How does it feel to be free?

To be free from responsibilities, no obligations, no commitments, no more worries, no more stress, no anger, no pain, just free. And all you gotta do is... to just live and enjoy the chance to be on earth.

How would it feel to live that way?

There's always days when you want to disappear from this world, you don't want to die yet, but you just want to disappear and escape from your reality and... rest for a while. Even just for a moment.
Because everything that's happening around you doesn't really make sense, no one understands you, and you're... too tired of living in your reality.

And the time when you want to escape from your reality, but that escape becomes only a dream for you, a dream you would never want to wake up.
But the thing you wanted to escape the most wakes you up from that dream again and again and brings you back to the reality, which you would call the darkness.

If a miracle can be the only escape from that darkness, would it be too much to wish for a miracle then?

Because he just wanted an escape, even if it's just for a few minutes, he just wanted to see how does it feel like to be free.

And that's what Jeongguk wished everyday, for a miracle to help him, at least. Because he isn't brave enough to escape from his reality by himself.

"HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU? THE RENT IS DUE, WHAT ABOUT OUR DEBTS? AND ALL YOU CARE IS THIS? WHEN WILL YOU STOP DRINKING?"

"JUST SHUT UP AND GET OUTTA HERE! I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOUR FACE!"

"FINE. I WON'T SHOW YOU MY FACE EITHER. HERE! DRINK ALL YOU WANT AND DIE! IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH BETTER IF YOU D--"

"HOW DARE YOU!"

And a slap, followed by crashing sounds of glass and plates, and his mother's painful cries after his father collapsed.

Yeah, that's his reality and that's what happens everyday, almost like a daily routine, in his home. Don't know if he can call this place a home when it never felt like a home, when it's more like just a shelter with four walls.

His father's yelling became his morning alarm, and his mother's wailing became his lullaby that never let him sleep.

But he never tried to stop them, more like he gave up trying to be exact. The only thing he could do is to run away from his so-called home to somewhere there's no alarms, neither lullaby.

So there he is, running away from the house until his feet reach the only place that could calm him- his own only hideout space with a wooden chair under the lonely tree, by the calm lake, the only place where he shares all his pain, and that's the only thing that could make him feel escaped from his reality.

And there comes the rain, without a warning, steady and soft, washing the dust away. It would've been nice if the rain could wash his pain away as well.

The tree waved it's glossy leaves softly in the breeze, thanking the rain for giving them music to dance. It would've been nice if there were some music in his life, too, so he could wave himself freely like the leaves did.

He breathed in the air, lifting his head up and letting the raindrops fall on his skin, it was cold yet refreshing, but it wasn't enough to make him happy. He looked up at the dark sky, looking at the dark clouds covering the stars from shining freely, and wondered if the stars want to escape those dark clouds like he want to, wonder if he's the only one who wants an escape from reality, if he's the only one who wants to be free, if he's the only one who wants to be happy. And that's when he would wish for a miracle, like everyday.

"Little boy, would you please help me carry this?"

Jeongguk flinched and quickly turned back when he heard a voice, just to see a white-haired old lady standing behind him with a big bag by her feet.

"Yes of course. Where do you want to go?" He asked, instantly picking up the bag without any hesitation.

"There," the lady smiled, pointing at the bridge a few meters away.

Jeongguk nodded as he led the lady towards the bridge, holding the umbrella the lady gave and slowing down his pace so the lady can catch up with his.

It's quite strange because it's so unusual for such an old lady to appear in that place out of nowhere, in late night in the rain. It's more strange that the bag was quite heavy and how did she carry the bag till there before asking him for help is quite a question here. Besides, that place is somewhere only he knows.

He turned to the lady when they reached the end of the bridge, "um... excuse me, do you want me to carry this till your home?" He asked when he couldn't see any house nearby and the street was dark, and it would be difficult for an old lady to go by herself with the heavy bag.

But the lady just smiled, "no little boy. You've already troubled carrying it for me till here." She took a step closer, landing her hand out, "can you lend me your phone? I'll call my daughter to pick me up from here."

"Oh sure," Jeongguk gave her his phone and waited for her to finish the call. "Do you want me to accompany you? I mean waiting for her?" He said, taking his phone back from the lady.

"Oh dear, you're such a kind and generous boy. But it's alright, you don't have to accompany me." She smiled and Jeongguk closed his eyes while bending down a bit when the lady patted his head gently. "Thank you for helping me little boy. May the miracle you wished for be on your way. Very soon."

"Huh?" Jeongguk opened his eyes, lifting his head up just to see no one around him. He shivered at the silence as he looked around, only to creep him out at the fact that the old lady just vanished in front of his eyes.

The rain was gone when he realized and he didn't waste any time from rushing back home, then to his room. He couldn't sleep, as usual, and it has come to the point where he doesn't find it strange to hear his mother's crying voice anymore, because he would always hear his mother crying whenever he come back and would hear it all night long.

He used to feel sorry for his mother whenever she shed tears, he used to worry about her, but she's also the same with his father. She would call her own son her biggest mistake, while his father never treated him like his own son, and nobody wanted to be friends with an alcoholic's son.

He sighed as he took out his phone, but there's nothing to do with his phone, nobody calls him. Nobody texts him, neither he calls anybody. The only time his phone will ring is when his father orders him to buy him more drinks, and sometimes from his mother when she needs money.

He laughed, not with happiness but because he found it funny that he's even scrolling through his empty contact list in the middle of the night. Whom would he even call to? He doesn't even have friends to comfort him.

But he saw a random contact number he can't remember saving it. It's quite noticeable for a new number since he doesn't really have many contacts other than his parent's and the owner of pastry shop he works at. He didn't know why it was in his phone and whose it is. He checked if it was the same number the old lady called, but it wasn't the same, either.

Why would he save someone's contact number randomly?

Engulfed by curiosity, he took a deep breath before calling the number. He just wanted to see who would pick up the call.

"Hello?"

Jeongguk flinched when he heard a male voice over the line. He cleared his throat before responding, "Uh... hello? Who is this?"

"Excuse me? If I'm not wrong, aren't you the one who called me?"

The voice was deep and husky, yet so calm and soulful. But he didn't know how to respond properly on the phone, he has never talked to someone on the phone casually.
While he was still thinking what to say,

"Wait, this is my personal number. How did you know this number? Are you a stalker?"

"Huh? Stalker?" He panicked. Is it something to be in the wrong to call a random number?
"Alright, I'm... I'm really sorry, but I'm not a stalker. It's a... it's a wrong number. I don't even know who you are, I just--"

"Wait. You don't know who I am?"

Jeongguk paused when the other cut him off, "well, am I supposed to know you?"

"No, but... I mean, you're literally hearing my voice. You still don't know?"

"I'm sorry?" Jeongguk bit his lip, "do you... perhaps... do you know me?" he asked nervously, doubting if the other person might be someone who knows him but,

"Of course not. How am I supposed to know you? You're the one who called me."

"Oh. Right. Sorry."

Silence. Neither of them spoke for a few seconds until the other started a conversation again.

"Hey so... are you sure you don't know me? Was it really a wrong number?"

"Yeah?" Jeongguk answered, and he heard a chuckle from the other before continuing.

"Fine. I'm Kim Taehyung aka V."

Jeongguk nodded as if the other can see him nodding. It's a nice name- that's what he thought when he heard the name. "Oh, hello, Kim Taehyung," he just greeted casually.

"You still don't know me?"

"Huh? No?" Jeongguk was confused at the other's surprised voice, followed by a chuckle after he said no.
Is he supposed to know the name?

"You're interesting. Forget it. I'm happy to know you don't know me. So... you won't tell me your name?"

Jeongguk felt something strange when the other asked his name, it's kinda weird to think he's actually talking with a stranger on the phone this much long to the point where he's about to tell his name. It's weird, yet felt so nice for some reason he didn't even know.

"Jeongguk—It's my name," he finally answered, and he heard a chuckle from the other side.

"So Jeongguk, since you don't know me, I have some favor to ask you."

Jeongguk paused for a bit to think. 'Since you don't know me?' Who is he? Is he supposed to know this person? Everything felt so strange yet felt so right somehow.

"A-alright? What is it?"

‐‐‐

Jeongguk stood by the roadside, fidgeting his finger. It's literally in the middle of the night, and there he is, waiting for a stranger who promised to come and meet him. Yeah. Weird, isn't it?

What is he even doing? Is it even alright to do this? Will the person really come? He doesn't know anything about the person, he's not even sure if the person will come or not. Yet like a fool, he's doing what his instincts lead him to.

And suddenly, a black, expensive-looking car pulled over in front of him with a screeching sound, revealing a guy in a grey, oversized hoodie with a white mask that covered half of his face, his messy black hair waved to the breezy wind as he got down from the car. His appearance was captivating, just like the way celebrities would look like.

"Black hoodie and black cap—you're Jeongguk right?"

That's when Jeongguk realized the guy must be the one he was waiting for, because he told him he's wearing a black hoodie and a black cap so the other can recognize him.

"Oh, yeah, I am. Uh... so you're Taehyung?" He asked, and he could tell the other is smiling behind the mask just by seeing how those sparkling eyes curved into crescent moon.

"You're really interesting."

Jeongguk tilted his head when Taehyung chuckled as if he heard the most amusing word. And why does the other keep saying he's interesting? And what's so funny about him that the other keeps laughing about?

But when Taehyung removed his mask, revealing his face with a bright smile, Jeongguk gasped because he never expected the deep, husky voice he heard through the phone would feel so contrasting with the face in front of him. The way his messy hair covering his forehead, the way those clear big eyes shining like a pearl, his pale skin glowing under the street lamp with the smile that's so bright and enchanting—he looked so dazzling and... beautiful.

"What's wrong? Do you know me now? Are you surprised?"

Jeongguk flinched, he just realized he'd been staring at the guy for too long without realizing. But surprised? Yeah, he's surprised, of course, because he've never seen someone so beautiful that he's doubting if the person in front of him is real or not.

"Are you serious? You still don't have any idea who I am? Even after seeing my face? You really have never seen this face before?"

Jeongguk just gave him a confused look. Is he really supposed to know him? Or, Is he some old classmate? It didn't seem so. Then who is he?

"I'm... I'm sorry but I really have no idea who you are. Am I supposed to know you?" He asked hesitantly, but the other just laughed at that.

Again. What's so funny about this? He really don't understand.

"You are really, really interesting, I swear. But no. You don't have to know me. You just have to remember my name for now."

Jeongguk nodded, followed by an awkward silence for a few seconds until he asked, "so... what's the favor you want from me? You said you'll say it after we meet."

"Well," Taehyung smiled, a bit excited as he turned, and after checking his wrist watch with a deep breath, "it's 11:11. We have 360 minutes from now, and within this, we'll roam around here and enjoy. And you have to accompany me."

"Huh?" Jeongguk almost dropped his jaw. Is he hearing right? Why would he ask for something like that? They're not even friends, they just met for the first time. And it's so sudden and out of nowhere.

"What are you waiting for? Our time will run out if we just stand here."

"Why? I mean... why are we doing this?" He asked. Because he still doesn't understand what's going on.

"Alright. Look, I'm asking for this favor to you because I can feel you're someone I can trust. And I thought you'd be a good company to have fun with."

Jeongguk just stared at him.
Someone he can trust? A good company to have fun with?
It's the first time he heard something like this to describe about him. It's strange and new to him, but it felt nice to hear it from someone. Everything that's happening lately felt so strange, just like a dream, yet felt so right for no reason.

"Where do you want to go?" He asked. It's still weird and strange, but he thought he should give this dream-like situation a chance and see what happens next.

"Anywhere."

"Anywhere?" He asked again, not sure if the other is really okay with anywhere.

"Yeah. Anywhere. You can do whatever you want, you can take me anywhere you want, but you have to be able to make me happy by the end of the 360 minutes from now."

Happy? Being happy is something Jeongguk himself doesn't know how it feels like to be. So what would he do now? How will he make someone happy? When he himself has been searching for it this whole time?

He has no idea what he's going to do to make the other happy. But he just walks along the street while the other follows behind him and start thinking about the things that other people of his age usually do for enjoyment, but he couldn't think of any.

There was a time when he thought those people looked happy because they're doing what they want. Maybe that could help? But how? When he don't even remember the last time he wanted to do something other than wanting to run away from that hell of a house?

"Hey, Jeongguk. Let's take my car."

Jeongguk noticed the other being quite cautious of the surrounding because he kept looking around while covering his face again with his mask.
But he just nodded as he hesitantly got inside the black car.

"Your car looks expensive," he said after fastening his seat belt while the other just laughed.

"Let's enjoy."

That's what Taehyung said before speeding up his car, driving through the empty road.

He wasn't lying when he said to enjoy. Because it actually felt nice to open the car window, spreading arms and letting every strand of hair dance to the blowing cold wind.

Because it actually felt good to get down from the car and run through the empty road.

Because it was actually exciting to sneak inside the amusement park and play silly arcade games together.

Because it was actually amusing to watch the beautiful city lights from the top of the Ferris wheel.

Because it actually made him feel special when they took pictures together inside a photo booth.

Because everything they did together was... fun, though everything was just some simple things.

Is it okay for him to have this much fun? Because everything felt like a dream, everything felt too good to be true. But for the first time in many years, he enjoyed.
He had fun.
He smiled.
He laughed.
He felt... free.

He's still staring at Taehyung, who's trying to choose a song. After he said he has never been to karaoke room, Taehyung instantly dragged him there, saying he'll sing for him with a big smile and he couldn't say no.

But when Taehyung started singing, Jeongguk stopped breathing for a moment. Taehyung's voice was so beautiful and deep like ocean, yet so soulful and dreamy with the beautiful lyrics that's so comforting. The way his cheerful, innocent look turned serious just after he started singing, the way he closed his eyes while singing, Jeongguk felt like he's looking at a completely different person.

He does remember the time he wished he had music in his life but never tried to listen to songs. More like he didn't have time for it. He was busy getting stressed over how to make money and how to manage the needs of his messed-up family with the little money he got from working in the pastry shop.

If the music he wished for is how Taehyung's voice makes him feel like, then what was he doing all this time?

"You have a beautiful voice," Jeongguk complimented as they walked out of the karaoke.

"Thanks," Taehyung smiled, kicking the pebbles on the road while walking.

"You can be a singer with that voice of yours. You sing really well, too," Jeongguk suggested but the other laughed suddenly.

"You... you're truely interesting, Jeongguk," Taehyung sighed as he asked further, "do you at least know about something called kpop?"

Jeongguk just looked at him. He really didn't understand why the other kept saying he's interesting. And why would he suddenly bring up about kpop now? At this moment? What's the relation, exactly?

"Uh, yeah? I heard people talking about it."

And Taehyung just chuckled, "let me tell you a secret." And Jeongguk frowned, a bit confused but still bent down a little to listen carefully. "I'm actually a singer. I'm not trying to brag or anything but I'm quite famous and almost everybody knows me as V. Except you, of course."

Jeongguk suddenly paused, almost choked on his own saliva upon hearing that. So that means he was literally roaming around doing all those silly things with a singer? In the middle of the night?

Thinking about it, Taehyung does look like a celebrity. Tall and good-looking, clear and pale skin, messy yet well-styled hair, beautiful voice, with a charming appearance—he does have all the qualities a celebrity would have.

"I'm... I'm sorry, I didn't know you. I just... I don't really watch or listen to those kinds of things. I'm really sorry if I offended you-"

"Hey, wait, wait. It's all cool, okay? I don't have any problem with you not knowing me."

"But you might have so many fans, and you said everybody knows you except for me. Don't you feel bad that there's someone who doesn't know you when you're a famous singer?" Jeongguk felt guilty for no reason.

"Why would I feel bad for that? In fact, I felt relieved that you don't know I'm a celebrity."

Jeongguk tilted his head at that. "Relieved? Why? I mean... isn't it nice to be popular and known by everyone?"

But Taehyung just smiled faintly. "Well yeah, it's nice, it's nice to be able to sing in front of many people, it's nice to hear my fans scream my name when they see me on stage, it's nice when many people congratulate me for my successes."

"Then aren't you already happy with everything you've got? Why did you ask me to make you happy? I mean, I'm not even your fan. I don't even know you. And I'm not some great person like you. I'm just a nobody."

"If you don't know I'm a singer, then I'm also just a nobody to you, too, right?"

Jeongguk kept silent, and Taehyung sighed with another faint smile, "I'm happy with all I have now, of course. Money, fame, I have everything. But sometimes... I wish nobody knew me. I wish I was just an ordinary person, living a simple life like everyone else. Sometimes... I just want to escape from all this and run away somewhere where nobody knows me, away from medias, cameras, and people's eyes towards me."

He stared at Jeongguk, who was standing there quietly listening to him, "that's why I felt relieved when I realized you don't know me. I wanted to spend time with someone who wouldn't treat me like a celebrity but think of me as an ordinary person, as a human. Then I found you. It's so out of nowhere for us to meet this way, but I was curious about you. And just as I thought it was really nice spending time with you. I felt free."

He felt free? To be free—Isn't that what Jeongguk wanted, too? So it means he isn't the only one who wants to be free? And somehow, he felt less lonely for the first time.

And without realizing, their 360 minutes has already passed, with the sun slowly peaking from the clouds to say hello to the morning sky.

He didn't realize how time passed so quickly, but he really enjoyed being alive for the first time. The last 360 minutes with Taehyung, he had so much fun that their little time together made him forget all about his messed-up life—like a miracle.

Taehyung asked him to make him happy but he's the one who's in the receiving end. The irony.

"Taehyung, even if it's hard, please don't stop singing. Your voice is beautiful, and I'm sure people feel something when you sing. Because I felt it, too. So don't give up. Just keep going."

Taehyung just chuckled at that, and Jeongguk witnessed the most brightest smile and the most beautiful melody welcoming the new day.

"You don't need to worry about it. Even if it's difficult and hard, when I look back to find a way to be happy, music is the only answer for my happiness. And it's something I want to stay with for the rest of my life. So I'll never give up. But still, thanks for saying." Taehyung smiled as he took a step forward to hold Jeongguk's hand. "You should also find your way to be happy Jeongguk. No matter how much life gives you hard time, try to search for your own happiness. Trust me, even a single moment of your own happiness matters."

Jeongguk just stood there staring at the person standing in front of him. It's like a dream, the dream he wished for, the dream that could help him escape from his dark reality, the dream he never wanted to wake up from. But this time, he wanted to wake up so he can find the little light of his own happiness within his dark reality.

"Jeongguk, you successfully made me happy. Thank you so much for spending time with me. I could finally feel like myself. I had the best 360 minutes of my life. With you."

Guess it's finally the time to say goodbye, and before he could say anything, his eyes suddenly became blurry with tears filling them. The smiling face in front of him slowly faded away. His hand tried to reach out for him, as much as he could, until he pulled himself up from the bed.

His heart was beating so fast, breathing heavily, as he looked around. He was in his room, covering himself by a duvet.

Was everything just a dream?

But his eyes were still filled with tears, his hand could still feel the warmth from Taehyung's hand.

Yeah, Taehyung. He quickly grabbed his phone to search for the contact number he called last night, but his contact list was same as before—empty. He couldn't find the number anymore.

So? Now what? Everything that happened, was that really a dream? All of them?

And suddenly, he got a new message from the number the old lady used for calling her daughter the previous night. But Jeongguk could just stare at the screen with eyes and mouth wide open.
It said,
"I hope you like your miracle. Now, find your own miracle to be happy. I'm sure you'll find your way to escape on your own."

His hands trembled and the phone slipped out from his hand.
What is she?
A witch?
Or a fairy?

The more he thinks, the more everything starts feeling like a dream. It's something unbelievable, but it's actually happening for real.

Then something crossed his mind, and he grabbed his phone, quickly typing "Kim Taehyung V" on the search bar. He took a deep breath before clicking the search button, biting his nails nervously while waiting for the result.

He paused when many information about the same man he saw the previous night popped up on his phone screen.

So he's real?

Then he started searching for songs sung by Taehyung, and he found many songs by him. Plucking in his earphones, he closed his eyes as the deep voice started singing in his ears, and the same face with the unique bright smile appeared in the back of his mind as the memories of them enjoying their 360 minutes together played in his mind like a movie.

The lyrics of the song was beautiful, with the deep, soothing, soulful voice making the song more comforting, like a warm hug in the cold morning. It was healing.

He melted to the song that sings about wanting to be happier. It hit hard when he realized how much that lyrics meant to him, and how much it would've meant to Taehyung, too. Because at the end, both of them wanted the same thing... that's to be happier.

He could hear his parents yelling at each other outside, as always. But their voices slowly faded away until it became inaudible and replaced by the pleasing melody from the soothing voice singing softly to his ear, finally calming his mind. Like a miracle.

It's really a miracle that he finally found his way to escape himself from his dark reality, and the only way was music. And Taehyung made him realize it with his voice and his comforting songs.

A drop of tear escaped his eyes when he found the picture they took together inside his pocket, the only proof that everything he experienced wasn't a dream, but a part of the reality he dreamt of, and their smiles on the picture reflect how happy they were with each other.

Within only 360 minutes,
They made each other happier,
They became each other's comfort.

But he felt guilty that he couldn't thank the other enough for showing him the way to escape, for giving him his miracle.

"I found my own way to be happy, Taehyung. Thank you so much for being my comfort."

He smiled, brightly. He finally made up his mind that even if his life is filled with darkness, he'll find the light and cherish it until it can light up the way to his happiness.

"And you're right, Taehyung. You're right about how even a single moment of my own happiness matters, because it really does. And that little moment I spent with you matters so much to me."

He trailed his fingers over the picture and smiled within his tears. Because no one knows when they will meet again, he doesn't even know if the other will remember him or not, or even recognize him. But he's sure the memories they made in those 360 minutes were something that would stay with him forever.

"I, too, had the best 360 minutes of my life. With you."

~☆~ The End ~☆~