By the time the day ends, I’m back in my hotel with a full belly and the urge to sleep the rest of my life away.

“I feel sick.” Sunshine groans as he rolls onto his back. His face is slightly pale as he closes his eyes.

“I told you not to eat the octopus dish.” My big brother voice comes out and he glares at me.

“Shut up.”

Chuckling under my breath, I roll over and grab my messenger bag. “Tell me nicely to go get you medicine and I’ll happily do so.”

Sunshine grabs my arm. “I would seriously love you forever if you did.”

“I said nicely, not creepy. I swear!” Jerking my arm away. “You say the weirdest things. Fine. I’m going out then.”

“You’re the best.”

“Remember that in the future,” I call out as I walk to the door. “If anyone asks where I am just tell them I’m saving lives.”

He groans as I step out into the hallway. Taejin got us a hotel on the outskirts of the city, it shouldn’t be too hard to find a medicine shop around here. Humming under my breath, I jog down the stairs and make my way out of the hotel. The fresh summer heat brushes against my skin and I feel energized as I start walking down the sidewalk.

“Where oh where could it be?” I whisper quietly. The shops are so crammed together that I have to pay extra attention. Aha! I find a place at the end of the street and I step inside, acknowledging the woman behind the counter.

“Do you have medicine for the stomach? My friend ate something that didn’t agree with him.”

The pharmacist nods and disappears into the vast amounts of medicine shelves.

“This would be good for your friend. It might taste bitter but it’ll work.” She holds out a bottle that I immediately reach for.

The door opens and the woman looks behind me. “Yuna! You’re right on time.”

I spin around as Yuna is stepping into the store. Her lips part as she recognizes me. I can see her dip her head in hello.

“Are you getting medicine too?” I ask when she steps up to the counter. What kind of question was that? Of course she was. Why else would she be here?

“For my mother,” she admits before pulling out her wallet. The pharmacist grabs two big boxes and slams them onto the counter.

“You should really get a strong man who will carry these for you. It’s heavy.”

“I got it,” Yuna objects.

Turning to the clerk, I lean around the boxes to get her attention. “Can you deliver that medicine to my hotel? I’ll help her.”

“Geum Hajoon!” Yuna gasps. “You don’t-”

“Just tell me the hotel and I’ll get it there.” The woman smiles in relief. “It’s so nice seeing young pretty men like you helping out.”

I grab the boxes before Yuna can object and spit out the hotel’s name and room number before shuffling to the door.

“I don’t think I can open the door by myself,” I reply when Yuna is still standing by the door.

Her cheeks go red. “Oh, right!” She leaps into action, opening the door. On the side of the road is a beat up tiny car that looks like it’s seen better days. “This is my car.” She sounds slightly embarrassed as she opens the back door. I lay the box onto her seat and close the door.

“I can help you unload this at your home. If you’d like.” As I realize that my words sound slightly stalkerish, I rub the back of my head. “I mean…”

“You’ve already done so much.” She shakes her head. “Thank you. Honestly.”

Her stomach growls loudly before she presses a hand against it. “When’s the last time you ate?”

Her lips pucker in thought as she looks away. “I don’t remember,” she admits. “My head is scattered. I should really go. Thank you again. You don’t realize how much this means to me.”

Yuna rushes to the driver’s side and slides in before giving me a wave. I watch her drive away.

“That child feels like she has to do everything on her own.” I turn to the pharmacist who magically appeared behind me. “Her father died a few years ago and she’s left with her mother who has now fallen ill. She barely has time to take care of herself.”

And she was enduring all of this alone? “Do you have her address?”

“It’s in my folder. Are you planning on doing something to my Yuna?”

I look at her seriously. “I’m planning on feeding her.”

“Hm. You have that calm spirit. I knew there was a reason I like you. Come in and get it. Did you still want that medicine delivered?”

I guess I didn’t. I shake my head and watch as she tears a piece of paper out of her folder. She hands it over. Reading it over I realize I don’t have a clue where it could be, but I do know one thing. She needs my help and I’m planning on giving it to her.

The next morning, I begin to tie my shoes as I listen to Dragon rant.

“You’re doing what?” he whispers as I grab my bag, slinging it over my shoulder.

Nervousness trickles down my spine as I step closer so he won’t be loud. “I just...have a bad feeling.”

“You’ve met this girl four times and you’re rushing out to hunt her down? What’s going on?

“It’s not that.” I hesitate. “I just want to make sure she’s okay.”

“So you’re going to steal the car.”

I sputter out a laugh. “It’s not stealing.”

Dragon raises an eyebrow. “Uh huh.”

“I’ll be back before anyone notices.” Grabbing his cheeks, I give him a grin. “Promise. Now go back to bed.”

“This is such a bad idea,” he grumbles before shuffling back into his hotel room. It’s a great idea. A brash one, but a great one. Blowing out a breath, I take off for the company car, hoping no one will see me. Tapping the address into the GPS, I wait as the map loads. It isn’t that far from here. A twenty minute drive at most. Here goes nothing. The way to Yuna’s house is calm. How long has it been since I was actually alone? Being surrounded by my friends all the time, it feels weird to enjoy the peace and quiet. The city quickly turns into country as I follow a road that leads towards the mountains.

“Are you sure this is where I’m supposed to go?” I ask the GPS before a tiny house comes into view. There is Yuna’s car parked on the side. I stop the car near the house. Stepping out, I view my surroundings. Dawn is approaching and the sky is turning a purplish hue. The front door opens and a shadowy figure steps out. I can hear the familiar voice of Yuna as she starts singing one of our songs. I smile at the sultry quality of her voice and the way it’s so stable. She can actually sing well. It makes me curious about what other talents she has hidden away. She stretches as she descends the steps, pausing a few feet from me as she finally notices me. Her mouth immediately closes.

Yuna blinks sluggishly at me before her eyes widen. “Who?”

“Hi.” I wave.

She takes a few steps closer, recognition flaring in her eyes. “Geum Hajoon? I- I...how?”

“Ah. This will come out sounding really wrong, but I was worried after seeing you last night.” I rub the back of my neck. “Your friend gave me your address.”

Her shoulders are still tense as she bites her lower lip. “You came to check up on me?”

I shove my hands into my pockets and rock on my feet. "I mean-”

“Yuna.” A gasping cry comes from inside the house. Yuna’s face goes pale before she dashes back inside. I follow behind her as she rushes into another room.

I can hear her shushing another woman calmly. “It’s okay.”

“Yuna.” The woman sobs. “My Yuna.”

Ducking my head inside to look, I freeze as a woman curls up in a ball, sweat dripping down her face as she clutches Yuna’s hand in her own.

“Does she need a doctor?” I ask quickly.

Yuna twists her head towards me, frowning. “They’ve tried everything but the only hope she has is surgery.”

I lean against the door to give them some space. “She needs surgery?”

Yuna nods. “I’m using my savings to pay for it. It was originally for when I got the courage to debut as a singer, but right now I’m happy to use it on her. We have to wait until next Monday. It’ll be okay, Mom. We’ll get you better.” Her words seem to calm the woman. They have to wait a whole week for surgery when she’s in so much pain?

My words come out amazed. “You're a good daughter.”

Yuna lets out a breath. “It’s only the two of us. I would do anything for her.”

When her mother falls back asleep, we quietly make our way out of the room.

“They gave her medicine for the pain, but it isn’t working.” Tears fall down her cheeks before she hastily wipes them away. “Ah, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be crying.”

“It’s okay to cry,” I tell her sincerely.

She gives me a timid smile. “I can’t believe you’re here. Do you know how many times, I’ve…” She cuts off, her eyes widening as she realizes what she said. “I mean, it’s not how you think it is.”

The room goes quiet with our awkwardness. What should I say? What should I do?

“So you want to be a singer?” I ask as she leads me into the living room. She nods before sitting on the ground next to the table.

“I want to write my own music and perform what I want instead of what people want me to.”

Interest blossoms inside of me. “That sounds like a good dream.”

“Isn’t that kind of cheesy? You’re in the music business and I dream of being able to become a singer and songwriter.”

Laying my arms on the table, I shake my head. “Nothing cheesy about it.”

Yuna brushes her hair up into a ponytail and I catch sight of the black plastic pieces that loops around her ears. She self consciously touches her ear before clearing her throat.

“You don’t have to do that.”

She drops her hand, looking away. “People make fun of me. A hearing impaired girl who wants to make music. How can someone like me make something I can’t even hear without these?”

“Those people don’t understand compassion or respect.” The words rip out of me, laced with enough anger even Dragon would raise an eyebrow at me. “Anyone can make music if you truly believe in yourself.”

Yuna quickly stands up. “Do you want something to drink?” Before I can deny her, she’s running off into the kitchen. I tap my fingers on the table, listening as she bangs objects around in the kitchen. How could people be so rude? Then again, people will always complain that I should have never debuted in Wish. My voice isn’t spectacular or that I’m not the best dancer. Everyone has critics and Yuna already has it in her head that she can never follow her passion because of her impairment. With what I heard outside, I know this girl has a solid chance of being huge in the future.

When Yuna comes back I have already made my mind up. “I want to help.”

“With?” she asks in a distracted tone as she put the cups of tea down. She kneels down, grabbing her cup.

I grab mine. “Getting you to debut.”

Yuna sets her cup down, leaning back I have to fight a smile as her brow furrows.

“What are you talking about?”

“You’re giving up on your dreams to take care of your mother. I want to help. I have a lot of experience in which companies you should look into and which ones you should stay away from, being an idol. All you have to do is audition for the right ones.

Her lips move but no words come out.

“You don’t have to do that. Really. I mean, you already have so much on your plate, and there are so many people out there much better than me."

"Say you'll give it a shot. Say you'll work with me. I have faith in you.” Don’t give up on yourself just yet, I silently plead.

She stares at me, something I can't read written on her face. "I’ll trust you, Geum Hajoon."

I hold my hand out. “Just call me Hajoon. Ready to get started?”