“Family of Kim Jungkook?” The doctor’s voice broke through the tense silence in the waiting room, and all three men instantly rose to their feet.

“That’s us,” Namjoon responded, his voice strained with worry.

“I’m happy to tell you that Jungkook is in stable condition,” the doctor said with a gentle smile. “We managed to remove the bullet and stabilize him. He’s still unconscious, but he’s out of danger.”

“Thank you, God,” Jimin cried, the overwhelming relief bringing fresh tears to his eyes. Jin reached out and grasped Namjoon’s hand, both men sharing a moment of profound relief.

“Only one of you can see him for now,” the doctor added, glancing between them. “Who would like to go first?”

Jimin held his breath, his heart aching to be with Jungkook. But he hesitated, knowing that Namjoon and Jin, as Jungkook’s parents, might want to see him first. He respected their bond, even though every fiber of his being longed to be by Jungkook’s side.

“Jimin,” Jin’s voice broke through his thoughts, “go on. Go to him.”

“Me?” Jimin asked, his voice shaky with surprise.

“Of course, you,” Jin said with a small, reassuring smile. “That’s your man in there. He needs you right now, just as much as you need him. And honestly, I doubt he’d want to see my face first thing when he wakes up,” Jin added with a soft laugh, nudging Jimin gently towards the door.

Jimin felt a fresh wave of tears well up in his eyes. He nodded, choking out a heartfelt, “Thank you,” before rushing off to see Jungkook.

When Jimin entered the room, the sight of Jungkook lying there, pale and still, took his breath away. An IV was attached to his hand, and his chest rose and fell steadily, but the sight was a far cry from the lively, vibrant Jungkook he knew.

Jimin’s legs felt weak as he approached the bed. He pulled up a chair and sat beside Jungkook, taking his hand gently in his own. He pressed his lips to Jungkook’s knuckles, the tears he had been holding back spilling over as he whispered, “You scared the hell out of me, you idiot.”

His voice cracked as he spoke, the weight of the last few hours crashing down on him.

“You know that? You’d better wake up soon, or I swear, you’re sleeping on the couch starting tomorrow. Do you hear me? You ass… I miss you so much already.”

Jimin’s words were punctuated by soft sobs, his free hand trembling as he stroked Jungkook’s hair. He carefully laid his head on Jungkook’s hand, the one free of the IV, his tears soaking into the sheets as he silently pleaded, “Please wake up soon, baby. Please…”

The room was filled with the quiet hum of medical machines, the soft beeping of monitors. Jimin’s world had narrowed to just this—Jungkook’s hand in his, the warmth of his skin, the sound of his steady breathing. It was all he had right now, and he clung to it desperately.

---

Hours Later...

Taehyung pushed his way through the chaotic throng of reporters, their cameras flashing, and microphones thrust into his face. Questions were shouted from every direction, demanding answers, accusations mixing with the cries of grieving family members. Security struggled to keep the crowd at bay, but the mass of people was relentless.

“Everybody, calm down!” a security officer shouted, trying to restore some semblance of order, but the chaos only grew louder.

Taehyung felt a knot in his stomach as he climbed onto the small podium set up in front of the crowd. The noise was deafening, filled with boos and shouts of anger. He gripped the edges of the podium, taking a deep breath before speaking into the microphone.

“I can see that my actions have angered many of you here today,” Taehyung began, his voice steady despite the turmoil in his heart. “As a pilot, I had to make a critical decision, one that I didn’t take lightly. I didn’t want to abandon the passengers on that plane. Believe me, that was the last thing I wanted to do.”

“Liar!” someone shouted from the crowd, the anger palpable.

Taehyung flinched but continued, his voice growing firmer. “But I had to. I realized that as long as we pilots were on that plane, the hijackers held an advantage. One wrong move, and more lives could have been lost. If we had stayed, we would have been forced back into the air, low on fuel, with no guarantee of safety. But by us leaving the plane, SWAT had a better chance to save everyone on board. A plane on the ground is safer than one in the air with hijackers. That was the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make, and I’m deeply sorry for the lives lost on Flight 370.”

His voice broke, the weight of his words hanging heavily in the air. “I’m so, so sorry. I can’t imagine the pain of those who were waiting for their loved ones, only to learn they aren’t coming home. God, I’m so sorry.”

Tears streamed down Taehyung’s face as he removed his pilot’s hat and placed it on the podium, a gesture of respect for those who had lost their lives. “Can we please spend a minute in silence? To pray for the innocent souls lost today… the brave ones. For the lives of the innocent men and women lost on flight 370...Amen.”

The crowd slowly quieted, the anger fading into a somber hush. Tears filled the eyes of many, the reality of the loss settling in as the cameras continued to roll, capturing the raw grief that filled the air.

“Amen,” the crowd echoed, their voices a collective prayer for those who had perished, a moment of shared humanity amidst the tragedy.

15 August 2024
To be continued...