Afterglow | K.TH

Not Enough

JIMIN

"N-Noona doesn't know."

I look up from icing the top of a cake. Jungkook's pacing frantically behind the counter, murmuring over and over again.

"She doesn't know when she's coming, she—"

"Kookie, why do you look so sad?" I whisper, offering him a piece of bread. He chews on it, but he doesn't look any different.

"Don't be sad."

I push the dough he was playing with towards him, but he shakes his head firmly.

"Hyung-ah."

"Yeah?"

Jungkook grips his hands tightly together. "Do you think Noona might get to like Taehyung-ssi more than me?"

He starts to blink furiously.

"What if she doesn't come back for a long time? She said she d-didn't know, and I thought that this was just going to be for a short time, hyung. That's why I told her to be w-with him, because sharing is a good thing. But what if she—"

I pat his back.

"She won't do that."

He squeezes his eyes shut. I laugh when he hugs me tightly, voice shaking.

"Y-You sure, right?"

"Of course." I smile, moving my hand to pat at the top of his head instead. "Besides, you'll always have me. I'm with you, aren't I?"

But he doesn't say anything, making me look up.

He's turned his face away. And my heart's quiet as it crashes against the bottom of my chest.

Of course.

I'm not her. I'm not Rieul.

My gaze slowly falls to the tiled floor, the words all fading from my lips.

I'm just her makeshift replacement.

________________________

RIEUL

Finally.

I quickly change out of my hospital scrubs, a big smile on my face. It was the end of my shift.

Piling my stuff in my arms, I hurry out of the locker room and towards the parking lot. Taehyung would be waiting  there— he'd already texted me to "hurry the hell up".

I'm speed walking down the concrete pathway when my eyes catch on a patient on the bench.

I blink.

Outdoor time was over just a few minutes ago.

Shifting my stuff, I quickly make my way towards the man. He doesn't notice me until I'm really near him, to tap him on the shoulder.

"Excuse me, but you—"

He slaps my hand away.

"Leave me alone!" He yells, and I recognize the patient. The one with IED— and now he was having an episode.

I put a caregiver smile on my face.

"I'm sorry." I say soothingly, putting my hands behind my back. "But it might rain soon, so it's better to go inside. You can—"