Before you disappear

Chapter 37

"I'd like you to stay for just one more night. Let's do a few more tests in the morning and if those turn out okay, I'll make sure to sign the release forms and get you a fit to fly bill."

Jungkook groaned as he remembered the doctor's words.

If it hadn't been for his best friend, opening her mouth about having to arrange flights, the doctor would've signed the forms today. But because being a flight puts a strain on your body, instead of signing the doctor suggested more testing.

"I'm fine," he had said, but it was no use.

One more night in this hospital and then he needed to find her. I don't care if her best friend agrees with that or not, tomorrow I'm out of here.

He looked at the phone on his nightstand. Its silence was adding to his irritation about the whole situation. Why hadn't she tried contacting him again. What was going on? Did she start to enjoy being in his body? What if she didn't want to trade places again? What if he was stuck inside her body for the rest of his life?

He pushed the thoughts away. Don't get ahead of yourself, JK. We don't know what's going on on her side. Let's not assume the worst until we've at least found her and spoken to her.

Still, the fact that she hadn't called him all day after calling him several times before that, made him nervous.

Whatever happened tomorrow, he needed to get out of here. Being couped up in a hospital room was starting to smother him. And he missed his Hyungs and being in the band.

Her phone beeped once, signaling an incoming message.

Jungkook pushed himself up into a sitting position and leaned forward to see whose message had come in. Perhaps it was from the girl? Perhaps she finally decided to text him, rather than just try and call him. After all, that way he would have her (his) phone number and he could call her. All he needed was a 'Can you call me?'

Jungkook's hope crushed the moment he saw the name of her best friend. She was the one sending the text. Why? Wouldn't she assume he'd be asleep by now? She'd been here just a while ago. What could be so important that she had to text him?

"Jungkook's released from the hospital!" Jungkook's eyebrows raised at the first sentence. "She's out?" he muttered, quickly reading on.

She continued by sending a link to Weverse, was the message was released as an official statement on that app.

Jungkook's eyes scanned through it, picking up the information he'd been graving to hear about. "Jungkook's fine... Has to take rest... no dancing... Tour will continue... Dates are being rearranged... More to come." Tour will continue? Without him?

His heart skipped a beat at the thought of it. He'd never missed a concert in his life. Would that change now? But how could they go on tour, with her? Would she know the steps? Would she know the lyrics? As the main vocalist, Jungkook had a lot of lines. Could she pull it off, being him on stage?

"I have to find her before they go to the next city, to the next concert."

As he pushed the covers from him, ready to get up and get dressed, a soft pounding in the back of his head arose. He groaned, leaning forward.

I can't do this. I have to think about her health, too.

Jungkook knew that if he left now, without the doctor's approval, he could put her at risk and he didn't want to do that. Even though he really wanted to find his Hyungs, he had to do it properly and respectful towards her. He had to assume she was taking care of his body (after all, she was already released from the hospital, so that said something), so he was obligated to her to do the same.

He laid back down, covering his body with the blankets, and closed his eyes.

One more night. I got this.

The sound of a phone ringing in the distance, slowly pulled Jungkook out of the dream he was having. It was an incoherent dream, in which he was inside the video of 'Idol', yet talking to Freud as he was lying on a couch. He was petting a small alligator laying on his chest, which seemed to make strange noises every time it opened its jaws.

When the sound of a phone came from the alligator's jaws, Jungkook shook his head at Freud, seeing him vanish before his eyes.

The ringtone continued, even though the alligator wasn't in Jungkook's arms anymore.

Jungkook took a deep breath, stretching his arms above his head. What a weird dream...

But the phone continued to ring, and it dawned on Jungkook that it wasn't a sound from his dreams, but an actual phone ringing...

In the same movement he opened his eyes, and launched forward to the nightstand where the phone lay.

"Hello?"

It was silent on the other side.

Jungkook's thoughts were racing. Was it her? Was he too late? Had the call been transferred to voicemail?

"Hello?" His voice sounded more urgent this time.

Again nothing. Jungkook was about ready to throw the phone through the room, when...

"Jungkook?"

The voice was soft, almost a whimper, but it was enough to hit the air out of his chest. It was his voice, but it was her.

***