Distorted Reflection ✓

T W E N T Y - N I N E

Taehyung shivered, feeling as if a cold breeze went past him. Looking to his right, he blinked, eyes widening for a mere second. Bringing his hands up to rub his face, he looked again, only to roll his eyes at his own delusional thoughts.

He must've fell and hit his head last night, because he swore that he could see the glitch of a silhouette of a person brushing past him. But the moment he blinked again, it was gone. 

Seokjin sighed. ''I'll tell you. I'll tell you everything you want to know, but before I do that, you must answer one question of mine, first.'' He stated seriously, causing Taehyung to scoff. ''I asked you first. You're the one lying to me.'' 

''And you're the one hiding things from me. We're even. We're both at fault.'' The elder shot back, making Taehyung shut up instantly. ''Why did you ask Namjoon for that reading?'' 

The dark haired male expected that question. He nibbled on his lip nervously, debating on telling Seokjin. He wanted to, but he wasn't sure if Jeongguk would allow it. And suddenly, he realised that both him and Seokjin found themselves in the exact same position. Wanting to, but not doing so, because they're both protecting other people.

He wanted to discuss it with the younger male first, but Jeongguk hadn't even said a word to him this morning. He was worried as hell, wanting nothing more than to go back towards his room to talk about whatever was bothering him. He wanted to make him feel better. But how?

He groaned. He had no more options left. They needed one another's help. If they liked it or not. 

''I would warn you that this is going to sound insane, but considering that you guys are hiding some abnormal stuff as well, I reckon you both know.. things. So,'' Taehyung sighed out, taking a breath before explaining. 

''To summarize the awfully long story somewhat short, when I moved here, things gradually started going downhill. I thought stress was the cause of it, but then I came to the conclusion it was anything but that. To put it in a way.. this place is- well.. haunted? That sounds bad. And in a way it is, but the person that's stuck inside of it, isn't. Actually, he's anything but that.'' Taehyung's lips tugged up in a small smile, knowing the said person was listening. Deciding to attempt on making him feel better, he continued.

''He was the cause of objects that went missing and all kinds of other unexplainable things that happened. September first, I woke up in the middle of the night. God, it was horrorfying. But, then something happened. I started hearing a voice. He was pleading for help. I thought I was going crazy, especially once the mirror started reflecting his image, instead of my own. But, I soon enough realised, that he's one of the best things that ever happened to me. I promised to help him, hyung. And I will.'' 

Taehyung's voice was so determined, Jeongguk's lips wobbled unsteadily. God, if he could, he would run up to him to give him the biggest hug possible. Oh, how much he wanted to touch him, embrace him, and never let go. He stood at his right, a little farther away, staring at him in admiration. It was as if his heart was scooped up by the older male's hands, carefully holding it, ridding it of the heaviness it held up until a few seconds ago. 

Seokjin's jaw slacked. 

''He? He, as in, a twenty-or-so looking male? Brunette?'' Taehyung sat up, nodding hastily. ''Please, Seokjin. Tell me what you know. How come you know who I'm talking about?'' 

The older scratched his head. ''Does the date March 16th sound familiar to you?''

Taehyung's eyes widened. ''The accident..'' 

Seokjin nodded, ''The reason we barely had any form of contact those five years, Tae, is because Namjoon and I managed to get ourselves involved in it. Well, actually it's my fault. Because of me, he got involved. That day, I was going home in the drastic weather when I saw what was going to happen. I did something.. And the problem is, I don't know how to reverse it.'' 

He stopped for a second, glancing back at the table. ''There always have been rumours throughout my family line. It goes back, decades. Apparently, some of us, we, uh- we are able to do things. It's like magic, Taehyung-ah. I've always felt different. Namjoon knew about it, since I started to get wierd gut feelings. As if my subconscious tried to tell me things. That day, it happened, too. Before I knew it, I said something. Whatever I did, the male did not die. I cut the CCTV off, and called Namjoon. Together, we took care of his body, keeping it safe. It never started to decay, or even smell. We've been trying to figure out how to undo it ever since, but to avail. That is, until a few weeks ago, when we suddenly got ideas when you moved here and asked for that reading.'' He finished, trying to put some pieces together as he spoke.

Taehyung sat there, stunned. Unable to speak. How does one answer to such a thing? That wasn't what he expected. He doesn't know what he did expect to hear, but that certainly wasn't it.

''That's why Namjoon wanted me to keep my mouth shut, Tae. Basically, we're criminals. We took the body.'' He glanced at the younger, curious to see how he was going to react. It was clear he needed some time to let it all sink in, process.

''Where is the body now? Is it safe?'' Taehyung decided to respond with, as it is the most important thing for now. The other nodded immediately.

Jeongguk felt like his entire world had just flipped upside down. His ears were starting to ring due to all of the news and all of the new possibilities. There was hope. All this time, he thought he had just vanished- entire body and all. But that wasn't the case. His actual body was somewhere safe. What does that make him? An actual ghost, definitely. Was he his own soul? Whatever Seokjin did, it preserved it. Kept it safe. Kept it from dying.

''We have to figure out how to get him back inside of his body. But first things first.. you need to meet him.'' Taehyung grinned, all of the suspicious and high tension between them disappearing, for real this time. They could share all of their information as they brainstormed about the situation together. For now, they finally had somewhere to begin. 

And none of them wanted to wait any longer.