A/n: When I have a lot of things to do but I wanna write more of the story😅

~ But A Caged Bird's Shadow Shouts On A Nightmare Scream ~

* TAEHYUNG'S POV *

Darkness. Drudgery. Deception. 

The only things that I've know since the day I stepped into the 'High Society' of the Daegu Lords. 

The Feudal Power System interested me in the least.

But to accept the reins of the entire Kim Fortune, was a responsibility I was not inclined to undertake. 

So one fateful night, in the veil of darkness, guided by my instinct, I escaped my destiny. 

Still doing so now. 

"Taehyung-ah! You space out too much!", Jimin whined as he plopped down on the seat beside me. 

I rolled my eyes and dug into my food. 

I didn't miss the exchange of glances between Namjoon hyung and Yoongi hyung. 

"Is something the matter, Taehyung?", Namjoon hyung asked. 

"No. I'm ok.", I said and went back to eating. 

I didn't want to talk about my past. 

I wanted to leave my Daegu life behind. 

I simply wanted to be Kim Taehyung. 

The boy with a voice. 

- TIME SKIP TO BAND PRACTICE - 

'Butterfly, Like A Butterfly
Machi Butterfly, Bu-Butterfly Cheoreom
Butterfly, Like A Butterf-'

"STOP!", the Music Director yelled from the other side of the glass. 

Jin hyung and Jimin stopped harmonising and I stopped singing the lines. 

"Take a 10 mins break. We'll start over again.", he said and exited the room. 

I let my head fall back, as I leaned against the chair. 

I loved being the lead vocalist of the band, but today I seemed not to be myself. 

"I'm kinda nervous. Like this is our first big recording. Being signed to such a huge record label....", Namjoon hyung trailed off as he sipped on his Iced Macchiato. 

"Me too.", Jimin said as he fanned himself with a magazine. 

"You don't look like it.", Yoongi hyung commented dryly. 

"Hyung! That's literally mean!", Jimin said, faking hurt. 

I rolled my eyes. 

Drama Queen Jimin. 

"You both! Will you stop picking at each other!? It's too hot to even argue!", Jin hyung said as he sprawled on the couch like a starfish. 

Both of them shut up and had the decency to look apologetic. 

"Taehyung-ah...you seem a bit subdued today.", Hoseok hyung observed. 

Never doubt Hoseok hyung's analytical skills. 

"I'm fine. I guess I'm just a bit nervous as well.", I lied. 

"Uh-uh. Taehyung and nervous are two things that are two mismatched pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.", Hoseok hyung said as he clicked his tongue against his teeth. 

Crap! Why does he have to be right all the time!? 

I averted my eyes from Hoseok hyung's direction and focused it on the equipment in the room. 

"Do you want to take a walk, Taehyung? Clear your head a bit?", Namjoon hyung offered kindly. 

"I said I'm fine!", I yelled as I stood up, my fingernails digging into my palms as I walked over to the recording room and took my position and started making certain adjustments to my comfort. 

I could feel their questioning gazes boring into my back as they all entered one by one into the room and took their positions. 

Namjoon hyung gave the green signal and we took it from the start. 

- TIME SKIP - 

"Just stop!!", the Music Director shouted once again. 

Yoongi hyung stopped rapping and looked at the Director. 

"Namjoon! I want to have a word with you.", the Music Director said as he snapped his fingers towards the lobby. 

We packed our stuff and waited for Namjoon hyung to finish talking to the Director. 

After a minute or two, he emerged from the lobby, alone. 

"What happened, hyung?", Jimin asked with anxious lines on his face. 

Jimin tried not to show it, but he was a very sensitive person. He couldn't especially tolerate if someone was in pain. 

"Well....nothing much really. Just that we should come again the day after tomorrow. And that we were really good.", Namjoon hyung said with a huge smile. 

Everyone of us looked at each other with disbelief. 

"That's amazing! We're moving on to high ground guys!", Hoseok hyung said as he wrapped his arms around Jin hyung and Jimin's shoulder and dragged them out of the room. 

Namjoon hyung followed them with a small smile on his lips. 

Yoongi hyung feigned indifference, but I could practically see the wheels turn in his head, trying to him analyse Namjoon hyung's demeanour.

"So, anyone wanna grab a bite before heading to the dorms?", Jin hyung asked as we walked down the street. 

"I'll pass.", I said as I put my hands behind my head and kept walking. 

"But you didn't even have a proper lunch today!", Jimin yelled in protest. 

"I'm not really feeling hungry.", I said as I turned around to answer them.  

Peace and quiet. 

That is what I longed for now. 

"Leave him be. Give the guy some space.", Yoongi hyung said in a low voice, but audible enough. 

Yoongi hyung rarely spoke, so usually everyone listened to his advice. 

I shot him a wry smile and kept on walking, till I was out of their line of vision. 

I kept on walking till I was standing in front of a disused building, which had been abandoned by the workers 2-3 years ago. 

It was one of my favourite haunts in this noisy and criminal city, full of superficial people. 

I climbed up the winding staircase until I reached the rooftop. 

I opened the door and felt the cold evening air brush through my hair whilst caressing my face gently. 

I was home.

This was what I longed for. 

Serenity and Tranquility to free my mind of all the pressuring thoughts of the day. 

I sat down on the parapet and dangled my feet from the rooftop while I leaned with the support of my palms on the rough and uneven surface of the parapet. 

I knew Namjoon hyung was lying about his talk with the Director. 

In no way could the Director praise us after the horrible performance today.

And it was all my fault. 

It was my fault that we suffered today. 

My fault that I let those thoughts penetrate into my mind again. 

I had promised to myself that I wouldn't let those thoughts affect my singing and the band's success as an extension.

I should've ignored that text from Yeonjun. 

I should've severed ties with everyone. 

Why was I so WEAK!? 

Was it so impossible to come to terms with the path I had chosen!? 

"WHY CAN'T I DO IT!?", I yelled out into the open air. 

"It's ok if you can't do it, Tae.", a voice said from behind me. 

I turned out, shocked, to find Yoongi hyung staring down at me. 

"H-How did you know about this place!?", I asked accusingly. 

I was pretty sure that no one knew about this place. 

"Well, I happened to spot you going into this building every now and then. Do you really think Tae, that I'd stop keeping tabs on you?", Yoongi hyung asked with a raised eyebrow. 

Ah....so, that was the case. 

"In that case....come sit with me", I said as I stared out into the horizon, watching the remnants of the sunset glow dissolve into an inky black sky. 

"With pleasure.", Yoongi hyung said with a particular amusement in his voice.  

The times truly haven't changed. 

Just the scenario did.

A/n: Theories anyone? And I'm loving Taehyung's character at this point 🥺🥺

- Logging off for now...

 - 💕Moonie💕