Chapter Text
Busan, South Korea.
They were Taekook— Taehyung and Jungkook. From elementary to high school; lazy afternoons were spent holding hands, playing video games, basketball in the roadside playground, sharing Pokemon cards, keeping secrets, endless talkings, walking home together, then calling each other randomly from the windows of their bedrooms which had a good three-meter distance and continuing whatever discussion they left till midnight were their everyday things. 'Where's Taehyung? —Ask Jungkook.' 'Where's Jungkook? —Must be in Taehyung's house.' Not only their parents, but everyone in the colony would know 'Taekook' were inseparable.
One fine morning, dropping himself on the edge of the little couch in Jungkook's bedroom, Taehyung set out what weighed his mind, "Economics ain't giving me any hope. I'm quitting."
Jungkook, whose face was jammed against his phone, made no reaction. He was shirtless, his baby abs like carved marble glowing under the beige sunlight peeking through the semi transparent curtains of the windows beside him. Where the other boy was in casual blue jeans and white shirt, uncombed long curls falling on his face making it seem smaller like a Japanese doll.
"Bunny, Are you listening?"
"What?" Jungkook was so absorbed in texting that he didn't notice when his friend had gotten closer to him. He made a whinny sound at the back of his throat when his phone was snatched away from his hand, "Hey, wait," He stretched his arm to get it back which was drawn farther out of his reach. He pulled the other by his collar, not forcing though, actually didn't want to tear his shirt which was new he knew. He groaned and gave up a second later. Hands falling on lap defeatedly. None of his tricks he knew would work on his best friend, who would definitely make him listen to whatever he had to say. "At least you could let me say her a bye. What will she think of me keeping her messages on seen?"
"She'll probably think you have no interest in her." Taehyung handed him his phone after switching it off.
"What happened now? Tell me!"
"I will of course, but first, tell me who I am?"
"Ughhh!" The annoyed groan projected that it wasn't Jungkook's first time facing this question, "Tae Hyung,"
"Only Taehyung?" His perfectly arched eyebrow demanded something else.
"Kim taehyung. Happy?" Jungkook leaned back and watched him sulk.
"Tae is," Taehyung said, kicking his foot gently, "The first part of Taekook. No one can take Tae's place in Kook's life. Not even that short hair skinny girl you are courting."
Jungkook kicked his foot back. "Why the hell are you getting so aggressive day by day?"
The word 'aggressive' somehow triggered the other boy as he raised on his knees to crush himself on his thighs and cupped his face with both of his hands, squished his cheeks until a pout popped up on his mouth, and made him look up at him. "Why aren't you paying attention to me these days?"
"I do," It was difficult speaking with a squished mouth, though Jungkook didn't push him away. "It's you who confuses me."
"Remember this," Taehyung brought his face closer to his face, warm breath ghosting over his pink pout where his eyes lingered, "You can't escape from me."
Jungkook didn’t flinch. His brow furrowed, eyes tightening on his blinkless stare. Almost 24/7 he was with him. He couldn't remember the last time they had a fight and stopped talking for a whole day. Taehyung was damn right— none could take his place in his life. They'd become like each other's habits— hard to let go.
Even a year ago, after spending whole days together, he felt lonely at nights when Taehyung closed his curtains after saying 'Goodnight' and dimmed his bedroom light as he prepared himself to sleep. Jungkook knew they were going to meet tomorrow, however laying on his own bed looking at the empty ceiling he kept wondering if he could cross the fence that separated their houses and talk with him more on topics that were left on his mind or better sleep in his bed, cuddling till they fall asleep.
He was an early riser, Taehyung not. Everyday he waited for him outside his house to go to their school together. They had the same class, the same additional subjects and their hobbies were the same. Classmates addressing them as soul-twins always made him feel proud.
Everything was fine until he noticed the sudden change in Taehyung's behaviour when they became eighteen. Taehyung chose the same major as him knowing it would be difficult to conduct. In college Jungkook couldn't make many friends as his best friend was clinging to him almost all the time, touching him often, getting jealous, sulking on silly things, making him uncomfortable when they were in public. He didn't know the reason, never asked for it, just thought Taehyung was naive, he would act maturely if they gave each other some space. He started talking with this girl Nana for a couple of months, and went on dates like a normal college couple. He did all the things with her which Taehyung opposed, which was abnormal according to some, but he never stopped him for once.
However Taehyung's possessiveness ascended and it did affect his love life. Nana started avoiding him.
"Get off." He pushed the thin boy off of him and sat upright. Deep breath, he faced him. "Alright tell me where you're stuck? I could help you."
"No need." Taehyung sighed, his voice dropped to a murmur, "I'm dropping out."
"Now you're saying this? Before the final semester?" Jungkook couldn't believe it.
"Uhm," The corner of Taehyung's lips downward, "I wasted my two whole years on the thing that never got inside my head. I got the lowest marks in our college, got called by the principal three times, if that's not embarrassing he humiliated me in front of my dad. If I were the chairman, I would have kicked that bald pig out but I could only stare. My dad didn't say anything but I know he hates me now."
"I don't think so. He never forced you to do anything ever unlike my dad." Jungkook was always good at calculations so his father wanted him to become an accountant, whereas Taehyung was more into arts, creative things and not so well in Maths. His father had a garments shop in the city Busan which he was supposed to run after graduation, that's why his father let him choose whatever he wanted to.
"I know. He'll probably tell me to drop out if I say this now, and caged me in that boring business of his." He sighed and looked at Jungkook, "I don't want that. I just want to be with you."
Jungkook studied his expression, "What do you want me to do now?"
"Run away with me."
Jungkook's eyebrows rose immediately. "What?"
"I said—" Taehyung touched his elbow and bent close like he was going to share something confidential, "Come with me, Bunny. I'm going to Seoul to try my luck in acting. Got some money from my insurance last year and my dad hasn't asked for it yet. Also, becoming an actor was our dream when we were teens, remember? We used to participate in school plays?"
Jungkook's mouth ajar, however remained silent.
Taehyung added, "Don't worry. I've talked with uncle Gong who lives in Seoul. He said we can stay in his rooftop room until we find a job. He's not that rich who can afford our meals but we can manage that." His eyes were so earnest, so hopeful, Jungkook couldn't reply immediately.
"You ain't serious, huh?" He spoke after a long moment of silence.
"I am." Taehyung took his hand into his, lightly pressing, "Let's go together. This'll be our last chance to prove ourselves to our parents."
Jungkook hadn't come out of the shock. He knew Taehyung wouldn't say something out of the blue or joke on certain things, but what he was saying was impossible. "Impossible. We just can't run away like this. What will my dad say? Yaejoon, my brother is a college topper, maybe I'm not as good as him but, dad has high hopes for me. He wants us to become government employees like him. I can't break his hope."
"What about your dreams? And me?"
"I am not the same fourteen year old if you haven't noticed it before. I can't." Jungkook lowered his head. It was so hard for him to choose between them.
"Then," Taehyung lowered his face, mirroring him, his eyes closing as if he was hurt, quietly said, "We'll be seeing each other less from now on. If this is what you want, I'll honor it. I shall come tomorrow to say a proper goodbye. Uhm?" Releculantly he got up. Hands fisted and let loose. Before coming here he thought his best friend would immediately agree with him, in fact encourage him, and prepare himself for their journey towards a new life. But it seemed really impossible.
He took a deep breath and a step toward the door but immediately got held, pulled by the other, and losing balance he thumped back on the couch where he was a moment ago.
"Wait," Jungkook didn't let go of his wrist, gently asked, "Where are you going now?"
"Now? I have to go to arrange the tickets. Buy some handy items and pack them in my bag. It'll take some time, you know." Taehyung tried sounding cheerful, "I’ll be okay. Don't worry." An obvious lie. Jungkook could read that on his face.
"I know you're good looking and I never doubted your acting skill, but how can you say I'll get a role in dramas or movies with this face?" He swiped his hand over his face, "I mean, just look at me. They'll probably reject me in the audition."
"No." Taehyung shook his head and didn't waste a moment to say, "Bunny, you are the most good looking guy I've ever seen. You have a perfect body, perfect face, fair glowing skin, they'll cast you before me I'm saying this."
"You sure?"
"Damn sure."
"Fuck." Jungkook's mouth stretched in a full smile, "I'm going with you."
Two months later,
Seoul, South Korea.
"Are we having jajangmyeon tonight?" Taehyung very carefully took the bowl from Jungkook's hand, took a deep breath and sighed, "Ah, it smells so good. Thank you."
Jungkook smiled, "Wait, I bought some kimchi on my way home. Let me get it for you." He walked over to the kitchen counter, opened a drawer and pulled out a small kimchi can he got in the departmental store at a fair discount. He washed his used knife and the can before opening it.
In the meantime when Jungkook wasn't looking, digging his chopsticks into the bowl, Taehyung took out a good amount of his share and filled Jungkook's bowl with it. When Jungkook came and sat on the floor beside him, he smiled widely till his cheeks curved with childlike fullness. "So nice of you, my lovely Bunny. You know how much I love noodles with kimchi." He plated out a spoonful of kimchi and mixed it with his noodles, having the first bite while savoring the flavor. "Mhmm, so good. I'm having a foodgasm."
"You're what?" Jungkook raised his eyes at him.
Taehyung shyly shook his head. "I won't repeat. Just eat your food."
Jungkook nodded, "Is the kimchi good?"
"Oishi."
Jungkook couldn't help but laugh at his stuffed face and puppy eyes, then suddenly got serious and said, "My mom makes better kimchi than this. I miss her cooking. Actually I'm missing her badly these days."
Gulping the semi-chewed noodles Taehyung had in his mouth, got himself closer to him, "You could visit her for a couple of days and come back again."
"I wish I could." Jungkook took a pause, "I'll go home only if I become successful in life as written on the letter I left for my dad. Don't want to go now and stand in front of him being a loser. I don't want to give him the chance to laugh at my face. I don't want to be as pathetic as he has assumed. I can't right now."
"Bunny," Taehyung opened his mouth and closed. He didn't like the fact that Jungkook was helpless and the reason was his stupidity. No matter how many auditions they gave, how many production houses they visited in these couple of months, nothing worked for them. Everyone either had asked about their experience or the connection with the influential families, or directly had asked for money. And they'd none of them to begin with. He wished he could turn back time, return to their usual comfort place in Busan. Their houses. Maybe it wasn't too late.
But of course that wouldn't be the same as before.
They laid side by side on the mattress. Two pillows touching, not their bodies. The metallic moonlight through the unrepaired rooftop ceiling created a mosaic pattern on the floor. It was long past midnight. Stars were fading one by one. The world was taking a rest. A serene peace settled over the white blanket they were sharing.
"Jungkook," Taehyung said, looking at one of the holes on the ceiling, "How much do we have left?"
Jungkook tiredly opened his eyes, turned to his side, facing him. "Enough for a week or two. You don't have to worry, just give your best in the auditions. I'll manage the rest."
"I gave my hundred percent each time. Nothing worked." The broken ceiling, the endless space outside had become a metaphor of his life. He closed his eyes and sighed and opened them towards Jungkook. "One thing I've learned coming here, you don't always need talent, what you need is power. If you've money, you have the power to do anything literally."
"Hey," Jungkook reached his hand under the blanket, interlocking their fingers, "Once we get a job, we're getting tons of money. Uhm?"
"Don't raise my hopes. I'm already frustrated."
"Don't be." Jungkook squished his hand once and left it after a sigh. "I forgot to tell you I've an audition tomorrow which is for a negative role."
"No way. You," Taehyung turned on his side, scrutinizing his expression with a frown. "Aren't serious. Right?"
"Why? What's wrong with that?" Jungkook said in a pout.
"Cancel it. If your first impression comes out negative, nobody will cast you for the male lead."
"Male lead?" Jungkook laughed, showing his two front teeth, "Don't make jokes in the middle of the night, Tae. With your face and talent you aren't getting the main lead, how do you expect me to get one?"
"No." Taehyung whined, "I told you you're more handsome than me."
"Yeah sure." Jungkook rolled his eyes, "Anyways, if I get that gangster role I'm telling you, all our life problems will be solved."
"Ok, but how would you play a gangster?" Taehyung came inches closer to him, eyes glinting clearly, "Tell me who'll fear a baby faced bunny? Your co-stars would die on your cuteness first, and then the audience."
Jungkook's eyes narrowed, "Hey, you shouldn't say that. I'm preparing myself to get into the character."
"Um as you say so. But trust me, no one's gonna take you seriously. Nobody will fear you." Two fingers on Jungkook's nose pinching playfully, Taehyung laughing so loudly as if he said something funny. Jungkook gripped his arm and his laugh disappeared. "Aah!"
"So you're saying I can't act badass huh?" Jungkook said in his deepermost voice, his eyes were shining with a dark glee aligned with the other's widened ones. "You want me to be a bad boy right now?" A smirk, "I can be worse than you imagined."
"I was just joking." Taehyung tried to laugh like before but the grip on his hand tightened, and he yelled in sudden pain, "Yah! Leave me, you bunny man. I hate you."
"See," Jungkook left his hand and giggled, "You've underestimated my talent"
"For a moment I thought you've gone crazy." Taehyung clutched his forearm where he was being held, though it wasn't hurting much but left a tingling sensation behind. "How are you so strong? I envied you secretly."
"Everyone in our college did." Jungkook sighed and crossed his arms behind his head as he rolled on his back, closed his eyes, remembering those days his lips curved in a smile.
Taehyung felt ice in his heart with a certain memory in their college. A moment later he whispered, "Did you feel something when you kissed her?"
"Huh?" Jungkook opened his sleepy eyes, looked at him like he'd seen him a lifetime ago, "You mean Nana?"
Taehyung arched his brows, "How many girls have you kissed?" He was with him all the time. What if Jungkook hid the others! Not possible.
"Only her." He confirmed. "Twice."
Taehyung bit his inner lip, "Did you feel something?"
"Yeah of course. That was so magical. I never knew girls' lips could be that soft. It felt like having an ice-cream or a chunk of butter or marshmallow softly melting inside my mouth." He smiled slowly, shyly, "I can't even describe."
"Oh!" Taehyung didn’t take his eyes off him for a second, expressionless.
"Why did you ask?" Said Jungkook.
"Just asked." He turned the other side facing the wall, pulling the blanket over his head and murmured, "Sleep. You've an audition tomorrow."
Another month later,
Seoul, South Korea.
A knock at the door, breathing deep, Jungkook opened it. Gilding with the bright rectangular smile Taehyung threw himself on him and he caught him immediately almost losing his balance, stumbling a few steps backwards.
"Hey," Holding his waist firmly in his bare arms, Jungkook pulled his head back to look at his face, "Planning to give me a heart attack or something?."
Taehyung's smile immediately brightened to its full brilliance. Nodded his head and kissed his cheek, making his eyes widen like an anime character.
"What was that for?"
"Oh Bunny," Taehyung giggled to the point his eyes became teary. "I made it, bunny. I made it."
"No way."
"Yes, yes yes."
"I know. I know." Jungkook picked him up, spinning him away making him gasp and laugh. "Your face said it all."
"Ohh!" Taehyung cried harder, holding him by his shoulder, couldn't stop laughing, "Put me down, bunny man. You're making me dizzy. Gosh!"
Jungkook did as said and immediately pulled him in a welcoming hug, "You deserved it. Totally. Nobody can look better than you on the screen, I told you."
"You're overpraising. You knew I was on the verge of losing my hope. If you weren't with me all this time, I-" Might have crushed down—Taehyung couldn't say more, bruised his teary face on Jungkook's apron, took deep breaths to relax. Then it hit his nose, "Cooking some meat?"
"Oh shit!" Jungkook left him there and ran towards the stove, turned it off before the steak in the pan started to smell. "Shit, it was about to get burned."
"Korean beef? Wow!" Taehyung came from behind, clinging on his back like a koala, observed how carefully he poured the big thick piece of well-cooked meat on a plate, with a kitchen knife very neatly cut it into halves and laid them over the green lettuce bed he prepared beforehand. "Smelling so good. Must be expensive."
Smiling, Jungkook put the plates over the clean mattress of the newly purchased dining table, then beckoned him to visit the washroom first.
"Why? I’m fucking starving. Feed me, nae Bunny. Please please please!" Taehyung whined, nudging Jungkook's arm.
"What are you, a baby?" Jungkook released his arm from his brace, twirled and lightly pushed him towards the bathroom, "Go wash yourself before it gets cold." He had a rule. Everything and everyone in his place had to be scrupulously clean.
Taehyung side eyed the plates, the appetising aroma triggering more hydrochloric acids in his stomach, coating his tongue with excessive saliva, however he was well aware of Jungkook's obsession with cleanliness, so he rushed to the bathroom without wasting a moment and tidied up as quickly as his hands could.
"Wanna have some wine before?"
"Now wine?" The towel he was wiping his hands and face with was taken by Jungkook as he led him to the chair and told to have the food. His plate was alluring. His stomach growled again. However he waited for Jungkook to finish up first. Propping his chin on one hand, he kept watching how skillfully his friend pulled the foil up and twisted the seal to open a bottle of Merlot wine and filled their glasses with dark red liquor which he'd seen only in dramas. "Wow! Is there anything you cannot do?”
"Thought you were starving." Jungkook half smiled seeing him utterly surprised, and spoke in his deep, domestic voice, "What's with this look?"
"Spellbound."
"Stop being dramatic."
"Okay, but we need to talk."
"Go on."
Taehyung bit his inner lip, studied his expression before speaking, careful not saying something odd to ruin their moment, "Ever since you got that gangster's role, you've been spending money too much on unnecessary things. We didn't need a dining table, the floor was perfect for the two of us, and that second-hand car, which doesn't look like the second-hand, you bought without asking me! Didn't we decide earlier to save until we buy a decent apartment first?"
"Of course." Jungkook nodded, smiling at his assumption about what Taehyung was going to say, "From tomorrow, we're going to do that. But today let's celebrate your success." He held his glass up for the toss. "Cheers to actor Kim Taehyung."
"Cheers to Taekook." Taehyung smiled as they took the sip at the same time but his face twisted while gulping the liquor and it made the other boy laugh.
"You're such a baby."
"Look who's talking." Taehyung raised his eyebrows, but a grin crept over his mouth. "Ummm," He took the first bite, pasused, savoring the flavors in his mouth, "It's too good. You're a genius."
"It has come out well." Jungkook agreed. "Tell me what happened in the auditions."
"Oh yes, the auditions!" Taehyung cleared his throat before speaking, "You know, I was a little nervous before my turn on the stage and was thinking of talking with you for a while. But you were at work, so I didn't want to disturb you."
"Why? You could have called me then. There wasn't much work today." Jungkook kept a straight face. Focusing on mincing the meat with the knife and then putting them into his mouth, seldom looking at his face, nodding.
"It was nothing new." Taehyung continued, "I was nervous like always. Shaking my feet, breathing deep, reverse counting, you know. Then a cute looking boy who came for the auditions approached me and asked me to have some talk so that we both can be out of tension."
"Really?"
"Yeah." Puffy-cheeked smile spread on his face when he recalled their meeting, "He had a very clean voice like a singer's. I came to know he's an ex trainee of an idol group, but didn't get selected because of in house politics. His acting skills are admirable. You won't believe he did a tremendous job in front of the judges and got selected for the second lead."
"Wow."
"His name is Jimin Park." Taehyung smiled a little more, "He's so talkative, touchy, everything that makes me cringe but he's sweet and funny. Down to earth type."
"I see."
"Yeah. We shared contacts, social media IDs," Taehyung was going to say more but being aware of the other's lack of enthusiasm he halted, "Why are you giving monosyllabic replies? Wait, you're not jealous, ain't you?"
Jungkook chuckled, shaking his head, "No. Why would I? It's good that you're finally making friends outside. He seems like a fun guy. Bring him here someday. We'll hang out together."
"Okay." Taehyung's heart sank. What was he expecting? That his best friend would go over possessive and ask him to stay away from strangers? Or tell him to maintain a professional distance with others and trust him and him only!
Suddenly the steak tasted blunt and he felt a loss of appetite.
A knock at the door. They glanced at each other.
A knock again. This time louder. Taehyung got up.
"Must be uncle," He walked to the door thinking why wasn't his uncle calling him out by his name like everytime. When the door opened he frowned seeing two uniformed men holding guns looking directly at him and then at his back. "Excuse me?"
"Move." The first of the two men yelled, a bit harshly and before Taehyung could say a word he was being pushed off their way. "Hands over your head Jkay, and surrender."
"Jkay?" Taehyung turned abruptly, eyes widened when they captured the most improbable view of his life: A black thick revolver was in Jungkook's hand instead of the fork he was holding a moment ago, the tip was pointing at the incomers who had the same gesture as him.
"Drop the gun or else we'll have to shoot you." One of the uniformed men roared. " Right now."
"Step back." Jungkook warned them as he took a step and stood beside Taehyung. There was nowhere he could go. In this small congested room everything was open, revealed.
For a moment Taehyung couldn't recognize his best friend. There was something formidable in his eyes that he failed to understand. He didn't know where this deadly weapon came from. Was it inside his pocket all the time? Or in the kitchen drawer which he didn't notice in the morning while making breakfast? And the way Jungkook was holding it, it seemed like it wasn't his first time.
"I said surrender," A bang and the bullet riddled on the side, shattering the glass top of the table and the plates and the glasses filled with wine. The noise made Taehyung scream out his friend's name, covering his ears, panicking.
"Not a chance." Jungkook averted his gaze on Taehyung— he was scared, he would be more if he wouldn't pull an act. This may prove how good of an actor he was— only the timing would be wrong. With a sudden tug he held his waist from behind, pressing their bodies together, pressing the tip of the gun on his head and looked at the officers, "Let me go or else I will shove all the bullets inside this guy's skull. You don't want that, no?"
Taehyung closed his eyes, the muscles in his neck tense and trembling. He trusted his friend but at this moment his brain stopped functioning.
"You can't fool us anymore Jkay. He must be one of your acquaintances." The second man tilted his head in a certain way, a gesture that fueled Jungkook's anger.
"You're wrong. He's my subject for tonight. I was assigned to kill him." He voiced out roughly beside Taehyung's ear, and Taehyung thought if he could close his ears as well.
"He's lying." The second man, who seemed much younger, said.
"You'll know." Jungkook smirked as he slowly dragged the tip into Taehyung's ear, "Very soon." His fingers lightly caressed the trigger and could feel the boy shivering under his touch, however this wasn't the time to notice such things as he knew his and his friend's life were swinging on a single pendulum.
"Wait," The second officer raised his hand, "This guy seems innocent. Don't let him get hurt."
"Let him go Jkay." The first man pulled out the handcuffs and unfold it before his eyes, "You can't escape from here anyway."
"That's what you think?" A murmur and a shot, right through the man's ribs making the other startled and Taehyung scream. The gun dropped before his body on the mattress.
Scream mingled with the sounds of bullets as the duel became obvious with the other man and Jungkook. The smoke seemed to thicken between the small space between them, though that didn't stop them firing their arms.
Jungkook pushed Taehyung aside, came before him, shot directly at the officer's head but that man dodged, fired back and this time succeeded to hit the skin of Jungkook's arm. Drops of blood oozed from the torn vein and his brows knitted together.
Pain wasn't a problem but Taehyung was, who seemed on the verge of losing his consciousness.
Lowering his upper body Jungkook dodged the next set of bullets coming towards him. One knee smashing onto the floor he twirled, turned, straightening his other leg which hit the man's ankle making him lose balance and his next tip missed.
That was the chance.
A brutal punch by Jungkook right between his kidneys arched his spinal cord. His gun fell out. Jungkook got up and shoved his knee into his rib cage, sending a splinter of pain snapping through his whole body and he vomited blood, holding his chest.
No more struggle.
Two shots were fired back to back to his head making him slump noisily to the ground beside Taehyung's feet.
A breathless moment of silence followed.
The smell of gunsmoke drifting through the opened door. Taehyung stood there unblinking, watching the dark blood as it began to pool beneath the officer's head.
When it finally penetrated that no one left to attack, Jungkook braced his back against the door and watched the blank expression on Taehyung's face. The gun on his hand hanging low. There was a narrow stream of blood flowing towards the tip of the gun and dropping on the worn out mattress silently.
"This is a nightmare." Taehyung tore his gaze from the floor and lingered it on him, "Tell me I'm not having a nightmare."
Jungkook didn't answer, instead walked to his cabinet, opened the locker with the keys inside his pocket and pulled out another revolver, thicker than the previous one, checked if it were loaded and shoved it inside his pocket.
"You," Taehyung's brain understood what was happening but failed to fill in the blanks that were left. He went near him, held him by his wrist, made him turn, "You can't be my Bunny. My Bunny can't even kill an insect. And there are humans laying down on the floor. Lifeless I guess!"
Jungkook stared at his confused feared gaze. So many things he wanted to say but he said nothing. It was, his selfish self thought, better to stay silent and leave when he had to leave anyway.
He brought down his duffle bag from the upper shelf of the cabinet and descented it onto the floor. His hand halted unfastening the zip. The bright, shiny memories of them running to catch the last train to Seoul, laughing heart out, holding hands, promises that they'd never ever leave each other's hand made him sigh.
Everything dies, nothing lasts even the promises.
He shoved some clothes inside hurriedly. Went to the bathroom to collect his toothbrush but again halted his hand seeing its pair which was kept right beside it. Green was Taehyung's favorite colour and his purple. Life and spirituality. He picked up the purple, leaving Life behind.
Taehyung was still in a daze. Seeing him packing his stuff, he got an uneasy feeling inside. He held his hand in between his, forcing him to look at him again. "You're bleeding." The voice came out thin. The screams had made his throat a bit sore. The other boy showed no reaction which made him raise his voice. "At least let me put on a bandage, dammit."
"Don't have time for that." Jungkook tugged his hand back, more blood gushed out of the wound but he didn't spare it a look, "People downstairs have heard all these or have called the police already. I can't stay here any longer."
"The police are after you!" Breathless, Taehyung clutched his sleeve and shook it, "You've killed humans, do you know what it means?"
"I know," For the first time in his life Jungkook's voice rose over the madness. "I'm a fucking criminal is that what you were trying to imply? Listen—" Dark eyes over brown ones, "You're not good either. You're stupid, crazy and a fuken psycho." Crazed by adrenaline, he spatted everything that came into his mouth, "You fall in love with everything you see, try to get hold of that by any means, but always overlook the reality behind it. What made you think you'll get a job in this damn big city where every morning dreams are born to be scattered until midnight? If it weren't for your face, no one would notice you, hire you in the first place. You were just lucky. And I wasn't. I'm a failure, a big ass loser in every aspect."
"How could you say that?" Taehyung attempted to find a way like every time. He admitted he was stupid and stubborn and crazy, try to get hold of everything he fell in love with but also he was aware of the reality. "You're way more talented than I am. You just have to wait for the right opportunity."
"Opportunity!" Jungkook flashed him an are-you-sure look, "Where was it when I had to walk miles and miles to visit those production houses just for making myself a fool in front of those assistant directors? When you had to starve at that night because I didn't have a single penny in my pocket to buy you some bread? I couldn't see you, us like that." He shook his head, "I couldn't. I was tired of being so helpless."
It spiked through Taehyung's heart. The flash of raw, naked reality they had to go through.
"I can guess," He said quietly, "You've chosen the wrong route to find a temporary solution. But it's not impossible to return back. I will hire a top class lawyer for you. You don't have to do these things. Whoever has lured you, must suffer for his dids. You're innocent, I believe it Bunny."
Innocent! Jungkook winced at this word, turned his head away and the very moment heard the sirens that were coming from the downstreets.
"Shit!" Tension corded up into his neck. Too much time had passed already. He couldn’t afford to stay here any longer. He had to get down from the other side of this apartment first. He picked up the bag which had its one strap in the hands of Taehyung.
"Don't leave me Bunny," Taehyung's grip tightening, refusing to let go, fearing he would never return. "Please take me with you. I can't live without you."
"No." Jungkook forcefully released his bag from him, "We can't stay together after this."
"Why?" Taehyung stared hopelessly at him. "You don't know how much I love you. Don't do this to me. Please."
Jungkook turned to leave, but stopped after a few steps and looked back, "What did you say?"
"I love you. I love you, I love you." Taehyung's voice broke. His brown eyes were shimmered with tears, a sheen of wetness on his cheeks which was the last thing Jungkook wanted to see. "More than a friend." Said he, "I desired you knowing that we're both boys. I'm sorry."
A shiver clawed its way up Jungkook's spine. The sound of mixed voices coming from downstairs overlapped the distant sound of sirens but his legs seemed to jam on the floor.
"You shouldn't." An eroded whisper, he took a step back, "You shouldn't."
Although it couldn't prevent the other boy chase after him. Jungkook knew Taehyung didn't know how to take no for an answer when it came to him. He knew it very well there was nothing he could do to stop him right now, he would be even chasing him till the chasm of darkness, and Jungkook could never let it happen.
All of his efforts would go in vain.
"Stay back," He pulled out his gun and held it up to his forehead, "Or else I'll have to make you stop." His voice sounded as hollow as his chest felt.
"Never." Taehyung took a confident step closer, "Never gonna leave your hands, I promised." He reached for his hand and waited, ready for anything.
Jungkook took a step back, hands wavered as he lowered it on the side of his waist, "Forget me," His voice broke in a raw whisper as he pulled the trigger,
'—Forgive me, my love. Our story ends here.'
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