Knock

Knock

Knock

Seonghwa waits outside Areum's room that morning, waiting for the small, "Come in," that sounds muffled through the door.

Seonghwa slides the door open and steps inside, a faint smile on his lips, "How are you feeling, Areum?"

Areum looks up to see her younger brother and smiles widely as he sits in the chair by her bedside, "I've been waiting for you to come back to visit me, mister," she mocks, but drops the act quickly, "Hmm... I've been better, I keep feeling this tickling in my stomach, but the cough just won't come up," she sighs, "It's been hard to sleep with such an uncomfortable feeling, to be honest."

Seonghwa looks at her worriedly, "Let me get your medicine, sis."

"Sis?" Areum laughs, "Since when have you reverted back to your old ways, Hwa?"

Seonghwa shakes his head and gets out her medicine, handing her the pills, keeping his mouth shut this time.

"Ah, ah, ah- Don't go quiet on me now," Areum hums, swallowing her medicine, "And... Don't act like I didn't see that smile on your face when you came in this morning," she settles back against her bedframe and smiles softly, "It's nice to see you happy again, Seonghwa..."

Seonghwa unconsciously plays with his fingers, rubbing his index finger against the pad of his thumb, his eyes drifting out the window and towards the view of the boys' building both his and Areum's rooms have view of.

"Is there any reason you'd like to tell me?" She tries, wanting Seonghwa to at least open up a little bit to her, even though she's sure she knows the reasoning already, "Is it a certain someone?"

Seonghwa turns back to his sister and the gentle smile returns at the mention of someone in his life bringing the joy back into his. He nods.

"You know... It's okay to talk to me, Seonghwa. My lips are always sealed for you," Areum says, bringing her fist up to her mouth in anticipation for a cough that never comes. Her head starts to feel a little woozy, but she doesn't worry about it because it often feels like that after her medicine.

"I-I met someone," Seonghwa starts, mentally beating himself up about stuttering. His mind is filled with thoughts of San, thinking about the night before when they were lying under the stars together... Thinking about the way San's lips felt against his own, and the tingly warm feeling that still lingers on them.

Areum smiles wider, "Really? Tell me more! Are you going to bring them to the festival?" she pushes. She knew that her brother wasn't interested in Eunji, her... Best friend- that their parents had arranged him with. She looks down nervously at the thoughts of Eunji, seemingly having something on her mind as she brings her fingers up to touch her lips.

"H- They are one of the guests that mother and father brought here, and yes," Seonghwa catches himself before he revealed something treacherous about the certain someone that has staked claim on his heart and mind, not wanting his sister to be scared for him, or of him.

"Is it Choi San?" Areum decides to go all in.

Seonghwa is left wordless as his sister utters San's full name, his heart filling with warmth. He looks away nervously, not wanting to confirm or deny his feelings for San to Areum.

"It's okay..." Areum says softly, his voice catching as she starts to cough.

Seonghwa's eyes widen, getting increasingly worried about his sister's coughing as it doesn't stop like it usually does. He stands up and leans over, seeing that she's coughing up blood on her hand, "Areum? Areum?" He says frantically, his calling drowned out by Areum's intense coughing.

Seonghwa's heart almost stops when the sound of coughing ceases and his sister's body limply falls back onto her bed. He gets up hurriedly and runs to his parents' room, unexpected tears trailing down his cheeks. This has never happened to Areum before.

~

"I heard that lessons are cancelled for today."

"Really, why?"

"The Park's daughter passed out this morning, she's getting really bad."

San overhears a conversation among the Chrysalis pack members and narrows his eyes. All of the pack members look full of sorrow as they speak about their pack leader's daughter, Areum.

Did something happen to Areum?

San goes back into the boys' building and looks around, finding Hongjoong and Jongho on the couch together talking.

"Did you guys hear anything about lessons being cancelled?" San asks, wondering if everyone was made aware while he was out for a morning run trying to diffuse the high of being with Seonghwa last night.

Hongjoong looks up at him first, "Yeah, Seonghwa's sister wasn't feeling well this morning."

"Gyungho seemed really concerned when he made the announcement this morning," Jongho pops in, his heart rate increasing as San sits across from them, in clear view of his and Hongjoong's clasped hands. He's thankful, however, when San says nothing about it.

San nods, taking it all in for a moment. He wonders how Seonghwa is doing, knowing how concerned he's been about his sister's condition. He looks up when he hears footsteps approaching them, seeing Yunho and Mingi coming to sit with them as San stands back up.

"I'm going to go check on Seonghwa," San says abruptly, coming back to the present with his thoughts, "I'll be right back," He hums, rushing out of the building and making his way towards Seonghwa's room.

Yunho looks over at Hongjoong and Jongho with a thoughtful look, "He heard about Areum, huh?"

The duo nod back at him and Yunho lays his head against Mingi's shoulder, "Min, I really need to do something about this..." He whispers, and Mingi rubs his mate's head, running his fingers through Yunho's soft locks.

"I know, love... Maybe we can talk to Seonghwa about it, okay?" Mingi says, planting a kiss on the top of Yunho's head.

~

San slides open the door to Seonghwa's room without knocking, and Seonghwa's head whips around, taking in a deep breath.

"You just have to come in unexpectedly, don't you, San?" Seonghwa says, a fabricated smile stitched onto his lips, that threatens to fall as soon as he put it up. His eyes are puffy and his face is sunken in from the tears he shed earlier, and he's scared that the tears are going to make a reappearance.

"Hwa..." San says softly, coming over to sit on his bed with him after closing the door back, "How is Areum doing? How are you doing...?" He lifts his hand up to caress Seonghwa's cheek, seeing how he leans into his touch.

Seonghwa bites on his bottom lip, trying to withhold his tears, but as soon as San asks him how he is, he breaks down in his arms.

San hushes him, bringing him into his arms so he can hold him, "It's going to be okay, Hwa... It's all going to be okay, you don't have to talk about anything right now if you don't want to," San reassures, "We can go hang out with everyone to get your mind off of it, maybe?" San tries to make what he thinks would be a good suggestion.

Seonghwa sniffles and sits up, looking up into San's eyes with a nod. He's only just accepted San's affectionate self, and in moments like these, especially, he will never regret his decision to do so. San makes him feel warmth in the coldest of times in his life.

"Can we?" Seonghwa asks, taking a deep breath in an attempt to contain his tears. Maybe seeing his friends he's made will make him feel better and get his mind off of the sad possibilities that could befall his sister. His parents told him to try to keep a good head on his shoulders about the situation, but he knew that they were also torn up. Areum still hasn't woken up.

Later that morning, San leaves the room with Seonghwa and sees everyone in the center of the grounds, so the two boys make their way over to them all.

"Finally, you're back!" Jongho says, "I'll be right back, my ass," he teases and Hongjoong gives him a small shove on his shoulder and a narrow-eyed look telling him to behave.

Yunho comes up to Seonghwa instantly, his eyes full of worry for the boy, "How are you feeling, Seonghwa?" He asks, wanting to be a good friend, but the question once again causes Seonghwa to get choked up.

"Horrible," Seonghwa says bluntly.

San wants so badly to grasp onto his hand, but being out in public as they are now prevents him from doing so. He looks over at his fated mate, seeing him looking quite empty, and it breaks his heart.

"My sister, Areum, had a really bad coughing fit this morning and... She won't wake up," Seonghwa reveals in front of everyone, "She's been sick for a really long time, I'm sure you've heard..."

Yunho nods slowly at Seonghwa's sad situation, but he keeps hope as he squeezes Mingi's hand to let him know he has to do something. Mingi's squeeze back on his hand makes him feel like he has his support behind him.

"I could try to make something for her, Seonghwa," Yunho offers, "My pack is known for medicines."

"I know... When we had come last year, my parents tried to pick up some medicines from Essences, but none of them worked for her," Seonghwa says solemnly.

Mingi steps up, "Yunho is the most talented apothecary that Essence has, I'm sure that he will be able to help Areum, Seonghwa. I'm sure of it," He puts emphasis on his last sentence.

Seonghwa sighs, feeling his body gravitating towards San, but he stops himself, "We could try... My parents are willing to try anything at this point, and as am I. I would give anything to see my sister healthy and happy again..."

Kyelin steps up as well, "I can also attest to Yunho's skills in medicine. He managed to make something up that completely healed his father of a long term illness.

Seonghwa feels better with the more assurance he's receiving, but he still can't help but be nervous about the whole thing. So much is happening all at once it seems. With his sister's illness, Yunho's willingness to make her medicine, San's affection, and the festival happening tomorrow.

Yunho smiles heartily at Seonghwa, "Don't worry, Seonghwa. I will put my heart and soul into this medicine."

The whole sad vibe is interrupted by Wooyoung's cheerful self running towards them all. Yeosang's previously quiet self is brought to joy at the sight of Wooyoung.

"Guys! Guys! The festival is tomorrow!" Wooyoung cheers, happy to be over his heat and finally back with his friends. His heat lasted forever in his eyes, but as soon as it ended, he felt an immense feeling of happiness that's been absent from his life.

Yeosang smiles brightly and hugs Wooyoung, but doesn't say anything due to the unsure atmosphere around all of them.

"What's wrong?" Wooyoung says, looking around, seeing the less than joyous looks of Seonghwa, San, and Yunho, "Did I disturb something...?"

Seonghwa shakes his head, trying to stay worryless like Yunho said. Everything is going to work out, he hums to himself. He needs to try and enjoy the time he has with San and his friends while he's still able to, right?

"Not at all," Seonghwa says with a bit more life to his voice, "Maybe we could all meet up tomorrow morning to help set up?" He suggests, wanting to get more involved with his friends.

Wooyoung's eyes widen at Seonghwa's suggestion, "Yes!" He exclaims, happy to accept Seonghwa's offer. He's not sure if he's ever heard him say so many words to them all before, so he's going to take it while he still can.

Yeosang's heart feels full at seeing Wooyoung like this, giving him memories of how Wooyoung behaved before they were mated off. He's missed his Wooyoung so much.

Kyelin smiles and nods, "I'll get up extra early!"

Dongwoo chuckles, "Me too, is there anything that we should bring?"

"I could make a wreath of leaves and flowers to hang up," Hongjoong chimes in and Jongho bursts out laughing.

"What a loser," Jongho hums, but groans when Hongjoong elbows him in the side.

"Shut up, you know how to make them too," Hongjoong hisses and Jongho rolls his eyes, crossing his arms.

Wooyoung smiles and sighs, "Ah, I've missed you guys..."

San looks over at Seonghwa to see how he's doing and he doesn't miss the curve upwards of his lips.

Maybe everything will turn out alright, after all.

End of Chapter Twenty Nine