Afterglow | K.TH

Your Heart To Mine

Two weeks later

RIEUL

"Remember. That I can touch you, but you can't touch me."

I burst awake. Sweat pours down my back, and my eyes go wide when I see Jungkook. He's looking at me with the same shocked gaze, tears welled in his eyes.

He has a phone pressed desperately to his ear.

"Jungkookie?"

"Hyung, Noona's awake now." He stutters, and I breathe out shakily as I swipe at my forehead. "Yeah. Yeah. Tea, okey. Chamomile in the cabinet? Oh yeah, okey. Thanks, thanks lots."

Then he hangs up, crashing into my arms.

"Noona!" He cries, and I hurriedly pull him close to my body. "This is the fourth time already. I couldn't— I couldn't wake you up, and I panicked. I panicked."

I force the vivid dream down.

"I'm sorry, Kook." I whisper, burying his face into my shoulder. "I'm sorry. I scared you, didn't I? I'm sorry."

Jungkook swallows, whimpering as he pulls back.

"Stop, stop saying that you're sorry. It's not your fault, Noona."

His face is drained with fear. And I clench my hands to fists. How could I do this to him? I'd been scaring him for nights at a row, bothering his sleep.

Sighing heavily, I'm about to get up when he suddenly jumps to his feet. Then he barrels towards the kitchen, leaving me stunned on the floor.

I rush after him.

"Jimin hyung told me to get you to drink— drink some tea." He said, frantically searching through the open cabinets.

"Ah, where is it, where is it—"

"Kook, it's okay." I soothe him, holding up a small box of tea. "I found it, don't worry."

He watches me intently the entire time I make a cup, even until as I sip at it in small gulps. I finally burst into laughter, not being able to keep a straight face any longer.

"Jungkook! I'm fine, I promise!"

He mumbles under his breath, rubbing his fingers together. "Well— well, if you say so, I guess."

Then he looks up, and I wait for him to start talking. He'd honestly looked like he'd wanted to say something for the past five minutes.

"Noona?"

I smile. "Yeah? Go ahead."

"So, um— so I was hoping we can do something fun today. It's because you're always so tired with work— and uh, with me, so I..."

My grip tightens on the handle of the mug. Jungkook glances up at me nervously when I put it down on the table, looking serious.

"Jungkook, I like taking care of you." I say, clasping his hand. "I like being your caregiver."

He nods. But I can still tell he doesn't mean it.

I bite my lip, worrying. Had I done something wrong over the past few days that made him think this way?

But I just smile, pinching his cheeks.

"No work today." I say, and he lifts his head back up. A slow, excited smile spreads on his lips when he hears what I say next.