My Teacher

•Week 6•

Taehyung

I woke up with beads of sweat covering my body, my hands becoming clammy and breath uneven. My heart was racing and my hands were freezing, but disgustingly wet at the same time. I looked around the room frantically to make sure I was still here. Luckily, I was.

It's your fault Tae... All your fault...

"No it's not! I can't help that I have cancer,"

It's your fault that your mom could die

"It's not. It's not. It's not!"

I was rocking myself back and forth. I've never had a dream that bad before. I was scared and I needed to hear from my mom. I slipped on my slippers and grabbed the keys. I ran to my grandma's car and hurriedly started the engine.

"Please let nothing be wrong,"

It's been two weeks since my mom's heart attack. She's been in a coma ever since and I haven't been to school either. I haven't visited her yet.  I drove in silence. The rain beating on my windshield was oddly satisfying. The usual bright smile was replaced with a cold, dry frown. I marched to the front desk to ask for my mothers room number.

"Kim Jae Eun please,"

"Room 278 sir,"

I nodded and made my way to the elevators. Nobody was here except for a few emergency room patients. It was in the middle of the night after all.

I pressed the eighth floor button and stood in the corner. I heard the beep and looked above the door to check the floor number and it labeled 6.

This isn't my floor..

The doors opened and a man wearing a green hoodie and tight black jeans got it. He seemed oddly familiar and I knew why when he removed the hood.

"C-coach Jeon?"

"Taehyung??"

I nodded. He must've either seen the dry tear stains or noticed my sour mood but he made his way closer to me and caressed my cheek. I don't know what hit me, but I wanted to cry and I wanted him to hold me.

The tears started flowing when his fiery hands touched my cheekbone. He pulled me into a hug and I sobbed into his shoulder. The elevator dinged again meaning we were on the floor but we both ignored it. The doors slid shut again, waiting to be summoned or for us to open them again. He gently rubbed my hair and I clutched the back if his hoodie.

"Tae, what's wrong?"

I sniffed and regained my original posture.

"My mom... She had a heart attack.. and it was my fault,"

"No no no, Tae. Don't blame yourself. What really happened?"

"She found out I had cancer and her heart failed. I wasn't there for her and.. and, and, an-"

"Shhh. Calm down I get it,"

He used his thumbs to wipe my tears. I inhaled deeply before telling him I need to see my mom. He asked to accompany me but I told him it was fine. He kissed my forehead before I left which left me burning inside. I slowly walked to the destined room, the fire disintegrating..

I gripped the door handle and prayed she was sleeping. Once I opened the door I immediately wished I hadn't. She was laying still in her bed, with wires stuck all over her body. Her cheeks were tear stained and her face was pale. My stomach lurched and the tears threatened to fall.

"Tae,"

I turned my head to the voice that Ive come to love.

"I thought I told you to go home," I managed through a cracked voice.

"I can't leave you here when you are obviously unstable,"

"I'm fine I don't need you to pity me,"

"I'm not pitying you. I'm being there for you. There is a difference,"

I nodded my head and sat down in the nearest chair close to my mom. Coach Jeon came over to me and ran his fingers through my hair. I felt my lung cramp and I doubled over in pain.

"Taehyung?!"

I coughed and tried to catch my breath. I clawed at my side as the burning sensation fled throughout my body. My head was spinning and my hands became cold. I breathed one last gulp of air before closing my eyes, my last feeling being Coach Jeon's hands clasped around my face.