134340 |JJK FF|

Chapter 29

Jeongguk was just about done with the situation. How much more of this would he have to endure?

Taehyung had told him it took a bit of effort to sleep.

The alarm bells in the pit of Jeongguk's stomach set off when he'd showed up the fourth day to this pronouncement. The Pons control the sleep schedule of a body. Once affected, it will cause a messy sleep schedule.

It travelled all the way to there already?

Taehyung must've noticed the other's expression because he quickly followed. "Hey, nothing bad like you think. It was just a matter of minutes before I fell back asleep. It's just...you told me to tell you everything," his shoulders slumped like he'd done something wrong.

"You continue telling me everything." Jeongguk said hastily, trying to keep the fear off his voice, "Don't worry about it. If it worsens, I've got enough sleeping pills to open a shop,"

"Right." Taehyung brightened right up, throwing up his arms and accidentally spilling water from his glass, "Oh, shit--"

"Never mind that." Jeongguk quickly muttered, "Continue telling me everything. I can't tell anything if you close yourself off,"

"Mh-hm." Taehyung nodded, turning quiet.

There was a short silence where Jeongguk continued reading through his texts when there was a quiet, "I'm really, really sorry."

His jaw tightened. More than perceptive, he knew this conversation would strike sooner or later. But he'd really wanted to avoid it. "You've done nothing to be sorry about, hyung."

"No, I'm sorry." Taehyung moaned, gripping his hair, "I came here to help you, watch you over while you stick your neck in danger. Not go crazy and just add to your workload,"

Jeongguk clenched his jaw, "Look. Stop that. It's happened, no stopping it. And I'm doing everything I can. I'll do it properly now,"

Taehyung mumbled something, clearly not convinced. Jeongguk said in a louder voice, "Hey, come on. Do you think I'd let you stay sick? Seokjin hyung would kill me,"

Taehyung's eyes were distant when he looked at the other, "...what's going on with them anyway?"

Jeongguk's heart fell a little as he recalled his previous exchange with the other guys from his friend group. Seokjin and Hoseok had looked so angry and yet so worried, so scared and desperate...now he wasn't sure if he'd see them again.

The Jeongguk from three days ago would've probably slapped him for even letting himself think like that, but what was the lie in this? How long could he lie to the others, to himself? Cause heck, he wasn't fond of the woman, but she was right. Harsh as her words were, they weren't far off from reality. It took two of his friends dying and his entire team lost in the sea to get him out of his delusion, that he didn't have any of it in him.

"What?"

Jeongguk jumped slightly when Taehyung's voice rammed at his eardrums. "You look like you're going to cry,"

"Do I?" Jeongguk asked, clearing his throat.

"Mhm." Taehyung nodded a little sleepily. His stray wristwatch beeped on the bedside table, indicating the finished battery. The sound and flash made Taehyung cringe and cover his head. He quickly dived under the thin covers.

"S-stop...that..."

"You sleep," Jeongguk murmured, not wanting to continue this conversation. He quickly picked up the useless wristwatch and tossed it away before the thoughts came back again.