THE DARKEST HOPE

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Jimin was sitting at the edge of Jungkook's bed, leaning over his bleeding wound, visibly displeased. His jaw was clenched tight and his lips were presses into a thin line.

"Some of the stitches are broken, I'll have to make one or two new ones to hold the wound closed." He said quietly without looking up at Jungkook. "Just let me search for the anesthetic and my instruments."

"I don't need anesthetic for a few stitches, Jimin, just go on and get it over with."

Jimin went back with his medical tools and leaned down again. Before he started sawing up the wound he looked at Jungkook's face with deep worry on his serious face.

"I'm fine, Jimin, don't worry." Jungkook insisted.

Jimin sighed and started his job. Jungkook bit down his bottom lip against the unpleasant feeling. The pain was bad but the worst thing was to see Jimin looking so displeased with him. From the moment he and Suga went inside the house and Jimin saw his condition, all dirty, bleeding, with bruises from the fight here and there, he hadn't spoken more than five words to him.

Yes, it was stinging and hurting while Jimin was sowing up the opened wound on his arm but it was stinging and hurting even more inside his heart to feel the disapproval of the other. Jungkook was looking at him intently and waiting to meet his gaze and know what exactly Jimin was thinking right now, but his friend avoided to look at him directly and just occupied himself with his injury.

Finally Jimin put some medicine over the wound and put a fresh clean bandage over it.

"There, all done." He said and started to collect back his tools. "Nothing to worry about, the wound should heal quickly."

Jimin started to rise from the bed. Suddenly he felt the strong grip of Jungkook's hand on his wrist.

"Stay a little more!" The boy pleaded.

"I, I should just ...." Jimin tried to pull himself out of Jungkook's reach.

"Please, Jimin, talk to me!" Jungkook was looking at him with anguished eyes, filled with tears. "I feel so bad when you are angry like that! I am so sorry about everything! Just say something."

Jimin sighed and sat back on the bed. Jungkook didn't release him from his grip, he just slid his fingers down and held gently his hand. Jimin looked down and let his fingers entwine with Jungkook's. Yes, that felt good and somehow came natural for them, to be holding their hands like that.

Finally he rose his gaze and looked at Jungkook. The sadness on the boy's face made his stomach bend with regret.

"Jungkookie, please, don't be like that!" Jimin said. "I never meant to upset you, you have to forgive me for that." All Jimin's anger was gone and now all he wanted was to see the bright smile back on Jungkook's face.

"But you are angry with me, I can see it! I know I shouldn't have gotten in a fight but I tried to help someone! Really! It wasn't for nothing!"

"I know, I believe you, you don't have to explain..."

"But then why, why are you so upset with me?" Jungkook asked with teary eyes.

Jimin looked up at him. Yes, why indeed was he so upset?

"I am worried, Jungkookie! I am really worried for you! When I saw you come in, with blood dripping from you... I got so scared! And then I became really angry! Because you are careless about your life so often. You risk it here and there and you never know when your luck will turn and you will just get injured really badly or even die!
That day, when the river washed your body on the shore and we found you there, all cold, eyes closed, with your face buried in the mud... I can't survive one more day like that! Do you understand?"