Care

ꪀ° 9: café

"It's not what you think."

You furrow your brows, trying to focus on checking Bongsu's blood pressure.

"What are you talking about?"

"Look, my mother planned for us to move to America so I can get an assigned marriage to this girl– and help me go through rehab over there because she thought you made me fall behind.."

"Finger.." you hand your hand out to Bongsu.

Taehyung looked at you confused, "finge- oh.." he looks away embarrassed when Old man Bongsu gives his finger to you to check his blood sugar.

You laugh, ignoring Taehyung.

"I wish I could go home and see my son and my grandson.." The man looks out his window.

"Actually, we are reconstructing so everyone here will have to be transferred to a different home.. if you want to, I could take care of you in your home, as long as we bring the oxygen with you..." you smile at the man, putting the glucose meter on his blood on his finger you had just pricked.

"You would do that for me? I don't think I would last tomorrow..."

"Don't say that... have hope.... would you like to give your son a call?"

"Yes.."

You grab the old man's phone, looking for his son's name. You click on it and put the phone on speaker for the 80 year old man.

It rings... and it rings. But no answer.

"He's too busy." Bongsu looks down, upset, knowing he won't last much longer.

-

Taehyung sits in the bus with you, wanting to have a conversation but you ignore him every time he says something.

On your stop you get up and climb over him without letting him get out of the outer seat first.

He found it funny that you're putting your butt in his face like that.

He follows you out, his hands in the pockets of his trench coat. You enter the Gym, that made Taehyung confused, you didn't look like you were dressed for working out.

He follows you inside anyway. You don't scan a card at the entrance or anything, only walking toward the front desk, "Lee Minsu.."

The man at the desk looks up, "do I... do I know you?" He looks behind your body for a sec at Taehyung, wondering if he came to work out or not.

"Your dad is waiting for your visit, when you have time, please come by."

The man sighs, "I'm busy..."

"Doing what?" You furrow your brows, walking closer to the front desk.

"You don't understand..." the man puts the pen he holds down, resting it on the paper he was writing on.

"No you don't understand. You're the only family he has left.. didn't you feel the guilt of not being able to be with your mother before she left?"

Minsu wipes nothing from his face, "Our gym is open 24/7, and we're under staffed.. I have to pick up more shifts... and when I'm off I'm tired—"

"Even if you're tired, you should still find time to see him.. you and your son will regret it when he's gone..." you walk out of the gym, hoping that much will pierce him.

Taehyung follows you out, walking back toward the bus stop.

The sky roars softly, the clouds bind together and become darker as rain starts pouring down.