Twenty-Eighth
:Chapter Twenty-Eight:

Hoseok hurriedly pushed up and grabbed Taehyung's wrist, trying to pull him up. "We got to go," he said urgently, slipping his phone into his pocket with no explanation.

The table all had looks of confusion and concern themselves.

"What? Why?" Taehyung hesitantly stood up, brows furrowed.

"I-I'll tell you in the car, we don't have time to worry why." Hoseok looked like he had tears filling in his eyes, fear showing on his face. Taehyung decided not to ask anymore question, quickly grabbing his light jacket and phone.

"Are you guys okay?" Seokjin wondered, also slowly pushing to his feet. "Do you need help?"

"We can't sit here and talk about it until we know for sure. Please enjoy yourselves, we'll pay you guys back later." Hoseok said and dragged Taehyung out of the restaurant.

Taehyung followed his older friend, brows still pulled in out of utter conflict. He didn't know what was happening or what went wrong but he wasn't going to slow Hoseok down in any way.

     The two made it to Hoseok's car and the elder quickly went on the other side, causing a few cars to honk their horns when the boy proceeded in the road without much care.

"Hoseok, calm down." Taehyung urged, pulling the passenger door open and about to get in but he was stopped by a grip on his arm.

He turned and saw his girlfriend looking over him.

"What's wrong?" She asked Taehyung who couldn't provide an answer just yet since he wasn't informed.

Just as Taehyung was about to tell her he didn't know, Hoseok groaned.

"Just get in the car, both of you." Hoseok rushed them, both deciding to listen anyways and get into the elder's vehicle.

Hoseok quickly started up his car and pulled out of the parking space, horns from other cars going off as he merged into the middle of the road.

"Seok, I know we're in a hurry and whatnot but you need to slow down — or maybe tell us why you're speeding in the first place." Taehyung didn't even have time to pull the seatbelt over his petite body, in the mist of trying to pull it over himself now.

"It's Changmin," Hoseok answered, looking so fearful. "He's in the hospital- h-he . . . He got in a pretty severe car accident." He informed hastily.

"As in Park Changmin?" Jihyun inquired, remembering him faintly from when Taehyung and her first started going out.

Taehyung had to take a moment to process what was just said to him. Things you believe could never happen to you or someone you know ends up happening; it was throwing him for loops. He felt like he may have heard wrong.

Hoseok and Jihyun continued to talk but their words sounded as if they were under water, a mix of words that couldn't be understood. Their words were muffled and jumbled together, his ears filling with a high pitch screech, the words in the background getting quieter and quieter as the steady ding became louder, filling his ears.

He sat there, eyes locked on the outside.

To think Changmin was in a car accident, two days after hanging out and having a good time, it was absolutely mind blowing.

Taehyung didn't even realize the tears running down his cheeks until it landed on his hand, a fat tear.

"He's okay," Jihyun's voice brought Taehyung back, along with her soothing touches to help relax her boyfriend. "He has to be. I need you to take deep breaths and try not thinking so negative."

It was in a matter of moments when they finally arrived at the hospital Changmin was located in.

Hoseok parked like an ass but this wasn't the time to worry on how to park right for consideration of other drivers.

He and Taehyung got out of the car and both rushed to the sliding doors of the building, Jihyun trailing behind after making sure the doors to the car were shut and locked.

Hoseok instantly went up to the front desk and spoke rapidly, not wanting to waste anymore time. He made sure what he said was clear enough to be heard but fast enough to get it out.

"Let me pull his name up and check right now for you, dear." The elder lady responded and began to type on the computer. She hummed, her eyes ever so slightly squinted as it traced the words on her screen. Her thin lips mouthed the words as she came across them, looking back up at Hoseok once she was finished. "He's still in surgery right now, you can wait in the waiting room or come back at a later time."

Hoseok huffed and looked over at Taehyung who looked back at him, both sharing a moment to think on what they should do.

"We can just wait here in the waiting room." Taehyung said, a soft tone to his voice. The younger placed his hand gently on Hoseok's shoulder, nudging his head towards the seats which called their names.

Hoseok nodded with hesitance, walking back with Taehyung to some stuff chairs, each taking a seat.

Jihyun sat beside Taehyung and took his hand into her own, rubbing her thumb over his knuckles to help sooth him. She knew they were both going through a bit of heartache and wanted to do her best to comfort them.

Taehyung had no sense of time or when he dozed off but he was aggressively shaken by Hoseok who was standing with a elder man; a doctor.

He quickly sat up, pushing up to his feet the second he could. Jihyun was long gone, she had to home and couldn't stay forever. She told Hoseok she hoped all went well and that Changmin was okay at least.

"Changmin has been up for a bit but we wanted family to visit first. We told them of your guys presences and they're okay with you boys going in and visiting your friend." The doctor informed briefly. "You guys can follow me, I'll take you to his room."

Hoseok had no words, he was just ready to see his friend. It was evident how much worse Hoseok was taking this, how heartbroken he was but all would be okay according to the doctor.

The old man took them down the hall, going through a few corridors. He had looked over his shoulder a few times just to make sure the two teenagers were following suit.

Sooner than later, the doctor stopped in front of a door, looking back at the boys. "He might be a bit tired, a little exhausted." He said and then pushed the door open to reveal a boy laying back on the bed, head wrapped up and a huge cast on his arm as far as they could see from the doorway.

Hoseok was first to walk inside, Taehyung directly behind him. The Panther players walk on either side of the bed, looking over their friend.

He had dark bags under his eyes, looking overall terrible. It was also noticeable that his leg was casted under the sheets told by the abnormal sizing.

The doctor took his leave and left the three alone, knowing it was a personal time.

     "Changmin? Are you awake?" Hoseok asked quietly, placing his palm over Changmin's casted one.

The called boy opened his eyes, squinting due to the bright hospital lights. "Hey, Hoseok . . ." He weakly smiled, glad to see his friend. He then looked and smiled even more when he noticed Taehyung by his side as well.

"You idiot, why did you crash? You scared the shit out of us!" Taehyung didn't realize he was crying until a single tear rolled down his cheek. "We thought you were dead, or worse, ugly."

Changmin gave a weak chuckle, moving his good hand to hold Taehyung's. "It's going to take more than a lousy car accident to kill me."

"You sure? Looks like it got pretty damn close for being as lousy as you say it was." Hoseok joined in on the joking around, seeing the vibe get slightly lighter, the energy turning just a bit joyous.

It felt like hours had passed by, the trio talking and making sure their friend was okay. In reality, it had only been forty-five minutes and it was time for them to leave.

It was already late when they got there but they weren't family and teenaged boys at that.

"We'll come back tomorrow to see how you're doing." Hoseok pushed to his feet, a doctor holding the door and waiting for them to leave.

"Yeah, just hang in there." Taehyung added on, offering a small smile to assure his friend.

     The two of them shared their final goodbyes and left the room together, knowing it was time for them to go home and have restless nights in utter worry for Changmin. Neither of them spoke about the crippling fear they felt deep in their hearts.

It was something none of the expected and they both were sure they would go home and pray to whoever was up in the sky that their friend would stay safe and nothing bad would happen to him while in the hospital.

     It was like the snap of two fingers when Taehyung realized he was home. He had been in and out of his mind, staring blankly out of the window while Hoseok silently drove.

"I'll be sure to pick you up at nine in the morning tomorrow to go see him again." Hoseok uttered pretty quietly, looking over at Taehyung who was looking at his home.

The car was unlocked and he slipped out of the vehicle, closing the door behind him. Taehyung didn't look back, keeping his eyes fixated on the oak door before him.

The car drove away after a silent second, leaving Taehyung by himself.

Instead of walking in his home to be greeted by his parents, he took a seat on his steps, placing his head in his hands, arms rested on his knees.

He just needed a moment to himself to to calm his raging nerves.

As he did so, he pulled his hands together, clasping them together and propping his forehead. His eyes were squeezed shut, mind thinking of what he could possibly say.

     "To whoever is listening, please keep Changmin safe. I'll be a better person, I'll work harder, I won't be so much of an ass- . . . Jerk." He corrected his foul language. "I just beg you give him time, he doesn't deserve this." Taehyung spoke in the softest voice he could muster, hearing his heart beat loud in his ears and drown his own thoughts.

He then slowly opened his eyes and picked his head up, looking into the sky to see the stars twinkle above him, the moon bright and full in the sky.

"Please," he let out finally and eventually pushed back up to his feet, knocking on his own door and being greeted by his mother who already questioned where he was.

It hurt that he had to explain it all to her but she had assured her son everything will be alright before he went off to bed.

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