"Eomma, I'm heading to Jimin's" swinging the bag on his shoulders Taehyung grabbed his black hoodie which was his favourite one in his collection. All three of them agreed to meet at Jimin's house.

It was the last day of Taehyung's high school journey. Both Jimin and Taehyung were excited to explore the world from their own now. Hoseok, the elderly guy already graduated from high school before them. Three of them have been best friends since that day they found Taehyung getting bullied. Even Hoseok was out of school, he always managed to hang out with the other two.

Because of both the two guys friendship and also Ari's determination, the boy was getting along with everything. Jimin was the closest to Taehyung as a friend, as a brother cause they were both in the same class. In the first days with the new guy, Jimin started to notice sudden random reactions from his friend. Taehyung was startled and gasped whenever he caught a glimpse of his reflection. Jimin was worried about Taehyung. He once questioned about it from him but it wasn't of any use at all. The boy kept it to himself. After about a million attempts, Jimin gave up and let the time solve it.

And yes, he was right, everything was turning to normal. His sudden flinches and startles were stopping. Taehyung was being more and more cheerful and a fun person. It seemed like he has gone over his past. Time flew by, but still, there were mysteries and secrets to be solved.

It has been three years since Taehyung was adopted by Song Ari. Taehyung loved Ari as his mother. After all, she is his true mother. She never let him feel alone, never let him feel miserable. Ari grew up Taehyung like her own son. Both of them were happy together. Today was a special day for Taehyung. Not only because it was the last day of school.

It's the 30th of December.

Kim Taehyung was turning eighteen. His soul was filled with both young and youth. He was grown to be a man who can steer his life on his own. No one would stop him. Or will someone? It's 30th December after all. People are supposed to be happy and celebrate their birthdays. But for him, it was a day he wished that would never come. The truth is, He hated..No, he was scared of 30th December.

"Don't be late Taehyung-ah, I'll be waiting for you" Ari yelled from the kitchen. A smile stretched on his lips. Before strolling out, he entered the kitchen to see what his mother was up to.

A white apron was covering her clothes underneath. Pink stains of the food colouring patched it. She was preparing her son's favourite flavoured cake. Strawberry flavour. Taehyung stepped closer and peeked at the bowl of batter.

"Sweetie I know you don't like celebrating your birthday. But I wanted to bake a cake for you" the woman turned her face towards him. The age was getting into her. Wrinkles were forming in her face. There can be seen grey hair among the pitch-black ones.

Taehyung hugged her from behind without saying anything. He has grown taller than her. When he came to this house he was barely near her shoulder height. It's amusing how hormones affect teenagers. He rested his head on her shoulder. He felt her motherly warmth.

"It's fine Eomma, And it's my favourite. How can I resist" He playfully said and took some batter into his finger to taste it.

"How is it?" Ari chuckled seeing his childish behaviour. To her eyes, he was still her little boy. Sometimes she sees her lost Taehyun from his figure. Ari shrugged off the sudden thought about her long-gone son and heaved a soft sigh.

"It's good as always. You should open a restaurant eomma, Your cooking is mouth-watering" Taehyung sank his finger to the batter again, taking some more of the strawberry flavoured cake mixture.

"Aish, stop sugar-coating me. Now move before you eat all or else there will be nothing left to bake" Ari slightly pushed Taehyung away, not letting him eat more raw batter. Taehyung cheekily smiled and planted a soft kiss on her wrinkled face.

"I'll be going eomma" the boy farewelled and jogged out from the house. Ari continued her work with a smile plastered on her face.

As Taehyung walked down the street to reach Jimin, a sudden odd feeling stopped him from walking. A cold breeze blew with a loud howling noise. He covered up himself properly from his hoodie, protecting his body from the cold. He started walking again. But something kept bothering him. Something strange. It kept bothering him. Even he was walking his mind was somewhere else. Bringing him back to reality from his deep thoughts, he suddenly clashed with another figure. A figure who was completely covering himself. Even his face was covered with a mask.

"I'm so sorry. I wasn't watching where I'm going" Taehyung tried to apologize to the man. But making him dumbfounded, the man left without responding. Not even uttering a word, he just left.

"What's wrong with him?" He mumbled and continued walking. For a split second, he turned back cause he just felt like. Giving him shivers, Taehyung saw that man standing few feet away from him. He was facing backwards to Taehyung. Taehyung found the whole incident odd.

"Should I speak to him or.." talking to himself, Taehyung stared at the figure who was standing like a statue. He walked near him. As he stepped closer he heard a sob from the man. Is he crying? Taehyung was getting worried and nervous about the whole situation now. The man's shoulders shook due to his sobs.

"Hey, are you ok?" He asked him only to be ignored once again. Taehyung poked the man and repeated his question.

"Ajusshi, are you ok? Do you need any help?" Suddenly a loud crackle escaped from the man, making Taehyung flinch. The sobs were turning to a burst of loud laughter. Taehyung didn't dare to go in front of the man and look at his face.

"Maybe, maybe I should just go. He probably must've drunk" Turning towards the other direction Taehyung walked forward leaving the man behind him. But Taehyung was curious. He swilled his head again to catch a glimpse of the man.

But he wasn't there anymore...

A gasp left his mouth witnessing the absence of the man who was here a second ago.

"Weird" he winded his eyes and scanned the area. But not even a dead soul was there to be found. Taehyung looked here and there to find the man.

"What's weird?" A voice behind him made him jump out from his skin.

"What the hell Jimin? You scared me" Slowly exhaling his breath, Taehyung tried to calm down.

"You were taking way too long so decided to head down here. Is everything ok? What are you searching for?"Jimin tiptoed and looked over his friend's shoulder. Taehyung shook his head.

"Nothing. Just, it's nothing important. Come on let's go. I have to go home early today" he urged his fellow one to move. But the mysterious man didn't leave his mind. He glanced at the street for the last time before heading in the opposite direction, accompanying his friend.

_________________________________________

Ari was humming a soft melody while stirring the batter. She always hums tunes cause she believes that it makes the dish tastier. A clicking sound echoed from the front door. Ari was confused cause Taehyung just left and she heard him closing the door before he left.

"Did he come back again?" Muttering to herself, Ari whipped her hands from the clothing nearby. Brushing her stiffened dress she stepped to the living room.

"Sweetie is that you?"She talked to the empty room. No person was there. Ari knitted her eyebrows together.

"Taehyung-ah?"

A thud came from far away. She heard it right above her head. Is someone upstairs? Now Ari was getting suspicious. She glided near the telephone on the table. Before she could dial anyone, a loud sound of glass breaking hit her eardrums. She let go of the receiver making it fall upon the phone.

She was now hundred percent sure that something was wrong.

"Taehyung-ah, is that you?" Soft thuds came from upstairs.

Ari took a quick decision and went to reach the stairs. Each step she took, made her heartbeat rise. She listened carefully. It took only ten seconds to realise that the weird noises were coming from Taehyung's room. So is it Taehyung then? Maybe it's a thief? Maybe a thief came to rob the house?

"I should call the police" Even Ari knew that was the right thing to do something held her back. Why is she attracting to the side of danger?

She took one step closer.

Her hand reached the door nob. She noticed that her hand was slightly shaking. The thud noises were so clear.

Go back, Ari...

A voice inside her head keeps screaming those words. But she felt numb. Her body went only forward. Her hand gripped the door nob tightly and opened it.

A gasp left her mouth...

Guys I'm really really sorry that I'm this late to update. I was just not feeling good so I took a break. But hey I'm back :) hope you all are still with me. And I know I said this several times but this time I'm gonna give frequent updates for sure. I promise.

Love you ❤️

Stay Gold ✨