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"you know it tastes better if you put a piece of chocolate in it."

it was weird for such a soft voice to startle taehyung. maybe because he wasn't used to people trying to make conversation with strangers in the hospital. it wasn't the best place to strike up talk when the reason for even being there was usually not the best. thats probably why taehyung was also thrown off by the boys small grin, dark eyes still watching his curiously.

taehyung picked up the chocolate and briefly thought about the other males words, "i don't really think there's any hope here." he gestured to the coffee, settling with leaving the small candy on the surface of the table.

"thats a mighty depressing thing to say in a hospital." the boy said, the same small smile playing on his lips. he lost interest in his notebook, already closing it and slipping it into the backpack that was on the floor, leaning against the wall below the windowsill.

it was still so early, taehyung didnt think he had the energy to participate in the small talk this stranger was trying to have with him. he doesnt even know what sparked it in the first place. "after so many days what else can you say?" he settled on saying, tossing the chocolate back to the boy who didn't catch it, just falling into his lap as he sat there.

the other male shrugged, even chuckling a little at the response he got. taehyung didn't understand what was amusing about it at all. it only made him think of his mother over in her room, the tea he made probably cold and the flowers needing to be moved closer to the window with a better chance at seeing the sun.

"i say," the boy spoke up again, finally standing from the windowsill and grabbing his backpack at the same time, "try waking up tomorrow with a new perspective, just for the hell of it you know? if theres already no hope then what harm can come from trying something new." he finished his statement with placing the chocolate back on the table, for taehyung.

but taehyung didnt say anything else, he just looked back up from his coffee to the boy that was oddly persistent on this chocolate theory. he didnt even have the chance to say something if he wanted to, because with a quick look at his watch the boy seemed to realize something and turn on his heels, heading out of the cafeteria and somewhere else down the halls.

taehyung was confused. he was confused and tired of the coffee in his hands. maybe it was because no one has tried to talk to him before in the hospital, no one that wasn't a nurse or doctor or his dad that came to visit when he wasnt working. he couldnt picture himself trying to make the small talk with some other stranger, maybe thats why he was confused and shot a glance down the hall the boy disappeared down.

either way, he stood from the table and discarded the paper cup into the trash bin not too far away, but not leaving until grabbing the small chocolate candy and holding it gently in his fist as he left the cafeteria as well.

he hadn't seen the boy here before, considering he went every morning to get coffee and then once before he left to go home for a quick sandwich or smoothie. then again, taehyung didnt even realize he was sitting there on the windowsill until he spoke up with that soft voice and small grin.

it was weird. taehyung wasn't drowning in sorrows due to his mothers condition, he kind of passed that phase already. he was neither happy nor sad, simply trying to help her feel comfortable. but it was still weird that someone was relatively happy with where they were previously sitting.

taehyung just shook his head, ridding his mind of any thoughts from his previous encounter in the cafeteria. his steps carried him back down the familiar hallways to his mothers room, knowing she'd need a cup of tea by noon before her afternoon nap.

–

"you've been here all day." ms. aecha said, causing the boy to stir in the hospital chair.

taehyung sat up and felt his back ache, even his neck pinching in pain from falling asleep in the uncomfortable upright position. "again." she added, once he looked relatively more awake.

"yeah." was all he responded, sitting up some more to let his back crack before rubbing at his eyes. "you sneak in any more of that pudding?" taehyung looked up at the nurse, seeing her warm smile and slight shake of her head.

"with the two of you, the kitchen is going to be onto me soon." she said it with a slight raise of her eyebrow, but still walked around the bed to open the bedside drawer and take out the small snack cup. taehyungs face lit up in a grin and he finally realized how hungry he had been. it was late afternoon now, the sun would be setting and he'd had to be leaving. there were a few missed calls and some texts from his dad on his phone, but he ignored them for now as he peeled the lid off the pudding cup and stole a spoon from his mothers tray. her lunch lay untouched, just a measly few picks of the crust around the sandwich and some of the juice was gone.

ms.aecha cleared it away right at that moment. "make sure you're out by-"

"7:30." he didnt let her finish, already knowing very well when visiting hours ended. she didnt find it rude though, a soft smile on her red painted lips, "have a goodnight you two." and then she was gone, until the next morning would roll around and so would her cart with prescriptions and breakfast.

taehyung enjoyed his pudding cup and leaned back against the chair, eyes on the tv screen as he watched a show with his mom. she was snug in bed, blankets to her chin and eyes shut. but he stayed and watched anyways, volume low and eyes locked onto the screen playing some game show with people needing to guess the words with really hard clues. he only looked away when he had to scrape the sides of the cups with the plastic spoon and get all he could.

the alarm on his phone went off, letting him know it was time to go. it wasnt that big of a deal, they would just come checking the rooms and ask him nicely to leave. it may have happened once or twice before. the pudding cup met the bottom of the trashcan, and taehyung left another kiss on his mom's cheek before making sure he grabbed all his things. the only light left on in the room was a soft side light next to the bed, enough to wash her immediate area in a golden glow in case she woke up and needed it.

taehyung walked down the hall and politely said goodbye to some of the other nurses he recognized from passing in the halls so many times, others not so much but he said goodnight anyways. he almost made it to the elevators that would carry him down to the lobby and out into the city streets, if it wasn't for a somewhat familiar boy sitting on the windowsill, a notebook in his lap.

the same hoodie adorned his figure, covering his hands and almost his face as the hood was pulled up and over his head as much as he could. taehyung could still see the small tufts of black hair poking out from underneath though – what he couldnt see was the familiar small smile on pink lips and the glint of curiosity in his eyes that was there earlier. there was something off, the way he slumped against the window and stared out at nothing considering the darkening of the night sky outside. taehyung didnt know what had him walking over, almost like his feet moved before his mind did.

his hands did the same thing, reaching into his own pocket and feeling for the small object. without a word he placed the chocolate on top of the boys knee that was propped up on the windowsill thanks to the boys sitting position.

he didnt know what was wrong, but he could tell there was a difference in the boy from earlier compared to now.

"i heard chocolate makes things better." taehyung said.

he didnt miss the way the boy glanced at the candy, and then up to his own eyes. "now what intellectual told you that?" and there it was, a hint of the small smile from before.

"just some kid." taehyung said.

the boy hummed, taking the chocolate delicately and twirling it between two fingers. he seemed content now, which did the same for taehyung. he could walk to the elevator now, feeling somewhat okay about going over to talk to the boy. they were the same in a way, both stuck visiting someone they wished weren't here. taehyung knew what that was like, and he knew he felt better that he made the boy smile once before night fully came and made us say goodbye to today – just for tomorrow to come and make us do it all over again.

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