No Strings Attached || ON HOLD

Chapter 13

(Anna's POV)

I walked out of the coffee shop with our iced coffees in hand, pushing the tinted door outwards and stepping out in the fresh air.

I looked at the spot where I left Y/n earlier, only to realize that my worst nightmare was coming true.

"Y/n, Y/n look at me!" I shouted, trying to get her mind elsewhere.

She  was crouched down on the street, holding up her body from completely giving up using her fragile hands as she was on her knees.

Shameless passerbys just watched instead of helping and I wondered since how long she had been bearing the pain.

Her breathing was labored, coming in heavy pants. I absentmindedly threw the cups aside and rubbed her back softly. Her fingers were shaking uncontrollably and gave away the hold.

She tumbled into my chest, pushing me down along. I held up her body, bringing her up into a sitting position with me.

I knew we must be looking strange, sitting on the roadside but I couldn't care less. I had to bring an end to her panic attack.

I can do it, I have handled this before-
I reminded myself, recalling all the ways to make this stop. cold sweats were beginning to appear on her forehead and I had to prevent this from getting worse. I had to calm Y/n.

First the breathing.

"Listen to me, Y/n. I need you to do as I say okay?" I said aloud, grabbing her shoulders and shaking her lightly to get her attention.

She looked at me with pleading eyes, I could see how much she was suffering, unable to put her pain into words as helpless tears brimmed her eyes.

"I want you to make fists-" I guided clearly "like this"

She did as I told, though shakily. I gave her a smile of approval. at least she was listening.
I can make this better.

"Good. Now bring them closer to your mouth-and breathe in-" I performed an inward motion for her to understand better-"and breath out", I said, breathing in and out with her.
She was improving, getting her breaths back in control.

"Babe, I'm right here..yes, breathe in-breathe out"

"You're safe with me, it's over, okay? I'm right here" I said over and over again, patting her sweat-drenched hair softly.

Now I need go get her mind elsewhere.

"You recall the concert, Y/n ? can you tell me what color shirt Taehyung was wearing, yeah? the shirt you really liked?" I asked, trying to talk slowly and calmly and getting her mind off the trigger of the attack.

She nodded at me in response.

"Babe, can you tell me the color of the shirt, yeah?"

"Black" she murmured. Good, she was responsive.

"And what color was Jimin wearing? can you tell me that ?" I asked further, hoping she would answer.

"Blue" she replied, voice stable. I sighed in relief and rubbed soft circles on her back.
now the next step.

"Y/n, can you try standing with me? will you hold onto my hands please?"

She brought out her hands, intertwining them with mine as I pulled her up with me. she was still trembling a little as she stood but in about a minute she was stable.

I knew I shouldn't be asking questions right now so I just hired a taxi for us, back to the hotel.

She rested her head in my lap on our way back and I gently caressed her head, cursing myself for going into the coffee shop. If I had been there, I would have protected her from the trigger.

But what was the trigger? why did she have to go through the same ordeal after a good year of no attacks?
why was god not having mercy on y/n?

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

The taxi pulled into the hotel porch but Y/n had fallen asleep from exhaustion on my lap.

I asked the taxi driver if he could carry her but he refused. just then I saw Jungkook getting off the BTS van behind our taxi on the porch.

"Jungkook?" I yelled out from the taxi, hoping he would hear me.

He looked in our direction in confusion but walked towards us.

"Anna? Is that Y/n? what happened?" he asked, flooding me with questions.

"She fell asleep. we shouldn't wake her right now, Jungkook. Umm that leaves me with a favor to ask...can you please carry her to our room? I understand if you can't you must be tire-"

"No, no, I'm willing to help! please, let me" he cut in. I smiled at him gratefully.

We managed to pull her up from my lap quietly and then Jungkook picked her up in his arms bridal style, carefully keeping her head from falling back so that she doesn't wake up.

I got us into the elevator and we quickly reached our floor.

She looked so tiny in his arms, face nuzzling into his chest as if still afraid of danger in her dreams.

We got into the room and I pulled up the bed covers. Jungkook gently laid her fragile body on the bed and we both tucked her in after removing her shoes.

I knew Jungkook knew this was more than just a casual drift off to sleep. He had seen her tear-stained face and must have had a lot of questions to ask.
But I had no energy to answer him right now because I myself needed to figure things out.

"Thank you, Jungkook, for your help. I will see you later then..." I said , trying to be as polite as possible but with a tone of a final goodbye.

He understood what I meant and left, closing the door behind him softly.