Magic Shop

Part 8 - The Athletic Doctor

"Last one!" Jimin encouraged Jungkook as he held the double doors open for him. "I hope it works out for you!"

"I hope so too," Jungkook answered with a grimace. "See you on the other side, I suppose." He entered the other room, trying not to raise his expectations. It was almost completely bare this time, with only small speakers positioned in both back corners. Standing in the middle of the room was the fifth doctor: a slender, long-legged young man with bouncy chestnut hair and a smile that could have blinded Jungkook if it had been any brighter. He wore a checked shirt, matching brown jacket and trousers and a pair of sliders, and he was holding a device that was connected to one of the speakers by a cable.

"Hi there!" the cheerful man sang, beaming widely. "I'm DR. Dance, A.K.A. Hoseok, but you can call me Hobi!" Jungkook was about to reply, but the doctor continued. "I'm just picking out some songs so we can dance, dance, dance!" Hoseok then began to chatter excitedly to his patient about the weather and his colleagues and the latest choreographies he had learnt. He's as bad as Namjoon, Jungkook mused fondly. He didn't think dancing would be his remedy, but he could see himself liking this guy.

"Right," Hoseok chirped after a few minutes. "I've sorted the music out. Let's get to it!" He pressed play, laid the device on top of the speaker and grabbed Jungkook's hands, pulling him into the centre of the room. For twenty minutes they twirled and jumped and kicked together, Hoseok punching the air with quick coordination, Jungkook flailing his arms feebly about but having fun, nonetheless. He laughed so much that he was soon out of breath and had to lean against the wall before his aching legs could give way beneath him. Hoseok, on the other hand, somehow managed to keep going for another ten minutes.

"It's like you're a literal source of energy!" Jungkook wheezed when the athletic doctor finally stopped to gasp for breath.

"Is that a compliment?" Hoseok chuckled, sitting down beside the younger man, who nodded, still panting. "Thanks, then."

"No, thank you!" Jungkook exclaimed. "I've had so much fun. I don't think this was my remedy, though, so don't get your hopes up. I kind of figured nothing would work."

"I have enough hope anyway," the other man shrugged. "Besides, as long as you had fun, that's great! It's what I'm here for, other than helping to find remedies for patients. And even if you haven't found yours, I'm sure we can still help you!"

"Are you sure? I thought remedies only came from spending time with you lot?"

"Precisely," Hoseok grinned. Does he know something Jimin doesn't? Jungkook asked himself in silence, frowning.

"You're confused," Hoseok laughed, seeing the look on the younger man's face. "Come on, let's go back to the other room." He pushed himself up against the wall and helped the patient to his feet, and the tired pair left the room.

"Hiya, Hobi!" called Jimin from the desk. "Did it work?" Hoseok shook his head in reply. "Oh." Jimin's expression looked as dumbfounded as Jungkook felt. "What do we do now, then?"

"We might need the others to help us figure that out," Hoseok answered, walking over to the row of bells and ringing for the other four doctors at once. One by one they all returned, Yoongi crawling out at the back and instantly clambering onto the sofa and curling up to sleep. So they all know too? Jungkook thought in surprise.

"Oh no you don't," Seokjin scoffed at Yoongi, pulling him upright again. "They need our help."

"You might want to sit for a while, Jungkook," Namjoon suggested as everyone else crowded around the receptionist's desk. the bewildered patient exchanged a questioning glance with Jimin, who blinked back at him in confusion and shrugged. Jungkook perched on the sofa to watch the six colleagues in curiosity.