Before you disappear

Chapter 22

JK? Why did he call me JK? Was this a case of mistaken identity? Did I look like someone called JK? What a weird name for a girl, though.

I blinked a few times and tried to focus on the face before me. My brain didn't seem to work properly. The guy looking at me seemed so familiar, but who was he?

"JK," he said again, his hands on both my shoulders. "If you're awake, please say something."

"I'm awake," I said hoarsely, pushing his hands away as I turned on my side. My throat hurt like hell and speaking increased that itchy feeling. I scraped my throat, hoping I would find enough saliva to swallow so my throat would feel a little less painful.

"He needs some water," the man before me said. "Hand me that bottle, please."

I started coughing. My whole body trembled and hot and cold flashes ran through me. On top of that, my head had started pounding as though someone inside had decided to do some renovations and drill holes on each side of my skull.

"Here," the man said, handing me a bottle.

With shaking hands, I took it from him and gulped some water down. The cool liquid soothed my throat instantly. "Thank you," I said with a voice that didn't sound like my own. I gave the bottle back and laid back down, closing my eyes.

"You okay?"

I raised my hands to rub my temples. "I'm fine," I said, even though I knew I wasn't fully. "Why do you keep calling me JK?"

Worried whispers rose up next to me. I pushed the sound away, trying to focus on my breathing.

When I opened my eyes again, the headache had lessened but just a fraction of it. Enough for me to see more clearly.

The man's eyes pierced into mine and as if I was hit by lightning, a shock went through me as I registered who he was. "Jimin?"

His eyes bulged a little and then his lips twitched in a small smile. "Yes," he confirmed, his eyebrows furring together. "Do you know who you are?"

"Jimin," someone warned in a hiss.

As I came to sit upright, I tore my eyes away from Jimin's stare and turned to where the other voice had come from. "RM?"

The leader smiled as he stepped closer. "I'm here," he said. "You gave us quite a scare."

I frowned. I gave Jimin and RM a scare? This seemed weird. Why would these two from BTS be here with me? How could I give them a scare? What happened?

My heart started pounding again and so I rose my hands to rub my temples, only to freeze them midway in the air as my eyes locked on the tattoos on my right arm. My breathing faltered. These weren't my tattoos! I turned my arm, first to the inside than to the outside. "How...?"

Slowly, I rose my hands to my face. No glasses, yet I saw perfectly. My long locks of hair were gone, replaced by short hair. Several earrings in my ear.

I then looked up at both guys. They called me JK. I glanced at my arm. These are JK's tattoos. Am I inside Jungkook's body right now?

"W-what happened?" I managed to say.

I meant how I woke up in Jungkook's body, but fortunately RM and Jimin didn't pick up on that as Jimin started explaining what had happened at the concert.

Jimin's eyes glistened as he recalled the events that had rendered Jungkook unconscious and even without a pulse for a while.

"His heart stopped?" I whispered as I clenched my fists in agony. My bias had been in a life threatening situation, right after the concert.

I closed my eyes for a moment as I tried to remember the concert. Flashes of memories resurfaced. I'd been inside the stadium when there weren't a lot of fans. Rehearsal!

And then that moment when Jungkook's and my hand touched each other. I inhaled sharply. Did that moment somehow made us change bodies? Would his soul be in my body right now? Oh my gosh, how would he handle it?

Even though inside I was freaking out, I realized instantly I had to remain cool at this point. I was very aware of the fact that if I would express that turmoil inside, I'd be in a straight jacket within hours. I couldn't do that to Jungkook.

I have to pretend to be him for now.

"Your heart stopped for a while," RM corrected me as he narrowed his eyes at me. "We don't know why as the tests have been inconclusive and your body seems completely fine now."

I nodded slowly, biting the inside of my cheek for almost giving myself away. Not him, it's me. Jungkook is me, and I am him.

"What do you remember from what we've told you?"

I glanced up at Jimin, waited a moment and then shook my head. "To be honest, not much."

"But you know who you are?"

Jimin's voice sounded so fragile as he asked the question and I knew I had to let him know Jungkook was okay. At least, this body was okay. Where his soul was... that was a completely different question and one I needed to find the answer to asap. Though, first I had to find a way to get out of the hospital.

"Yes," I told Jimin, "I know who I am. Jungkook. Golden Maknae. Youngest member of BTS. International playboy." I winked playfully, making Jimin laugh.

"Ah, you had me scared there for a moment."

I took a deep breath. "I'm just trying to wrap my mind around what's happening," I said honestly. "It's a lot to process."

"I bet it is," RM said. "Though it is good to see you awake again, JK. I'm sure the other members will be thrilled to see you back on your feet."

"I should call them," Jimin said and rushed out before anyone could stop them.

RM watched him leave and then turned to me. "The members might come running after Jimin's phone call. If you're not up to having them around, then tell me now and I'll hold them off."

My heart skipped a beat at the prospect of meeting the other members. This was so unreal! Keep a straight face, JK. Act natural. What would JK do? He wouldn't mind seeing the members.

So, I managed a smile even though the fangirl in me had a hard time containing her enthusiasm. "It's okay. I can imagine I gave them quite a scare, so when they come I'd like to see them," I said as another question slowly dawned on me. "But can I ask you a stupid question?"

RM chuckled. "You've done that many times before, so I can't see why I would resist another one."

I rolled my eyes at his joke, then turned serious again and looked at my hands. They were slightly trembling, so I rubbed them together. "You might laugh when I ask this."

RM sat on the edge of my bed and rested his hand on mine so I had to stop rubbing. "Tell me."

The tone of his voice was sincere and it gave me the courage to ask what had popped into my mind. "What language are we speaking?"

***

Author's note

How would you react when you find out that you're in the body of your bias? I'm interested to know, so tell me!

There are a few things on my mind that I'm not sure if I'll address. I want to keep this as clean and respectful as I can towards the guys. It's fiction, I know, but using the guys' names gives it a different feel for me. 

Reading some of the other stories here, I guess I might be one of the few that feels that way... or do you recognize this, too?