STAY for a while (Taekook)

💜Chapter- 43💜

Hope

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"Thank you so much for taking care of our Bear ajjushi," a short man said with deep respect, standing in front of him and meeting his gaze.

The elder man smiled warmly. "It's my duty to look after my guests, though that young man isn't a guest anymore," he added with a soft chuckle.

Yoongi smiled, giving a small nod of understanding.

"Hyung, should we leave?" Joon asked, glancing at them.

"Yes".

"Where's Bear?"

"He's coming, Hyung. I just gave him his medicine."

Yoongi nodded sadly, the weight of their youngest brother's pain heavy on his heart. Despite their constant reassurances that Tia would be okay, their bear had cried countless times, inconsolable. His eyes always swollen and red, his body weakening with every passing day. The rare smile they once cherished had all but vanished.

Last night, when they heard that Tia's health had taken a slight turn for the worse, he broke down completely, unable to hold back his tears. Without a second thought, they'd all caught the first flight to America, even though Tae's own illness was quietly worsening.

"Mr. Yoongi?"

Yoongi turned toward ajjushi.

"Yes?"

"I’d like to have a small conversation with the young man, if that's alright. Since you all are leaving now," the elder man said kindly.

Yoongi studied him for a moment, then nodded in agreement.

......

A man with swollen eyes sat on the edge of the bed, staring blankly into the distance. His thoughts were heavy, his mind adrift, when a soft knock on the door pulled him back to the present.

His eyes shifted toward the sound, and standing there was a familiar figure—a man whose warm smile never masked the concern and care that always seemed to radiate from him. In the past week, Tae had seen  why Jungkook had such a gentle, nurturing nature; it was clear that this man had played a significant role in raising him during a crucial period of his life.

"Young man," the elder said softly, and Tae’s heart skipped a beat at the gentle address.

"May I come in?" the elder man asked gently.

"Y-yes,"

Ajjushi stepped inside, standing for a moment while Tae remained seated on the bed, his posture slouched. The man finally sat beside him, and in that quiet moment, time seemed to stop. The two men, connected by a shared love for the same person, sat together. One couldn’t face that person anymore, while the other yearned to know of his existence. One had once cherished a "Bunny," the other, a "Golden Baby."

Silence filled the room like an unspoken grief.

Tae’s eyes drifted down to his hands when he felt ajjushi slide something into them. His gaze lifted to meet the elder man’s, who was looking at him with a warmth that was almost moist, tears barely held back.

"My baby always wanted to be an artist... a painter," the man began softly. "And this is the paintbrush I bought for him when I came back from work. But..." His voice faltered, and he took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "But it's of no use now. I’ve always kept it with me, but as I grow older... and now that I’ve met someone who knows about my life, I think..."