Between Chances And Choices

Chapter 22

Jungkook swerved towards a corner leading to a street that his husband often utilized as a shortcut on the way home. He's been mentioning about a lovely antique novelty shop where he found a rare, vintage gramophone. He wanted to get it so he could give it to him as a gift for their second wedding anniversary.

He scanned the area as he drove, searching for the store which he thought would be impossible to miss. Taehyung talked about it almost every single day. He said that it immensely stood out, catching his eyes, since every establishment along the street was in modern design. He even told him that he finally went in two days before. The street isn't long. In fact, in no time, he reached the end of it. But he couldn't see the shop. 

He got out of the car and went to a convenience store a few steps away.

"Excuse me." He called the person manning the counter. "Is there an antique shop or a novelty store in this area?"

The person's eyebrows furrowed. "I don't know any." He shook his head.

"Oh. Thank you."

He immediately walked out and returned to his car. Once inside, he grabbed his phone and called Taehyung.

"Honey, the shop you're talking about, where is it exactly?"

"What shop?"

"The antique shop where you found the phonograph."

"Why? It's in Mieum street. I'm not sure about the exact address but it's between a convenience store and a bank."

Jungkook eyed the convenience store. It was the only one he saw along the short street. He shifted his gaze on its either side. There's a boutique on one side of it. And at the other is a wall. There's just a wall in between the bank and the convenience store.

"You've seen it?"

Jungkook held his breath.

"Wait, are you there right now?"

"But you said you went in." He asked with his voice trembling.

"I did. Honey, is something wrong? What's happening?"

Jungkook thought that Taehyung was hallucinating again so he brought him to his doctor immediately. It was deeply concerning. Taehyung hasn't had symptoms in a while. He hasn't been burdened by his disease, thanks to the therapy.

They told his doctor about it and he concluded that it was uncharacteristic of his ailment. It's unlike what Taehyung had experienced before. This hallucination was regular rather than episodic. He saw it persistently. Day by day. He even had a false memory about it. The doctor prescribed an MRI and when the results came in, they found out that, unfortunately, a small tumor had developed in his brain.

"Tumorigenesis is an adverse effect of stem cell therapy. You were made aware of it, right?"

They were. But the therapy advocates and the doctors assured them that it's rare. Jungkook didn't fight his tears from falling. He should've known. It's as if the gods were handpicking Taehyung to receive the worst things that others don't experience.

He bit his quivering lips, trying to stop himself from loudly bawling.

"You could always consider surgery. Though you should know that the survival rate is not 100 percent. But you're young and based on the size and the location of the tumor, you have as much as 70."

Then the worst things will happen to him again.

Jungkook sniffled. His feet stomped and fidgeted. Then, he uncontrollably let out convulsive breaths.