* stay with me

he freezes in place at the mention of the last word, briefly, the most motion he makes being an upward scrunch of his shoulders.

hit me with the damn misdiagnosis, he wishes to say, almost begging for the resident to offer a bunch of blood tests and x-rays if it means proving certain hereditary patterns wrong. but he sighs instead, swinging his legs back and forth as he rubs his wrist soothingly with his thumb and sticks his tongue out the corner of his lip. how else is he allowed to dodge the question at hand?

joking around is all that seems to be in his repertoire for today. “look, it’s probably nothing. sprains heal within weeks, right? with… ice. and not going out a lot.” there’s a shaky exhale. “i can do that. no problem.”

honestly, his job is merely checking out symptoms and putting a prognosis for his seniors to decide an action on. but at the same time he doesn’t like half-assing things; if ansel could find out the reason behind these symptoms by himself, then he’d do it.  all he needs is mr. sang’s consent and he’d be on his merry way. “i would have to perform auscultation now, if you could please lift your shirt.”

[inspired by this]

“actually… i just miss you.”

“alright, i’ll leave you alone.”

“and slowly… i was forgotten.”

“and then everything just disappears.”

“and where do i go?”

“anyone could tell from here.”

“are you finishing that or…?”

“are you stupid or stupid?”

“anything, just call me, okay?”

“bitch better have my money.”

“bro… that’s so… not cool…”

“but did you do it?”

“call me now. it’s urgent.”

"can’t you listen to me?”

“cross that. don’t answer that.”

“don’t even think about it.”

“don’t you dare walk away.”

“do it. i dare you.”

“did you think i forgot?”

“eventually… you just move on.”

“even if you still do.”

“everything will fall into place.”

“fight me, you attractive stranger.”

“for once, i need you.”

“for once… i was right.”

“for once… i was wrong.”

“forget i even asked you.”

“forget it. you fucking suck.”

“fuck’s sake, what’s your problem?”

“fuck off. i mean it.”

“give and take. that’s life.”

“great. perfect. nice. fuck this.”

“have you lost your mind?”

“hello? it’s me. i was-”

“hey… that wasn’t so nice.”

“here’s a glass of whatever.”

“how about a hug, hm?”

“how about you make me?”

“i haven’t forgot you yet.”

“i can’t be around you.”

“i don’t need you, really.”

“i don’t need this now.”

“is this your first time?”

“it’s just a cut, really.”

“it wasn’t me, i swear!”

“i said i love you.”

“just don’t fuck it up.”

"just… come back alive, okay?”

“just make sure you’ve eaten.”

“kick his ass for me.”

“killed him? wait, what, literally?”

“life really sucks. feel better.”

“letting go hurts… a lot.”

“let me live, will you?”

“no, i don’t need you.”

“nothing can hurt me now.”

“nothing matters anymore to me.”

“okay it was me… so?”

“people lie all the time.”

“pipe the fuck down, asshole.”

“please, you can’t die now.”

“please don’t leave me alone.”

“quiet. they can hear us.”

“quick! give me your phone!”

“quicker, you freaking piece of-”

“quit it or i’ll bite.”

“quit staring! they’ll notice us!”

"really? do i look stupid?”

“real smooth, tripping over air.”

“rise and shine, sweet thing.”

“rise and fucking shine, motherfucker.”

“seriously? give me a break.”

“so… what are we now?”

“so… did you miss me?”

“so… can we go eat?”

“so… when’s the next flight?”

“so… how did everything go?”

“sometimes, i wish you died.”

“so what? you did it.”

“time passes slower without you.”

“then what do you suggest?”

“the fuck? who are you?”

“then you tell me why.”

“this is not working out.”

“this isn’t what i wanted.”

“this is all a fucking disaster.”

“when did it all happen?”

“who knew you’d be here?”

“why do i even bother?”

“why do i love you?”

“why didn’t you tell me?”

“you’re just… so, so stupid.”

“you can’t be here now.”

“you look like an accident.”

“you really need to go.”

“you know who to call.”

the fountain is definitely a prize to behold. it didn’t take long for them to find it. ravenclaw intellect, jeonghan guesses. after all, there’s two of them. or he and baekhyun just make a great team. they always have been, and as a group even more so. jeonghan doesn’t know if he should look at this thought with fondness or sadness - he decides with both. but he pushes it at the very back of his mind, and focuses on marveling at the fountain.

“i would, too. if we had any space for it.” he chuckles at this, letting go of baekhyun’s hand as they approach the marble wonder. “if you do get in touch, can you send me the details via owl postal?” he’s not sure where he might be at that time considering his situation, but he’s not stepping out of international borders, so an owl would probably be his best option. “veo might be interested to have one in the jung manor.”

he places the bottle of wine on the smooth edge of the fountain, and he sits. jeonghan carelessly rolls his sleeves up, doesn’t even bother fixing it when it slowly slips back down. he dips the tips of his fingers into the water, looking up only when baekhyun calls for him. “yeah –?” cold water splashes his face, and jeonghan gasps - but then laughs, loud and blissful. the most genuine laugh he’s let out all night. he pushes himself off the edge of the fountain, moves toward his friend to splash water back at him, but this time harder.

“should i open the wine?” he suggests, splashing baekhyun once more. “or would you rather drown in dirty fountain water?”

when he’s not on a broom, baekhyun is clumsy. he’s a mess of uncoordinated limbs and sometimes uneven footing that would easily cause him a faceplant to the ground or two. so perhaps it’s the alcohol running in his veins that grants a burst of energy for the male to evade jeonghan’s attacks, toeing his shoes off before stepping into the fountain to retaliate.

“what would be the fun in that?” his mind feels clear, vision suddenly sharpened. blood thrums in his ears and in his veins. he feels alive for the first time in months. he ought to thank whatever force that brought him to this party, to meet jeonghan again, to find his lost youth. it’s like he’s back to being eighteen again, young and ready to face the world. not twenty-two and dying from the mundane daily life of a heir.

but in the end everything has to come to an end; they’re not alone, and if someone finds them there acting like a bunch of children both of their reputations would be ruined. to be honest it’s not like he cares about his anymore, but the other male got into where he is now with hard work and baekhyun doesn’t want to be the reason behind it’s undoing.

                   amelia wished there was a spell that could help her be less clumsy. it’s hard to stop herself from feeling sorry as she crawled around trying to get the papers. she would have to rearrange them again which would mean that she had to stay behind and work late hours again. she hated wearing this pencil skirt and the heels and the blouse. she had to at least look mature, you see. so she had to go through extra lengths. even the red lipstick annoyed her, since it left marks on her cups or smear. it wasn’t the stranger’s fault, she knew, but she was angry anyways.

                          she heard him speak and something about his tone made her feel embarrassed about the whole situation. again. but she pushed it down, opting to feel something entirely different instead. irritation. anger. or both at the same time. it wasn’t until she looked up, ready to strike again (how did he even know her name?), did she see who it was. her lower lip trembled a little. it had been a while since she had seen any of her friends back in hogwarts. they were so very few and busy with their own lives that she had chosen to fade into the background, forgotten. she chose to be mute as she walked past them, simply happy to know they are alright.

                       she took the stack from him, her aching arms trying to carry all of them. she was speechless, not knowing what to say. how are you? hi! it’s been a while! how long have you been working here? why haven’t i seen you around? she parted her lips, about to say something, but instead she let out a sob. tears soon ran down her face, her face contorting as she sobbed out loudly. it took her a few minutes before she finally calmed down, crying out her frustrations and her loneliness in front of the familiar face…at a rather inconvenient place. they were guaranteed stares and whispers among people but she honestly didn’t care.

                         byun baekhyun was one of her best friends. “i’ll tell on them for sure. just because you haven’t showed yourself before now,” she said and tried to laugh it off. “i’m sorry for suddenly crying,” she said. “i was just happy to see you. and well…it just came out.” she hadn’t realized how much she missed baekhyun before this moment. she couldn’t take her eyes off him, trying to grasp any detail that was amiss and familiar at the same time. she called upon fond memories of their time spent at school, their adventures inside and outside of the castle. and how, while every memory was not happy, they were the best memories of her life.

                        “i– i haven’t seen you here before today. have you been working here long?” she asked, trying to fish for her wand. when she found it, she whispered the levitation spell, taking the papers out of her hands. she massaged her arm with her free hand, smiling widely. “you need to tell me everything. that’s your punishment for stepping on these confidential documents.”

every pull and push of his muscles is cautious around the hufflepuff girl. baekhyun isn’t unnecessarily lanky or anything, but he’s well aware that his limb-to-limb coordination is a tad crooked. more often that not he finds himself accidentally hitting someone on the nose with his hand or hit them on the stomach with his elbow and really--that’s the last thing he wants to happen during their first reunion for months now. so baekhyun chooses to restrain both arms behind his back after he hands her the pieces of scattered papers.

smiling though, comes natural. the weigh that settles on his back seem to disappear at this pleasant turn of events.  amelia looks so shaken that it would be comical if they weren’t in the ministry then. “oh no, i hope my punishment isn’t severe enough to be put into azkaban,” hands lifts onto the air in mock surrender, that square grin still plastered upon his features. when amelia apologizes though, baekhyun teases her easily. “it’s okay, as long they’re tears of joy. and i would cry too with that amount of paperwork.“ chin points at the stack of papers upon her hands.

“oh no, i stopped working here a month ago actually.” he recalls his grandfather’s wish for him to inherit the family’s wealth, and suddenly his smile falters a little. “i used to work in the Health Department, but family issues...” rolls his eyes. “you know, all that stuff. i’m here for an errand.”

lips pressed into a thin line, fingers fumble behind his back. should he...? would it be proper if he just appears in her life again out of nowhere and act like nothing happened? they’re supposed to be friends. friends aren’t supposed to break off contact with their other friends, even if it’s done not on purpose. he still feel slightly guilty from suddenly disappearing from the face of the earth after that incident in winter break.

but again, good friends will understand. and amelia is probably the kindest one out of their group.

“ frankly speaking, I wanna give up. ” 

“ just try to guess the answer. ”

“ everyone here knows you don’t care. ”

“ fine, do things your way. ”

“I  want to be in love. ”

“ no, I would rather make money. ”

“ shut up already, I’m not going. ”

“ because you said that, fuck you! ”

“ I hate you more than anything. ”

“ just sit down? let me explain? ”

“ can I be a little nasty? ”

“ there’s nothing wrong with being sexual. ”

“ I want you to like me. ”

“ don’t you dare lie to me. ”

“ I’m way too scared to fall. ”

“ terrified of my love for you? ”

“ we were both afraid, shut up. ”

“ it wasn’t anyone’s fault. not really. ”

“ life’s too short to care anymore. ”

“I  dreamt about you last night. ”

“ really? what did you dream about? ”

“ I dreamt you chose me instead. ”

“ how did you become like this? ”

“ this isn’t any of your business. ”

“ I’m losing my mind, losing control. ”

“ you weren’t there! I needed you! ”

“ please don’t start with me, okay? ”

“ why do you always leave me? ”

“ this is all we have left. ”

“ I turned around. you were gone. ”

“ all I can think about is you. ”

“ wow, you look like shit today. ”

“ I called and you didn’t answer. ”

“ I wanna be a child forever. ”

“ today, my love is in mourning. ” 

“ your words felt like sharp knives. ”