Holding On To You | k.th + j.hs

Sunshine

      Though the boy has cancer, that doesn't stop him from trying to live a normal life. Taehyung admires that about him.

       Hoseok doesn't do any sports, no... That's too risky. But he does do safer things like cheer Taehyung on at basketball games or help out at different kinds of shelters. That's another thing about Hoseok; he's nice.

No, he's more than nice. He's a ray of sunshine that lights up everyone's world around him. Even though he struggles, that doesn't stop him from putting a smile on other peoples faces.

He's unstoppable, or at least Taehyung thinks he is.

-

"You can come see him, now," a woman with a clipboard announces to them. His mom doesn't move, but she motions for Taehyung to get up.

      He springs out of his chair and dashes around the corner, passing Hoseok's mother who's making her way towards the waiting room. She smiles when she sees him. He smiles back and waves.

      He makes it to the boy's room and steps in, locking eyes with him.

      Hoseok is sitting upright in the bed, looking happy as ever. He barely has any tubes attached to him, which is a good sign. Though, he does have his oxygen mask on.

      "Hi, Hobi. I brought you this," Taehyung smiles and hands the boy an action figure. Hoseok takes it in his small grasp with bright eyes.

"Thanks, Tae! I was getting really bored," the boy exclaims and sets the toy down next to him.

"Are you okay?" Taehyung asks, still concerned.

"Yeah. The doctor said everything's going to be okay for now. I just passed out because I couldn't breathe," Hoseok says as Taehyung pulls up a chair and sits next to the bed.

"The same old same old, really," the boy mutters, a small grin still tugging at his lips.

"At least you're okay, now. Hopefully this won't last forever. I think you can beat it," Taehyung smiles.

"Yeah, hopefully..." Hoseok whispers.

There's a moment of silence. A long, eerie quiet fills the room as the two boy's lock eyes, but never really look at each other. They're too distracted by their own minds.

       Hoseok isn't smiling anymore. His face is blank and his eyes are glassy. The silence starts to hurt Taehyung's head, so he breaks it.

"What can I do to cheer you up? You seem sad," Taehyung asks.

"I'm not sad. I just don't know what to say," Hoseok denies, forcing a smile onto his face once again. Taehyung sighs.

They find themselves sitting in silence once again.

"... You know, I want to be a doctor one day," Hoseok says suddenly, making Taehyung jump a little.

"Why's that?" He asks, noticing that Hoseok's gaze has drifted over to a counter containing medical supplies.

"I want to help people. Do you think that'll be possible?"

"Of course. Why wouldn't it be?"

"I don't know. Apart of me has hope, but another part of me says that I'm not going to make it-"

"Stop," Taehyung interrupts abruptly, shutting his eyes.

"Sorry," Hoseok whispers, fiddling with the bed sheet beneath him.

Taehyung's worst fear is that Hoseok will one day stop breathing.

For good.

       And Taehyung can only hope that the sick boy will live long enough to see something change. Anything. Even if it's the last thing he sees. After awhile, you become sick of hospital rooms and oxygen cords and old cafeteria food. Something needs to change.