“We won the Rookie Award thanks to all of you!”
Siwoo unwittingly frowned slightly at Yechan’s voice shouting loudly behind him. As booming sounds alternated right next to him, the throbbing headache seemed to get worse.
He’d been so distracted by the sudden live broadcast notification that he couldn’t even ask for headache medicine.
“Thank you. Nimo~ We love you!!”
Having barely held on, Siwoo quickly made a heart with both hands and pushed it forward, smiling as he spoke in a tone higher than usual, as if he’d never frowned at all.
“For celebrating with us……”
He couldn’t even take in the rapidly rising chat window. The fever that had taken over his body spread even to his eyes, and Siwoo closed them. He wanted to rest like this. Swallowing the sigh that seemed ready to flow out, he slowly opened his eyes and forced strength into his trembling lips.
“Siwoo did cry quite a bit, didn’t he? Siwoo-ssi, are you okay?”
Not having heard Chan’s words as he conducted the live broadcast, Siwoo was waving both hands toward the screen with a playful expression.
“Coco.”
At the familiar scent he felt from behind, Siwoo lifted his head slightly upward. Siwoo had been sitting at the end of the three-seater sofa in the middle of the waiting room. Chan sat next to him, and Sangjun sat next to Chan. On the two-seater sofa next to the three-seater were Yechan and Evan.
He’d deliberately sat in the spot farthest from Evan.
Having come behind the sofa at some point, Evan was bending his upper body and lightly embracing him from behind.
“I know you’re having a hard time, but this is all I can do for you right now……”
It felt like the cool peppermint scent was flowing from his head down through his body. At the same time, the severe headache that had been terrible enough to make him lose consciousness gradually subsided. The coolness he conveyed seemed to drive away the boiling heat.
At the voice flowing gently into his ear, Siwoo blinked rapidly.
“When hyung says things like that, you’re going to make Siwoo cry again.”
Instead of Siwoo, who couldn’t say anything, Evan spoke with a smile, and Siwoo hurriedly raised his hand to cover his face. What expression was he making now? He felt like he might lose even the smile he’d been maintaining with difficulty, drained of strength.
“I didn’t say it to make him cry. Siwoo really has no tears, but he must have been holding back all this time to cry today.”
Before Siwoo could say anything, they were already having a different conversation. The hand filled with coolness stroked his fever-filled head. Siwoo, who raised his weak hand and brushed away Evan’s hand touching his head, shook his head slightly.
Whether it was 5 minutes or 10 minutes, he couldn’t remember at all what conversation had taken place or what he’d said.
As soon as the live broadcast ended, Siwoo bent his upper body and let out the long sigh he’d been holding back. There was still a camera in the waiting room that always followed them, but that would go through the editing room’s hands anyway.
“Siwoo, are you okay?”
“Ah…… I think I have a cold. If you have cold medicine, please give me some. Fever reducers too.”
Siwoo, who barely mumbled while curled up, closed his eyes. He didn’t know if he could last until the after-party at the hotel. If he took medicine now and rested during the trip to the hotel, he might be able to manage somehow with the medicine’s help.
“You don’t need to give him cold medicine.”
Siwoo let out an empty laugh at Evan’s words. He won’t even let me take medicine as I please?
I’ve been trying to hold on and act fine, does he really think I’m okay?
Siwoo, who stretched out one hand and waved it in the air to indicate he wanted it quickly, slowly sat up.
Shouldn’t he take it as soon as possible for the medicine to take effect?
“I have fever reducers, painkillers, and comprehensive cold medicine, but can you take these together?”
At Daehwan’s voice, Siwoo slowly straightened his bent body. And he stretched out his arm to grab the water bottle on the table.
“Will you really be okay?”
The medicine Daehwan had held out while checking on Siwoo with a voice full of worry disappeared into thin air. Following the medicine with his gaze, Evan stood there with a serious expression. He didn’t want to quarrel over something like this. He knew things were a bit strained from what had just happened, but first a person has to survive before doing anything else, right?
“Evan, I’m really sick. Stop playing around and give it to me.”
“I’ll give it to you in the car, so let’s move first. Sangjun hyung, please bring Siwoo out.”
Evan was someone who took the lead when it came to Siwoo’s matters. In a situation where he should have taken care of him and brought him out himself, instead he took all the medicine Daehwan was holding and left the waiting room first, causing everyone’s gaze to fall on Siwoo, who remained.
The two had shouted and fought in the waiting room just moments ago. It would look like that subtle emotion remained. With an empty smile, Siwoo gritted his teeth and stood up. It was Sangjun who grabbed the arm of Siwoo, who swayed slightly.
“Your fever is pretty bad?”
Sangjun was flustered by the heat that rushed at him as soon as he wrapped his arm around Siwoo’s back to support him. It was Siwoo who had been doing the live broadcast with a bright smile just moments ago. Had he endured in this condition? Up close, Siwoo’s forehead was covered in cold sweat.
“Hyung, I’ll carry him.”
Until Evan left, everyone had thought he just had a bit of a cold with a fever and slightly poor condition. But seeing him struggle to control his body, Yechan quickly crouched down in front of Siwoo.
Normally he would have helped Siwoo get on Yechan’s back, but instead Sangjun pulled Siwoo further into his arms. He recalled what he’d discussed with Evan. And Evan had left the waiting room first, specifically asking him to bring Siwoo out.
“I’m fine. I can go by myself. I’m just a bit dizzy, I’ll take medicine in the car. I just need to move now, right?”
As the severe dizziness that had occurred when standing up disappeared, Siwoo pushed away Sangjun, who was supporting him, with his weak hand. He’d already drawn enough people’s attention. He didn’t know how many articles full of all sorts of malicious speculation would pour out.
He couldn’t cause trouble for the staff and members over something like a mere cold. Outside the waiting room was no different from a battlefield. The reporters covering the music awards, other singers and their staff. People’s mouths were truly frightening.
In this industry, beyond creating something from nothing, burying a person with it happened all too commonly. And no one took responsibility for it—it was a place where there was only survival or death.
“You……”
Siwoo covered his face with a mask. Reddened eyes could easily be attributed to crying after receiving the Rookie Award.
“Sangjun, check on Siwoo. Let’s move first.”
At Daehwan’s words as he returned from briefly stepping away, everyone crossed the busy corridor.
Just a bit further and they’d reach the back door, and the van would be in front of it. The fever and headache that had seemed to subside for a moment came back stronger than before. If not for Sangjun’s hand lightly supporting his lower back, he wouldn’t have been able to walk properly.
Siwoo, who had been walking solely as Sangjun led him, staggered as a hand snatched him from the side and was pulled in that direction.
“……”
“It’s okay, it’s me.”
What came before the voice was his scent. When Siwoo suddenly raised his head, he was in an unfamiliar car. Not even sitting in a seat, Siwoo sat facing Evan on his thighs and felt all the strength drain from his body.
The phrase about not having the strength to move a single finger seemed meant for times like this.
Once his eyes closed, he couldn’t easily open them. With each breath he took in Evan’s scent, Siwoo instinctively burrowed deeper into his embrace.
“……It doesn’t seem like late manifestation.”
As the coat that had been wrapped around his body disappeared and someone unfamiliar muttered while pulling up one of his sleeves, Siwoo lifted his heavy eyelids. In the back seat of the rapidly moving car, it wasn’t just the two of them.
“What are you doing……”
His mumbling voice was muffled by the mask he was wearing.
“You really don’t feel anything?”
English, not Korean, floated through the air. A man who looked quite aged. Having confirmed even the syringe held in his hand, Siwoo tried to pull away his wrist that the man had grabbed. Clearly something was happening without his knowledge.
“There’s only your pheromones in this car.”
“Coco, just a moment. Let me draw blood first and then I’ll give you medicine.”
At Evan’s touch as he removed the mask and stroked his back, Siwoo, who let the strength leave his body, let out a low sigh. In his burning hot body, only the parts touching him felt cool. He’d clearly heard the words late manifestation and pheromones.
Evan’s words that he might have late manifestation came to mind.
This suddenly? Now? Why?
But he’d clearly heard the words that only Evan’s pheromones were in the car. Then that means it’s not late manifestation. The continuing headache and heat were similar to when suffering from a fever and cold.
“What medicine.”
Siwoo, who had flinched at the prickling feeling of the needle piercing his skin, raised his head at the word medicine. He recalled that Evan had taken the medicine Daehwan had been holding in the waiting room earlier. Had he deliberately prevented him from taking medicine to examine him?
“Evan, let’s at least know what you’re thinking. I’m really sick and exhausted. I’ve gone along with your rhythm until now, so give me the medicine you got from Daehwan hyung.”
Since no answer came back, Siwoo, who wet his dry, cracked lips with the tip of his tongue, didn’t even have the strength to get angry. Strangely, Evan’s pheromones felt endlessly close and then repeatedly disappeared.
Siwoo, who had been trying to escape his embrace, stiffened his body with a start at his action of wrapping him more with one arm and pulling him into his embrace. It’s not me who’s the problem but you?
“Please just stay still.”
A rustling sound was heard, and he watched the man who, following him, was now drawing blood from Evan’s arm. With his head heavier than usual, he couldn’t think properly.
Siwoo, who buried his face in Evan’s nape, realized in that moment. What the end of the heat sweeping through his body pointed to, what he’d thought was a terrible fever and cold was like two sides of paper.
“Fayden, what about my medicine?”
He heard the conversation up to there, but couldn’t understand any more. They who had been conversing in English until just now were now conversing in French. It seemed as if they’d deliberately switched to French knowing he could understand. Rapid words were exchanged between the two and Evan’s voice grew a bit louder.
Eventually the car that had been running stopped and the man in the seat next to them got out.
And what filled the car that started moving again was silence. Evan’s large hand slowly descended from Siwoo’s head to his nape, to his back.
Siwoo trembled at the sensation conveyed by that touch. What followed the heavy pain was unfamiliar pleasure. But when that hand disappeared, what returned was heavy pain.
“You know, don’t you?”
Was it because of the fever? Having spoken, Siwoo took a deep breath at the unfamiliar sweet scent. What circled around him was the familiar peppermint scent, but sweet fragrance was seeping within it. Waiting for Evan’s answer, Siwoo rubbed his fevered forehead against him.
“……What?”
“What’s happening to us right now.”
I want to touch, closer. Siwoo’s hand that had been hanging limply touched Evan’s chest. His hotly beating heart resonated within his palm.
“I told him to bring your medicine, but you’re taking herbal medicine so he can’t give it to you because he doesn’t know what side effects there might be.”
“Is this…… late manifestation?”
The person who seemed to be a doctor had said it didn’t seem like late manifestation, but that seemed to be the only thing that could explain this situation.
“No, heat cycle.”
At the precise term Evan articulated, Siwoo’s heart sank.
