Taehyung, an optimistic, street-wise, charming young man born deaf, meets Yoongi, a gorgeous, educated young boy, who is new to town. Taehyung is smitten but the only problem is that Yoongi is engaged already.
However, in the middle of all this, a s...
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His wide eyes showed that he was amazed, like a child, and he took in every note. The melody wrapped around Jungkook like a familiar blanket as he moved closer. It was the image of the caretaker's warm smile at the foundation center, as she played this song, brought back a lot of happy, safe memories. He gently swayed, and his body found the beat on its own. Every word brought back memories, and every chorus was a comforting heartbeat.
The people in the crowd, who were all dressed up, were hard to acknowledge for Jungkook. He could hear the caretaker singing along with this song in his mind. He had a small smile on the corner of his mouth, which didn't happen very often.
Jungkook's voice came out of its shell! It was like the confidence of someone who sings for themselves, not for other people. At first, soft, then steady. He walked into the light of the garden lights without meaning to. His t-shirt was off, and his shorts were frayed from being washed so many times. He held his T-shirt up in the air like a banner in the wind.
People looked around. The chatter turned into aggressive whispers. Jungkook, however, sang louder in his bubble of nostalgia and joy. He didn't notice the looks or the break in the party's rhythm.
"Bring back, bring back..." He said the words as naturally as he breathed. He felt rooted in the present moment as his bare feet felt cool grass, again, not something Jungkook would normally be comfortable with. The world contracted to the size of that song, and Jungkook felt like he belonged there, under the moonlight, with the sounds of this melody.
The song faded, leaving the final note hanging in the air like a whisper of silk and Jungkook's voice too faltered, his eyes blinking open to the sea of faces now staring at him. Silence engulfed the garden.
The guests' laughter began as a trickle and quickly grew into a current of rage that washed over Jungkook. The guests' murmurs, snickers hidden behind manicured hands, escalated into unabashed cackles.
"Bring back..." The words remained on his lips. The tee shirt slipped from his loosening grip and landed on the grass.
"Stop," he whispered, his plea lost in the chaos. He clutched his vest, the fabric twisting between desperate fingers. "Stop it."
"STOP!" Now he screamed, and the plea transformed into a command. The garden spun like a carousel of mockery. "Don't laugh, DON'T laugh, DON'T LAUGH!"
His voice cracked the air, like a whip lashing out. Faces blended into a single entity of ridicule. Jungkook's chest sighed, and he breathed in short, ragged gasps. The world shifted, balance was lost, and for a brief moment, he stood alone against the tide, a silent scream written on his face.
Hoseok moved through the crowd, his expression a mix of concern and purpose. He approached Jungkook and gently touched the young man's trembling shoulder. "Jungkook, let's go back to your room," he said softly, attempting to shield him from the barrage of criticism.
The sound of a latch echoed faintly above the din of laughter. Taehyung's fingers worked deftly to remove the stable's wooden cover. The white horse inside, unaffected by the commotion, flicked its ears and nickered a soft greeting. Over the entire commotion, the sound of hooves against the concrete floor became muffled, only helping Taehyung.
"Come on, Jungkook," Hoseok whispered, leading the still-shaky Jungkook away from the garden's chaos. His words were almost lost in the wave of laughter bouncing off the walls of the estate.
The laughter and chatter got louder and more lively outside. But Taehyung and Jungkook were moving in their own worlds, drawn by different things.
As Taehyung led the horse along the moonlit path, his shape blended into the darkness. The sound of hooves hitting the dirt road made a steady beat that set the mood for the night's fun. He took the cold metal whistle from the stable out of his jacket and wrapped his fingers around it.
The sharp sound cut through the silence and echoed off the walls of the guesthouse. Once. Two times. A call or signal that couldn't be ignored. He waited with his hands off the reins and his eyes fixed on the window on the first floor, where he knew Yoongi would be.
From behind the glass, the light flickered. The curtains moved. Next, there was Yoongi, framed by the window, a hint of moonlight caught in his glasses. Thin eyebrows rose in surprise, and there was a question mark between them. Yoongi was always torn between what was proper and the pull of something deeper and wilder. Taehyung could almost hear his thoughts stumbling over each other.
The motion and gestures of Taehyung's hands kept going over and over, and it was fun. He looked up, patiently, with excitement building inside him.
Yoongi stood at his window and leaned out. He had a puzzled look on his face. In the quiet night, he called out, "Aehyun, what on earth?" His voice was low but clear.
Taehyung moved in the saddle below him, and he had a sly grin on his face. He faked a gallop with his hands raised and tilted his head to one side as if to ask a question.
The idea hung in the air, tempting and silly. Yoongi's brows furrowed. A horseride? Now?
He took a quick look at the old clock that was sitting on his mantel. Close to midnight, the hands were pointing accusingly. His mind was full of criticisms and a code of conduct nagging at him to behave properly. This wasn't right; it was careless and random.
Still, Yoongi felt something stirring inside him: a desire for freedom and the unknown. With a firm hand motion, he told Taehyung to stay there and wait. When the ethics professor moved away from the window, there was a thin line between what was right and wrong. Yoongi's firm steps made the stairs creak. The door for the perimeter of the guesthouse opened softly, and he stepped out into Taehyung's world.
With a nod and a breath, Yoongi climbed up behind him. There was no saddle between them; the proximity was natural and intimate. After that, they left. After a rough rhythm on the cobblestones, the hooves found harmony and rhythm. The moonlight made the horse's breath mist up as it snorted. The road spread out like a pale, winding ribbon. The main road was a little ahead. Wooden lamp posts stood guard, their soft, sporadic glow a reminder of the world under watch.
Yoongi's heart beat fast, like a bird excited to fly. Even though it was stupid, this made his soul sing. Taehyung led them on without saying a word. His intention was as clear as the path they were taking.
