Take My Breath Away

10

The best thing about being ill, in Jimin's opinion, was getting to spend unlimited hours reading. He was laying in his bed propped up against his pillows and wrapped in a warm blanket, he was halfway through 'The Pearl' by John Steinbeck, another masterpiece by his favourite author. He wiggled his nose slightly as he turned the page, the oxygen cannula tickling his nose.
After waking up at Jungkook's apartment the night before he had felt worse and decided to call the hospital. They didn't think he needed to come in, but prescribed antibiotics and told him not to hesitate to call back if his wellbeing declined even more. Jungkook had driven him home telling him to keep him updated which Jimin had said he would.
Hoseok had gone into mum-mode the second Jimin stepped foot inside their dorm room. He practically forced him into bed, made sure he took his antibiotics and went to prepare something for Jimin to eat.
Jungkook's first text announced its arrival just after Hoseok had left for the shared kitchen at the end of the corridor.
Jimin smiled as he saw what the boy had sent, it was a selfie of Jungkook sitting on the hood of his car pouting with the accompanying text "I'll be sitting here until you to send a picture of yourself tucked into bed." Jimin rolled his eyes but soon sent the boy proof of his position under the covers.
The evening had continued with them texting back and forth, Jungkook was clearly trying to cheer Jimin up and he appreciated it. He already missed the brown-haired boy more than he was prepared to admit.
Jimin put 'The Pearl' down beside him and picked up his phone as it had started vibrating next to him. It was Jungkook calling him. A smile spread across his face before he could stop it and he picked up after just two signals.
"Hey!"
"Hey, how are you feeling?"
"You asked me that an hour ago, not much has changed."
Jimin scoffed which triggered a couple of coughs.
"I guess you're right." Jungkook let out a small laugh.
"Hey, what's that weird sound? Is it coming from your end?"
"Oh, sorry. That's probably my oxygen cannula." He pulled the plastic tubing from his face and hung it over the oxygen tank placed next to his bed.
"Did you just take it off?" Jungkook said in an accusatory tone.
"I don't need it, it's more of a precaution than anything.
Hobi made me wear it"
When Jimin had declared that he was going to try to sleep last night Hoseok had pulled out his oxygen tank from under his bed and held out the cannula to Jimin. The blonde had stared daggers into his friend, he really didn't need it, but Hoseok didn't give up and stood there until Jimin snatched the cannula from his hand and put it on.
"Isn't he going to make you put it back on?"
"Well I doubt he'll find out since he's not here." Jimin said, rubbing his nose.
"What? You're alone?"
"Yeah, Hobi's got classes." Jimin said with a shrug that Jungkook couldn't see. "He left me lunch and everything else I could possibly need though."
"I don't want vou to be alone Jimin." Jungkook sounded a bit stressed.
"Well you come here and keep me company then." Jimin pouted into the phone.
"Shit," Jungkook sighed deeply. "I can't, I've got a physics test in ten minutes and it's five hours long.
"Seriously Jungkook, you don't have to worry. I'll be fine."
"I don't want you to be alone." The boy repeated. "Isn't there anyone else that can be there?"
Jimin knew he didn't need anyone to keep an eye on him, but since Jungkook wouldn't be able to text him every fifteen minutes to see if he was alright he thought it would be better to ease the boy's mind. "I guess I could text Tae to come over, he probably wouldn't mind."
A sigh of relief could be heard from Jungkook's end of the line. "Okay, shit I have to go, I'll call you later."
"Okay, good luck!"
After the call with Jungkook ended Jimin pulled up his text conversation with Taehyung. He wasn't that ill, it would merely seem like a cold, so Taehyung wouldn't be suspicious. It would be safe to ask him to come.

Jimin
Do you want to come over and watch a movie?

Tae
I'm working on an essay

Jimin
I have snacks

Tae
I'll be there in 5

Jimin smiled to himself. Taehyung could never resist the offer of snacks. He got up out of bed and to change out of the clothes he was wearing thinking he could at least try to look a bit presentable. He was still wearing the hoodie he'd borrowed from Jungkook, the boy had insisted he keep it on when he drove Jimin home. Jimin hadn't wanted to take it off, it still smelled like Jungkook and it made him feel more at ease.
There was a knock on the door and Jimin walked over to open it finding a smiling Taehyung on the other side.
"What kind of snacks do you have?"
"Really? Not even a hi?" Jimin raised his eyebrows and smiled amusedly at his best friend.
"You didn't say hi when you texted me." Taehyung said and gave Jimin a teasing grin as he stepped into the room.
"Fair enough."
Jimin closed the door and walked over to the mini-fridge where he knew Hoseok had left some fried chicken. He bent down to see what else they had home. 'I've got fried chicken, but I don't think we have any dipping sauces.
There are some crisps on the nightstand though. I think we might have some-"
"What's this?" Taehyung's voice came from the other side of the room.
The blonde boy stood back up only to see his best friend holding the oxygen cannula Jimin had draped over the oxygen tank standing next to his bed. Taehyung was looking at the plastic tubing confused and then looked up at Jimin.
Jimin could feel his stomach drop. Fuck. He'd forgotten to put the tank back under his bed, he'd just left it out in the open for Taehyung to see. This wasn't supposed to be how he found out, Jimin wasn't ready.
"It's- I-" He couldn't get his tongue to work, words wouldn't come out of his mouth.
"Are you sick or something?" Taehyung looked concerned.
"No. It's not mine." He could still save this. Taehyung would believe him.
Taehyung frowned. "What do you mean it's not yours, it's standing next to your bed."
"It's not, I don't-"
"Stop lying Jimin, tell me what's going on." Taehyung sounded almost desperate.
Jimin could feel tears collecting in his eyes and they soon threatened to spill over onto his cheeks. He couldn't say anything. Not like this, Taehyung wasn't supposed to find out like this.
Taehyung let go of the oxygen cannula and walked up to Jimin. "Why won't you tell me?"
Jimin couldn't take it anymore. The tears started rolling down his cheeks and he hid his face in his hands as the first sobs burst out of his chest. Taehyung had soon walked the last few steps to get to Jimin, enveloping him in his strong arms, holding him tightly. His best friend held him and stroked his hair until he had calmed down enough to where his breathing evened out.
Taehyung pulled away and made Jimin look at him. There were tears in the other boy's eyes as well and he looked into Jimin's eyes, searching for answers to questions he hadn't been able to form yet. "Please explain."
Jimin took a deep shuddering breath and nodded. There was no escaping it, he would have to tell Taehyung everything. He grabbed his best friend's hand and guided him back to Jimin's bed and they both sat down.
Jimin stared at his hands as he started explaining, not daring to look at his best friend. He didn't want to look at him the moment their friendship fell apart. "I've got cystic fibrosis.