chapter 17

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As the day passed, Jungkook became calmer, but his heart was still restless in a good way. The giddy feeling of being so close to Taehyung gave him those funny butterflies fluttering in his tummy. Everything felt just perfect. He smiled dumbly at Taehyung, who was narrating some village tales, his deep voice full of mystery and intrigue.

"The Eight Immortals?" Jungkook asked, eyes wide with curiosity, leaning in even closer to Taehyung, though he was already glued to his side.

Taehyung nodded, a soft smile playing on his lips. "Yes, the Eight Immortals, but there’s one spirit the villagers feared more than anything," he began, his voice lowering dramatically as the evening turned to dusk, the sky painted in shades of orange and purple.

Jungkook's smile faded slightly, the atmosphere around them growing eerie as the shadows lengthened. Taehyung’s eyes gleamed with mischief as he continued, “There’s an old Chinese tale about the Guǐ Měirén, the Ghost of the Beautiful. They say she only comes out at night, searching for the most beautiful people to devour their souls. The villagers believed that if you were too pretty, she would take you away to her underworld lair.”

Jungkook’s face paled, his eyes widening in horror. He clutched Taehyung's arm tighter, his ears tuned in to every word, the cold evening breeze adding to the spine-chilling story. Taehyung noticed Jungkook’s frightened expression but carried on with a grin.

“They say,” Taehyung whispered, leaning closer to Jungkook’s ear, “if you’re out in the dark alone, she’ll find you by the glow of your skin and take you away. The last thing her victims see are her blood-red eyes before everything goes black.”

Jungkook gasped, his breath hitching as he looked around, the trees swaying ominously in the wind, the rustling leaves sounding like whispers. He immediately burrowed deeper into Taehyung’s side, his small hands clutching Taehyung’s shirt as if his life depended on it.

“H-Hyungie… w-we should go home now,” Jungkook stammered, his voice trembling with genuine fear, though he tried to mask it with a nervous laugh.

Taehyung chuckled, finding the sight of Jungkook’s scared little bunny face absolutely adorable. “Koo, they don’t exist in reality. It’s just a story. Are you really scared, hmm?” Taehyung teased, ruffling Jungkook’s hair.

Jungkook gulped, his eyes darting to the shadows. “Hahaha, hyungie, I’m not scared. I just… I just think mama and papa will be worried if we’re late, that’s all!” he lied, trying to sound brave, but failing miserably as his eyes kept darting around, watching for any sign of the spirit.


When they finally reached home, Taehyung unloaded the broken bicycle, but he noticed Jungkook’s sad eyes lingering on it. “I promise I’ll fix it, make it good as new,” Taehyung said, patting his head, earning a small nod from the younger.

As the night grew deeper, Jungkook found himself sitting on his bed, huddled under his comforter, his wide eyes peeking out as he scanned his dark room. “What if that ghost lady comes for me?” he thought, shivering. “I’m too beautiful! She’ll definitely come after me!” he whimpered to himself, clutching his comforter tighter. The sound of raindrops tapping against the window only heightened his fear.

He stayed awake for two long, torturous hours, jumping at every creak and groan of the old house. The thought of the Guǐ Měirén finding him sent shivers down his spine. “I’m too pretty to be taken away!” he lamented, tears pricking his eyes.

Finally, unable to bear it any longer, he tiptoed out of his room, his comforter wrapped around him like a protective cloak. His shaky legs carried him to the nearest safe place—Taehyung’s room. He knocked softly, twice, but there was no answer. The dark, cold corridor only made his heart race faster.

“H-Hyungie, open the door…” he whispered urgently, knocking again, his voice a tiny squeak.

Taehyung, who had been in a deep sleep, groggily opened the door. The moment he did, he was met with a figure draped in a comforter. In his half-awake state, he screamed, “A GHOST!” and slammed the door shut.

“AAAAAHHH!” Jungkook screamed back, terrified by Taehyung’s reaction, dropping his comforter in panic.

There was a beat of silence, and then Taehyung cautiously opened the door again, peeking out. “K-Koo?!” he gasped, realizing his mistake. “Why are you dressed like that?!”

Jungkook stood there, tears streaming down his cheeks, hiccuping as he tried to explain, “Hyungie, I was s-scared! I thought the spirit would c-come for me ! Can I s-sleep with you?” he pleaded, using his best puppy eyes.

Taehyung couldn’t help but chuckle softly, though his heart melted at the sight of Jungkook’s teary face. “Alright, alright, come here, you scared little bambi ,” he said, pulling Jungkook into his arms.

Jungkook crawled into Taehyung’s bed, still shivering. “Hyungie, hug me tight! What if she comes and takes me away?!”

Taehyung chuckled, wrapping his arms securely around Jungkook. “If she comes, I’ll go with you. We can keep each other company in the underworld.”

Jungkook sniffled, his brows furrowing in confusion. “But she won’t take you… She only takes beautiful people, and that’s me!”

Taehyung burst into laughter, shaking his head. “Alright, alright, she won’t get you. I’ll protect you,my  little beautiful koo”

Jungkook pouted but finally relaxed in Taehyung’s embrace, letting out a content sigh. And with Taehyung’s warmth surrounding him, he finally drifted off to sleep, dreaming of spirits that couldn’t touch him as long as Taehyung was by his side.

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