That day was just like any other day. Taehyung prepared for work as usual. When he was done, he texted Jimin but there wasn't any response.

Thinking that Jimin was probably busy, Taehyung headed downstairs feeling light hearted but then stopped short when he saw his parents sitting in the living room. Their countentance screamed unapproachable and they had fierce expressions on their faces.

Taehyung was terrified when he finally stopped at the sitting room.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

Mr Kim glared at him. "Did you think you could hide it forever? You're a disgrace!" He swore

Taehyung began fearing the worst but he didn't dare jump to conclusions.

"I don't understand"

Mrs Kim smirked. "Maybe this will trigger your memory"

She jumped up from the couch and marched towards him with calculated steps. She stopped right in front of him and stuck the screen of her phone to his face. Taehyung froze upon seeing the image of the two of them taken from that music festival.

"My friend's daughter had this  picture taken. My friend recognized you immediately and immediately showed it to me! Do you have any idea how embarrassed I was? Why did you do this Taehyung? Explain your self!" She yelled

Taehyung thought of denying it but that wouldn't be fair to Jimin. To the both of them. It would mean he was ashamed of their relationship and he wasn't ashamed of it. Now that he had been asked directly like this, there was no running away. He was going to face this head on.

He took a deep breath. "It's what it looks like mom. Jimin is my boyfriend"

Mrs Kim looked like she was going to faint. She stumbled and Mr Kim held her firmly.

"What did you say?" He said

" It's exactly what you heard Dad!"

Mr Kim shook his head. "We knew you weren't a normal kid and we accepted it. No matter how much we tried to pray that spirit out of you, nothing ever worked so we accepted this curse"

He bit his lips. "But it could have been anyone else. Anyone with a good reputation at least. Someone who comes from a good family. Anyone but Jimin!"

Taehyung heaved. "Why? Why can't it be him?"

Mrs Kim regained herself and stared stonily at Taehyung. "Because it can never be him. His parents decieved us. We thought they were a part of our circle but it turned out they were really nobodies. Their son was actually a criminal hanging out with druggies, thieves and alcoholics.."

"But he has never hurt anyone!'

Mr Kim widened his eyes. "You defend him?"

"Jimin might not be perfect but he is a good person, at least with with me. He cares for me like no one else does. He protects me. He pulled me out from the deepest darkest pit. He gave me the will to live. When you both abandoned me and made me forget who I really was, he was the only one who put in an effort to help me remember"

He scoffed bitterly. "I was a jerk to him several times because I was trying to please you two but I can't do that anymore because i now realise that I can never please you. I can never make the both of you happy when I'm not even happy with myself. I can never be the son you've always wanted me to be...I can never be Jin!"

"Don't you dare say his name!" Mrs Kim yelled.

"And if I do, what will happen? You'll disown me?"

Taehyung scoffed. "I think I was always preparing for this moment. Since the time I decided to date Jimin, I had already sentenced myself to this day so I'm not afraid anymore"

"But Jimin is a devil!" Mrs Kim screamed.

"Well, I'm in love with that devil" Taehyung screamed back.

Silence. His parents blinked looking extremely shocked with his confession.

"Get out!" Mrs Kim whispered in a small deathly tone that sent shivers down Taehyung's spine.

"Since you have decided to go against us, there's no need for you to be with us any longer"

Mr Kim said nothing as he looked away frowning hard.

Mrs Kim continued. "You've disappointed us. We only wanted the best for you. We wanted a happy stable life even when you were responsible for your brother's death!"

Taehyung screamed "I didn't kill Jin! It was an accident!"

"You killed him!" Mrs Kim retorted loudly. "Your stubbornness to pursue your own path killed him and it's going to happen again!"

"You are going to regret choosing Jimin over your own family. I can assure you of that"

Taehyung nodded his head trying to control the tears from spilling down his face. "What do you want me to do now"

Mrs Kim clenched her fist tightly. "You heard me didn't you? I want you out of this house. Pack all your things and don't even think of coming back here. As of this moment, we don't have a son"

Taehyung turned to his father but he kept his expression stoic. They were serious about kicking him out and disowning him. It hurt as hell but this was something which was bound to happen once he drifted away. The downside was that it happened too soon.

He went back upstairs and packed some valuable things of his into a travelling bag and left the house amidst his parents stares. He didn't cry. If he did, it only meant he regretted his decision and he didn't.

He immediately went to Jimin's house and knocked on the door. He could hear the commotion from outside. It took a while for the door to open. Mr Park looked at him with surprise on his face.

"Taehyung, what are you doing here?"

"I'm sorry to intrude Mr Park but now's not a good time"

Taehyung was alarmed, instantly sensing that something wasn't right.

"What's going on?"

"Now is not the time..."

Taehyung didn't care if he was being rude. He pushed his way inside and stopped short at what he saw. The house was nearly emptied and there were boxes and bags around the family who were huddled together. Taehyung put two and two together. He wasn't dumb. They were running away.

"What's going on here? Where's Jimin?"

Mr Park. "Jimin...."

"Yes Jimin! Where's he?"

Mrs Park spoke. "He left!"

"What?"

"Yesterday night, he got a text from someone who told him the former group he was working for were now coming for him. He snitched on their boss and the ones who escaped are looking for revenge. They threatened to kill him if they get him"

"So he escaped last night. We have to flee as soon as possible so they don't use us against him"

Taehyung shook his head. He couldn't believe this. He just got disowned from his parents and now Jimin was on the run for his life. He thought he was dreaming and fear filled his entire being.

"Do you know where Jimin went?"

Mr Park sighed. "We don't know..."

He stared at Taehyung closely. "But Taehyung, are you going somewhere... what are all these bags for?"

Taehyung was embarrassed. He hugged his bags tightly. "My parents kicked me out of the house"

The couple whispered inaudibly among themselves.

"Your parents are so harsh...what could you possibly have done to make them take such a decision!" Mrs Park asked with a pitiful expression on her face.

Silence. Taehyung couldn't speak. His face reddened and he started to sweat. "I can't tell you..."

Mr Park grinned. "It has to do with my son doesn't it?"

Taehyung's breath hung in his chest. No words could come out as he tried to suppress his agony.

Mrs Park was stunned "Wait...are you and Jimin...."

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. It just happened. We didn't mean..."

Mrs Park smiled. "It's okay. We always suspected it so I'm not surprised...I won't judge you"

Taehyung nodded his head.

Mrs Park continued. "I'm sorry you have to face this. I'm sorry you both had to come from our kind of families. We can't do anything to help you. Just look at the situation we are in. Look at Jimin...."

She began to sniff. "It's all our fault things came to this. If we had been good parents, Jimin wouldn't have gotten himself involved with those kinds of people. Your parents would have respected us and allowed you two to have a relationship but it can't be anymore and it's all our fault"

She broke down and started to cry

Taehyung shook his head. "Don't say that. Don't blame yourselves. We're all humans and we all make mistakes"

Mrs Park stopped crying as they heard the horn from the moving van outside.

"We have to go" Mr Park said.

He brought out cash from his wallet and pushed it into Taehyung's hand. "I know it's not much but please accept it. Jimin would have wanted that"

Taehyung was hesitant to collect the money but Mr Park insisted. He watched as the family began to park their little belongings into the van. They didn't have much so within some few minutes, they were done.

Before they left, Mr Park turned to Taehyung. "Don't worry. I'm sure Jimin will contact you. He must be in a place that might not be conducive but I can assure you he's fine. We don't know what might happen but I know it will be okay... Please be safe"

Taehyung watched as the family drove away in the moving van leaving behind so many memories. Taehyung was stuck. Where could he go? Definitely not back to his house. He could go to Jungkook's place but the other wasn't in a good head space emotionally and Taehyung didn't have friends he was close enough with to sleep at their place.

He called Jimin's line but he was unreachable and his heart completely broke at the thought of something bad happening to him but at the moment, he had to solve his homeless situation. He thought of staying at the sauna. He was sitting dejectedly under a tree pondering to himself when he heard a voice calling out to him. He looked up and was surprised to see Lala, standing staring at him with dead eyes.

She looked pale and there were dark circles under her eyes as if she hadn't slept a wink in ages. She normally ignored him so he was surprised to see her talking to him now

"What are you doing there? Looking like you've lost everything" she said

Taehyung tried to smile "I do?"

Lala gestured to his bags. "Did you run away from home? Where's Jimin? Did he dump you?"

Taehyung stood up. "I thought you should know. I haven't been able to contact him since yesterday"

Lala nodded her head. "I see. He must be on the run"

"You know?"

"Some weeks ago, the second leader of Peeway gang came here looking for Jimin but they couldn't find him because he wasn't here. When he returned from school, I think they got wind of his arrival. Soonyoung has a lot of contact. Two days ago, he received news that the gang were coming for Jimin so he quickly texted him"

"Peeway gang are really ruthless and they really really hate snitches. If they find him, they are going to kill him. That's for sure"

Taehyung couldn't handle this news. He shook his head. "No...no!"

Lala shook his head "I guess he couldn't escape his past after all"

She eyed him. "You obviously need a place to stay. My parents aren't home so you can come with me"

Taehyung was surprised. "Why are you helping me? I thought you hate me"

Lala nodded. "Yeah I do but I'm feeling like shit right now. I don't have the energy to hate and I need someone who's not as fucked up as I am to accompany me right now...so are you coming?"

Taehyung couldn't reject this offer. He quickly jumped on it, following an unlikely ally.

Thanks for reading