Day 21
12.04 AM
Lee Haru

problems arise

"pull over"
my eyes are fixated on jeongguk's expression
and the tight grip of his fists on the wheel
"jeongguk please
pull over now"

he's coughing uncontrallably
just like the night we saw the first snow together
except that this time it sounds much worse

his face contorts into an expression of pain
and i have to hold onto his hands
caressing them gently as i whisper for him
to relax and catch his breath

he shakes his head stubbornly
refusing to stop the car because he insists
that it wouldn't take long to reach busan
"at this speed, we'll be there in a half hour"

"jeongguk i swear to god don't be stupid
you need to rest, now stop the damned car
or so help me i will jump out right now"

with that said, jeongguk finally slows down
and i demand for us to switch seats

"rest, please, you're as pale as a corpse"
i say worriedly, reaching over to place
a hand on his burning forehead
another fever?

"i'll be fine" jeongguk reaches for a tissue
and i notice him swallowing down
whatever contents that's coming up his throat

"if you need to puke i'll sto—"

"just keep going
i'm really fine"
he insists once more
and i sigh in frustration

after a few minutes
i spot a motel sign ahead of us
by the side of the road

i turn to my side
seeing jeongguk's intense eyebags
and how his chest rises at an uneven pace
he looks so. . . terribly exhausted

i stop the car in front of the motel
and jeongguk stirs in his sleep
"come on, i'll get us a room"

after multiple attempts to persuade
him to just stay the night here
i find myself dragging a sulky jeon jeongguk
towards the door of our room

once inside, i proceed to lay him on the bed
when he rushes towards the bathroom
and slams the door shut
leaving me shocked and speechless for a moment

"jeongguk, you okay?"
i knock lightly and i hear him flushing the toilet
before there's the click of the door opening again
i step back with a worried glance
"did you throw up?"

jeongguk rubs his forehead and shakes his head
before his legs give way and he collapses down
but not before i reach out to him
and pull him carefully towards the bed

"god i'm scared"
i hurriedly pull the blankets up
and adjust the temperature of the room
"you're so sick"

and it's funny how even in such a painful situation
jeongguk still manages to smile
"i know"

"i think i have some pills here somewhere"
i dig into my backpack
taking out some antibiotics
and a packet of biscuits
"here, take these
you have to fill yourself up"

he shakes his head, refusing my offer
"please don't be like this" i prompt again
tethering on desperation

it must've been obvious
because he finally he lets out a sigh and gives in
probably because he doesn't want to disappoint me

after that's done, i turn off the lights
and take my spot beside him on the bed

the room the silent for a moment
as we lay side by side
jeongguk's breathing eventually eases
but mine does not
i just can't seem to fall asleep with the thought
that the boy beside me may be in pain

"tell me you're going to be alright"
i whisper

i get no reply
and i hope that he's already asleep