JUNE THIRD:
PRUNING THE STIMS
it was the first time jeongguk wasn't allowed inside. he felt cheated, he was a part of this place. he's the one who tended to the boy so why is it that when something important is happening he's treated like a dog chained down.
he tried his best to peak through the front door though it was no use. the only visible access was the peep hole engraved on top which only allowed him to see corners of the larger establishment.
he knew where they all were. upstairs. that mysterious second courtiers that jeongguk never got to explore for whatever unspoken reason.
he just never had the desire to go up perhaps. he and taehyung would come outside and be together so nothing else quite reached his attention.
but now he watches as people with shower caps on their heads and shoes walked into the house dragging machines with many cords inside, more cords than outlets surely.
"jeongguk you don't have to come by today. we have a lot going on and it may be too hectic for you."
he snorted, adults always playing word games. he wanted to see taehyung and he wanted to see him now.
turning he hoists himself up a tree, pushing himself up on top of the branches, he hears the cracking and rattling of oak wood and crisp summer leaves in his ears.
what if something was wrong? what if he really did push it and now taehyung was dying for real?
jeongguk stumbled, tripping over his clumsy footing. his heart pounding in his chest. inhaling he licked his dry lips and pushed forward.
no. that couldn't be it.
he pushed himself up a branch and looked at the window just out of arms reach.
scratched and blurred from the weathering effects, he still could see well enough to recognize a bed and the boy in it.
taehyung.
around him where two women, one who wore a white coat, and a man. all talking about whatever–something important perhaps, no there's nothing important to talk about..taxes, yeah they're just talking about taxes for sure.
passing by them were blurred motions of other doctors and nurses hooking up machines and things. usually they ended their motions by connecting a piece to taehyung.
soon enough a monitor was connected that jeongguk could make out, red and blue lines flowing across the screen; leaping over small dips and hills. perhaps it was taehyung's heart rate..jeongguk didn't know. he wasn't into that type of stuff.
jeongguk swallowed. they didn't seem to be moving in a panicked state like he thought so he couldn't be dying right?
sighing with relief he watched till the brisk winds in the trees ceased and the sun that had sautéed his flesh disappeared into nothingness, the moon peaking roundabout.
he was ready to jump down from the tree but stopped, seeing new action taking place.
taehyung was talking, pointing his finger at the window. the woman looked quickly before shaking her head, jeongguk was sure that was taehyung's mom.
the doctor turned to her and started to say something. moving her hands in feathered gestures. eventually ending by resting a hand on his mom's shoulder.
a pause. they didn't move at first but eventually someone made their way to the window and lifted the seal, causing a gust of sweetened pollen to blow into the room.
jeongguk held his breath, hair suddenly itching on his scalp. forgetting how dark it was he realized how awkward it would be to get caught so late at night.
but they didn't notice and instead turned back to the center of the room.
the good thing was that now jeongguk could hear what was being said, so he leaned forward on his branch, moving away from the protection of the leaves to listen.
"everything just looks beautiful. his numbers are more towards average than before—i'm not saying they're perfect but they are huge improvements."
the doctor took off her rubbery latex gloves and smiled. for a moment he noticed the parents relax a breath that he wasn't aware they were holding.
he then realized that he was holding his on breath in and quietly released.
the gust of air from his lungs pushed a leaf off the branch, blowing it into the bed room. the current allowing it to ride before landing in taehyung's lap.
pinching the thing, taehyung turned to the window, looking out intently until a broad square turn of his lips came into play.
he waved his hand at his friend in excitement. his day must've been boring without jeongguk.
wait was that possible? could another person miss him? he knew that he missed others all the time but he never really felt important to anyone else.
beep beep beep.
the monitor started to show spikes, each leap turning into a shot. the loud noise raising the level of urgency.
his heart started racing again.
the doctor leaned over, reading the screen while simultaneously slipping back on the latex.
"alright there honey just lay back for me and relax taehyung." she grabbed a tube with a needle tip and some liquid inside, taking taehyung's hand.
"like I said..he's not where we want him to be still—can we get that window closed? that air might be what's making his numbers jump"
two nurses came and closed jeongguk's one way of listening and since he could no longer hear and was starting to have trouble seeing in the darkness, he climbed down the tree while talking to himself.
" if night air can do that to him then I don't want to know what i've been doing to him in the day."
——→
