EXO Next Door

Chapter 17

No one POV

Gayoung saw an empty couch and an empty chair. She looked around before seeing the note on the table. Gayoung sat down as she picked up the note.

'Jieun fainted. I'm taking her to the doctor. Don't tell Taehyun.'

Gayoung started to panic. She didn't know what to do since she's always rushed to Jieun's side if she has fainted. But, if Gayoung were to leave now, it's cause the boys to be suspicious.

"Gayoung noona! Do you know where the vacuum is?!" Taehyun yelled.

"I-It should be in the closet!" Gayoung yelled back.

"Ah! I found it." Taehyun said as he took it out. "It was buried in here. No wonder you couldn't find it."

"Right?" Sehun said.

Both men started to laugh. Gayoung looked up and then rushed out after leaving a note.

After an hour of cleaning, it was almost complete. The boys felt proud since it was such a mess when they started.

"It's quiet downstairs." Sehun said.

"You're right. Is noona and Gayoung noona sleeping?" Taehyun questioned.

"Shall I go check?" Kai asked.

The two nodded and Kai headed downstairs. He peeked down and saw no one. He was confused as he walked down.

"Me and Jieun have gone out." Kai read. "Call me once you're done cleaning. From Gayoung."

Kai cleaned up a bit before heading back up. The two males looked over to him.

"Are they sleeping?" Taehyun asked.

"They've gone out." Kai said. "Gayoung wants us to call her once we're done cleaning."

"Then let's clean faster and then call Gayoung noona. Then we'll go eat." Taehyun said.

Kai and Sehun nodded and they started to clean. Going back up and down the stairs taking out the rubbish.

Jieun's aunt and Gayoung were in front of the ICU. Both were worried and their phones were on silent.

"Auntie, what happened?" Gayoung questioned.

"I don't know either. She just suddenly collapsed." Jieun's aunt said.

"Taehyun probably thinks we're out eating something sweet. Auntie, you should go back alone. I'll stay behind." Gayoung said.

"Mm. I'll do that. If the doctor comes out, make sure to call me right away." Jieun's aunt said.

Gayoung nodded and Jieun's aunt left. Gayoung sat down. She prayed for Jieun's safety.

After an hour, the boys finished cleaning. Jieun's aunt was still uneasy but she looked fine as they walked down.

"Auntie, where's noona? I want to show her the clean room." Taehyun asked.

"Jieun asked to go to the doctor. She wants to speak so she asked me if she could go early." Jieun's aunt said.

"Ah, really?" Kai questioned.

"Shall we go pick her up then?" Sehun asked.

"No. Let's eat out tomorrow." Jieun's aunt said. "I have business in Jella-do so I'll be heading there. Taehyun, make sure you lock the doors when you get home."

Taehyun nodded and watched his aunt rush out the doors. He shrugged his shoulder.

"Let's go." Taehyun said.

The EXO members nodded and they walked out. Gayoung stood up as the ICU doors opened. The doctor came walking out.

"Are you Song Jieun's guardian?" He asked.

"I am. How is she?" Gayoung asked.

"She's fine. Right now, Jieun needs a lot of rest. She was probably stressed since she can't talk." The doctor said.

"So, she isn't sick right?" Gayoung asked.

"No. Jieun's healthy." The doctor said.

"Then is there anything else?" Gayoung asked.

"Yes. She'll probably need surgery. There's a scar around her neck area, right?" The doctor said.

"Yes." Gayoung replied.

"We think, because of the scar, she's unable to revert to her normal voice. But there can be times where she'll force it to come. That's bad for her vocal cords." The doctor said.

"If Jieun gets the surgery, she'll be able to speak perfectly fine?" Gayoung asked.

"Yes. But." The doctor said.

"But?" Gayoung questioned.

"Where did she get the scar from?" The doctor asked.

"That..." Gayoung said.

"If you don't want to say it, then it's fine." The doctor said. "Do you want to see Jieun? She's awake."

Gayoung nodded and the doctor motioned the nurses. Gayoung sighed when the doctor left.

Gayoung walked in and saw Jieun sitting up. She was eating cookies too.

"Are you okay?" Gayoung asked.

Jieun nodded. Nurse had Gayoung sit down as she was getting ready to talk.

"Mrs. Song can be discharged tomorrow. She will need to schedule a date for the surgery. When you do, you can also pay for it then too." The nurse said. "Do you want to stay overnight?"

"Yes." Gayoung answered.

"I'll bring over a pillow and a blanket." The nurse said.

Gayoung nodded and the nurse left the room. Gayoung turned back to Jieun. She was pouting which Gayoung didn't know why.

"Don't pout. I'll call auntie." Gayoung said getting up. "Should I tell Taehyun?"

Jieun shook her head. Gayoung nodded and she left the room. Jieun sighed as she took out her phone.

*Six months...* Jieun thought. *For six months, I'll be here recovering.*

"Mm. She's awake."

"That's good. What did the doctor say?"

"Before I answer, where is Taehyun?"

"He's out buying paint with Sehun."

"Then, Kai is with you?"

"Mm."

"He knows?"

"Mm. He noticed."

"Okay. Put it on speaker phone."

Jieun's aunt looked over at the door. She handed the phone over to Kai and then she went to change the sign.

"It's on speaker phone."

"Kai, auntie, do not tell a soul."

"Tell us already."

"Jieun, she needs surgery."

"Surgery?!"

"The doctor said that's the only way to revert her voice back to the way it was."

"Really? Does Jieun know?"

"Mm. She agreed to it."

"How long with it take for her to recover?"

"He didn't say."

"Okay. I'll drop by later. I can't right now."

"I'll go."

"Kai?"

"We'll be leaving soon so it's a good way of saying bye."

"Then, stay overnight. I have work so I can't stay overnight."

"Okay."

"Then, come now."