Between Chances And Choices

Chapter 20

Taehyung stared at the moving mound beneath the blanket, disoriented. Jungkook hastily pulled it off, allowing Bam to escape from within. He jumped off the bed and scampered away, his head hung low and tail tucked in between his legs. Taehyung looked underneath once more, just to be sure. Nothing was there. It's empty. His gaze fell on the ground as his eyeballs frantically moved side by side in utter confusion.

"It wasn't...I didn't see Bam. It was something else."

He pulled a fistful of his hair in guilt and frustration.

"I don't...I didn't mean to hurt him. I saw something scary."

Jungkook held his hand and gently pried his fingers to loosen his grip.

"I know. I know you didn't mean to. You'd never want to hurt him."

Taehyung's eyes were filled with fear and remorse. He searched for Bam in the room.

"Bam?" He shamefully and apologetically called. "Papa is sorry."

He was sat by the younger down on the edge of the bed.

"I thought it wasn't you. I saw something else. I got scared of it. I'm so sorry."

He lowered himself on the floor and hugged his knees.

"It didn't look like him. Not even close. That's why I didn't think it was him. I saw something else. Oh my god. My head is making me see something else."

He rocked his body.

"Hey. Hey."

Jungkook cupped his face and made him look at him.

"What if I see you as something else too? If my brain made me see you as something scary and I hurt you?"

"No. You won't. You won't hurt me."

"Jungkook, it looked too real. I thought it was real. I can't tell that it wasn't."

"We'll go to your doctor. We'll get you some meds so this won't happen again."

"I'm going crazy. I'm going crazy."

"No."

The younger heaved him for a tight hug.

"What if I hurt you? I might be dangerous."

"No. You're not."

"It's the psychosis. I'm going crazy. Jungkook, I'm going crazy."

"No. Stop. Taehyung, stop."

"You need to stay away. All of you should stay away."

"No! Listen. You're just getting worse because you're stressing yourself out. We'll go to your doctor and he'll figure out how to make you feel better. Stop thinking about these things. It makes you feel worse."

Bam slowly advanced towards them, reluctant and whimpering. Taehyung reached his arms out, inviting him to come close.

"Bamie, come here." Jungkook encouraged.

He came closer but lingered at a distance, approaching Taehyung with hesitation. Taehyung pursed his lips, heartbroken at the puppy's perceived mistrust of him.

"I'm sorry." His tone was full of sorrow.

But he drew nearer, nudged him with his nose and sniffed. Then, he inched to his face and promptly gave him a lick. Taehyung sighed in relief.

"I'm sorry, Bamie."

He caressed his head and tenderly embraced him.

They went to the hospital straight away and Taehyung was prescribed to take more psychotropic medications. He was given more potent drugs for depression and anxiety as well as additional antipsychotics to avoid further episodes. During the succeeding days, while waiting for the medications to take effect, he became worse instead of better.