Afterglow | K.TH

Her

RIEUL

I stumble back into the door when the sun starts rising.

Jungkook's there at the exact same place I'd left him, curled up with his stuffed animal and breathing soft. And all I want to do is lie down next to his sleeping figure, but I needed to get to work.

I hadn't been able to sleep a single second because I'd been too busy watching Taehyung.

He'd been talking to someone— and it was a someone, I was sure. His psychosis.

At least I'd made sure he'd slept well tonight.

My head feeling all dizzy, I climb into my work clothes and kiss Jungkook on the forehead before leaving again. This time I don't go to the hospital.

Instead I go to the corner store.

"Hello," I greet the manager when I walk in, feeling lifeless as he points me towards a pile of boxes needing to be moved to storage.

"Young lady like you," He tilts his head before going back to the counter, pity in his eyes. "Shouldn't you be at home asleep right now?"

I force a laugh.

"I just need a bit of money." Then I hoist the first box into my arms, moving quickly back and forth until I've moved half the pile.

My eyes blink sleepily, before I force them back open.

Jimin didn't know I was working a third job. And neither did Jungkook, because I made sure to be careful not to let them catch on. I didn't want them to worry.

They already worried too much.

Two hours pass just like that, and I struggle back into the storage room with the last box. I feel so tired that I can barely move.

The manager finds me passed out against the racks.

"S-Sorry." I say when he shakes me awake, voice heavy as I pull myself up. He looks at me worriedly, before handing me a white envelope.

"I put some more in there." He says, and I smile gratefully in his direction. "Seriously, kid. Go home and sleep."

It's eight in the morning when I come out of the store, feeling more exhausted than I'd ever been in my life. My hands are shaking, and I'm walking with my eyes closed.

I finally give up after taking a few halfhearted steps around the corner.

Just a few minutes, I tell myself firmly as I plop down on the ground, leaning my back against the cold wall. Catch your breath, that's all you're going to do. And then you go back home, get ready.

My hospital shift started in an hour.

Just one minute. And then get up.

__________________________

"Noona!"

My eyes blur. I stumble back up to my feet when I realize Jungkook's looking at me with wide, scared eyes, his arms still gripping my waist.