Jimin
*The next morning*
‘Yesterday, he was in a state of shock, then woke up but he was too panicked so we had to sedate him,’ the doctor explained to me as I nodded.
‘When is he going to be discharged please?’ I asked.
‘We’re going to examine him one last time and then we can discharge him if we find him in the clear,’ the doctor replied.
‘Thank you so much doctor,’ I said as I gave a bow. The doctor gave me a gentle smile that seemed to suggest that he knew we were struggling with a lot.
I watched him walk into Taehyung’s room and I stayed outside, to give him some privacy to get checked out. I sat on the plastic chair and rubbed my face, feeling tired. My phone buzzed and I took it out to find a message from Hoseok.
Hobi: hey Chim…how’s Tae?
Hobi: Is he coming home?
Chimmy: Hey Hope…
Chimmy: He’s not doing well.
Chimmy: Doctors are checking him now.
Hobi: okay, keep us posted.
Hobi: everyone is just….
Chimmy: I know. Me too.
Chimmy: Gotta go. Doc’s here with Tae.
I put my phone away and hurried towards the doctor and Taehyung. Taehyung was dressed but he looked pale and his eyes looked dead. He looked down, refusing to look at me.
I sighed, hating how my friend looked and only wondered how he was feeling or what was going through his head. Good God almighty, the thoughts that must be going through his mind.
‘Taehyung please try to eat something and these pills are to help you in case of a panic attack,’ the doctor said but Taehyung remained unresponsive.
‘I’ll take care of it,’ I said as I took the medicine in one hand. The doctor gave me a sympathetic look before I turned to Taehyung. ‘Let’s go Tae,’ I said and he nodded. At least, he responded to me, even with gestures.
We walked out of the hospital until we reached my car. We got in and I started to drive while Taehyung rested his head against the window.
The drive was silent but I knew the thoughts in Tae’s head must have been loud. I could not help but worry about my best friend. I did not want him to be lost in his own thoughts and grief, even if I knew he needed time to even attempt to heal. I cleared my throat, trying to set myself to speak.
‘Taehyung, do…do you want to talk to me about…well, I guess, what’s going through your mind?’ I asked, but he shrugged. ‘I know you might not feel like talking, hell, you might not even want to be around anyone right now, but I’m here for you,’ I said and he nodded.
‘I know that Chim but I don’t even know what’s going through my mind. I just…,’ he paused, his voice cracking. I saw him fighting his tears as he shook his head and fisted his hands. ‘I don’t understand anything. I don’t understand why anyone would want to kill her when she was so sweet and kind,’ he said, struggling to not just cry.
‘I agree. It’s very confusing and all the others are trying to figure out why and what happened,’ I said my voice low. ‘I know it doesn’t fix anything Taehyung, but…but…I don’t know the right words to tell you, except,’ I paused and took a deep breath, ‘except, I’m here for you, we all are,’ I said.
‘Jimin…’ he said, turning his head slightly in my direction. I stole a glance at him and saw the tears finally start to cascade slowly.
‘Tell me Tae, talk to me, I’m here to listen,’ I said and he sniffed. He wiped at his face while his bottom lip trembled.
‘I um…I think I overheard you and Jin talking last night. Is it…is it true? Was she really to…tor…tortured or did I dream that up?’ he asked. *! *! How was I supposed to answer that?
I sighed, not wanting to answer that question, but I had made him a promise. I would answer anything he asked. I would be true to whatever he asked.
‘It…. it’s true Taehyungie,’ I said with a sigh. He gasped as he covered his mouth with his hand. ‘I’m so so so sorry Tae,’ I said.
‘Pull over…please pull over Jimin!’ he said, urgently. I nodded as I pulled to the side. He ran out of the car and went next to the wall as he rested against it and then started vomiting violently.
‘*,’ I muttered as I ran next to him. I put my hand on his back, rubbing it there, hoping to offer some sense of comfort. It was absolutely breaking my heart to see him like this as he continued to wretch, emptying the already empty stomach.
He stopped and stepped away from the vomit. I sighed as I walked next to him, but he just looked down. He slid against the wall and then brought his knees to his chest and sobbed.
I sighed once more as I just went and sat next to him. I opened my arms and pulled him in so he could hide his face in my chest while people continued to pass and give us weird stares.
‘It’s okay Tae, let it out, I’m here Taehyungie, I’m here,’ I said as he grabbed onto my shirt and sobbed.
We stayed like that for an hour, until eventually calmed down from the crying. I looked at him as I continued to run my hand through his hair.
‘Let’s get you home to rest Taehyungie,’ I said but he shook his head. ‘What do you mean no? You just got released from the hospital, vomited all your stomach’s contents and cried your eyes out. You need rest,’ I said.
‘What I need is to distract my mind by getting to work. I need to feel I am doing something for Natalie and not…not just cry,’ he said.
I sighed, knowing he was probably right. Being alone might be worse for him right now. ‘Okay then, let’s get to the precinct,’ I said as he nodded.
I stood up and gave him my hand which he took. We began to walk but suddenly, he grabbed me by the elbow and turned me around.
‘Thank you,’ he said. I looked at him confused, one eyebrow raised.
‘What for Tae?’ I asked. He gave me a small, weak smile.
‘For staying with me – at the hospital and right now, on the street while I cried and people stared at us,’ he said.
‘* them, let them look. I don’t care. I’m your best friend, your soul mate remember?’ I asked and he nodded. ‘Good, then you know I’ll never leave you alone when you need me, just like I know you would never leave me alone,’ I said.
