A does of salt • jjk + pjm

Chapter 4: just like a pill

Taehyung takes his colorful jungle animals scrub cap off and takes a seat on the bench in the hospital locker room. He's just gotten out of a long surgery and needs a moment to just take a breather. He sits there for a few minutes reflecting on the surgery and about what he could do better next time. When he finally gets up and opens his locker, he takes out all of his belongings and starts stuffing them in his backpack; he'll be out of town all weekend and won't be returning to work until Tuesday since he'd taken the entire weekend off. He'd already informed his pediatric team, scheduling team, and anyone else necessary that he'd be gone down in Daegu with his parents due to some personal family matters that came up last minute.

He'd also quickly told Jimin earlier in the halls when they passed each other. He felt bad that he wouldn't be here for Jimin during this sensitive time of rumors and gossip. Ever since the big blow up two days ago in the trauma center, it was the talk of the hospital: was Dr. Park really the chairman's son?

Whispers and huddled group of hospital staff everyone from surgeons to management employees to residents to interns would break up like birds flocking away from each other every time Jimin would come near. Everyone was talking about him but nobody wanted to tick him off.

"Hey you're finally off?" Jimin and Taehyung run into each other again on Taehyung's way out.

"Yeah," Taehyung replies.

"Everything really okay, Tae? We barely got a chance to talk earlier I know." Jimin's eyes look concerned and Taehyung feels awful for what he's about to say.

"Yeah, every things fine. Parents just have some dumb stuff going on. But it's nothing too serious don't worry," Taehyung says smiling and looking at Jimin in the eyes.

"Okay... can't help but worry though. You're taking work off and leaving so last minute so I feel like it's something really bad. You'd tell me right? Your parents really are okay right, Tae?"

"Yes Min, seriously. Don't worry! I'll see ya Tuesday okay?"

"Yeah yeah, okay. Tell your parents I said hello! Miss them!!" Jimin smiles. Taehyung reaches forward and hugs Jimin.

"You're gonna be okay, right Min? You did nothing wrong honestly so just be shameless. So what your dad's the chairman-"

"Oh Taetae," Jimin smiles and pats his friend on the back while he's still being squeezed in a tight hug. "Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. I don't care if people talk. Like you said, it's not like I did anything wrong. And you know, it was bound to come out one day, right?"

The two friends let go of their embrace and Taehyung places his hands on Jimin's shoulder, giving him a huge smile and encouraging pat. His best friend Jimin never let his fears or struggles show—it only took Jimin years after they'd become friends in college to show his vulnerable side. And even then, it wasn't often.

Jimin always brushed his own struggles aside but would be the first to be there for others. It's been almost two months since Taehyung and Seokjin had their 'break up' and Jimin had been so comforting and supportive of him, coming over often to hang out and eat together so Tae didn't feel alone, showing him pictures of cute eligible bachelors that he could set Tae up with, dragging him out to the bars to socialize on their days off, just all in all being the best friend ever during all of this 'break up' with the chief. And here he was again being more concerned for Taehyung and his family when he was literally in the middle of the hospital's hottest gossip and fiasco with Jeon.

"Love you, buddy. Don't go home and cry about it alone, ok? Seriously, it's just your dad is the chairman, who gives a fuck. That's not a crime!!" Taehyung says confidently.

Jimin flashes his beautiful smile and eye smile, "don't worry about me!! Go go, get outta here!" Jimin laughs and shoos Taehyung off playfully gesturing his hands. Taehyung laughs and waves as he finally walks away. "OH! Bring back some delicious daeugi mandu if you get a moment!!" Jimin yells out. Taehyung just throws his hands in the air again and waves.