Epiphany || ksj || ✓

twenty-two

✵

'Jin!' I heard the young boy yell, followed by the sound of his running footsteps. 'Jin!'
     I turned around to see a grinning Jimin, his messy orange coloured hair standing out in contrast to his dark clothing.
    'Jimin!' I exclaimed, embracing him into my arms, ruffling his already messy hair.
'Can you give me a ride home?' He asked, still grinning, forgetting the fact that the both of us had been drinking tonight.
I set my lips in a straight like, hesitating. 'I'm not too sure Jimin,' I said. 'I don't want to risk it.'
He jutted out his bottom lip, the metal pierced through it was shining. 'Come on, Jin! You're like my big brother, I trust you!' He placed a hand on my shoulder. 'I know you're a responsible driver, what's the worst that could happen?'
When I continued to stay silent, he continued, placing both arms on my shoulders and turning me around so that we were both walking towards my grey car.
'Besides,' he continued, a sly smile plastered over his face as he knew he won me over. 'My place isn't that far from here,'
'Alright, alright,' I shook his hands off of my jacket, shooting him a glare as he approached my car. 'I'll drive you home, but never after this, okay?' I pointed a finger towards him. 'You owe me.'
He placed a hand over his chest, then bowed towards me, a laugh escaping his lips. 'I owe you my life, big brother.'

✵

My nose scrunched up into disgusted as I registered the scent that I hated so much. The smell of antibacterial filled my nostrils, burning them with every inhalation I took. My body felt sore and heavy and restrained. My muscles felt tight and my bones just light snap in two if I decided to move.
I groggily peeled my eyes open, adjusting to the light of the room.
I was on a bed, but not in my bed. It was uncomfortable, or maybe my body was in too much pain to even feel comfortable at this point.
The sounds of machines whirring and beeping filled the room amongst hushed voices as well.
'He's awake!' A familiar voice cut off my thoughts.
V's face came into my view, his hair still the same brunette dashed with blue. Metal adorned his eyebrow and nose as well as his ears, all types of shiny jewels glittering them.
'Seokjin?' He stared in my face, eyes trailing my features. 'How are you feeling?'
'I knew I shouldn't have let him drive alone.' Another voice said, anger, sadness and worry evident in his tone.
'Suga,' V turned to him. 'Seokjin's awake.'
Suga then came into view, his small eyes staring down at me.
'Seokjin?' He mumbled, eyes looking sad. His bottom lip looked like it was quivering, but it may have been the nausea that was causing me to hallucinate.
V hesitantly rested a hand on my arm that wasn't attached to tubes and wires. 'How are you feeling?'
I wanted to say something. I wanted to speak, but my throat felt dry and parched. My head throbbed and my tongue didn't move, as if I had forgotten how to talk.
'Everything's fine,' V said suddenly, eyes watery. 'Everything will be fine. It's not your fault, it's not. Don't blame yourself, please.'
'Jimin,' I managed to rasp out, my eyes searching for him. 'Where's Jimin?'
V and Suga's eyes met.
'I'll tell him,' Suga swallowed, looking back down at me.
     'After you left, with Jimin,' he began slowly, his fingers tangled together, eyes trained on the bed. 'You we're driving and,' he paused taking a deep breath, 'I guess because you drank that night, you weren't fully aware of your surroundings and-'
'Where is he?' I repeated, more sternly this time, pushing my self on to my elbows, every movement sending jolts of pain down my body. The boys gently pushed my back on to the bed, their firm grips wanting me to feel assured yet I was only feeling anxiety build up inside me, almost blocking my airways.
     'He's in another room,' V finished for Suga as he had begun to shed tears, furiously wiping his face with the sleeves of his grey sweater. 'He has to stay in isolation until he wakes up.' 
       If he wakes up.
      I forced my eyes shut, trying to block away any thoughts of what could happen, and how it would be all my fault.
     V touched my arm again, his eyes meeting mine. He let out a slow and shaky breath, running a tongue over his slightly chapped lips. 'Seokjin, it's not your fault.'
     'He's going to be okay,' Suga mentioned. 'The doctors said he is going to be okay.' There was a look of hopefulness on his face, despite him being tired and sleep deprived.
     'I could have-' I choked. 'He could have-'
     'Seokjin!' V urged, his voice breaking, his dark eyes welling with tears. 'Don't do this to yourself!'
      'He could have died...' I cried. 'And it would be have been my fault.'

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