19 Worries

Hongjoong had called Seonghwa multiple times that day and each time it would go straight to voicemail. Even his texts were left unanswered, and whenever he checked them, he would see that were still on unread.

Seonghwa wasn't the type of person who left someone on read or didn't answer his phone unless he was too busy to do so. So that was why Hongjoong was worried. He had waited a few days to see if Seonghwa would return his calls, or reply to him, but neither happened.

After thinking about it for a while, Hongjoong went to Seonghwa's apartment to check up on him. Plus, he had a feeling that something was wrong.

That feeling was right.

He unlocked the apartment's door with the spare key that had been given to him, and he rushed forward when he saw Seonghwa unconscious on the floor. His face was turned to the side and facing away from the sofa beside him. It wasn't clear how long he had been lying there. But from the way he looked, it seemed like he had been there a few days at least.

Hongjoong fell to his knees beside Seonghwa, and he tried to wake him; even though he knew that it was a wasted effort. It was like his mind had slowed down, and he couldn't think properly.

After coming to his senses, he pulled out his phone and dialled the number for an ambulance.

☽

It was midnight, and it was dark throughout the institute known as Mistlyn.

All was quiet, except for the scuffling of the Warden's shoes, as they patrolled their designated areas.

As far as they could tell, the residents were tucked into their beds and sound asleep. But what they didn't know was that one room was empty.

The room that belonged to Ali.

She had used the old pillows under the cover trick, and to be honest, she didn't think it would actually fool the Wardens. Fortunately, it had.

So there she was, sitting in the hideout, and waiting for the ideal opportunity to make her escape.

With her back against the wall, she fiddled with her thumbs and tried to calm her nerves.

Was she really doing this? Was she really going to escape? She knew what would happen if she got caught, and that what she was planning on doing was risky.

However, it was better than staying in this hellhole and having to endure everything that the Wardens threw at her.

The outside world was calling to her... He was calling to her, and she couldn't leave both unanswered.

Mistlyn wasn't her home. Seonghwa was her home, and she would do anything she could to get back to him.

She was so lost in her own world that she hadn't heard someone else enter the room. Their presence remained unknown, until a hand landed on her shoulder and the person said, "Ali..."

☽

"Joon, how is he?" A worried voice broke through Hongjoong's inner musings, and he lifted his head to see Yunho standing in front of him. Behind him was Jongho, Mingi, and Yeosang.

"What did the doctors say?" Mingi sat down beside Hongjoong and asked, "is it bad?"

Hongjoong took in a breath and squeezed his eyes shut. The guys stayed silent and gave him time to reply.

Once he was able to speak, he said, "when we got here the doctors rushed him straight to the emergency room, and I have heard nothing yet. We'll all know what's going on when the doctors come back out."

"Poor Seonghwa." Jongho sniffled. "He's had such a hard time lately. Like what happened with Jae, Ali going missing and now this! What if he dies? What will we do then?"

Yeosang patted him on the back and said, "don't think like that! Seonghwa is a fighter and won't go out like this. He still has to be reunited with Ali, and he has a long life ahead of him. Let's just wait until the doctor comes out, and then we'll know how he's doing."

Jongho couldn't say anything more and simply nodded his head. He joined the others on the chairs and held his head in his hands.

With a hand still on his friend's back, Yeosang sat beside him, and kept reassuring him that everything will be fine; he, himself, didn't believe in what he was saying, but it was that or think the worst. And that wouldn't do anyone any good.

At the moment, all they could do was wait for the doctor, and hope that Seonghwa was okay.