Episode 5: Arrow Guy

The door slid open with a soft creak.

The room seemed to quiet on its own.

A man stepped inside, dressed neatly in noble attire, his posture straight and composed. His presence alone felt different—calm, controlled, yet undeniably commanding. His eyes scanned the room briefly before settling on Jungkook.

“…He’s already awake,” the man said.

The sound of his voice sent a sharp jolt through Jungkook’s chest.

That voice.

The room blurred.

For a brief moment, Jungkook wasn’t there anymore.

He was standing under an open sky, the wind rushing past his ears. Someone was running ahead of him. He wanted to shout, to warn—

The arrow flew.

Jungkook’s body reacted before his mind could catch up.

He flinched sharply, raising his arm as if to shield himself.

Everyone froze.

“…What is he doing?” Jimin whispered.

Hoseok leaned closer to Namjoon. “Should we struck him again, what to do?”

“You guys stop that,” Seokjin said firmly, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Please stop wanting to struck this kid's head.”

The man by the door frowned. “Jungkook?”

That single word snapped Jungkook back into the present.

He lowered his arm slowly and stared straight at the man.

“…You,” Jungkook said.

The man tilted his head slightly. “Me?”

Jungkook pointed at him, eyes wide and voice suddenly loud.

“You’re the Arrow Guy.”

Silence...

Absolute, soul-crushing silence.

“…The what?” Namjoon asked carefully.

Jimin’s eyes sparkled. “Arrow Guy?”

Hoseok nodded enthusiastically. “That’s kind of cool.”

The man blinked. Once. Twice.

“Jungkook,” he said calmly, “what are you talking about?”

Seokjin sighed deeply sarcastically explain “Taehyung, please forgive him. He was struck on the head by this idiot here”

"It's an accident I swear!" Namjoon explain while looking at Seokjin

“Taehyung?” Jungkook repeated.

The name echoed strangely in his chest.

Kim Taehyung stepped forward. “Yes.”

Jungkook’s heart raced.

“No—wait,” Jungkook said quickly. “You were there. In my dream. You were running and then—”

He paused, swallowing hard.

“You got shot. From behind.”

Namjoon visibly shuddered. “That’s… unsettling.”

Hoseok nodded. “Extremely unsettling.”

Taehyung studied Jungkook carefully, his expression unreadable.

“…A dream?” he asked.

“Yes,” Jungkook said firmly. “I couldn’t see your face, but I recognized your voice. Just now. That’s why—”

“That’s enough,” Seokjin cut in gently. “He’s confused.”

Taehyung exhaled and crossed his arms. “Jungkook, we grew up together.”

Jungkook blinked. “…We did?”

Jimin gasped. “Did he forget that too?”

“Our families have been allied for generations,” Seokjin explained. “The Jeon and Kim households share a long friendship.”

“Great friendship!” Hoseok added.

“Practically you guys almost raised together,” Namjoon said.

Taehyung nodded. “You used to follow me everywhere.”

“I did?” Jungkook frowned.

“You cried when I left for training,” Taehyung added casually.

Jungkook’s ears immediately burned. “I did NOT—”

“You did,” Seokjin smirked.

“You begged,” Jimin chimed in.

“And clung to his sleeve,” Hoseok added helpfully.

“I don’t remember any of this!” Jungkook snapped.

Taehyung smiled faintly. “You always had a bad memory.”

Jungkook stared at him, chest tightening for reasons he couldn’t explain.

“Do I have to call you ‘Lord Kim’?” Jungkook asked quietly.

Taehyung shook his head. “Not you.”

“…Then what?”

“Taehyung.”

The room fell quiet.

Jungkook nodded slowly. “…Okay. Taehyung.”

Something settled between them—familiar, warm, unexplainable.

Taehyung met his gaze. “And I’ll call you Jungkook. Like always.”

Jungkook didn’t know why, but hearing his name like that made his chest ache.

Somewhere deep inside, he knew—

This man had always been part of his life.

Before the dream.

Before the arrow.

Before time itself broke.

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