Withered - Chapter 38: Chapter 38

Chaeyoung blinks a few times as he's awakened by giggling sounds. When his eyes adjusted, he's greeted by Mina's smiley eyes. And to witness it first thing first after waking up are not for the faint of his heart. His pupil enlarges, blush burns through his cheeks and his face feels like a hot oven.
Mina notices the glowing red of his face and gives him a worried glance. She drags her hand that rests on his chest up to his forehead, and another on her own, comparing the temperature of their body. She studies his face and Chaeyoung could feel her breath on his skin, feel it slips between her lips. It makes things worse for him because of the nearness that could easily cause his heart to beat irregularly.
That is the time when it clicks to him that, she could be his. All he has to do is close that small distance.
The only thing that keeps him from moving is the realization that if he does suddenly kiss her, what will be the outcome? Adding the thoughts of--- they just get better. They're in the process of mending and working their relationship and to confess now, might not the right choice. He's still far from her and hasn't fully convinced the girl that he's worth loving for, hasn't gained her trust, heal her broken heart and binds up her wound.
Not yet. Chaeyoung tells himself as he breaks their eye contact and quickly looks around. Mina lowers herself, putting her head down on his chest, and focus listening to his racing heartbeat.
"Seriously!? Why do you easily catch a fever" Mina scold as she withdraws, certain that the younger is ill. Her brows connect as grave look craved on her face. Chaeyoung heaves a sigh in relief when the girl pulls away of him. He turns his head back, facing her and gives a deadpan expression.
"Look who's talking" He narrows his eyes at her, as to judge the girl for saying that. Mina stays silent, annoyed that it's a fact. She is the one who's always sick because of her weak immune system and the one who is always there for her is him. She ends up defeated then roll her eyes. Truth to be told, he is indeed feeling unwell as sweat trickle down the sides of his face, and his lips are dry.
"I'm just worried" Mina mumbles as she looks away, hates to see him in his weakest state. Chaeyoung smile as he catches her words then holds her hand, squeezing it to call for her. She averts her gaze to him, getting the signal. They stare at each other before he looks downwards, playing with their intertwined hands.
"Then, that's how I feel..each time you have fallen ill. You, laying down in the bed, with pale skin, glistening in sweat, and pained look on your face....then there's me, watching helplessly, hating myself that I can do nothing but to be there for you." He looks up to her, smiling even though it hurts because of the crack on his lips.
"....and believe me, in those time...I'm beyond worried" He continues.
Mina gives him a warm smile but it lit with a small light of sadness. "I know, I'm really thankful for your presence...... Me, on the bed and you sitting beside me, holding my hands." She pulls her long sleeve and wipes his sweat while she recalls the memories of the past, bringing a broad smile to her face.
"....and believe me, in that time, you help more than anything. Because of you...I feel safe and secure, I don't feel lonely"
Chaeyoung is stunned by it then let out a small laugh as he realizes she's mimicking his words. Mina joins him in the laughter then playfully pinch his nose, a bit too hard he groans and flick her hand. The girl hisses as she pulls away, shooting dagger at him.
"So..." Mina starts while checking his exact temperature using the digital thermometer and jots it down on a piece of paper. "I'm going to do the same as you did. Wait here. I'll bring the food, eat first then the medicine" Mina stands and walk out of the room, glancing over him for the last time. He smiles as to assure her that he's fine and with that Mina reciprocated the smile and make her way to the dining room.
*  *  *  *
Chaeyoung stares at the bed trays in front of him and on top of it placed the food Mina prepared earlier. A chicken porridge that she just ordered, kimchi, rolled eggs, gimbap, seasoned spinach, a mushroom soup, shrimp pasta salad, beef meatball, and steak. His mouth twitches as to fight laughter for his random thought, Food from east to west under the same meal.....sounds great.
He fixes his position leaning against the headboard with a pile of a pillow on his back to support him. He steals a glance towards the girl that sits on the bedside chair, holding a book that fully covers her face. She's busy reading, as to everyone thought but no, it is an act. Mina quickly picks up a book and pretends to read it, hiding the fact that she's nervous and afraid that the food may taste awful. She isn't really paying attention to anything but roams her eyes as she waits for Chaeyoung to comment something.
Chaeyoung arc his brows, mouth slightly agape as he stares at the girl weirdly then to the book she's reading and back to her, only her crown is shown behind the hardcover. He slowly tilts his head to the side, 90 degrees to read the title of the book.
"Can you really read upside down?"
Upon hearing that, Mina immediately pulls the book down and she is really holding it wrong. She clears her throat and in one swift, turn the book and again bury her face behind it, ignoring his question. The girl bites her lips, feels like she wants to disappear into thin air because of embarrassment.
Did I say something wrong? Chaeyoung thought as he looks at her in confusion, trying to understand her action but giving up when his stomach asks to be filled. Mina raises her chin, peeking over the book when she heard the utensil hitting against each other. She examines  Chaeyoung's expression after he takes the very first bite of the beef meatball before he shoves it inside his mouth, munching it and take a sip of water from time to time.
His face is unreadable and it's bugging Mina that he hasn't said a word but just eating the food, chomping it. *
Does it mean, it tastes good? She asks herself a question that she can't answer. Curiosity could kill and Mina can't help but to stop him and question him about it. Chaeyoung just stares at her when the girl asks about the taste and he just smiles and blindly says, "It taste.....funny haha" And ends it with an awkward laugh.
"Then don't eat" Mina snaps and shut her book, putting it on the bedside table. She's about to take away the plates but the cub quickly put his arms around the mini table, protecting it. "How can you take back the food that you cooked for me. It's mine now..." He whines then stab the rolled eggs with a fork, pushing it inside his mouth and chew on it. Purposely, makes a sound to annoyed the brunette.
Mina sigh and sit back straight, folding her arms as she shoots bullets with her eyes, and it's a machine gun. Chaeyoung would have probably died by now if a glare could actually kill. He laughs nervously then act like he's being shot through the heart, and another on his stomach, and another on his shoulder.
"Mina, I'm dying..argh save me"
"Knock it off," Mina says, sighing. Couldn't believe that she can bear that childish act of him for years. Chaeyoung just laughs seeing the girl shakes her head and continue eating. As Mina watch him devouring the food, she keeps wondering how it really tastes like, kinda regrets that she doesn't give it a try before she brings the food to him. But, it should be fine since she follows precisely like what written in the recipe.
After pondering over it, she catches Chae-young's hand and grabs the spoon he used, using it to take a little from the mushroom soup and taste it. She freezes for a while and Chaeyoung just stares at her, she moves too quick he couldn't react on time. Mina groans and eats the other food and everything taste the same except the porridge that she buys--- it's salty. She looks up to him and Chaeyoung just do a peace sign before he takes the spoon back and proceeds to eat.
"Don't eat it. I'll cook for you again" Mina says, sounding serious. She tries to take away the plate again but Chaeyoung stops her for the second time. The cub knows when to jokes around and when not, just by hearing the tone Mina use, he learns that the girl is really upset and disappointed.
"It's delicious...really, maybe it's your nerve that sends false information to the brain haha" Chaeyoung wants to lift up the mood but it doesn't work at all as the girl sit rigidly in her position, staring into space. And to his surprise, he heard a small sniffle and it freaks him out. He instantly scoots closer and put his hand on her chin, lightly pulling it so they face each other.
"Hey, It's okay..I mean it tastes fine for me...besides how could I reject the first meal you cook for me. It doesn't really matter what it tastes like, I'll eat it all" He smiles sincerely, wiping her tears. Mina wanted to fly and find the blogger that wrote all the recipe, or is it her fault that she might be mistaken ingredients. But above that, she's mad at him for eating the food casually when it feels like you're eating a whole packet of salt, no wonder he keeps drinking for every bite.
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Chaeyoung ends up finishing all of it even when Mina persuades him to stop and even have a small fight for it, he insists on eating it all. The girl just sighs and give up on him. Later, she makes him a banana smoothie ice cream as she feels guilty. She orders Chaeyoung not to help her but just watch her do the work and only alarm her if she's doing it wrong. And it works out since it's not that complicated, she success making it and the cub doesn't forget to compliment her for it.
They spend the rest of the day watching a movie marathon, Mina suggestion. The girl has her head nestles in Chaeyoung's chest and her arms hugging his waist as their body wraps with a warm blanket. Definitely, the guy has his hard time to cope with his pounding heart, while she keeps questioning him about it not knowing it isn't really because of his fever but herself. Fortunately, as time goes by he manages to calm himself from the intense emotions as the thought of Mina's affection and attention for him is no more than a, platonic love.
We clave to our friends for a sense of completeness, affirmation, belonging, and love; for the sake of honour and promises to keep; for intimacy in its numerous colours but still inside the proverbial line. That's where Mina is and Chaeyoung fully aware of it so having himself gets all nervous from the simple hug---that probably means nothing to her, somehow makes him feels small, hopeless and stupid. He gets rid of his fantasy of having a romantic relationship and be a good friend, after all, he knows that Mina is trying to accept him back and she needs more time.
"Hmmm, it's not beating hard anymore. I guess you get better a little?" Mina asks and pulls away, raise her chin a little to face him.
"I don't know..haha maybe?" He jokes and Mina just scrunches her nose from his unsure answer and it makes him laugh again. She takes the thermometer and records his temperature again, and to her relief, it decreased.
"Thank God" She smiles at him and he averts his gaze somewhere in the room, chuckle when the small gesture makes his heart flutter. Even, he can't believe himself anymore. Good for him, the girl moves and lay down, head on his lap as her eyes start to get heavy. Chaeyoung silently sighs, thankful that she change her position and he can finally focus on the screen.
Mina faces the side, where the television is, yawning occasionally. She takes his hands, seeking warmth playing with it under the duvet. She halts as her thumb comes across something, and slowly taking their hands out. Her eyes twitch and narrow as she tries to see clearly.
The room is under dimly lit, brightened by the flashing light of the television that causes her eyes to shines in a bluish glow. As the picture flickers, it became more and more visible--- the scars and cut on his wrist and all over his arm. She stares at it whenever she caught a glimpse, rubbing the scars with her finger, examining it- some are even new as it has a pink to reddish colour, some have light-coloured and flat and some have a slight ropelike appearance with a small width.
She breathes in and glances over him that has his eyes locked in front, not realizing Mina's movement and too numb to feel the small itchy and pain whenever she touch his scars. Mina closes her eyes, swallows the urge to get into the topic as it too sensitive and she's not that senseless to knows that now, is not the right time to talk about it. With that mindset, she pushes the matter to the side and decides to sleep.
*  *  *  *
Chaeyoung stretches his arms upwards as the movie ends, it's just then he realizes Mina is already asleep. He brushes her hair, and smile as he scans her facial features even poking her moles for fun. As the hour hand pointing to sharp 11 pm, Chaeyoung finally moves from his position and replace his laps with the penguin pillow. Though he doesn't want to leave---appreciating the sight in front of him---he has to because he has his own bed, the couch in the living room. He stares at their hands and slowly pulls away, taken aback when Mina grabs his pinky finger, holding it tightly but still with her eyes closed.
"Sleep here" She whispers. Chaeyoung eyes widen, couldn't believe what he heard and ask if he heard it wrong but the girl repeats the same thing for him.
"I also have something to ask and please don't lie" She adds.