|| ENGRAVED RINGS || Kim Taehyung

Chapter 12 - Lost

Spending hours of travelling you arrived at Busan 9 a.m. You stood at the entrance of the main station, facing the lines of taxi's waiting to be occupied.

You distanced yourself at a corner, so people would stop bumping into you, unintentionally or intentionally. Fishing out the phone you called Taehyung's number.

"Morning~"

"Just tell me where to go."

Being welcomed by a fresh voice in the morning didn't made you less grumpy.

"Get in the taxi, I'll text the adress."

You caught a taxi and drove...You didn't even know how long, only when the impatient driver snapped his fingers at you, did you realize that you've arrived.

It couldn't get better as the sky suddenly showered your face as you got off. You ran to the nearest shop, a bell above the door rattled conceitedly as you entered the coffeeshop. You eyes sought for the nearest seat and sat down. A window seat.

You rested your head on the hand while glancing out the window, looking defeating at the sky that started to clear up. The building across the road blocked the sunlight, you wondered if there was a hidden rainbow behind the fat block.

The waterdrops trailling down your hair made you feel a little drowsy. You were about to space out, but the sudden scent of sweet milky cream awakened your senses. A female employer stopped at your table and placed a piece of cheesecake and a mug of chocomilk in front of you.

"I didn't order-" You shook your hands in deny.

"A customer from the other-" She replied while turning her head at the person's table. You looked in the same direction to see an empty table.

"Is he using the washroom?..." She mumbled to herself. You nodded in understanding, so she could get back to work.

Why not....

You didn't posses the astrocratic gene to reject chocomilk and cake. Finishing the cake and the warm drink you were able to pull a light smile. You wanted to thank the person who brought you these, but he hadn't returned to his seat.

You glanced to the table beside to see a little girl with braided hair play with her mother's phone. Speaking of which...You fished out your phone, to make a call. You nearly forgot the purpose of this trip due to the empty stomach.

At the same time you made a call, an outstanding melody was played somewhere in the shop. You glanced around but no one was looking for their phone. The phone kept ringing, you curiously stood up and followed the sound. The melody stopped too as you were sent to voicemail.

"Can I help you?" The female employer said, you seemed to be looking for something as you approached the desk.

"I was making a call....I think the melody came somewhere...."

"Ahhh..!" She gave you the phone that was hidden behind the desk.

Taehyung's phone.

"A customer forgot it...do you know its' owner?"

"Yes."

Kind of....

Great. The phone was back in your hands and you had no clue of what to do.

I travelled from Seoul to Busan... to eat cheesecake and chocomilk?!?....!!

Entering the shop with one phone, exiting with two. Your phone suddenly buzzed and displayed 'hidden number', you quickly took it.

"Wasn't the cake good?"

You recognized the voice. Afraid that the faceless guy would hang up before you got answers, you dropped the formalities and went straight forward.

"You demanded the phone in return of helping, since you're not I'm getting it back?"

"Why so calculating, we're not robots." he said in a leisuring tone.

"Then why don't you tell me where you found it!?"

"I did."

Your mind ran through the conversation you've had, a faint memory surfaced.

You spotted the pharmacy across the road on your left, the coffeshop right behind you and last in front of you was....

"Bingo" the voice said, as if he was seeing what you saw. The grand building. It would be less breathtaking if it was a mall, hotel or even a motel. But it was... A hospital.

.

Bringing yourself to the information desk inside the building you asked if there was a Kim Taehyung at the age of 20's admitted.

In less than a minute the nurse found him in the system, she then slapped you with her ice bucket of words wrapped in a friendly tone.

"To a patient suffering of severe overdosing... isn't it a bit early to show up-" She raised her head at the last part "after two weeks?"

You didn't know you looked quite angry when you didn't smile. Embarrassed by the failure of pricking your conscious or terrified by your cold reaction she hurriedly added that he was fine and said which room he was staying in.

The other nurses behind the desk  murmured while pointing fingers at you behind their shield of silk thin papers. You ignored it.

Dragging your feet to Taehyung's room, you slowly digested the situation. You weren't the type to react instantly, but the news always hit you twice as hard by time. Your legs felt weak standing in front of his room. Gulping down lump you extended your trembling hand for the handle.

Opening the door you found him sitting on the side of the bed, facing the window ahead and with his back at you. He wore the white hospital pyjamas, his hair flat and slightly longer than you remembered. You entered the room without making a sound. Completely clueless of your presence he blankly staring out of the window.

"Taehyung?.." you approached.

His body reacted to your voice.

"Are...you feeling okay?"

"He was on the verge of seeing the other side, but that's old news." A man in white gown entered.

"Morning, Taehyung." The man said. His cheeks showed marks of his pillow and hair a bit messy. His chest rose in uneven patterns, seemed like he came in a rush.

"Doctor Park." Taehyung showed no emotion. The doctor then turned at you.

"According to the friendly nurse-"

Who spilled the patient's information without verifying your identity-

"-you're the TWL?"

"TWL?" You asked.

"Two weeks late." He said.

.... Your lips tightened to a thin line.

A grin of relief appeared on the doctor's face. His attempt to divert you attention from Taehyung seemed to work, though the moment didn't last long. Out of the blue Taehyung grabbed your hand and pulled you down to met his eyes.

No-! The doctor's eyes screamed.

"You know me right?" Taehyung blurted.

Doctor Park facepalmed himself with a frown. His finger trailed down his pointy nose to his parted lips as he let out a sigh of despair.

Amidst the doctor's moment of agony, Taehyung lightly pressed your hand to get your attention. He formed small shape with his mouth as your eyes met.

Jebal...

You squinted your eyes, to read his lips.

Get. Me. Out.