How I Got Here || GOT7

30: How I was introduced to new norms

I woke up to loud beeping and a painful object stuck in my throat. I felt like I was choking. "She's awake.." someone spoke softly. "She's awake!!" They shouted before their voice slowly disappeared.

"Ms. Kwon, please try to relax. We're gonna move the tube now." He looked like a doctor but I was so afraid of him and everything around me. Once the tube was out I felt my throat burning, I wanted to cough but even that was painful. They handed me a plastic cup of warm water. "Take a few small sips. It'll help ease the pain." I nodded and sipped on the warm water. I looked around the room and realized that I was at the hospital. Ian was standing at the foot of the bed. Jaebeom and Mark next to the window and Bambam by the door. I slowly felt my throat heal from the excessive dryness and it felt like I was ready to speak.

"What happened?" I asked with a groggy and hoarse voice, my throat still hurting.

"You came into the ER with a stab wound in your chest, you had fractured 3 ribs, a punctured lung and a mild concussion due to the fall you took." It all sounded too familiar.

"How long was I out?" If a tube was stinging my throat, I probably was out for more than 24 hours.

"It's been almost 3 weeks." That was a first. I had been hospitalized before but never more than a week. Was I.. "You were in a medically induced coma to protect your brain from swelling. Especially after that head trauma." The doctor explained before smiling politely. "We need to monitor you for a couple of days before we let you go." He kept his smile as he looked at Ian who politely nodded in return. "Get some rest, catch up with your friends, I'll inform the police, they need to collect your statement." I nodded.

"Thank you." I said weakly before he bowed and left the room. I raised the back of the bed so I could sit up straight to see the boys better. There was a moment of awkward silence before Bambam broke that and approached my bed, kneeling next to it while holding my hand.

"God. I was worried sick." Stray tears slowly escaped his beautiful eyes which made my heart ache. I never saw him crying, ever. He was always so put together, always the life of the party and he always refused to show his emotional side. I squeezed his hand reassuring him I was okay. "I'm never letting you out of my side. I don't even care about anything else. You'll stay at my place." Before I could even reply he continued. "Even if you don't want to stay with me I'll pack up and stay with you where you choose to live. I'm never leaving you." His silent tears slowly turned loud as he was gasping between cries while resting his head on the bed.
"Bam.. I'm okay." I tried to sound fine but my burning throat made my voice break and the pain in my chest made me wince. I tried to take a deep breath but I started coughing. The four men in my room gathered around my bed to check on me. "I'm fine."

"You're not. For once, stop acting like you've got it all figured out. Stop putting on a facade, let us be your strength just this once." Mark scolded and a few tears slipped down my face. I had been alone going through that bullshit for so long, I got used to comforting others all the way through it. A knock on the door distracted us.

"Hey, someone is here to see you." Jackson popped his head in. "Glad to see you awake baby girl." He smiled sweetly which made my eye water so much that it blurred my vision. He stepped away to let someone I've been longing for for so long walk in. At that point, I couldn't stop my sobs even if I wanted to.

"Mom." I called for her between my sobs as she came to me consuming me in her warm embrace. I missed her so much, my heart ached as I sobbed in her arms. I didn't even know how long it had been since I had been balling my eyes out, nor did I feel uncle Jinhee walking in and rubbing my back as he was brought to tears just like everyone else in the room. Once we both calmed down and parted, I looked at her confused, we weren't supposed to meet or keep in touch at all.

"Su, baby. You have to let us help you." Mom started but I shook my head. "You refusing our help just to attempt to live a normal life is not safe anymore. We tried it your way, it didn't work." I sighed.

"So you suggest I walk around parading buffed up men escorting me everywhere I go?" I asked in disbelief. "You cannot possibly expect me to lead a life that strips me from my own free will."

"If it keeps you safe, yes. I do expect you to do so." She scolded and I scoffed.

"Darling, don't pressure her." Uncle Jinhee patted my mom's shoulder.

"We tried that, we let her live the way she wanted but look at where that got her. I know that man. He's ruthless and won't stop until he gets what he wants, gets put in jail or just miraculously die. Even if he did die, hell would kick him out." She exclaimed and I had to stifle a laugh at the last comment. A very bad moment to laugh.

"Then we'll find mutual grounds." He chuckled as he gently massaged her shoulders. "You know we just want to protect you, right?" He looked at me with the kindest gaze. Sometimes I wished he was my real biological father. I nodded.
"Your guards don't have to be obvious, you know?" Ian started and my mom nodded. "They can keep a reasonable distance and blend in with the crowd. You won't even feel them around." I sighed.

"If that means that I can live as normally as possible then yes. I'll do it." My mom and uncle Jinhee sighed in relief.

"But..." Ian continued. "You have to inform your guards of your whereabouts. You cannot lose them or them you. You have to promise not to be reckless or you'll have me personally suffocating you and following you wherever you go." I rolled my eyes. He was always overprotective.

"Fine." I said defeated. "But I'm not staying at your place mom I'm sorry." She was about to protest but Jaebeom was fast to interrupt.

"You can stay at my place." Everyone was taken aback by his sudden suggestion. I wasn't sure we were even dating but suddenly I was moving in with him? "I can stay at my parents' you can stay at our apartment. It's under my name, it's safe, secured and well guarded and I can arrange an apartment for your guards to stay at the same building." He looked over at uncle Jinhee who nodded in return. "Plus, that way we can always visit without raising suspicion." He looked at me and I still felt awkward. He spends most his days at that apartment, his studio is there. I felt like I was either moving in with him or kicking him out of his own place.

"One more chance. If that man finds his way again, I will take you with me. I spent too many years longing for you. I'm not willing to lose you to him. Not again." My mom scolded and I sighed as I laid back on the bad and stared up at the ceiling. She had every right to be as overprotective as she was but I didn't want to be suffocated and live a luxurious life that comes with a very expensive price which were both my free will and personal space. I had no choice but to agree to move into his place, a man that I didn't even know what type of relationship I shared with. I also agreed to be followed by strangers to keep other strangers from following me, which was ironic.

I hated how I was stripped of the norms I created because of one selfish possessive man that lived oceans away.