Taehyung doesn't want to face his parents, he doesn't want to hear their side of the story or their excuses. But he knows that he'll never fully recover from the trauma and pain that they've caused if he doesn't.

    "I don't think you should go alone."

    "Why?"

    "Because..."

Taehyung pouts softly. "They're my parents."

Jeongguk sighs, standing from the couch and pacing a few steps. "We both know what they're capable of."

    "I know," Taehyung says, standing with him. "I don't want to, believe me."

    "Then don't," Jeongguk says, facing him. "Or let me go with you at least."

    "I don't want them to cause you any trouble~"

    "And I don't want them to trick you into thinking that they're good people. Or that they did all of this because they loved you."

    "You don't do this to people you love."

    "Exactly."

    "I know that," Taehyung insists. "And I know that they'll try to convince me otherwise, but I know better, Gguk. Don't you trust me?"

    "Of course I do," Jeongguk says. "It's them I don't trust."

Taehyung pressed his lips together, contemplating for a moment. "If coming with me will make you feel better~"

    "It will."

    "Okay," Taehyung says. "But you can't do anything to get yourself in trouble."

    "Like what?" Jeongguk asks. "It's not like I've spent the last three years fantasizing about their violent deaths."

    "Have you?"

    "Of course not."

Taehyung laughs and sits back down to put his shoes on. He looks up when he notices Jeongguk's silence. "What?"

    "I love when you laugh," He says. "I love when you do anything."

    "I hate being made self-aware," Taehyung says. "I hate perceiving myself in general, actually."

    "I'll perceive you enough for the both of us then," Jeongguk says. "Where are we meeting them?"

    "The house."

    "You're going back there?"

    "I have to get my things."

Jeongguk nods. "You can bring it here if you need."

Taehyung shakes his head. "I don't think I'm going to be around for long."

    "Where are you going?" Jeongguk asks, worry already etching its way onto his face.

    "Anywhere," Taehyung says. "I can't be here anymore."

    "Not even just for a little while?" Jeongguk asks. "You should take a beat after everything that's happened."

    "If I take a beat, I'll have another breakdown." He means it as a joke but Jeongguk doesn't find it funny. "I'm sorry, it's not funny. I shouldn't joke around about it~"

    "No, it's fine, I'm sorry," Jeongguk says, forcing a short laugh. "I'm just~ I just...I don't want to lose you."

    "Trust me, you do."

    "Never."

    "I'm not the same, Jeongguk. You said it yourself, you hardly recognize me~"

    "We're both different but deep down we're still the same, right?"

    "I don't think so."

Jeongguk deflates. "...But I love you."

Taehyung's expression changes to one of sympathy. "Can you say that?"

    "Yes, I can. Because it's the truth."

    "...I want to love you too."

    "Then love me."

    "It's not that simple."

They both fell silent and Taehyung stood to grab his phone and keys.

    "We don't have to think about it now," He says, holding his hand out. "Will you still come with me?"

Jeongguk takes his hand and stands with him to leave. "Can I come with you?"

Taehyung looks confused. "Of course~"

    "Not to meet your parents~ I mean, yes to meet your parents, but, also wherever else you decide to go?" He clarifies.

    "Let's not do this now~"

    "I want to do it now. I need to."

Taehyung sighs. "I can't ask you to uproot your life for me."

Jeongguk steps towards him, still holding his hand. "I asked you to do the same for me, and you would've if things hadn't happened like they did."

    "I don't have anything to lose," Taehyung says. "You have a life here."

    "You're the only reason I'm here," Jeongguk says. "I did all of this to get back to you. Do you think I like doing reception at the environmental resource center? I lose brain cells every time I walk through the door."

    "Jeongguk~"

    "I just got you back, Tae, don't make me say goodbye."

Jeongguk steps impossibly closer, stopping Taehyung from stepping away with an arm around the small of his back.

    "I love you," He says. "You're the only person I've ever loved."

    "You don't want me," Taehyung says, tears threatening to form in his eyes as he tries to warn him. "I'm so broken now~"

    "You aren't~"

    "You can't fix me."

    "I don't need to fix you. You aren't broken...you're perfect."

There's no space left between them and, for a second, Taehyung thinks that Jeongguk is going to kiss him—but he doesn't.

    "Why'd you stop?" Taehyung wonders aloud.

    "I don't want to cross a line you aren't ready to cross," Jeongguk responds.

    "I'm not as fragile as you think."

    "So?"

    "So...kiss me."

Jeongguk hesitates despite the invitation, he takes Taehyung's face in both hand—searching his eyes for any sign of skepticism—and kisses him.

All of a sudden, the memories are there as if they never left. Memories of fresh love and long days of happiness—some that seemed to run together as they spent every waking moment with each other. There was no place either of them would have rather been, no place they'd go without the other. Complete enamored and living blissfully in the bubble they had created for themselves in the back of Jeongguk's van.

The past, with all its warmth and sense of life worth living comes flooding back. He can't grasp everything as it comes to him but he doesn't need to. Every moment before now doesn't matter as much.

Jeongguk breaks the kiss first, drying the tears that have graced the apples of Taehyung's cheeks.

"What's wrong?" He asks, alarmed by his tears. "What happened?"

"No, no it's fine," Taehyung rushes. "I just need to sit down."

"Here," Jeongguk says, helping him sit down on the couch. He kneels in front of him, looking up in concern. "You okay?"

"No, I'm fine, I think I just..." He can't find the words to describe the phenomenon. "It's like it's all trying to come back to me at once."

"What?"

"The memories...m-my memories."

Jeongguk nods, tracing soothing circles into the back of his hand. "What do I do?"

Taehyung tries to swallow his tears. "I don't know, I've never had this happen."

"Okay, well, we'll just figure it out together."

"Okay."

"Do you want to tell me what you remember?"

"No."

"No?"

"No...I-I just don't want to forget."

Jeongguk stands and sits beside him, pulling him into a hug. "You won't forget."

Taehyung relinquishes all control and allows himself to cry.

"You won't forget," Jeongguk says, rocking him in his arms. "I won't let you."

"Promise?"

"I swear."

~

"This house is still...massive, I see."

"Yeah..."

Taehyung chuckles as they climb out of the car. Jeongguk looks up at the house with a sigh.

"Do you remember the first time you brought me here?" He asks, holding his hand out as Taehyung rounds the car.

"I do," He says, thinking for a moment. "You call me a spoiled rich kid."

"You were a spoiled rich kid." Jeongguk laughs. "But you were also rebellious."

"Rebellious?" Taehyung quirks an eyebrow. "I don't remember it that way."

"Kim Taehyung!"

Taehyung startles, a look of dread overtaking his features when he sees his mother rushing out of the house—his step dad following closely behind.

"Are you okay?" She asks as she approaches them. "Where have you been?"

Jeongguk steps forward protectively but Taehyung reassures him that it's okay.

"You must be so confused," His mother says. "Come inside so we can talk."

"I'm not confused," Taehyung says, his eyes flitting between his parents. "I-I'm really upset, but I'm not confused."

"Whatever lies he's told you~"

"I haven't lied about anything, you're the liars~"

"Don't talk to my wife that way, not on our property~"

"Please," Taehyung says. "Jeongguk, don't. You said you wouldn't."

Jeongguk clenches his jaw but takes a step back, letting them have their moment.

"I-I didn't really come here to talk," Taehyung says, his eyes finding the front door as Seokjin walks out carrying the things that he asked him to pack up. "I just wanted to get my things."

"No," Mrs. Kim says, tears already forming in her eyes. "Kim Seokjin, get back inside, right now."

"Seokjin," Mr. Kim warns. "Listen to your mother."

"They're his things," Seokjin says as he wheels the suitcases down the driveway. "What are you going to do with him when he's gone?"

"He's not going anywhere," Mrs. Kim says. "Especially not with this criminal".

Taehyung hesitates before speaking, expecting Jeongguk to say something.

"Seokjin told me everything," He says, meeting his hyungs eyes. "He wouldn't lie to me."

"We aren't saints, but neither is he," Mr. Kim says. "We were all doing everything we could to protect you."

"From what?"

"Failure."

Taehyung nods. "Well, you've gone out of your way, that's for sure."

Jeongguk laughs but disguises it as a cough. "Sorry."

"I don't want to talk about it," Taehyung continues. "I've heard all I need to hear and...I remember everything from before."

"You do?" Seokjin asks, he looks shocked but relieved. "Really?"

"It's spotty in some places, like trying to recall a dream I had a long time ago," He responds. "I-I don't...guys, I don't think I can forgive you for this."

"Taehyung~"

"Mom, you almost ruined my life. You were going to have me go on thinking I was ill. How could you do that? A-And how am I supposed to forgive you or forget? I almost died, because of you."

"We thought~"

"It doesn't matter."

As if on cue, and in perfect timing, Jimin drives up in Jeongguk's van—honking the horn as he parks the vehicle.

    "Taehyung, please," Mrs. Kim says as Namjoon and Yoongi get out of the car. "Is this really what you want to do?"

    "It is," Taehyung says, trying not to break at the sight of his mother's tears. He still loved her, in spite of everything. He forces back any emotion as he steps forward to hand over his car keys. "Here, dad."

    "Keep it~"

    "I don't want it. I-I won't need it."

Jeongguk takes the luggage from Seokjin and hands it off to Namjoon and Yoongi.

    "Where are you going to go?" Mr. Kim asks. "How will you take care of yourself?"

    "I don't know," Taehyung says, smiling softly at Jeongguk as he takes his hand. "I think we'll go wherever we want."

    "Call me," Seokjin says. "I-If you feel like it, you don't h-have to. I'll understand if you don't."

Taehyung nods. "I'll call you. I promise."

Seokjin tries to smile but ultimately turns and walks away to hide his tears.

    "Hyung?" Taehyung calls, stopping him. "You should come with us."

    "He should?" Namjoon asks, earning an elbow in the side from Yoongi.

    "He should," Jeongguk agrees. "If he wants."

    "I-I...I can't," Seokjin says, drying his tears. "I'm graduating, H-Hoseok and I are supposed to be finding a new apartment~"

    "He can come too," Jeongguk says.

    "Yeah, the more strangers the better, that's what we always," Jimin calls from the drivers seat. "Don't you always say that, Gguk?"

    "Shut up, Jimin."

    "Sure."

Taehyung looks to Seokjin. "It won't make a difference whether you start your life here or somewhere else will it?"

Seokjin hesitates to respond. "...Hoseok did mention getting out of Seoul."

    "What is happening right now?" Mrs. Kim asks.

    "Kim Seokjin, have you lost your mind?" Mr. Kim follows.

    "Hyung," Taehyung says. "It's your life, not theirs."

    "...Where will we go?"

    "Anywhere we want."

Seokjin sighs. "You couldn't have mentioned it earlier, I mean, gosh. I'm not prepared."

Taehyung laughs. "We'll stop by yours and Hobi's first. You can call him on the drive."

    "Are you sure?"

    "Yeah...I'd hate to leave you behind."

So it was settled once and for all, they were both leaving.

    "Kim Seokjin~"

    "Sorry, dad. You can say I told you so if I come crawling back. Deal?"

Taehyung smiles as he holds his free hand out for Seokjin. "Run, hyung, they might chase us."

Seokjin takes his hand and they all pile into the van. "This may be the most reckless thing I've ever done."

    "Don't think about it too much," Jeongguk says, slamming the door of the van on the faces of their weeping mother and fuming father. "What's the worse that could happen?"

    "...Well~"

    "It's a rhetorical question."

Seokjin nods, looking around the van. "I like your van. I can see why you saw it as a suitable place to live."

Namjoon laughs from the passenger seat, Jimin joining as he drives.

    "It didn't look like this when I lived in it," Jeongguk says. "It was~"

    "Aesthetic," Everyone, apart from Seokjin, says in unison.

    "Screw all of you," Jeongguk says, laughing along with them despite himself. "I can still kick you and your boyfriend off the trip, Seokjin."

    "Hoseok's my roommate," Seokjin says. "He moved in with me after Taehyung abandoned him."

    "Do you think he'll come?" Taehyung asks.

    "I don't know," Seokjin says. "He's a bit neurotic, but he's not insane. So it could go either way."

    "Easy on the insanity slander, hyung," Taehyung says. "We're not all bad."

To Seokjin's surprise, Hoseok is all for the idea of starting fresh somewhere new. He fits into the group perfectly, Taehyung knew he would. Hoseok was sociable—he remembered that from their clubbing days.

Jeongguk agrees to take the wheel for their first shift of driving and they prepare to hit the road.

"Where are we gonna go?" Taehyung asks after they've been parked outside Seokjin and Hoseok's place for a while.

"I've always wanted to see what Gwangju is like," Jeongguk says.

    "They have a national park," Namjoon says. "I'd love to check it out."

    "Oh yeah, I've heard of it," Hoseok says enthusiastically. "It's far. You guys are really taking this seriously."

    "Is that one vote Gwangju?" Jeongguk smiles, looking over his shoulder at Hoseok.

    "Absolutely, my new friend," Hoseok says. "One vote Gwangju."

    "Joon? Two votes Gwangju?"

    "Two votes Gwangju."

"Hm...Jeju's by the water," Taehyung says. "It's not that humid around this time."

    "Oh, Jeju sounds good, actually," Hoseok says.

    "New friend," Jeongguk says fawning betrayal.

    "I'm sorry, I've always wanted to go," Hoseok defends. "Find it in your heart to forgive me."

    "Aren't there resorts there? I'd love working at a resort," Jimin says.

    "Nobody loves working at a resort," Yoongi gripes. "Can we pick a place already? I'm falling asleep."

    "I say Jeju," Jimin says. "Yoongi too."

    "Please, I hate the ocean. I say Gwangju."

"Three votes Gwangju," Jeongguk says, looking at Taehyung with a teasing smile.

    "Hyung?" Taehyung asks Seokjin. "Gwangju or Jeju? Don't say Gwangju."

    "Say Gwangju," Jeongguk says, looking at him through the rear view. "You know you want to."

Seokjin contemplates for a moment. "I'm sorry, Tae~"

    "Oh, come on~"

    "It's so humid in Jeju."

    "You've never been."

    "I don't have to go to Antarctica to know that it's cold. It's common knowledge."

Jeongguk laughs when Taehyung pouts and faces forward with his arms crossed.

"Come on, don't be upset," He chuckles. "You're too cute when you're upset."

"What are we gonna do in Gwangju, guys?" Taehyung prompts.

"Whatever we want?" They reply in unison as Jeongguk starts the van—blowing the horn as they all cheer enthusiastically.

Taehyung is scared, but he's always scared. Now, however, he was scared with someone he knew he could trust and that he was—somehow—still madly in love with. He was scared with people that had accepted him back into their lives despite all that he's been through. He wanted to be with Jeongguk all the time, no matter where they went. It all felt too good to be true, but he knew that he was far from dreaming now. He was loved, and in love.

As they are driving later into the night, blindly following the gps on Jeongguk's phone, Taehyung whispers to him:

"Is this real?"

To which he responds:

"This is real."

The end.
🌈🌈🌈