Chapter 4

"Do you remember that night?" Taehyung asked, his voice soft, almost trembling but a blush present on his cheeks.

Jungkook looked at him, his lashes heavy with emotion. "Which night?"

Taehyung's lips curved slightly. "The night we made love for the first time."

Jungkook didn't answer. The memories flickered through his doe teary eyes. He glanced nervously, his fingers trembling, as he shivered silently.

"You kept whispering my name like you were praying," Taehyung said gently. "And I kept thinking.... how could someone hold so much love in their touch."

Jungkook's throat tightened. "I was scared," he whispered. "Scared that I would never feel something so pure again. That maybe it was too beautiful to last. I was scared to loose you."

They were sitting close. Too close for two people who were never meant to be apart.

Taehyung reached over and brushed a strand of hair from Jungkook's face. "That night was special."

Jungkook's eyes welled up. A tear fell, slipping down his cheek.

He nodded slowly, voice cracking, "It was…. for you. But for me…." 

............

Yoongi shifted to the bench near the dock, just a few steps away from where they had been standing earlier. The old bench creaked a little as he sat. Jimin followed quietly, sitting beside him.

Yoongi continued from where he had left.....

"Mr. Jeon didn't yell, didn't even raise his voice. He just told Jungkook to go to his room. Said he needed to talk to Taehyung alone."

Jimin nodded, listening carefully.

"Taehyung stayed behind. I was there, outside the door," Yoongi continued. "Mr. Jeon offered him money first. A lot of money. Told him to leave Jungkook and disappear from his life forever."

"Taehyung refused?" Jimin asked.

"Of course," Yoongi said. "So then came the threat. He told Taehyung…. he'd kill Jungkook. Said if Taehyung didn't walk away, he'd shoot his own son to save his own reputation. He said it was better to have a dead son that one who likes men."  

Jimin turned sharply. "But he wouldn't really.... right?"

Yoongi shook his head. "No. He loved his son more than life. But he knew Taehyung would believe it. He knew that's what it would take."

There was a pause. Then Yoongi went on.

"That night.... they met one last time. Jungkook didn't know about the threat. He just thought Taehyung was scared. They spent the whole day in each other's arms. Talking, crying, remembering. Like they knew time was running out of their hands."

A breath caught in Jimin's throat.

Yoongi's voice thickened. "That night, they stayed together. For the last time. And after, Jungkook begged him. Said, 'Let's run away, I don't care where, I just need you.'"

"And Taehyung agreed?" Jimin asked, already knowing the answer.

Yoongi nodded. "He knew it was dangerous. But he loved Jungkook. He said yes. They packed a small bag, waited until late, and ran."

Then again silence filled the space.

"They almost made it," Yoongi said.

Jimin felt his heart thudding.

"Mr. Jeon caught them at the gate. His guards were ready. No one said a word. And then......"

Yoongi closed his eyes.

"HE SHOT TAEHYUNG RIGHT ON HIS CHEST."

Jimin's mouth went dry. His eyes went towards the dock.

Jungkook was sitting alone, talking with someone invisible, smiling through tears, laughing like someone who had no relation with the real world.

To no one beside him, he was alone.

"He's not talking to anyone but.... T....Taehyung" Jimin said softly.

Yoongi nodded. "Because there's no one there but Taehyung.... His..... memories...."

"W.....What happened to Young Master Jungkook after that night?" 

Yoongi stared ahead. "He broke. Completely. The shock….... the trauma, shattered him. He saw the love of his life dying infront of his eyes. He refused to believe Taehyung was gone. Kept saying he could still see him, feel his touches and hear his soft deep voice."

Yoongi's voice dropped. "Schizophrenia" 

"Huhh?"

"Yes" Yoongi replied looking at Jimin. 

.............

"It was...… for you, maybe," Jungkook murmured with a checked voice. "B.....But.... for me…...."

A tear slipped down his cheek.

He couldn't speak anymore and burst into tears.....

"I LOST YOU FOREVER TAE..... I LOST YOU...... I.... I.... LOVE YOU TAE..... PLEASE COMEBACK TO ME.... I..... I MISS YOU...... I LOVE YOU......"

.............

Jimin again looked at the dock, this time Jungkook was crying and was pleading to someone. His hands joined like he was pleading someone to stay. His eyes continuously shaded tears.

That sight was breaking Jimin's heart from inside.

"Jungkook is broken,broken in a way that can never be fixed." Yoongi said quietly. "Completely, broken."

Jimin couldn't look away from Jungkook's direction.

"He went into shock. For weeks he didn't speak. Then…  he started seeing Taehyung. Hearing him. Talking to him. He's been like this ever since."

"No treatment worked for this Schizophrenia?"

Yoongi shook his head. "Nothing. He'd scream in the middle of the night, search the streets barefoot, asking strangers if they had seen Taehyung somewhere. Eventually, his father stopped trying to fix him. Just made sure he was safe. Let him…. live with the Taehyung only he can see."

Jimin swallowed. "That's really tragic."

Yoongi's eyes were moist. "He loved too hard."

And then, suddenly they heard a SPLASH.

A loud crash of water.

Both men shot up from the bench.

"Jungkook....." Yoongi yelled.

They ran to the dock. Jimin spotted him in the water, arms flailing, screaming.

"TAEHYUNG.... I saw him....He was here.....he just.....TAEHYUNG." His voice broke into sobs as he continued to scream Taehyung's name.

Yoongi and Jimin pulled him out, he was soaked and trembling, his hands still reaching for someone invisible. His eyes had a confused look. 

"Where did he go?" Jungkook asked them softly while still sniffing. "He was right here. He smiled at me. He said he wouldn't leave this time…."

Jimin knelt beside him, wrapping a towel around his shoulders.

Yoongi said nothing. Just watched, jaw clenched and heart breaking again for the thousandth time seeing his young master whom he loves like a little Brother like that.

Jungkook sat on the bench with water dripping from his hair.

He smiled.....

"Taehyung…. come back, please," he whispered, laughing through his tears. "Don't leave again. Please stay. I won't ask you to run. Just stay…. with m....me....."

From the distant balcony above, Mr. Jeon watched silently.

His hands gripped the railing so hard that it made his knuckles turn white.

He didn't speak. He don't deserve to.

He only cried, quietly, shamefully, as he watched his son wailing for a boy who was no longer there just because of his stupid ego.

His beautiful bubbly son.

Broken.

Calling for someone he couldn't hold again.

He wept feeling helpless, feeling guilty after ruining his son's life with his own hands.

"Taehyung…." Jungkook screamed again, voice hoarse and aching. "Taehyung, please.... Come back....."

Jungkook's voice cracked again..... "Taehyung......Plea....se.....don't leave me, I.... I don't want to be alone again..... Come back..... Come back to me, please....."

And then.....

Through his blurred, tear filled eyes, he saw him again.

His Taehyungie Hyungie.....

Standing beside him with a boxy smile decorating his handsome face.

"I didn't go anywhere, Kookie," he whispered. "I'm here beside you, baby. Still with you."

...The End...

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