Fate is a messed up thing.

~

Taehyung wakes up in a familiar setting. His old dorm room. He looks around, slightly in a daze as he observes the features of the room. It pretty much looks the same since he left except his side is empty. Taehyung sits up on the soft bed and pulls the warm blankets closer to his body.

It's then he notices just where he is sleeping. That familiar minty musk that lingers in the white linen sheets is a big give away. He is sleeping on Jungkook's bed. He looks around confusedly, realising that the boy is nowhere in sight but then his eyes stop on a sleeping bag that is draped across the floor.

He briefly remembers the events of last night but it's all a big blur in his head. Like drunk memories of a sober experience. He remembers crying in Jungkook's arms for what felt like hours and then finally passing out from exhaustion. He obviously doesn't remember anything that happened after that but he connects the dots and figures that Jungkook probably brought him here after the incident. But despite this, the boy is nowhere in sight.

Taehyung brushes it aside and pushes himself off the bed but then his eyes catch sight of something on the boy's bedside table. He frowns and walks up to it to take a closer look. The plate of pancakes stare up at him meekly; They look rather sad, honestly. They are floppy and slightly charred on the edges and has been dozed with copious amounts of maple syrup as if to hide all its flaws. Taehyung notices the small note written in messy handwriting next to it and picks it up to read.

Hey, hope you had a good sleep! I made you breakfast but it's kind of a flop. (You can cut off the burned parts if that makes it any better) -Jungkook

Taehyung looks down at the meal once again and sighs, feeling sad. He hates how his heart still flutters at this. He hates how it makes him feel special. He hates how it makes him feel like Jungkook still cares. But he knows that he doesn't. Jungkook doesn't care; He never did.

He still struggles to understand why he saved him yesterday. He could still see Jungkook's shocked expression, mixed with sadness and guilt as he held him between his trembling arms. He didn't understand it then and he doesn't understand it now. Why did Jungkook save him?

Maybe a few weeks ago, back when Taehyung was living in the bliss of ignorance, he would have oh-so-naively thought that it was because Jungkook loved him too. But after being so heavily exposed to the darkness of the world he finds it hard to make light of things. Jungkook doesn't love him. Maybe he does feel a little guilt from his actions, a little remorse, a sense of pity; But love is definitely not in the picture. For Jungkook, it never was and frankly, never will be.

Taehyung had come to realise that that was just who he is. He always did these warm little things that would make his heart flutter but he failed to realise back then that his actions held no meaning.

Taehyung stares at the plate of pancakes, his hand slowly crumpling the note. Jungkook's actions aren't meant to express his love; Rather, they're all just friendly gestures. Gestures that are deceivingly sweet. But that's all it is. Sweet. A candy that would give you cavities if you indulged in it too much.

And Taehyung had in fact indulged in it too much. He was left with cavities; Cavities in his heart. But it was his fault for falling so pathetically towards that saccharine temptation. He should have known from the start.

He takes one final glance at the plate of pancakes before he leaves the room; leaving the meal completely untouched.

Because he may not have known at the start but at least he knows now.

He would be a fool if he falls for it twice.

~

Seeing a stranger almost take their life is one thing.

Seeing someone you know almost take their life is another.

But seeing someone who you spent your days, laughing, crying, fooling around, kissing; Seeing someone like that almost take their own life changes you.

And it did.

When Jungkook saw Taehyung on the edge of that rooftop, his tiny body swaying with the ruthless winds, seconds away from plummeting down to his own fateless death;  It changed him.

No more is the coward who hid his insecurities at the cost of others he cared for. No more is the ravenette who drowned in his own denial.

No more is the kid who feared the love of another boy.

Those things, those things he once feared with all his heart; They aren't as terrifying as they seemed before. They seem minuscule, unworthy, irrelevant.

Because now, Jungkook has a new fear;

Losing Kim Taehyung.

Seeing someone you unknowingly cherish try and take their life in front of your eyes; changes you. It breaks you but builds you. Tortures you but teaches you. It slaps you across the face and awakens you from that oppressive nightmare that had once consumed your whole being.

Seeing Taehyung almost kill himself was one of the most devastating things that Jungkook's witnessed. But deep down, he feels liberated.

Because finally, FINALLY his mind has cleared. He's no longer scared of the way his heart flutters ridiculously when around the blue-haired boy. He no longer hates the way his lips lift up into a smile by just watching those Bambi-eyes light up. He's no longer going to ignore what his heart's been screaming at him all this time.

He's embracing it now. Because embracing what he once feared is better than ever having to embrace Kim Taehyung's death.

Taehyung may never forgive him for what he did. Taehyung may never stop hating him for hurting him. Taehyung may never even bat an eye his way. He has all the right not to.

But Jungkook won't ask for his forgiveness. After all he's done, he doesn't deserve something like that from the boy. He won't ask for forgiveness but he'll fix his mistakes.

He had already broken the sweet porcelain that was once Kim Taehyung; Shattered the fragile boy and left him in devastatingly broken pieces. He can't fix that. What he did was irreversible. But he's going to pick up every single broken shard until he has all the pieces; Even if it means his fingers will bleed in the process.

And that is why he has to do this.

"Father..."

~

Taehyung gets the text as he's walking out the dorm.

"6:30 pm sharp. At the usual place. Got a special job for you tonight. Boss will pay you triple."

Taehyung's eyes widen as he sees the text. $3000?! He could very well do with that kind of money right now. He's been saving up all his drug run money for after he graduates. His plan is to move out of the country and go live in Japan by himself. Adding $3000 to the sum would get him one step closer to Japan and maybe even a place to stay.

He quickly replies to the message.

"Yeah, okay."

There's a little voice in the back of his mind, nagging him. What kind of job would be worth $3000? But he brushes it aside because he can't really be picky with his source of income with the situation he's in right now. Taehyung may still be alive but that doesn't change his lifestyle. He's still living in the same shit hole as he was yesterday.

But deep down, Taehyung's glad. Glad he didn't manage to take his own life; Glad that Jungkook saved him. Because for some reason, despite how horrible his life is right now, there's just something so unnerving about the feeling of death.

Because the minute Taehyung leaned off the building he felt regret. His life was so shitty yet he didn't want to die.

Because as you're faced with death you start imagining all these other possibilities. Possibilities of happier days, a better life; A brighter future.

Because it was only when he was faced with his own death, unable to turn back, did he realise; Realise that there's nothing darker than death. Not even a shitty life.

And so for that, he is thankful that he is alive. Thankful that Jungkook saved him. Thankful that he has a second chance.

Taehyung is lost so deep in his thoughts that he doesn't even see the blond-haired boy approaching him.

He slightly startles when Jimin stops in front of him. "Can I talk to you?" the blond asks, his voice sounding slightly strained. Taehyung quirks an eyebrow in confusion but finds himself hesitantly nodding.

The blond-haired boy leads him to the quieter side of the campus. They both stop outside on a green patch of grass near a leafless oak tree. It's rather chilly so both boys shiver and wrap their arms around their clothed forms to secure the decreasing body heat.

They stand awkwardly next to each other for a few passing minutes before the blond boy finally decides to speak.

"Why'd you do it?" He asks, his voice barely above a whisper.

Taehyung looks at him, expression unreadable. "Do what?" He asks, although he has a hunch.

Jimin looks at him wearily before dropping his eyes to the wilted grass. "W-Why... why did you try to k-kill yourself?"

Taehyung observes the boy in silence, not offering him an answer for a while as he lets the question hang heatedly in the frosty air.

Finally, he sighs. "I didn't know what else to do," he answers simply.

Jimin kicks a small pebble that was sitting on the ground, still avoiding to look the boy in his eyes. "W-What do you mean?"

Taehyung sighs and slightly turns away from the boy, opting to stare off into the vast expanse of the frozen field instead. "Um, after that- uh- incident, life was rough... I guess," he struggles with his words, not knowing what to say or why exactly Jimin was talking to him.

"B-But to t-the point where y-you were willing to t-take you own...life?"

Taehyung exhales again, letting his breath waft out like smoke from a burning cigarette.

"A lot was going on..." he trails off, slowly spinning back around to face him. The boy averts his gaze away from the grass and hesitantly meets Taehyung's eyes.

"I-I kinda got kicked out from my dorm c-cause um- my parents are also homophobic," he states awkwardly, slightly rambling.

"I-I had to fend for myself, got a job with a crappy manager, stayed in a run-down apartment, studied till morning only to fail all my tests, was the school's punching bag...and...and my friends, my only friends, the people who I thought had my back...they looked at me like I was a piece of trash. They looked at me like everyone else did. I guess... it was just too much," he says with this bitterness to his tone. Taehyung tilts his head to look up at the sky, silently admiring the dark grey clouds as his thoughts drift off.

"I'm sorry," it's barely above a whisper. It's so quiet that Taehyung thinks he's imagining it. But when he looks back at the boy who now stares back at him with teary eyes, he knows it's real.

"W-what?" Taehyung asks bewildered.

"I-I-fuck-I'm sorry Tae," Jimin says as a tear runs down his face. The boy hastily wipes it away but more of the salty liquid forms in his honey-like eyes and cascades down his cheeks as the two boys stand in a breath of silence.

"E-Ever since I was little, I was taught that homosexuality is wrong. I-I was told that being gay is the m-most treacherous sin one could commit. I-I was brought up in a-a household that hates people like you. S-So the minute I saw you there w-with Jungkook, I w-was shocked. W-When I saw that you were gay I completely blocked you off, avoided you. Because, Tae, y-you being gay went against every single moral that has been shoved down my throat since the minute I could walk," Jimin sighs raggedly as he runs a hand through his hair.

"I saw how hurt you were. I saw how they hurt you, how you sat alone, how you had no one. But yet, I couldn't move past what I had been taught for years. I let them hurt you, let you get hurt. I hurt you."

Jimin smiles sadly. "All because of a bunch of words that held no meaning. I-I let my best f-friend nearly k-kill himself because I was scared that he likes men," Jimin chokes on a small sob and runs his hand through his golden locks to try and ease his shaky words. Taehyung stares at the boy with widened eyes as he continues to speak.

"I-It sounds pathetic now that I think about it. I was being pathetic. I should have been there for you like you were always there for me. But I wasn't. A-and I left you..." Jimin wipes his red-stained eyes.

"You were so close to falling off that building, Tae..." he whispers, his voice cracking.

"And-fuck...I-I'm so sorry that that's what it took me to realise. That you trying to end your own life is what it took me to realise... Realise that...that you're still you..." Jimin says as he clenches his fists, "...regardless of your sexuality."

"And I'm sorry for not realising sooner," he says as he drops his gaze to the grass.

They stand there in silence for a few seconds, Jimin staring at the ground and Taehyung staring at Jimin. But then Taehyung speaks.

"It's okay," he says with a small smile. A genuine smile.

He feels the weight that was dragging his heart slightly ease off as the boy looks back up at him. Jimin looks surprised, not having expected that type of response from the boy. He was expecting resentment, expecting anger, expecting hatred. Not this. Not Taehyung's kind smile and his warm eyes. His warm forgiving eyes.

And it's then that his aching heart reminds him that that's just Kim Taehyung. The kind boy who has the heart of an angel. The boy who never deserved the cruelty of everyone around him. The boy who never deserved an ounce of hate that was thrown his way. The boy who never deserved to be hurt by someone like him.

His best friend; Kim Taehyung.

Taehyung's taken aback when the blond pulls him into a tight embrace, muttering a chant of broken 'I'm sorry's'. Taehyung chants back, "it's okay". Because it is. Not what Jimin had done. The way he left him, betrayed him, broke him. That wasn't okay; It never will be. But the way that he is willing to accept, willing to stand up for his mistakes, willing to be by Taehyung's side again knowing his sexuality. That, that's what makes it okay.

The fierce wind wraps around the two boys, pulling them closer with its mighty force. The skies are dark but from beyond the grey clouds, hints of the beaming sun slightly pokes out. The golden rays tickle against their tight embrace and spreads the warmth of friendship that had been missing against their skin.

After a few minutes, they pull apart; Jimin wiping his stuffy nose. "Sorry," he croaks as he points to the large tear stain left on Taehyung's uniform. "I think I got my boogers on you."

Taehyung grimaces before laughing, his laughter bubbling from his chest in an effortless manner. It leaves him surprised. The feeling of laughing felt new for he hadn't done it in a while. He was so used to the feeling of his throat raw from crying and his heart aching with pain that he forgot how it felt like to laugh.

Jimin smiles watching his friend laugh, realising how much he's missed that radiant smile of his. To think he nearly lost that. To think he nearly let himself lose that.

He pulls his friend into another hug.

"I missed you," Jimin says.

And he did. He tried so hard to ignore it but he knew he missed Taehyung. He missed their silly jokes and their youthful games and his bubbling laughter and his warm presence by his side. He missed him.

Taehyung smiles into the boy's hair, "I missed you too."

And he did. They both missed the friendship that had been built by rocks but broken by feathers.

And as they pull away once again, as Jimin looks into his eyes with a small smile; There is something there, glimmering in those honey eyes. A promise. I'll stick by you're side, Tae; I promise.

It only takes them a few minutes to fall into a heated discussion. Like old times...but better. Because now Taehyung feels freer, he feels more open, he doesn't feel suffocated. As he tells Jimin about his parents and his ex-manager and Jinyoung- which the boy nearly faints upon hearing- as he tells him all the things that has been pent up within him for months, Taehyung feels freer. Like he has finally taken off the constricting mask that he was once hiding behind.

Jimin is laying on the floor by the time Taehyung finishes "Bloody hell, Tae. T-that's a lot to take in."

Taehyung giggles and seats himself beside the blond, ignoring how his pants dampens from the wetness of the grass.

Jimin spins around to face him, leaning his hand against his head for support. "Wait so you're telling me that Jinyoung is a fa- a-a gay person," Jimin stutters. "Sorry," he mutters quietly while looking down.

Taehyung shakes his head, "it's okay." His whole life, Jimin was brought up normalising words like that. It would take him time to change out of the habits. All that matters is that he's trying. And Taehyung is thankful for that.

"And yeah, he is," Taehyung says.

Jimin looks up and giggles, "did you just out him to me."

Taehyung pauses for a second and then shrugs, "yeah, I guess so. He deserves it."

Jimin nods, "damn, Tae. You coulda told- oh- you could have like- fuck. I'm sorry, Tae. It's my fault for inviting that dick into our group in the first place. If I knew he was like that I would have never," Jimin says while frowning.

Taehyung shrugs, "you didn't know. It's okay."

Jimin nods. "Yeah, um, also- a-about the group. Look, I've tried to talk to them about it, t-to convince them that it's fine to hang out with you but-um- th-they're not so accustomed to the idea."

Taehyung nods, "yeah, it's okay. I get that."

Jimin frowns, "Stop saying it's okay to everything! You're supposed to get mad over some things!" He says with a slight pout.

Taehyung chuckles, "I mean, there's really no point in getting mad. And it is okay. Because not everyone's going to except me and I get that."

Jimin smiles sadly at his friend, "regardless, I'll try to convince them to change their mind. And till then, I'll hang out with you. You can come stay in my dorm till you find a new job," Jimin says while smiling.

Taehyung looks at him, eyes lighting up. "Really?!"

Jimin nods, "yeah."

Taehyung smiles, "Thank you, Jimin."

Jimin shakes his head, "i-it's the least I could do."

Taehyung opens his mouth to respond but a booming voice interrupts him.

"BOYS! WHAT ON EARTH DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING OUT THERE? GET TO CLASS RIGHT NOW!"

They both jump up in surprise and quickly scramble towards the building, bowing their heads at the teacher as they walk past her. They walk into the polished halls and start to walk their separate ways but Jimin grabs Taehyung's hand and stops him.

"O-oh, also, I was going to ask but um, a-are you and Jungkook-um-d-dating?"

Taehyung pauses and furrows his brows. He then shakes his head, "no. He's not-um- gay."

Jimin frowns, "but yesterday, you two looked like..." he trails off.

Taehyung smiles, the smile seeming rather forced this time. "Nah, he doesn't like me in that way."

And with that, Taehyung bids the blond goodbye and walks off. Jimin watches the mop of blue hair walk down the long hall.

Jimin shakes his head. "No, Tae. You're wrong," he whispers. "He's never looked at anyone the way he looked at you."

Jimin knows this.

Because, after all, that so-called bad boy had once been his best friend.

-

"RUN!" The teen yells as they race through the dark sketchy streets. The group of boys run blindly through the streets, letting the moonlight guide them away from danger.

"It's just up there!" Jungkook yells as he points to the isolated park.

The group of boys pant as they drop down onto the grass, their faces flushed red from exertion.

"oh my- oh my god," Jin wheezes out, "that was so close. Who knew the shop owner would have a gun!"

"I-I know right. I think I peed a little," Hoseok exclaims.

Namjoon groans, "I told you we should have paid for it. But you idiots thought it would be a good idea to shoplift from a store that's in a dodgy ass neighbourhood."

Jungkook chuckles, "calm down, Joonie. You just gotta live the life and let your heart guide the way," he says while hooking his arms around Jimin's shoulders. The blond-haired boy giggles at the ravenette's hippy-like voice.

"Yeah well, your stupid heart almost got us killed," Namjoon grumbles, despite the small smile pulling at his lips.

The boys all laugh and bicker before a silence settles between them. They look up at the night sky, feeling their hearts lurch with wonder at the beautiful sight in front of them.

They come together and lay on the grassy floor side by side, observing the universe above them with their big youthful eyes.

They feel this utter sense of comfort while laying next to each other.

Solace. That's what they would describe it as; Being by each other's side.

Jimin turns his head and looks over at Jungkook who looks back at him and pulls a face, causing the blond to laugh.

Solace.

They let the cool breeze brush past their pubescent forms, letting the wind carry away their thoughtless worries.

Solace. It's all they feel.

Until it is no more.

Until Jeon Jungkook starts changing.

"Jungkook, what are you doing!" Jimin screams as he yanks the ravenette off of the bleeding boy.

"Fuck- w-what's wrong with you!" the blond yells as he turns to looks at the bruised boy laying on the floor.

"Yo-you could have l-literally killed him! What the fuck is wrong with you?!" He asks.

Jungkook growls as he yanks his hands away from the blonde. "T-THAT FUCKER CALLED ME GAY-"

"YEAH BUT YOU WERE LITERALLY GOING TO KILL HIM!" Jimin screams as he continues to pull the ravenette back. "He just called you a name, you don't have to fucking murder him over it."

Jungkook once again yanks himself away from Jimin and pushes the blond away harshly. Jimin stumbles back and falls to the floor, his back hitting the tiles with a resonating thud.

He groans in pain as he looks up at Jungkook who is staring down at him with cold, hard eyes.

"The fucker deserved it." He states firmly before walking away.

Jimin drops his head onto the tiled floor, his body throbbing from the fall and his heart aching from his best friends actions.

"What's gotten into you, Jungkook?" He sadly whispers to himself.

~

"Father," Jungkook says as he takes a seat on the lavish leather couch.

His parents take a seat opposite them, his father holding a cup of whiskey while his dad lounges next to him with a magazine in his hands.

"Yes?" the man asks, sounding rather bored.

Jungkook feels his heartbeat accelerate. His hands start shaking and his throat tightens up, constricting his airway and depriving him off that much-needed oxygen. He clenches his fists and attempts to gulp down the lump forming in his throat.

He looks up to meet his father's eyes and his body freezes.

He can't do this

He can't do this

He can't do this.

But he has to. He needs to. He must.

And so despite his shaking hands, despite his palpitating heart, despite his constricted airway; he does it. He says it.

He stares into his father's lifeless black eyes and says it.

"I'm gay."

And the words hang there in the silence, bearing its dreadful weight with a stone-like simplicity; Dull, lifeless, crushing. Jungkook feels like the words slapped him across the face. It feels like it isn't just his parents that he is admitting that to; But also himself.

Jungkook hates the way his parents light up. He hates the way their eyes gleam with pride. He hates the way they look at him like they won. And they did; They did win. This is what they always wanted. This is what they tried to force him to be. This is what he never wanted to be; Gay.

Because every time his father slapped him across the face, every time his dad snarled at him with distaste, every time they pierced his tiny heart with their sinister words; That was the one desire fueling their actions. They desired for him to like men; It was easier for them that way. He could run the company, marry a rich man, do all the things he never cared for.

Gay. The word is rather coy, looking frail and innocent in the context of society. But to Jungkook, that single word seems to dictate his entire life. It pulls the strings of his puppet show, holds him under a lightless ocean of fear, lurks in his presence and taints his thoughts. Because to Jungkook, the word doesn't just stand for a type of sexuality.

For Jungkook, it stands for abuse, torment, punishment. Hatred.

So to let those words out of his own mouth, admitting it out loud; It feels suffocating. But he has to do this.

"Oh my god, that's wonderful, Jungkookie," his dad pipes up while placing his magazine down onto the coffee table.

"Indeed," his father agrees. "That would make your marriage a lot easier now, wouldn't it. Hyungsik had always doubted if you were gay or not but we had convinced him you were, but now you can tell him yoursel-"

"No," Jungkook states simply.

His father frowns, "what do you mean, no?"

Jungkook clenches his jaw, "I mean no. Just because I am g-gay, doesn't mean that I will go and marry any man you desire."

He watches his father's eyes darken into that familiar shade of black. "Haven't we talked about this, Jungkookie?" He spits out the pet name with a tone of malice. "You will do as we say, marry the man that we tell you to-"

"-No." Jungkook states again, despite his trembling hands. He watches as his father stands up, the man's aged face scrunching up into a scowl.

"You're a brat, aren't you?" He growls lowly as he crouches down to stare at Jungkook. "Now, stop being a nuisance and just listen to us, will ya?"

It's not a friendly request. The man is threatening him.

But Jungkook has to stand his ground. "No," he says once again.

He expects it but it still stings; The slap across his face. The palm of his father's hand leaves a blistering hot trial in its wake as it slashes against the boy's pale skin. The man grabs the boy's hair and pulls it back harshly, making him stare up at him. "You will do as we say, do you hear me?"

Jungkook grits his teeth, "let go off me."

But he doesn't let go.

Jungkook suddenly feels so much smaller as his father slaps him across the face once again. He's back to when he was young, back to when he was defenceless, back to when he couldn't stop his father's actions.

His father yanks his hair and punches him square in the jaw. Jungkook doesn't retaliate, he just silently takes on the abuse. Like he did all those years ago.

"You never learn a lesson, do you?" The man screams. Jungkook's dad watches from the couch, eyes bored, almost like he's watching an overplayed tv show. Well in a way it is; Jungkook getting beat by his father is an overplayed TV show. A common occurrence.

The man finally stops his actions and pulls away from the boy.

Black and blue and red.

When Jungkook was little he used to love the colour green because he was too used to seeing black and blue and red.

Black eyes, blue bruises, red blotches across his skin.

"Pathetic. You're a pathetic fucker. Can't even do us a simple deed. Is this how you repay us? We raised you! We could have let you rot in that orphanage but we didn't. We made you who you are today." He screams.

At this, Jungkook finds himself snapping out of his trance. He stands up slowly, ignoring the pain in his body as he walks up to the man. His eyes meet the elder's and he stares directly at him.

"Yes father, you did make me who I am today," he says in a calm tone.

"This world is corrupt all because of fucking gay cunts like you"

"This is what you call homosexuality. And it's disgusting."

"Get off me, you fag."

"You made me into the monster I am."

And with that, he walks off; Not sparing another glance at his parents. He walks out of the house and away from them. Away from the memories, away from the torture, away from the past. He moves forwards.

And somehow, despite the pain, he feels amazing; He feels free.

They left scars on his body, mentally and emotionally. They scarred him.

But now to him, that's all it is. A scar. A memory of past trauma; Not the fear of future possibilities. He's free.

~

It's 6:24 pm when Taehyung arrives at that secluded alleyway.

"Baekhyung?" He calls out, looking around. The boy is nowhere in sight. He leans against the brick wall and pulls his jumper closer to him. He grabs his phone out of his pocket to text the boy but it's then that he notices the figure approaching them.

From the depths of the shadows emerges a man with sharp eyes and greying slicked-back hair. He wears a lavish coat and adorns a cunning smirk. Taehyung gulps and slightly backs up against the wall as the man nears him.

"Taehyung, right?" the man speaks in his husky voice.

Taehyung nods, "y-yeah. W-who are you?"

The man chuckles, the sound low and intimidating. "Oh, you're a funny kid. You don't know me? Well, Taehyung, I'm the man that's been giving you the money for all your jobs."

Taehyung's eyes widen at that, "You're the b-boss?"

As he says this, he notices another figure behind him. Baekhyun.

Taehyung feels nervous as he sees the boy approaching them. Why are they both here? What is the job that he needs to do?

Baekhyun nods his head at Taehyung in acknowledgment before he turns to his father. "So is he willing to do it?" The boy asks as he turns towards the older man.

The elder chuckles, "I don't know yet, haven't asked."

"A-ask what?" Taehyung asks, feeling this dreadful feeling stir in his gut.

"Say, Taehyung, you've been doing this drug-run shit for a while, haven't you. Maybe a month? Well, we wanted to try something else with you. Something a little more...dangerous, if you will," Baekhyun chuckles.

"D-Dangerous?" Taehyung asks, feeling that odd gut feeling now morph into pure fear. What could possibly be more dangerous than running away from thugs in the middle of the night?

Taehyung jumps at the feeling of cold metal grazing his skin. "W-What?!" He stutters as he feels the tip of a gun trace his exposed arms.

"Taehyung, have you ever killed a man?" the boss asks, his dark eyes glittering with excitement.

Taehyung gulps and pushes himself further into the brick wall, shivering at the cold touch of the metal brushing against his skin. "N-No."

The older man hums, looking rather delightful. "Hmm, thought so."
He traces the gun along the boy's body and brings it to his chest. "Then what do you say to getting a little practice?"

Taehyung freezes, "h-huh?"

"Ju Seeyong, an old drug dealer. He was one of my men before but he gave it up for a 'better life'. He ended up betraying us and became a rat. I don't like betrayers," the man spits, eyes gleaming with anger.

"And that's when you come in, boy," the man says while smirking at the shivering boy.

"Your job today is to use this gun and kill Ju Seeyong. There's nothing more embarrassing than having your life ended by a newbie. Especially an innocent little kid like you. Do you think you can do that, Taehyung?"

Taehyung feels his whole body tremble. Kill a man?

How can he take another human's life? Sure, he could do a few illegal jobs like drug dealing but this? Murder? How can he bring himself to do that? He can't do that.

"S-Sir, I-I," he stutters, feeling torn between the metal gun pointed at his chest and his morals.

The man tilts his head, awaiting.

"I-I..." Taehyung stutters out. He feels his heart accelerate and he looks away. "Sir, I-I'm sorry. I can't do that."

He feels breathless as he says it. The mere sentence pulls a trail of silence along with it. The moonlight sneaks into the dark alleyway, casting light onto Taehyung's porcelain skin and the man's piercing dark eyes.

It's frighting how quickly his aura changes; From playful to lethal. The man stares at the smaller boy with a tightened jaw. "Is that a no, Taehyung?"

Taehyung feels his breath fall shallow, "S-Sir, I-I just...can't. I-I'll do anything e-else, b-but please, n-not this."

The man ignores his pleas and instead repeats, "Is that a no. Taehyung?" He slightly emphasises the words, causing a shiver to run down Taehyung's back.

Taehyung looks at the floor, avoiding the man's eyes, his hands trembling and his body feeling weak.

"Y-Yeah."

The man chuckles humourlessly. "Hmm, you seem so small and weak but yet you're so brave, aren't you? You're so brave to disobey my orders like that, aren't you?"

Taehyung shakes his head, "n-no sir, I just..."

Baekhyun chuckles from the back, "You chose to come into this, Taehyung, you know you can't just back out now."

"I-I'm not backing out, I-I just.-"

"If you're not backing out, are you willing to do it?" The grey-haired man asks.

Taehyung shivers as he feels the tip of the gun poke his chest.

His life is at risk right now.

But can he take another life to save his own?

Can he harm others to save himself?

Can he be selfish for once?

"no," he whispers quietly, knowing damn well that those could be his last words.

The man smirks, his lifeless eyes glaring into the boy. "Alright then," he says while stepping back.

Taehyung looks up at him in confusion. Why is he stepping away? Is that it? Is he going to let him go?

Taehyung's knows it's wishful thinking.

And it is.

Because now, the man lifts his gun and points it directly at his forehead.

"You might be brave but you aren't very smart, are you?"

~
Jungkook sighs as he leaves the store. He only had a small shift today but after everything that happened, he's feeling quite exhausted.

However, despite his exhaustion, his chest feels somewhat lighter as he walks down the streets. Jungkook decides to take the shortcut to campus as he wants to get to bed as fast as he can.

He wonders if Taehyung is still in the dorm. He chuckles sadly, knowing well enough that he probably already left.

He sighs in melancholy, wondering if they'll ever be on good terms again. He wonders what life would be like if he had never hurt Taehyung. Maybe then he would be going home to the boy who would be waiting to see him with that bright smile of his. Maybe then he would stop smoking a chain of cigarettes and instead would be kissing the boy's pretty pink lips. Maybe then he would have someone to hold at night rather than holding himself.

Jungkook let's out a ragged breath at his own thoughts and continues to walk down the narrow streets but pauses when he hears muffled voices. He turns around and notices that the voices are coming from a dark alleyway. He doesn't know what urges him to do it, what urges him to move his feet, all he knows is that he's walking towards the voices.

He stops his body behind a brick wall and slightly pokes his head to look into the alleyway.

The sight he sees knocks the wind out of him.

It's Taehyung. But with him is the boss and Baekhyun. What is he doing there? What is he doing with them? He watches in pure shock and confusion as the trio continues to talk.

"I-I'm not backing out, I-I just.-"

"If you're not backing out, then are you willing to do it?"

"no,"

Jungkook watches in absolute horror as the older man steps away from the boy. He watches in horror as the man lifts that familiar metal gun and points it directly at Taehyung's forehead.

Was this a coincidence?

For this is the second time that Jungkook finds the boy seconds away from death.

What had urged Jungkook to take the short cut today?

What had compelled him to stop at that eerie alleyway?

What had prompted him to eavesdrop on a conversation that was clearly not meant for passersby?

Was it fate?

Well then maybe it is fate that makes him move his legs.

Maybe it is fate that makes him run towards the scene rather than away from it.

And maybe... maybe it is that goddamned fate that makes him jump in front of the small boy just as the gun goes off.

Maybe it is fate but maybe it isn't'.

Maybe it's something more.

It all happens so fast that Taehyung can barely process it.

One minute there's a gun pointed to his head, the next minute it's fired. And now, in front of him is Jungkook, looking at him with a broken smile as his body stills from the impact of the bullet.

He sees the other two men run off while laughing mirthfully. He feels the blood from Jungkook's wound seep through his shirt. He hears himself scream.

He screams out a broken cry as Jungkook's knees buckle and he falls to the floor. He hears the rush of people, gathering around the alleyway to inspect the noises, gasping over the sight they see.

Taehyung drops to the cold floor and hovers over Jungkook's bleeding figure. His shaky hand reaches out to the boy's wound on his stomach as he mutters out his name, his voice still stiff with shock, "J-Jungkook."

The ravenette looks up at him, his features slightly pale.

"Jungkook!" Taehyung cries out as the blood from his wound stains his hands.

Jungkook reaches out his hand and grips onto Taehyung free hand, smiling up at the boy.

"H-Have you ever wondered w-why I treated you the way I did?"

Taehyung looks up, frantic eyes dimming with slight confusion at the question.

"W-what- Jungkook y-your hurt-I-"

"-When I was little, I made a promise to myself. I promised myself that I would never fall for another man."

Taehyung sniffles as he puts pressure onto the boy's wounds, trying to stop the blood from flowing. "J-Jungkook-"

"-It was working well for me, I guess," he continues with a strained chuckle. "I even became infamous in this college for being homophobic. I liked it; L-Liked the thought of being everything my parents hated."

Taehyung looks up to meet Jungkook's eyes as tears cascade down his face.

"That was until I met you..." Jungkook says as he stares into the boy's glimmering black orbs. He grips the smaller's hand in his trembling one and leads it to his heart. Taehyung feels the dull patter of the organ beating against his palm.

"Jungkook," he whispers, his voice cracking, not knowing what else to say but his name.

"A-and that's when I found I was l-losing myself. My e-entire identity; my persona. M-My promise; Broken. All b-because of these big doe eyes," he says while reaching up to trace a thumb over Taehyung's eyes, wiping away the falling tears.

He finds his heart fluttering as those doe eyes grow even bigger. "B-Because of these Bambi eyes, I broke my promise; I fell for a man."

Taehyung cries out miserably as Jungkook slowly drops his hand from his face. He watches in panic as the ravenette's eyes start to flutter, as he slowly loses consciousness.
"N-No, Jungkook!"

"B-But I don't regret it now," Jungkook whispers as a tear rolls down his face.

"Because it's y-you," he says while smiling sadly.

"It's you who I fell for, Bambi."

And as his eyes start dimming, as the blood seeping out of him cascades down his body, as his aching heart slowly loses its rhythmic beat.

He says it; he says the very words that he once feared.

"I love you."

Fate is a messed up thing.

But love? Love is enough worse.

-

A/N: HeARt ❤️ BeEN 😘 bRoke😩 sO 😻 ManY💋 tIMES👁

^Im so sorry I literally can't be mature for like 5 seconds.

Soooo, aha, how y'all feeling?

Thoughts on this chapter?

What do you guys think is going to happen in the next chapter?

I can't say anything or else I'll probably spoil the next chapter but all I can really say is, keep reading I guess, aha.

Also, i think this is a great time to say that i won't be updating for like at least 3 weeks. My exams are next week :( I'm actually so pissed off because I really want to update and finish the story but I have such little time to write and the stress from exams is

Anyways, I hope you guys liked this cute (aha sarcasm) little chapter. See you soon, I love you. ❤️💛

JImin asks if jk likes him. Tae says no. Jimin has a knowing glint in his eyes. Jimin and Jungkook used to be friends? // research past question.