Hybe-topia

106 - Kang Taehyun

Imagine the sun just set and the chill of the evening air is starting to roll in, blanketing the town like the ghost of winter. Your mind is blank as your feet walk one after another on the dewy grass below, feeling like each step weighs a ton. There's a fresh bouquet clutched tightly in your hands, some petals falling loose as the gentle breeze glides against you, marking a trail to a familiar headstone.

When the name on the headstone comes into clear view, a sudden ache strikes deep within your chest. The foreign feeling, at least in reaction to seeing his name, confuses you. Yet, you try your best to offer a broken smile as you sit and stare at the cold stone.

In Loving Memory

Kang Taehyun

Feb 5, 2002 - Apr, 8 2024

Taehyun had been your biggest rival since you started as a private investigator. There was constant buzz surrounding the two of you as you were recruits who started at the same time. At first, you were excited to have someone, a new friend potentially, to share your troubles with. But as you were continuously pitted against each other, you learned to resent his presence. The both of you always looking for ways to outperform one another.

In an odd twist of fate – or rather a large-scale case that required the expertise of the industry's best investigators – the two of you were recently assigned to work together. It had been a grueling couple of months and it felt like your combined efforts had gotten you nowhere. At the time, it genuinely felt like a case that would never end – or worse, a case that couldn't be solved. That was until you and Taehyun worked together to find a crucial piece of evidence. Finally, after months of long hours and lost sleep, the case was finally closed. The only catch was that two investigators started the case, but only one of you finished it alive.

The oddest thing throughout it all was the fact that no one could find Taehyun's body afterward. The agency and his family held a closed memorial service to honor him, and the entire time you were present, your entire body felt numb. You've spent more nights than you would like to admit, retracing your steps from that haunting night and retracing Taehyun's steps to find any sort of clues that might help you figure out where he is. Despite all your attempts, you're led to a dead end every single time.

"Where are you, Taehyun?" you whisper with a hand resting on the corner of his headstone. Your vacant hand mindlessly reaches up to play with the necklace around your neck that Taehyun had bought you on your birthday when everyone else had forgotten. Never have you ever thought that you would miss Kang Taehyun, of all people, so much. Yet, here you are, sitting in front of his grave with tears pooling in your eyes.

From the corner of your vision, you see a dark figure walking by. You can't be sure if you're seeing things, or if someone is actually visiting another grave site this late at night. Their gaze seems to linger on you a little longer than what would be considered normal which makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand. However, you shake off the feeling and look back at Taehyun's grave.

The longer you stare, the more you take in the small changes that have taken place since the last time you visited. Strangest of all, you notice a neatly folded piece of paper buried in the dirt right at the edge of the headstone. Judging by the moist soil still surrounding it, it was recently placed there. Your eyebrows furrow in confusion and you dig at it before pulling it out of the ground. When you unfold the small note, your breath hitches when you see what's written on it.

20.08.18

It's the day that you and Taehyun started at the agency. Surely this can't be a coincidence, right?

Before you can put any more thought into it, you feel someone approach you from behind, and suddenly a warm hand clasps over your mouth.

"Follow me. Quickly and quietly," a familiar voice speaks urgently in a hushed tone.

Taehyun? 

♡ ♡ ♡

Happy Monday, Dalgis! I decided to post early today hehe! I figured why not since I usually stay up late anyway and it's technically Monday now that it's after midnight here in California. 

Hope y'all liked this Hyunie imagine! I got some good reactions to this one on Instagram, so I'm contemplating if I want to turn this into a longer short story or potentially a full-length story. We'll see what my schedule allows. I'll keep y'all updated! 🤭

I hope you're staying safe, happy, and healthy! I love you all so much 💗

Until next week,
Strawberheecake 🍓