"I'll come back later, okay?"

Chaeyoung nodded softly, but her eyes didn't leave the figure lying on the bed when Jennie spoke to her. Her eyes only shifted from the face of the unconscious lady down to her feet covered in a blanket.

Chaeyoung felt a firm squeeze on her shoulder, and she knew it was from Namjoon. He said something to Taehyung who was sitting beside her and just like her, Taehyung gave no words as a response. The sound of the pair's footsteps walking away from them, out of the private room were suddenly loud in her ears and only ended by the sound of the door sliding close.

All Chaeyoung could hear then was the sound of the slow beating of Taehyung's mother's heart coming from the heart monitor. Beep... Beep... Beep...

It was too loud that it pained not only her ears but also her heart and mind and every bit of her body from the inside. She inhaled as much air as she could, her sniffing sound to follow suit and a few tears rolled off her cheeks. Her hands immediately rose to wipe at her eyes.

"You should go get some food," Taehyung said after a long time. Chaeyoung turned her head towards him, gazed at his side profile for a few seconds before she looked down at her lap.

"I'm fine," she managed, voice was too soft but a little louder than a whisper.

"I don't wish to see you fall sick as well, Chaeng."

"I'm not going to fall sick, Tae. I'll be fine."

There was a deep sigh next as he slowly held his mother's hand delicately. Chaeyoung watched his thumb rubbing softly against the almost colorless skin of the woman and she suddenly craved the warmness that had always radiated off of his mother. Seeing the woman in this situation literally broke Chaeyoung's heart to pieces, her eyes hadn't stopped releasing tears and her shattered heart hadn't stopped praying for miracle to take place.

"Just go, Chaeyoung," Taehyung said, his voice weary. "Don't argue with me, please. Not here, not now."

She threw a brief glare at him though he wasn't looking at her direction. "What about you? You hadn't even drink."

"Don't mind me," he said simply and fell quiet next as he placed his head onto the bed, facing his mother while his hand continued on caressing the woman's hand. Chaeyoung really wanted to argue more, because Taehyung was putting his own health aside just to be there for his mother yet insisted to tell her to not let her stomach be empty. But then, Chaeyoung took that as a cue for her to leave him alone with his mother for some time. She hesitated as she stood up, glancing at the poor lady on the bed a few seconds before she went out of the room.

Instead of going to the cafeteria, Chaeyoung sat on one of the seats at the waiting area where it was totally empty. She leaned her head back against the wall behind her and closed her eyes. After a few moments, she dropped her head and stayed in that position for the next minutes. Her eyes were shut tightly for a long time, she cried silently with her fingers fisting the strap of her bag.

She wished she knew what to do, she wished she knew how to make things right, she wished she knew how to cure the lovely lady. Mrs. Kim did not deserve to be tested this way.

Chaeyoung cried for a long time. It was to the point that breathing became something difficult to do when she needed air because she was holding it, not trying to let any sound out even when she was alone in the waiting area.

The hallway was empty except when the nurses and doctors walked by. Every footstep that she heard was reflecting how quick the people were walking.

When people walk so fast like those nurses and doctors, it means only one thing; they are chasing the time. And when people chase for time, it means that at that moment, time decides to show them how fast it can go. It does not wait.

In her mind, Chaeyoung cussed, realizing how time could be cruel if it decided to go by quickly in this situation.

For a few minutes she was there, she suddenly regretted her decision to sit there when all the people that walked past her were walking so fast, the suffocation that she felt inside of her was overwhelming until she heard slow footsteps approaching her.

Chaeyoung felt someone taking a seat right beside her. She didn't realize that her hands were shaking until she felt someone else's hands taking hold of hers. And though she knew she was crying, she didn't realize that her face would be so wet until that particular someone wiped her face with a warm hand.

She knew who it was but then when she opened her eyes slowly, blinking a few times to rid the tears that were blurring her eyes to see, as soon as she saw that face of that person, she was powerless to stop her eyes from pouring more tears, her body became weaker than she had been and her voice cracked when she did speak.

"Jungkook..." she muttered his name and fell into his open arms, her face was buried into his chest, her hands clutched on his shirt. "Jungkook..." she repeated, crying into his chest even more when she felt him stroking her head gently.

"I'm here," he said softly, rubbing her back with so much tenderness. "I'm here, Chaeyoung."

"I don't want her to leave, Jungkook," she softly said, her voice was muffled but somehow, Jungkook could catch everything she had just said.

"She won't leave you," he said, trying to assure her. "She won't leave anyone."

"I know that she's not my mother, but I love her just as much as I love my own mother."

"I know." He caressed her head and she felt him placing his chin on top of her head. "I know you do."

"I don't want to lose her." She lifted her head from his chest and stared into his worried eyes. "I don't want her to leave Taehyung. I don't want that to happen."

Jungkook cupped her face then, used his thumbs to continuously wipe her teary eyes. "You won't, okay? You will never lose her. She will not leave Taehyung. Trust me, she will never leave him, you, or anyone."

Knowing that what he was saying was truly impossible given the situation that they were facing at that time, she looked away and asked, "How can you be so sure?"

He was quiet for a while until she turned to look at him for an answer. "You never actually lose someone precious to you. Once they're in your life, they will always be."

*

Jungkook held Chaeyoung for a long time as she cried until she grew tired and finally fell asleep on his lap. But it was only for a few minutes before Jennie and Namjoon appeared and although the two didn't make any sound when they approached them in the waiting area, Chaeyoung jolted awake and panic suddenly attacked her as she turned to her left and right, asking what happened to Taehyung's mother.

"She's still fine, Chaeyoung. Calm down," Jennie said as she held Chaeyoung's arms firmly. "We were just from there and –"

"Has she woken up?" she asked quick, cutting Jennie off.

"No," Namjoon answered for Jennie.

"I need to go and check on her." Chaeyoung was about to stand up but was stopped by Jennie. "Jennie, I need to check on her."

"Yes, I know. You can go and check on her after you eat something. Do you understand?" Jennie asked with a stern tone. "Taehyung told us that you've been out for some time but he doubts that you went to eat. And I know for sure that he's right. Jungkook, take her to eat, please."

"I told Tae I'll be fine," she protested and stood up after taking her friend's hands off her.

Upon hearing all that, Jungkook stood up and held Chaeyoung's arm with his brows furrowed deeply as he beckoned for her to look at him. With a heavy frown he asked, "Did you even eat anything at all today?"

"No, she hasn't eaten anything," Jennie said as she glared at Chaeyoung. "She refused to come home with me to change for a while and Taehyung told her to get some food, but she didn't do as told."

Chaeyoung looked down, avoiding his searching eyes before she sighed heavily. Jungkook heard her muttering, "Is food even important right now?"

"It is!" Jungkook snapped and Chaeyoung flinched slightly before she looked at him softly. "If you're going to starve yourself, you're going to get sick. How the fuck do you think you can keep checking on her if you yourself are sick?"

Jennie and Namjoon were silent and so was Chaeyoung as she shifted her weight from one foot to the other as her eyes bore holes into the floor.

"You heard Jennie. Come with me and eat. Don't even think of checking on Taehyung's mother if you don't get yourself food to eat." He grasped her wrist and pulled her as he walked fast. He thought she would protest but then she surprised him by following him close on his side. Even so, he didn't let her go. He changed from holding her wrist to holding her hand, lacing his fingers with hers and held her tightly even when she didn't seem like she'd escape if he loosened the hold a little.

At the cafeteria, he literally spent most of the time watching her eat, making sure she did eat the small portion of food and finish it all. It was only after she was done eating and drinking that Jungkook began to speak. "I was worried about you."

Chaeyoung lifted her head slowly and as soon as her eyes settled on his firm gaze, Jungkook watched her red nose scrunched briefly as she sniffed before she softly said, "I'm the last person you should be worried about."

Jungkook's gaze didn't falter and he could see the change of expression she had when she realized that he was about to retort to her statement. "How can you say that?" he asked solemnly, and he didn't wait for her answer nor did he want to hear it. "When you didn't show up at my house, when I called but I couldn't reach you, and when there was no response whatsoever when I knocked on your door, I was worried. I was so worried that something bad happened to you."

The look on her face softened, and her lips separated to make way for her words to respond to him but he went to continue without waiting any sound she could produce. "When Jennie told me you're in the hospital, I couldn't think straight, I kept thinking of the bad things."

"I'm sorry I broke my promise," she muttered softly, her voice was filled with regrets, her head hung low and Jungkook instantly held her hand to squeeze it. It was not his intention to make her feel sorry and regret for coming to the hospital to visit the woman who held a special place in her heart instead of going to their promised date.

"No, no Chaeyoung. Don't apologize to me for breaking the promise. I don't have the rights to stop you from coming here, I am not upset about you breaking the promise because of this. I don't want to make you feel that way, I didn't intend to."

When he felt Chaeyoung squeezing his hand back lightly, Jungkook leaned forward and said, "I was glad to know that you're safe, but knowing that you refuse to eat because she's still lying unconscious, that's making me more worried and upset. Listen... You are not less worried, less concerned and less sad if you take a good care of yourself first, do you get me? I don't know her personally, but I know that she will not like it if you refuse to take care of yourself just to watch over her. So please, don't punish yourself for something that you can't control and is not responsible of."

Before she said anything, Jungkook took both her hands this time and told her to look him in the eyes. "This is no one's fault. So neither you nor Taehyung should be punished. None of you should punish yourself either."

Chaeyoung looked into him long before her eyes became glossy again and she nodded, looked down at her lap and Jungkook saw a tear dropped. She heaved a sigh and pulled one of her hands from his hold to use it to wipe the corner of her eye. "Taehyung hasn't eaten anything yet. I should get some food for him."

Jungkook smiled a brief, small smile. "Yes, you should." He accompanied her to buy some bread and a bottle of drink because according to her, Taehyung wouldn't be able to eat anything other than bread if he was really sad about something. When he suggested for her to buy the red bean bun, Chaeyoung shook her head and told him that Taehyung disliked it.

He knew that it wasn't the right time at all, and because of that, he swallowed down the jealousy he felt when he realized that she knew probably everything about Taehyung, his likes and dislikes, how he'd be when he was happy or sad, his eating patterns and all the little things. It was even ridiculous for him to be jealous about it, when he thought it back. Of course it wouldn't be a piece of cake to rid all those little information from her as they have become a part of her life. Every little thing was permanent in her memory because before she even met him, Taehyung was literally a huge part of her life.

"I'm gonna go," he said, as soon as they arrived in front of the room of where Taehyung's mother was in. "I'll come by if Jennie said anything about you refusing to eat again," he managed a smile and just when he turned around, he felt a pull on his arm.

"Don't leave yet," Chaeyoung murmured when Jungkook turned back around, only to find her ridiculously close to him. "I... I need you."

Gulping slowly, there was a slight feel of grateful for being needed that surged through him. As he gazed deeper into her eyes, his voice came out almost whispery when he responded, "I will stay, then."

*

Although Chaeyoung wanted so much for Jungkook to get inside the room with her, she respected his decision to stay outside, also respected the fact that Taehyung might not want to see Jungkook inside the room. Things were definitely going to be uncomfortable.

Taehyung was still sitting on the same chair he'd been sitting for the past hours. He was still staring at his mother whose movements were only caused by her slow breathing. When Chaeyoung glanced at the water bottle on the table at the side of the bed, it was still full. With a soft sigh, she went to take a seat next to Taehyung.

"Have you finally eaten?" he asked.

Usually that kind of question was supposed to warm her heart but at this exact moment, it did nothing but pain her. He hadn't feed himself yet he asked her if she'd eaten or not.

"Yeah," she answered softly.

"Good."

After what felt like an eternity wasted on doing nothing to change the fact that Taehyung had an empty stomach yet didn't bother to eat anything at all, Chaeyoung stood up and grabbed the water bottle on the table. She uncapped it and slowly, pushed her hand towards him. Taehyung was slow to look down at the water bottle she was holding in front of his chest and when he did, he turned to look at her with a lift of his brow.

"Drink," she said, meeting his gaze firmly.

"I'm not thirsty," he replied, then turning his attention back to his mother on the bed.

"At this point, you don't need to wait until you're thirsty to drink, Tae."

Taehyung ignored her completely but she didn't give up just yet. If he wasn't going to let his mother's hand go, she wasn't going to force him. So instead of waiting for him to take the bottle from her, she gently placed the mouth of the bottle on his lips, causing him to raise a questioning brow at her.

"Please, Tae. I need you to drink. You don't want me to fall sick, yet you're going to fall sick yourself. I..." she gulped but forced herself to not think of unimportant things like how he was going to misunderstood her intention. "I don't want to see you fall sick as well."

Taehyung remained silent, but slowly opened his mouth and instinctively, Chaeyoung helped him to tip the bottle as he tipped his head a little to drink. Some spilled through the corner of his lips and before he could wipe it using his shoulder, Chaeyoung was quick to use her sleeve, dabbing the wet area around his lips and chin and neck. She pressed her fingers softly to check if his skin was still damp before she let her hand fall to her lap, and only then she realized that he was gazing at her softly.

Chaeyoung put the lid back onto the water bottle and placed the bottle on the floor before she unzipped her handbag and took out a plastic bag. It was filled with a few buns and breads she had purchased with Jungkook earlier.

She unwrapped one and gave it to Taehyung. He looked at her with that same confused expression. "You need to eat something. You can't go on having an empty stomach."

He looked down at the bread and just as he was about to let his mother's hand go, Chaeyoung noticed it and quickly tear off a little piece and put it on his lips.

"Aah?" she said softly and his tongue darted out to wet his lips as he gazed at her deeply, which Chaeyoung quickly avoided, focusing on the little piece of bread in between her fingers. Slowly, Taehyung separated his lips and took the piece into his mouth. She kept feeding him until that one bread was finished, once for a few times she brushed his lips with her thumb to rid the crumbs and Chaeyoung swallowed thickly each and every time because she knew his eyes were on hers all the time even when she wasn't staring into his.

Once done, she placed the plastic bag onto the table and got back to her seat.

"Thank you," he said with a low voice. "I never realized I was hungry."

She nodded instead of saying a word.

"You can come back tomorrow, Chaeng. Go and get some rest. You need to shower and everything. Namjoon already brought my clothes for me. I'll be fine here."

"But..."

"I'll call you... if there's anything."

"I want to stay here," she said quickly and glanced at his mother. "I want to stay."

"But you need to change and all, Chaeng. You haven't left since yesterday. You can come back early tomorrow," Taehyung told her with a warm tone and while he gazed at his mother, he said, "She will be fine. I know she will be fine."