Under the moonlight

chapter 5

Jungkook's eyelids fluttered open, and he found himself staring up at the familiar ceiling of the hospital room. The dim light filtering through the window hinted that it was night outside.

Blinking away the remnants of sleep, he couldn't shake the feeling of disorientation. He wonders whether he had truly slept, or was waking up the last time a continuation of his⁸7⅞ dream.

Turning his head to the side, he half-expected to see Taehyung sitting in the chair beside his bed, offering his reassuring presence. Instead, his mother greeted his gaze, her figure illuminated by the soft glow of the room's artificial lighting.

The realization struck him like a bolt of lightning—Taehyung's presence last night, the warmth of his care, had it all been a mere figment of his imagination? Panic clawed at Jungkook's chest as he struggled to make sense of it all. 

The memories felt vivid, the touch, the words exchanged, too real to dismiss as mere dreams. Yet, the absence of Taehyung now, replaced by his mother's comforting but unfamiliar presence, planted seeds of doubt in Jungkook's mind.

Had Jungkook imagined Taehyung's presence to cope with everything happening? 

The uncertainty weighed heavily on him, his heart racing with confusion and anxiety. He attempted to form words, to ask his mother about Taehyung.

But the lump in his throat - the mechanical hiss of the ventilator - stifled any coherent speech. Tears streamed down his cheeks, a mixture of frustration and fear gripping his chest tightly.

Struggling against the constriction caused by the ventilator, Jungkook's eyes darted around the room, searching desperately for any sign of Taehyung. The rhythmic whooshing of the machine filled the silence, a constant companion to his unease.

His mother, noticing his distress, leaned in closer. "Jungkook, sweetheart, breathe. Are you looking for Taehyung? I asked him to take a break from looking after you," she murmured gently, "I will call him and let him know you've woken up. He will come running. "

Jungkook's mother's words were like a lifeline, offering a glimmer of hope amidst the overwhelming uncertainty. As tears continued to stream down his cheeks, he nodded weakly, his chest still heaving with the effort to breathe against the confines of the ventilator.

Meanwhile, Taehyung stood outside the hospital, his breath forming clouds in the chilly air. His fingers trembled as he held the cigarette, his exhaustion palpable in every weary exhale.

Today proved to be an exceptionally challenging day for Taehyung, the burden of his responsibilities pressing down on him like a heavyweight.

Leaning against the cold concrete, he felt his strength waning, his body teetering on the edge of collapse. The lack of sleep from the restless night prior made him feel like he could pass out at any moment

Since Jungkook's parents arrived earlier that morning, the day had become a chaotic blur for Taehyung. He found himself pulled in multiple directions, running errands for them while trying to maintain a constant watch over Jungkook, who inexplicably remained asleep even past noon. 

As time passed, worry started to creep up Taehyung's nerves, fearing for Jungkook's health. To their relief, when they finally consulted Jungkook's doctor in the evening, he explained that there was nothing wrong and that Jungkook was simply in the process of healing.

Taehyung let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding, the tension in his shoulders finally easing.

Lost in his thoughts and exhaustion, he barely noticed Jungkook's father approaching until he spoke up, his voice cutting through the haze of Taehyung's contemplation.