#Tae's POV…
I woke up with the sun. My mattress was arranged near Kookie's bed, and when I moved my head & I noticed my hand splayed to the side. He was so beautiful & pretty. His hair covered his eyes, shining in the morning light. Kookie's arm dangled off the edge of the bed and his fingertips rested on my palm. Curling my fingers in, our hands touched more. I noticed him shifting position and jerked my arm to my side. Kookie retracted his arm and sat up.
❝Morning, sleepyhead,❞ I said just as drowsily as he looked.
Rolling his eyes...flirtatiously, I think, he replied, ❝Oh, like you've been up for so much longer.❞
❝Fair enough.❞ I sat up and straightened my back.
❝Uh, what do you want for breakfast?❞ He almost seemed uncomfortable while asking me this question.
❝Well, whatever you usually have is fine for me,❞ I replied.
Kookie looked unsettled. ❝That's the thing, usually I have eggs...you know, from my chickens, and...❞
❝That's fine! Honestly, I really don't know why I acted the way I did about them. It was stupid, really. I shouldn't have agreed,❞ I reassured him. The last thing I wanted was for him to be upset over something I did.
A smile crept over his face when suddenly he appeared confused. ❝What do you mean ❛You shouldn't have agreed?❜❞
Had I said that? ❝Oh, well my Appa was the one who was against your eggs, saying they'd give us salmonella. I didn't want to agree with him, but it wasn't...❞ I thought about how to word it. I couldn't hurt Kookie's feelings. ❝I just didn't want him to get mad at me.❞
❝That makes sense,❞ he said simply. His tone was unaltered.
I tilted my head. ❝So you're not angry with me?❞
❝Why would I be?❞ Kookie asked with a laugh. ❝It was one thing. People make mistakes all the time, and if we're going to punish people for their imperfections then we would all be hurt.❞
The way he spoke was so wise. Beyond anyone else in our school. Every day, buddy, it amazes me.
❝You okay?❞
I blinked myself back into the conversation. ❝What? Oh, yeah, sorry, I was just thinking.❞
❝About what?❞ He inquired.
❝You. And how...different you are,❞ I said with a small shrug.
He scowled. ❝Is that bad?❞
❝No!❞ I definitely chose the wrong words. ❝It's a good thing. A really good thing. I was thinking about how you're different from everyone else because you're so insightful,❞ I replied hurriedly.
❝Oh,❞ was all he had to say.
❝Sorry if I, uh, worded that wrong,❞ I said in an attempt to mend my previous implication. ❝It was supposed to be a compliment.❞
He grinned. ❝It's okay. Anyways, wanna go get breakfast?❞
❝Sure!❞
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For the first time in a while, I was actually able to eat eggs. And not just because I wanted to be polite, but because Jimin's Uncle's cooking was excellent.
❝I'll be right back,❞ Kookie said. ❝Chickens need to be fed.❞
I nodded and stood up, collecting the dishes from the table. The least I could do in return for the hospitality was to help clean up.
❝Oh, Tae, you don't have to do that,❞ Jimin Uncle told me.
❝It's alright, I don't mind helping out.❞
He sighed and shook his head. ❝Suit yourself.❞
I hoped that he wasn't angry with me for what had happened in the past. I, at least to my belief, had changed for the better. ❝Are you upset that I'm, um, with Kookie?❞ I asked impulsively.
❝No, no, as long as you don't hurt him!❞ He seemed taken aback by the question. ❝There's been a lot of change around here lately, and I think it'll be good for Kookie.❞
Inside I was doing a small victory dance. Neither of his parents was mad at me, and they both approved of the relationship! Yay!! ❝I would never want to hurt him.❞
❝I can tell,❞ he said simply. When I stayed silent he continued. ❝By the way you two look at each other. It's the way I look at his father.❞
❝Oh,❞ I replied uncertainly.
Jimin's Uncle smiled. ❝That's a good thing.❞
We put the dishes into the washer and I walked off to Kookie's bedroom alone since he was still outside. Talking to his Appa, I think. I picked up the book I had brought and tried to read a few pages. If it was something Kookie liked to do, I figured I should do it as well. The plot was fairly interesting, something about a boy saving up for two hunting dogs. The time was short, though, as Kookie walked in a few minutes later.
❝Hey,❞ I said, looking over at him. When I surveyed his face it was obvious something was terribly wrong as tear streaks marked his cheeks. ❝Kookie, what's wrong?❞
He took a seat next to me on the bed. ❝It's my uncle,❞ he sniffed. ❝You know how he's...different?❞
I nodded.
❝Well, my Appa brought him here last night while we were asleep. He's still sleeping right now, but I guess he's been getting much worse. My Appa was telling me about how he throws tantrums more often and about the way he's lost what little awareness he had of his surroundings.❞ Kookie paused to take a breath and wipe his eyes.
I hesitantly placed an arm over his shoulder. It must have been comforting, as he leaned closer to me, resting his head on me.
❝The doctors...❞ A tear rolled down his face. ❝The doctors don't know what's wrong, and I don't know what to do because it could get so bad and I can't imagine what might happen,❞ he cried.
❝It's gonna be okay,❞ I said quietly, hoping to reassure him. ❝No one could have known this would happen; it's out of your control. Just...know that I'm always here for you, alright?❞
❝Thank you,❞ he replied with effects of lamentation visible on his features.
As I sat there and held Kookie, I thought about what my Abeoji had said. That very well could've been me, and my sister and parents could've been the ones worried sick about whether I was going to be fine.
Somehow this made me feel connected to the situation, maybe because I could imagine just how painful it has to be. I ran my hand up and down the side of Kookie's arm, trying to make him feel safe. I guess I never really noticed how strong he was until now. This was the second time I'd ever seen him cry, and he'd been through so much.
The thought compelled me to always, always be there for him. I couldn't let him be hurt again, especially not by me.