𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍┃𝐓𝐊 ✔

Part : 04 Be happy

Taehyung stepped out of the police station, and the heavy door thundered shut behind him with a finality so synchronized with his frustration. His thoughts flew back to the arrogance of the actor and thus set his blood on a boil. The audacity of such an arrogant actor was something else. How could he even have contemplated trying to buy his way out from under, using money as if it magically erased the pain and chaos created by his careless actions?

He couldn't help but play it over in his mind—that flashy car, the smirk of superiority, and the dismissive wave of the hand when the actor brushed off the consequences of an accident. He could have simply stopped, helped them after the accident, and given a real apology; everything would have been fine, but no, he had to show off his money, position, and fame, thinking those would save him from liability.

That memory of the actor's carelessness and nonchalance sent another shot of anger running through Taehyung's blood. A constant reminder that some people live in a bubble, without any stress from everyday struggles.

Every step towards the bus stop felt heavier than the last for Taehyung. The streets bustled with life around him, but he felt like a ghost meandering through a world full of vibrancy that no longer held his interest. With every passing moment, he could feel his head spinning, the hunger gnawing inside like a relentless beast. He had gone two days with nothing to eat, other and his stomach rumbled in emptiness now, a lightheadedness accompanying the churning that threatened to overbalance him at every step.

He tried to focus on the rhythm of his footsteps, counting them to keep his mind from spiraling further into despair, but the effort was too fatiguing. Soon, the world began to blur around him, colors merging into a dizzying swirl. The bus stop now appeared to grow further away, an unattainable destination that mocked him with its distance. Just as he thought he might gather the strength to take one more step, his vision darkened, and he felt the ground rush up to meet him.

Before he could make his way to the bus stop, his body finally gave into the extreme exhaustion and hunger, and he passed out, falling onto the pavement. The sounds of the city were very distant now, supplanted by an overwhelming silence that wrapped itself around him as he lost consciousness.

The sound of rushing footsteps echoed around him, and for a brief moment, he felt a gentle shake on his shoulder. "Hey! Are you all right?" a concerned voice pierced through the fogginess in his head. Taehyung strained his eyes open and immediately squinted at the light. Blinking several times, he made out a figure towering over him: a stranger, a man, worry etched across his face.

"Can you hear me?" the stranger asked again, his voice steady despite the chaos swirling in Taehyung's mind. He tried to muster the strength to sit up but failed—his barely clear vision turned black.

When Taehyung regained consciousness, he found himself in a clinic or hospital... he wasn't sure. The sterile smell of antiseptic filled the air, and the soft beeping of machines created a rhythmic backdrop that felt both comforting and disorienting. He tried to sit up but hissed when he felt a sharp pain in his hand. Dragging his gaze down, he saw a drip attached to it, the clear fluid slowly flowing into his vein, and a wave of confusion washed over him. How had he ended up here?

Just as he began to piece together fragmented memories, a man stepped into his line of sight, approaching him.

"You are up... How are you feeling?" the man asked, his voice calm yet probing, as if he were assessing both Taehyung's physical and emotional state. Taehyung puzzled at the question posed by this unknown figure. But soon, the realization dawned on him that this was the very same man he had seen moments before passing out.

"Better, I guess... Did you bring me here?" Taehyung managed to croak out, his throat dry and scratchy, as he gazed at the stranger who nodded in affirmation.