Closer than Ever

Chapter 38 - Hobi + Maknaes

It's dress rehearsal night for PTD Online, and I am chopping potatoes for chicken stew when suddenly my text notifications chirp with a message from Jimin.

Eunen Sae-shi, Taehyungie got hurt and he's going to the ER.

What?! What happened?! Which ER?!

He hurt his leg, and he can't walk properly. I'm not sure which ER they're taking him to. I will update you when I hear the news...

OK, thank you, Jimin-shi, please keep me posted. If you get to see Tae, tell him I love him!

I will. Don't worry too much, Eunen Sae-shi, the doctors are very good! Talk to you soon.

I dump the peeled and half-cut potatoes into a big bowl of water and add a bunch of salt, then shove it into the fridge. All the rest of the ingredients get stowed unceremoniously in one of the crisper drawers.

I desperately want to jump into a cab and go to wherever Taehyung is, but I know that I can't do that. I pace around the condo, phone in hand, waiting for Jimin to text.

Finally, around 9 p.m., he texts me that Tae has been discharged and is being escorted home by one of the team's managers.

"OK, a manager is coming," I say out loud. "What do I need to hide?" I grab my shoes from the entryway and take my jackets off the coat rack. My guitar is out, but I don't think the manager will give it a second thought, since it's near Tae's keyboard and trumpet. I hear the elevator starting to ascend, so I hurry into the guest bedroom and close the door most of the way, sitting anxiously on the edge of the bed.

Tae's husky voice overlaps with the elevator ding, thanking the manager for his help and insisting that he has it from there. "Are you sure? Let me help you to your bed," the manager says.

"No, no, that's OK, hyung. I will sit here on the couch for a while first. Oh, do you have my phone? Thanks. I will call you if I need anything."

"Are you sure, Taehyung-shi? I hate to leave you alone like this."

"It's fine, it's fine, don't worry. I have family nearby who will take care of me. Thank you for everything." My heart does a little jitter in my chest, as I think, 'He means me! He just called me family.'

"Well, OK. You have your crutches. Call me first if you need anything."

"I will. Thank you and good night, hyung."

"Good night."

I hear the elevator doors close, but wait another minute just to be sure. I can hear the syncopated sound of Taehyung coming into the back of the condo on crutches.

"Birdie?" he starts to call, just as I emerge from the guest bedroom. "Oh, there you are!" He is balancing on his left leg, his right bent slightly at the knee.

I fly down the hall and wrap my arms around him, careful not to push him off balance. "Thank goodness you're OK!" I say, burying my face in his chest. "Jimin scared the shit out of me, telling me that you went to the ER!" I squeeze him tight.

Taehyung starts to laugh, but the laugh comes out almost like a sob. "Let's sit down," he says.

We go back out into the living room and I help him settle on the sofa, then get one of the ottomans for him to rest his injured leg on. "Do you need something to drink? Are you hungry?"

"I'm fine," he says, but his face crumples and he pinches the bridge of his nose.

I curl up next to him and grab his hand. "What happened, babe?" I ask softly. "What did the doctors say?"