Before you disappear

Chapter 27

Jungkook looked at the phone in his hand. "Use my phone to call Amy," she had said. "You need to tell her what's going on. She's your sister after all. In the meantime, I'll go see the doctor and see how we're going to get you released asap."

He glanced at his reflection in the phone. So, he had to pretend to be her. This girl he was looking at right now. But who was she? How could he pretend to be someone he had never met?

Her sister will know it's not her. She'll know something's off.

He had to play it cool. Her heart had stopped. He could use that as the excuse why he sounded a little off, right? Wouldn't it be logical that he, no, she, this young woman, would be tired, fatigued, a little different than the person her sister would know?

But I can't sound too fatigued, because then she wouldn't accept my plan to stay here in London longer. If I don't sound okay, this sister might just order me to come home on the first plane to whichever city would be closest to this girl's home.

Jungkook realized there was no way to avoid this. He had to take control of the conversation from the start. Even if he didn't know about the relationship between this girl and her sister, he had to show her that he, no she, was fine. But what could he give as a reason to stay here longer?

Jungkook took a deep breath as multiple options went through his mind, from people on strike preventing him to take a flight (which of course she would debunk the moment she searched about it online) up until having to do more tests and not being able to released (which she would either debunk by talking to the doctors, or she would find out if she decided to come here).

From what his friend had told him, her sister hadn't been able to come yet because she had no one to take care of the kids and her husband had been away on a business trip. But that trip would be over in a couple of days, so Jungkook suspected her sister would rush here as soon as her husband had returned.

So, I need to make sure that she doesn't come here, and that she understands I am fine and capable of making this decision to stay here longer.

He heaved a sigh as he scrolled through her phone until he spotted the name his friend had given him. He then tapped on it, initiating the phone call. He was unsure of how he would handle the conversation, but too impatient to wait until he had a solid idea of what to tell her. He needed to get this over with.

As the phone rang, he took a few deep breaths and calmed his mind. It took two rings, before it was answered.

"Amy?" Jungkook said, suddenly aware that he had no idea what his name was now that he was Amy's sister. "I-it's me."

"Oh my gosh!" sounded on the other end of the line, followed by sobs. "You're awake! I can't believe it. I'm so happy to hear your voice. You had me so worried! Are you okay? Tell me, are you?"

Jungkook swallowed hard as he fought the urge to cry along with her. Why am I being so emotional?

"I'm okay," he said, hearing a crack in his voice. "I just wanted to let you know that I am okay. So you don't need to worry anymore."

"Don't be silly. You're my younger sister, so it's my job to worry. How are you feeling? Have you done some more tests? Has the doctor figured out what happened to you?"

The flood of questions gave Jungkook a slight headache. This woman seemed to be a very caring, but slightly overbearing sister.

"I'm fine," he said, rubbing his temple. "I don't have the answers to all of your questions. I just wanted to make sure you knew I was fine."

"Oh. Okay. I mean..." her voice trailed off, followed by a sigh. "I'm sorry. I just hate the fact that I'm here, and you're on the other end of the ocean."

Ocean? I wondered where this girl lived. The United Kingdom was separated by an ocean with the rest of Europe, but it could also be that the girl lived in the United States. Though, somehow it didn't make sense to Jungkook why she would fly to London when they would be giving concerts in the States as well.

He shook his head, dismissing his train of thought. "I wanted to let you know that I'll be staying a little longer in London."

"Why?" Amy asked instantly. "Do you still have tests to do? Won't they release you? I mean, now you're awake you could just go back home and do those final tests here right? Or.. is it because they won't let you fly..."

"Amy."

His voice sounded harder than he wanted, but at least it resulted in what he had intended: shutting her up. He took a deep breath. "Please," he said softly. "Your questions are like daggers to my brain at the moment. It's giving me a headache."

Soft sobs sounded on the other end and Jungkook bit his lips.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-"

"No, no, you're right," Amy interrupted him. "I know I can be overbearing. I just feel so guilty that I can't be there with you and now you're saying you have to stay there longer and Mike just called and said his business trip had extended with another week so I can't come see you and I just want to see you and hug you and be glad that you're still alive."

Jungkook's throat tightened. This girl had a sister who loved her very much, and it reminded him of his own family and how much he longed to call them and tell them he was alright. But was he?

"As soon as I can, I'm coming home," he promised.

"You call me or text me every day," she ordered.

"Amy, do you really think-"

"Every day!"

Jungkook knew when to shut up. "Okay," he said solemnly. "Every day."

"And when you're released from the hospital, you're coming straight home."

"No. I can't do that."

"Why not?"

"Because I have something to do."

Amy groaned. "What?" she fired at him. "What do you have to do that's so important that you can't yet come home?"

Jungkook clenched his jaw and then said the first thing that came to mind. "I have to know that he's okay."

"Who are you talking about?"

"You're going to think I'm insane..."

"Come on, we're already way past that when you told me you were into BTS."

Alerted, Jungkook narrowed his eyes. He'd heard of the prejudices people had about ARMY. Was this sister voicing one of them right now? The urge of wanting to protect the girl whose body he was inhabiting took over.

"What do you mean?"

"Wow, don't get offended. This has been a running joke between you and I for as long as time. You know how much I love BTS, too, so I'm just as crazy as you are. The only reason I'm not there with you right now, is because I didn't get a ticket."

"Oh." Jungkook rubbed his eyes. "I'm sorry. I just feel a bit edgy. A lot has happened."

"I bet. But that's why I want you to take it easy. I know you. You can go overboard in enthusiasm and with what happened, I'm just scared it's not good for you. So, tell me. Who's this he you're talking about?"

"Someone special," he blurted out. "I mean, a friend. He's in the hospital also. I need to make sure he's okay."

"He's in the same hospital?"

"I'm not sure. I have to find out."

"That's all you're going to tell me right now?"

Jungkook pouted his lips. "Uhm... Yes?"

"Okay then," she said, giving in. "Just be careful, okay? And keep your promise about keeping in touch."

Jungkook smiled, relieved that she didn't ask more details about the mystery person he was so concerned about. "I will. And please don't worry. I'll take good care of myself."

***