Hello, all you beautiful and lovely readers~♡ I hope all has been well for you~♡ I just got back from the 12 hour drive away from Universal Studios and can now look at my phone. My friends, the motion sickness is real and I could not fathom glancing at my phone long enough to edit this chapter until now. So let me apologize for the tardiness of this chapter simply because my body hates me.🤣😂 I was unfortunately sick once the car ride was over, but now that I've drank some ginger ale, I feel much better now~♡ Universal Studios was quite the amazing trip.:3 I stayed in Diagon Alley most of the time doing the interactive magic with my Ollivander's wand that chose me, like the child that I am.😂🤣 My inner child has been appeased for a while and I shall work hard to bring you all new chapters for this story and for Wish You were Here.:3 I know some of you have been asking when I was going to be continuing that- soon, I promise~♡ This chapter doesn't contain anything too triggering, but please remain advised when reading this piece~♡ Without further ado, please enjoy this new installment~♡
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That following morning, Jungkook's eyes snapped open as Taehyung was silently yet hastily getting dressed for work. Jungkook rubbed his eyes as he shoved the blankets off of himself and stood up to stretch. "Babe, why don't you let me go into work for you from now on? Just relax and stay home with the little ones," Jungkook offered as Taehyung peeked out from his side of the bathroom with a toothbrush hanging out of his mouth. Taehyung hadn't meant to wake Jungkook as he stared at him for a moment before finishing with brushing his teeth.
Once he was finished cleaning and rinsing his mouth out, he turned toward Jungkook with a loving smile. "I don't want to burden you with company demands right after your graduation. Take a few days, weeks even, however long you need to relax and then you can worry about it later, Kookie," Taehyung reasoned softly as Jungkook shook his head. "No can do, love. I'm not leaving you to handle all that work by yourself any longer," Jungkook asserted with determination, staring Taehyung into submission. Taehyung clasped his hands in front of him as he stared at the ground, realizing Jungkook wasn't going to back down no matter what he said. "O- Okay," Taehyung stammered out softly as Jungkook smiled pleasantly and walked over towards Taehyung.
Jungkook kissed Taehyung's nose tenderly and then went about his business getting ready to head to the office. "Will you at least need to go with me so that they know I'm working in your stead, Tae?" Jungkook asked as he shuffled out of his side of the walk-in closet dressed in a baby blue button-up shirt and black dress slacks. He threw on a black blazer and fixed his navy blue satin tie in the mirror before turning towards Taehyung. "How do I look?" Jungkook asked as Taehyung swallowed hard and eyed Jungkook up and down. "You look great, darling," Taehyung assured pleasantly, throwing his arms around Jungkook's neck and kissing him. "And I won't need to go with you because everyone at the office was at our engagement party. So they know you'll be working in my stead from time to time," Taehyung clarified, kissing Jungkook's lips once again.
Jungkook chuckled softly to himself, before gripping Taehyung by his wrist and wrapping his free arm around Taehyung's waist. He swiftly plunged Taehyung into a deep dip, kissing him intensely for several seconds before letting the poor boy up to breathe. "Don't start something you can't finish right now, baby boy," Jungkook teased, leaving Taehyung speechless and watching as Jungkook sauntered out of their room. Taehyung followed after him without realizing it, following him down the stairs and into the kitchen as if he were a lost puppy. "Let me make you breakfast and a lunch before you leave, darling," Taehyung called as Jungkook grabbed an apple from the fruit dish and took a seat at the breakfast bar. Jungkook stopped short of biting his apple with a small chuckle before he nodded softly. "If you really must, then I'll wait while you make it, my love," Jungkook started lovingly, taking a large bite out of the apple. Jungkook stared up at the small chandelier of low hanging, crystal lights as he continued to eat his apple before glancing out the large, open bay windows behind Taehyung.
Before Jungkook knew it, Taehyung had a bento box made up for Jungkook's lunch and some scrambled eggs for a small breakfast. Jungkook stared at the plate Taehyung had set down in front of him and smiled softly before taking a bite of the fluffy eggs. "Thank you so much, baby," Jungkook whispered lovingly, kissing Taehyung's lips tenderly. Both of them remained close, hovering in each other's personal space as they were both tempted to kiss more passionately but holding back instead. They stared at each other for several seconds before the scream of babies waking up broke their concentration. Jungkook cleared his throat and flushed, hastily turning towards his eggs as if they were the most interesting thing at that moment. Taehyung flushed as well although Jungkook could not see it as Taehyung scrambled up the stairs to obtain the infants.
Jungkook called out his goodbye for the morning, understanding that Taehyung would be busy with the children right now. He grabbed the lunch that Taehyung packed for him and walked towards the door. Just as Jungkook opened the door to leave, Taehyung hastily rushed out of Gabriel's room to wave goodbye from the banister. "Bye, my love! Be safe on your way to work! I love you," Taehyung called out loudly and pleasantly, smiling as the door closed behind Jungkook. The moment the door shut behind Jungkook, Taehyung could feel an overwhelming sorrow and loneliness consume him as he sighed and returned to Gabriel's room. The pain of it all was becoming unbearable as Taehyung tried to ignore it and tend to the children. He carefully lifted Gabriel up out of his crib and hesitated, holding Gabriel suspended in the air above his crib. It was then that Taehyung could tell that the pain wasn't just from loneliness or sorrow from seeing his love walk away. Taehyung coughed slightly, the pain spreading rapidly throughout his chest as Taehyung lowered Gabriel back into the safety of his crib. Taehyung clutched the rail of Gabriel's crib and his chest with his free hand in overwhelming pain, coughing heavily as the pain swelled even more excruciatingly. Taehyung felt the shortness of breath grip his chest and throat as he struggled to take deep, even breaths only to cough harder. Taehyung felt light-headed as stars collected in his vision, his view growing dark as he felt his body waver. Taehyung whimpered softly from the immense pain as Gabriel tried to stand in his crib to see what was transpiring. Taehyung stumbled slightly to the side, releasing the rail of the crib as he plummeted to the floor unconscious.
Jimin opened the front door to Taehyung's and Jungkook's home after watching Jungkook leave for work and walked into the house as he heard a heavy thud upstairs. He could hear Gabriel screaming senselessly as he dashed up the stairs to see if everything was okay. Jimin's concern immediately fell on Taehyung, passed out on the floor as he scooped the younger male up into his arms. "Tae! Hey, Tae," Jimin called loudly and firmly, slapping Taehyung's cheeks lightly to try and rouse him from his unconscious state. Taehyung groaned softly, feebly reaching for his chest once again as Jimin scoured the room for Taehyung's inhaler. Although, he couldn't remember the last time Taehyung had had to use it as he rushed to call Hyungwon instead.
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Taehyung laid limply in his bed beside his Jungkook body pillow with a clear mask over his face, coercing the breathing treatment medicine into his lungs. Taehyung coughed several times into the mask as Hyungwon and Jimin watched over him, Jimin occasionally checking in on the children. Jimin wanted Hyungwon to be gone before Jungkook got home, just so Jungkook wouldn't question why he was at their house. Jimin knew Taehyung wanted things to stay quiet until after he'd passed because he didn't want Jungkook blaming himself for his current predicament.
After Taehyung's treatment was done, Hyungwon packed his things up and walked towards the door. Jimin followed after him so that they could converse without Taehyung overhearing anything. "You do realize his health is drastically deteriorating, right?" Hyungwon asked as Jimin nodded solemnly, staring at his hands. "I know. Is there nothing more you can do for him?" Jimin asked desperately, aware Taehyung wasn't ready to see his life end either. Taehyung was finally happy in life and he wanted to enjoy that happiness just a little longer.
Hyungwon sighed softly as he shook his head in dismay. "I'm sorry. I wish there was more I could do, but he never responded well to any medication we tried when he was younger. The only thing that remotely helped were the breathing treatments and it's unfortunate that those are no longer having the significant impact they used to," Hyungwon noted as Jimin sighed softly, hanging his head. He was going to lose his best friend too soon, Jungkook was going to lose a fiancé, and the children were going to lose a parent way too young. Jimin's chest hurt as he nodded numbly at Hyungwon's words. "I understand," Jimin mumbled softly as he turned away from Hyungwon. "Thank you for coming today," Jimin added over his shoulder as Hyungwon turned back toward Jimin. "Here's this. He'll need it because this will keep happening to him as time progresses," Hyungwon explained, handing Jimin a brand new, stronger prescription inhaler for Taehyung.
Jimin nodded as he took the inhaler from Hyungwon and waited for him to leave, closing the door behind him. Jimin dashed back up the stairs towards Taehyung's room to check on him yet again. Jimin walked into the room to see Taehyung pushing himself into a sitting position with unsteady arms and rushed towards him. "Just relax, Tae! Why do you have to keep pushing yourself? You're making your lifespan that much shorter the more you keep pushing," Jimin reasoned hastily, pressing into Taehyung's shoulders to keep him from moving out of the bed much more. Taehyung stared up at Jimin with helpless eyes before he buried his face in his hands, sobbing softly. "I don't want to die... I d- don't w- want to leave Jungkook behind... I- I don't want to leave my babies behind... I- I just want to l- live a normal, h- happy life," Taehyung sobbed out, pulling his knees to his chest as he cried harder. "B- But I can't l- let Jungkook know that there's s- something so urgently wrong," Taehyung added as Jimin tenderly ran his fingers through Taehyung's hair to comfort him.
"Why not?" Jimin simply asked, still running his fingers through Taehyung's hair. "Why is it so important that Jungkook not be aware?" Jimin asked another question, this time waiting for Taehyung to respond. Taehyung sniffled softly as he turned his head to the side and laid it on his knees to stare up at Jimin. "I can't bear to let Jungkook know I've been lying to him about my health... I- I wanted to keep it quiet because I didn't want him to abandon me since I'm just going to die anyway," Taehyung sobbed out, fresh tears rolling off his cheeks as Jimin tried his best to soothe his best friend. "Don't think like that, Tae. You know Jungkook loves you and would never just abandon you," Jimin whispered softly, kissing Taehyung's hair. Taehyung sniffled softly yet again, trying to calm himself as he finally found the courage to carry on his conversation. "I know... But I'm terrified that if he finds out before, he'll leave me because I'm dying... Nobody wants to feel that helpless when it comes to the person they love and I don't want Jungkook feeling as hopeless as I do now," Taehyung explained softly as Jimin sighed in understanding. He knew why Taehyung didn't want to inform Jungkook ostensibly now, but he still felt that Jungkook should know so that he wouldn't be so lost later on.
Jimin chuckled softly as he continued to run his fingers through Taehyung's curly, cocoa brown hair. "Fine. I won't say anything to him until you do, but as your best friend and current caretaker, I'm advising you to tell him soon," Jimin reasoned as Taehyung sighed heavily and peeked up at Jimin through his thick, wet lashes. "Thank you," Taehyung expressed his gratitude, smiling as he sniffled softly once again. "I was actually hoping that you could help me pertaining to that though... It'll be the last thing I ever ask of you, so please," Taehyung begged softly as Jimin chuckled quietly. "Let's hear it before I decide," Jimin declared as Taehyung nodded and commenced explaining. "I'd like for you to inform him after I've passed. Not because I want to put you in an awkward situation," Taehyung clarified anxiously, kneading his fingertips into his blanket. "But because Jungkook is going to need someone beside him to help keep himself from regressing into his old ways. He's going to need someone to guide him and keep him on the right path. Someone to talk sense into him when he needs it," Taehyung added as Jimin finally understood where Taehyung was going with his request.
"You want me to help him the way I've helped you growing up?" Jimin asked as Taehyung smiled softly and nodded slightly against his knees. "Please. It would give me peace of mind to know he has you looking out for him," Taehyung explained as Jimin sat down on the edge of the bed. "I suppose I could do it... Since it will be your last, dying wish," Jimin uttered as Taehyung smiled softly to himself. "Thank you, Minnie. Also, don't be afraid to tell him to move on as well. I don't want him to be lonely the rest of his life... He'll still be so young and he doesn't need to be alone that long," Taehyung added as they heard Jungkook's voice downstairs call out for Taehyung. Taehyung glanced at the digital clock beside their bed, not even realizing how much time had passed before hearing Jungkook's voice again. Taehyung smiled softly and knowingly to himself, wiped his eyes and nose before compelling himself to a standing position with Jimin's help and making his way towards the stair case.