wake me up |t.k|

five

It's Yugyeom who comes to him the coming morning, and Taehyung wishes he could glare at the man. After all, Yugyeom is the reason Jeongguk was in an awful mood yesterday.

"Morning, Mr. Kim.", Yugyeom chirps as he pulls the curtains back.

"God, that weather suits Jeongguk's attitude."

Now that could imply many things.

Is the weather sunny, cheerful? Is Jeongguk happy? Did his date go well? Or is it rainy and cloudy, the sort of weather that makes one want to stay at home, and in bed? What if Jeongguk is sad? What if someone broke his heart?

His questions are answered as the door opens again and Yugyeom speaks.

"There you are. Now, what's that face?"

Jeongguk huffs.

"You know exactly what."

"Come on, I'm sure it wasn't that bad—"

"Yugyeom, he took me to a French restaurant even though I told him about my seafood allergy and then made fun of my Busan dialect when I couldn't pronounce the shitty names. These fucking foreigners."

"That's—"

"All he talked about was his marketing scheme idea for protein bars."

"Well, he's—"

"And when he tried to kiss me he nearly coughed right into my face!"

"That's unfortunate.", Yugyeom grants and that is the oversimplification of the year for Taehyung.

"And most importantly, he shoved Gureum out of the way with his foot and against the wall. Who the fuck does that to a small dog?!"

If Taehyung could have done so, he would have held his breath.

Jeongguk is a dog person.

Yugyeom sighs.

"I'm really sorry, Jeongguk.", he says, and he truly sounds like he is.

"I thought he was nice."

Jeongguk says nothing, and instead approaches Taehyung's bed and pushes the hair out of his face with utmost delicacy.

"I know.", he whispers, and Taehyung's heart shatters at the resignation in his voice.

Yugyeom's footsteps come closer until he stands right beside Taehyung's bed.

"You'll find someone.", he says.

"There's someone for you, Jeongguk. I know it.

"I'm not worried about that.", Jeongguk says with unexpected stability.

"I'm just tired of this endless string of failures."

Never has Taehyung understood Jeongguk more than he does now. He cannot help but think back to his own partners in the past, and how disappointing every single relationship has been. But Taehyung is sure that neither he nor Jeongguk is asking for too much.

Or is it too much to long for someone who likes you so much that they want to hold and kiss you all the time, and accept you the way you are?

Taehyung reflects back to what Jeongguk has said the night before, and once more, he wholeheartedly agrees.

Indeed.

They would be good together.

"I should concentrate on my work.", Jeongguk says ultimately, and Taehyung feels him adjust his cushion, making sure it supports his neck properly.

"The patients need me. You need me."

"But don't forget yourself over it.", Yugyeom reminds him softly.

"And don't forget your family. It's been five years since you last saw them. Are you sure you can't take a few days off to visit them over your birthday weekend next month?"

"Taking days off is not the problem.", Jeongguk says.

"I can't afford it."

Taehyung profanes at the millions that sit in his bank account, doing nothing.

"You know you can always ask me.", Yugyeom says.

"I can help you out with that."

"You have the same money problems, Yugyeom.", Jeongguk sighs.

"I couldn't accept that."

"Okay. But the offer stands."

"I know, Yugyeom. Thank you. Really."

For a while, they don't say a thing as they work, checking the tubes and getting him ready for the day. It's what Jeongguk has started to call 'Spa Day', meaning that they'll cleanse him from head to toe and trim his unruly hair.

It's one thing to be naked before a partner, but something entirely different in front of people that are there to help you, because you cannot do it yourself. Not that he's ever been self-conscious of his body but every dancer can have body issues.

Taehyung does not even want to imagine what he looks like now, with his muscles subdued to the bare minimum.

Of course, they do exercises for him, moving his arms and legs for him. And it feels good, incredibly good to move, even if Taehyung cannot do it on his own.

His body used to be capable of so much.

Now he cannot even open his eyes.

"I heard your friends are coming today.", Jeongguk says to him.

"The whole bunch."

"The whole bunch, really?", Yugyeom asks.

"Like, the whole crew?"

"That's what his instructor said on the phone.", Jeongguk says.

"He always calls before they all come, I don't know why."

Taehyung knows why.

Yoongi has never been that kind of person that likes to meddle, especially not with his students. And whilst Yoongi visits him almost every day, the rest of the crew cannot do that.

But at least once a month, it seems, he brings them all along.

Jimin, Hoseok, Namjoon.

Sometimes, Seokjin comes, too.

But he cannot bear seeing him like this and does not come too often. But Yoongi always brings him his regards.