#9 - For everyone, from your mixup partner!
Title: The Threshold - Chapter 1
For: Everyone! :D
Pairing/Focus: Jinyoung, Gongchan (Chanshik) (Friends!B1A4)
Rating: PG
Word Count: 3,012
Summary: Jinyoung starts volunteer work at a hospital.
“You are stupid.”
“No, if I actually was stupid, I would’ve been in basics like you instead of advanced,”
“Oh really? Well, I’m not the one who has to spend my summer volunteering, so who’s calling who stupid,” Junghwan snorted. “I still can’t believe you voluntarily signed up for advanced humanities. Anyone with a brain would’ve realized the hundred hours of community service wasn’t worth it, and especially over the summer? Besides, the courses are practically the same. Admit it, you’re just looking to beef up your resume.”
Jinyoung got up from the table and flopped on the couch, ignoring the other’s smug look. “You act like taking an advanced course is a bad thing,” he said.
“It’s not, but dude, all your classes are going to be advanced next year. Good luck with that,” Junghwan said, getting a can of soda from the fridge. “So, do you have any ideas where you want to go?”
Jinyoung played with the straggling threads. “I don’t know, maybe the school? I think the library’s looking for volunteers.”
Junghwan laughed. “That’s just asking to die of boredom.”
The summer air pressed down heavily, and the boys shifted uncomfortably in their sweat-drenched shirts. Jinyoung swatted at a passing fly.
“Do you have any better ideas?”
The can of soda hissed, and Junghwan flicked the tab away. “Sunwoo was thinking of going to a hospital, said they were offering volunteer work. Not sure which hospital though.”
Jinyoung scoffed. “That idiot? I can’t even believe he’s in advanced to begin with, who would trust him to work in a hospital?”
Taking a sip, Junghwan sighed and pressed the sweating can against his cheek.
“Who knows. Hey, maybe you can convince Dongwoo to come with you too, but I doubt it; every summer he volunteers at the school for some reason.”
This was true. Dongwoo seemed to live at the school, no matter what season. Why he would ever want to spend more time there when everyone else was so eager to get out was beyond him. Nevertheless, he figured it was worth a shot.
To: Shin Dongwoo
wanna volunteer at a hospital?
The reply came a minute later.
“That dick,” Jinyoung muttered, tossing his phone.
Junghwan choked mid-sip, putting the can down hastily before fumbling to catch the cell.
Taking one look at the screen, he burst into laughter.
From: Shin Dongwoo
cant. I’m volunteering at the school’s library.
“He’s actually going to the library,” Junghwan cackled, handing Jinyoung back his phone. “But honestly, it kinda fits him, you know?”
Jinyoung pushed himself out of the sinkhole he made in the couch and headed for the front door. “I’ll just volunteer at the hospital by myself. It’ll look good on my resume anyways.”
Junghwan crushed the can and hurled it at the other’s retreating back.
“See? All you care about is whoring yourself out to colleges. Oh hey, maybe you can actually get to know Sunwoo!”
Jinyoung swatted away the projectile, putting on his shoes and opening the door.
“As if,” he muttered. “See you.”
“Text me if you see any dead people!”
* * *
To: Idiot
which hospital u volunteering at?
From: Idiot
y should i tell u
To: Idiot
I’ll change ur name from idiot to your actual name on my phone
From: Idiot
wanna giv me suji’s number too
Jinyoung glared at his phone.
To: Lee Junghwan
whats the name of the hospital the idiot’s volunteering at
From: Lee Junghwan
Hold on
From: Lee Junghwan
Dong-A University Hospital. you have to be there at 8
To: Lee Junghwan
thanks
Jinyoung scribbled down the address and stumbled into bed, dreaming of stacking books with dead people in the library. He woke up in a cold sweat, cursing Junghwan.
The morning after was fantastically muggy, and with a groan, Jinyoung peeled himself from the sheets. After showering, he dressed himself in what he hoped looked decent, and headed out the door to catch the bus.
His trudge from the bus stop to the hospital doors was interrupted by a shout.
“Hey!”
Jinyoung cringed inwardly, but didn’t break his stride.
“What are you doing here? You didn’t even give me Suji’s number,” Sunwoo said, his tone accusatory as he caught up alongside Jinyoung.
“And I never will,” Jinyoung said coolly as they passed through the automatic doors.
The air conditioner greeted them at full blast as the two headed to the front desk.
“What?! But you said-”
“Hello, we’re here to sign up for volunteering?” Jinyoung said to the receptionist, smoothly cutting off Sunwoo’s protests.
Receiving clipboards with applications attached, they seated themselves in the waiting area, Sunwoo eyeing Jinyoung resentfully.
Jung Jinyoung… 19… 11/18/1991… Male…
He glanced sideways in the middle of writing, looking at Sunwoo flip through the application listlessly.
“You look confused,” he said casually.
“No, I don’t.”
“No, I’ll help, ready? Name, Cha Stupid, 2 years old-”
Jinyoung scrambled out of his seat to avoid the flying pen.
“At this rate, they’re never going to accept you,” he called over his shoulder, heading to the reception desk.
Jinyoung could practically hear Sunwoo fuming, and he smirked. While the two really had nothing in common to create a rivalry out of, they still somehow butted heads over the most insignificant things; Dongwoo blamed it on their stubborn, headstrong personalities.
“Neither of you are willing to yield to the other over anything,” Dongwoo said in response to one of Jinyoung’s many complaints about Sunwoo. “I’ve seen MMA fighters act less vicious to each other compared to you two.”
The most recent scrap the two had found to squabble over involved the cell phone number of Bae Suji, Jinyoung’s English project partner last year that Sunwoo had suddenly developed a wild crush on. Jinyoung took more than small satisfaction in the fact that he now had something to hold over Sunwoo’s head.
“By the way,” the receptionist said, as she took the application Jinyoung handed her, “there will be a tour of the hospital by the head of our volunteering department in about five minutes, if you are interested. They will meet right at that end of the desk,” she gestured.
“Oh, thank you.”
Making his way to where she pointed, Jinyoung leaned against the desk and glanced upwards. The hospital had been recently renovated, and a high, glass dome encased the main entrance. The room was generously spotted with large, leafy plants, and the waiting area he had sat in resembled a lounge; the chairs were sleek in their design, but comfortable, and there was a café and convenience store at the back.
But physical comfort, in Jinyoung’s experience, gave little to no ease for those hanging onto their last hopes.
It wasn’t this hospital that several years ago, he had been ushered from his father’s bedside to stay in the waiting room, his mother’s cries trailing on his footsteps as he walked away with the nurse. He remembered clambering onto a couch as the nurse knelt down next to him, trying to explain to him that his father had passed away due to lung cancer while he looked at her in bewilderment.
Little as Jinyoung was though, seated on the plush cushion surrounded by clean walls and colorful paintings, and later standing at his father’s funeral, he was aware of this terrible emptiness that didn’t seem to go away.
Then there was that incident when he was fourteen and walked into the apartment with fresh cigarette smoke clinging to his jacket when he truly realized what it meant to keep trying to fill a well with a hole at the bottom. He remembered his mother’s stricken face, the way she approached him and pulled him to her chest without a word.
He didn’t touch a cigarette again after that.
“Hey, you coming?”
The words startled Jinyoung out of his daze, and he looked up to see a large group of people start to move away from the reception desk. A boy about his age was looking at him, and Jinyoung quickly straightened up.
“Oh, um, is this for the hospital tour?”
“Yup,” the boy responded. “Are you one of the new volunteers?”
“Yeah,” Jinyoung answered, walking with the boy to join the group. “Thanks for getting me, I was kinda out of it.”
“No problem. I’m Chanshik, what’s your name?”
“Jinyoung,” he responded, quickly studying the other boy.
He was fairly tall, with tanned skin and long, sharp eyes. As the tour went on, Jinyoung found out that Chanshik was two years younger than he, lived in Suncheon, and had a habit of bringing up weird conversations:
“Do you think dust collects in certain areas because they’re having, like, a dust family convention?” Chanshik asked as they walked past a janitor attacking the hallway corner with a vacuum. “And every time we sweep the floor, we’re destroying dust civilizations. What is a dust bunny, anyways?”
“I, uh…” Jinyoung couldn’t think of an appropriate response.
He also had a certain fondness for aliens, but despite his eccentricity, he was quite likeable, and Jinyoung found himself debating with Chanshik whether or not dinosaurs could have been neon pink.
“I will invent a time travel machine just to prove you wrong. So when do you start?” Chanshik asked.
The tour had just finished, and they were standing back in the main entrance.
“I think on Monday, after they process my application,” Jinyoung said. “I’m supposed to get an email with the details sometime before Friday night.”
“Oh okay, cool. Most likely since you’re a new volunteer, they’ll assign you to one of the staffs, and you’ll follow them around the hospital,” Chanshik said. “I actually have to go now, so I’ll see you in a couple days?”
“Yeah sure,” Jinyoung said, “see you then.”
Chanshik waved enthusiastically as he headed towards one of the hallways branching out from the main entrance, and Jinyoung waved back. He stopped abruptly when he realized Sunwoo had come out of nowhere between them.
“Are you waving at me?” Sunwoo mouthed incredulously, pointing at himself.
The grin slid off Jinyoung’s face. “As if,” he mouthed back before promptly turning on his heel and leaving the building.
* * *
After a weekend of couch potato-ing at Junghwan’s house and futilely trying to get Dongwoo to come out of the school, Monday finally came around.
And just like clockwork, Sunwoo managed to find Jinyoung on the way to the hospital, demanding Suji’s number.
“Look, if you want her number so bad, why don’t you ask her yourself?” Jinyoung snapped, swatting away Sunwoo’s pleads.
Sunwoo stared at him with his wide, innocent eyes that totally belied his extraordinary immaturity and thoughtlessness; it was a mystery to Jinyoung how Junghwan actually enjoyed his company.
“Can’t you just tell me her number and save me the trouble?” Sunwoo whined, batting at Jinyoung’s arms.
“You know, have you ever thought that maybe she doesn’t want to give you her number?” Jinyoung retorted.
“That’s why I’m asking you,” Sunwoo said.
“Please,” Jinyoung said, holding up a hand, “I don’t need any more evidence of your idiocy, I have enough.”
“You are such an asshole,” Sunwoo said, rolling his eyes.
“Forever yours,” Jinyoung said, putting as much sarcasm into his voice as he could before heading off to the elevators.
The second Sunwoo split off into another direction, Jinyoung pulled out his phone to scan the email again. He was scheduled to restock blankets and sheets throughout the pediatric ward; not a particularly exciting job in Jinyoung’s opinion, but then again, hours were hours.
After several minutes of wandering around what seemed like a never ending maze of offices, Jinyoung finally managed to locate the one he was to report to.
The staff member he was assigned to follow around for the week was a young, fresh-faced woman just graduated from Dong-A University. Jinyoung was instructed to push around the cart filled with varying sizes of sheets from room to room, and after the fifth, she decided he was ready to go by himself.
“Here are some more sheets for you,” she said, patting the last of the blankets down into the cart. “I think you’ll be able to get through Section B, and part of C before you run out. When you do, come back to the office we first met in. If I’m not there, you can ask someone to page me, and I’ll try to get there as soon as I can. Do you have any questions?”
Jinyoung shook his head. “I’m good, thank you.”
“Alright, then, good luck!”
The second Jinyoung wheeled his cart around the corner, he was suddenly ambushed by a flurry of arms and legs.
“Jinyoung!”
“Jesus, Chanshik, you almost capsized my cart,” Jinyoung said, shooting Chanshik a look.
The younger simply returned a smile, casually resting an arm on Jinyoung’s shoulders.
“So, how’s it going?”
“It’s alright, just going around restocking the cabinets with these,” Jinyoung said, gesturing to the sheets in the cart. “Shouldn’t you be working?”
“I’ve got some free time, figured I should come and help you,” Chanshik said, guiding the cart with his hip into a room on the left.
“Songjoonie!” Chanshik exclaimed, bounding over to the side of the bed. “How is my number one fighter doing today?”
When Chanshik entered the room, Jinyoung noticed that almost immediately, the boy’s face broke out into a wide smile, half of it disappearing behind bandages wrapped around the small head. One of his arms and legs were in casts, upon which were numerous, colorful scribbles.
“I’m good! The doctor said I might be able to try walking in a week!”
“What, really?” Chanshik’s mouth fell open in shock. He raised a hand, and the boy high-fived him proudly. “That’s awesome! Hey, even Wolverine is jealous of how fast you’re getting better.”
Jinyoung noted the numerous X-Men posters on the walls surrounding the bed.
“Oh! By the way,” Chanshik motioned Jinyoung over, “this is Jinyoung! Starting soon, he’ll be taking care of you alongside the doctors. You can rely on him, don’t worry.”
The boy didn’t even glance at Jinyoung. “Why can’t you stay with me?”
“Come on, you’re going to make him feel bad,” Chanshik said. When the boy pouted, Chanshik’s face softened into a warm smile. “Don’t worry, I’ll still be around.”
“Okay…” Sungjoon said reluctantly, finally turning to look at Jinyoung.
Jinyoung gave an awkward wave, hoping his smile looked at least somewhat friendly.
“I don’t know how you do it,” Jinyoung said, sighing as they left the room to head off to the next one.
“Do what?”
“I don’t know, like, talk to the kids so naturally. I feel bad, but I just…”
Jinyoung trailed off, a solid rock of guilt dropping in his stomach.
Chanshik looked thoughtful for a moment.
“No, I understand, it does take getting used to. It’s hard to remember that in accidents, disease, even death; kids don’t get spared. They’re a lot more perceptive than you think though, so you have to learn to look past the broken arm and stuff. It’s not just about making them comfortable by bringing blankets and stuff; we have to help them become comfortable with their illnesses and injuries too. It’s not easy, being cooped up in a hospital day in and day out.”
Taking one look at Jinyoung’s troubled expression, Chanshik laughed, patting him on the shoulder. “Don’t worry so much, you’ll get the hang of it.”
“We’ll see,” Jinyoung sighed. “Are you going to come with me to the next room?”
“Nah.”
“Eh?!”
At Jinyoung’s sudden outburst of protest, Chanshik laughed.
“I’m kidding, I’m kidding, of course I’m coming with you. I’d be crazy to let you go off by yourself so soon.”
Jinyoung glared at Chanshik before taking off with the cart, making a derisive snort. “I never said I needed you.”
Chanshik followed behind, a grin tugging at his lips. “Okay, sure.”
“I don’t!”
“Really.”
“Yes!”
“You just passed the room,” Chanshik said nonchalantly, a full blown grin on his face as he watched Jinyoung almost fall headfirst into the cart from stopping so suddenly.
* * *
As far as most people knew, Shin Dongwoo spoke in two volumes: quiet, and quieter. Very few people had ever heard him speak louder than that, and even fewer people could boast the misfortune to having faced his full wrath, one of those people including-
“GONG CHANSHIK, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!”
“I’m sorry! Look, I know it’s my fault, but you have to hear me out-”
Chanshik dodged a flying encyclopedia, sticking out his skinny arms defensively. “Can we please have a civilized conversation about this, I can explai-”
“Explain what? That you’re an incredibly senseless idiot who I cannot believe I even trusted for a second, and let me get this straight, his name is Jinyoung?”
“Um… yes?”
“Small eyes? Skinny? More stubbornness in his pinky finger than anyone ought to have in an entire lifetime?”
Chanshik paused, lowering his arms for a brief second. “Um… yup, that sounds like him.”
A travel guide book caught him squarely in the face.
Dongwoo slumped into a chair, taking off his glasses and kneading his forehead in exasperation. “I’ll accept partial fault for
allowing you to leave the school, but now that something like this has happened…” He groaned, burying his face in his hands.
“Well, on the bright side,” Chanshik started, rubbing his nose ruefully, “it doesn’t seem like he knows... that... much…?”
Dongwoo lifted his face to pick up a book, and Chanshik flinched. Waving it threateningly for a bit, he finally put it back down, adjusting the glasses back on his face.
Straightening his shirt, he stood up. “Well, the damage has been done. I’ll just… leave it up to you while I make sure none of the council gets wind of this.”
Chanshik brightened, grinning widely. “Yes, sir!”
****************
What had happened that made Dongwoo so upset at Chanshik?
What exactly is their relationship anyways?!
And why can't Jinyoung and Sunwoo just get along? =.= They're such children...
Find out in future chapters!
…to be continued…
For: Everyone! :D
Pairing/Focus: Jinyoung, Gongchan (Chanshik) (Friends!B1A4)
Rating: PG
Word Count: 3,012
Summary: Jinyoung starts volunteer work at a hospital.
“You are stupid.”
“No, if I actually was stupid, I would’ve been in basics like you instead of advanced,”
“Oh really? Well, I’m not the one who has to spend my summer volunteering, so who’s calling who stupid,” Junghwan snorted. “I still can’t believe you voluntarily signed up for advanced humanities. Anyone with a brain would’ve realized the hundred hours of community service wasn’t worth it, and especially over the summer? Besides, the courses are practically the same. Admit it, you’re just looking to beef up your resume.”
Jinyoung got up from the table and flopped on the couch, ignoring the other’s smug look. “You act like taking an advanced course is a bad thing,” he said.
“It’s not, but dude, all your classes are going to be advanced next year. Good luck with that,” Junghwan said, getting a can of soda from the fridge. “So, do you have any ideas where you want to go?”
Jinyoung played with the straggling threads. “I don’t know, maybe the school? I think the library’s looking for volunteers.”
Junghwan laughed. “That’s just asking to die of boredom.”
The summer air pressed down heavily, and the boys shifted uncomfortably in their sweat-drenched shirts. Jinyoung swatted at a passing fly.
“Do you have any better ideas?”
The can of soda hissed, and Junghwan flicked the tab away. “Sunwoo was thinking of going to a hospital, said they were offering volunteer work. Not sure which hospital though.”
Jinyoung scoffed. “That idiot? I can’t even believe he’s in advanced to begin with, who would trust him to work in a hospital?”
Taking a sip, Junghwan sighed and pressed the sweating can against his cheek.
“Who knows. Hey, maybe you can convince Dongwoo to come with you too, but I doubt it; every summer he volunteers at the school for some reason.”
This was true. Dongwoo seemed to live at the school, no matter what season. Why he would ever want to spend more time there when everyone else was so eager to get out was beyond him. Nevertheless, he figured it was worth a shot.
To: Shin Dongwoo
wanna volunteer at a hospital?
The reply came a minute later.
“That dick,” Jinyoung muttered, tossing his phone.
Junghwan choked mid-sip, putting the can down hastily before fumbling to catch the cell.
Taking one look at the screen, he burst into laughter.
From: Shin Dongwoo
cant. I’m volunteering at the school’s library.
“He’s actually going to the library,” Junghwan cackled, handing Jinyoung back his phone. “But honestly, it kinda fits him, you know?”
Jinyoung pushed himself out of the sinkhole he made in the couch and headed for the front door. “I’ll just volunteer at the hospital by myself. It’ll look good on my resume anyways.”
Junghwan crushed the can and hurled it at the other’s retreating back.
“See? All you care about is whoring yourself out to colleges. Oh hey, maybe you can actually get to know Sunwoo!”
Jinyoung swatted away the projectile, putting on his shoes and opening the door.
“As if,” he muttered. “See you.”
“Text me if you see any dead people!”
* * *
To: Idiot
which hospital u volunteering at?
From: Idiot
y should i tell u
To: Idiot
I’ll change ur name from idiot to your actual name on my phone
From: Idiot
wanna giv me suji’s number too
Jinyoung glared at his phone.
To: Lee Junghwan
whats the name of the hospital the idiot’s volunteering at
From: Lee Junghwan
Hold on
From: Lee Junghwan
Dong-A University Hospital. you have to be there at 8
To: Lee Junghwan
thanks
Jinyoung scribbled down the address and stumbled into bed, dreaming of stacking books with dead people in the library. He woke up in a cold sweat, cursing Junghwan.
The morning after was fantastically muggy, and with a groan, Jinyoung peeled himself from the sheets. After showering, he dressed himself in what he hoped looked decent, and headed out the door to catch the bus.
His trudge from the bus stop to the hospital doors was interrupted by a shout.
“Hey!”
Jinyoung cringed inwardly, but didn’t break his stride.
“What are you doing here? You didn’t even give me Suji’s number,” Sunwoo said, his tone accusatory as he caught up alongside Jinyoung.
“And I never will,” Jinyoung said coolly as they passed through the automatic doors.
The air conditioner greeted them at full blast as the two headed to the front desk.
“What?! But you said-”
“Hello, we’re here to sign up for volunteering?” Jinyoung said to the receptionist, smoothly cutting off Sunwoo’s protests.
Receiving clipboards with applications attached, they seated themselves in the waiting area, Sunwoo eyeing Jinyoung resentfully.
Jung Jinyoung… 19… 11/18/1991… Male…
He glanced sideways in the middle of writing, looking at Sunwoo flip through the application listlessly.
“You look confused,” he said casually.
“No, I don’t.”
“No, I’ll help, ready? Name, Cha Stupid, 2 years old-”
Jinyoung scrambled out of his seat to avoid the flying pen.
“At this rate, they’re never going to accept you,” he called over his shoulder, heading to the reception desk.
Jinyoung could practically hear Sunwoo fuming, and he smirked. While the two really had nothing in common to create a rivalry out of, they still somehow butted heads over the most insignificant things; Dongwoo blamed it on their stubborn, headstrong personalities.
“Neither of you are willing to yield to the other over anything,” Dongwoo said in response to one of Jinyoung’s many complaints about Sunwoo. “I’ve seen MMA fighters act less vicious to each other compared to you two.”
The most recent scrap the two had found to squabble over involved the cell phone number of Bae Suji, Jinyoung’s English project partner last year that Sunwoo had suddenly developed a wild crush on. Jinyoung took more than small satisfaction in the fact that he now had something to hold over Sunwoo’s head.
“By the way,” the receptionist said, as she took the application Jinyoung handed her, “there will be a tour of the hospital by the head of our volunteering department in about five minutes, if you are interested. They will meet right at that end of the desk,” she gestured.
“Oh, thank you.”
Making his way to where she pointed, Jinyoung leaned against the desk and glanced upwards. The hospital had been recently renovated, and a high, glass dome encased the main entrance. The room was generously spotted with large, leafy plants, and the waiting area he had sat in resembled a lounge; the chairs were sleek in their design, but comfortable, and there was a café and convenience store at the back.
But physical comfort, in Jinyoung’s experience, gave little to no ease for those hanging onto their last hopes.
It wasn’t this hospital that several years ago, he had been ushered from his father’s bedside to stay in the waiting room, his mother’s cries trailing on his footsteps as he walked away with the nurse. He remembered clambering onto a couch as the nurse knelt down next to him, trying to explain to him that his father had passed away due to lung cancer while he looked at her in bewilderment.
Little as Jinyoung was though, seated on the plush cushion surrounded by clean walls and colorful paintings, and later standing at his father’s funeral, he was aware of this terrible emptiness that didn’t seem to go away.
Then there was that incident when he was fourteen and walked into the apartment with fresh cigarette smoke clinging to his jacket when he truly realized what it meant to keep trying to fill a well with a hole at the bottom. He remembered his mother’s stricken face, the way she approached him and pulled him to her chest without a word.
He didn’t touch a cigarette again after that.
“Hey, you coming?”
The words startled Jinyoung out of his daze, and he looked up to see a large group of people start to move away from the reception desk. A boy about his age was looking at him, and Jinyoung quickly straightened up.
“Oh, um, is this for the hospital tour?”
“Yup,” the boy responded. “Are you one of the new volunteers?”
“Yeah,” Jinyoung answered, walking with the boy to join the group. “Thanks for getting me, I was kinda out of it.”
“No problem. I’m Chanshik, what’s your name?”
“Jinyoung,” he responded, quickly studying the other boy.
He was fairly tall, with tanned skin and long, sharp eyes. As the tour went on, Jinyoung found out that Chanshik was two years younger than he, lived in Suncheon, and had a habit of bringing up weird conversations:
“Do you think dust collects in certain areas because they’re having, like, a dust family convention?” Chanshik asked as they walked past a janitor attacking the hallway corner with a vacuum. “And every time we sweep the floor, we’re destroying dust civilizations. What is a dust bunny, anyways?”
“I, uh…” Jinyoung couldn’t think of an appropriate response.
He also had a certain fondness for aliens, but despite his eccentricity, he was quite likeable, and Jinyoung found himself debating with Chanshik whether or not dinosaurs could have been neon pink.
“I will invent a time travel machine just to prove you wrong. So when do you start?” Chanshik asked.
The tour had just finished, and they were standing back in the main entrance.
“I think on Monday, after they process my application,” Jinyoung said. “I’m supposed to get an email with the details sometime before Friday night.”
“Oh okay, cool. Most likely since you’re a new volunteer, they’ll assign you to one of the staffs, and you’ll follow them around the hospital,” Chanshik said. “I actually have to go now, so I’ll see you in a couple days?”
“Yeah sure,” Jinyoung said, “see you then.”
Chanshik waved enthusiastically as he headed towards one of the hallways branching out from the main entrance, and Jinyoung waved back. He stopped abruptly when he realized Sunwoo had come out of nowhere between them.
“Are you waving at me?” Sunwoo mouthed incredulously, pointing at himself.
The grin slid off Jinyoung’s face. “As if,” he mouthed back before promptly turning on his heel and leaving the building.
* * *
After a weekend of couch potato-ing at Junghwan’s house and futilely trying to get Dongwoo to come out of the school, Monday finally came around.
And just like clockwork, Sunwoo managed to find Jinyoung on the way to the hospital, demanding Suji’s number.
“Look, if you want her number so bad, why don’t you ask her yourself?” Jinyoung snapped, swatting away Sunwoo’s pleads.
Sunwoo stared at him with his wide, innocent eyes that totally belied his extraordinary immaturity and thoughtlessness; it was a mystery to Jinyoung how Junghwan actually enjoyed his company.
“Can’t you just tell me her number and save me the trouble?” Sunwoo whined, batting at Jinyoung’s arms.
“You know, have you ever thought that maybe she doesn’t want to give you her number?” Jinyoung retorted.
“That’s why I’m asking you,” Sunwoo said.
“Please,” Jinyoung said, holding up a hand, “I don’t need any more evidence of your idiocy, I have enough.”
“You are such an asshole,” Sunwoo said, rolling his eyes.
“Forever yours,” Jinyoung said, putting as much sarcasm into his voice as he could before heading off to the elevators.
The second Sunwoo split off into another direction, Jinyoung pulled out his phone to scan the email again. He was scheduled to restock blankets and sheets throughout the pediatric ward; not a particularly exciting job in Jinyoung’s opinion, but then again, hours were hours.
After several minutes of wandering around what seemed like a never ending maze of offices, Jinyoung finally managed to locate the one he was to report to.
The staff member he was assigned to follow around for the week was a young, fresh-faced woman just graduated from Dong-A University. Jinyoung was instructed to push around the cart filled with varying sizes of sheets from room to room, and after the fifth, she decided he was ready to go by himself.
“Here are some more sheets for you,” she said, patting the last of the blankets down into the cart. “I think you’ll be able to get through Section B, and part of C before you run out. When you do, come back to the office we first met in. If I’m not there, you can ask someone to page me, and I’ll try to get there as soon as I can. Do you have any questions?”
Jinyoung shook his head. “I’m good, thank you.”
“Alright, then, good luck!”
The second Jinyoung wheeled his cart around the corner, he was suddenly ambushed by a flurry of arms and legs.
“Jinyoung!”
“Jesus, Chanshik, you almost capsized my cart,” Jinyoung said, shooting Chanshik a look.
The younger simply returned a smile, casually resting an arm on Jinyoung’s shoulders.
“So, how’s it going?”
“It’s alright, just going around restocking the cabinets with these,” Jinyoung said, gesturing to the sheets in the cart. “Shouldn’t you be working?”
“I’ve got some free time, figured I should come and help you,” Chanshik said, guiding the cart with his hip into a room on the left.
“Songjoonie!” Chanshik exclaimed, bounding over to the side of the bed. “How is my number one fighter doing today?”
When Chanshik entered the room, Jinyoung noticed that almost immediately, the boy’s face broke out into a wide smile, half of it disappearing behind bandages wrapped around the small head. One of his arms and legs were in casts, upon which were numerous, colorful scribbles.
“I’m good! The doctor said I might be able to try walking in a week!”
“What, really?” Chanshik’s mouth fell open in shock. He raised a hand, and the boy high-fived him proudly. “That’s awesome! Hey, even Wolverine is jealous of how fast you’re getting better.”
Jinyoung noted the numerous X-Men posters on the walls surrounding the bed.
“Oh! By the way,” Chanshik motioned Jinyoung over, “this is Jinyoung! Starting soon, he’ll be taking care of you alongside the doctors. You can rely on him, don’t worry.”
The boy didn’t even glance at Jinyoung. “Why can’t you stay with me?”
“Come on, you’re going to make him feel bad,” Chanshik said. When the boy pouted, Chanshik’s face softened into a warm smile. “Don’t worry, I’ll still be around.”
“Okay…” Sungjoon said reluctantly, finally turning to look at Jinyoung.
Jinyoung gave an awkward wave, hoping his smile looked at least somewhat friendly.
“I don’t know how you do it,” Jinyoung said, sighing as they left the room to head off to the next one.
“Do what?”
“I don’t know, like, talk to the kids so naturally. I feel bad, but I just…”
Jinyoung trailed off, a solid rock of guilt dropping in his stomach.
Chanshik looked thoughtful for a moment.
“No, I understand, it does take getting used to. It’s hard to remember that in accidents, disease, even death; kids don’t get spared. They’re a lot more perceptive than you think though, so you have to learn to look past the broken arm and stuff. It’s not just about making them comfortable by bringing blankets and stuff; we have to help them become comfortable with their illnesses and injuries too. It’s not easy, being cooped up in a hospital day in and day out.”
Taking one look at Jinyoung’s troubled expression, Chanshik laughed, patting him on the shoulder. “Don’t worry so much, you’ll get the hang of it.”
“We’ll see,” Jinyoung sighed. “Are you going to come with me to the next room?”
“Nah.”
“Eh?!”
At Jinyoung’s sudden outburst of protest, Chanshik laughed.
“I’m kidding, I’m kidding, of course I’m coming with you. I’d be crazy to let you go off by yourself so soon.”
Jinyoung glared at Chanshik before taking off with the cart, making a derisive snort. “I never said I needed you.”
Chanshik followed behind, a grin tugging at his lips. “Okay, sure.”
“I don’t!”
“Really.”
“Yes!”
“You just passed the room,” Chanshik said nonchalantly, a full blown grin on his face as he watched Jinyoung almost fall headfirst into the cart from stopping so suddenly.
* * *
As far as most people knew, Shin Dongwoo spoke in two volumes: quiet, and quieter. Very few people had ever heard him speak louder than that, and even fewer people could boast the misfortune to having faced his full wrath, one of those people including-
“GONG CHANSHIK, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!”
“I’m sorry! Look, I know it’s my fault, but you have to hear me out-”
Chanshik dodged a flying encyclopedia, sticking out his skinny arms defensively. “Can we please have a civilized conversation about this, I can explai-”
“Explain what? That you’re an incredibly senseless idiot who I cannot believe I even trusted for a second, and let me get this straight, his name is Jinyoung?”
“Um… yes?”
“Small eyes? Skinny? More stubbornness in his pinky finger than anyone ought to have in an entire lifetime?”
Chanshik paused, lowering his arms for a brief second. “Um… yup, that sounds like him.”
A travel guide book caught him squarely in the face.
Dongwoo slumped into a chair, taking off his glasses and kneading his forehead in exasperation. “I’ll accept partial fault for
allowing you to leave the school, but now that something like this has happened…” He groaned, burying his face in his hands.
“Well, on the bright side,” Chanshik started, rubbing his nose ruefully, “it doesn’t seem like he knows... that... much…?”
Dongwoo lifted his face to pick up a book, and Chanshik flinched. Waving it threateningly for a bit, he finally put it back down, adjusting the glasses back on his face.
Straightening his shirt, he stood up. “Well, the damage has been done. I’ll just… leave it up to you while I make sure none of the council gets wind of this.”
Chanshik brightened, grinning widely. “Yes, sir!”
****************
What had happened that made Dongwoo so upset at Chanshik?
What exactly is their relationship anyways?!
And why can't Jinyoung and Sunwoo just get along? =.= They're such children...
Find out in future chapters!
…to be continued…