His Boxy Smiles

Chapter 60

"Hyung, you really don't have to stay the night."

Silence plagued the room and then similar reactions threw themselves at his face.

"I want to, so just eat your dinner and be merry," Yoongi said, a scowl evident on his face as he fed Taehyung another spoonful of food.

"Yes, just eat your food," Hoseok agreed, a nervous tint to his tone. "What are you even saying, Tae?" he chuckled awkwardly, suddenly looking unsure of what he should do with his hands.

"I can manage a night alone, h-"

"No, you won't be left alone. Not as long as we can help it," Namjoon cut him off with a tone that spoke finality, albeit softly.

"Why would you even suggest such a thing, Tae?" Jimin's voice chipped in, sounding hurt.

Huh? Taehyung frowned as he took in Jimin's look of fear, confused. But as he looked to Seokjin who had stopped eating (which is saying something), and to Jungkook who was currently looking at him as if he had burnt him, he realised then, what his original intentions had waywardly implied.

"We promised and we want to keep that promise. It'll give us a sense of security knowing you're not all by yourself too," Seokjin provided, not giving Taehyung enough time to formulate a proper response.

"Unless..." Namjoon trailed off, afraid to look at Taehyung as he spoke his underlying worry. "D-do you not want us here, Tae?"

Taehyung shook his head vigorously at that, having it said out loud disturbing him greatly. "No, no. That's not it at all." He just didn't like the way they looked like they were about to fall asleep right on their feet- or drop dead to keep it short and sweet. Having Hoseok and Jimin stay the previous nights were already enough to clue him in on how tiring it was to keep him company. He could clearly see how it brought enough toll on them both, so what more if the others keep that up as well? Taehyung wouldn't be able to live with himself (although he really really really didn't want to be alone). However, Taehyung guessed that that thought clearly got lost in interpretation as the silence stretched on with the doubt that was now practically exploding out of everyone.

Taehyung suddenly felt winded, his troubled heart and contrastingly slow intake of information too much for him to handle in his current state.

"Don't-" he breathed in sharply, "-think that." Then, he was sent to a coughing fit and six pair of hands were automatically there to assist him.

Taehyung learnt then, that insisting or even just saying that he'd be fine alone- even if it's just for one night- was a taboo.

Taboo or not, Taehyung should have ignored it and insisted still because he's convinced Yoongi didn't sleep at all when morning came.

Whenever Taehyung started from a nightmare, Yoongi was always just beside him (doing work on his laptop), ready to give him warmth and comfort. He had either played music from his laptop or had soft conversations with Taehyung (and sometimes both) to sooth his nerves and lull him back to sleep. But the irony was that he didn't even try to wink a sleep himself. Taehyung should have honestly caught on when he saw that his hyung brought his laptop with him during day time.

So, with the newly discovered taboo, Taehyung decided that Yoongi hyung, plus hospital, plus laptop, was as much the same, forbidden for as long as Taehyung could help it.

And he made sure to rat Yoongi out to the others when they arrived the moment visiting hours started.

The subtle pout, despite the half-hearted glare of mock betrayal, that Yoongi sent his way clued him in that all was well and that the others would make sure Yoongi doesn't do it again ("or you're banned from staying with TaeTae," was what Seokjin said- with a smirk- to which Yoongi loudly protested against).