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Jimin made Hoseok feel whole again.
Jimin knew about his condition, but unlike other visitors, he didn’t press. Hell, he didn’t even ask. In fact, he seemed determined to pretend it doesn't exist.
Hoseok regrets making his parents his ICE. They treated him like fragile crystal. He could barely get two words in without someone tearing up, and at the first sign of any symptoms his mother would beg him to call the nurses. He knew in his heart that they meant well, but he hated it.
They didn’t know him anymore, they only knew his condition.
They would have found out eventually, of course. Hoseok only wished they didn’t have to witness this broken state. In an ideal world, he would have healed enough to seem fine before he called them.
People were better off thinking he was fine.
Jimin’s daily visits were the only thing that kept him sane. Jimin sat by his bedside, chattering and joking like they were back in his apartment, enjoying each other’s presence late into the night like they used to. They were both broken beyond repair, but they spent their hours together as if the rest of the world was nothing more than a bad dream to be discarded.
At first, the nurses had been wary of Jimin, unsure of the reaction his presence would cause and kept subtle but close surveillance on the two when they were together. When they left the two alone, they finally discovered Hoseok’s radiant smile and infectious laughter, something they believed impossible. They realized that the two needed each other.
They turned a blind eye to the gifts Jimin slipped Hoseok during his visits. The boys had known each other long enough to know each other’s likes and dislikes, so everything Jimin brought seemed a heavenly blessing compared to the food Hoseok is given at the hospital. Hoseok began to feel guilty and asked Jimin to spend on himself instead, but the gifts stubbornly continued.
It seemed to the staff that Jimin is Hoseok’s orange haired angel.
Hoseok woke from a nap (thankfully a voluntary one) to a pair of dark blue jeans. He followed the jeans up, past a white shirt, all the way up to a serious looking Jimin.
For a moment, Hoseok feared bad news. Jimin never stood and he never looked this grave when they were alone.
Then, he noticed the pillow lazily hidden behind Jimin’s back and saw a devilish look underneath the serious facade threatening to break his act. He suddenly remembered a conversation from the day beore.
“Jimin, you know what I miss?”
“Hm?”
“That time all of us got in a huge pillow fight. That was one of the best nights of my life.”
He sat up with a grin, already reaching for his own pillow.
For a beat, they met each other’s eyes with the same look of mischievous anticipation and a smile finally cracked across Jimin’s face as Hoseok slung the pillow at his head.
Soon, they’re both cackling like hyenas and whacking each other with pillows.
A nurse came rushing in after a while to find found them both collapsed on the small bed, gasping and choking from laughter. She pretended to be stern with them, but seeing Hoseok smile made it hard to punish them.
She left, warning Hoseok not to wear himself out.
Suddenly, Hoseok did feel tired. Exhilaration began to fade and he felt his body shut down again.
The carnage from two cheap hospital pillows was nowhere near as bad as the damage when the seven of them had fought with large feather pillows.
Jimin offerred to clean up what little mess there is and refuses to let Hoseok help.
Soon, the room was clean again and Jimin returned to Hoseok’s side. Instead of pulling up a chair like he normally did, he gestured for Hoseok to move over and the older boy quickly made room for him.
It’s was hard to tell how long they lay there together, or how many times Hoseok nodded off under Jimin’s arm. They were aware of the rapidly dimming light outside the window, but time seemed a faraway concept.
Visiting hours are now long over, but the nurses sympathetically let Jimin stay. Finally, however, a nurse with a regretful smile tells Jimin it really is time for them to go.
Jimin untangles their legs and slides his arm out from under Hoseok’s shoulders. Hoseok hated the loss of contact. He clinged to Jimin’s hand for as long as he could, feeling childish but not quite caring. Jimin squeezed his hand and pulled away gently.
“You’ll come tomorrow?” Hoseok didn’t know why he asked, Jimin always came. But he wanted to be sure.
Jimin gave him one last smile, “Of course, hyung.”
Jimin turned to follow the nurse, but stopped at the door.
“Hyung?” He said. Hoseok looked at him. Jimin smiled, but the smile was sadder than it had been earlier. “I love you.”
He opened his mouth to reply, but Jimin winked and disappeared into the hallway.
Hoseok closed his eyes and fell back against the pillows with a sigh.
The days were long, but as long as Jimin was around, Hoseok would keep fighting.