fifty-three.

"Dada! Dada wake up! Baba Jin is looking for you downstairs!" Taehyung flinches and immediately flutters his eyes open as soon as he hears his daughter's high pitched voice. He stretches his arms, conditioning himself first before shifting his attention to the adorable girl in front of him.

"Where's my morning kiss?" He asks, earning a pout from the little girl. Taehyung knew that Seolmi has no intention in kissing him, so he just cup her cheeks and kisses her straight on the lips.

"Ew dada! Your breath stinks! And for your information it's already 12 PM!" Seolmi bickers with her father for awhile, but all their actions came to a halt as soon as a delirious Kim Seokjin enters the bedroom. His hands are wrapped around his stomach protectively, waddling his way towards the still drowsy Taehyung.

"Hyung? What's wrong? What's with that face?" Taehyung asks, his mood dropping from 100 to 0 real quick. He waits as the older sits down in front of him, his eyes already brimming with tears.

"Hey, answer me hyung. What's the matter?" He whispers. Jin whimpers before fidgeting with his phone. After clicking some things, he then raise his phone for Taehyung to see whatever he wanted to tell him.

"Jimin... ran away?" Taehyung whispers, a hint of disbelief purely etched on his face.

"And it's been almost a week, Tae... we were all too dumb not to notice that something was definitely bothering him. Because if there was none, he wouldn't have ran away... oh, Tae what do we do?" Jin manages to blurt out before wailing loudly. Taehyung tastes something salty in between his mouth, and as he run his fingers through his face, he realized that he is also crying too.

"Seolmi, can you call Daddy Jeongguk and make them come home? Can you do that honey? Here take my phone and call him outside," Taehyung speaks softly, and smiles when the little girl obeys immediately.

"Hyung, did Jimin talk to you about something before he even left?"

"I honestly can't remember, Tae. The last thing he said was that he'll be gone for a while... and I was just too stupid for not asking where and the reason why he was leaving. Tae, it's my fault. If I haven't been careless, Jimin would still be here right now!" Jin cries uncontrollably and Taehyung is already worried for the older. Instead of saying a word, he scoots closer to him, embracing Jin into a tight, reassuring hug.

"Does Yoongi know about this already?"

"No. The only thing he knew was that Jimin went away for a seminar or something. Tae, I really don't know what to do anymore. I'm so scared."

Just then, Taehyung remembers all the things Jimin said a day before he left them.

"Hyung? I actually want to tell you something..."

[A week ago]

Taehyung was supposed to be on his way to the hospital for his prenatal check up but Jimin stopped him from going out just yet. He made Taehyung wait because he said he wanted to accompany him, since Jeongguk and the boys were busy practicing for their comeback.

"Taetae, let's go!" He squealed. Taehyung shook his head and laughed in return.

"Seolmi! Dada and Uncle Jimin will be out today, okay? Be a good girl to Baba Jin~" Taehyung said to his daughter. She peeked her head from inside the kitchen and ran towards his father to give him a small hug before leaving.

As soon as they left the house, Taehyung already noticed something different from Jimin's actions. The smile that was present awhile ago was long gone and was now replaced with a sullen one. He put his arms on his shoulder, squeezing it.

"Are you okay, Chim?"

"I'm okay, Tae..." Jimin looked at him, swollen eyes were evident.

"You wanna go on a date after my check-up?" Taehyung asked him, showing him his box-shaped smile that he knew Jimin always loved.

"Of course, Tae. I'd love to!"

They both giggled like school girls, and continued to talk about the past, especially those times that they still only have each other to lean on.

When they arrived at the hospital, Taehyung was relieved when he saw his name second on the waiting list, which means that him and Chim can get out earlier than expected. After his name was called, the doctor checked on him and his baby, giving him vitamins and milk to make the baby healthier. As soon as it's done, they thanked her and left.

"So, where are we heading to?" Jimin asked as he strapped his seatbelt on, Taehyung copied his action before thinking of a perfect place.

"What about we go to our secret place?"

As Taehyung gawked at him, he saw how Jimin's eyes tremble with delight, turning into small crescents. He knew he would love it.

"But, let's get some snacks before heading there directly, 'kay? I'm gonna message Jin hyung that we will not be home 'til 7."

Jimin nodded enthusiastically and drove at a nearby convenience store so they can buy whatever it is necessary for them to bring on their little 'unplanned' trip. It took them about an hour before they arrived at their place. Even before they met Jin hyung, Jimin and Taehyung were already close enough to have a secret place that the two of them only knew about.

It's actually a campsite that is in the outskirts of town. Not everyone goes there because the place is really secluded. Cars that pass by the forest probably won't even waste their time to look because they will definitely see nothing special from the outside view. Just a bunch of trees, moss and such. But if they let their feet wander inside the place, they will see how big of a beauty it is.

Jimin and Taehyung nurtured the place. They've managed to build up a small cabin that'll be good for the two of them, and some furnitures inside for them to use whenever they go there to take a break from the city life. They also put up a section for them to have a bonfire whenever they feel like staying out all through the night. The place is their sanctuary.

They went inside the cabin, the scent of pine trees and petrichore welcoming them as they entered their small abode. They arranged the groceries they bought inside the small fridge and proceeded to freshen up themselves from the exhaustion from the 1 hour drive.

"Chim, let's talk about everything once we have enough nap, okay? I know something is bothering you, I can feel it in my Mochi Radar. So don't you try lying on this one because it will be of no use. 'Kay?" Taehyung heard Jimin chuckle and he smiled because his best friend's laugh is probably one of the best sounds he'd love to hear.

"Okay, Tae. Cuddle~" Jimin mumbled. Taehyung opened his arms, signaling him to scoot closer, and he did so.

So basically, they just spent the whole day snoring their asses off, and when they woke up, it was already close to 6 in the evening.

Taehyung was the first one to wake up, so he gently separated Jimin away from him so that he can prepare dinner for the two of them. After being successful in not waking Jimin up, he went to the kitchen and started making ramen.

"Chim? Wake up and let's eat. We have to be home later because the boys will start to worry about our whereabouts if we'll come home later than what we said to Jin hyung," Taehyung whispered. Jimin stirred in his slip and pouted when he opened his eyes.

"Come on, mochi. It's time to eat and have a heart to heart talk. You thought I forgot, didn't you?"

"No, Tae... I knew you wouldn't," he replied, emitting a soft laugh. They ate their dinner silently, and Jimin offered to wash the utensils afterwards. When they were all done cleaning, they sat outside the porch of the cabin, leaning against each other, their eyes fixated on the starry sky above.

"So..."

"Promise me you won't tell anyone?"

"Chim- what about Jin hyung?"

"Of course you can tell him, but as soon as I got to do what I want, okay?"

Taehyung was confused for a second, but decided to just agree on whatever Jimin was saying. He heard him take a deep breath before spilling out the details of every little thing that's been bothering him.

"Tae, I had a check up a month ago... I went to an OB that specializes in male pregnancy, hoping that maybe I also have what it takes to be like Jin hyung and you. To be one of the lucky and special ones, but he said that I wasn't capable of bearing a child because I'm just...me. If I really want to get pregnant, I have to undergo surgery but it still does not guarantee that the baby will be safe."

Taehyung was taken aback with everything Jimin said to him. He couldn't believe this was the reason why Jimin was so distant with Yoongi since a week ago, after he delivered the fruitful news that he was pregnant.

"And now, I'm back to being scared in marrying Yoongi... not because I don't love him, but because I'm scared to tell him that I can not bear his child... I can give him everything, but this one. And I don't want to deprive Yoongi from building a family of his own... So, I think it's better if he finds someone else."

Taehyung turned around to face him furiously, grabbing him by the shoulders and shaking it slightly.

"Do you hear what you're saying, Jimin? Are you really that sure that you'll give up Yoongi just because you can't carry a baby?!"

"It's not that simple, Tae! I can't marry him because I can't give him the happiness he deserves!!"

"Oh shut up, Jimin! Yoongi loves you so much so that will not be a reason why he will be unhappy for the rest of your lives! Chim, you've been together for God knows how long... he will accept you, Chim. For better or for worse, remember?" Taehyung's voice trailed off the last sentence when he saw his best friend cry. He hugged him tightly, whispering sweet nothings in his ears.

"Tae, I really need some time alone. I want to think, maybe get some things off my head... and when I'm ready, I'll come back."

"But what about Yoongi? What about your wedding, Jimin? It's next week! What, you're just gonna leave Yoongi hanging on your wedding day?! I can't allow that to happen! Yoongi will be so heartbroken, Chim. Please don't do this."

"I have to, Tae. I'm sorry."

That was the last thing Jimin said to him. After that, they drove their way home in pure silence.

〰️

"Why didn't he tell me that, Tae? Why didn't you approach me? I might've helped him, I might've helped you two!" Jin yells, already sulking because of what he discovered. Taehyung suddenly felt guilty because Jin hyung is right. If Jimin and him didn't kept everything to themselves, there might have been a way to prevent Jimin from leaving.

"We're sorry, hyung... but we don't have time to waste now. We must-"

"Baby?! What happened? Seolmi called us in the middle of our practice. Is everything alright?" Namjoon says as soon as he walks inside the room. Both Jeongguk and Yoongi follows, with nervous expressions evident on their faces. Jeongguk hurriedly pads his way beside his boyfriend, assisting him to stand up.

"Yoongi, Jimin is missing."

"He- what?"

"He's been gone for almost a week."

"No... that's not true. He's in a seminar!"

"I- no, we're sorry. We're so sorry, Yoongi!"

Taehyung's tears fall simultaneously, as well as Yoongi's. His body collapses on the ground, curling himself into a ball.

"C-chim... My Chimchim... where are you?"