RECORDING 30

YOONGI: Tell me again, why you escaped?

TAEHYUNG: Hyung, I . . don't know. I. . I got tired of how they treated me there. They were going to send me somewhere far away from here. . . I don't want that. . . I'll never get to visit Lisa. . .

YOONGI: [ hesitant ] Tae. . . Lisa is dead. I'm sorry.

TAEHYUNG: I know that! But her ashes. . . whatever's left of her. . they’re at the hospital. I have to get those back.

YOONGI: And you expect that you can after pulling a stunt like this? The police could be looking all over Seoul for you right now. They could be posting pictures of you and it'll only make things worse for your case.

TAEHYUNG: I'm sorry, hyung. . . I couldn't handle it. . . I mean, a lifetime sentence for that? My father has been torturing me and my sister nonstop since we were little. He randomly slaps me and punishes me just because he's drunk. I'm sorry I only got to say all this to you now. . .

YOONGI: I completely understand. I do. Don't keep apologizing, please. . .

TAEHYUNG: He almost raped Lisa, hyung. That bastard— he laughed at my face when he found out she was dead! He was fucking watching my sister on the news with that shitty face— h–he never cared about us. I've been working my ass off for the two of us. It was all me! Lisa . . she doesn't deserve that. . . fuck.

YOONGI: Come on, Tae. . , calm down, calm down. . .

TAEHYUNG: This is all Jimin’s fault.

YOONGI: Tae, stop. You're mad, don't pull innocent people into this.

TAEHYUNG: Hyung, it was Jimin, I swear it. He. . texted that bastard, Mingyo.

YOONGI: Who the fuck is Mingyo?

TAEHYUNG: Clara's ex. He was her abuser. And Clara's also Jimin's ex. Mingyo also used to bully Jimin when we were in middle school.

YOONGI: Hold on. You didn't tell the police this?

TAEHYUNG: Hyung, I tried. Over and over. All they could believe was Mingyo's story, but. . they claim I got angry at Jimin and wouldn't believe me. It's the truth.

YOONGI: So. . . Jimin got Mingyo to do everything? The murder and the fire? Why. . would he do that? This is insane.

TAEHYUNG: I'm telling you; maybe it's because of me. We managed to get that bastard locked up for the continuous assault and harassment he's been doing to Clara all this time. But he escaped and controlled her. He wanted me out of her life. That, we did. But still, he realized . . . she liked me more. And. . . I think that's what drove him to get revenge. He must've found out about Lisa being my sister. Oh, shit.

YOONGI: W-What? Why, Tae?

TAEHYUNG: ...it's all my fault. It's all really my fault. I deserve prison. I have to get back in there. . .

TAEHYUNG: Hyung, promise me, you're not going to tell anyone about this.

YOONGI: ...I won't, but Tae. . . if you're going back, at least tell them everything. For the last time. They're a bunch of dicks if they still won't believe you for it.

TAEHYUNG: I'm scared, Yoongi. What if they kill me right on the spot for this. . ?

YOONGI: How long have you been missing from there?

TAEHYUNG: About three days now.

YOONGI: I think you should prove your innocence. You're literally outside now. The least you could do is dress up for disguise. I'll lend you some clothes. Find your witnesses and prove that you're not the culprit.

TAEHYUNG: Why. . . are you helping me? I know we're friends, and even though I'm confident you know I'm innocent, I'm still a suspect. So, why. . ?

YOONGI: I trust you. I know you. You're a really good guy. You have always been.

Now get out there. . . [ sound of bag zipping ] . . .and find hard proof.

[ silence ; closing of door ]

I haven't much time. Taehyung is in the bathroom, changing clothes. Doctor, please, send this to the police and tell them about this conversation. Taehyung knows nothing about this—

‘ Hyung? Is someone there? ’

Ah, no, Tae—

[ End of Tape ]

[ posted SEPTEMBER 19 2018 ]