ACT XI | SCENE LV

❝SECRET❞

RIAN FELT SOMEWHAT at ease after yoongi called to let her know haneul was now with him. he was even taking her out for dessert. that was one thing settled at the very least—it didn't mean she felt completely comfortable now.

shuffling her phone into her pocket, she turned back to her friends. the corners of her lips turned down at the sight. taehyung was in no condition to work. if anything, she thought he might do more harm than good in his current state.

it was looking more inevitable—calling dr kim. her gaze flitted towards chanmi. the girl was going to be seriously miffed when she found out that taehyung had been keeping such a massive secret from her. and that rian was also in on it.

blowing out a breath, she returned to her place at the couch. she placed a warm, comforting hand on taehyung's back. "it's okay to let it all out, sweetheart." she cooed at the sniffling man. "but i honestly don't think you should work today." she continued. "i agree. you're in not in any state to be taking care of others right now." chanmi nodded.

"i think..." rian's gaze briefly fluttered to chanmi and then back to taehyung. "we should call dr kim." she finished. chanmi's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "why would we call dr kim? this has nothing to do with him. we just have to make an excuse to the head nurse."

taehyung looked at rian with wide, red rimmed eyes. slight panic shimmered in his brown irises. he shook his head slightly. "we don't need to call him." he mumbled. "he's a busy person." he shot a furtive look in chanmi's direction.

rian sighed heavily. "he's not too busy for you." she replied. "and i think at some point, you're going to have to tell her, tae. she's your friend and while it is your secret to tell, i'm sure you know her well enough to know she'd keep it like it was hers." she continued softly.

chanmi glanced between them in confusion. "what secret? what the hell is going on now?" she asked, brows furrowing further. rian and taehyung shared a look before fixing their gaze on her. taehyung heaved a sigh in resignation. "um..." he started hesitantly. "promise you won't be mad." he tapped the tips of his fingers against each other.

chanmi's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "you know i don't make promises carelessly, tae. what is it?" she said. he pressed his lips in a line. "can you, at least, promise not to hit me? i don't think my body can take any more pain, right now."

"sure. unless this secret will make me into some sort of accomplice after the fact, then i will break your bones." she nodded her agreement, eyes still sparkling with suspicion. taehyung managed an eye roll. he sniffled and took a deep breath before letting the cat out of the bag.

"my father is dr kim's father's younger brother."

chanmi blinked. then she repeated his words in a low mumble like she needed to process the words he'd just said. and then she gasped. she was on her feet at the speed of light. "you're cousins?!" she screeched. "so you don't have a man crush? you just have some sort of big brother complex?" she stared in disbelief.

"it's more like big brother worship but the cousin version—" rian interjected only to receive a withering glare from the two. "shut up, assistant brutus." chanmi cut her off. rian pressed her lips together.

chanmi's gaze shifted to taehyung again. "who else knows?" she asked. "i think hoseok knows?" taehyung answered with uncertainty. "eh?!" both women chorused. "'you think'? what do you mean 'you think he knows'?" chanmi frowned. "i don't know. it's just something he said before." he mumbled and only got bemused reactions from the two. "anyways, he probably knows something."

"let's say that he does." chanmi waved a dismissive hand. "what about haesun? does she know too?" she queried. she didn't even need to hear an answer once she caught rian's expression.

"wow..." she folded her arms over her chest. "is this how jesus felt when judas sold him for thirty miserly pieces of silver?" her gaze lifted to the ceiling in what looked like genuine contemplation. "at least, he saw it coming." she shook her head. "caesar. this must be how caesar felt. though, he did kind of deserve it but i sure as hell don't. i'm a peach."

although his eyes still glistened with unshed tears, rian could see a genuine smile forming on taehyung's face as he watched chanmi ponder on an appropriate reference to the betrayal she felt. a small smile danced across her lips at how effortlessly the younger girl got a smile out of him.

"this is what it feels like to have your trust broken. how could you not tell me after all these years? you thought i'd yap off, huh? in your eyes, there must be no difference between gossiping go and me. i must be chatty chanmi to you, huh? babbling baek, hm?" she sniffled dramatically.

taehyung's eyes widened and he abruptly stood. "eh?! why would you say that?!" his voice rose the highest rian had heard today. his lips pushed out in a pout and the frown that had been etched into his face all day deepened. "why are you making me feel worse?"

pressing her lips together to keep from grinning at the two, she got on her feet. "i'll go call dr kim. you two keep talking." she picked up taehyung's abandoned phone and stepped right outside momentarily. as she dialed namjoon's number, she listened to the two bicker through the door.

though chanmi was probably a little hurt about being kept in the dark, she was obviously exaggerating to distract taehyung. but it could only work for so long. both she and chanmi would eventually have this little break cut short and have to go back to work and he'd be left alone with his thoughts again.

"hello? tae?" the ringing in her ear was replaced by a deep voice on the other end of the line. "hello, dr kim? this is nurse son." she straightened. "i'm calling about taehyung..." she quickly recounted the events to him and taehyung's current state. there was a soft sigh from namjoon. "i'll be there in ten." he said.

true to his word, he was right in front of her within ten minutes. he sent a small dimpled smile her way when their gazes met. she returned the gesture. "he's inside. nurse baek is trying her best to keep him occupied." she told him before opening the door and leading the way inside.

"taehyung," he called as soon as the door was shut. taehyung and chanmi looked up at the sound of his voice. chanmi's eyes rounded as though part of her hadn't quite believed they were telling the truth about taehyung and namjoon until that moment.

"hyung," taehyung's voice shook and he instantly ran into the doctor's arms. namjoon let out a deep sigh, patting the younger man's back comfortingly. "you reek of soju." he remarked softly, ruffling taehyung's hair lightly. "sorry." taehyung mumbled into his shoulder. "you should rest today. i'll have the driver take you to my place. i'll come home early today so we can talk."

"wow..." chanmi said breathily. "i can't believe what my eyes are seeing." she commented and rian almost laughed. "he's like a baby around dr kim." she replied. "he really is." chanmi nodded. "but you're not off the hook, blondie." she turned sharply towards her friend. rian chuckled softly with a slow nod. "yes, i know."

her phone began to ring then and she glanced over at the table where she'd left it. quickly making her way to it, she saw yoongi's name flash across the screen. "hm?" she tilted her head in confusion, wondering why he was calling. picking it up and swiping the answer button, she placed the phone against her ear.

"hello? mr— yoongi?"

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hang on to that cliff a little bit longer guys, love you! stay safe! 💛