project: l.o.v.e | yoonghyo

𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚛𝚝𝚎𝚎𝚗

"a pleasure to meet you too, but now's not the right time for long introductions." dahyun reminded tzuyu of why she was here in the first place.

"oh, right..." the taller mumbled, shyly tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "if you'd like, come by some other time. when, you know... you're not bringing someone unconscious." the nurse joked as she made her way to the bed jihyo is lying in.

this made tzuyu smile a bit. "sure." she answered, before walking towards the bed shortly. the nurse examined jihyo, and to her it didn't seem like she'd need medical attention.

"everything should be fine, she might've passed out because of something. where exactly did you find her?" dahyun asked, turning to tzuyu.

"well... it's kinda hard to explain, but she was at an old storage room. the one they don't use anymore." tzuyu answered, earning a slight nod from the nurse.

"must be the heat then. or maybe... does she not do well with tight spaces?" she threw another question, which tzuyu can't answer.

"you asked if she's claustrophobic? i don't really know, i just met her today, after all." she silently played with her fingers as she looked at jihyo with worry.

"we'll find out if she wakes up then. for now, you could go back, maybe take a rest. this must've shook you up." dahyun offered. "i'll be here to keep an eye on her." she added, in case tzuyu might refuse and urge to let her watch jihyo.

"...okay, but could you give me your number? so that i'd know if miss jihyo woke up." tzuyu handed her phone to the nurse, who had a smug look on her face. "are you sure it's for jihyo and not for some other reason?" she teased, and tzuyu blushed.

"w-well, it is. and maybe for another reason, too." tzuyu didn't dare look at her, she's too shy to do so. "you're so cute." dahyun laughed at her, before finally typing her phone number in tzuyu's cell.

"here." dahyun handed the phone back, with tzuyu shyly received it. "thanks, i'll get going now." she muttered, taking one last glance at jihyo and the nurse.

tzuyu walked out of the clinic, her phone clutched tight in her chest. she released a shaky breath as she entered her office.

"what took you so long to get back here?" the moment she stepped inside, tzuyu was immediately scolded by the same senior who attacked jihyo.

"uhm, i—"

"cut it out. i'm sure she just roamed around to be familiar of the place she'll be working in for some time." sana appeared, effectively saving tzuyu from that awful senior who just rolled her eyes, before resuming her work.

"thank you..." she smiled at sana who gave her a pat on the back. "just tell me if they're bothering you, i'll be here." she assured.

suddenly, the door burst open. "yah! have you heard?" an employee who is catching his breath asked. "park jihyo..." this made sana pay attention.  "what about her?" her tone changed, way different from the tone tzuyu had heard earlier. sana was serious right now, and tzuyu speculates that sana had a close relationship with jihyo.

"don't know what happened, but she's at the clinic... boss took her there." something triggered sana as she started walking out of the room, tzuyu following suit.

she carefully grabbed her wrist. "wait!" she stopped the girl. "i don't think it's the right time to go there... she's still unconscious." tzuyu explained. sana looked really nervous, so she had to find a way to calm the girl down. "if it helps, i'll tell you what had happened." she offered, staring at the other's eyes.

sana sighed, "alright."  she replied, calming down. tzuyu then led her away— moving to somewhere quiet. "i'm still not really familiar with this place, i'm sorry..." the taller confessed. sana simply shook her head, "it's alright, but i could lead us to my favorite hideout." she suggested, before taking the lead.

sana opened the door to the rooftop, fresh air greeting them as they walked further. "i come here a lot to think about stuff" she told tzuyu, who just quietly followed her behind.

the two settled down at one corner, and sana did not waste any time to ask. "now, tell me what happened earlier."

—

"-and that's about it."  tzuyu had finished telling sana about earlier, making sure to not miss any detail behind.

"wow... i..." sana couldn't finish her sentence and could only stare at the floor. "it's all my fault..." she sighed. tzuyu did not respond, so she kept on going.

"we had a party not that long ago. everyone was drunk, and i was eventually the only one left with jihyo. i didn't know who to ask help for, and i was careless enough to contact our boss for help. that led to a problem, but it thankfully got solved fast. i though everything would be alright now, but this happened... i don't think i could forgive myself."

sana broke down as she finished talking, and tzuyu was quick enough to comfort her by patting her back. "it's not your fault. i'm sure jihyo doesn't want you to blame yourself for this. please stop crying..." she said, now rubbing circles on sana's back.

the older giggled a bit, "you're really cute." she muttered, wiping the tears in her eyes. "i'm fine now." sana said as she sniffed, smiling at tzuyu.

"i'm glad." tzuyu returned a smile, feeling relieved. the two went down together and went back to their respective desks, hoping that they'd get news about jihyo as soon as possible.