thank you! and welcome to the club!:)

WIIIII! Thank you! :)

But I think I’ll sneak in a little Hannah-Jessica scene in the next chapter. XD

You loved it? Seriously? Thank you so much! 

Yeah. You’re right. :) I just felt a little pressured. Will definitely make sure next chapter’s read twice. At least.

Your post really meant a lot to me. Thank you so much! :)

Really? Thank you so much! That meant a lot because I wasn’t confident with that chapter. 

Don’t! I love your rants! 

Am sorry for that last chapter! I was very much in a hurry to finish it and my brain’s not cooperating. BAAAAAAAH

I’M SCARED! I didn’t even read this chapter twice because I was in a hurry to post it because of the “post it! post it!” messages. haha

*Should I hide now?*

Hi! Yeah! Am so sorry. Need to edit a few things. :( I didn’t even get to proof read this chapter. I’m scared of the reactions, actually.

It won’t? I’ll try to check again!

AN: Sorry for posting late. :( Unedited yet again.

Chapter 4

Beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep!

The heart monitor attached to Phillip started beeping like crazy much to everyone’s surprise.

Heejun, who was devouring the bananas on Phillip’s bedside table, literally spilled the chewed bananas on the floor when his mouth dropped open. The others, on the other hand were all standing still. All was caught by the moment.

Then just like how the saying goes (when everyone got over their shock), all hell broke loose.

Hollie and Elise were panicking.

“Oh my God! Oh my God! Call the Doctor!”

“Call the nurse! Call the nurse!”

Joshua, who was trying to pacify the two girls, had picked up the girls’ nerves and started panicking too.

“Mayday! Mayday!” Heejun was shouting while pushing the button on the wall, but all it did was to adjust Phillip’s head rest. “Shit!” Heejun muttered and started moving around the room, pushing all the buttons he can find.

Phillip silently groaned in disbelief. He might be well, but he’s still quite weak and doesn’t have the strength to stop his friends from their insanity. He was just silently praying that they all stop panicking and just look at him to confirm that he isn’t in any pain or discomfort.

Then he noticed Skylar (who seemed to be the only one with the presence of mind) who ran out of the room, probably to call the doctor. Probably.

Phillip hopes she did not.

This is just embarrassing.

He’s not in any pain or anything. There isn’t even anything wrong with him right now.

Sure he was out of breath. Sure he’s heart’s beating like crazy.

But all of it has no connection with his successful operation. It has something to do with his sudden reaction caused by the girl standing five feet away from him.

They locked eyes again.

And the heart monitor started beeping like crazy again. Faster this time.

Heejun looked like he was about to kill himself.

But before Phillip can say anything, Skylar entered the room with the Doctor on tow.

Oh man. Phillip thought.

—-

“Everything’s normal,” the Doctor announced after a few minutes of examining Phillip.

There was a collective sigh in the room.

The doctor removed his stethoscope and turned towards his friends.

“You made him feel excited. While not really bad, he’s still quite weak from the operation. You might want to tone it down a bit, okay?” he asked, looking stern.

Phillip can see Joshua trying to keep a serious face, but he knows his friend will lose it in a few minutes and they’ll just be in trouble. The doctor might send them out and he still wants his friends with him.

So he just felt relieved when everyone nodded their response. The doctor, who seemed satisfied by the reactions of his friends, had told Phillip to keep it down then went out of Phillip’s room.

As the door closed, his friends turned to look at him—all throwing dagger eyes at him, except Heejun, who was looking mischievously at him…

… And Colton. Phillip couldn’t decipher the thoughtful look in his eyes. In fact, when the others were panicking a while ago, he was just calm, standing there. As if he knew there wasn’t anything wrong with him.

Phillip cleared his throat. “Guys, I wasn’t the one who panicked. All of you panicked. If you just looked at me, you would’ve seen I’m okay.”

Elise went to him poked him hard, punctuating each word. “We. Were. Worried. You. Big. Dope.”

“She’s so right, Phillip,” Skylar said. “You just had surgery! We all thought you’re having a seizure or something.”

Phillip rolled his eyes. “Fine, fine. I’m sorry,” he said sincerely. But nobody even budged a little.

“Sorry?” he asked again, smiling this time. When the girls let out a sigh, he knew he was forgiven.

After all, no one can resist the PP Charm.

And just like that, the group dispersed to do different activities in the room. Quiet activities. They borrowed Phillip’s IPAD, the room’s TV remote control, and a deck of cards.

When almost everyone was busy doing something, Phillip finally braved it and looked at her again.

Much to his displeasure, she wasn’t paying any attention to him. She was looking up at Colton and smiling at him.

They were holding hands.

Phillip’s smile faltered.

“Gotcha,” a voice whispered on his ear.  It was Heejun with his famous smirk.

Phillip looked away from the couple and pretended to check his phone.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he whispered.

Heejun laughed. “I’m Heejun. I know you so well man that I know you wear black boxers during performance and regular briefs during any other day.”

This made Phillip hit him with a pillow. “You’re so gay! You noticed that? I can’t believe you, Han.”

Instead of being offended, Heejun just batted his eyelashes at him “Only for you man. Only for you!”

Phillip was about to throw another pillow at him, when a soft voice stopped him.

“You shouldn’t waste your strength arguing with Heejun, PP. You know he always wins.”

Jessica had finally left Colton’s side and was standing at the side of his bed, looking down at him. She was smiling. And in an instant, he forgot Heejun was even there.

Jessica sat on the side of his bed and held the hand his girlfriend was holding a while ago.

Phillip noticed how different it felt. He looked at their intertwined hands. His small hand fit perfectly on his big one. He looked up and met her gaze.

He smiled. “Hello, beautiful.”

——

He isn’t blind. He isn’t even naive. He knows Skylar likes him. He knows Jessica doesn’t. At least not the way he wants her to like him.

From the very first day he heard Jessica’s voice, he already decided that he’s in love with her regardless of what she looks like. 

Her voice was enough to make him fall in love.

He first heard her sing in one of the group performances during the elimination. Her group was practicing at one of the rooms. He just happened to pass by the said room on his way to his own group. He stopped at the doorway because he was captured by the nice blending of the voices.

Then came the solos. First, he heard a guy sing, then a girl, then… her.

Colton’s world literally stopped. Her voice was incomparable.

Unlucky for him though, he never got to meet the one who owns the voice for quite some time. 

It was in top 24 that he finally put a face on the voice. 

He was starstruck. She isn’t a knock out like former idol finalist, Pia Toscano, but she is beautiful in her own, simple way. Especially when she smiles. 

Colton was a goner since then.

Then came the Top 14. He was praying so hard that the two of them will both make it. And when they did, his heart was soaring.

It was in top 12 that he thought he’ll have the chance to explore his feelings for her.

In a way, he did. The two of them had gotten really close. Yes, she was always seen with Deandre, but he had overheard her telling Shannon that Deandre’s like her brother.

He immediately felt relieved and started making his moves.

The Colton Dixon Moves.

He started by calling her his Skinny Mini Me so he’ll have an excuse to have pictures with her, touch her, and be by her side. 

It’s pathetic and he knows it. But it’s the best he can do for now. Jessica is still very young and he respects her innocence. He likes her that much. 

He’s almost obsessed with her, but in a good way; not the stalker-ish type of obsession. He just notices simple things about her: the way she dresses; the way she fidgets when nervous; the way she tucks a hair behind her ear if she’s feeling shy… those things. He even knows when she’s lying to him; when she’s hiding something; when she’s sad; or even when she’s happy.

Right now, he was observing her and Phillip. With the way they are with each other, he knows there is something going on. One look at Phillip’s face, then Jessica’s blush, then the heart monitor beeping…

Memories of their past idol moments—from on cam to off cam— suddenly flashed in Colton’s mind like a slideshow.

Then everything’s suddenly clear for Colton.

He met Heejun’s eyes. When Heejun immediately averted his gaze…. that sealed it. Heejun knows something. And now Heejun knows he knows.

Phillip is one of his closest friends, but this revelation suddenly made him feel…. challenged.

No, no. This time he isn’t going down without a fight.

——

“How are you?” she asked, squeezing his hand. Phillip squeezed back.

“I’m fine,” he answered smiling. “And you?”

Jessica laughed. “We’re too formal, PP. I hate it.”

“Agree,” he said, laughing too. He feels so free when he’s with her. As of all the weight of the world is suddenly released from his shoulders.

“I missed you,” she suddenly blurted out. It was said so softly that Phillip thought he had just imagined it. But the blush on her cheeks confirmed what he just heard.

“I missed you too,” he said, which made Jessica look at him, surprise evident on her face. “You don’t believe me? Well you should, Jess. I really do miss you.”

”Phillip, I—“

“So, how’s  Mr. American Idol?”

It was Colton. He sat behind Jessica and leaned in to put his chin on her shoulder, and wrapping an arm around her waist.

Phillip felt irritated. It was evident on his face. His gaze on Colton’s hand on Jessica’s waist. Jessica, like the others on the room except for Heejun, seemed oblivious of the tension. In fact, Jessica is still smiling at Phillip.

Innocent Jessica. She doesn’t know she can tell Phillip and me to jump off this floor and we will. Colton thought.

“PP’s fine, Colt,” Jessica said, turning her head a little. “He’s a strong guy.”

Colton just smiled. “That he is,” then kissed Jessica on the cheeks.

Innocent Jessica just giggled and stood up from her seat, releasing Phillip’s hand  in the process. Phillip is now looking at Colton.

“I’ll prepare you some fruits, PP, okay?” she asked. “You need to eat.”

Phillip immediately removed his gaze from Colton’s to give Jessica a small smile. He followed her with his gaze as she went to the bedside table to remove the basket of fruits away from Heejun, who was busy eating a banana and watching the exchange between the three of them.

While Jessica unintentionally distracted Heejun, Phillip brought his attention back towards Colton. His friend was smirking at him as if saying: “I know what you’re doing and you won’t succeed.”

Phillip didn’t do or say anything. He just stared. After all, he still has some problems to solve: his girlfriend, the age gap, and his real feelings to name a few.

But no, he wouldn’t give up without a fight. He would just like to make sure first which fight he wants to win.