DREAMING || YOONMIN [COMPLETE]

17: Sick

Jeongguk didn't feel particularly well. His family understood completely, letting him stay at Taehyung's house on his birthday. They dropped by for a while—it was completely out of their way, and Jeongguk let them know that—and gave him a gift.

He was grateful for Taehyung's kindness during his stay. Of course, he knew it couldn't be much longer. In some way, he was starting to feel at home in Taehyung's house. His cousin was nice, and she also gave him food from where she worked. He had yet to know where she worked, but he assumed that it was a café farther downtown.

After using the restroom, he flopped onto his bed in the guest bedroom, tucking himself beneath his purple comforter, one of his most valuable possessions. Okay, it sounded dumb, but he loved it with all his heart. He hoped that Taehyung hadn't noticed that he'd snuck it inside, not wanting him to know that he kept it for so long.

It was a gift from long ago, when they were still children. He would be embarrassed to death if the older boy knew he was still cuddling it every night. Of course, he never told Jimin where it came from, not wanting him to throw it away somewhere.

He knew that Jimin and Taehyung didn't get along well.

That's exactly why he chose Taehyung to go away with. The boy was nice, but not exactly best friends with Taehyung. And he knew this because they all used to be really, really close, but suddenly Jimin and Tae didn't want to look at each other. Apparently, they needed some time away. He didn't understand why. And that's why he knew Jimin wouldn't try to reason it out.

Part of Jeongguk hoped that Jimin had understood his reasoning for leaving so abruptly.

He checked his messages, almost missing the several Jimin had sent him beneath his family's birthday wishes. There were multiple missed calls too, he noticed, which were all on his birthday, the day that he spent time with Taehyung.

Whoops.

His head began to hurt. Maybe, he thought, if he ignored it, it would go away.

He began to write a message, claiming that he'd lost his phone on mute, when he heard Taehyung calling. He deleted the message with a single swipe.

"Gguk?" Tae called from another room, clearly marching toward his room. "Are you in your room?"

Well shit. He wasn't supposed to know about the blanket.

Jeongguk tried desperately to stuff the comforter under his bed, kicking it with his feet, his head throbbing with pain whilst he lifted himself up. In desperation, he kicked it one last time, sending it under the bed. He sighed with relief, wiping sweat off his head.

Trying to get things done while also dealing with a cold sucked. 

"Yes, Tae," Jeongguk replied, tossing his phone to the other side of the bed. "I'm in here."

Taehyung entered the room, a soft smile on his face. "I brought you water and your medicine," He said, placing them in his hands.

Jeongguk wasn't sure if he was imagining things, but he thought Taehyung's hands lingered a little longer, and he looked up, but as soon as it started, it was over. He gulped down the water after placing the medicine in his mouth.

"I'm so sore, like, everywhere," he groaned, hand reaching up for his head. "This sucks," he cried, pushing his head down into the pillow. 

If it was possible to disappear from Earth momentarily, now was the time he wanted to. If it wasn't bad before, now it definitely was. His hair stuck to his forehead, a thin sheen of sweat covering his skin. He didn't bother wiping it,

"Do you need me to take your temperature? You don't look so good, Honey Bun," Tae started, reaching his hand forward to see if it could help anything.

"God, I feel like shit." Jeongguk whispered hoarsely, his throat hurting. He reached up to paw at it, shutting his eyes tight. He stifled a laugh at how pathetic he sounded, his headache not easing one bit. It hurt when he accidentally let out a weak chuckle, a groan following.

He wanted to punch himself in the face. He briefly wondered if Jimin had felt the same at all. No, probably not. 

"I believe it," Taehyung's lip caught between his teeth. He left the room in a hurry, feet padding down the hallway. He arrived back within seconds, holding a cold cloth up to Jeongguk's forehead.

"Can you open your mouth for me?" Taehyung asked, gently poking his lips. He took his temperature, staying silent all the while. All the younger could hear were his shortened breaths. Then he spoke, with as calm a tone as before. "You don't seem to have a fever, but it's higher than normal."

Jeongguk gulped, eyes flickering downward to the floor for a brief second. "I wonder why?"

"Me too, Honey," Taehyung said, eyes scoping Jeongguk up and down. "You haven't been under the blankets, have you?" He reached forward to touch Jeongguk's head with his free hand, lifting the cloth.

"No," Jeongguk lied through his teeth. "I haven't."

"Okay, I'll just stay here until the cloth cools you down." He knelt on one knee, using his other hand that wasn't on Jeongguk's head to steady himself. Jeongguk heard the rustle of sheets under the bed. He shut his eyes tightly, clenching his fist on Taehyung's.

"Is it getting worse?" Taehyung asked, concern etched into his expression. He rubbed circles on Jeongguk's hand, the one he was holding. He looked at Jeongguk with so much respect; almost as if he were an angel.

Too bad Jeongguk wasn't paying attention.

"Say, have you heard from Jimin?"

He felt Taehyung's hand tense, the one that was gently rubbing his hand. "No, I'm afraid I haven't." He furrowed his eyebrows. "Have you?"

"Well," Jeongguk started, gulping. "I have, but I didn't reply. He sent me a birthday message."

There was silence for a few moments before Taehyung replied. "And?"

"You know me too well, Tae." Jeongguk smiled, shaking his hand and Tae's.

The older yawned, mouth opening wide. "Excuse me," he hiccuped.

Jeongguk pursed his lips jokingly, eyes rolling in their sockets. Soon after, a smile broke out on his features. "He tried to call me. I didn't get the chance to answer, though."

"It's okay, if you don't want to answer, but I would tell him something," Taehyung sighed, removing the washcloth from his head. "You don't want to leave him in the dark, but think before. Don't give him the wrong idea." He shook his head. "I've left someone in the dark before, and now I really, really regret it."

"When?" Jeongguk croaked, forehead hurting from frowning so much.

"Nevermind that," he said, sounding strangely distant from the conversation. "You need some rest, Honey Bun."

He got up, turning on his heel to leave.

"Tae," Jeongguk called out, just before he reached the door. "Will you stay with me? Only until I fall asleep, of course."

Taehyung smiled, turning back. "Yes, of course. Anything for you," he grinned jokingly, holding up the washcloth in his hand. "I'll be back after I put this away."

Jeongguk smiled, nodding off. He could have sworn that when Taehyung came back, he felt his lips press softly against his forehead, whisper sweet nothings into his ear, and then leave.

Nonetheless, he wouldn't remember it when he woke up. 

Thus it didn't matter if he felt it or not.

★★★

a/n: whoa

taehyung and jeongguk have made their appearance, heheeh

i purple you all 💜