Geone scrambled up and ran to him.
Without hesitation, he tore Charlie's T-shirt off.
He dragged him to the sink and turned on the cold water.
"Where-where-show me."
Charlie stared at him, stunned, locking eyes with him.
"Ice!!!" Geone shouted.
Suga rushed to the freezer and came back with ice.
Geone's hands trembled as he kept pouring water over Charlie's stomach. Charlie's pants were soaked through.
"How is it? Okay?" Geone's voice panicked.
Suga handed over the ice. Geone pressed it gently against Charlie's skin.
"Is it okay? How is it? Does it hurt?"
Charlie felt unbearably cold.
Geone's gaze kept shifting-from Charlie's face to the ice and back again. Something about him felt strange. Familiar, yet distant.
Charlie had seen that same look before.
He just couldn't remember the exact moment.
"Why aren't you TALKING, ChRRlie?!" Geone snapped.
Voices blurred around him-Geone, Suga-words overlapping, meaningless.
Charlie nodded without understanding.
"Are you feeling okay?" Geone asked again.
This time, Charlie heard him clearly. He nodded once more.
Geone guided him to the sofa and made him sit.
In Geone's deep black eyes, Charlie saw his own reflection-clear, precise, like a mirror.
𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦…
Without realizing it, Charlie lifted his hand toward Geone's eyes.
Before he could touch him, Geone cupped Charlie's cheeks with both hands.
Charlie glanced down at his stomach, then sideways. Everything felt hazy. Suga-maybe Suga-was standing there.
When Charlie looked back at Geone, a sharp sting flared."Ugh..."
"Is it burning?" Geone asked in fear, brushing the injured spot.
"Ice!!! Suga!"
"I'm okay, Geone," Charlie said suddenly.
"Huh!!! okay? You weren't talking for five minutes," Geone said tightly.
"You scared me."
"Sorry," Charlie replied steadily.
"Why are you sorry?" Geone removed the ice."This is my fault."
"Here-ice, Geone!" Geone stood up and lightly knocked Suga on the head.
"When will you stop messing around Suga, huh?"
Suga lowered his head toward Charlie.
"I'm sorry Charlie.Are you ok ? My mistake."
Charlie nodded again, expression blank.
Geone went back to the kitchen, filled a large bowl with water, and mixed in ice.
"Come on. Wash his body, Suga."
"Me? Why?" Suga froze.
"It's fine," Charlie said calmly.
"It doesn't hurt."
"I'm going to the infirmary for medicine," Geone said."Where's Minase?"
"MiNAAsee!" Suga spun around. "Where is he?!"
The washroom door opened.
Minase stepped out, staring at them.
"What?!"
"MiNAAaSseeee!!" Geone and Suga shouted together.
"Did I... miss something?" Minase asked, scratching his brow.
–––––
Minase and Geone went to the infirmary together. Geone bought the medicine.
Suddenly, Minase's phone rang. He stepped outside to answer. Era had called.
"Hello... Era."
"Minase."
"What are you doing?" he asked with a smile.
"Dance practice... but I forgot my headphones at home."
"Mine are in my pocket. Want me to drop them off?"
A relieved breath came through the phone.
"Okay."
Minase hurried back inside.
"Dude, done? Let's go."
"Yeah," Geone said, paying the bill.
They walked outside together.
"I think Charlie's burn is serious," Geone muttered.
"Oh-one thing," Minase said.
"I need to give Era the headphones."
"Huh?"
"Just two minutes. The dance school is right in front of the house."
"But-"
"Just two minutes, man."
Geone sighed.
"Fine. Two minutes."
They walked together.
The dance school was tiny. Calling it a school felt wrong-it looked more like a shop from outside. The glass walls made everything inside visible: girls practicing, moving in rhythm.
Era was standing outside.
Minase waved from a distance. Era noticed and walked over. She greeted Geone casually, and he returned the greeting.
As Minase and Era talked, Geone stepped forward.
His eyes drifted to the glass.
Inside, the dancers moved-clear, exposed, unreachable.
Geone moved a little closer. Among all the white dresses, his eyes caught on a single black one, standing out in the middle, leading everyone else.
Continues.....