It was not the first time Taehyung had ridden in Jungkook's car, but it was his first time noticing the man's affinity towards sports cars. The car they were riding in drove extremely fast, so much so, that as he laid halfway down on the front passenger seat, he could not help but randomly think about being flung from his seat because of the swift speed they were going at.
However, it was obvious that random thought occurring was unlikely. Though their speed was quite fast, due to the good quality of the vehicle, he could barely feel any fluctuations as he laid down.
Taehyung never knew the hospital was so close to the apartment. He was not quite sure but guessed it must have taken at least ten minutes before he was again lifted into Jungkook's embrace as they entered the building.
There, the doctor asked a few questions, did an examination, then said he was suffering from acute gastroenteritis and although it was not a very severe case of the illness, the pain would, unfortunately, be a lot to bear. The physician then proceeded to write a prescription for the medicine Taehyung needed, after which he prompted a nurse to start an IV for the lad. He then had Jungkook follow him to his office in order to fill out a medical record for the ill boy.
"Does the patient have any allergies to medication?" The doctor asked.
"No." Jungkook answered.
"Are you sure you don't need to go ask him?" The doctor stopped writing, raising his gaze towards the man.
"There's no need," Jungkook stated, his expression remaining unchanged.
Taking the medical record with him when he left the doctor's office, his eyes swept over the chart as he snorted.
I know more about that kid than he himself knows.
Jungkook did not go directly to the pharmacy, but instead first went back to Taehyung's room to check up on him.
The lad was in the same curled position he had before with one hand clutching his stomach but now the other had an IV line attached, while his face was still drenched in that same pallid hue.
Jungkook made his way over to him, from the small box atop the cabinet by the bedside, he took out a couple of tissues, then began wiping the perspiration that formed on the boy's forehead.
Feeling his movements, Taehyung's eyes soon opened.
"Does it feel a little better?" the man asked, using his finger to push aside the other's sweat-soaked bangs, inwardly hoping he was able to feel even the smallest amount of relief.
Unfortunately, the medicine was given not that long ago so for the time being there was not that much of a difference, but Taehyung nevertheless nodded, "Thank you."
"En." Jungkook sat down on the stool beside him. Taehyung still had two-thirds of the liquid in the IV bag left and given that, the man was in no hurry to go get the prescription filled, nor was he anxious to leave just yet.
Afterwards, Taehyung still tried to vomit two separate times, inside his stomach had become absolutely deserted to the point where even stomach acid would not come out. So now, every time he retched, he felt as if there were countless hands all squeezing his gut and that feeling was extremely difficult for him to endure.
Jungkook knew the boy was still suffering from the pain, sadly, he also knew there was nothing much he could do about it. He could only give him sips of water to drink, so even if he did vomit again, he could at the very least feel a just a tad better.
Fortunately, the attached IV also contained some painkillers and after a while, Taehyung's pain was slowly alleviated, even if it was only by a small degree. Although his complexion still had that terribly pale tinge, his expression, in contrast, became more gentle as his features relaxed.
At this moment, Jungkook's heart finally settled. He reached over to the cabinet, putting the used cup aside then once again pulled out a couple of paper towels, assisting Taehyung by dabbing away the sweat which formed on his ears and neck.
Feeling how tenderly the perspiration from his face was being wiped away by the man's hand was incredibly hard for him to believe. He was so astounded that he had not even realised, presently on his face, was the first smile he had directed towards Jungkook since they became acquainted with one another.
He then, to the silent man before his eyes, said, "I feel much better now, thank you."
When the wordless man's gaze finally caught sight of that smile, that hand of his occupied with cleaning away those wet droplets came to a very sudden halt. The used tissue he held was tossed into the trash bin beside his feet, after which he then reached for the blanket read over the boy, pulled it up, simply replying, "Why are you always talking so of much nonsense? I'm heading out to go get our medicine, so behave yourself and don't move. If you need anything, just press the buzzer next to you." With that statement, he didn't wait for Taehyung's reply, just doing an about-turn then left the ward.
Taehyung stared on at the withdrawing figure, not exactly understanding the reason behind it, before a sudden soft laugh escaped him.
Thankfully, the pharmacy was not that far away from the hospital, it was located just right next door, therefore Jungkook got back to the room very quickly. Upon his return he immediately lowered his hand, resting it on Taehyung's forehead to check his temperature, noticing it was no longer as scalding hot as it was before as well as his once tightly crinkled face seeming slightly more at ease. Seeing this, he gave the younger man some water, then got him to swallow the medicine.
Noticing taehyung staring at him, he asked, "Do you still want to vomit?" To which the boy replied by simply shaking his head in denial.
Jungkook nodded before reaching to pull up the blanket again. This time even the hand attached to the IV drip was covered, "Then just go to sleep."
"What about you?", Taehyung asked.
Jungkook, with a twinge of impatience responded, "Listen you, just lie down and get some sleep. Since when do kids talk so much? I'm not going anywhere. I'll just stay here to wipe your sweat and give you water."
Taehyung, "......"
Recalling how he was just a while ago throwing up in the waste basket, Taehyung's face was suddenly overtaken with a splash of red. He shrunk under the cover of the blanket, stopping when the comforter was at his chin. Softly, he hummed in agreement to the man's request then proceeded to close his eyes.
Having tossed and turned until midnight, Taehyung was indeed quite tired and very sleepy. It was not easy for him to get comfortable but once he did, he nodded off to sleep quite quickly.
Just as he said, Jungkook did not go anywhere. He simply sat on the chair beside the boy's bed keeping close watch. Taehyung still had two more bags of IV left, so he needed to observe them and be ready to call in a nurse to switch them once one was finished.
"Buzz——"
His cellphone vibrated in his pocket suddenly. Displayed on its screen was a new message. Currently, it was the wee hours of the morning, almost two o'clock. Jungkook wondered who would possibly be sending a message that late, as he unlocked the screen to see the following two words: "Taehyung".
[[Today I'll be going to a group dinner with some classmates so I can't make it back in time for dinner since I'll probably return a bit late. There are still leftovers from lunch in the fridge, you can just reheat it to eat ]]
That message was sent to him at two in the afternoon and it explained why Taehyung did not return for dinner. He could not have fathomed the internet would somehow delay his receipt of the message until this very moment.
Jungkook slowly read the message a couple of times more before putting the phone away, his eyes then turned towards Taehyung's face. A good while had passed since the younger man had been fast asleep. His face was now halfway concealed under the covers with only the bridge of his nose, as well as that bright and clean forehead of his, exposed.
Jungkook stood up, reached for Taehyung's quilt, dragging it down just a little, "Not too worried about suffocating, are you?"
Still standing beside the bed, he gently touched Taehyung's face. The lad's skin was very smooth, Jungkook's hand—for a while—lingered on that place before taking hold of the buzzer, pressing it to call in a nurse to change out the IV bag.
The middle of the night.
Because of the intravenous drip, Taehyung woke up in the middle of the night wanting to use the toilet. His eyes opened to see by his bedside, leaning back in a chair and sound asleep, none other than Jungkook. The man was especially tall. As he sat in slumber, one of his legs was bent whilst the other stretched out straight, both his arms lay folded across his chest and his head tilted downwards, so all Taehyung could see on his face was the bridge of his nose.
When Jungkook had rushed to the hospital with Taehyung in tow, he had only dressed himself casually. The hem of his shirt was left untucked, his hair was not as neatly combed as it usually was, and he still wore his house slippers on his feet. Compared to his usual self, this image was like the difference between the heavens and the earth.
The night was also a little chilly, seeing the man there by his beside watching over him, a complex blob of emotions stirred within his heart.
His IV line had been removed and even though his stomach still felt slightly uncomfortable, it was more bearable than it had been. Taehyung then remembered before he had fallen asleep, he still had two bags of medicine left. Given the slow rate at which the drops we're administered, he deduced Jungkook must have been keeping watch for at least two hours, perhaps even longer.
Given the two had only known each other for a brief amount of time, within Taehyung's heart, Jungkook's temperament was not that great, his mouth was even more so, with that venomous tongue of his that could strike a person dead. Yet last night, that man more than anyone else, made him feel at ease. His tongue was still as deadly, of course, but that man looking after him made it clear he cared.
Gazing at the sleeping Jungkook, he suddenly became confused, not understanding at all exactly why this man was being so good to him.
After being lost in thought for a moment, Taehyung lifted off the covers with the intention of getting down from the bed then head to the bathroom. Sadly, he discovered he had no shoes on. What made things even better was Jungkook, who sat directly facing him, woke up abruptly leaving two people and their four eyes, all staring at one another.
Noticing Taehyug's movements, Jungkook stood in front of him, eyebrows wrinkling, "Where are you going? Is your illness still making you uncomfortable?"
Lifting his head to look at the man wearing the slightly displeased expression, Taehyung replied, "......I need to use the restroom."
"Do you feel sick? I'll go call the doctor." Jungkook thought he wanted to vomit so he turned, leaving to go get the physician. He was in such a hurry he even forgot about the buzzer at the bedside. Taehyung grabbed hold of him, "Wait a second."
Jungkook turned, staring at him.
Taehyung awkwardly explained, "You don't need to call the doctor, I just......need to use the toilet."
It was likely that the image of Taehyung vomiting earlier that night affected him so deeply he had to reconfirm, "It's doesn't have anything to do with you being sick, right? You just have to use the toilet, yeah?"
Taehyung never expected, that normally cold and arrogant man would use such an earnest expression while asking him about this matter, therefore he could only nod shyly, "Can I borrow your shoes for a little bit?
Due the urgency with which they had left, Taehyung had not worn any shoes. Jungkook's gaze drifted down to Taehyung's naked feet—stalling—until the boy awkwardly withdrew them. Just as usual, huh? Jungkook sat close to Taehyung, removing his own slippers before he gave them to the boy.
"Thank you." Taehyung wore the slippers then left for the bathroom.
"Would you like me to carry you there?" Jungkook asked from behind.
"......" Remembering the image of Jungkook carrying him down from the apartment made Taehyung's ears flush scarlet. He simply said he was okay, before scurrying off to the toilet.
Jungkook's mood was now quite good. He fell back onto the bed, stretching out his limbs.
.........................
T/n: (つω⊂* )~~~