A legend ties two families together to sustain the providence of a country. Every twenty five years, a daughter of a large family of temple caretakers is chosen to marry a son belonging to the current generation of the descendants of the king. The s...
Yoongi leisurely walked across the temple grounds while he enjoyed the quiet, breathing the fresh air in his lungs. He looked down on the pavement, careful to not fall down his feet. His ripe, old age requires him to be very careful. A mild fall could result in a bad injury. And even a ground as stable as concrete could cause it.
He looked ahead and saw another monk with a man in a suit. He was dragging his feet and his shoulders were hunched again. Yoongi could already guess the reason behind it. It's his uncle.
"Sir."
The younger monk bowed when he saw the head monk a few feet away. The man did the same. Yoongi walked to them.
"You're looking for Jungkook?" He asked the fellow.
He sighed exasperatedly. "It's his check up but he escaped again."
Yoongi chuckled. "He might be at the shrine. He's always there, praying."
"Thank you, sir."
"How is he?"
"He's not getting well. Aside from the fact that his body is unresponsive to many medications, he also doesn't go to his check ups. We always have to force him."
His lips pressed into a small, knowing smile. It's not like Jungkook has given up on life. It's just that he's convinced that he lived long enough. For him, seventy two years is already long. When he told Yoongi that he was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis, instead of worrying, Jungkook was smiling. He said that the gods did not intend for him to suffer. He said that they're giving him a chance to go home.
The Jeons are blessed with long and healthy lives. Jungkook was the only one who was afflicted with a chronic illness. But this too is a gift bestowed by the gods to him. So he would not have to live long without his beloved.
After his husband's death, Jungkook left everything to serve the temple. To thank the gods for the long life they granted Taehyung, he dedicated his life and performed duties as a temple monk. He lived his days alone as one. Even though the loneliness of being without Taehyung never really left him, he found peace and a purpose to live. And now, he's been permitted to leave.
"Maybe you should let him decide what to do."
The young man's lips jutted. "But my fathers asked me to take care of him."
"You took care of him." Yoongi firmly patted his shoulder. "You did great."
At the shrine, Jungkook rose to his feet after praying. The sudden change of body position sent him in a fit of explosive coughing, his chest tightening at every expulse of breath. He wheezed when it was done, feeling that his strength has waned greatly. He walked out of the shrine and readied to climb down the stairs. But he felt far too weak to do it.
"I'll rest for a while."
He sat down on the top of the stairs. While resting, many more times, he coughed and coughed again. It was never ending. The air in his lungs was never enough and yet, it was still constantly being drawn out. He forcefully inhaled in an effort to pull a lungful when it felt like he couldn't breathe anymore. The exhaustion and feebleness made him fall, sending him to lay on his back. He didn't move. He didn't spring. He stayed there, staring at the sky. It was blue and cloudless. He only looked at it for a while.
"Honey."
His eyebrows furrowed. He heard a very familiar voice. One he dearly missed.
"Taehyungie?"
Taehyung appeared before him. He was looking down at him, obscuring his view of the sky.
"What are you doing there?"
"Resting." Jungkook sniveled.
Tears immediately fell from the outer corners of his eyes.
"What are you doing here?"
"What?" His forehead creased.
"What are you doing here?"
Taehyung smiled.
"I've always been here. Waiting for you. Remember? I told you that I'll wait for you."
THE END
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