Secrets || VKOOK

Chapter 7

As they drove to the hospital, the early morning traffic was surprisingly light. Taehyung's grip on the steering wheel was tight, knuckles white with the effort of not letting his fear show. Jisoo sat quietly beside him, her hand resting gently on his thigh in a silent show of support. The radio played a soft melody, but the words were lost in the cacophony of his thoughts.

When they arrived, the hospital was bustling with activity, the antithesis of the quiet apartment they'd just left. The smell of antiseptic filled the air, a scent that had become all too familiar to Taehyung over the years. They made their way to the cardiology department, where Taehyung had spent countless hours waiting for tests and appointments.

As they sat in the waiting room, Jisoo picked up a magazine, flipping through the pages without really seeing them. Taehyung stared at the floor, his mind racing. What if the doctors had bad news? What if they said his condition had worsened? The questions swirled in his head like a tornado, making it difficult to focus on anything else.

The nurse called his name, and they both stood up, Jisoo squeezing his hand tightly. As they followed her down the hallway, the echo of their footsteps was the only sound that pierced the oppressive silence. The nurse led them to a small exam room, where a doctor in a crisp white coat was waiting for them.

The doctor, Dr. Kim, his doctor for ten years now, greeted them with a forced smile. His eyes searched Taehyung's, and he could see the unspoken concern etched in their lines. Dr. Kim was never one to sugarcoat things, and Taehyung braced himself for the worst. He knew the doctor would see right through any facade he tried to put up.

"How have you been feeling, Taehyung?" Dr. Kim asked, as he reviewed the latest test results on the clipboard in his hand.

Taehyung took a deep breath, his heart thudding in his chest. "Okay, I guess. Chest pains are a bit more frequent, but I've been managing."

Dr. Kim nodded, his expression grave. "Your recent tests indicate that your CAD is progressing. There is still no match for a donor heart yet, but we need to discuss some changes in your treatment plan."

Taehyung felt the color drain from his face. Jisoo's grip on his hand tightened. "What changes?" she asked, her voice a little too loud in the small space.

Dr. Kim looked up from the clipboard, his gaze softening. "We're going to need to increase your medication and possibly look into a more advanced treatment option, like an LVAD."

The words hung in the air like a fog, thick and suffocating. Taehyung knew what an LVAD was - a left ventricular assist device, a mechanical pump that would help his failing heart. It was a step closer to the transplant he desperately needed, but also a stark reminder of how much his condition had deteriorated.

"But we will only use that if you are comfortable with it," Dr. Kim added, noticing the panic in Taehyung's eyes. "It's a major surgery, and there are risks, but it can also significantly improve your quality of life while we continue searching for a heart."

Dr. Kim took a deep breath, "do you want this, Taehyung?" His voice was calm and measured, a stark contrast to the turmoil in the room.

Taehyung looked at Jisoo, her eyes wide with worry. He swallowed hard, the lump in his throat refusing to budge. "What are the risks?" he finally managed to ask.

"There's always a risk with any surgery," Dr. Kim replied, placing the clipboard on the counter. "But with the LVAD, there's a chance of complications like infection, blood clots, or even stroke. And it's not a permanent solution. It's essentially buying you time until a suitable donor heart becomes available."

Taehyung sighed as he shook his head. "No, I don't want it," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I don't want to live like that, with a machine keeping me alive."