Second Chance (Taekook)

CHAPTER - 29

Promises in the Quiet

Grabbing his car keys, Jeongguk left his room, determination fueling his steps.

"Mom, I'm going to visit Tae," he called out as he exited the Jeon mansion.

On the way to the hospital, Jeongguk picked up a small bouquet, some chocolate-covered strawberries, and smoothies. Soon, he found himself standing outside Taehyung's room.

With a smile on his face, he opened the door and walked in, eager to brighten Taehyung's spirits with the gifts he had brought. But he stopped abruptly when Taehyung held up his palm, a blank expression on his face that silently indicated him to stop.

Jeongguk's heart sank for a moment as he processed the sudden change in Taehyung's demeanor. He could sense that something was off, and the cheerful atmosphere he had hoped to create quickly faded. "Tae?" he asked cautiously, unsure of how to bridge the distance that had suddenly formed between them.

"Why are you here?" Taehyung's voice cut through the air, his tone devoid of any warmth or inflection.

In that moment, Jeongguk's smile vanished, replaced by an unsettling stillness. He felt as if time had stopped—his breath caught in his throat, his heart faltering. A bittersweet smile slowly crept onto his lips, one that carried the weight of resignation. So, this was it. The dream he had cherished so dearly came to an end. Everything they had shared over the past two weeks was slipping away, fading like wisps of smoke into the air.

He had sensed the fragility of their connection, the delicate thread that tethered them together, but he hadn't anticipated it unraveling so swiftly. Deep down, he had feared that Taehyung's affections were merely a fleeting whim, a temporary lapse rather than the genuine bond he had hoped for.

As he cast his gaze downward, staring at the ground beneath him, a tumult of emotions surged within. Fear gnawed at him, a visceral reminder of what he stood to lose; anxiety twisted in his stomach, making it difficult to breathe; sadness washed over him like a heavy tide, leaving him feeling utterly exhausted. Each emotion felt both overwhelming and achingly familiar, a haunting reminder of the stakes at play. The intensity of these feelings only deepened when they collided with the insecurities that had long lurked in the corners of his mind, amplifying the dread that settled like a shadow over his heart.

Yes, Jeongguk still grappled with those lingering insecurities—though they had softened over time, they remained an ever-present shadow in the back of his mind. His insecurities didn't wash away in the span of two short weeks. The journey to heal those wounds required patience, a luxury he found himself devoid of. Time seemed like it was slipping through his fingers like grains of sand, and the harsh reality loomed before him: he was on the brink of losing Taehyung.

"I told you to rest. Why are you here, Ggukie?" Taehyung's voice cut through the silence, firm and unwavering.

Jeongguk looked up, his expression a mix of confusion and surprise. He braced himself for any type of response from Taehyung, but this particular one hadn't even crossed his mind. It caught him completely off guard.

"What do you mean, 'huh'? I clearly told you to go and take a proper rest, yet here you are, barely two hours later," Taehyung scolded, a hint of exasperation in his voice.

"Why do you react this way, Ggukie? You should really have taken the time to rest. I'm perfectly fine here. Why can't you just listen to me for once? You need to take better care of yourself! What am I going to do with you?" Taehyung continued, his eyes widening with concern. The way he moved his hands and pouted only added to his charm, making him appear more adorable than ever.

"What?" Jeongguk found himself asking, his shock still evident in his tone.

"Huh, 'what?' That is all you have to say? Oh God! What am I going to do with you?" Taehyung exclaimed, throwing his hands up in the air as he looked toward the ceiling in frustration. "You have everything but hearing skills? Apparently, those didn't make it onto the list! "