PLAY ON- Taekook

35

Hours passed and I was asleep, sitting on a chair with my head laid next to Taehyung. It was a very uncomfortable position but I didn't mind, wanting to be as close to him as possible. The room felt lonely, only the sound of his heart monitor audible. The lights were turned off in the hallways and the rooms felt cold.

I jumped when I heard a small voice calling out my name. "J-Jungkook?" My head shot up and my eyes met Taehyung's, who was groaning in pain as he tried to sit up.

"Taehyung, you're awake!" I stood up, rushing to help him. He smiled as I placed a few pillows behind him.

"You've been here this whole time?" He asked, voice scratchy. I nodded, moving down to leave a kiss on his forehead.

"I'm so relieved you're okay, Taehyung." I sat down next to him, holding his hands between mine. He leaned back, resting his head against the pillows behind him. "Are you feeling okay? Do you want me to call one of the nurses?"

"I'm okay Kook." He shook his head. Then I looked up at all the machines surrounding him, the way he flinched in pain every time he moved and the drips attached to his arms. Suddenly I felt my throat tighten once more at the sight. I tried to hold back the tears threatening to fall from my eyes but failed miserably once Taehyung asked me, me of all people, if I was okay.

"Are you okay? Why are you crying?" He asked as I buried my head in his lap, sobbing and choking out whispers of 'i'm sorry' again and again. Taehyung's hand reached up to stroke my hair, not being able to move any other way. "Jungkook please don't cry, why are you apologizing?"

I let it all out, all the frustration and fear I didn't let myself feel when he was gone for  those days. I wanted to just sit in my room and cry but I told myself it was a waste of time and that I should've been outside, looking for him. Taehyung didn't say anything, palm reaching down to caress my face and comfort me, but I didn't deserve it. "I'm s-so sorry Tae, it's all my fault."

"How?" He asked calmly, continuing to play with my hair.

"If I hadn't met you, then Jennie would have never leaked that video, and your brother wouldn't have found you." Taehyung only laughed, hands reaching down to wipe the tears from beneath my eyes.

"You know what else would have happened if you never met me?" He asked. I gave him a curious look. "I would still be miserable, feeling lonely and working long hours with nothing to look forward to." He sighed before continuing "Are you really blaming yourself because of that?"

"It's not just that... I promised i'd come to see you when your shift started but I was too late. If I only came a little bit sooner then-" I was interrupted by Taehyung shushing me.

"I don't blame you at all, Jungkook. I heard Jimin and Roseanne discussing everything when they drove me here. You're the one who figured out where I was and saved me." He gave me a grateful and a loving smile. "I couldn't thank you enough."

Sitting up, I cupped Taehyung's face gently and brought our lips together, my tears staining his cheeks. All I wanted to do when he was gone was hold him like this, letting him know how much I missed him. Reluctantly, I pulled away. "Lay down and get some rest Taehyung, you need to recover."

He pouted but laid down nonetheless. I sat back down next to him and adjusted his blanket. Taehyung looked busy in thought, staring at the ceiling before suddenly turning to face me. "I have a question."

"Mhm?" I hummed, standing up to get him some water from the table across the room.

"I'm not mad at all, just curious. Where were you when my shift started?" He asked, thanking me as I passed him a bottle. I sighed, sitting back down.