
It wasn’t just about the fever. It was about him. About the way Lee Know’s chest tightened every time Hyunjin shifted and whimpered, about the way the silence between them now felt thick with unspoken care. About the way he never once thought about leaving t
hat room again.
Not until Hyunjin woke up feeling better.
++++
It had been nearly an hour of quiet monitoring.
The fever had dipped slightly—only slightly—but Lee Know wasn’t leaving his post. He’d changed the cold compress three times already, wiped Hyunjin’s face with cool water, and even propped him into a slightly better sleeping position. His eyes were tired, his back stiff from sitting in one position too long, but he hadn’t moved far. Not really. Just enough to grab what Hyunjin needed. Just enough to make sure the boy beside him was okay.
Then, suddenly, there was movement.
A soft sound—barely a murmur—escaped Hyunjin’s lips. His head turned faintly to the side. His brows furrowed again, and this time, his eyelids fluttered.
Lee Know was beside him in an instant.
“Hyunjin?” he whispered, crouching close to the bed, his hand reaching out to gently touch the younger’s shoulder. “Hey… you awake?”
Hyunjin’s eyes barely opened—just slits of dark, unfocused brown peeking through heavy lids. His face was flushed, his lips dry, and he looked like he was floating somewhere between sleep and delirium.
His mouth moved, a breath of a voice escaping. “H-hyung…?”
“I’m here,” Lee Know answered quickly, squeezing his shoulder gently. “It’s me. You’re okay.”
Hyunjin blinked slowly. His gaze tried to find the source of the voice, his eyes fluttering up toward Lee Know’s face but not quite focusing. “Lee... Know...?”
A flicker of a weak smile tugged at the corner of his mouth—barely there, exhausted and feverish—but real.
Lee Know’s chest tightened painfully. “Yeah, yeah. It’s me. Just relax, okay? You’re fine.”
Hyunjin shifted slightly, as if trying to say something more, but the effort made his face contort in discomfort. A soft groan slipped out.
“Don’t,” Lee Know said firmly but gently, running his hand over Hyunjin’s damp buzzcut in a soothing motion. “Don’t talk. Just rest.”
Hyunjin made another tiny sound, almost a protest, but Lee Know didn’t let him get further. He adjusted the pillow under Hyunjin’s head, then slowly sat back down beside him on the bed, carefully avoiding sudden movements that might disturb him.
“You don’t have to do anything right now,” he murmured, more softly this time, his voice barely more than a breath. “Just sleep. I’m not going anywhere.”
He reached up again, gently cupping the back of Hyunjin’s head, guiding it just slightly so it rested more comfortably against the pillow. Then, without even thinking, his fingers slipped into the boy’s hair—slowly, deliberately—and began to massage his scalp in soft, circular motions.
Hyunjin visibly relaxed under his touch.
His brows slowly unfurled. His lips parted with a quiet sigh. The tension in his shoulders seemed to melt, even if his body still radiated unnatural heat. And within seconds, his eyelids fell heavy again, lashes brushing against flushed cheeks.
Lee Know continued the motion gently, his fingertips light but steady.
“That’s it…” he whispered. “Just sleep. I’ve got you.”
There was no reply. Just a soft breath. Then another. And then, the soft, rhythmic pattern of Hyunjin’s sleep returning—deeper this time. Calmer.
Lee Know stayed right there, his fingers still gently combing through the younger boy’s hair, the quiet stillness of the room wrapping around them both like a blanket.
Hyunjin was asleep again.
And Lee Know didn’t move.
Not for a long time.
++++
Three hours passed. The apartment was quiet, save for the soft hum of the AC and the occasional rustle of fabric as Lee Know adjusted the damp towel on Hyunjin’s forehead. The fever had gone down a little—still too high, but no longer frightening. Lee Know hadn't moved much from his spot beside the bed, a bowl of cool water at his feet, his eyes fluttering closed every few minutes before snapping open again to check on Hyunjin.
Then—
click.
The front door opened.
Laughter and chatter poured in, followed by the shuffling of shoes and jackets being tossed aside.
“We’re back!” Seungmin called out. “You guys better not have eaten without—”
The sentence broke off.
From down the hallway, Felix and Han peeked toward the bedrooms, Han nudging Felix in the side. “Let’s go check on Sleeping Beauty and the broody guardian,” he whispered with a grin.
They padded softly down the hall and pushed the door open just a crack—only for their playful expressions to vanish in an instant.
Inside the room, the lighting was dim, but enough to reveal what they hadn’t expected at all.
Hyunjin was curled on the bed, clearly unwell—his face flushed, a towel folded and gently placed across his forehead, and cold compresses tucked beneath both his arms. He looked pale beneath the heat, his breathing uneven, though calmer than before.
Beside him, sitting on the edge of the bed with one leg curled up, was Lee Know. His head snapped up as soon as the door creaked open. Without a word, he raised one finger to his lips—a sharp, silent "shhh."
Felix’s eyes widened. Han blinked hard, taking a cautious step into the room.
“Hyung…” Felix’s voice was just a whisper. “Is he—? What happened?”
Lee Know slowly stood up, careful not to disturb the bed, and led them a step or two outside the room, whispering back with a tired expression on his face.
“I don’t know exactly,” he murmured. “Earlier he said he was just tired. But about four or five hours ago… I woke up, and he was burning up. His fever hit thirty-nine point four.”
Felix’s hand flew to his mouth. Han looked visibly alarmed.
“But I’ve been cooling him down,” Lee Know continued, his voice tight with exhaustion. “It's dropped to thirty-eight point five now. He hasn’t woken up properly since, just mumbled a little.”
Felix turned toward the bed again, his gaze softening. “He looked totally fine this morning…”
“Yeah,” Han echoed, quieter this time. “No wonder he didn’t wanna come.”
Footsteps echoed in the hallway, and soon the rest of the group was gathered at the doorway, each of them freezing as they saw the scene. The energy they’d brought home disappeared in an instant.
Jeongin’s eyes widened. “Hyung… is he okay?”
Lee Know ran a hand through his hair and exhaled. “He will be, I think. He’s sleeping now. Still hot, but not dangerous anymore.”
Chan took a few steps forward, carrying a bag of food in one hand. He looked between Hyunjin’s flushed face and Lee Know’s pale, clearly drained expression.
“You look dead on your feet,” Chan said quietly. “How long’ve you been up?”
Lee Know shrugged, avoiding the question. “Not long.”
“Liar,” Seungmin muttered. “You’ve clearly been watching him the whole time.”
Changbin stepped in, eyeing Lee Know from head to toe. “Bro, did you even blink while we were gone?”
“I wasn’t gonna leave him alone.”
“No one said you should,” Chan replied, placing a hand on Lee Know’s shoulder. “But now that we’re back, it’s your turn to rest.”
“I’m fine—”
“You’re not,” Chan interrupted gently but firmly. “Come on. We brought food. Eat something, then get a few hours of sleep. I’ll take care of Hyunjin now.”
Lee Know hesitated, his jaw tightening.
“I said I’m fine.”
“We know,” Seungmin said, crossing his arms. “But you're not a robot, hyung. If you pass out from exhaustion, then we’ll have two sick people on our hands.”
“I just… I wanna make sure he’s okay.”
“You did,” Chan said with a soft smile. “Look at him. You did everything right. He’s safe, he’s stable, and he’s not alone. Let us help now.”
Lee Know glanced back at Hyunjin, the weight of the last few hours visible in the set of his shoulders. He didn’t say anything right away.
Felix stepped closer, offering him a water bottle. “You were amazing, hyung.”
Jeongin added, “Seriously. Thank you for taking care of him.”
With a reluctant sigh, Lee Know finally nodded—barely.
“…Okay. Just for a bit.”
“Good,” Chan smiled. “Go eat something. Then crash on the couch or in your room. I’ll stay here with him.”
Lee Know gave Hyunjin one last look, the crease between his brows softening. His gaze lingered, a subtle whisper of guilt still in his expression, as if leaving for even a second felt wrong.
But finally—he turned to go.
Only a little.
He was still listening.
Still there.
Even if his body needed a break.
As Lee Know finally stepped out of the room, shoulders slumped and steps dragging just a little, Chan watched him go with quiet understanding. He waited until the door clicked softly behind him before turning back to the others, who were still crowded around the threshold, their expressions a blend of worry, guilt, and uncertainty.
“Alright,” Chan said quietly, lifting a hand. “Let’s give him space. Everyone out. He needs calm and quiet.”
“But—” Han started, but Felix placed a gentle hand on his arm.
Felix's brows were furrowed deeply, his voice laced with concern. “Hyung… are you sure we shouldn’t take him to the hospital? I mean, that’s a really high fever. What if it gets worse again?”
Chan looked over at Hyunjin for a long moment. The younger boy was still sleeping—if it could even be called that. His face was flushed and damp, and despite the cold compresses still in place, his body occasionally twitched as though fighting invisible discomfort. His lips were slightly parted, breath shallow but steady.
Chan exhaled and answered, keeping his voice low.
“If he doesn’t show improvement by morning, we’ll take him in. No hesitation.” His tone was steady, reassuring. “Right now, dragging him out of bed in this state might do more harm than good. He’s stable. Lee Know did everything right.”
Felix bit his lip, glancing back toward Hyunjin again. “Okay… okay.”
“Trust me,” Chan added, giving his shoulder a small squeeze. “We’re not taking any chances.”
Changbin, still standing near the door, nodded slowly. “We’ll keep checking on him.”
“No,” Chan said gently but firmly, raising a hand again. “I’ll stay with him tonight. You guys go eat. Get some rest. No more crowding the room.”
Jeongin hesitated. “But—”
“No buts,” Chan interrupted with a small smile. “The more noise we make, the worse it is for him. He needs quiet. He needs to sleep this off.”
There was a pause—then one by one, the boys gave reluctant nods.
Felix glanced back once more at the bed. “Tell us the second he wakes up, okay?”
“I will,” Chan promised.
The group slowly filed out of the room, casting one last glance toward their sleeping member as they did. The door clicked softly shut behind them, and just like that, the room returned to silence—
warm, dim, and hushed.
Just Chan.
And sick Hyunjin.
Chan sat quietly on the edge of the bed, elbows resting on his knees, watching Hyunjin with a tenderness that only surfaced in moments like this. The cold compress on Hyunjin’s forehead had gone lukewarm, so Chan gently replaced it with a fresh one. His movements were slow, careful — like he was handling something fragile. In a way, he was.
Hyunjin stirred slightly, a soft whimper escaping his lips as he turned his head just enough for his brows to furrow again. Chan instinctively reached out, gently resting his fingers against Hyunjin’s forehead, where the soft buzz of his newly shorn hair was still warm with fever.
“You’re okay,” he whispered. “Just rest, Jinnie.”
He adjusted the blanket again, making sure it wasn’t too heavy. The fever had gone down slightly — not ideal yet, but better than before. Chan glanced at the clock on the nightstand. It was past midnight now, and the dorm had fallen into stillness.
A few more minutes passed like that.
Then suddenly, in a voice hoarse and barely audible, Hyunjin mumbled into the quiet, “...Hyung?”
Chan leaned in quickly, concern flickering in his eyes. “I’m here.”
Hyunjin blinked slowly, eyes half-lidded and unfocused. “...Lee Know hyung?”
Chan smiled softly and shook his head. “Not Lee Know. Just me.”
Hyunjin blinked again, confused for a beat. Then his expression softened, and he whispered, “Chan hyung…”
“Yeah.” Chan reached out to gently take his hand, giving it a light squeeze. “I’m right here. You’re okay.”
There was a pause. Hyunjin’s fingers curled weakly around his, and with a tired smile playing at the corners of his lips, he murmured, “Where’s… Lee Know hyung?”
Chan’s heart melted a little. “He’s sleeping now. He stayed with you all evening. Took care of you like a pro, really. You were burning up.”
Hyunjin let out a breath that was almost a laugh. His eyelids were heavy again. “...I know… I remember a little… he was so warm…”
Chan chuckled under his breath. “Yeah. He didn’t want to leave your side. I had to practically force him to rest.”
Hyunjin smiled dreamily, eyes barely open now. “He’s always… soft inside…”
“Yeah,” Chan whispered. “We all know. Even if he pretends not to be.”
Hyunjin gave the faintest nod, and then his head lolled slightly to the side. Before his eyes closed completely, he murmured, “Thanks, hyung…”
Chan leaned in, brushing his thumb gently over Hyunjin’s knuckles. “You don’t have to thank anyone. Just get better, okay?”
No answer came — only the deep, slow breaths of someone finally resting.
Chan exhaled quietly and sat back in the chair beside the bed, the dim light casting soft shadows across the room. He reached over, pulled the blanket up a little higher on Hyunjin’s shoulder, and settled in for the night.
The dorm was silent. The fever was easing.
And for now, everything was okay.
++++
The End.