Broken Sunrise >> A Duper Junior Fic >> Chapter 3
Donghae's eyes flew open at the sound of the room's door slamming open and running footsteps. He sat up and glanced at Kibum's empty bed before he jumped up and went to check.
"What's wrong?" he said, stepping into the hallway.
"Ryeowook was having a nightmare," Kyuhyun said, walking towards him and Shindong.
"Oh..."
They turned to the door that a few members were leaving. Kangin had tsked once with his hands on his waist as Eunhyuk closed the door after them.
"Youngwoon-ah?"
Kangin exhaled and looked up at them. "What?"
"Is Ryeowook ok?"
Kangin nodded, humming. "Go back to sleep, everyone." They suddenly turned to the door as they heard a choked cry and then some coughing and moaning. "Angel is with him. He'll be fine." He turned to them again. "Go back to bed," he said, going to the sitting room and sitting on the couch in front of the TV. He turned the TV on and muted it. He was later joined by Kyuhhyun, Donghae and Siwon as others returned to their respective bedrooms.
"Aish, I can't stand it," Shindong said, sitting on the couch's extention, "why does it have to be like this?"
"What do you mean, hyung?" Kyuhyun asked, surprised.
"Why does he have to have nightmares to remind him of it too? I mean, isn't going through it once enough?"
Kyuhyun looked at the space between his legs as he sat Indian style between Donghae and Kangin.
"It's not like he can control it," Siwon defended.
"I know, but..." Shindong started to say but just sighed.
"He has an appointment today with the assigned psychiatrist. Maybe that will help."
"I hope so. Not just for our sake but his too."
"Can you guys just be quiet?" Kangin grumbled at them.
Minutes later, a door opened and closed before Leeteuk entered the sitting room's space and sat next to Kangin, who immediately pulled him into his arms. Leeteuk closed his eyes.
"He's finally asleep," he said, taking a deep breath. "Sungmin is with him, probably for the rest of the night."
"Howcome?" Kyuhyun asked.
"He only started calming when Min randomly started telling him a story about rabbits and kittens."
Kyuhyun's expression softened and the corners of his lips lifted.
"His parents are very worried about him. Management told them about it but for Ryeowook's wellbeing, forbid them from coming. His mother keeps calling... and I don't know what to tell her. Ryeowookie keeps crying... and I don't know what to tell him."
Kangin kissed Leteuk's head and rubbed a palm on his shoulder and arm. "Angel, let's go back to bed, you need rest."
"I can't move."
Kangin got up and got in position to carry Leeteuk.
"No, don't hurt your back. Just go and I'll follow."
Ignoring him, Kangin lifted him up and went to their bedroom silently.
"Sometimes I forget how bearing it is to be Youngwoon," Donghae said as Kangin disappeared with Leeteuk. "Although we don't notice, sometimes he's Jungsu-ah's lifeline."
"Teukie deserves someone like that," Shindong said, standing. "Let's go back to bed, guys."
...
The next time Donghae had woke was from hunger and the smell of breakfast being set... and Leeteuk's distinguished laughter.
Hm... I haven't heard that for a couple of days.
On the other bed, Eunhyuk sat up and rubbed sleep off. "Food. Smell. Good."
"Let's go eat before everyone eats everything and there would be nothing left for us," Donghae murmured, standing and slowly tottering to wash up.
"Ahh, something smells good," Kangin said, walking towards the sitting room.
"Breakfast is being served," Leeteuk said, smiling.
Kangin smiled back nodding towards Ryeowook who was watching TV next to Kyuhyun. Leeteuk glanced at them and chuckled. "What time is the appointment?"
Leeteuk glanced at his watch, "at 3."
Soon after, most of the Juniors were seated around the table.
"Wook?"
At Siwon's voice, they turned to Ryeowook who seemed disturbed.
"Ryeowook, you haven't eaten a thing," Leeteuk said, frowning.
"I just don't feel hungry," Ryeowook said, looking down at his lap.
"Try to eat some, you need to be awake for your appointment."
"I don't need a psychiatrist in the first place!"
Silent shock shot through the juniors.
Ryeowook lowered his head one more time. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to yell," he said, pulling his legs up on the chair and linking his hands around them and hiding his face.
"Ryeowook-ah, why don't you eat so you can have enough energy to listen to something I have prepared?" Kyuhyun said.
Ryeowook looked up. "I feel my skin... um... need to shower."
"After breakfast, you can take a shower," Leeteuk reasoned.
Ryeowook lifted his hands.
"Aish!" Leeteuk exclaimed, remembering Ryeowook could not use his hands, as others tsked, exhaled or experssed their frustration for not realizing sooner in different ways. He stood and went to Ryeowook.
"I meant the shower not the food," Ryeowook mumbled as Leeteuk started cutting everything in the plate with Yesung on the other side while apologizing.
"Hyung, I'll help him," Yesung said, pulling the plate towards him a little bit.
"But-"
"Jungsu-yah! Get back here and eat," Kangin demanded.
Leeteuk muttered and went back to his seat. He sat and pouted while watching Yesung feed the blushing Ryeowook.
When breakfast was over, they split to their respective apartments to veg.
"Ryeowookie!"
Ryeowook paused and turned.
"Let's ice your hands. Only 4 times today." Leeteuk approached him. "Did you want to shower after that?"
Ryeowook hesitated and looked sideways, disturbed.
"I'll rewrap your hands later if you're worried about them getting them wet."
Ryeowook frowned but nodded and went to his room, Leeteuk a step behind. 10 minutes later, he muttered, "clothes." Leeteuk picked trackpants and a tshirt while he took his medicine, insisting to hold his own glass.
In front of mirror, Ryeowook crinjed. Ugly. Leeteuk appeared behind him and smiled before running the shower's water.
"Let's remove your clothes so they won't get wet, ok?"
Ryeowook nodded and looked away from the mirror and allowed Leeteuk to help him remove his shirt.
"You ok?"
He nodded but when Leeteuk's hands went to his pants, his bandaged hands stopped him.
Leeteuk kissed his head. "It's ok."
Ryeowook closed his eyes and removed his hands.
Meanwhile, outside, Yesung paced around the apartment then went to sit in front of the TV where Eunhyuk and Kyuhyun were watching some gameshow.
"Hyung, come sit," Kyuhyun said before both he and Eunhyuk burst out laughing.
Without a word, Yesung went and sat ont he couch near them.
"Don't worry, Ryeowook-ah will be fine," Kyuhyun said, patting his shoulder. Yesung looked at him. "Jungsu-hyung is with him."
"I'm not worried."
Sungmin came in and jumped over the couch's backsupport to land between Kyuhyun and Eunhyuk. "What did I miss?"
"Not much," Kyuhyun replied.
Sungmin smiled and leaned his head against Kyuhyun's shoulder.
A few minutes later, Yesung stood and began walking off but stopped when Kyuhyun held his wrist. "He's still in the shower, there's nothing you can do, so just relax."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"I think you do," Kyuhyun replied, letting his wrist go.
Yesung looked him in the eye then left to the bedroom and lied down. He clicked his tongue at some point then sat up. Not long later, he lied down once more. When the bathroom's door opened, he stood.
Leeteuk lead Ryeowook to the bed. "Hi, Yesungie."
Yesing waved.
"Let me change your bandages now."
Silently, Ryeowook sat and closed his eyes.
Yesung, hesitantly, went to sit next to him.
Ryeowook opened his eyes and glanced at him.
Yesung put his arms around his shoulders.
Ryeowook leaned his head on Yesung's shoulder and chest.
Leeteuk smiled as he removed the we bandages then dried Ryeowook's hands softly before resting them on his knees and bandaging his right first.
"You smell good," Yesung said, a while later.
Leeteuk chuckled at Ryeowook's blush. "Move your fingers?" He smiled, satisfied, and moved to the other hand.
The door opened and Kangin walked in with Kyuhyun and Eunhyuk. "Ah, there you are!"
Yesung and Kyuhyun exchanged a glance before Yesung's eyes fell on Leeteuk's hands working on Ryeowook.
"Move your hand."
Ryeowook did.
"Ok, good." Leeteuk pecked both hands and stood, missing Ryeowook's blush while gathering the old bandages.
"Aish! Why aren't you this good to me too?" Kangin complained.
Leeteuk laughed. "There's still 2 hours and a half before Dr. Lee arrives, why don't you lie down a little?"
"I think I'll do that."
They left him to rest on his bed. Ryeowook closed his eyes and tried to relax against the mattress. My back hurts... Eventually, he dozed off.
Sungmin's stomach gurgled. "I'm hungry," he whined.
"We just had breakfast," Eunhyuk said.
"That was like... 4 hours ago."
"Aish! Dead."
"Ryeowookie is still sleeping, is that a good idea?" Yesung asked no one in particular.
"I think we should wake him up. The doctor will be here soon."
A room's door opened and Ryeowook walked into the sitting space.
"Ryeowookie! We were just going to wake you."
"I want to see something on the internet."
Kyuhyun paused the game and carried his laptop off the table so Ryeowook can use the computer.
"Thanks."
Kyuhyun put the laptop on the coffee table and stood behind him, looking at the screen over his shoulder. He turned at a poke and saw three scowling faces glaring at him. Sungmin made typing motions as realization struck him. He pur his arms around Ryeowook and on the keyboard.
"What do you need?"
"Um..." Ryeowook started to say, shrinking into the seat, "me... Kim Ryeowook..." He put his hands in his lap and waited. When the results arrived, he turned his face away. "Take it off," he said and looked at the ground next to him. "Thank you," he said, standing.
Kyuhyun stopped him. "They don't know anything," he said, looking for Ryeowook's gaze. "They don't know anything," he repeated.
"They know everything... they know everything..." he sobbed, slowly sitting back on the chair.
"What was it?" Leeteuk asked, approaching.
Kyuhyun nodded at the screen.
Leeteuk pursed his lips. "Ryeowookie-"
"They know... everything... They know... disgusting... dirty... gross..."
"Why... why would they wrote those things..." Sungmin said, his eyes glued to the screen.
The other occupants of the apartment rushed into the sitting area when they heard a loud cry to the scene of their eternal magnae completely given out. Hankyung covered his mouth with the tips of his fingers as he watched and Yesung looked at everyong. "What? What happened? What happened?!"
Eunhyuk turned to him. "Some people said awful things..."
Ryeowook, displeased, wiped his face with his arm and sniffled. He exhaled with a heartbreaking frown. "It's better if I leave, isn't it? Just disappear..."
"What? No, no, no. Don't talk non-sense," Sungmin replied.
"I don't want them to throw away Super Junior because of me..."
"Ryeowookie, you silly, selfless magnae," Leeteuk said, kneeling in front of him and wiping the rest of his tears that he couldn't reach. "There's no Super Junior without you - don't ever forget that."
"It hurts... it burns... everywhere... you don't know... you don't know how it feels!"
"You're right, I don't know how it feels... but I know all of us are on your side, every step of the way. No matter what, you have us and the Elves on your side. Whoever feels otherwise isn't a SuJu fan. You're absolutely right. None of us know how you feel, and none of them know either. However, like I said, we will always be on your side. No matter what."
"I... I called you... you didn't come..."
Leeteuk bit his lip.
"Don't touch it!" Ryeowook screamed.
Kyuhyun jumped.
"Dirty skin. Don't touch it. It needs to be burned," he said, leaning away from them.
Sungmin's eyes burnt into the words on the screen. "How could they... how dare they say those things... Ryeowookie is not dirty!"
"Sungmin-" Yesung started to say.
"-How could they say those things! I can't stand it, hyung!" Sungmin yelled.
Ryeowook tried his best to cover his ears, shaking his head and leaning side to side to distract himself.
Eunhyuk looked around him and took off.
"Eun-" Hankyung tried to call him but he was already out the door.
He ran into the other apartment, pausing at the sitting room then continuing to the familiar room.
"Eh? Why is that brat crying?" Heechul said, looking up from his place next to Siwon. They stood and went to look for him. "Hey, brat!" Heechul called, peeking into the room. "Hey, what's wrong?"
Eunhyuk sat on the ground.
"Hey! Brat! What's wrong?!"
"Hyung... I can't fix Ryeowook..."
"What happened, HyukJae-ah?" Donghae asked.
Eunhyuk looked up at them. "Why... why Ryeowook-ah? He's so gentle... and kind... why..."
Donghae sat next to him. "Did something happen in the other apartment?"
Eunhyuk told them.
Outside the door, Kangin leaned on the wall and listened, arms folded. A few seconds later, he walked purposely to the other apartment. He met the psychiatrist on the way.
"Good afternoon, Dr. Lee," he said.
"Good afternoon," the psychiatrist answered.
"How are you today?"
"Very fine, thank you. Yourself?"
"Fine."
"Is Ryeowook this side?"
"Yes. I must let you know that last night has been quite rough on him so spare him some."
"Rough?"
"He was having nightmares and didn't sleep well. He also just found out how some people feel about his... ordeal. Not very positive. I hope you can help us."
Dr. Lee nodded.
Kangin opened the door and lead the way in.
"Aish, can't I have a break?" Ryeowook huffed when he saw the psychiatrist and Kangin standing at the corner of the sitting room, wiping roughly at his eyes with his bandaged hands.
"You'll hurt your eyes," Yesung said, using his own hands instead.
Ryeowook tsked once in displeasure. "Don't touch dirty skin!" he chastised.
"YOUR SKIN IS NOT DIRTY!" Yesung cried, losing his calm.
"Jongwoon!" Leeteuk snapped.
"Quiet," Kangin said, walking into the space. "Dr. Lee is here to see Ryeowook. Everyone else in the other apartment's sitting room - now!" He turned to Dr. Lee. "I trust my brother's safety in your company."
Dr. Lee nodded. "We will be finished in an hour's time."
"Thank you for taking care of my younger brother," Leeteuk said, bowing and leading the way out towards the other apartment.
Kangin stopped Sungmin. "You stay."
Sungmin looked up. "What? Why?"
Kangin's eyes narrowed. "Because you're the one he trusts when he freaks out."
Sungmin swallowed but wordlessly turned and leaned against the hidden wall.
Kangin thanked him silently before leaving. He called everyone else in the apartment and waited for them to gather before clearing his throat. "I think it's time we talk to the Elves."
In silent agreement, the others sat around and watched Kangin go to the screen and log on.
'We need your help.'
A few seconds later, the reply came.
'You know we will help.'
As Kangin typed, with the others helping him phrase the messages, Leeteuk pulled out his cellphone.
"Hello... HoDong-shii, yes it's me... I'm fine, and you?... HoDong-shii, I was hoping you can pull some strings for me..."
...
An hour later, Leeteuk silently joined Sungmin in the other apartment, sitting Indian style on the floor next to him. Sungmin glanced at him. He reached and caressed Sungmin's hair off his eyes. They heard Dr. Lee wrap up the session and stood. Leeteuk miss-called the manager to let him know that they were done.
"Thank you for coming, doctor," Leeteuk said, walking in first. "The manager will be here in a minute."
Dr. Lee nodded. "Thank you, I do need to speak to him."
"How's our Ryeowookie?"
"Well, seems like he has a nasty backache. Aren't his hyungs taking care of their dongsaeng?" he said, winking at Ryeowook who smiled shyly.
They waited for the manager to arrive before the psychiatrist went on.
"Thank you for your time, doctor," the manager said, shaking hands with Dr. Lee.
"I'm going to perscribe some medication to help Ryeowook-shii sleep better at night on the condition they are not to be within his possession. With his permission, I can speak freely that I have noticed symptoms of depression and anxiety, and that is to be expected from someone who recently suffered a trauma. I will postpone medicating that issue until our next meeting in 3 days, on Tuesday." He held out a paper to the manager. "This is the perscription. Please have a responsible hand hold on to the medication."
The manager nodded.
Ryeowook exhaled and zoned out. So tired.
"Ryeowook-shii?"
He shook his head and snapped back to reality.
Dr. Lee smiled. "See you on Tuesday."
He nodded. "See you."
"Don't forget what we said, ok?"
Ryeowook nodded. As the psychiatrist left, he sat on the couch. "I already feel drained."
Sungmin sat next to him and brushed his hair with his fingers. "You did well."
"My back is hurting," Ryeowook said, "it's been hurting since last night, but I think it's getting worse," he added.
"Sungminnie is the best at giving massages. His touches are very accurate," Kyuhyun said, walking in.
They turned to Kyuhyun.
"Oh really?" Leeteuk teased.
Kyuhyun froze and blushed.
"So that's what it was, huh?" Kangin added, putting an arm around Kyuhyun's shoulder and looking at him suggestively.
Kyuhyun pouted. "Don't pick on me! Sungminnie!"
Ryeowook chuckled. When the others joined them, he spoke up, "everyone..."
They turned to him.
"I'll get better... I promise."
They felt their hearts swell and their eyes well. "Aish!" They turned to Eunhyuk. "Stop making me cry!" he said before wiping at his eyes again.
Kangin smiled then looked at Ryeowook then Leeteuk on his right. His eyes then met with Sungmin's. He nodded his pride to Sungmin then turned to Leeteuk quickly.
Sungmin smiled. "Ryeowookie... about that backrub?"
"Yes... please..." Ryeowook said, blushing.
Through chuckles and smiles, Sungmin pushed him into his room and onto his bed.
...
That night, Kangin and Leeteuk were the last people left in the bedroom besides Yesung, who lied down sideways in his bed and looked at them. Leeteuk gave Ryeowook the medicine and glass of water and took back the empty glass, smiling.
"Good night, Ryeowookie," Kangin said, ruffling his hair as he went under the covers.
"Goodnight... Youngwoon-shii...-ah... Jungsu...-ah..." Ryeowook said, his voice going down to a mutter as he went futher under the covers and hid his face, "umma... appa..."
Leeteuk and Kangin chuckled.
"Good night, baby Wookie," Leeteuk said, kissing the top of his head, "goodnight, Jongwonie."
"Night, Jongwoon," Kangin said as they left.
"Goodnight," Yesung replied, watching them leave.
A few seconds later, Ryeowook pushed the cover off and sat up. He glanced at Yesung who smiled knowingly and pulled back his cover. With a grin, Ryeowook hopped off his bed and went under the covers with him.
With his head against Yesung's chest, Ryeowook whispered, "hyung... help me clean it off..."
Yesun's arm protectively went around him.
"Help me get better."
"I love you, Ryeowookie."
"I love you, hyung... help me get better... I want to get better for everyone..."
"You're very precious to all of us." Yesung brought a bandaged hand up to his mouth and kissed it. "I have faith in you. You'll get better."
"I promise I will."