Red Eyes ➸ Taekook ✓

- Sixteenth -

Everyone stood up and crowded around Jimin.

"What did you find?" Jin asked and leaned over the younger boy's shoulder.

Jimin took a quick look at Jungkook, whose complexion was getting worse and worse as the seconds passed.

"A few years ago, there were several serial murders in the area, and the culprit was never found. The victims were all men, raped and murdered. The last murder was a bit special, as the victim had 'escaped'." He said, mimicking inverted commas. "He had been sexually assaulted, but had managed to escape before the culprit executed him. But... he was murdered a few days later, in the same way as before."

"And?" interjected Jin.

Jimin dragged the mouse and resumed his reading.

"A suspect had been arrested because of incriminating testimony, but he was released with a dozen or so counter testimonies that proved he couldn't have been present during the murders."

"Who was this guy?" asked his colleague.

"Um... a guy named John Lim."

Taehyung ticked.

"Johnny? Really?!" he asked.

"Do you know him?" Jin asked.

He nodded as he turned to Jungkook.

"Back then, all the kids knew him. He had lost his parents at an early age, life had been hard on him, but he was always positive. When he came home from work in the evening and walked past the park, we would all go and see him so that he could tell us more about astronauts, or space travel. He was very passionate about it, and he would always tell us about it with his eyes shining."

He smiled.

"Even though Jungkook and I didn't mix much with the others, we got along really well with him. There's no reason he should be a rapist, let alone a killer. I wonder who testified against him..."

Jimin looked at the young man.

"It's Jungkook." he confessed.

Jungkook's eyes widened. Taehyung almost choked.

"What do you mean?!" he exclaimed.

Jin looked at the screen, and quickly scanned the report.

"He had come to file a complaint against him three years ago, claiming that he was the famous killer. That was... February 25."

Taehyung shook his head.

"That's impossible... that date is the day before... he and I saw each other that day, and he didn't mention it at all."

He seemed to be searching through his memory as Jungkook was now white as a sheet.

"I remember there were those rumours about Johnny, but Jungkook was the first to refute them. Of the two of us, he was the one who liked him the most, he could never have accused him of such an act."

Silence fell again in the room. For the first time, Jungkook decided to speak up.

"Maybe we should go and see him, then." he suggested.

Jin immediately looked disapproving.

"No, it's too dangerous. He may have been cleared, but if there's no real culprit, he can't be completely ruled out as a suspect. And even if he really isn't the killer, he can still blame you for accusing him."

"He's right," admitted Jimin, "there are too many unknowns."

Jungkook bit his lip in disappointment, but the reassuring hand that came to rest on his shoulder brought him some comfort.

"No, I think Jungkook is right." Taehyung interjected. "We should go. I don't think Johnny's the culprit, but even if he is, he won't be able to fight me one on one, and he'll be even more helpless if one of you comes with us."

Taehyung held Jin's gaze, and the two younger men watched them, tense. Finally, after about thirty seconds of silent battle, Jin sighed.

"Okay, but I'm coming with you." He relented.

"I'm not asking for anything less." Taehyung agreed.

Jungkook' shoulders slumped in relief. It was a good thing Taehyung was with him, he was completely lost without him.

Jin grabbed his jacket and spoke to Jimin, while the two were already heading for the exit.

"Tell the commander for me, and stay on the lookout."

"Ok."

Jungkook got into Taehyung's car, while Jin decided to take a service car. Taehyung sent the address to his friend, and they set off.

Much of the journey was made in a heavy silence. The events of the previous day were still fresh in the minds of the two young people, and they didn't even dare to look at each other. You could add to that the stress of the attempted murder: Jungkook was on the verge of breaking down. This did not escape Taehyung.

"Don't worry, Jungkook, everything will be fine..." He reassured him. "And... in any case, I'm here. Nothing will happen to you, I promise you."

These words comforted him, but at the same time his heart tightened. The closer they seemed to get, the more he felt this unease. He felt... so guilty.

"Taehyung, can I ask you a question? Something... a little delicate."

The young man tensed a little on the steering wheel, suddenly anxious about what it might be.

"Of course."

Still without looking at him, Jungkook took a deep breath and talked.

"You... you still love me?"

This question caught him off guard.

"I... obviously." he assured him.

Jungkook twitched his fingers, dreading what was to come.

"Even the one I am now?"

If he could, Taehyung would have slammed on the brakes so he could look into his eyes. But he couldn't take his eyes off the road.

"I will always love you, no matter what."

Jungkook shook his head.

"But I've forgotten everything. Our relationship, our every word, our moments together, our feelings... I've forgotten everything. Everything that made you love me is gone, and will most likely never return."

Taehyung ran his tongue over his lip, showing his tension.

"It's not memories I fell in love with. It was you. You have forgotten everything? All right, it's not a problem. Memories, we have a whole lifetime to make them. I don't care, as long as I'm with you. I don't need something so superficial."

The car suddenly stopped in front of a small house a little way out of town. They had arrived. Taehyung took the opportunity to turn to Jungkook, who was hurrying away. He grabbed his arm to hold him.

"Jungkook, I'll wait as long as it takes, months, years if it means I can be by your side..."

Jungkook opened the door and got out, mumbling.

"I have no right to love you. Not after I've forgotten you."

He pulled away and joined Jin who had just parked, while abandoning a confused Taehyung.