At that moment, there was silence. Everyone looked to the youngest in shock, some of them had their lips parted, not knowing how to respond, and others had their eyes widened and eye brows raised in slight confusion. It was no secret that Taehyung and Jungkook we're certainly compatible but no one had expected them to take the compatibility to another level.

Jungkook let his gaze fall to the floor, feeling unable to face the others after sharing the news. He expected them to be shocked, but the extent of their shock made Jungkook feel worse. This wasn't the exact reaction he was hoping for and it was so hard for him to announce that the friend who died had actually been his lover all along.

He had so many pent up emotions at this moment that he couldn't help but to allow a few tears to fall down his face.

This didn't go unnoticed by the others in the room, and acting on instinct, Jimin closed the distance between him and Kook and pulled him in a comforting hug. Jimin stroked Jungkook's hair and pulled him into his chest. The warmth of being with another human who cared for him made Jungkook feel better about what had happened.

Within seconds, the others rushed to the youngest, devouring him in hugs, showing him that he was important to them, that he mattered to them. And Jungkook, he didn't want to leave. It was like they were draining away his pain for a few moment and letting him feel happily loved. If only he could stay in their arms forever, safe from the world. Although that was impossible, they were all glad that they were going through this together.

Hye-Jin looked to the six with a sympathetic expression. It must have hurt them all a lot...

She reached out to hold the shoulder of the oldest and spoke in a gentle manner. "With all that has a happened, I think it would be wise for you all to get therapy. Even if you say you're fine, you've had someone close to you pass away. A simple 'I'm fine' often means a 'save me'. Allow yourselves to save one another, allow yourselves to get better and feel happy."

Staying in each other's embrace, they looked to the female and nodded with small smiles. They were going to go to get better.

----------

◁ 30th December 20xx ▷

The funeral had happened a few days ago and on that day, they poured their eyes out. Though, it was more than simply crying, it was desolate sobbing that comes from a person drained of all hope. They had always been aware that a member of their family had died, but on the day of the funeral was when it had hit them. They would never hear the boy's voice, nor see his face, nor laugh alongside him.

Since that day, all the things that they once found funny now only deepened the pain. He should have been there to laugh with them, or at them, or just near them. He should be making his espressos in that damn expensive machine and complaining about waking up so early. He should be walking his dog, camera on hand, gawking at the scenery around him and planning what to do in his future. And that future of his was gone.

On the evening of the 29th of December, they had all decided that they would try and move on with life. They would never forget him, they couldn't forget him even if they tried, but they needed to stop mourning so deeply for so long. They were in pain from crying and it was up to them to rid themselves of that pain.

Though of course, the moment the sun rose on the 30th, all they could think of was Kim Taehyung. Their minds were filled with what ifs: what if Taehyung was still here, how would he celebrate his birthday; what if Taehyung never died, would he be happy on his birthday; what if Taehyung could still breathe, would he still smile when they would shower him with love?

.
.
.

Some had taken this day worse than others; Namjoon had locked himself away refusing to face the world, Seokjin laid in bed all day, staring at the ceiling as all the memories passed his mind, Hoseok and Yoongi decided to leave their homes since there were too many things that caused them to mourn over Tae, and Jimin lit up the candles on a birthday cake, waiting for them to blow out by themselves.

Jungkook however hadn't entered his house since the moment he woke up. He spent the whole day roaming around Seoul to all the places Taehyung would love going to.

His final destination was a rather simple park. Taehyung never really expressed that this place was special for him, but Jungkook knew it was. After all, this park was the beginning of their relationship and some of the most beautiful moments in their lives happened in this park.

He strolled to a spot and sat under a specific tree, closed his eyes and leaned into the trunk of the tree with his legs stretched out in front of him. Everything was different here, it was like a scene from a dream where there was peace and comfort. But, as he let his hands trail to the ground, tears started to fall from his eyes. It wasn't a downpour, just small trickling as he failed to suppress his emotions.

His hand lingered to the spot where Taehyung always used to sit. If he were here now, and they were together in this moment, the older would have his head resting on Jungkook's shoulder with their hands intertwined. They would be sitting in a comfortable silence with some occasional sweet whispers.

He let his fingers trail up and feel the bark. It was somewhat rough but it was so familiar to him. He hovered his hand at one particular spot, and stood up to face the tree. Jungkook let out a small chuckle and smile as he wiped away the tears with his other hand.

Carvings.

This spot had been a little hideaway, not only for Tae and Kook but for the whole group. They used to spend birthdays, celebrations and happy days under this tree. One day when they decided to camp out somewhere, Jungkook carved small messages along the base of the tree, and as you would look upwards, you could see a few special carvings.

One was their initials surrounded by a logo of theirs. It resembled open doors implying that, in the future and throughout their lives, they would always walk through doors together, united as one. Jungkook was willing to risk it all for that to be true once again

He walked in a semi-circle around the tree, never letting his hand stray from the carvings. Each one had a special memory showing the journey of the seven, and no matter how bad things became, they always had this tree to show that it would all be fine one day.

He continued to feel all the memories reawaken in his mind, but when his fingers grazed on a certain carving, he felt his world pause. This one was no ordinary carving; it was one made the day Taehyung and Kook first said 'I love you' to one another. Jungkook remembered that day clearly ; the two had snuck away in the early morning and spent the whole day in this park and he remembered how Tae had begged for ice cream that day, even though he had a sore throat. Jungkook's face was now adorned with a smile, one of deep adoration.

However, as soon as he tried to move forward, his lips parted, eyes widened and pupils dilated. Everything had been drained out at this point and he focused on the one thing in front of him. The one figure he would never imagine seeing. The one person he dared to love.

Kim Taehyung

His face shone in the water sunlight, being exactly as Jungkook remembered it. He had eyes open and honest as any child, a warmth and safety; they were the eyes that Kook found his home in, the same place he found comfort when everything turned cold.

"T-Tae...Taehyung," Jungkook mumbled as he reached his hand out to touch him. But, instead of an acceptance from Taehyung, the man pulled away laughing innocently.

Jungkook's eyebrows furrows momentarily and he was confused as to why his lover was refusing his touch. But it dawned on him; last time they were here was the day of their ice cream date. The day they spent chasing one another as though they were kids playing tag.

Jungkook decided to give this strange lover of his what he wanted. He now had a playful grin etched on his face and began chasing Tae across the greenery.

"Taehyung stop running away! I'll let you win the game."

Jungkook continued to call out the other's name, disregarding the scowls and judging faces of the bystanders. They were simply confused as to why there was a grown man running around for no reason. And amongst these bystanders stood Yoongi and Hoseok who shared a worried expression as they looked towards Kook.

"Taehyung! I'm going to catch you! I'll never let you go this time."

Jungkook sprinted to the figure and reached out to wrap his arms around the other's waist. He couldn't let go. Not this time.

But, as soon his body came to touch Tae, he feel forward with his legs crashing to the pavement.

"Taehyung?" He looked around but wasn't able to find the image of his lover anymore. "Hyung? Where are you? Come back please"

He burst out into sobs as he screamed endlessly. "HYUNG PLEASE! COME BACK! TAEHYUNG! PLEASE!

"Please....I don't have the will to go on without you..."

He cowered down and sat crying in the middle of the street with his legs pressed against his chest. He felt like he was being forced to drown in his sadness because of his own mind.

"Jungkookie..? Are you okay?"

Jungkook felt a hand caressing and petting his head. He looked up and saw two people he knew could make him feel better.

"Hobi hyung, Yoongi hyung. Taehyung....it was Taehyung there I saw him! He he saw me but but he disappeared."

"Jungkook he's not here, remember, Tae's not here anymore."

"No no he's here I really saw him Hobi hyung I swear. I'm not lying. I saw his smile I saw his face"

"Jungkook...He's gone. He's not coming back. He can't come back." Yoongi reaches his hand out to help Jungkook stand, but he only pushed it away.

"NO HE WAS HERE ! I SAW HIM! WHY DONT YOU BELIEVE ME?!" Kook felt as though all sanity was being ripped out of him. "I saw him...I saw my TaeTae..."

"Me and Yoongi didn't seem him though. Kook if he was really here, don't you think hyung and I would have also seen Tae. We want to see him alive and happy again, of course we do, but that's not possible."

"But...I saw..."

"It must have been a hallucination Jungkookie, but it's okay now." Hoseok swallowed him into a hug, and with a soothing voice asked, "would you like it if we go back? I know everything is hard for you, but your our strong bunny aren't you."

"Let's go home Jungkook. Let's try and forget about everything and let's try again. Together. All six of us."

Kook nodded and stood up as he held onto his two saviours.

"We'll get through this. After all, we are bulletproof"

------------

A/N:
i'm sorry for the late update :(
i just wanted to make this chapter perfect
i hope it ended up being good enough <3