Second Chapter: A Taekook short fairytale

Part 10

Taehyung looked far away, into the past.

"I come from an affluent family. My parents are high placed officials in the government of the Dark Woods. While growing up, I had a best friend, Choi Dae, her family was not well off, but we never cared. We grew up together, did everything together. We always said we will be together forever. When I was 16, I knew I did not have romantic feelings towards girls. Dae supported me, told me she will never leave me. The night of my 19th birthday, I met someone. Oh, how he swept me off my feet, handsome, older, so sophisticated and charming, everything I thought I wanted in a partner. He pursued me; gifts, flowers, soft words and touches. I was enthralled with him, so in love, seeing out future together. I felt so honoured that he chose me.

We even spoke about bonding after only a few months! My parents were more cautious, though. They are not in high positions for nothing. They asked him what his job was, who his family was. He gave vague answers all the time, his quick tongue and charm blinding me.

Seojoon, that was his name, started pressuring me to bond, telling me how I will be a stay-at-home wife while he handless everything for us. I did not want to do that; I was going to be a historian.

His temper started to come out every time I went against his wishes. My friend Dae trying to convince me the whole time I was wrong and that Seojoon loved me and would care for me. The pressure between the two was unrelenting.

I finally caved... I agreed to bonding, after only knowing him for 10 months. He told me that I had to sign over my familial rights to him before bonding, so he could care for me and my parents. He was a master manipulator. But I was in love, or so I thought.

My parents obviously refused, and I would never go against them, I love and respect them too much. That caused a huge fight and Seojoon left our house.

Feeling guilty I decided to go to my friend Dae to ask her advice. When I got there, I heard voices, Dae and Seojoon talking about what they can do to get me to sign over my familial rights. Seojoon was actually flat ass broke and was depending on my money to run away with my best friend, Dae, whom he had an affair with since the first week. Dae was also not well off, so needed my family's money. They were frustrated that they had to keep up the façade of loving me, they just wanted the money and to leave. The worst part, Dae was pregnant with Seojoon's baby. And me and him haven't done anything else than small kisses.

Hearing this, I pushed open the door, finding them in a passionate embrace. The shock on their faces were something to see. Seojoon immediately blamed Dae for seducing him, Dae blamed Seojoon for lying and betraying me.

As they were screaming at each other, I left, heartbroken and betrayed. At home I told my parents everything, I cried so hard. I felt like a fool, how I could be so easily lied too, bamboozled by fake attention and manipulation.

My parents laid a complaint against Seojoon, who ran away that same day, leaving Dae behind to face the music on her own.

Her parents, after hearing about everything, sent her away to her aunt, I think in Ajuba Forest. She did try to talk to me, to make excuses, not apologising once. I don't know what happened after that, did she have the child or not. I just know her parents never talked about her and kept to themselves mostly.

With her and Seojoon out of my life, I concentrated on my studies, till I was 21 and left with Jimin. It took me some time, but I worked through the pain and betrayal. I worked hard on my trust issues, but came out stronger on the other side, with more to give."

Taehyung finally looked up.

"I fell in love with you, Jungkook. I saw through your broken heart, to see a strong brave man, who would love fiercely and protect what is his. I saw how much love you had to give, but you hid behind your pain, forgetting that you are in fact alive. I tried so hard to break through, and this morning I thought you finally were going to let me in. I was in awe of the feelings I felt, I never knew I could feel like that. And then you pushed me away. My heart hurt so much. And I decided I will find my peace and happiness somewhere else; I will not get hurt again by being pushed away, not being enough."

Jungkook nodded.

"You are right, Tae, I kept on hiding, kept on pushing others away, to wallow in my own sadness and pain, forgetting my promise. And here you are, who got hurt so much, but still, you grab every single day. I have put myself to shame, put Soo-hee to shame, my unborn child, just to drown in my self-pity and sadness. I have so much to learn from you. Will you teach me? Will you help me see the happiness in each day's sunrise again? Will you allow me to love you, Taehyung? Can you give a little of your love to me?"

Tae stood on his knees in front of Jungkook, his smaller hands cupping the elder's cheeks. "I will give you all of my love, if I can have some of yours. I will laugh with you every day, even if you can't yet, I will be happy with you every day, until you learn to be happy again. I love you Jungkook."

Jungkook pulled the silver haired boy into his arms, kissing his face everywhere, then his mouth, drowning in the taste. Finally looking up "I love you Kim Taehyung, and you can have all my love. It is only yours." They kissed again until an awkward cough brought their attention back to three elves standing around not knowing what to do with themselves, arms full of wood.

Tae pushed his blushing face into Jungkook's chest, trying to hide, and Jungkook laughed softly, for the first time in 4 years. He hugged the smaller body close, keeping him safe and hidden.

Through some teasing, they made a fire and quickly roasted some pigeons they caught.

Jungkook was telling Tae how scared he was when they came out on top of the ridge and saw him below, fighting for his life. He knew he could not lose Tae; he knew he had to fight for his future. Tae kissed him softly. He told Jungkook how he wished he had spoken to him before he just left, as he thought no-one would ever know what happened to him after the dark elves were done with him. He wanted to live, to see his parents, to see Jimin and hopefully to see Jungkook and his other friends again. Jungkook held him tight, never to lose him again.

After they ate, they started the road back, Yoongi surprising Tae with almost all his arrows, washed and clean of blood. Tae was thankful. Making arrows is a very time-consuming task.