134340 |JJK FF|

Chapter 33

Two days passed since the new arrangement.

Then three.

Then four.

By the fifth day, Jeongguk hoped stupidly that Taehyung's sickness would get better. It was impossible, but he couldn't stop his wishful thinking.

Well, it wasn't like some miracle took place just because he hoped. It took more and more effort to wake Taehyung up with each passing day.

The first time he wouldn't get up was only the second day he was under the nose of the human. Jeongguk remembered the panic in the human's voice when he'd called out. His own terror at the other's silence. But it only lasted for about ten minutes. The tiger hybrid had woken up, confused, surrounded by the frightened shipmates. He'd later yelled at Jeongguk for trying to slap him awake, but his relief knew no bounds at the other's revival.

This continued to happen another two times that day. Four times on the third day. Five times on the fourth day. Each time, it took more than a couple of slaps to revive the sick, but the others quickly got used to shaking off the scare and managed to bring some actual help in their hands.

The staircase was also being fixed in the meantime. No matter how he looked at it, the splintered wood was simply too damaged to be fixed. If... no, when they'd get back, he'd have a lot of service to do.

The humans didn't seem perturbed by the fact. Jeongguk could understand. The feeling of helplessness urged them to do whatever they thought would help, even if it didn't give the right result. Perhaps that was why he couldn't bring himself to tell them to stop.

His feet pounded against the floor of the deck as he made his way to the infirmary. His dark eyes gazed warily at the horizon as he touched the knob of the door. Dark clouds were floating ominously as if reminding them of their unfortunate situation. The sky seemed to glare at them as if the team had spent too much time with no monsters. He glared right back at the clouds before pushing the door open.

The human sitting at the desk poring over the floating text didn't notice the new guest until Jeongguk tapped him on the shoulder. "Did you find anything new?"

"The same old." The human replied gloomily, "Herpes simplex viruses cause encephalitis, where the brain inflames. I thought it could be Meningitis, where the membrane covering the brain and spinal cord inflames... but with no proof that this Pluto's own organism is a part of the enteroviruses--"

"I can take it from here." Jeongguk hastily intervened.

"Right." The human squared his shoulders, "I'll be off-- what's up with the weather now?"

"Hey, hyung," Jeongguk muttered, a little surprised to find Taehyung awake and staring out the window dazedly. The corners of his mouth was stained and with closer inspection, Jeongguk found a plate that looked recently eaten out of and smelling strongly like fish. He must've ate, then.

Taehyung blinked slowly and turned to him, "... what...?" His unfocused eyes trailed behind him.

"What?" Jeongguk looked behind him, "What are you looking at?"

"Nothing."

Jeongguk pursed his lips, "So... how do you like the human?"

Taehyung didn't reply. When Jeongguk looked at him, he was still staring away at the window. "Hyung?"

"Huh?"

"Being with that tall human." Jeongguk repeated,  "What is it like?"

"... fine," he went back to staring out the window.