Chapter Text
December 30, 2020
The month is almost ending—the year, rather. But for Taehyung, it’s a new chapter unfolding. The 30th of the last month of the year is Taehyung’s birthday. It is his favorite day of the whole year, always been. He loved birthdays after all. But this year might be different.
It’s seven in the morning and Jimin is already in for his patient. “Okay, that should be fine,” he said as he finished checking and adjusting the flow rate of Taehyung’s IV fluid. “Just press this button if you need any help, okay? I’ll be checking up on you again in a few hours.” Taehyung nodded through his nurse’s instructions and words.
“Taehyungie.” Taehyung’s attention was finally back. “Oh, sorry. Yes, uh, I can manage.”
Jimin squeezed his lips thin and nodded. “I’ll get going.”
“Okay. I’ll see you.”
As the door shut, Taehyung let out a sigh. Never did he ever imagine that one day, he would be spending his birthday, as well as the holidays, in a hospital bed.
On Christmas day, the whole gang was there to celebrate with him. There was food, singing and dancing, as well as gifts. Taehyung received gifts from everyone although he got sad because he didn't have any for them but they assured him that he should not worry about it—the important thing was they got to spend Christmas together.
Taehyung’s lip curved upwards as he remembered it. He stared out the window, the snow’s kind of getting thick outside. He suddenly missed the feeling of the snow touching his skin. Unconsciously, Taehyung got out of his bed and went to the window.
“It’s snowing hard,” he told himself. “Ah, how I missed life .”
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It's around four in the afternoon and Jimin’s back with a covered tray of food. He entered the room with a bright smile, making his lovely eyes almost disappear, his chest out, and chin up—like he was trying to play a role. The nurse cleared his throat as soon as he was fully inside the room.
“Taehyung-ssi,” Jimin paused and acted like he fixed his invisible tie with his one free hand. It is also worth mentioning that the way he spoke was very formal, and his voice was lower than usual.
“A pleasant day. I offer you special snacks for today—with the highest quality ingredients freshly gathered from the mountains and fields of South Korea straight to the best kitchen, cooked and carefully prepared by the greatest chefs in Seoul—”
Jimin stretched his arms and carefully placed the mysteriously covered tray on the small table near Taehyung’s bed. He did a graceful bow before removing the cover, revealing the food underneath the stainless steel cover.
“ Bon appétit, monsieur .”
Taehyung clapped, in a very classy way—playing along with what Jimin had started. “ Je vous remercie ,” Taehyung said as he slightly bowed his head.
“I don't know what that means but I’ll just say, the food is on the house,” Jimin humorously replied. And they both laughed.
“It's on the house because…” Jimin stopped. And suddenly the door opened.
“HAPPY BIRTHDAY!”
Jungkook, Yoongi, and Hoseok erupted from the room opening (they all squeezed into the door to enter at the same time). Seokjin, who was behind them, followed a moment later after the three of them got inside.
Taehyung’s eyes and mouth were wide open with surprise.
“Happy birthday to you…” And the people inside the room started singing. Jimin is now slowly walking towards the birthday boy, holding a cake with a lit candle. Taehyung did not see how or where Jimin got the cake because he got too distracted by the unexpected entrance of the three guys.
“Now blow a wish, Taehyung-ah,” Hoseok said. The cake is now in front of him, the candle’s warm light waiting for a hopeful wish to be blown away together with it.
Taehyung stared at the candle’s light. For a moment, he got lost in its glow, flickering orange and gold. It's like the flame is dancing and enticing him to make a wish before the performance runs out.
A wish —a desire or hope for something. Most of the time, the things you wish for are not easy to get or are not possible at all. But you still wish for it because of that hope your heart clings to. You believe that maybe one day when things are easier and better, your wish will come true.
Hope. Sometimes, having a little hope is enough to keep oneself moving and alive. It takes a lot to have hope. You are strong when you have hope.
And at this moment, all that Taehyung hopes is for a better tomorrow and every day.
☼ // ☼ // ☼ // ☼ // ☼
“Always listen to what your nurses say to you, Taehyung-ah. And also don't mess with the other patients here,” Yoongi said as he put on his beanie as they prepared to leave. Hoseok, on the other hand, packs the empty food containers they brought. He laughed. “Ya, Taehyung-ah, your Yoongi-hyung is always so worried about you. He thinks that you might have been always messing with your nurses and neighbors,” Hoseok giggled as he teased Yoongi.
“Oh yes, Taehyungie’s been quite naughty around here,” Jimin said. He looked at Taehyung with a teasing face.
“Nonsense,” Taehyung rolled his eyes with a smile on his face. “The nurses love me here.”
Jimin nodded as a vouch for Taehyung's claim. Indeed, he’s the nurses’ favorite. He befriends everyone and anyone. He has this unique ability to attract people to him with his charm and personality.
“Alright, alright. I’ll leave you guys here. I am now being summoned to the studio by the Big Boss Bang. Gotta get there real quick,” Yoongi said.
“Hipman Bang? Bang PD-nim?” Seokjin asked. “I think he was a friend’s friend,” he added while scratching his head trying to exactly remember things right.
“I also have to go, too. My sister has been asking for my help these days with the new menu for the resto-bar. She’s trying to add new things to release next year,” Hoseok said as he secured his bag where he stuffed the food containers.
“Me, too. Hospital duties,” Seokjin added as he did a salute. “As well as Jimin-ssi, right?” Seokjin threw a side eye to Jimin.
The nurse sighed. “Absolutely and unfortunately, yes. Still got some work to do.”
“Thank you for this day, everyone. You guys made my day. I was so, so happy.” Taehyung feels really loved right now. He suddenly felt better after seeing them all gathered for his special day.
“Enough dramas for today please.” Hoseok was the one to brighten up the mood. They all laughed. “We’ll go now. Enjoy the rest of your day,” Hoseok said and waved goodbye, as well as the others.
The room ran silent. Taehyung sighed with happiness. His heart was full with today's moments. He was so happy all this time and suddenly forgot how bad his body actually felt. With tired eyes, Taehyung scanned the room. The simple and minimal decorations are still up—the ‘happy birthday’ banner, a few balloons, and the foil curtain tinsel thingy. It’s already past six in the evening and the darkness of night has slowly reigned outside. The snowfall has decreased compared to how hard it was in the morning. As he finished scanning the room, his eyes stuck on the figure standing a few feet away from him, almost done setting up the sun mood lamp that was one of the gifts he received today.
“Something wrong?” The figure asked. It was Jungkook. “I have already finished setting this lamp. Where do you want me to place this?” It was his gift to Taehyung. He bought that for Taehyung because it reminded Jungkook of his hyung when he saw it once while walking by a store.
“Can we go outside?” Taehyung asked. Jungkook’s brows furrowed at the sudden request. “Hyung, it's freezing outside. You might catch a cold.” Jungkook sat on the chair beside Taehyung's bed.
“It’ll be quick. I promise,” Taehyung pleaded. “Please? I haven't touched any snow this year,” he added. A puppy eyes card is being used against Jungkook right now, who is clearly struggling. “Hyung, come on. Don't do this to me. I don't want you getting sick,” Jungkook tried his best not to give in. But Taehyung is stronger. “Love, please?”
The younger sighed. “Just five minutes and we’re going back inside. Okay?” Taehyung's face slowly brightened with joy.
Jungkook assisted Taehyung in going outside. He made sure that Taehyung was well-covered and would stay warm the moment they stepped outside. With every careful step and push, Jungkook has brought his hyung to the mini park of the hospital. Since it was already dark, there was no one else in the park but them. The place was still decorated with lights and other Christmas decorations, making you still feel the spirit of Christmas and the holidays.
“Wow…” Taehyung was mesmerized by the sight. “It’s so pretty,” he smiled and his delicate eyes sparkled. “Yeah. The prettiest,” Jungkook replied, eyes glued on his lover. Jungkook wasn’t referring to the sparkling lights on the trees and decorations. He knew that the prettiest view was Taehyung. The only prettiest view his eyes ever laid on.
“I would love to build a snowman out of these huge piles of snow but I don’t think I can finish one in five minutes,” Taehyung chuckled. “I’m sorry, Taehyungie-hyung. Seokjin-hyung would scold me if ever he discovered that I brought you outside in this cold,” Jungkook scratched his head.
He was slightly caught off-guard when Taehyung stood up from the wheelchair. “Hyung, what are you—”
“Jungkook-ah, dance with me.”
Taehyung was standing in front of Jungkook with his hand stretched out, waiting for Jungkook to accept his invitation. “Come on, time’s running you know,” he smiled.
Jungkook walked toward his hyung, maintaining eye contact, his heart slowly starting to build a pace. His cheeks and ears start to blush and feel hot.
“But we don’t have any music on,” the younger said as he accepted Taehyung’s ice-cold hand, but he didn’t mind. His hand was starting to feel bony because Taehyung had lost quite some weight since last month. Nonetheless, it was still the same pair of hands that he would always hold and feel.
“Who says we can’t dance without one?” Without missing a beat, Taehyung started to slowly guide Jungkook. Their bodies close, sharing each other’s warmth as they gently sway to the sound of their hearts and the quiet pitpat of snow falling on their clothes. Taehyung rests his head on Jungkook’s shoulder, breathing in his scent and letting himself be drowned in the feeling of home in the other’s arms.
“Hyung,” Jungkook said in a low voice while still slow dancing with Taehyung under the snow. Taehyung didn’t move an inch from his position as he hummed to his lover’s call.
“I missed you so much.” It was almost a whisper the way Jungkook said it. Taehyung suddenly felt Jungkook’s arms tighten around him but were still careful and gentle to not squish him or hurt him. The older raised his head and made eye contact with the younger. He can see the longing in his big rounded eyes. Taehyung felt a sudden pang in his chest like he’s been poked by a few needles. He moved his face closer, letting their foreheads and the tip of their noses touch each other—his hands cupped Jungkook’s face, and the younger’s hands automatically found their way to Taehyung’s waist.
In the middle of this peaceful and quiet park, where they could see each other’s breaths and express affection to one another, the snow had suddenly learned how to descend to earth silently like it was afraid to disturb a sleeping baby. Taehyung leaned further, matching their lips like they were puzzle pieces that complete each other. Suddenly, it wasn’t as cold anymore as they shared a delicate romantic kiss under the rain of fluttering snowflakes. Warmth blossomed in their chests as they filled the hole of yearning in their hearts.
“Hyung, my love, I think that you were born in winter because the universe saved a year’s worth of warmth and put it all into you. You could make the coldest winter feel like a warm spring with that smile of yours. You are everything I have ever wished for and I will ask for nothing else but you.”