CHAPTER 4

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he felt all his body arched painfully, contradicted with how soft and warm the surface of the bed he actually laid on right now. someone must have put him on the bed, and that was when taehyung scrunched up his eyes and jeongguk came up into the focus after a few seconds of blurry sights.

the younger's face was paler than usual, he looked presumably bored. if taehyung wasn't so sick with headache blurring his eyesight, he might have seen a glint of worry in the younger's eyes. now the elder felt so bad for acting like a nuisance. jeongguk must be the one putting the warm towel on top oh his head when he was still fast asleep, and he was also the one that had to put up with his sick state, cleaning all the mess he'd made and took care of him.

taehyung felt sick of himself. couldn't he be more matured and take care of himself independently. he may be elder but he'd heard many people calling him childish, an alien with an imagination of a five year old, a weirdo.

"come, sit up," jeongguk ordered softly as he put his strong hand on the small part of taehyung's back, pushing the elder up slowly into a sitting position. "drink this." he gave taehyung the painkillers taehyung had painstakingly reached out just now and a new glass of water.

"thank you," taehyung whispered weakly, almost inaudible. he almost drank the medicine when jeongguk suddenly yelled a stop, startling taehyung who flinched violently. his weak stupor made him super hyperaware of everything beside him, especially loud voices and harsh movements.

taehyung stared with wide eyes as jeongguk muttered an incoherent sorry. "you haven't eaten anything. dont drink it. ill bring something so stay put," and then jeongguk left the room, presumably taking some food along for taehyung to eat.

another guilt was tripping taehyung, making a painful tug inside his empty stomach that he almost puked, as if there was something he could puke out anyway. jeongguk had to bring him food, he had already done so much for him; cleaning the glass shreds, compress his fever, picking his passed out state to the bedroom, and bringing him medicine. oh how taehyung felt so bad.

as jeongguk was back with a bowl of soup, taehyung timidly smiled as a gratitude and received the food jeongguk ushered him to grab.

silence engulfed both of them, not too uncomfortable and not too comfortable enough for taehyung to drop his tense shoulders. the soup jeongguk made was so delicious, every drops was like heaven in taehyung's mouth. even though it was still hot, taehyung had forgotten how it burned his throat. his stomach was satisfied as it vibrated like a machine just put on to work. he finished the food in five minutes despite his weak state.

"thanks, gukkie," taehyung said in a clearer voice as he gave the now empty bowl to jeongguk. he felt much better.

jeongguk hummed an hmm. he settled himself in front of taehyung, currently sitting on top of hobi's bed, face relaxed but a trait of exhaustion was still visible.

after taehyung had gulped down the painkiller, he braced himself inwardly for what he was about to say to jeongguk who kept silent ever since he walks inside. "g-gukkie?" taehyung called out softly.

"what is it, tae?" jeongguk looked back at taehyung. eyes unwavering, sending shivers on taehyung's body as he immediately averted his eyes on the grown, scared shitless as his confidence was drained dry from his body.

"i-i want to apologise... for burdening you..." taehyung continued. "i'm sorry you had to see that... um... me passing out..."

jeongguk didn't reply. he was still intently watching taehyung like a hawk targeting its prey.

jeongguk got up to leave and that was when taehyung heard something breaking somewhere. his chest felt stuffed and it was painful to breath, tears almost fell from his eyes. right, jeongguk would leave him like everyone else did. there was really no need for jeongguk to stay with him, after all he was just a n--

"don't overwork yourself, hyung," jeongguk walked a few feet away to retrieve his jacket that was hanged behind taehyung's door and walked back to where taehyung sat. "i was so worried back then..." jeongguk let out a shaky breath, moving his hand onto taehyung's forehead, checking his fever.

"you're okay now," jeongguk smiled a bit at taehyung who was stiffened in his state. when jeongguk proceeded to leave the room, only then taehyung broke out from his unconscious. a sudden urge to walk and pull the younger back to his bed was so huge that taehyung had to restrain himself. "rest, tae."

taehyung loved to be called by that nickname. it was given by his family--bangtan family. especially when jeongguk did it.

at least someone still cares at me, taehyung thought before drifting into sleep again.

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around 5 pm, the dorm was filled with the usual lively atmosphere bursting from the entrance. the other members were just back. jimin practically ran ahead after jumping out from his shoes into sandals to find his favourite dongsaeng, hoseok following suit whilst chuckling at the younger's riddiculous and childish action, yoongi being the usual yoongi, sleep-walking to his room, while seokjin ushering namjoon who tried to help him bringing their bags because he just accidentally tore a strap from one of the bags.

jeongguk who was watching the tv from the living room was disturbed by jimin and hoseok's loud voice calling out for him.

"gukkie~ we missed you~~" jimin hugged jeongguk tightly as hoseok threw himself onto jeongguk's lap. and God, was the hyung heavy. jeongguk coughed because of the sudden preassure.

"oops," jimin said apologetically. he settled himself next to jeongguk who was now in the middle of the crumpled sofa with hoseok on the other side, snickering loudly like a horse. "how's my favourite dongsaeng doin'? got your rest already? you said you were so tired back then in the meeting," hoseok asked.

"yeah, rest is nice," jeongguk nonchalantly replied, eyes focused on the tv screen which was presenting a drama he and taehyung were currently watching in the mean time. he wouldn't tell the elder that he had watched the latest episode ahead of him, he swore.

"jeonggukie~ c'mon, man, let's play!" jimin said, pulling jeongguk's hand.

"aren't you tired, hyung?" jeongguk who was in no mood grunted, annoyed.

jimin pouted, "'course not. it was boring when you weren't there. right, hobi hyung? there's this concept where everyone fits in. and you didnt hear your part."

"yeah," hoseok replied. "we already decided the theme and story for the upcoming comeback. it's super deep and philosophical, namjoonie's shit and stuff. but it's cool. you should've stayed and listen, guk."

"yeah, yeah," jeongguk rolled his eyes. "so, how's the concept?"

"it's actually sad. the continuation of the last albums. just... we got to be more mature and oh! it's still the idea but the producers want us to produce one song each person!" hoseok chirped happily.

"yeah! and the song will represent ourselves depends on the characters you're given it, gukkie," jimin continued.

"ugh! this is so heavy! hey, why didn't you guys help me to bring all of these?! you left namjoon alone with me!" seokjin whined halfway to the kitchen childishly.

"sorry, hyung!" jimin and hoseok sheepishly said.

the group was falling to their routines again. it was before dinner time when seokjin cooking in the kitchen, yoongi fast asleep on the couch, namjoon drowning under his books, and hoseok bickering with jimin, sometimes along with jeongguk who was in mood to chat and joke around.

tonight was no different. an hour had passed since the other had arrived and no one had searched or asked about taehyung yet. too busy to notice the usual cheerful boy, having gone from their sight for two days. the calm and comfortable atmosphere was suddenly broken by an angry yell coming from the kitchen.

"who on earth broke my favourite glass and why the hell is it in the trash bin?! oh my God, what did i do to deserve this?!"

it was the glass taehyung accidentally broke, jeongguk realised. he quickly ran into the kitchen, finding jin so upset, crouching down in front of the trash bin. the eldest mumbling like, "it was from my hyung" "this is so precious" "oh no he's gonna mad" "what do i do with it" and stopped as jeongguk clapped his hand on seokjin's shoulder.

"did you break this?!" seokjin stood up, leveling jeongguk and glared.

"no," jeongguk simply said.

"then who--"

"it was an accident, hyung. taehyung was sick and he tried to reach the first aid box which was placed too high that he lost balance and broke the poor glass," jeongguk explained calmly. "i'm sorry for taehyung's behalf."

seokjin frowned. "taehyung? he's back? why didnt he tell us?" all angry trance had vanished as another concerning topic was discussed.

"he did actually. in the group."

"and wait what? he's sick? where is he now?" seokjin asked, looking everywhere his eyes could reach from the kitchen counter.

"in his room, haven't checked on him. he gets high fever and passed out when i found him in the kitchen in the middle of the broken glass."

"oh.. poor boy," seokjin sighed. there was nothing seokjin could blame on taehyung concerning his favourite glass. everything was pure accident and they got nothing to do about it. "he should've come out by now then."

"i dont know, he looked so pale. he must be so sleepy after consuming the painkiller."

"i see... well dinner's ready. since taehyung didn't show up again, i haven't prepared any food from him."

"it's okay. i made soup for him this noon. he should be fine."

even if taehyung did show up tonight, seokjin would not prepare any food for the younger. he deserved it from smashing the elder's glass and he must have had much fun already with the hwarang hyungs before, eating in all expensive and nice restaurants instead practicing their asses off like the others. besides, jeongguk already mentioned that everything was covered and that seokjin didn't have to do anything about it, so he just called out the others to gather as the dinner was served. simply for six people only.

the bangtan boys ate happily together, chatting here and there with each other and cackling loudly because of seokjin's dad jokes or hoseok and jimin's ridiculous acts. although jeongguk kept quiet.

yoongi was the first to notice jeongguk's quietness as he jabbed jeongguk's side with his elbow to ask for a full attention. asking what crap had got into the younger's head that he was so stunned and deep inside is thoughts.

"nothing. just wondering how's taehyung's condition right now," jeongguk replied.

"taehyung? what's with him?" yoongi raised an eyebrow.

"he's sick and i'm just worried."

"taehyung's sick? is he in the hospital?" jimin asked from across. curiosity got him best as he distractedly focused his gaze on jeongguk and yoongi from hoseok.

"he's in his room, of course," jeongguk said, as matter-of-factly.

"why hasn't he come out, then?" namjoon asked and the rest minus yoongi nodded, asking along namjoon. jeongguk just shrugged and stuffed his mouth with his food.

"he's too weak to walk."

and the conversation about that topic was stopped for the rest of the night. jimin and hoseok insisted to have a movie night because they would be having three days off in a row that jeongguk strictly declined as they asked him to join. he was tired as heck, both physically and mentally, even if he didn't know why.

perhaps it was because how the others had stopped asking about taehyung like usual. or how they avoided the conversation that came up to the brown haired sick boy. or how they generally stopped treating the boy like how usually they did before. jeongguk didn't want to assume things so fast but taehyung's vulnerable state this noon had surprised him as the elder looked so weak and helpless. jeongguk wanted to hug and reassure his hyung that he was there to protect him from God knew what and stay the night with taehyung. but, well, there should have been nothing to worry, right? bangtan boys were fine, there was nothing going on, and taehyung was just exaggerating because of the fever.

taehyung was fine and just like the other hyungs, jeongguk should have not worried.

this story was supposed to be posted most often once a week but i updated faster because i wouldnt be able to write this sunday so tada new update! hehe

anyway, please excuse my shameless promotion :') it would be so kind of you if you'd be willing to check my new story:

it's an omega/alpha AU :D i hope you enjoy the update. see you next week!