Muzzled ✔️

Chapter 3: Painful Separation

*When Jin calls Taehyung "pup" it is like a parent to a child. There is no romantic connotation to it between Jin and Taehyung.*

Over the next couple of days, Jin and Hoseok try their hardest to make Taehyung come out of his room, but to no avail.

"Hyung, I'm moving in with you two. You can't handle this alone. You need help. I know you are strong and want to be able to take care of Taehyung alone, but I can help. I am family, too." Hoseok says as he watches his exhausted cousin get ready for work.

"I would love that." Jin smiles at his younger cousin.

"Don't worry, Hyung. I will work as well. We will get Taehyung through this together." Hoseok says as he hugs Jin.

"Thank you, Hobi." Jin smiles then leaves for work.

As the beautiful summer day goes by, Hoseok tries to figure out a way to make Taehyung smile. After thinking for a few hours, Hoseok remembers Taehyung's bunny friend.

"Tae, can I borrow your phone?" Hoseok quietly asks Taehyung when he walks into Taehyung's room.

When Taehyung doesn't answer, he takes Taehyung's phone and goes downstairs. As Hoseok goes through Taehyung's contacts, he realizes that Taehyung doesn't have very many numbers saved in his phone.

"Hello, is this Jimin?" Hoseok asks when Jimin answers the phone.

"This is. Is Taehyung ok? We were supposed to hang out, but he has never answered any of my calls or messages." Jimin frantically asks about Taehyung.

"He's not doing very well. He is beyond depressed, and his hyung and I don't know why. I was wondering if you might be able to fill in the gaps for us." Hoseok explains the situation to Jimin.

"What gaps?" Jimin asks hoping he can help.

"Is Taehyung dating anyone or anything like that?" 

"No. I mean, I don't think so. Taehyung kind of became distant over the last semester." Jimin explains to Hoseok.

"Oh ok. Is there anything you know that may be helpful?"

"Uhhh I know he would sneak off to eat lunch with someone. He never let me join, so I didn't pry. I figured he would tell me when he was ready to." 

"Ok, thank you. Do you mind coming over tomorrow and trying to cheer Taehyung up?" Hoseok asks while crossing his fingers.

"Sure! I will try to help!" Jimin happily responds.

"Thank you so much!" Hoseok sighs with relief.

"No problem. I can come over around noon." 

"That works. I will be here all day because I work nights."

After they hang up, Hoseok saves Jimin's number in his phone then brings Taehyung's phone back to him. The rest of the day goes by quietly as Hoseok waits for Jin to come back from work.

"Hey Hobi." Jin quietly says as he walks into the apartment.

Hoseok looks at his exhausted hyung as his hyung's ears droop and sadness ages him.

"Tae will be ok. I promise." Hoseok says as he hugs Jin.

Soon, Jin's sobs echo through the apartment and filter into Taehyung's room. Taehyung's heart breaks when he hears his hyung sobbing because of him. Jin's sobs continue through the night as he curls up in his bed.

At around midnight, the door to Jin's room slowly opens and Taehyung crawls onto the bed with his sobbing hyung.

"I'm so sorry, Hyung." Taehyung cries as he holds onto his older brother.