-

The light turned green in a matter of minutes, but for Taehyung, it felt like hours.

He had received that call about 7 minutes ago, and only God knows how many traffic rules Taehyung had broken by then. He was speeding, going over 90 when the speed limit was 50, he had broken red lights and had nearly crashed into an on-coming truck but he honestly couldn't care less. He will deal with the consequences later.

Right now, all he knows is that his mate needs him. That's all he knows and that's all he understands.

The call had come from Jungkook's therapist, who had very calmly informed him that Jungkook had a severe panic attack which had resulted in a visit to the ER because the omega's heartbeat was not slowing down. The risk was too much if the heart beat wasn't under control as it could lead to tachycardia.

So now, Taehyung was on his way to the ER, scared out of his wits because he had never imagined Jungkook's panic attacks would get this severe.

Reaching the hospital, Taehyung parked his car in a hurry, not even bothering to park it correctly or to lock the car as he rushed inside, asking the receptionist about his husband.

Jungkook was just being discharged as Taehyung entered the room, immediately taking Jungkook into his arms as he let out a relieved sigh.

"You're okay. You're okay. I was so worried baby", He mumbled, not bothering to see who else was in the room with them.

Jungkook didn't reply, nor did he return the hug, only sitting there motionless while Taehyung squeezed the life out of him.

A throat clearing demanded Taehyung's attention as he finally realized the audience they had.

A young doctor stood there with a chart, wearing a set of glasses and sheepishly smiling.

"I'm assuming you are the husband?", the doctor asked.

Taehyung nodded before adding, "I'm Kim Taehyung. Can you please update me on my husband's condition now?"

The doctor nodded enthusiastically.

"Ofcourse Mr Kim. Your husband suffered from a severe panic attack which increased his heart beat to 160 per minute, and as it was not slowing down, he had to be brought to the ER where we helped stabilize it. He is okay now however, I will suggest that you keep him out of situations where he can get those panic attacks again. He had mentioned he is going for therapy. However as the therapy seems to be having an adverse effect on his mental health right now, I would suggest holding it off for a few weeks until he is ready again. "

The doctor explained, however Taehyung stopped him in mid speech.

"Please, doctor?"

"Han", the doctor supplied his name.

"Doctor han," Taehyung began, his hands caressing Jungkook's hair like that of a puppy. "My husband is in the room. So please address him as well. He needs to know about all this as well so that he can decide what he wants to do. I do not like that you are talking about him like he isn't even present. With all due respect ofcourse"

The doctor seemed surprised, because usually the spouses do not react so adversely to the approach that he uses.

"Ofcourse Mr Kim. My apologies, Jungkook-ssi. As I was saying, you may want to hold back on the therapy for a few weeks until you are mentally ready to pick up on it. I have been informed that you are going through cognitive behavioural therapy, as such I understand the pressure which caused the panic attack. For your mind to settle down from the effects, you need to allow yourself to rest first. So I highly recommend withholding on the therapy. Please do consider it"

Jungkook nodded, not speaking.

Taehyung talked a bit more to the doctor and was given a few prescriptions for Jungkook to take. After which, he headed home with his mate.

Jungkook was unbelievably quiet today. Taehyung figured it was because of the panic attack the omega had earlier. So he didn't really question it.

After reaching home, jungkook went to shower while Taehyung started to prepare some food.

When the food was ready, Taehyung went inside the room to call Jungkook out to eat, however the sight he was met with was something he didn't imagine.

Jungkook was busy packing. A suitcase laid on the bed, with the omega throwing his clothes into it, not acknowledging Taehyung's presence.

"Baby? What are you doing?", Taehyung felt sick to the stomach. His brain was coming up with all types of answers and none of them were pleasing.

When Jungkook didn't reply, he asked again, "Jungkook. What are you doing? Why... why are you packing? Are we going somewhere?"

"No", Jungkook's voice was clipped, void of any emotions.

"Then why are you packing?"

Jungkook didn't even turn around to look at him, instead he opened one of the draws, taking out some books that he had stashed inside before plopping them inside the suitcase as well.

"We are not going anywhere Taehyung. I'm leaving."

Taehyung felt his breath leave him, his mind numbing.

"Leaving ? What do you mean you are leaving?"

Jungkook closed the suitcase, "I am leaving you. I.. I cannot do this anymore. I can't be with you. "

Taehyung didn't know how to feel. He felt his heart crack, his insides twist as his brain registered what his mate had just said.

"Leaving me? Jungkook.. what.. what happened? We were doing so good then why are you doing this?", Taehyung's voice cracked in the end, sounding defeated.

Jungkook pulled the suitcase down to the floor, before taking the first step, "You deserve better Taehyung. I'm broken. All I ever will be is a burden. I cannot be happy here. I cannot make you more unhappy. I'm sorry. Please let me go. I don't want to fight you on this"

Taehyung stood still, not moving from his place, even when Jungkook started walking towards the door, Taehyung didn't move.

"Okay"

A quiet answer was all Jungkook got. And the omega felt relieved that he didn't have to fight the Alpha on this. But the relief only lasted for a second.

"Okay. I will let you go Jungkook. I will. I promise. Only if you answer three questions of mine. If you can answer while looking into my eyes, honestly answer, then I will let you leave. I won't stop you. I won't follow you. I won't ever look for you. I promise"

Jungkook stopped, debating if he should respond, but he also knew how persistent the Alpha was.

"Okay. Ask"

Taehyung smiled, turning around to face Jungkook before removing the distance between them.

"Tell me honestly. Will you be happy without me by your side? Will you be happy?"

Jungkook wasn't expecting that question. But now that it was asked, he didn't know how to respond, because he himself knew what the answer was.

No. He won't be happy. How can one be happy without the reason for their happiness.

He couldn't answer, his eyes couldn't even look at Taehyung, afraid the Alpha will see the truth in them.

"Yes", Jungkook whispered, eyes refusing to meet the Alpha's.

Taehyung gripped the omega's chin, forcefully making Jungkook face him but still, the omega's eyes refused to meet his.

"Look into my eyes and then say it. I will only believe you then", Taehyung whispered.

"Why?", Jungkook questioned, feeling his skin tingle with Taehyung's touch.

"Because, my beautiful omega", Taehyung spoke ever so softly, "your eyes don't lie. Your eyes tell"

Jungkook couldn't respond to that. He didn't know what to say.

"Okay, " Taehyung continued, "Don't answer that then. Answer the second question. Do you really think I would be happy without you, despite knowing just how badly I need you by my side too?"

Jungkook's breath staggered as Taehyung lips softly came into contact with his chin, the Alpha pressing feather like kisses on his skin, moving from the jaw to the neck, then moving up to pepper kisses all over Jungkook's face.

"Yes"

Taehyung hummed at Jungkook's answer before pulling back, "can you look into my eyes and tell me that ? Can you, my love?"

Jungkook would have lost his footing if he was not being held by Taehyung because his heart fluttered when he heard the Alpha call him "my love". Taehyung had always called him baby or koo. Never anything else apart from that. Didn't the Alpha know what that nickname meant?

"Okay. Don't answer that either. Answer the last question yeah? And answer honestly. Does your heart not beat for me like mine does for you? Does it not call for me like mine calls for you? Tell me it doesn't and I promise, my love, I will let you go. Look into my eyes and tell me, your heart doesn't beat for me like mine beats for you and I promise, I will let you go. Tell me koo"

Jungkook's eyes glistened with unshed tears. Why was Taehyung making it so hard?

And what was the Alpha even trying to say?

"I-...", Jungkook gulped as he tried to control his tears from falling.

"I don't know how your heart beats for me so I cannot answer that"

Taehyung hummed, before taking Jungkook's left hand in his own and pressing it right over his heart. Jungkook could feel the Alpha's heart beating.

"Then it's only fair I tell you how it beats for you so you can give me your answer...no? "

Jungkook hesitantly nodded. He didn't know what to expect.

"It beats like a song, only composed for you. It beats like it's writing lyrics for you, meant only for your heart to hear. It calls your name even when I'm sleeping, even when I'm awake. It beats for your smile, for your eyes, for your voice and for your face. It beats like a symphony created only for you because it doesn't have any other purpose beside it. It beats only for you, because it knows nothing else apart from loving you, unconditionally and oh so easily. It beats only to love you, with every pump and every thump, it beats just to love you. That's how my heart beats for you, Jungkookie. Now tell me, does your heart not beat the same way for me?"

Jungkook was stunned. His eyes were finally on Taehyung's, searching for any hint of lies, only to find nothing else but sincerity and truth.

"You.. you love me?"

It was a question asked in the softest tone possible, barely a whisper but Taehyung heard it anyway.

"I do.", Taehyung confirmed. "I'm irrevocably, indescribably and madly in love with you Jeon Jungkook. So much so that I will let you go if you are truly unhappy with me. But if you are just running away because of those damn voices in your head, then I refuse to let you slip through my fingers. I refuse to lose you to those voices and insecurities that plague your mind. I simply refuse."

Jungkook couldn't control the sob that escaped him.

"Why? Why would you choose me? Choose to love me? I'm so broken", he cried out in frustration. It all seemed too much, too unreal. Jungkook couldn't wrap his mind around it. Couldn't make himself understand why the Alpha would love someone like him.

Taehyung wiped those tears away, unfazed by that outburst.

"I choose you because you are just you. You are my Jungkookie. My angel baby. The love of my life. You hold the deepest galaxies in your eyes, and the most beautiful sunrise in your smile. Your voice sounds like my favourite song after a hectic day and your arms feel like my home. You are everything I need Jungkook. Everything I could ever need. Yes, you are broken but so am I. And that's okay because I love you with all those broken pieces of you. You can tell me not to, you can scream and shout and tell me how broken you are. How flawed you are but my love, you cannot stop me from loving you. For falling for you every single time I look into those eyes of yours, for loving you with every flaw of yours, with every broken piece of you. You can keep repeating how I shouldn't choose you baby, but watch me do it anyway. Watch me love you anyway "

Jungkook broke. His sobs got even louder as he finally hugged Taehyung, tighter than ever before, like he was making sure this wasn't just a dream.

"I'm dreaming, aren't i?", he unconsciously said to which Taehyung chuckled.

"No. You are not dreaming. And I know a way to make you believe that. Would you let me show you that it's real, my love?"

Jungkook nodded.

And then, Taehyung smiled ever so softly as he dipped his head, hands coming to hold Jungkook's neck as he tilted the omega's head slightly, before pressing his lips directly onto Jungkook's.

It was messy, just simply two pairs of lips touching each other, with tears slipping out of each of their eyes, mixing into the kiss where they both could taste the saltiness, and yet they didn't stop kissing. Taehyung held onto Jungkook like he was afraid the omega would disappear if he let go and Jungkook held onto Taehyung even tighter because he cannot believe the Alpha was actually kissing him and it wasn't a dream. The Alpha had confessed to loving him. The Alpha loved him.

As they parted, breathless and flush faced, Taehyung pleaded, "Please tell me you won't leave me? Please baby?"

To which Jungkook replied,

"After today, I cannot leave at all"

-

And this is why you shouldn't let me write fluff 😑

Hope you enjoyed this long ass chapter. They finally kissed... after 42 chapters. Slow burn who???? Lmao..

Lemme know your thoughts. And yes, you can scream 🤭🤭