So, this is not the last chapter, don't worry :) 😘

***

It had been 8 days. Jin hadn't woken up yet. His Doctor had said that it was all up to him now. That he was going to wake at his own time. And his loved ones grew increasingly afraid that if that was the case, maybe Jin didn't want to wake up.

Maybe he was tired of everything. To his mother, after the death of his father, Jin had been heartbroken, distraught. He had given up on life and had lost the will to move on. She was afraid that the boy might have bottled up his feelings and was still be fighting with that emotion of living without his role model, best friend, and father.

Hoseok blamed himself. He had waited for Jin —and still was waiting— to wake up, to gain consciousness and take over the world. But maybe Jin had gone through so much pain in his hands that he was done with life. Hoseok feared he might have driven Jin to the point of choosing oblivion over waking up to encounter a monster like him. He had fucked up, big time, he had been an inconsiderate, irrational and an ungrateful bastard. He would never forgive himself if anything happened to Jin.

The kid, Yoongi, the one who had caused the damage. He was in a terrible state. He had shut himself away from everyone. Every day, he would visit Jin when he was alone, cry in silence, go home before anyone showed up and cried some more. It was all his fault. He had been afraid. He had been terrified. He had only wanted to save himself and his friends. Jin was innocent. Yoongi had no idea what he had been doing there in the first place but from the way Jungkook had reacted to the whole matter, he had figured Jin had been there to save Jungkook. Jin was a good guy. He couldn't die. Taehyung had been bad, evil. Not Jin. Yoongi knew he would never have peace if Jin didn't eventually make it.

They were all afraid. They were all turning to various gods, praying and begging for Jin's rapid recovery and consciousness. They kept vigilant and jumped at every slight sound hoping to find brown lively eyes fluttering open.

In the midst of their fears, they were all hopeful. Jin was a fighter, he had to come back.

For Jungkook, his life had never felt slower, more meaningless and less colorful than it had been the last 8 days. Everything seemed to be in black and white. His appetite had disappeared and he had made best friends with insomnia.

But he never cried. He was as vibrant as the morning sun. He was the one to make sure everyone, including Jin's mother and sister, ate whenever they visited. He told them jokes and funny stories Namjoon used to tell to him when they were kids. He went home every morning, had his bath and went back to the hospital, where he would spend the day and night. The hospital became his second home and all the nurses became fond of him. It wasn't a good thing though, he didn't want to be there. He didn't want Jin to be there. He hated the hospital, he wanted to leave as soon as possible. But with Jin.

Jackson visited, too. He spent most days with Jungkook and goofed around just to make Jungkook laugh. Sometimes, Jungkook felt he could see Jin's lips slightly curve up when Jackson would tell a funny story about Jin. But it was only his imagination. But sometimes, somehow, Jungkook felt Jin's mind was conscious. He could hear them, so he always spoke to Jin like he was fully conscious.

"Jinnie hyung, Jackson is here, " he would always say to announce Jackson's presence whenever Jackson came.

"Hyung, the flowers your mother got you today are so pretty. But you don't seem like a Rose flower type of guy," he would say while putting the fresh bouquet into a vase. "Hyung, what kind of flowers do you like?"

"Hyung, my dad and mum are trying to work things out. I think they'll be good together. But I'm not sure. Mum seems happier when dad is in the room, so I'm guessing we might be attending a wedding soon."

It was hard to believe Jin was not awake. So, Jungkook just acted like he was. Because to him, Jin was.

That evening, on the eighth day after the kidnapping incidence, after visiting time was over, and Hoseok and Jackson had left together, Jin's mother, Mrs. Kim and his sister, Chayoung, remained in his room, looking exhausted.

"Mrs Kim, " Jungkook called, taking small steps to Mrs. Kim from where he has been leaning against a wall.

The woman looked up at him expectantly, shifting in her seat. "I already told you, call me mother."

Jungkook smiled and nodded. "Alright, mother. She smiled back at him, softly. "I think you should go home now. To rest, " he said.

She shook her head and began to protest. "I'll stay with him today. You go home, okay? You've tried for my Jin. Thank you."

Jungkook sighed. "I'm not here because I'm mandated to be here. I'm here because if I'm not, I'll be dying." He gave her a small smile. "Go home. You and Chayoung."

Mrs. Kim's eyes shimmered with affection. Even Hoseok had never spoken that way before. She still did not understand the whole drama with Jin, Hoseok and Jungkook but what she had come to understand was this kid, Jungkook, loved her son so much and Hoseok was aware of it and okay with it.

"Jungkook—"

He pointed towards Chayoung. "Chayoung is already nodding off. She won't feel comfortable sleeping on this little chair." He looked back at the woman. "I'm fine. Trust me. I'll be with him like I've been doing. It's the only way I can stay sane anyways."

Truly, Mrs. Kim was exhausted and in need of sleep. She hadn't had proper sleep in a while and Jungkook was considerate enough to observe it. She was not one to easily trust people but this Jungkook kid, he was good. He was too good, he was an angel and had snuck his way into her heart. She had developed a sort of fondness for him and was always at ease with him in the room. She was happy to have him look after her son.

She trusted him too. So, she got to her feet with her purse. "You get some sleep too. I'll bring some nice soup tomorrow, okay?"

Jungkook gave a small nod. "I will." He waved at Chayoung who pulled herself up, yawning.

"Take care, Jungkookie. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Bye, Chayoung. Goodnight. Goodnight, Mrs. Kim."

They both waved him goodbye. Mrs. Kim kissed her son goodnight and left the room.

Jungkook took in a breath as his eyes shut for a minute and he tried to blink back the tears. He had held himself for too long. He had promised not to cry over Jin but it was getting too hard. He was beginning to panic like the rest. It was about time for him to wake up. He was taking too long. Jungkook was getting lonely, he was beginning to feel abandoned.

But he wasn't giving up yet. He let out a shaky breath. He still had faith and his hope bar was still a little above average. Jin still owed him a lot. They had a lot planned out for their future, Jin couldn't bail on him when things were starting to seem possible.

So, he would wait. He would wait a little longer. He knew Jin wouldn't take long.

Jungkook moved. He walked over to Jin's bed and tucked in the sheet around his waist. The weather was cold, so he had turned on the heater to even the temperature.

His dinner sat on the shelf in the room. But he wasn't going to be eating. As usual, he was going to give it to the cleaning lady. She was an old lady, she was kind and she always seemed to have a chocolate bar to give to Jungkook but never had food for herself to eat. She had told him hospital food made her throw up so she barely ate it. He didn't have an appetite anyway. He couldn't throw the food away either. After so many years, his mother had finally started to cook again. And even if he barely found the appetite to eat her food which he had missed, he still took food so she would be assured he was not starving.

He couldn't wait for the time when he would eat his mother's food to his full. And he knew that time was near. He would eat it, and Jin was going to be there with him, holding his own chopsticks and spoon.

Picking the food he made his way out of the room, shutting it tight.

"I'll just be right back, hyungs. Do you want anything?" He asked the two security men —who had become his friends— outside the hospital room. They weren't standing again. Jungkook had gotten them seats from the lobby, so they could rest their legs and still do their jobs.

"I'm good, " one of them answered.

"Get me a soda, okay?" The other said to him, about fetching money from his pocket.

"No, don't worry. I'll buy it, " Jungkook said and strode off. He took the elevator down to the first floor to the vending machine.

He bought two sodas knowing the two security men would have to drink it at some point even if it was only one that had requested for it. He contemplated buying himself a can of Pepsi, but before concluding he turned on his heels and headed back to the last floor.

"Thanks, kid, " they both said as he handed the cold sodas to them.

"Sorry it's cold. That's all they have, " he said.

"Nah. You did well."

Jungkook nodded and made his way into the room. His body suddenly felt weak. He twisted his upper body to the right then to the left in a stretch. A yawn escaped his mouth. He needed to sit down and relax for a moment.

Pulling an armed chair to the bedside, he sat on it. He kicked off his shoes, threw his legs on the edge of the bed making sure to poke Jin's thighs with his toes.

He threw his head back against the headrest and shut his eyes. Wake up, Jin. Wake up. Surprise me.

He wasn't sleeping. He couldn't sleep. He had a pile of novels on the shelf. He just had to shut his eyes for a little while, then pick up one and read. The only time he always got to sleep was by 3:30 in the morning. He would sleep in hourly batches and eventually wake by 6.

Wake up. Say something, he said in his head.

He was desperate for Jin. He wanted to hear his voice. He wanted to see his beautiful smile and watch him laugh. He wanted to hug him, kiss him... He wanted to hold Jin like before, like they had done in his dorm room before Jungkook's heart had been broken.

He missed Jin. And he was dying, he was going crazy. He was going through all of these in silence because there was no point crying. The only consolation he needed was from Jin.

Just... Open your eyes... For your mother... Chayoung... Hoseok... For me?

"W..ater."

The voice was faint, almost silent. Almost unheard. But Jungkook had been listening. He had been waiting, attentively. And he had heard it.

His eyes sprung open and he snapped his head to Jin. Jungkook's mouth hung open in utter shock. In complete surprise. His eyes watered like a faucet almost overflowing. His insides repleted with joy. Jin was awake.

"Hyung, " he dashed towards the bed. A big smile formed on his lips just as his eyes filled with tears of joy.

Jin winced, hissing in pain as he tried to sit up.

"Don't. You'll hurt yourself, " Jungkook said, placing his hand on Jin's chest to stop him from moving. His lips quivered in a shaky smile. "Finally. You're awake." Then it struck him. "Nurse!"

"No!" Jin called obviously louder than he wanted to because he groaned and clutched his chest. "I don't want that right now."

Worry enveloped Jungkook. "Are you okay? Does it hurt? Should I call the doctor?" He rushed out.

"I'm fine, I think." Jin took slow, calculated breaths then relaxed into the bed. His eyes stayed shut for a while then he opened them and turned to Jungkook.

Jin's gaze was fixed, unmoving. They were piercing and Jungkook felt Jin could see into his soul with how sharp his eyes were.

"Hyung..."

Jin looked at him. Not saying anything.

Jungkook's throat worked. He blinked. "Do you not remember me?"

Jin's brows knitted in slight confusion. He cocked his head to one side to give Jungkook a good look. "What's....your name?"

Jungkook's heart plummeted into his toes. His nostrils flared and he fought hard to fight back a sob. "Jungkook." He wanted to scream at Jin that it was him. His choco kookie! He wanted to yell at Jin to be reasonable. But who was to blame? Jin wouldn't be in that situation if it weren't for someone. "I'm so sorry. It's all my fault. I—"

"Jungkook?" Jin eyed him more tentatively. "You don't look like a Jungkook."

And you aren't sounding like Jin right now. My Jin, Jungkook wanted to say. "My mother gave me the name."

"Ah, I see." Jin nodded. "Mothers. Speaking of Mothers, where's mine? Did she step outside?"

Jungkook shook his head. "She was here all day. She only went home to get some sleep. She's been so worried and—"

"She left me with you? My mother?" Jin looked disappointed. And it hurt Jungkook. The first drop of tears fell. Jin didn't know him. He didn't want him there.

"I'm sorry, " his voice shook.

"Why are you apologizing? You're not—"

"I'll just call her and leave." Jungkook was mad. He was enraged. With himself,  with Jin.

"Water, please."

Jungkook nodded. He'll just get Jin water to drink from the shelf and then leave. Jin was awake and that was all that mattered. He didn't remember Jungkook and despite how painful it was, it was for the better. Then he wouldn't remember the person that caused him such pain.

He walked to the shelf, with his back faced to Jin and began to sob in silence. His tears flowed uncontrollably. He clasped his hand over his mouth to muffle his sobs. The pain he felt was worse than when he had found Taehyung was the one behind all his trauma.

"Kookie."

Jungkook's sobbing halted halfway. His breath hitching. Slowly, he turned to Jin, not bothering to wipe away his tears.

"You look more like a Kookie, " Jin said. He shut his eyes and shook his head against the soft pillow. "Why would you even ask me if I remember you? Do you want me to not remember you?"

Jungkook's emotions were on the edge. He hadn't cried for over a week. And now, he was about to burst into a fountain of pent up tears and wailing.

"Choco Kookie, " Jin opened his eyes. They were differing. They were soft, kind, loving. They were familiar. The sweet, lingering gaze of passion and desire Jin always had around Jungkook. Jungkook could see it now. "How can you ask me if I remember you when you were the reason I came back?"

Placing his hands over his face, Jungkook's legs buckled. He collapsed to the floor and began to cry. He cried and cried and cried his heart out.