71

Taehyung

I woke up with a start, heart drummed wildly, my body drenched with sweat.

The nightmares still haunted me, even awake. I didn't think they would ever go away, those

memories were etched in my mind. It wasn't just the nightmare that had pulled me from my

troubled sleep.

No, it had been because I was alone.

The bed was empty beside me. I frantically looked around the room, but Jungkook was nowhere to

be found. He never left the room. Hell, if it wasn't me carrying him, he never left the bed.

I was out of bed in a flash and went to look for him in the bathroom.

Panic clawed its way into my body when I found that empty too.

My chest felt heavy as I ran out of the room.

"Jungkook?" I called out.

My feet stopped in front of the piano room, I glanced at the door. I didn't want to hope, my heart accelerated as I moved closer. With my eyes closed, my hand shook as I opened the door, I blinked my eyes open to meet darkness.

My Angel wasn't here.

Fear welled up inside of me, I shook with dread.

A swell of noise burst from my throat, "Jungkook?" I screamed as I ran down the stairs.

My fingers dug into my scalp in frustration and alarm. Screaming on top of my lungs, I hoped that my voice reached him.

"Jungkook!"

I saw Seokjin and Hoseok running down the stairs. Hae-sook and the maids came out of the kitchen. Some of my men came running through the doors, looks of panic on their faces.

"Taehyung?" Seokjin questioned, coming to stand beside me.

"Jungkook is gone," I said shakily.

His eyes widened, "What? How?"

"I don't know!" Growling in frustration, I pinched the bridge of my nose and paced, "We were sleeping. He was with me. I don't know how he got up without me knowing."

I saw Hoseok nodding at the other men, they all rushed around the house. The maids followed suit to look for Jungkook.

"Did you check the piano room?" Hae-sook asked.

"Yes," I snapped, "That was the first place I checked."

"Where would he go?" Seokjin muttered.

That was what I was afraid of, Jungkook wasn't in his right mind. It had been a week since we rescued him, but he was still as lost as the first day.

The only change was that he started eating yesterday, which was only after days of trying. I finally got him to stop sleeping on the floor. They were small changes, but they meant nothing as long as he stayed lifeless. My muscles were locked tight as I paced the house.

I walked around the house, my throat dry, my body feeling heavy as I searched for Jungkook.

"Jungkook? Jungkook!" I called out, running down the stairs again.

Seokjin followed closely behind me. He swore in frustration. I held the back of my neck, my fingers pressing against the muscle to release the tension building there.

Jungkook was nowhere.

Where would he go?

If he wasn't in our room or the piano room then— My eyes widened in shock, and I almost stumbled back.

No.

"Taehyung?" I heard Seokjin call out to me.

I didn't turn around. With only one destination in my mind, I ran out of the house.

Was it possible?

Jungkook's memories stayed stubbornly locked away, no matter how much I tried to bring them back.

My Angel was refusing to feel.

Like he'd rather stay numb.

I blindly ran, sometimes slipping over the broken branches but quickly picking up the pace again. My wound was healing up, but running with such force was causing my leg to weaken under the pressure. A painful burning sensation travelled its way up my leg, I stumbled forward.

I swore, holding onto the tree as my leg seized up, I struggled to move forward.

Fvcking useless leg.

Pushing the pain at the back of my mind, I thought of Jungkook.

With my wounded leg dragging heavily behind me, I limped forward. When the trees started to clear up, turning into the beautiful field, my heart thumped a little wildly with hope.

I heard the rushing water, my eyes prickling as I remembered the times Jungkook and I spent there. I hadn't been there since he was taken away from me.

When the field finally came into view, I stopped and leaned against the tree. I fought to catch my breath as my gaze finally found Jungkook. His back was to me as he looked at the rushing water. He sat silently on the rock, his black hair, going past his jaws, hanging loose as he tucked a few strands over an ear.

Walking forward, I stopped beside him. He stared straight ahead, completely ignoring my presence. I looked down at his face, hoping to see a smile or maybe even a little light in his eyes.

When I found none, my heart sank, my stomach tightened in knots.

Jungkook only stared at the creek, his face devoid of emotion. Jungkook wasn't affected by the beauty in front of him, not like the first time he had been here.

I knew the creek was something buried deep in his mind.

Could it be that he was slowly remembering?

Or maybe he was looking for peace - like before.

The piano room and the creek were the places he loved, the places that brought him peace.

And now he was blindly reaching for it again.

Without even realizing it.

I knelt in front of Jungkook, wincing as my muscles protested against the pain in my leg. He kept his eyes on the creek behind me.

I smiled, being accustomed to this reaction.

Jungkook wasn't ignoring me, he knew I was there.

My Angel just didn't want to let himself feel.

Even though I had realized that it didn't stop the pain in my heart. It didn't stop the heartbreak I felt every time he stared at me with those empty brown eyes.

The pain worsened every day.

The loneliness clawed at me, the agony too much to bear sometimes, but I kept going.

For Jungkook, I stayed strong.

I lived for him.

Palming his cheeks, I rubbed his soft skin, "You can't leave like this. Do you know how worried I was, Angel? Everyone is looking for you. Waking up and not finding you beside me was the worst. You can't do that again."

No response.

I didn't expect one.

It was another thing I was accustomed to: talking to Jungkook while I only got silence.

Deep inside, he knew my voice.

And stupidly, I believed that he heard me.

"You need to let me know where you go next time," I admonished gently. "Hae-sook almost had a heart attack. Let's give the poor woman a break.

"Angel," I said, kissing his nose. "Will you talk to me? Anything. Just say something. I can't bear your silence anymore."

Jungkook's eyes finally moved to mine.

I almost jumped with joy.

Such a small thing, but it meant so much.

"Please," I finally begged, "Please, say something, Angel. I want to hear your voice. I need to hear your voice. Say something. Just one word…" my voice broke. Taking a deep breath, I continued, "…to let me know that you're hearing me, that you know I'm here."

When he stayed utterly silent, I looked down, trying so fvcking hard to hold my stupid tears.

What I saw made me suck in a painful breath.

This time… my soul cried.

Jungkook was barefooted, and his feet were bruised and bloodied. He had walked from the house to the creek barefooted.

"Angel," I whimpered.

I could hear the way my voice broke.

The tears slid down my cheeks.

Just a few drops but it was so fvcking hard.

I buried my face in Jungkook's lap and cried, "I am begging you. Say my name. I want to hear my name from your lips. I want to hear your voice," holding his knees, I pressed my face in his thighs, "Just my name. That's all I am asking. Please, Jungkook. Please."

Without any care of the world, I sobbed and begged.

My heart broke a thousand times then.

With my face still buried in his lap, I waited.

I felt Jungkook shift.

I almost felt his hand on my arm but then nothing.

My Angel didn't touch me.

He didn't hold me.

He didn't speak.

I waited some more.

I waited for I didn't know how long.

But I only got silence.

When my tears had finally dried, I leaned back and wiped my wet cheeks.

Jungkook stared at me blankly, then his eyes moved toward the water again.

"You were always stubborn, you know," I whispered, touching his cheek softly, "I'm not giving up, Angel. You might not remember, but I once told you that I wasn't giving up on you. I had told you not to give up on us."

I leaned forward, placing a feather-light kiss on his lips.

"I am telling you this again. I am not giving up on you, so don't give up on us," My lip tilted up in a small smile, "I am more stubborn than you. What I want, I get. And I want you."

Jungkook's eyes stayed fixated on the creek and I sat down on the ground. I waited, giving him some time to admire the view.

Sometimes I felt like maybe we bonded.

There was no stopping the way my heart clenched.

After some time, I got up and swept Jungkook in my arms. Holding him to my chest, I walked back to the house. When I finally got inside, I saw Hae-sook's eyes widen, she rushed upstairs. Seokjin came forward to help me but I walked past him.

Making my way to my room, I walked into the bathroom, Hae-sook was close behind me, "It's okay. I'll clean him up. Can you bring a tray up? He needs to eat," I said, settling Jungkook on the edge of the tub.

Hae-sook nodded mutely and shuffled out of the bathroom.

I turned Jungkook around so his feet were in the tub, "This is going to hurt a little," I muttered.

I cleaned his feet, rinsing away all the dirt and dried blood.

All this time, Jungkook didn't make a sound or even shift.

It was me wincing in pain for him.

When his feet were cleaned, I saw that the dirt and little blood had made it appear worse than it was. I sighed in relief and dried his feet before helping him out of the tub.

"Feeling better?" I asked, holding him in my embrace.

My angel sighed in my chest and I smiled, rubbing his back.

I hugged him, I held him as close as I could. When my leg started to ache unbearably, I carried Jungkook to bed and pulled the covers around him. The tray was already on the nightstand, sitting down in front of him, I picked up the spoon.

"Do you need anything else?" Hae-sook asked.

I shook my head and held a spoonful of rice to Jungkook's lips. He took the first bite silently, my heart soared. After so many days of trying and begging, he started eating yesterday.

For a week, Sam had Jungkook hooked up with an IV. It was the only way to get something in his body.

I fed Jungkook another bite and he ate, chewing and swallowing slowly. Hae-sook moved away from the bed, "How is Jimin?" I asked before she left the room.

Hae-sook didn't answer for some time, I knew what his answer would be, "There is no change."

The door closed, I sighed, my heart heavy for Jimin. He had refused to leave his room or eat. He was a living ghost. I thought when Jimin heard Jungkook was back, he would come to see him, but he stayed away.

Jimin had yet to see Jungkook.

In some ways, it was better this way.

I didn't think he had the strength to see Jungkook in this state.

I continued to feed Jungkook, taking a few bites as I watched him eat. His gaze stayed fixated on me, as always. It was almost like a routine, so I fed him and talked.

Jungkook ate in silence and… maybe listened to me.

I talked about everything, sometimes mentioning Hae-jin and Seung-won.

My father had been taking care of business all this time. He didn't complain. No, he fell right back into the position of the Boss. Even though I refused to admit it, I was thankful he and Hae-jin were taking care of things.

They visited Jungkook once.

No words were spoken.

It was quick, but I saw the look in their eyes.

I knew they were seeing their women in Jungkook. When Seung-won had seen him he paled and walked out in a daze. Since then, he hasn't come back. When the tray was finally empty, I got up and stretched.

Jungkook's gaze followed my movement and I winked, "Do you want to go to the piano room?"

Silence.

I chuckled and lifted him off the bed, placing a kiss on his head, I carried him to the piano room. I brought him there every day, hoping it would bring back memories.

I placed Jungkook on the bench as he stared at me, I gave him a small smile in return, even when the pain intensified.

This used to be our moment.

And now, even that is gone.

"Do you remember playing?" I asked, kneeling beside his bench.

Jungkook looked at the piano keys but didn't respond.

"You used to play for me every night. It was our favourite time of the day. Just us together. You played the piano while I watched you," I continued, "Do you remember, Angel?" When he didn't answer, I let out a sigh, "It's okay. I know you will remember. Maybe not now. I have confidence that one day you will. Do you know why?" I leaned forward, "Because I am a stubborn asshole, I am not giving up on you," I whispered in his ear, "One day soon, those beautiful brown eyes of yours will look at me with the same amount of wonder and love as before."

Placing a kiss next to his ear, I finished, "Be prepared, kitten," I stood up and walked toward the couch, "I don't play fair

when it comes to things I want."

I sat down, facing him, he looked at me for a second before turning his eyes to the piano again.

We sat like this for hours maybe.

Until he played.

Just one key.

One note.

My head snapped up, my eyes widening.

I sat forward, hoping to hear more.

But that was it.

I smiled.

So hard that my cheeks were hurting.

I wanted to be disappointed that there wasn't more, but how could I when my Angel finally made a move?

Jungkook looked up at me, and there it was - it was so small.

Barely there.

Or maybe I was just imagining it?

But then it was gone so fast that I would have missed it if I wasn't staring so intently.

A very small glimpse of emotion in those lifeless brown doe eyes.

Jungkook stared at me, his eyes empty again.

My chest somehow felt a little lighter than before.

I stood up and walked to him, his gaze following me. I stopped beside him and saw that his fingers were still on the keys. Even though he played only one key, it felt like he had played a whole song.

"Do you know how beautiful you look? You are breathtaking, Angel," I whispered, sweeping him in my arms again, "Especially when you play the piano."

I carried him back to our bedroom, and I felt surprisingly light, Jungkook laid on the bed and I pulled the covers over him.

"You want to sleep?"

Jungkook only closed his eyes.

I smiled.

I got my answer.

I joined him in bed and held him close.

Shaking my head, I closed my eyes.

After some time, I finally settled, and Jungkook fell asleep.

Just when sleep started to cloud my mind, I heard a knock on the door.

I slowly moved away from Jungkook.

After making sure he was still asleep, I made my way to the door and softly opened it.

My eyes widened in shock at the sight in front of me.

"Jimin?"

Jimin stared at me, tears in his eyes, "Can I see him, please?"

His voice sounded so small and fragile, I blinked a couple of times, trying to understand what was going on.

Jimin looked down, tears streaming down his face, "I should have come before but couldn't find the courage. I'm sorry, Taehyung. For leaving this on you. It's… I… I can't believe I left him alone when he needed me the most. But can I see him now? Please."

I saw his face twisting in frustration as he wiped his tears away angrily.

I only nodded, stepping out of the way.

Jimin quickly walked inside. I closed the door and watched him stop next to the bed, he cried softly.

When he joined Jungkook in the bed, my heart soared.

Finally!

This was what they both needed.

They needed each other.

I walked forward and saw Jimin wrap his arms around Jungkook.

Jungkook's eyes opened and stared blankly at Jimin.

He whispered something in Jungkook's ear and sobbed.

Jungkook closed his eyes again and I knew he was asleep within seconds.

Jimin closed his eyes too, he continued crying softly, trying not to wake Jungkook up. I moved the sofa chair next to the bed, beside Jungkook, and sat down. Leaning back, I watched Jimin cry himself to sleep.

After some time, I heard the door open and saw Namjoon come in. His eyes instantly went to the bed, and when he saw Jimin there, I saw his shoulders sagging in relief. He nodded at me and pulled a chair to Jimin's side.

We watched both our partners sleep.

I didn't miss the way Jungkook slightly burrowed deeper in Jimin's embrace.

My lips tilted up in a ghost smile.

A silver lining.

Small and barely there.

But definitely there.

There was hope.