Jungkook ran, his breathing becoming erratic as he surveys the street to find Taehyung.

He could feel a lump on his throat, afraid of the things that are yet to come.

Why does he have to go out this day?

"Fuck! Taehyung!" Jungkook called out, his voice strained from too much shouting.

He needs to find him.

If things keep on happening again, there's a possibility that...

"Oh God! Taehyung!" Jungkook ran breathlessly. He took his phone out of his pocket and dialed Taehyung's number again but the line just keeps on ringing.

"Damn!" Jungkook gripped on his hair in frustration as his mind starts to think of the negative things.

No.

He couldn't afford to lose Taehyung again. Not for the second time.

He ran on the sidewalk of the main road, his eyes scanning the establishments along the street.

His steps are fast when he stood in front of the pedestrian lane, waiting for the go signal to cross the street.

A lot of cars are passing by with only 40 seconds left before the traffic light changes to red.

Jungkook saw people from the other side of the road, waiting for the go signal as well. There were children and lovers on the other side.

His eyes caught sight of a brunet holding a plastic bag in hand, who has his eyes on the traffic light and immediately recognized him.

"Taehyung!" Jungkook wasn't able to prevent himself from calling out, his heart beating fast.

Taehyung's gaze immediately landed on the ravenette on the other side of the road. He smiled and waved his hand.

Jungkook lifted his hand, motioning for the other to wait for him on the other side.

Taehyung doesn't seem to understand, his face confused, seeing the urgency in his love's face.

Jungkook groaned in frustration. He lifted his phone up, motioning for Taehyung to grab his own phone so they could talk on the line.

The brunet understood this time. He took his phone out, seeing a lot of missed calls from Jungkook. He answered the call, Jungkook's voice booming on the other line.

"Baby, stay there. I'll cross the street and go to you, okay?" Jungkook said, his voice full of anxiety that confuses Taehyung so much.

"Okay." Taehyung agreed amids the confusion.

"Good. Stay there." Jungkook reminded once more before his anxious eyes landed on the traffic light.

20 seconds left.

Everything is going to be fine as long as Taehyung doesn't cross the street, right?

Jungkook stared at his love who has his eyes on him as well. He's smiling to him, cutely waving his hand from time to time.

10 seconds.

Cars started to rush even more. Jungkook could almost sigh in relief as Taehyung just stood there in the opposite lane.

Everything will be alright.

Jungkook smiled at Taehyung who has his eyes fixated on the cute little boy near him, playing with his ball.

5 seconds.

With every second passing by, Jungkook's heart is beating with the blinking of the traffic lights. He could hear his breathing in his ears, too loud and deafening.

And then, as if in slow motion with Jungkook holding his breath, he saw the ball slipped out of the boy's hand, landing on the road where the cars mindlessly passed by.

The little boy ran to get the ball just in the brick of time, his mother wasn't able to act and notice. On the other hand, Taehyung saw this, his eyes widened when he saw an incoming truck that seems to rush, wanting to pass through with only 1 second left on the time.

Taehyung acted on his instinct. He rushed to the boy, grabbing him by his arm and pushing him off the road. His eyes widened, seeing the truck unable to stop.

It was too fast.

But all he could do is close his eyes, waiting for that hit, though his body is trembling in fear.

He could hear a loud screeching sound of a tire against the rough pavement.

He could hear people screaming as he felt a push, his body falling on the ground at the impact.

And then there's a loud thud.

Taehyung's breath hitches, his surrounding started to spin as he panics, his eyes still closed. His heart beating wildly on his chest, accompanied by a ringing sound in his ear.

He was disoriented when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He opened his eyes slowly, only to see an unfamiliar face of a woman in front of him.

"Can you hear me sir?" the woman asked, and Taehyung mindlessly nodded his head.

"He's okay!" the woman declared, helping him to sit on the side of the street.

Taehyung doesn't know what happened.

He's okay? Then...

Taehyung tried focusing to his surroundings. He saw a group of people crowding in the middle of the road where the driver of the truck is being held out by the others.

The brunet scanned the street, looking for a particular ravenette.

"J-jungkook." He called out, his eyes looking everywhere for him.

Though his body aches and his mind still hazy, Taehyung tried to stand, his steps wobbly as people tried to support him.

He went near the crowd. The people instantly saw him and made a way for him.

Taehyung could feel his knees buckling, his eyes starting to glisten as his breath hitches. He went nearer and nearer.

And there he saw him.

Taehyung felt his whole body turn cold, his heart almost stopped from beating at the sight.

Lying on the floor, with blood painting the pavement is his love.

"J-jungkook!" Taehyung cried out, his knees buckling as he slumps on the ground. He reached his trembling hands, cradling his love's bleeding body in his arms.

"Oh my God! JUNGKOOK!" He cried, body shaking on the floor at the sight.

He saw Jungkook slowly opened his eyes, forcefully letting a smile slip on his bloodstained lips.

Blood keeps on oozing out of his head down to his face.

"Jungkook. Oh God! Please! Help us! Call an ambulance!" Taehyung hysterically said, his tears flowing out of his terrified eyes as he touched Jungkook's face with his trembling hands.

"K-kookie. Please. Wake up.. Stay with me. P-please." Taehyung begged, holding the ravenette near him.

Jungkook forced a laugh, his blood oozing out of his mouth as he tried to speak.

"I-it's okay l-love." Jungkook groaned, feeling his body go numb from the pain.

"No, Kookie. Please. Why did you do that? Why did you save me?" Taehyung muttered, his eyes full of tears.

The ravenette smiled, lifting his hand to touch Taehyung's face. "I wasn't able to save you before Tae. I-I couldn't afford to let it happen again."

Jungkook saw the grief in Taehyung's eyes. He saw how sad they looked and at the same time, Taehyung looked happy?

The brunet planted a soft kiss on Jungkook's forehead as the whole place suddenly turns silent, with Taehyung's cries and voice filling the air.

"I'm happy, Kookie. I'm happy that you weren't there to save me the first time." Taehyung mumbles, his tears cascading down his face.

Jungkook doesn't understand.

"W-what?" Jungkook answered, his eyes settling on the brunet's satisfied face.

"I'm glad you weren't there with me the first time, Kookie. I couldn't let you do this. I won't be able to live if you sacrificed yourself just to save me." Taehyung said in between sobs.

Jungkook looks so lost. "W-what are you saying Tae?"

Taehyung smiled, the kind of smile that reaches his eyes.

"Thank you for making me feel the love I thought we've lost. Thank you for giving us a second chance. Thank you, Jungkook. Thank you my love." Taehyung said, his eyes gleaming in tears.

"T-tae?" Jungkook saw the love in Taehyung's eyes as he stared at him.

"Stay alive Kookie. For me."

Taehyung planted a soft kiss on Jungkook's forehead as the surroundings turned all white.

"It's time to wake up." Taehyung whispered.

Wake up.

Wake up.

Wake up.

As Jungkook lost consciousness, he heard Taehyung's voice ringing in his ears.

"I love you."

---------

Jungkook slowly opened his eyes, his vision blurry and unfocused. He felt so thirsty, his body numb as he tries to focus his eyes on the white ceiling.

He could hear a beeping sound coming from a machine next to his, other than that, the whole place is enveloped with silence.

"J-jungkook?"

The ravenette turned his gaze on his side, only to see a familiar face.

Jimin.

"Oh God! You're awake! Doctor! Doctor!"

Jimin hurriedly went out to call the doctor, leaving Jungkook who's still unable to grasp what's going on.

After a short while, Jimin came back with the doctor. He did some tests with Jungkook still in the middle of confusion.

Jimin looked so happy to see him awake again. He grips on his hand, smiling at him.

"I'm glad you're finally awake, Jungkook." He said, his eyes gleaming in tears.

With a knotted forehead, Jungkook looks around him.

"W-where's T-taehyung?" He said, his voice horse and strained.

Jimin looked shocked, his eyes turning down on the ground, unable to maintain eye contact.

"J-jimin. Where's Taehyung?" Jungkook asked once more, feeling a fear rising in his heart.

He saw Jimin hesitated, his eyes sorrowful.

"Don't you remember, Jungkook? Taehyung is.. dead." Jimin said the last word as if he didn't want to say it.

"N-no." Jungkook said, breathless. "No Jimin. He was with me before the accident! I-I saved him!" Jungkook looks so lost.

"Where is he? Tell me Jimin. Please!" Jungkook begged, gripping the latter by his arm, desperately clinging to him as if his life depended on it.

"Jungkook, calm down. Please." Jimin begged, eyes now full of tears seeing his friends painful eyes.

"You've been in comma for a year." Jimin continued, wanting his friend to finally see and accept the truth.

"Taehyung is dead Jungkook."

Hearing those words shatter Jungkook's hopes.

And for the second time, his world crumbles.

------

Love you 💜