The Star's Wish

Chapter Seven : It's Not Okay

It couldn't be. Taehyung couldn't be his soulmate. It had to be some sort of mistake. He couldn't have such a wonderful person. He was disgusting. He was weak. Taehyung would only be disappointed in him. He probably already thought of him as the shy patient anyway. He would hate him forever for being tied to him.

"No, Kookie, don't cry!"

Jungkook whimpered, shaking his head as BamBam scooted under the table with him. The space was too small for the two of them, but the young man made a valiant effort, wrapping his arms around Jungkook and laying his head on his shoulder. Jungkook managed two deep breaths and broke down again, his entire body shuddering. Words stuck in his throat, and he was overwhelmed both with the desire to push BamBam away and the fear that if he did, BamBam would be hurt.

"What happened to Kookie?"

Jungkook sucked in another breath. Hoseok crouched in front of the table, eyebrows furrowed in worry. Yugyeom knelt behind him, mirroring his expression. Jungkook felt a weight settle on his chest, and fresh tears poured down his cheeks as he whined, diving forward and hiding his face in BamBam's uniform jacket.

"He was just crying when I came in," BamBam said. Jungkook felt him wrapping his arms around him protectively, shielding his face. "I dunno. What's his trigger?"

"Jimin-ssi says he has a lot," Yugyeom said quietly. "He was a falsie for ten years."

BamBam yelped. "I-I'm sorry! Am I scaring you?"

Jungkook flinched, jumping back and smacking his head on the underside of the table. He caught a glimpse of the trio's horrified faces moments before he let out a pained cry and started to sob, burying his face in the bear.

"What's going on here?"

"It was an accident!" BamBam cried. "He was crying and I hugged him and I didn't know, I'm sorry, I don't know what to do--!"

"That looks cramped," Yoongi said. "Here, BamBam, c'mere. No one's mad at you. Jungkook-ah? Jimin's here."

Jungkook shook his head, pressing his face deeper into the bear. His chest already ached from the lack of air, but he didn't want to face anyone. Crying was embarrassing. It showed he was still weak, still unhealed, still unable to do anything on his own. He didn't want Jimin to leave. He didn't want Taehyung to be his soulmate. He just wanted to hide in his room and admit that he would never heal, never be better. He was just too weak.

"Jungkook-ah," Jimin called. "Jungkook-ah. It's alright. You're safe."

Jungkook flinched as Jimin took hold of his arm, and the realization that he was afraid made him cry even harder. It had been two years. Why was he still waiting for the backlash, waiting to be hit, waiting for the harsh words and threats? Why couldn't he just shut up and let them do what they wanted with him? He sucked in a breath and held it, tightening his grip on the bear.

"No," Jimin said warningly, as if talking to a small dog. "No, don't do that. It's okay to cry. Just c'mere, okay?"

Jungkook shook his head.

"He hit his head on the table," BamBam said, as if just remembering.

"Can I see?" Jimin said. Jungkook recognized the lilting tone his friend was falling into and sighed, letting the bear drop away from his face. Jimin gently tugged his arm, and Jungkook followed him out, letting himself be fussed over. Jimin ran his hands through his hair, ruffling it up, and led him over to a chair in the corner, sitting him down.

"Does it still hurt?"

Jungkook shook his head, taking another shuddery breath, and raised his bandaged arm toward Jimin, tugging at the edge of the wrappings. Jimin frowned, pressing the arm between his hands, and sat down beside him, leaning in easily.

"Your star?" he murmured. "Is it hurting?"

Jungkook shook his head. It didn't hurt. He was just scared. Even as he came down from the emotional high crying created, he already felt like all his nerves had been scrubbed raw. He sank down in his seat, leaning into Jimin, and took a shuddery breath.

"How is he?"

"Nonverbal," Jimin said, wrapping a protective arm around Jungkook. Jungkook was too tired to care. His eyes flicked up to Taehyung's and he knew he couldn't tell him. Both of them would break, then. Jungkook would just have to bury the secret deep, even if it meant he lived in the SoulMate Hospital for the rest of his life.

There was no way he was going to ruin Taehyung.

***