The Priest's Son

Truths and late-night strolls

Third-person pov

The three softly gazed at the two, noting how calm they looked when in the other's embrace. They quietly made their way into the kitchen, debating if they should confront the boy now or when Jin and Namjoon have arrived back from the city. They agreed that it would be better for them to wait until everyone is there, which also stops them from making any rash or impulsive decisions.

Just as they were about to boil the kettle to fill their ramen cups, the trio heard the door open and shut briefly. Happy laughter erupting as everyone gathered in the kitchen. They turned to see Namjoon, covered in bird poop, Jin struggling to muffle his laughter. "Stop," he whined. While Jin told the story of how Namjoon accidentally walked under a tree full of pigeon's, his clumsy ass falling over, startling them. Hence the bird bomb of poop that has slightly hardened onto his clothing.

The trio looked at the gleam in Taehyung's eyes, wondering how he could still smile so bright after being left to battle with his own demon's in the pitch darkness. Feeling somewhat proud of the boy for being able to still find positivity in the things around him, still being able to hold that genuine boxy smile they have all come to love. They decided to let him be, knowing that if anything could happen between him and his father, they would intervene; But for now, they will keep the light shimmering in Taehyung's eyes. Maybe not only them, but an admirable raven head too.

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4 days later

Jungkook pov

I had missed these guys so much, tending to stick with them or join in on their conversations occasionally, trying to weave my way back into their lives. Seeing how close they all have become, how they have their little inside jokes, the memories of these past 3 years, all of the times they were with each other - excessively strung about the house. It really stung. I felt so, distant, from them. I could feel pathetic tears beginning to build up as I stared at one of the photo's in the living room, it was all them smiling with tears in their eyes. It must have been taken shortly after they moved.

I had that same bitter feeling in my mouth as that night when my father found out about Namjoon and Jin's relationship. I was quick to wipe the tear before it cascaded and paraded its way down my cheek. I am not weak. I sniffed up the snot escaping my nostrils as I slipped my phone into my pocket, walking out of the house, yelling that I would be back later.

After that night in uni, I always used walks as a way of clearing my head, of letting my emotions flow without having to express them. The cold air loomed and nipped at my uncovered skin, a dusty pink hue settling on my cheeks as I attempted to warm myself up. I thought back to those nights where we were so close, where we knew and understood each other. I remember all the times we bullied Yoongi hyung for being a tsundere, or the times when we helped Hobi regain his light after he found out his childhood friend passed away. We were with each other through the laughs and the tears, and then the moment things got hard, they all flew, at the time I needed them most.

My eyesight was slightly fuzzed over because of my thoughts, my mind vaguely acknowledging the park we were walking into. I should have felt numb from the cold, or at least acknowledged how white and rosy my fingertips were. But no, I could only focus on the ground below me, wishing that those moments didn't have to end so, brutally. I faintly recognised a little metal bench between some bushes, thinking that I needed a break from the mental exhaustion the walk caused me.

But what I didn't know was that there was an underwhelmed yet curious boy who followed behind me. "What are you doing here Tae," I whispered faintly. He laced our fingers together, sheepishly looking at me through his fluffy bangs, "I-I just wanted to make sure you were okay," he muttered slowly. We sat in silence before he rose his voice again, "You know, that night we went to the festival, we never did finish our game of 20 questions," he said quietly, a little smile playing on his pink lips. I chuckled raspily, "That's because you fell asleep and drooled on me before we could finish." I answered heartily.

"W-well, I wanna finish it now," he said as he anxiously bit his lip. I hummed at him to continue. "What's your biggest fear Kook?" he asked, looking deeply at me. I simply shrugged and stared off into the distance. "I-I guess, I'm afraid of losing those close to me. I'm scared of them leaving me because I wasn't e-enough to make them stay," I said, muffling my sobbing with my hands. He pulled me into a tight hug, I was expecting him to lull me and tell me not to cry, but his answer surprised me.

"I won't ask you to stop crying, because I know that if you keep your feelings locked up in your mentality they will eventually drive you insane," he said as he rubbed the tops of my fingers with his gently. I wiped a tear and looked at him. "What about you?" I asked, hoping he would also be honest with me. He gazed in front of him, then sighed. "Enclosed spaces and the d-dark," he whispered. "It leaves my mind to imagine things that I am afraid of, and forces me to confront them alone. It eats me whole each time I am surrounded by darkness. Knowing that even if I close my eyes, I will still see darkness." He muttered anxiously.

He began shaking, "It also r-reminds me of the times when I sinned and disappointed my father. It just forces me to face my own inner demons, while being trapped in my own physical pain and suffocation," he whimpered. He looked at me and began sniffling, "I sometime's can't even breathe Jungkook. T-the ways that he forces upon me has eventually broken my mentality. I-I can't even look at myself knowing that all my father sees is disappointment," he whimpered sadly. Tears began pouring out of his eyes. "My biggest fear is being neglected by my father the same way my biological parent's neglected me. I-I do everything he wants because I feel like I owe him the air I breathe," he whimpered softly.

"B-but," he paused as he looked at me with a growing smile, "I don't mind sinning with you, no matter the consequences afterwards," he said as he gently pecked my hand. We both smiled and pulled each other into a tight hug, letting out deep breaths as a way of letting all our emotions run rampant in the cold night air. "T-Thankyou, f-for trusting me enough to tell me this," I whimpered, holding the ethereal boy closer into my embrace, scared he will fade if I let go. He shook his head, "T-thank you for thinking of me as someone worthy of your trust." Taehyung let out quietly, digging his fingers into the material of Jungkook's shirt. 

"You're thoughts and feelings are safe with me," they both said gently. The two stayed in that warm embrace for a little while longer, until Taehyung began shivering so Jungkook took them both straight home - not wanting to get his precious person sick.

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Third-person pov

The other's couldn't pretend that they didn't hear nor see the way Jungkook reacted to all of those photo's, the feeling of guilt climbing its way and hollowing itself into their chests. They never really knew what happened that night, they merely left after Jungkook told them to get out so that his father wouldn't hurt them too. Considering they had no clue about the divorce, they realised that there were other things they didn't know about. Beginning with that night and the way that Jungkook curls in on himself, mindlessly holding his left hand close to his heart every time he is forced to remember it.

It seems that they weren't only oblivious to their new friend's homelife, but their old friend's too. The blackhole worming its way deeper, settling in their minds as they began feeling restrained in their breathing, only just seeing now how selfish and stupid they have been.