chapter 1

Red

The tinkling bells clanged with soft whispers as the crowd excitedly awaited the two people of the hour. The priest shuffled onto the white pedestal, book in hand as the room settled down. The loud rumbles of the organ echoed in the small cathedral, welcoming the bride. Or should I say, the groom, as this was not a typical wedding in the traditional sense.

Next to the priest was a young man in his 20s. Eyes glimmering with joy only the rarest experience so early in their lives. The crowd held their breaths as the two meet, clammy hands joined tightly together.

"I, Jeon Jungkook, take you, Kim Taehyung, to be my lawfully wedded husband," his hand shook slightly, gripping Taehyung's harder, "to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part," Jungkook shifted on his feet nervously, eyeing the priest. Their vows loudly fill the space with the beautiful colors of love and lust, using yellows bright and tranquil blues. The words painted with beautiful strokes on the high ceilings- until a harsh red tears the delicate canvas.

"They do not have my blessing."

Raising up from the bench, the gaze of the attendees followed the stocky build of the short man walking to the middle of the aisle.

It was as if a blanket of deep crimson fell on the couple and pushed the walls tightly together, choking the air out of their lungs. The room was suffocating; what was once a safe haven shatters into nothing more than a desolate church. The lights dim from Taehyung's eyes as the bells stop chiming and everything stops to a standstill.

"Taehyung," the groom's eyes flit to his father, "You know I love you" Taehyung glances at the ground, scoffing at the empty words. "And you know that I... always want what's best for you," his grip on Jungkook tightens untill his knuckles turn white. His raspy breathing emitted in gasps, his father continues his speech "and this man. He isn't- no- h-he can't be your husband. Homosexuality is a sin, Tae, listen to me, you can't do this", his father's breathing heaves with a shudder as his voice softens. "You always knew that I, never supported... this. But to marry... a man? It-it's... wrong. Weddings are- meant to be between a man and a woman." His mother rushed out of her seat, stumbling over the shocked audience as she grabbed her husband by the arm. He shrugs her off to little avail as the two leave the ceremony.

His fiance reaches out to hold him in a tight embrace, but it was too late, the red is already burned into the back of his eyelids as he runs out of his own wedding.

"TAEHYUNG!", Jungkook sprints after him, grabbing his hand "Taehyung, please it doesn't ma-", Taehyung's hands slip from Jungkook's grip as he quickens his pace, silent tears drawing tracks onto his tanned skin. His eyes rimmed red stung with sadness as his knees threatened to give out underneath him.

He finds his way to his car. Pulling on the red door he flings the doors open. Keys in, ignition on, Jungkook grabs at the door. Tugging it open, he slides in. It was as if in that moment Taehyung was underwater. Everything was muffled. His eyes were blurry, and there was a loud ringing echoing through his ears. Jungkook's lips were moving but he wasn't hearing anything.

"Taehyung, please, don't listen to him. Please stop and think he isn't worth our time, baby please stop". Shift gear, back up; it was all second nature by now. The engine gives a low hum as the tires grazes the cement. "Baby, please think about this. Babe, stop you can't drive like this please". He grabs his hand but Taehyung swats him away, pressing on the pedal harder.

Giving out a low growl, the car spurs on to the traffic laced road. Tears streaked to the bottom of his cheeks. Mouth quivering, Jungkook reaches out to Taehyung, warm hands covering ice cold fingers. They speed pass a red light. Faster. Reds, yellows and blues mix as the lights of the city flowed up and down like a dance to entice the dead. Faster. Another red light. Taunting.

From the right a car passes; a blink. In a muffled boom the airbags explodes. Blood splatters on to the pristine white. The car's wheel swerve erratically as steam erupts from the engines. Ears ringing- he was underwater too. Looking up, there was a crack decorating the glass, swirling in pretty patterns. The headrest pops off. The car behind them slams into the back of their car; a blink. He's jerked forward. The headrest jams on to the back of his neck. Blood. Red. Eyes fluttering shut. The car stops. The glass shatters on to them, and the whole world held their breath.

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