Prettiest Lie - A Taekook Love Story.

52 - This Ends Here, Today.

Taehyung was turning his phone around and around, mindlessly, for his heart was heavy with uneasiness. Jimin was perched on the sofa, typing furiously on his laptop. He had been with Taehyung since Jungkook and Hoseok left in the morning for the press conference.

"At what time the press conference is starting?"

Jimin looked up from the laptop. "At 1.30."

Taehyung ran his hand over the edge of the cast on his leg. "So, in about one hour from now?"

"Give or take, yeah. Why?"

Taehyung didn't answer at first. He looked back at the phone, opening it to see whether there were any new messages. When he saw there weren't, he sighed. "I should be there."

"What?"

"I should be there, Jimin! I can't let him do this alone. H-he.." Taehyung shook his head a few times. "I can't let him face this alone."

"Tae.." Jimin sighed. "I understand. Believe me, I do. None of us like what's happening but we don't have a choice."

"Maybe you don't. But I do." Taehyung answered in a determined way, before raising his body to a sitting position on the bed. "I have the choice to let him do this alone or be there with him. And you can bet what I'm gonna choose."

Jimin quickly got up from the sofa, when Taehyung reached for his crutches, and jumped forward to support him. "Woah! What are you doing?"

"I'm gonna go to that press conference. And I'm gonna sit there with him when he reads out the statement."

"No you're not! You can barely walk!"

"I can walk.. enough." Taehyung replied through gritted teeth. "I've been doing my therapies and all."

"Taehyung, this is ridiculous. I can't-"

"Listen, Jimin. You can either help me or step aside. Either way, I'm getting myself to that press conference."

There was silence for a few seconds before Jimin picked up the phone and dialed a number to get a van ready. "I'm so gonna get fired for this."

Taehyung changed into the clothes Jimin got from the closet, while he listened to the latter calling the nurse's station for a wheelchair.

It took them only about half an hour to reach the venue. Jimin tried to call ahead but Hoseok was not answering the phone. Jimin was not sure of how to proceed because he knew that it was unwise to just barge in.

He looked at Taehyung. "Hyung's not answering his phone. I think they are getting ready for the press."

Taehyung gave a nod. "Then let's just go."

"We can't-" Jimin took a deep breath, trying to stop Taehyung from opening the door. "I need to know the situation inside. I need to know whether it's safe for you to-"

"Come on Jimin! It's a bloody press conference, not a fan event. Hobi hyung would have had it closed off already. It will probably be crawling with security, he's not one to take any chances when it comes to Jungkook. Let's just fucking go, or we will be late."

After a few more seconds of staring, Jimin sighed. He then gave Taehyung his cap and mask, and got out of the vehicle. A bodyguard brought forward the wheelchair and Jimin helped Taehyung sit on it. Taehyung can walk a bit and he intends to do so once they are inside the hall, but there was a bit of a distance from the car park to the conference hall and Taehyung didn't want to waste time or effort by trying to be independent. He knows when to push and when to pull back.

Once they were inside, Taehyung removed his mask and cap, knowing that the reporters and cameraman would recognize him. As Jimin pushed his wheelchair forward, Taehyung noticed the look on Jungkook's face.