The dim lights of the hospital's family room flickered faintly, casting long shadows on the cold, sterile walls. Taehyung sat beside Aera, their tension palpable as they waited for news on Jungkook's surgery. The ticking clock on the wall seemed to echo their growing anxiety with each passing second.
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Aera's hands were clasped tightly in her lap, her knuckles white from the pressure. She whispered a silent prayer, her lips moving in earnest, but no sound escaping. Taehyung noticed how her usually composed demeanor had crumbled, replaced by a vulnerability he hadn't seen before. He wanted to comfort her, to tell her that everything would be okay, but the weight of the situation held him back.
Instead, he gently placed a hand on her shoulder. "He's strong, Aera. He'll pull through."
She nodded, but her eyes remained fixed on the floor. "I know... I just... I can't lose him, Taehyung. He's all I have."
Her words stung him, not because of their meaning, but because he understood the pain behind them. He too had lost people he loved, and the fear of losing someone else was a fear he shared with her, even if she didn't know it.
Minutes stretched into what felt like hours, the silence only broken by the occasional footsteps of passing nurses. Taehyung tried to think of something to say, something that might ease her mind, but nothing seemed appropriate. So, he sat with her in silence, offering the only comfort he could – his presence.
Finally, the door to the family room creaked open, and a nurse stepped in. Aera shot up from her seat, her heart pounding in her chest.
"The surgery was successful," the nurse said with a calm, reassuring smile. "Jungkook has been moved to the VIP room. He's still under the effects of anesthesia, so it'll be a little while before he wakes up, but you can see him now."
Aera let out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding. Relief washed over her, and her knees almost buckled under the weight of it. Taehyung quickly stood and caught her arm, steadying her.
"Thank you," Aera whispered to the nurse, her voice trembling.
The nurse nodded and gestured for them to follow. As they walked through the quiet corridors of the hospital, Aera's mind raced. She couldn't shake the image of Jungkook lying in that hospital bed, vulnerable and helpless. She needed to see him, to know that he was really okay.
They reached the VIP room, and the nurse opened the door for them. Inside, Jungkook lay on the bed, his face pale but peaceful, a bandage wrapped around his head. The beeping of the heart monitor was the only sound in the room, a steady rhythm that brought some small measure of comfort to Aera.
She moved to his side, her hand reaching out to gently touch his. Taehyung stood by the door, watching her with a mix of emotions he couldn't quite name. Seeing her like this – so raw, so real – stirred something deep within him. He knew he should leave her alone with Jungkook, but something kept him rooted to the spot.
After a moment, he quietly stepped out into the hallway and pulled out his phone. He scrolled through his contacts until he found the number he was looking for and pressed call.
It rang only once before a familiar voice answered. "Taehyung? Is everything alright?"
He hesitated for a moment before responding. "The surgery was successful, Mrs. Jeon. Jungkook's resting now."
There was a pause on the other end, and then a soft sigh of relief. "Thank God. I'll be there as soon as I can."
Taehyung's brow furrowed. "Are you sure that's a good idea? What if—"
"I'll make sure Jungkook's father doesn't find out," she interrupted, her tone firm but gentle. "He can't know about this. Not yet."
Taehyung understood the weight of what she was saying. Jungkook's father was a powerful man with a tight grip on his family, and any hint of weakness or vulnerability could lead to consequences none of them were ready to face.
"Alright," he said softly. "I'll be here waiting."
He ended the call and leaned against the wall, his mind churning with thoughts he couldn't quite sort out. Everything was becoming more complicated, the threads of fate weaving together in ways none of them could have anticipated.
Inside the room, Aera sat beside Jungkook, her hand never leaving his. She didn't know how long she would have to wait for him to wake up, but she didn't care. She would wait as long as it took. Because at this moment, nothing else mattered – not the secrets, not the lies, not even the danger that loomed over them.
All that mattered was that he was still here with her.
As she watched the rise and fall of his chest, she whispered another prayer, hoping that when he woke up, they could face whatever came next together.
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