But Beautiful

part 25

"Sorry I'm late," Jungkook heaved, out of breath and disheveled from running from his car to Taehyung's bedroom door. "My mom needed my help moving something and I grabbed a quick breakfast. Are you ready to go out?" he asked, looking over the patient.

Taehyung stood, shifting his weight between his feet, eyes not having lifted once yet to look at Jungkook.

"Tae? Are you okay?" Jungkook questioned, carefully stepping closer so to not agitate him if he wasn't feeling well. "What's going on?"

Shaking his head, Taehyung still refused to meet his eyes, hands shoved deep in the pockets of his inpatient sweats. He gave off such an uncomfortable air that Jungkook had to lean against the wall beside his door.

"Don't feel like going out?" Jungkook asked, trying to read his expression by bending down, looking past his hair. The blank stare he had on his face was something he hadn't seen in ages, and his red-rimmed eyes were a tell-tale sign he had been crying. "Are you in pain? Does something hurt?" he continued, anxiety rising in his chest as he heard Dr. Yoo's words repeating in his head:

I'm letting Jungkook continue making progress with Taehyung. If he regresses or stops responding, I'll terminate their professional relationship.

Inhaling deeply, Jungkook decided to try a simpler approach. "Taehyung, may I touch you?"

The patient nodded immediately, much to the resident's relief. He stepped closer, wrapping his arms around him before continuing, "are you in any pain?"

Taehyung nodded, pressing his face against Jungkook's shoulder, sniffling against him.

"Where does it hurt?"

Grabbing Jungkook's hand, Taehyung placed it on his chest, right over his heart.

"Are you feeling sad?" the man asked, his own heart aching as he felt Taehyung's tears soak through his shirt.

Taehyung nodded, arms dropping to his sides.

"Can you get your notebook so we can discuss it?" Jungkook asked, frowning when Taehyung started shaking his head rapidly. "Okay, okay. Listen, I only want to know what's wrong, which is why I asked if you could write it down for me. Do you not want to?"

Shaking his head again, Taehyung pulled Jungkook by the hand into his room, pointing at his empty bedside table. Missing from it was his notebook and pen, along with the sticker sheets and embossed envelopes that came in his stationary set. The patient kept his eyes away from Jungkook, fingers tugging at the hem of his already over-sized sweatshirt.

"Did someone take your things?" Jungkook asked, his anxiety gradually changing to anger.

Nodding, Taehyung sat on the edge of his bed, wiping his wet face with the back of his hand.

"I wish you could tell me who took it," Jungkook murmured, sitting beside him. Thinking of the possibilities, he decided to go through them individually in attempt to get an answer from him. "Was it Dr. Lim?" After Taehyung denied it, he moved on with, "was it Dr. Yoo?" Again, Taehyung shook his head. "Was it another doctor?" The patient buried his face in his hands, elbows digging into his knees as he sniffled against his palms, shaking his head. "Another patient?" he continued, rubbing his hand up and down the Taehyung's back, hoping to soothe him in any possible way.

Taehyung nodded.

"Can you try to tell me who?" Jungkook asked, confused and a bit surprised, as he hadn't seen Taehyung interact with any of the other patients so far.

Sighing, Taehyung pointed his finger to the room beside his, causing Jungkook to quirk a brow. He had seen the patient wander in and out of his room, but he didn't have him in his physio group so he was unfamiliar with him.