When the sun set

Twenty First Sunset 🌄

"When the sun set" by Faith No MoreTwenty First Sunset

The following week was not good for both of them. As much as they wanted to hang out together, Taehyung's body suddenly became weak. He needs to stay in the hospital for closed monitoring and additional tests. His radiotherapy stopped for a while, but his chemotherapy is still ongoing.

After Taehyung was revived that day, he requested his parents to bring him back to their country. If he dies, he wants to be in South Korea not in a foreign country.   

But before they went back home, Jungkook secretly talked to Taehyung. 

"Babe, I'm not sure if this is a good idea. But hear me first, please. Don't think that this is a disadvantage on my part. It will never be." While lying down, Taehyung listened to Jungkook, who was eager for his positive response. At the end of their conversation, Taehyung smiled weakly and nodded his head. 

"Really?" Jungkook's eyes widened in disbelief. 

"Can you arrange it today?" 

"As in today? Sure!!" Jungkook gave him a peck before leaving.

When Jungkook came back, Jimin and Yoongi were with him and one lady. They started their appointment, which made the TaeKook happy, before going back to their country. 

But Taehyung reached his limit, and his body gave up. He has been  confined for two weeks already, and nothing is getting better. He lost so much weight and stars in his eyes left. 

Jungkook was worried and never left Taehyung's side. His brother forced him to go home and get some rest, but he will just leave for a few minutes and come back to the hospital as soon as possible. He was afraid that if he fell asleep, he would lose Taehyung. 

"Son, he is fine. Look at the monitor; his vital signs are okay. Its just an effect of his cancer and the many therapies he is receiving thats why his body became weak. But after more rest, he will get better again." Mrs. Kim tried to explain to Jungkook that everything is fine. But Jungkook never believed any of them. He was so scared that Taehyung might leave him anytime. 

"It's my fault, Eommoni. If I should be more careful, Taehyung's body won't give up. I should have become more careful." Jungkook keeps blaming himself for forcing Taehyung to do what he must not do. But Taehyung's mother thinks otherwise. 

"You made him happy. Taehyung never does things for himself. He is always satisfied seeing others happy. But with you, he found his own happiness. He smiled because he feels happy for himself, not because he is happy for others. Don't blame yourself, Jungkook. Everything you did for him made his life worthy. Do not overthink, or you might get sick. He will get better anytime soon."

On the third week of Taehyung's confinement, his vital signs showed improvement, radiotherapy resumed for another 2 weeks, and Taehyung was discharged. That was when Jungkook decided to live with the sick boy. He can't leave his eyes on Taehyung and worry too much. But Jungkook is thinking that if one month has already passed, he still remembers what Taehyung's parents talked about before: that Taehyung will only live for 2 months. Thus, Taehyung has now only had one month.

The problem with Jungkook is that he never talks about himself to others, not even his brother. He never released himself, showed his real feelings, and acted brave and strong. But Taehyung knows better than anyone; his man is silently suffering on his own.

The doctor increased his chemotherapy drug dosage, and his hair started to fall. His long, curly hair became thin; he always wore a bonnet while experiencing alopecia. His doctor explained to him that this is just a temporary side effect of his chemo drugs; once his condition gets better in the future, they will change his medicine to one that has a lesser alopecia effect.

But Taehyung never felt ugly or had insecurities cross his mind. Because, of course, Jungkook always makes him feel the most beautiful man alive. Jungkook always expresses his admiration for Taehyung's beauty at every chance he gets. Since they woke up in the morning and before they fell asleep, Jungkook has said beautiful things to him.

Because Taehyung's body became frail, they could not go out every Sunday and enjoy the sunset in the street anymore. However, Jungkook made sure that Taehyung could still watch how the sun always rises and sets every day. The veranda, where they danced while it was raining, became their favorite spot before the sun went down. Jungkook put a long lounge chair outside, facing the sun. They both always sit there, Taehyung leaning his body into Jungkook's, the latter's hands wrapping around his delicate frame, Jungkook's chin over his shoulder, and they watch the sunset silently and wait until the sparkling stars are soon seen.

They often talk about their dreams and fulfilling them together, forgetting how Taehyung has a shorter life. Their intertwined hands get tighter the longer they hold each other. No one shed tears between the couple. They always make happy memories together.

Before, when Jungkook was asked what he wanted, he didn't know how or what to answer. But ever since he met his Taehyung, the sick boy gave an answer to his life. He can see his future with his Taehyung. Jungkook always stares at Taehyung when the latter is sleeping or not looking at him. He cannot imagine how his life will change once Taehyung leaves him. Worries and doubts about himself have been coming to him lately, but whenever he sees the smile on the sick boy's pale lips and hears his giggles, Jungkook's fear is thrown away.

Headaches, nausea and vomiting, and body weakness often attacks Taehyung that drain almost all his energy from his body. He sleeps most of the day and only wakes up to watch the sunset with Jungkook. That was their everyday routine ever since Taehyung was discharged from the hospital, and Jungkook lives with the Kim family. They wake up in the morning, with Jungkook helping Taehyung with his bathroom activities, preparing his food, settling him in the living room to watch the sunrise, kissing his forehead, and ruffling his thin hair before he leaves for work. When Jungkook comes back to Kim's apartment, he will greet Taehyung's parents before checking on the sick boy who is waiting for him on the veranda, and they will watch the sunset while talking about what they did that day.

Taehyung's journal was kept after he completed his radiotherapy. He folded the last page of his journal with the wish list pasted on it, still not showing the last wish of the younger boy. He thought what they did in New York when he was confined was the last wish of Jungkook, but the latter never mentioned it. He still wonders what the last wish could be that they never did yet.

Another month had passed. The most feared month for Jungkook. It is now December, and they worry if Taehyung can still celebrate his birthday before he dies. The doctor told them that he would only live for a maximum of 2 months, and that was exactly 2 months ago.

Jungkook tried to talk to Taehyung's parents about his condition and cancer progression. He was informed that Taehyung's cancer cells became aggressive despite the treatments he received. With the sick boy's current status showing signs and symptoms of his worsening condition, his parents lose hope. Jungkook was scared.

Feeling those never crosses Taehyung's mind. The sick boy believes that he will live longer and spend more years with Jungkook. Not until his most unexpected event happened.

It was a few days before Taehyung's birthday when Taehyung did not wake up again. He was declared a comatose patient and made Jungkook's world crumble, his heart scattered into pieces, and tears streamed endlessly. Taehyung tried. He tried to fight for his life, but the Creator had another plan for him that didn't agree with what they dreamed of.

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