Touch Of The Poor

⑦I Don't Need Your Help

Jeongguk was left in a mild state of shock at the news. "Did they find out who did it?"

"No, whoever did it didn't even stop to check what happened. They can't find them."

"How is Taehyung?"

"He's still somewhat shocked. I left because I had to return to the cafe, but his friends are there now. He's okay. He needs to wear a cast for some time now, though."

"Okay. I'll talk to you later."

🥀

"Tae, oh my God," Seokjin exclaimed in worry once he surged into his hospital room with Jimin.

"Are you okay?" Jimin edged closer, only to see a river of tears rush down his face, and he gasped as he cocooned him in his hug.

"I'm okay, I was just scared."

"It's okay, you're safe, Tae." Seokjin took his turn and hugged the shaken boy gently.

"What happened?" Jimin asked as he sat on a chair near his bed with Seokjin mirroring his moves.

"I don't know." Taehyung rubbed his face, preventing his tears from falling again. "I was riding the bike at a normal speed, and all of a sudden, something hit me and I fell off my bike. The people who saw what happened called an ambulance for me and said to the police that someone hit my bike's wheel. They didn't have time to get the number plate because the car sped up afterwards." His voice trembled while he talked as he had to recall the frightening incident.

"Oh my God, Tae." Seokjin held his hand, eyes filled with sorrow.

"Is your leg broken?" Jimin asked once he noticed the cast.

"It's a second-degree sprain. I need to wear this for a damn long time. How am I gonna do deliveries now?"

"That's not important, Tae, the important thing is that you're okay," said Seokjin.

"But it is. How am I even gonna pay for the hospital bill? I don't have insurance."

"Tae, we can help you—"

"No. I don't want you guys to help me with the bill."

"Don't be stubborn. You don't have a choice." Seokjin stroked the back of his hand with his thumb.

"I'll figure something out. Can you guys get my papers ready so I can leave? I already explained my situation to them, and they agreed to let me pay the bill in installments."

 

When everything was ready, he took his crutches and trudged outside with his friends. "At least let us pay for a cab for you. Don't take a bus like this." Jimin rubbed his back as he offered him a sympathetic smile.

"It's okay."

"We'll come with you then," Seokjin said as he didn't want to leave him alone, but he already knew his answer.

"You guys have work. Don't worry, I'm fine," Taehyung reassured, although he was anything but fine. The two boys tried to convince him to let them help him, but every effort came to nothing, and so they reluctantly left their friend alone.

It took Taehyung a long time to get to the bus stop, and even a longer time to arrive at his studio apartment. Why did that have to happen to me? He buried his face into his hands and released a stream of suffocating sobs in the depths of despair.

Nothing was going right. He was working his ass off for years now and this was what he got in return? How was he supposed to survive now if he couldn't even work?

  

After an hour of lying in his bed and with no more tears left to cry at the moment, he hopped on his one leg as he didn't want to use his crutches and went to the kitchen. He took a sandwich out of the fridge and hopped back to his bed.

His phone started ringing then, and he eyed the unknown number for a few seconds before he answered. "Hello?

"Taehyung."

A low voice that Taehyung was quite familiar with was heard through the phone. "Mr. Jeon?"

"I heard what happened. How are you?" The CEO sounded quite indifferent.

"Um, I'm okay I guess," Taehyung said, somewhat awkward, as he was baffled to the max about why he called him.

"Do you need anything?"

Taehyung took a moment to analyze his inquiry. "Why do you even care?" he murmured, almost inaudible, but the other was able to hear him.

"I just thought that given your state, you might need some help."

"Given my state? As in my poor state? As in I'm poor and I obviously need help?"

A heavy sigh was heard from the other line, and a moment of intense silence followed.

"I don't need your help," Taehyung spat out and hung up the phone. Why and how the hell does he have my number? He took a bite of his sandwich, an annoyed frown engraved on his features.

After eating, he hived in his bed, scrolling through youtube and watching some random videos. That was what he was doing even an hour later when a knock on his door reached his ears, startling him since he wasn't expecting anyone.

He hopped his way to the door and asked who it was multiple times, but he was met with silence. He wrapped his fingers around the handle and cracked the door open with tentative moves, only to see a bag in front of his door.

His brows pulled together as he eyeballed the hallway, but he didn't spot anyone. He then picked up the bag and closed the door before he returned to his bed. He took a look at the items in the bag and his confusion only waxed. There were two ice packs inside, various kinds of pills, and a note. He grabbed the small note first and read it.

Give your stubborn ass a rest and use whatever you need from this bag

It didn't have a name, but Taehyung was sure about who left the bag outside of his studio apartment. "Why would he even..." he whispered as he examined the medicines. The doctor who treated him told him to buy anti-inflammatory drugs, but he couldn't afford them, especially now that he had to pay for his hospital bill as well.

He mused over it for a long, long time. I will just pay him back. He settled on this thought and opened the small box. He took a pill and swallowed it with water before lying in his bed again.

 

⚜✳⚜