Wake Up

Chapter 9 : There for You

Taehyung's P.O.V.

"How long is it before your break is over?" I ask him.

Seokjin shrugs, eating another handful of noodles. He swallows his meal before placing his elbows on the table and perching his chin on his hands. He holds his chopsticks loosely in his hand.

"Not long," he says. His eyes glance over to the clock that hangs on the side of wall, making sure that his estimation of his break time was correct.

I hum to his answer, leaning back against the chair. He points his chopsticks at me after he shoves another mouthful of noodles into his mouth.

"When are you going to work?" he asks with his cheeks puffing out from the food. I scrunch up my face in slight disgust but can't help but smile.

"I called a day off... I just wanted some break time from work," I answer quietly. He pauses for a minute, processing my answer, before nodding understandingly.

He swallows his food and speaks once more. "I see. You know... Taehyung, you can't just keep calling days off just because you need a break or something... I know the environment you work in is stressful, but you still need that paycheck."

I groan and rest my head into my arms. "I've heard that sentence so many fucking times," I complain.

"The same exact words?"

"No dipshit, just the idea of the sentence."

"Dipshit?" He becomes offended by the name and places a hand onto his chest.

I roll my eyes. "Sorry," I breath out with a hint of annoyance.

He opens his mouth to go off at my behavior, but once he notices the stress in my eyes, the pain in my limbs and the headache that continues to eat up the inside of my head, he closes his mouth. His shoulders lose their tenseness and he gives me a sympathetic look.

"... it's about Jeongguk, isn't it?"

I lift my head from my arms to nod. I pull onto my hair in frustration. Seokjin calmly grabs a hold of my hands and pulls them away from my hair.

"Hey, calm down, Taehyung," he gently says. By the tone of his voice, he knows that I'm slowly losing myself day by day. After a couple of minutes, he says, "It's about the money, isn't it?"

"Yeah... it's just that... it's just that ever since Jeongguk's been... been elsewhere, I've not only been left alone mentally but physically. I've been left with the paychecks, the bills, hospital bills and everything that has to do with money... I'm in fucking debt and... I don't know what to do.

"We've always worked together as one. However, since he's been gone, it's just been double the work for me... one year without his help is fine, a second year is okay... but it's almost the end of this year..." I look up at Seokjin with worried eyes.

"It'll soon be three years, three years without him. Three years in an empty house that I'll soon probably won't be able to afford anymore. Three years alone... I don't know if I can continue living like this..."

Seokjin rubs his hand on my shoulder comfortingly. He smiles sadly. "I see... everything will be alright. I know I've said this many times before but me and Namjoon are willing to help you with paying the bills."

I shake my head quickly to his words. "No, you can't do that." He frowns at my response.

"But Taehyung, I'm willing to help, we all are. I'm sure that we have enough money to pay-"

"I don't want you or Namjoon o-or anybody to waste their money on me."

"But it looks like you need my help, Taehyung. We're here, ready to give you an offer that can support you. Please accept the offer."

I shake my head and gently push his arms off of me. "You and Namjoon are busy with everything. You guys have an entire future already planned out and that requires a lot of money. You should save that money for your guys' future." He opens his mouth to argue, but I continue.

"Hoseok already has his own bills to pay and he already quit his old job for a better opportunity at a new work place. He can't risk giving me money because what if the new job suddenly rejects him? His old job won't be able to provide him money because he fucking quit that job!

"And Yoongi and Jimin... they're... they're dealing with their own issues. I can't- we can't bother them..." I take a moment to breath, resting my chin onto my hand that's perched on the table. Seokjin takes this moment to speak.

"Look here, Taehyung. Sure the others may be busy... and maybe it is kinda a good idea to leave them alone for now, but me and Namjoon are still willing to help. Our planned out future together can wait." he says sincerely.

"But... but you guys spent years planning this out, making money and saving and- and everything. You can't just waste that money on me j-just because I-I'm in debt. You guys are way more important than-"

He puts his finger against my lips to shut me up. His eyes are stern. "Taehyung, I'll say this again, me and Namjoon's future can wait. Sure we've spent years building up everything for our future family... but you're also part of that future. Everyone is. I can't watch my life unfold without you in it. I need my present family with me, need my original babies to be by my side. I can't leave you behind."

"But-"

"Shh! And what do you mean you're less important than my future? You're way more important than just a couple of bills. I won't let you die in a pile of debt. I'm not leaving anyone behind. So please, accept my offer. Let me pay your bills for now, possibly help you find a better job that'll pay you better, and let me take care of Jeongguk's hospital bills."

"But Hyung, those bills are- are- cost a fuck ton of money! And Jeongguk's my boyfriend, i-it's my responsibility to take care of him. I promised hi-"

"I know, but remember we all promised to protect him and take care of him. You aren't the only one who raised him from the bottom to the top. He's my baby just like the rest of you are to me."

I feel my eyes water and I try my best not to let the tears escape. "H-Hyung... I can't..."

"Taehyung, listen to me. No matter what the heck you say to me, I'm still helping you out. I won't let you be left behind. I'll pay for the bills, the insurance and possibly your debt." He crosses his heart and gives me a gentle smile. I bite my lip, trying not to cry but a tear escapes anyway.

"I- I... thank you. I don't know how to repay you-"

"No need to repay me. Your trust, friendship, presence, love and smile is enough. You've helped me through so much, and it's time that I repay that kindness."

I can't help but let out a smile, joy racing through me. "Thank you Hyung, thank you so much. I don't know what I'd do w-without you."

"Your welcome, Taehyung. Just know that there will be a time where I won't be able to help you anymore. Beware of that," he says. I nod my head profusely as I wipe away the tears.

"O-of course, of course. Thank you, thank you thank you. I love you s-so much. Thank you for always being there for me and-and thank you... thank you for letting me still be a part of your future."

Seokjin pulls on a smile as he stands up, walking over to my side and hugging me tight. His motherly warmth wraps around me and I feel secure.

"Your welcome. Of course I'll let you be a part of my future. Besides... it'll feel weird if my future children only had four uncles." he says while patting my back comfortingly.

I laugh at his words and smile. We eventually pull away and I wipe away my tears once more. He looks around for a moment and suddenly waves at someone from across the room... Actually... he waves to multiple people in the room. It slowly dawns on me that we're still at his work place in the lounge. My face grows red, embarrassment making my throat feel dry.

Seokjin turns back to me and ruffles my hair up a bit. I groan in response as he chuckles. His eyes sparkle as he laughs.

"Taehyung, remember this. No matter what happens, I'll still be here to support you. I'll be here for you when you need me. I'll be on the phone when it rings, be ready to support Jimin, ready to slap Yoongi to his senses, ready to comfort Hoseok when needed, ready to provide everything for my beautiful Namjoon, and of course, be there when Jeongguk comes home. I'll be there, ready to unite this family together once and for all."