thirty six

"we'll be alright, i want to try again." -try again, d.ear x jaehyun.

——

misun's day had been long. she was almost done at the studio, packing up her camera and tripod, when her phone rang. the number was unknown. she hesitated for a moment but answered anyway.

"hello?"

"hey, it's hoshi," came the cheerful, slightly breathless voice on the other end.

"hoshi?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "what's going on?"

"so... um... don't freak out, okay?" he said quickly. "i got your number from woozi's phone."

her stomach twisted. "woozi?" she asked cautiously.

"he's... he's sick. like, really sick," hoshi admitted, his voice softening. "can't move, can't get out of bed. but i... i thought maybe, just maybe, if you were there, it'd make him happy."

misun froze. for a second, she wasn't sure she should go. her heart twisted at the thought of seeing him like that. and yet... something inside her stirred.

"i... i don't know, soonyoung..." she whispered.

"i know, i know," he said quickly, trying to reassure her. "i get it, you don't forgive him yet, and you don't have to. but... just... go. he's miserable. he's lonely. he needs... well, he needs you."

misun hesitated, biting her lip. "okay... fine."

"i'll send you the address," hoshi said, his voice brightening a little. "he'll be... really happy to see you."

after work, misun walked briskly through the streets, rain earlier in the day leaving the air crisp and fresh. the building hoshi had sent her loomed ahead, and her nerves twisted into a tight knot in her stomach.

she climbed the stairs two at a time and knocked softly on the apartment door. a weak voice called out, "come in."

as she stepped inside, her breath caught.

jihoon was lying on the couch, pale, lips slightly blue, blankets pulled around him. he looked smaller somehow, fragile.

"misun?" he croaked, his eyes opening slowly. when he saw her, his eyes widened in surprise. "y-you're... actually here?"

"of course i'm here," she said softly, pushing her bag aside and moving closer. "you're sick, and soonyoung called me. i'm here."

his chest rose with a small, shaky breath. "i... didn't expect—i didn't think you'd come."

she knelt beside him, brushing a stray strand of hair from his forehead. "i couldn't not come."

he blinked at her, a weak, small smile forming. "thank you... really."

she reached over and adjusted the blanket around him, careful not to touch his pale skin too roughly. "you're going to be okay. you just need rest. i'll make sure of that."

he tried to sit up, but she gently pushed him back down. "don't move. you need your energy."

he laughed softly, a quiet, hoarse sound. "i can't believe you're actually here."

"of course," she said again, smiling faintly. "i'm not letting you suffer alone."

for the first time in days, he felt a little warmth—not just from the blankets, but from seeing her. the presence that had haunted his thoughts for weeks now filled the room, softening the ache in his chest.

"i'm... really glad," he whispered, closing his eyes for a moment. "that you came."

she reached for his hand, careful but firm. "i'm here. now rest while i make some soup for you."

and in that quiet apartment, with rain still dripping somewhere outside, misun realized that despite everything, she still wanted to be there—for him, for herself, for the chance to see him okay again.