Between Chances And Choices

Chapter 19

"Aren't you sleeping for too long already?"

Jungkook asked as he smooth the blanket over Taehyung's chest.

"Don't tell me that you're going to sleep until the snow ends? We haven't had a snowball fight. You said we'll do it."

He looked at his husband's still, tranquil face and sniffed.

"Bamie misses you. Wake up already so we can go home."

He gently combed his fingers on the older's hair and traced his eyebrows with his thumb.

"If you don't wake up..."

He pressed his lips tight, not wanting to continue.

"No." He told himself.

He shouldn't say it. He shouldn't even consider the possibility of it. He turned his head towards the door and unexpectedly saw someone behind it. He strode to open it for him. He didn't say a word and just returned to Taehyung's bedside. Hyungjoon slowly walked to stand on the foot of his bed.

"Why hasn't he woken up?" He asked while eyeing him.

"Brain damage has been ruled out for now but his doctor said some of the toxins might still be left in his system."

"Why isn't it like Changwook's? He was never like this."

"He has the severe form. They're not certain about the how and why either."

"Is it probable that he'll..."

Jungkook stared at him with gleaming eyes and puckered lips. "So please, don't wait until it's too late."

He allowed the older man to be alone with Taehyung while he went to the hospital's prayer room for a while. After lighting an incense, he connected his palm, bowed his head and closed his eyes to pray.

I'm here again. I'm sure you know what I will ask. You're probably getting annoyed by me asking the same thing endlessly. Over and over. But I will never stop asking. Please. Make Taehyung wake up. Don't let him sleep permanently. Please. Please wake him up from his coma. Please don't let him die. Please. I beg all of you. Grant him more time. Give him a long life. I swear, I'll do anything. Anything. I'll be a better person. I won't do anything bad. I'll always pray. I'll always remember you. I'll always thank you. I'm sorry if I'm only praying more often, remembering you more often, now that I need you. I'm sorry for always taking you for granted before. I'm sorry for forgetting to thank you when I was happy, when everything was going well. Forgive me. I swear I'll change. So please. Please heed my prayers. Please. And is it too much to ask for a miracle? Can't Taehyung be cured completely? Can't his sickness just disappear? Can't he live like he used to? Eat like he used to? Be at ease like before? Please. I know it's a long shot but I'll still pray and hope for a miracle. I'll believe in it. Please. Can you do it? Please?

Jungkook is pleading even in his dream. His forehead was wrinkling and his brows were knitting in his sleep. It was the first thing Taehyung saw when he opened his eyes. He wanted to reach out his hand to touch his beloved's face but his arm was not following.

"Jungkookie." He whispered hoarsely. "Jungkook."

"Mm?"

Jungkook lifted his head before he opened his eyes.

"Tae?" He sprung from his seat. "You're awake? Thank goodness."

"What...what happened?"

He roamed his eyes around and recognized that he was in a hospital.

"I passed out again?"

Instead of replying, his husband broke down in tears.

Taehyung smiled consolingly. "Come here."