Archive of Our Own

“Hyung! Eden Hyung!”

Ryu Jaehee called out frantically. Eden was gasping for breath, cold sweat running down his face, but there was no response.

“Someone, please! Eden Hyung!”

Hearing Jaehee’s urgent voice, the others rushed over. The moment he saw the situation, Yehyun moved first, patting Eden’s cheeks as he checked his condition.

“Yoon Eden! Can you hear me?! If it's hard to speak, nod.”

No response.

His gaze was blank.

Yehyun bit his lip.

He didn't know what was happening. But the symptoms looked like an allergy. No, the symptoms were similar but it seemed it wasn't just that.

Lately, Eden’s schedule was very packed, it was no wonder if he didn't sleep for days and forced his body again.

But if this was an allergy, the situation could worsen at any time.

Because there was no epinephrine, Eden needed to be taken to the emergency room.

Damn. The agency should have prepared a proper first aid kit for situations like this.

A wet sensation spread across his palm, snapping him out of his thoughts.

Blood.

More precisely, his friend’s blood flowing steadily from his nose as his breathing grew uneven.

Yehyun immediately turned his head to the side, holding his chin to keep it from tilting back.

“I already called 119!”

Jaehee turned quickly, his breath sounding unstable.

Eden's teaching, which always shouted 119 in every emergency situation, seemed to have borne fruit.

It even seemed Jaehee had saved 119 as his contact.

It was already past 1 AM. Calling the manager felt pointless.

Waiting for the ambulance was the best option for now. Still, there was no harm in trying.

“Dobin, call the manager. Now,” Yehyun said.

Dobin immediately dialed the number.

The call rang. Once. Twice. No answer.

Yehyun clenched his jaw.

This wasn’t the first time.

The leak. The schedules. And now this.

He would deal with the agency later.

Right now, Eden came first.

“Can you hear me?”

No answer.

His finger grasped Eden's hand, which felt cold.

“Don't sleep now. No. Don't you dare fall asleep or I will give you salad without meat for a month.”

Yehyun's voice sounded shaky, but still no answer.

He patted his friend's cheek, trying to keep his voice steady.

“Don't close your eyes. The ambulance will come soon. Hold on, just a little longer.”

Still no answer.

The man's gaze slowly lost focus, as if staring at something he couldn't see.

“The ambulance is here! This way!”, Dobin exclaimed while pointing outside.

Yehyun glanced briefly, then returned to the face in front of him.

However, his eyes had closed.

After that, Eden was taken by stretcher, and Hajun accompanied him in the ambulance. Yehyun decided to follow with Jaehee and Dobin.

While Dobin cleaned the remaining vomit and blood on the floor, Yehyun turned to Jaehee.

“Jaehee, what happened?”

Jaehee was teary-eyed, his face filled with guilt. With a trembling voice, he explained that Eden's condition worsened after swallowing the sleeping pill he gave.

“This is not your fault, no one expected a crazy bastard like him to have an allergy, even I swear that bastard himself didn't know it,” said Yehyun, calming Jaehee.

***

Hajun felt the tension of the atmosphere inside the ambulance.

The siren wailed outside, but inside it felt quiet instead. Too quiet.

Eden lay motionless in front of him.

A nurse quickly attached a breathing apparatus, her hands moving skillfully, almost hurried.

Hajun could not do anything.

He could only watch.

Yoon Eden.

His friend. No. His colleague.

His Team Leader.

His authoritative and spirited figure was not visible.

What remained was only a pale face, with eye bags that were increasingly clear due to staying up for days in the studio.

Hajun stared at him without blinking.

His face darkened.

[TEMPTATION].

The song that was meant for them… never reached them.

And even the replacement Eden worked on ended up leaking.

His hand clenched at his side.

The more he thought about it, the more his frustration grew.

At whoever was responsible. At the leak.

And at himself.

Because even now, he still could not do anything.

Eden still has many schedules that must be attended.

No.

All of that is not important.

Hajun turned his gaze for a moment, taking a deep breath.

He did not believe in things like that.

However for the first time,

he hoped.

Please.

Whatever it is, whoever it is, please make sure he is okay.

If previously he could not do anything… then after this, he will not stay silent.

Dark.

Pieces of strange dreams flashed quickly. And someone… standing in a place where they shouldn't be.

It was himself at age thirty.

Memories that he didn't know.

…

Eden opened his eyes.

White ceiling. Smell of antiseptic. A chest that felt heavy, but not painful.

Hospital.

“…already awake?”

Yehyun sat beside the bed, his face appearing more tired than usual.

“How long?”

“Two days.”

Two days.

Eden frowned.

Many things he missed. But there was nothing he could do, all of that had already passed.

He turned his head, looking for something.

“You're looking for this?”

“Since when did you become a psychic, huh?”

Eden tried to reach for it, but Yehyun moved his phone away.

“Hey, why?”, Eden protested, pouting dissatisfiedly.

“Are you seriously asking that?”, asked Yehyun, looking at Eden as if saying how can there be someone that stupid.

“…”

“You just woke up.”

Eden let out a short sigh. Then tried to reach for it again.

“…I won't die just because I see notifications.”

The door opened before the debate continued.

“Not necessarily”

Hajun interrupted. His steps were calm, carrying a small plastic bag. Dobin and Jaehee followed behind.

Hajun stared at him.

His face was smiling, but his eyes were not.

“You know what you just did, right?”

“…”

“Try to pay more attention to your own health”

Hajun said again.

“But I – “

Seeing the gaze of his friends, Eden went silent.

“haaa…. Alright, I will rest”

Eden let out a tired sigh.

Dobin approached first.

“Hyung, you're awake! Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I could even go back to practice right now.”

“Then don’t,” Hajun said calmly, not even looking at him.

Eden looked away, clicking his tongue softly.

In the corner of the room, Jaehee looked hesitant.

“Hyung…”

Eden turned.

“Sorry.”

“It's not your fault”

Eden went silent for a moment, then sighed.

“It made me able to sleep for two days, I should say thank you.”

Eden said half-joking while ruffling Jaehee's hair.

“What did the doctor say?”

“Sleeping pill allergy and exhaustion,” answered Yehyun.

Eden nodded slightly.

…it made sense, although he knew it was all because of the system, not a real allergy.

However, those dream fragments were still bothering the back of his head.

“We also took care of the agency.”, added Hajun.

Eden turned.

“What?”

“Song leak. Schedule. And the others.”

“We filed a lawsuit.”

Eden blinked.

“…huh?”

Silence for a moment.

“Everything has been taken care of, rest properly”

He sighed, leaning back deeper.

Many things changed… in just two days.

He had to rest properly so he could continue his work in the studio.

A system window appeared in his field of vision.

[Weekly Mission Completion Starts.]

[⚠ Because you have completed fewer than four weekly missions, a random penalty will be applied.]

Eden froze.

Shit. He forgot about the weekly mission.

Please don't cough blood

Anything but that

[As punishment, you will cough blood for 30 seconds.]

…

Shit.

His breath hitched.

His throat suddenly felt hot.

He swallowed once.

“Hyung?”

Jaehee's voice sounded worried.

Warm liquid continued to flow down his throat.

His cough broke out suddenly.

“Hyung—!”

“Doctor! Call a doctor now!”,

Eden closed his eyes for a moment, holding back the next cough.

Serious?

He almost laughed, if only the situation were not like this.

Even if he said that he was okay, no one would believe him.