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37: disappointment

The hospital hallway felt colder now, the fluorescent lights casting long shadows as Taehyung and Jungkook stood in silence. The doctor’s words echoed in Taehyung’s mind, each one heavier than the last. Rehabilitation. Addiction. Help. Words that felt like a mountain he had no idea how to climb.

Jungkook kept a steady hand on Taehyung’s shoulder. “Let’s sit down,” Jungkook suggested softly, guiding Taehyung back to the hard plastic chairs in the waiting area. Taehyung followed numbly, the papers the doctor had given him clutched tightly in his hands.

For a while, neither of them spoke. The silence was heavy, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. Jungkook knew Taehyung needed time to process, and he was content to just be there. He glanced at Taehyung occasionally, noting the way his jaw clenched and unclenched, the way his fingers trembled as they traced the edges of the pamphlet.

Finally, Taehyung broke the silence. “What if she says no?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. “What if she doesn’t want to get better? What if… what if she doesn’t care enough to try?”

Jungkook turned to him, his expression soft but firm. “You can’t control what she chooses to do,” he said gently. “But you’re not alone in this, Tae. I’m here, and we’ll figure it out together.”

Taehyung looked at him, his eyes searching Jungkook’s face as if looking for some kind of reassurance. “I just… I don’t know if I’m strong enough for this,” he admitted, his voice cracking. “I don’t know if I can handle watching her destroy herself over and over again.”

Jungkook reached out, taking Taehyung’s hand in his. “You’re stronger than you think,” he said firmly. “And you don’t have to carry this burden alone. I’m not going anywhere, okay? No matter what happens, I’ll be right here by your side.”

Taehyung’s breath hitched, and for a moment, it looked like he might break down completely. But then he took a deep breath, his grip tightening on Jungkook’s hand. “Thank you,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Jungkook smiled softly, squeezing Taehyung’s hand in return. “You don’t have to find out,” he said. “Now, let’s take it one step at a time. First, we’ll see your mom. Then, we’ll figure out the rest.”

Taehyung nodded, his resolve strengthening with Jungkook’s words. Together, they stood and made their way to the room where his mother was recovering.

Taehyung hesitated at the door, his hand trembling as he pushed it open. The room was dimly lit, the only sound the steady beeping of the heart monitor. His mother lay in the hospital bed, her face pale and her eyes closed. Tubes and wires connected her to machines, their rhythmic sounds a stark contrast to the chaos in Taehyung’s mind.

Jungkook stayed by the door, giving Taehyung space but remaining close enough to offer support if needed. He leaned against the wall, his arms crossed, but his eyes never left Taehyung. He could feel the tension in the air, the weight of everything unsaid between Taehyung and his mother.

Taehyung took a shaky step forward, his footsteps soft against the tiled floor. He pulled the small stool by the bed closer and sat down, his hands resting on the edge of the mattress. For a moment, he just stared at her, his chest tightening with a mix of emotions—fear, anger, sadness all tangled together in a way that made it hard to breathe.

“Mom?” he whispered, his voice barely audible. “It’s me. Taehyung.”

Her eyes fluttered open, and she turned her head slightly to look at him. Her gaze was unfocused at first, but it sharpened as she recognized him. She didn’t say anything, just stared at him with hollow eyes.