Subtle

Flat Line

(The song has nothing to do with the chapter, I just had it on repeat while writing because I fucking LOVE Royal Pirates.)

That was the last time Taehyung spoke to Hoseok for 4 years. Of no fault to Hoseok, that was just Taehyung's choice. Taehyung had stopped answering Hoseok's calls, texts, and even the door when he showed up to check on him. Taehyung took to an extreme by even changing his number. He kept Hoseok's number tucked safetly away in his contacts list, though.

When Taehyung got up around 8 in the morning, the couch was put back, blankets were folded neatly, and the pillows next to them with a small note on top.

"Sorry I didn't wake you. I got called in to work around 6 because someone called in sick. Have a great day, man. I'll see you around."

Jimin would not let up on Taehyung, another reason he changed his number. Due to all the non-stop messaging, he gently directed him to Hoseok's twitter.

Taehyung wanted piece and quiet, he finally got it.

He didn't know what to do with himself now, at all.

He pushed everyone he ever cared about away or pushed them to end their life and that was something he had a hard time living with.

In a spur of the moment while cleaning his apartment, he finally cleared out Jungkook's old room.

The blankets were given to hospital children, comic books and action figures sold to a comic book store, everything had to go. Everything that Taehyung had a memory of Jungkook attached to had to go.

He was left with a barren, empty house that only had its original contents remaining inside.

He moved to a small apartment complex on the outside of town, where he and Jungkook never ventured into. He was almost Jungkook free. He didn't know if he liked it or not, but what's done was done.

He stayed like that for a long time, but visted Jungkook's gravesite every day.

All these changes happened so slowly but to Taehyung, it felt over in an instant.

Taehyung got involved with the people who first destroyed his relationship and life.

Not Jimin, no. It was someone Jimin introduced him to. Taehyung never learned his real name, just initials.

RM was feeding him all sorts of coated lines like; "You're better than that, man." "That kid didn't need you anyway, dude! Who the fuck cares?" and "Yo, try this though. It's a fuckin' cure all. You'll forget about everything, no problem."

Taehyung, feeling small and vulnerable, fell in. He fell in fast, and he fell in debt.

RM was threatening to stop providing.

Landlord was threatening to evict him.

The bank stopped loaning him money.

Taehyung realised many things during a sadness induced acid-flashback.

1) He fucked up. Not recently, either.
2) He's fucked up.
3) Everything is so fucking fucked the fuck up that he doesn't know if he is starting or ending problems by trying to fix everything he fucked up.
4) Jungkook had the right idea.

Taehyung, at three in the morning, called Hoseok.

The phone rang five times before the automated message started.

"We're sorry. The number you have reached is unavailable right now. Please hang up, or press pound for more options."

He tried again. Tears were pooring down his face and he was hoping, praying that Hoseok would pick up.

His voicemail came through. Is he ignoring Taehyung's calls now? To be fair, they haven't talked in so long.

"Hey! This is Jung Hoseok. Sorry I missed your call. Please leave your name and number and I'll call you back as soon as I can!"

"Hobi... I-- fuck man, I didn't think this through before I called. I, uh... I'm having a hard time and I was really hoping you'd answer. I know we haven't talked in like, 4 years but I have no one to turn to and-- I'm rambling... Anyway, uh.. Sorry to bother you."

Taehyung stuck his phone in his pocket and went on a long walk. He didn't know where he was going, but he didn't care.

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"In other news, a car accident happened early this morning around 4:15. The accident involved the driver of a car who has yet to be named, and a younger man who also has yet to be named. We have no news on their well-being but we will keep you updated as more becomes known."

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Hoseok turned the television off and set his bowl of cereal down.

Jimin walked in from the next room.

"What was that about?"

Hoseok cleared his throat before standing and walking to the kitchen.

"Uh, it wasn't about anything much. I know I said we'd have a day to ourselves but... I have something I need to do today. Another time?"

Jimin sighed silently and rolled his eyes.

"Sure, Hobi. Another time."

Hoseok got dressed and ran out the door. He didn't take the car, he just ran to the hospital a few city blocks from his apartment.

Frantically, to front desk, he breathed out the question he was dying to ask.

"Is Tim Haekyung-- Kim Taehyung admitted here?"

The lady typed at her computer and looked up.

"And who are you to him?"

"A friend."

"6C North, room 58."

Hoseok took off, sprinting as fast as the crowded hospital hallways would let him.

"Thank you!"

He waited impatiently at the elevators before opting for 6 flights of stairs.

Just as he reached the door, doctors shoved him out of the way.

"Wh-what is happening!?"

"Just a moment we have to go!"

The doctor opened the door and Hoseok heard the exact opposite of what he wanted.

A long, high pitched beep.

He slid down the wall, the world's noise fading from around him. All he could hear, it wasn't the yelling doctors, nor the chatter of other patients or the nurses, it was the long beep.

A single tear rolled down his cheek and fell down with a hard splat onto his hand.

Hoseok felt like he failed. There was nothing to do now. Nothing.

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Yo! It me. I know this was supposed to be a re-telling of Obviously, but who wants to read the same story twice? So, I'm adding some of the stuff I wanted to put in the previous book but didn't. Uh, enjoy! This is probably the second to last chapter, for real this time.

Love: hobihoe- ❤