| taehyung's point of view

Soo Jin emerged from her small room, being assisted by a nurse again, on their way to the visiting area where Taehyung was waiting for her. In her mind, she only had one name. Park Jimin, the only person who haven't given up on her but her eyes were immediately filled with warm tears as her eyes came to recognize Taehyung.

She ran to him, welcoming her childhood friend back, "Taehyung. I thought you already forgot about me? How come you and Jungkook never visit me?"

Taehyung felt nostalgic in her embrace. He patted her back gently, giving in to his longing for her, his long lost friend, "I'm sorry. How are you? Are they treating you nicely here?"

"I'm fine. I'm trying my best to get better. I'm slowly getting there." She pulled away and smiled. "How's Jungkook and Jimin?" Taehyung fell silent. "What's wrong?" She added. "Are they giving you a hard time again?"

"Yeah. They're always giving me a headache." Taehyung pulled a smile on. He wanted to give her peace but how can he?

Soo Jin smiled, "I miss being around you guys. I wish I could get our of here soon." She added. Her face lost its usual glow. Her smile didn't look the same. Jimin wanted to bring the old Soo Jin back but it's impossible to do without hurting innocent people. Without hurting Mara.

"Jimin promised to visit me today but he didn't. Is there something going on today?" Soo Jin stared right into my eyes. Can she tell about the lies I've said?

"Soo Jin, listen." I caught her attention and she turned around to faced me, "I'm about to do something bad... Please forgive me."

"What are you trying to say?" She asked, "Is something going on? Please tell me. You know I hate it when you guys keep secrets from me."

"Just promise me that you'll stay by Jimin's side until the end." I took her hand and only smiled at her. "No matter what he tells you, believe him. Promise me, Soo Jin, that you won't leave him."

"Are you planning on leaving?" Her face was painted with worry and confusion but as much as I wanted to, I can't tell her.

I've made up my mind. I'm going to protect the person I love. I shook my head no gently. "I'm just taking a slightly different path."

*

"Kim Taehyung!!"

A young Jimin crashed his new bike through our broken gate. A grin plastered on his face as he dusted himself off, "Why didn't you go to school today?"

I can see myself frowning in my dream as I sat on the steps in front of our old house, "My sister is sick. My mom told me to take care of her because we didn't have enough money to send her to the hospital."

"Oh." Jimin's smile faded. He took a seat beside me on the dirty concrete steps, "Are you okay? I can ask my dad to help you."

"No! You've done enough for us already." I refused his help. I would've accepted it if I knew that it was the only thing that could save my sister's life back then.

"Kim Taehyung!"

Jungkook parked his new car in front of our empty home. At the young age of 18, he earned his driving license, despite the fact that he was too young, he had connections through his father. Jimin sat in the front while Soo Jin sat in the back. He waved a hand over at me but I turned away from them to hide my black and blued face. I was ashamed of what my life has become.

"What happened to your face, Tae? Who did this to you?" Soo Jin discovered one day and I realized that I couldn't keep running away from the people who have truly cared about me.

Jungkook's father was an influential judge. He put my abusive father behind bars and ever since then I never saw my family again. I ran away. Why? Cause I can't bear to look at them. The murderers who let my sister die, depriving her of her dreams.

"Kim Taehyung!"

Soo Jin was running towards me, her smile so bright that you'll never guess the amount of hardship she was facing. Beside her was Jimin and Jungkook, they all looked as if they didn't have any problems but I know. I know that we're not that far apart from each other. I know that they were broken too in their own way.

*

"What's up?" Jimin came as quickly as he could, "What did you want to talk about?" He sat on the couch, "Oh! Almost forgot, I also wanted to talk to you about Mara but you go first." He grinned.

"Jimin. I want out of the agreement." I said as direct as possible because I didn't want to make it more difficult for the both of us by beating around the bush. "I'm not doing it anymore. This is wrong, Jimin."

By this time Jimin's smile has fallen and was replaced by an unhumored expression when he noticed that I've packed my bags.

"What is the meaning of all this, Tae?" He stood up and walked up to me. He smiled bitterly, fighting his urge to laugh, "Don't tell me.. You've fallen for her?"

I stared at my feet. A silent response broke through the quietness.

"How could you do this to me? To Soo Jin!" He asked as he clenched his teeth.

"I'm returning your stuff." I said without hesitation.

Everything tangible in the apartment was Jimin's. The bed I sleep in, the couch, the table, the clothes I wear; it was all his. All I have are a few pairs of pants, a handful of shirts and my little sister's picture that was all inside the bag I brought with me years ago when I left my home.

"Don't get cocky with me, Taehyung." Jimin thought I was joking but I wasn't. I've made my choice.

"Thank you for everything." I gave him my farewell hug and a pat on the back, "I know we've been through a lot and we've successfully passed through a lot obstacles on the way. It meant a lot to me when you stayed and helped me look after my sister when she was alive. You mean a lot to me.." I added, not letting him go, it was hard to let go, "And that's why I need you to realize that what you're doing is wrong. You need to stop this, Jimin."

"You're confused, Taehyung." Jimin pushed me away. "I'm not the one in the wrong. You need to come to your senses. She will not love you, Tae!! She will never love you if she finds out about this..." Jimin spoke of the truth, "You only have us."

"Im sorry but I've made up my mind." I replied, it was the only solution I could cone up with, "I'm going to protect her no matter what and right now, I'm asking you to respect my decision, not as a friend but as a brother."

Jimin's face didn't changed, he still looked cold and determined to ruin Suga. My words weren't getting through to him. "I don't want to be your enemy, Tae, but if you insist on doing this. I can't do anything but to fight back. I won't hold back." He warned. "I will give you another chance, drop the bag Taehyung."

I only gave him a smile and assured him that I will not change my mind, "Sorry, Jimin." I told him as softly as possible, "You already have Soo Jin and Jungkook but Mara.. I'm the only one who can protect her. I'm the only person she has. I don't think Yoongi will do anything for her."

"Taehyung, think this over."

"No Jimin." I stopped him. I felt something die inside of me with every word I spoke. "I've already thought about it twice, a hundred times even but my answer remains the same. I can't just stand by like a fool, Jimin. I can't just watch by the sidelines. You of all people should know how I feel right now."

"I'm not leaving your side, Jimin. I'm still Taehyung and will always be this Taehyung.." I added, watching his unwavering expression, "but if you hurt her, I swear you'll lose me. You'll lose a friend as well as a brother."

I placed the keys on the table before picking up my bag that was on the floor. Slowly, I turned around and walked towards the door.

"Hey moron!" Jimin called after me when I was halfway through the corridor. He threw the keys at me and I caught them in my hand, "Keep the house. Don't you fucking dare refuse me. I know you have nowhere else to go."