Afterglow | K.TH

Caregiver

RIEUL

It's dark.

Holy crap, it's dark.

"W-Why am I here?" I yelp, scrambling up on the blankets. Taehyung's golden eyes shift down to me, before it turns black. "I was—"

"Don't you remember."

My panicked stare flashes to the clock. And my mouth drops open when I see it's nine at night— way past the time I was supposed to pick up Jungkook at school.

"Jungkook!"

"Your phone was ringing earlier." Taehyung says flatly, and I look at him with wide, shocked eyes.

"Why didn't you wake me up? How could you let me just—" My voice cuts off into a frustrated curse as I rush to get my phone, flipping up the screen.

Five missed calls from Jimin.

Seven missed calls from the school.

Frantic, I press at Jimin's number and slam the phone against my ear. I can feel Taehyung watching me in amusement, like he enjoys my panicking.

I glare at him.

Then the call clicks through, and I hurriedly turn back to the receiver as Jimin's sharp voice comes yelling.

"Partner! Now you're calling me?"

"I'm so, so sorry." I whisper, my knees already down in a begging stance even though he can't even see me. "Jimin, do you have Jungkook with you? I—"

He sighs loudly.

"Yes, I have Kookie with me. The school called me when you didn't show up at pick-up time."

My heart crashes into my chest in relief. I'd listed Jimin as a secondary number below mine for emergency numbers, and now I was thanking God.

"Is— Is Kook alright?"

"No."

His frustrated answer makes me want to slam my head into a wall. You stupid idiot— of course he wouldn't be okay.

"He cried himself to sleep." Jimin says, his voice heavy. "He's asleep now. Just come by in the morning, partner."

I swallow.

"....Thanks."

When I put the phone back down on the table, Taehyung's deep voice echoes right behind me.

"Your brother again?"

I bite my bottom lip, not answering as I sink back down to the living room floor. That's more than enough confirmation for him, and I bury my face in my hands.

"Taehyung.... why did you let me sleep?"

His voice is so much sharper next, and I instinctively look up.

"Why are you living like this?"

"What?"

"I said," He hisses, drawing closer. "Why do you choose to live like this? You get barely any sleep because you're always working. Do they even know? That you're doing this?"

His lips press down.

"Of course not." Taehyung whispers, his eyes flickering. "Because all you know is how to care for other people. You don't know a single thing about caring for yourself."