• Hedonists •

14. Searching the lost pleasure

"Don't go."

Taehyung lies down again and stares at Jimin. His face is very puffy. Guilt from not getting out of bed throughout the day. He strokes one cheek and goes over to give him a kiss on the cheek.

"I have to go do some things. Nothing's going to happen to you here," he promises softly, making it sound deeper. "They don't even know you're here."

"The police know."

"It was inevitable."

"They might come and kill me." Jimin mutters under his breath and Taehyung twists his lips.

With what Jimin reported, it's normal that he doesn't feel safe anywhere. Even more so with one of the assassins, loose out there. Indifferent to how much he described his face, they can't find the culprit. The easiest part is the tattoo on his forehead. There is no makeup capable of removing it and even with that, no suspects in sight.

To make matters more tense, the students are making thousands of claims and protests. They feel unsafe and that the police are doing nothing to protect them. Some already have bodyguards and companies in case they are needed. The county in general is labeled as a danger zone. The idea of leaving is more dangerous than staying. While one classroom was attacked, it was the farthest away on campus. Where there would be time to flee and no one would do anything to prevent it.

Being together and armed prevents a repeat attack.

"Namjoon announced to me that we would go to one of your houses outside the city. For this week and may you rest better" he announces stroking Jimin's hair. "In and of itself, it will be one more week of mourning for the students who passed away."

Jimin nods and Taehyung leaves. Being alone, Jimin hides his face in the pillow. Pretending so he doesn't notice his loneliness. He hears the echo of the house phone ringing. He is downstairs, in the kitchen. The only place where they deigned to run the wires.

He forces himself to go there, most likely important by the level of insistence.

. . .

Jungkook shakes out his clothes and takes a deep breath before entering Namjoon's huge house. Taehyung was in college, so he can take it for granted that Jimin is alone here. Jungkook notices his voice coming from the kitchen and walks over to listen to what he might be talking about on the phone:

"I know that...! I'm not traveling there, I'm sorry- I don't want to go and I don't want you to come either What if they do something to you?" Jungkook pokes his head out, Jimin choking back tears with the phone in his hands. "I know I annoy the hell out of you and I'm nothing like you'd want me to be, but I love you and I don't want anything to happen to you daddy" he whimpers quickened and distraught. "Stay home. Please."

Jimin is silent, listening to the response and replying again:

"I'm at Namjoon's house! I'll go somewhere else this weekend. I'll be fine," he sniffles running his hand over his cheek. "I'll send you letters whenever I can. I promise... Bye..."

Jimin puts down the speaker and leans back from the table, hiding in his arms. The caress on his back startles him for a few moments until he recognizes Jungkook's hand.

. . .

"He wanted a politician, I can't stand it. I like to write" Jimin comments drinking the full glass of wine Jungkook poured for him. "I have brothers, but I know he expected a lot from me because I proved to be very smart from a young age... I'm a disappointment in too many ways."

"I don't think he will stop loving you." opined Jungkook, who as usual, listened to him silently.

"Sometimes I get the feeling that he do..."