sunsets and roses | t.k.

chapter ten

"Your heartbeat on the High Line

Once in 20 lifetimes"

𐇵 ~ 🌣 ~ 𐇵

Taehyung was lost in his thoughts. A drunk-like grin would appear on his face anytime he would, because the thing now and forever on his mind was Jungkook. The car show was as successful as he could have ever hoped. He didn't even think about his guitar.

Ah yes. His guitar. Locked in its case under his bed. It hadn't been played in weeks. Jungkook had stopped asking to see it now that he knew the resentful feelings he harbored for it. Or maybe resentment was the wrong word. Taehyung loved the thing. It was the memory that he didn't enjoy.

The guitar was part of him, yes, but that part of him who played it every day was all but gone. Its notes were a blessing back then. Now, they were just sounds that felt like an old heartbeat.

Slowly but surely, the redhead was letting go of his past self. It wasn't him, so there was no reason to keep holding onto it. He was sleeping better. His panic attacks were slim to none. He was in love again. He decided quickly on what needed to be done.

There was a music store in the city, and he found their number and gave them a call. The woman on the phone was nice enough and gave him a price without needing to see the instrument.

"One fifty? That sounds great...Yes, it's all original...And you're open on Saturday?...Thank you very much, I'll see if I can stop by then."

Taehyung hung up, grabbing his notepad to write down the address before reaching an arm under his bed. He pulled the case out by the handle, walking out of his room to set it by his coffee table.

He didn't expect someone to be there, that someone being a very angry looking Jungkook. Taehyung jumped and almost dropped his guitar on his foot, putting a hand over his face as he let a long string of surprised curses fly out of his mouth.

"How did you get in here?" he grumbled.

"You left the door unlocked." Jungkook pointed behind him at the back door. He put his hands back on his hips, jaw set. "And I heard everything."

Taehyung ran a hand through his hair and sighed. He set his case down by the couch and stood in front of the boy. "They're giving me a good amount for it."

"But why? You've had it for all these years. You can't."

Jungkook's tone was sharp. He was mad, Taehyung could easily tell. He didn't want him to be.

"Kook, it's not doing me any good anymore." he murmured in a hushed voice, folding his arms over his chest, regret building up in his mind.

The boy took a big step forward, not even an inch away.

"You can't get rid of it," he repeated firmly, "I won't let you."

They were both silent for a long time, staring each other down, both waiting for the other to cave in. Neither of them did.

Taehyung was the first to break eye contact with Jungkook. It felt like he had sighed a million times. He pondered over what to say, what to do. The boy tilted his head and beat him to it.

"You love music, right? Your guitar?"

"Why are you-" the redhead was cut off.

"Answer the questions."

"Fine. Yes, I do."

As soon as Taehyung looked up, he saw the boy's expression soften into one filled with sympathy and love. The situation almost seemed better without him being angry. When he started talking, his words still had an edge to them, but they were soft.