Secrets || VKOOK

Chapter 6

The next morning, Taehyung woke up to the sound of Jungkook's alarm. He felt the absence of his arm around him and sat up, his heart racing. Jungkook was already dressed and ready to leave for work. Taehyung took a moment to gather himself, the weight of his secret pressing down on him like a heavy blanket.

"You should stay home today," Jungkook said, a hint of worry in his voice as he bent down to kiss Taehyung's forehead. "Rest and take it easy."

Taehyung nodded, his heart heavy with the lie. "I'll be fine," he assured him, managing a small smile. "You go ahead. I'll catch up on some sleep."

Jungkook hovered for a moment longer giving one last kiss before grabbing his keys and heading out the door. The moment it clicked shut, Taehyung felt the tension in the room dissipate. He swung his legs over the side of the bed and took a deep breath, his chest feeling tight. The digital clock on the bedside table showed it was early, the world outside their apartment still waking up.

He shuffled into the bathroom, his bare feet cold against the tile floor. The mirror reflected his pale face, with dark circles under his eyes. Taehyung splashed cold water on his face, trying to shake off the exhaustion that seemed to cling to him like a second skin. The shower helped a bit, the hot water pounding against his shoulders, releasing some of the tension.

As he dressed, he couldn't ignore the tremble in his hands. He took his medication with a glass of water, feeling the familiar bitter taste coat his tongue. It was a routine he'd followed since he was seven, when the doctors had first diagnosed him with CAD. The condition had stolen so much from him over the years: his childhood freedom, his ability to participate in sports, and his ability to live without fear. But he'd promised himself he'd never let it take Jungkook from him too.

Taehyung call his sister over because he felt lonely without Jungkook's presence. She and his parents were the only ones who knew about his condition. He had always been protective of Jungkook, not wanting to burden him with the weight of his illness.

He watched his phone as the call connected, his sister's face appearing on the screen. Her eyes widened in surprise at his early morning call. "Tae, what's wrong?" she asked, concern etched into her voice.

"Can you come over?" Taehyung asked, his voice trembling slightly. "I just... I don't know. I need someone to talk to."

His sister, Jisoo, could hear the distress in his voice. "Of course, I'll be right there," she said without hesitation. "Are you okay?"

Taehyung took a deep breath. "Yeah, I just had a... a bad night," he lied, not ready to fully disclose his health scare.

Jisoo arrived quickly, her eyes searching his as soon as she stepped inside. She knew his tells, the subtle signs that something was amiss. She pulled him into a tight hug, her warmth and familiar scent bringing him a semblance of comfort. They sat on the couch, the silence between them thick with unspoken words.

"What happened, Tae?" she asked gently, holding his hand.

Taehyung took a deep breath, trying to steady his racing heart. "I had a... an incident last night," he finally managed to say, avoiding her gaze. "My heart... it just acted up again."

Jisoo's grip tightened around his hand. "You need to tell Jungkook," she said firmly. "You can't keep hiding this from him."

Taehyung sighed, knowing she was right. "I know," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "But before that, I just want to spend the rest of time I have left with him... being normal."

Jisoo's eyes filled with tears, but she nodded. She knew how much Jungkook meant to Taehyung, how much he had brought light into his life. "Okay," she said, her voice cracking. "But you can't keep this from him forever."

Taehyung nodded, "I won't. I promise," he said, his voice thick with emotion.

They sat in silence for a few moments before Jisoo spoke again. "What are you going to do today?" she asked, trying to lighten the mood.

Taehyung shrugged. "I thought I'd drive to the hospital, maybe see if they can give me some new meds or something," he replied, his voice still shaky.

Jisoo studied him for a moment before nodding. "Okay, I'll come with you," she said firmly. "You shouldn't be alone for this."

Taehyung felt a rush of gratitude. "Thank you," he murmured, squeezing her hand.

❊

-lxnnie