A/n: I legit need to end this book like I'm close but I haven't been writing. Not proof read btw

Taehyung's POV

When I open my eyes,

I'm on an edge, engulfed in the dark abyss of limbo. Why?

My body sways, dragging me forward slightly with each motion; everything feeling heavy and hazy. Suddenly I'm at a standstill; steady and balanced.

Trust held me still.

Then the sensation of falling forms in the bottom of my stomach. Gravity drags me down with it; the faint feeling of a push lingering on my back.

Betrayal anchored to me.

My body jolts forward while I stand, waking me up from my dream state that felt too real. The broom flies out of my hand from shock, causing a loud clash to startle me even more.

A cold sweat coats my skin as I stare at it, my breathing is unsteady and rushed. I bend down to pick it up, rubbing my face rather roughly, trying to wipe my sleep deprived eyes awake since I haven't slept well for the past couple of nights. I didn't want that dream to happen again; it made me feel awfully anxious.

The unknown terrified me.

Looking around my surroundings to ground myself, I let the sight of the store calm me. A sigh of relief leaves me finally, knowing that it was no where as dark as that nightmare realm. But my eyes get caught on the sign "Home" that hung above the door frame, the bright atmosphere that made me feel less troubled to pale.

I stared at the word intensely for some reason, all my concentration on it which causes my mind to drift and I to start questioning unknowingly. For me,

Do I have a home?

I've always wondered.

Does that exist for someone like me?

A place to return to.

Resting my chin against the broom that I was using to sweep, my gaze glides across the antique styled room once again, but this time it's less as vibrant.

This place is basically the definition of a home, radiating the most warmth one can find in a casing of cold brick walls just because the colour scheme is so comfy and touching.

The owner even said it can be my home, that I can stay with him to live out my days. To be home schooled when I'm ready, or go to public school if I wanted too.

To anyone in my situation that's like a dream come true; to have someone generously offer to take care of you unlike your blood relative that didn't even try to. Its a blessing to someone like me who's whole world is noting but broken.

An altered perfect life.

But in the end, I can't understand why it doesn't feel right to me. I've spent a week here after what happened with Jimin's dad, yet I can't get used to it. I can't seem to see it as my home. Why? Is it because I need to spend more time here, or is it because I'm away from him who broke my heart?

Jingles at the entrance snatches me out of my thoughts and back into the real world, my gaze flying to the person that had just entered the store. A hollow smile stumbles onto my face out of habit because the store owner told me to learn to make it automatic.

It was a girl around my age. The first thing I notice is her body language, how her eyes held a gaze with the floor. Her actions screamed nervous as she stood in the entrance, and somehow right away I saw myself in her.

"Welcome." I greet kindly to her from where I stood, which caused her to jump badly at my voice.

I'm guessing she didn't see my the first time, and I can't help but chuckle at her reaction, reminding me of how I was when I first came into this store. How I was terrified of the real world and talking to people, and how Mr. Arthur spoke these exact words to me.

"Jumpy aren't we?"

---

"Thank you, Mr. Arthur." I say as he hands me a daily cup of hot chocolate. I put it to my lips, letting it warm me up from the inside.

I had just went outside to go change the sign from open to close, and my body didn't let go of the cold until now.

"No problem Taehyung," he say to me with a smile. "You've been working hard, sorry I had you run the whole store for me today-" He has a coughing fit, turning away from me to be respectful.

"Mr Arthur you should really go see the doctor for your cold." I suggest worried, but he just swats away my idea.

"I'm fine," he says as he clears his throat, a reassuring smile resting on his face." Once again, I'm sorry for working you so much. Now your worrying about me."

"Please don't be sorry Mr. Arthur, I'm glad to help you since you've been so kind to me that I feel like I'm not even worthy or your generosity. I really don't know how to repay you for it." And its true, I can never repay his kind deeds for me.

"Well I wasn't gonna let you walk around in the cold lad, what if you had gotten hypothermia, your friend would be very sad."

No one would care.

The sentence lingers in my mind after it was conjured, my brain not hesitating with the words. This simple sentence that explained my whole complicated life so easily, only because it was the sad truth. No one would miss me.

"Sorry to be a burden," I mumble under my breath, letting my self doubt slip past my guarded walls, my thumb rubbing the ceramic cup mindlessly. Arthur turns questionably in my direction at my words.

"What'd you say?" He asks, stopping his writing to give me his full attention, attention that I didn't deserve. "Sorry, I didn't hear."

"Oh, it nothing," I breathe, covering with my fake smile, trying to lock back up my escaped insecurity that just about passed over his head.

He doesn't look convinced that it was nothing, but decides to drop it when I continue sipping my drink like the words meant nothing.

"Anyway Taehyung, have you thought about it?" he asks, and this time I actually look fully at him; confused.

"Thought about what Mr Arthur?'

"Staying with me."

"Oh, I still don't know," I say sheepishly, remembering that I told him before that I wasn't sure about living here, and I really wasn't. Something just didn't feel right about it.

"Well, still give it some thought and then let me know okay?" He says with another smile, and I nod my head at his words.

He was going to continue writing when his phone goes off suddenly, dragging his entire attention to look at the caller ID.

His expression is one I haven't seen on his before, and I think it was a look of hesitation, but he answers the phone nonetheless.

"Magritte hey, how come you called- wait- okay calm down-"

After those words, I tried to block out conversation, being able to focus all my concentration on the hot coco as a distraction.

"Taehyung," I hear my name being called more urgent that his usual calm tone, instantly bringing back my attention to him. "Do you think you can wipe down the counter and lock up for me, there's an emergency and I need to go."

I nod my head as I get up right away to go complete my tasks, almost making it out the door before hearing, "Honey, don't cry, the baby will be fine. I'll be their in a heart beat." and that's when I realise what bothered me.

This can never be my home.

I began wiping the counter rather mindlessly after locking the front door, my eyes landing on the necklace casing and gradually dragging me back into my thoughts.

That girl from before had bought the last pair today.

Staring at the empty casing, I touch my neck unconsciously for it, but it's not there for me to hold. A depressed wave washes over me when I think about it not being with me. My eyes well up thinking about it.

Hey Jimin, are you perhaps holding onto it, wondering where I am? Or did you know your dad would drop me off at an orphanage? To give me away and abandon me. Did you know he would do that on the night you locked me out?

Hey Jimin,  Arthur has a family, though I know there was a little trouble going on between them, I can tell by his tone on the phone that he loves them very much. I don't think I can be apart of it. He has a wife and a kid, there's no space for a stray dog like me.

Hey Jimin, he still offered me a home. But no matter how comfy and safe it is, it doesn't feel like a home; I don't think it ever will. The only time I ever felt at home, was next to you. Do you miss me, because I miss you so much, and I really want to see you.

Hey Jimin, is it okay if I come back to you?

—-

When Mr. Arthur's cold was finally gone, I told him my decision.

We reached back at the lodge early in the morning, my heart beating quickly out of nervousness.

I stare at the house, too many thoughts going through my head for me to even catch one.

"Do you want me to come in with you," he asks me after a while, clearly seeing how anxious I was.  "After all, they should know you were taken care of after you ran away."

Ran away? I ask myself, wondering what he meant. But then I remember; its what I told him happen after I showed up at his shop.

"No," I say a little quickly, catching myself and slowing down my words. "It's okay I'll be quick." and with that I get out of his car and head for the front door.

Hesitantly, I ring the doorbell, a small amount of my tension cooling down when no one came to the door.

Slowly, I began to panic until I remembered there was a spare key under the mat, unlocking the door with it; my anxiety levels raising again as I turn the knob.

Walking in, a nervous smile was stuck on my face. Then when I realised how lifeless and empty the placed look, my face dropped, and my heart wanted to stop.

I was so hesitant to see them, but now that I can't find them, I look throughout the house urgently in pursuit of them.

I opened every door there is, looked around every corner, but no one was here.

Why?

I run into his room again, my eyes darting around the room, the entire place just looking completely dim and empty. I dart for my room one more time, not knowing what I expected when I open the door for a second time. But I still hoped that he'd just appear out of nowhere, and when my wish didn't come true, reality finally felt like it punched me in my stomach.

They aren't here.

I walk into the room slowly, looking at how abandoned it seem. Dust particles danced in the air as the sun beams highlighted each one, and I couldn't help but feel defeated. Sitting down on the bed, I held back helpless tears that wanted to come out.

I don't know where he is.

A glare hits me in the eye as I move to get up, drawing my attention to where it came from. I make my way to desk, wondering what could be so shiny. The necklace sat on top of a box, shining in the rays of the sun that beamed down on it.

Relief washed over my depression for a second, my mind feeling a little eased that I finally found it.

Something else catches my eyes as I began to put on the necklace, and my heart skipped a beat when I read "for Taehyungie, the boy who stole my heart" written on the box.

I open it cautiously, unsure on what I'll see, and inside was a camera and some letters with dates and the title "To Taehyung".

Each day was after the other, and the last one ended yesterday. I picked it up gently, staring at the paper texture in the light, and admiring his handwriting which I loved to look at.

I open the newest one with upmost care, afraid to damaged such a fragile thing; my heart beating in my ear.

The words felt like it had set my heart, body, and mind on fire, burning me from the inside out. A droplet lands on the white making it look gray, and I hadn't realized that I was crying until then.

"Please wait for me, so we can celebrate your birthday together. " It said, written in his beautiful hand writing, and to the bottom, almost like it was hiding but drew all my attention to every curve that contained it, said

"I love you" -Jimin

—-
"Are you sure you don't want to come back with me? " Arthur asked me after I told him that I decided to stay.

"That is kind Mr Arthur, and I thank you for caring for me, but it's okay."

"I don't know Taehyung, their not even here now" he persisted, not completely set on just leaving me here.

"They'll come back, they left a note." I reassure him, confidence shaping my words.

"But-"

I give him a tight hug, a puff of air leaving him as I basically ran into him. He hugs me back right away, rubbing my shoulder to soothe me.

Burying my head in his chest, I almost wanted to cry. "I am forever grateful for your hospitality, but I'm really fine."

He pulls away and to look at me, his face yelling worried as he rubbed my head my head with affection.

"Mr. Arthur I can't go back with you." I finally say, letting him know that I wasn't gonna change my mind.

"Why?" He questions quietly, waiting for an answer that he could understand.

"He is my home to return too."

Then I see it on his face, a look of satisfaction. He gives me an honest smile, and holds me close once more.

"Be safe," he says before he gets in his care and drives away, leaving me to watch his car disappear behind the trees.

I sit down on the stairs, looking at the greenery around me. Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath as I let the sun sit on the face and the cold breeze to refresh me.

He wrote to me that he'll come back, and I believe that. I always believe him, so I'll be waiting.

I'll wait for you to come back home to me, Jimin.