Before you disappear

Chapter 23

Jungkook's reflection wasn't his own. The mirror showed an image of a girl. Someone he vaguely recognized, but he didn't know who she was. He held the mirror at a distance, trying to decipher if perhaps the mirror wasn't really a mirror. He opened his mouth, seeing her mouth open. He touched his hair, seeing her doing the same to her hair.

Shocked, he dropped the mirror onto the side of the bed and sat upright. His hands went up to his chest, colliding with something he hadn't felt before. Looking down, he saw two lumps rise and fall as he took short but deep breaths.

He had... breasts?

His hands dropped to the side and he leaned forward. He tried to swallow, but the lump in his throat had grown in size and it was hard for Jungkook to focus. Anxiety started to surface, pushing him towards a panic attack.

"Are you okay? What is happening?"

He shook his head as the woman placed her hand on his shoulder. His hand went up in an attempt to push her hand away, but she wouldn't let him.

"Tell me what's going on," she urged. "Should I get the doctor? I'll go get the doctor."

She turned to walk away, but he managed to grab her wrist. "No," he muttered. "No doctor."

"Then tell me what's going on."

Jungkook tried to regulate his breathing, but the sharp pain on his chest made it hard for him to focus. He knew what was going on, as he'd had anxiety attacks before, but in this body, it somehow felt heavier than what he had experienced.

"Just anxiety," he breathed. "Give me a moment." He looked up at her with pleading eyes. "Please."

Her eyes pierced into his, worry written over her face. As she inhaled, she nodded. "Okay. But if you're going to faint, I'm getting the doctor."

He managed a smile before letting her wrist go. He placed his hands on his legs, trying to steady himself. But at first touch he noticed they weren't his legs and so he placed his hands next to his legs. Focusing solely on his breathing, he closed his eyes and tried to count to 4 as he inhaled. He held his breath for 7 second and then counted to 8 as he exhaled. It was a breathing exercise he'd been given when he dealt with anxiety, and it was the only thing he could think of to stop the racing thoughts in his mind.

When his heartrate decreased and the pain in his chest subsided, Jungkook opened his eyes and glanced at the mirror that lay face down next to his right leg. Slowly, he took it in his hands and held it up to his face.

So, this was his face now. He was a girl with long hair, beautiful eyes and an average face. She had a western look, definitely not from his country. Her teeth were clean, well put together and if he had to guess, he'd say she was around his age, perhaps a little older.

He placed the mirror to the side and glanced down at his body. His heartrate went up again as he saw the female features and flustered, he looked away.

Why am I inside this woman's body? Where is my own body?

Jungkook realized he couldn't say his thoughts out loud. The woman sitting next to him, gazing at him like a predator locked on a prey, wouldn't understand. Worst case scenario, she'd think he'd gone insane and that would definitely lead to more problems than the one he was facing right now.

He needed to get out of this hospital and find his own body. Only then could he perhaps find out what had happened and hopefully see a way to get back into his own body. He wondered where the woman was whose body he now occupied. Could she be in his body?

All the more reason to find my body asap.

"Have you calmed down?"

"Huh?" He looked at the woman and then nodded quickly. "Yes, yes, I'm fine."