Twilight of Itaewon | Taekook ✔

49. The pain & Cure

Love hurts. Hate destroys.

The cold room was silent. Exhaustingly silent. The small weeping sound is the only voice breaking the mute walls. Jimin looking helpless and broken at the lump on the bed. His heart cracking at the sight of his sobbing soulmate. Taehyung the shattered soul, curling into a ball on the bed, crying his heart out. Why? Because the first person who loved him without even knowing him said his most fearful word to his face. Hate. Jeongguk who loved him without any cost or boundaries hates Kim Taehyung at its fullest. And Taehyung cried hard.

Yeonjun and Soobin sharing the pain, feeling equally exhausted like the other two. It was a shock. Seeing Park Jimin and Kim Taehyung they adore in front of them after setting up their mind that they died is shocking for them. They couldn't rewind the things that happened that night. Jeongguk left that very moment, making them witness the demolished state of the two males. Yeonjun and Soobin didn't try to chase their senior. Jeongguk needs some time. And Taehyung needs someone.

"He left... He hates me... He hates me Jimin... The only one who loved me more than I loved myself, more than anyone hates me..."

Taehyung cried. His eyes were tired and puffy. Cheeks paining and lips were swollen by the way he bites them to suppress his cry. The Taehyung once used to be a masterpiece is now a mess. Jeongguk took the last sunshine left in Taehyung's life. And it's no one's fault.

Jimin patted Taehyung, sighing at the state. He knows very well. He knows it all, the way his best friend's life was broken in the first place, then he chose Vincenzio inspired by his favorite artist as a second chance for himself, then learning his childhood obsession of violin, trying his best to not fall again and break in front of the dark reality- Jimin knows it all. The way his best friend devoting his life to survive. And then, Jeon Jeongguk happened. The one and the only person who stole Taehyung's heart and soul in a mere second, a glance and a single touch.

He remembers the night Taehyung called saying that he found someone jumping from the cliff and saved him. When Jimin went there, he found his best friend hugging a man, keeping him warm who was unconscious in his hands. That night Jimin noticed a lot of things- the shine Taehyung used to have when they were in college when he was head over heels for Namjoon, that charm is back- or maybe a lot more than the old shine. Another thing, even if he's holding a stranger, Taehyung was letting the stranger hear his heartbeat. Weird. Because he never does that to anyone except GangBangtan or Yoongi.
One more thing, the silver earring pendant. Not that it's just a pending or an earring. No. It's custom-made. Only for Taehyung. It was Hobi who designed it for Taehyung as their surprise gift, to fill Taehyung's Gucci tummy.

How can be someone has that earring? Maybe Taehyung didn't notice it, but Jimin did. It's like the stranger has a connection with Taehyung. He got that vibe. The one who looks like a stranger knows a lot about them. The doe-eyes can be innocent and cute to the world and his best friend, but there was something behind it that only Jimin could understand. Something that smelled like a threat to their existence.

Jimin tried his best to keep Taehyung away from Jeongguk. He poured his blood, sweat, and tears to make Taehyung stay away from the officer. But his every master plan fails when his best friend talks about Jeongguk with the whole galaxies in his puppy eyes every night. Taehyung knows Jimin's weaknesses very well.

Jimin can't ignore the heart eyes and stars hiding inside Taehyung's eyes. His best friend is always like this. Obsessed over forbidden things.

He couldn't pinpoint what's pushing Taehyung towards a literal stranger like this. But he never judges his best friend. Whatever Taehyung chooses to do is fine with Jimin. But he's protective towards him, more than anyone.

Now that he's witnessing the pain in Taehyung's eyes, he couldn't forgive himself. Guilt taking over his consciousness when thinking about he failed to protect his soulmate, his baby. Tears rolling down his cheeks and he didn't stop himself.

"Tae...my baby... please don't cry... It breaks my heart... please...don't cry... things will be fine..."

Jimin cried. He choked out between his broken sobs. Why does this pain him so much? Why this hurts him so much? They're just best friends. Not pain-sharing partners. No. They're not.

They're soulmates. Forever.

They both can say when is their heartbeat variates, the pupil dilates and blood rushes even their eyes closed. Taehyung shook his head. He couldn't stop crying. He has a solid reason to miss Jeongguk, to be hurt when he let him go. Maybe Taehyung was scared to say it. But, there is.

"Jimin-ah, he loved me without even seeing me, even after I lied to him that I... I committed suicide. He loved me even after believing that I'm dead... And all I gave him is pain... Hurt and... Betrayal... I can't forgive myself, Minnie... I can't take this."

There it is. No one, not even in his knowledge, he heard anyone loving like this. Or being loved like this. He's one in a zillion. Even after believing that he's dead, Jeongguk still loved him, waited for him so that they can be together in eternity. Jeongguk was ready to be his broken moon. One mistake, Taehyung lost it all. But then again, it wasn't his fault.

He was hugging the diary. Yes, he read the last page. The reply of Jeongguk. He read it for the umpteenth time. The lines, the words, the ink it all reminds him that he was loved by someone. Once there was someone who believed that he deserves to be loved. His fingers touching the letters while it felt like the crack in his heart widening and shattering him to pieces. The long-burning stars exploding above his head and losing their reason to stand next to the moon. His universe is destroyed. So is Taehyung.

"I'm the worst friend... I can't help you... It's all because of me...my baby... I don't deserve you..."

Jimin said. His red cheeks and puffy eyes are devastating to look at. Soobin and Yeonjun looked at each other. No, they don't agree with what Jimin said. For them, Jimin is the best of best friends. Yeonjun walked toward them and hand over a cup of water and tissues.

"No hyung. You're not the worst. For us, you guys are friendship goals. You both are our role models. It's just... Jeongguk hyung is... I mean... Was so close to the diary and...and all... He was shocked to know that... You..."

Jimin took the water from his hand and whispered a thank you. Taehyung sat on the bed hugging the duvet and the diary. His head is low, cheeks have tear stains, and look like chaos. Jimin handed over the water to Taehyung. He gulped down and glanced at Yeonjun and Soobin. They were looking at him softly. Taehyung hates sympathy. But that's not what their eyes convey. The youngsters have respect and love towards him. He can see that. But there's something else that hurts Taehyung's head right now. As the gaze of the young officers' lands on him, he wanted to ask them something. About Jeongguk to be precise.

It's true, the pull towards Jeongguk wasn't coincidental. Neither he planned. It's all destined. What makes Jeongguk special? The doe-eyes that don't lie, the smile that warms his heart, the mere touch that explodes butterflies in his stomach, the wild heartbeat whenever he sees Taehyung. Most importantly, the selfless lover in Jeongguk. The lover who's ready to put his everything forsake of his beloved. That's what makes Jeon Jeongguk special. The lover bunny he's.

But the case is not closed there. There's a face hidden behind that charisma. The superintendent General Jeon Jeongguk.

Taehyung doesn't know the personality of the man. So he decided to ask about it Yeonjun and Soobin. He wanted to know about the one who loved him, the one who was ready to fight for him, the one who now hates him. He wanted to drown in the ocean of Jeon Jeongguk. And his assistants are the easy way to do that.

Taking a deep breath, Taehyung tapped the place next to him on the bed. Yeonjun and Soobin sat there, gulping and smiling softly. One by one, from a late-night phone call, illegal sleep, being the fan of GangBangtan, to falling and burning in love, they started to telling him everything. The story of Jeon Jeongguk and his twilight of Itaewon at 221.

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So, we're gonna get Taetae's P.O.V. too?!

And Vmin nation, Rise!

~AnecdotesOfABroken.