pastel [3]

eleven

Taehyung's point of view

Why they were even taking me with them I wasn't sure. Maybe I wasn't the greatest at reading social cues, but I'm pretty certain most people don't just forget when someone assaults another person. That was what they saw, so why was I now in the car with them, driving to their house?

Neither of them spoke a word to me, only following up our introductions with a very ominous 'come with us'. This was the best option if I wanted to see Jungkook again, granted it might end up with me in a ditch, but it wouldn't be the first time...

We reached a familiar three story home, car pulling into the driveway out the front. From where we parked I could see the balcony down the side of the house on the third floor. As I stared my guts twisted into tight knots, replaying the feeling of falling for an eternity.

"Why did you bring me here?" The words came out in the most terrified whisper that I wasn't sure they would even hear. Seokjin appeared by my side, following my gaze to where I had met my end.

"We're not going to kill you," the man spoke with a gruff kindness, holding out a hand to help me out of the car. "You look like you haven't been eating properly," he started with, before delving into the real reason. "And we want you to explain where you've been for ten years." That made more sense. With that hand keeping me balanced, I was guided to the front door with Seokjin in front and Namjoon close behind; barricaded in so I couldn't run again.

The house still smelt the same, filled with lovely spices and floral smells, it was really beautiful. I stood to breathe in the scent, taking in my surroundings. Nothing was very different from last time. Except for maybe everything looked a bit more aged. Other than that everything was in its rightful place.

"Come choose something to eat." Seokjin beckoned me towards the kitchen, I hesitated at the offer, an onslaught of fear that this was going to be a further punishment. I wouldn't blame them... "Come on, I'm not going to poison you."

"I know. Just... I'm not sure." Seokjin frowned, inspecting every one of my nervous mannerisms with a keen eye. It felt like being stripped bare for everyone to see my shame and guilt, to be standing in the same place where I had been put to death. "I don't think I can..." I managed to stammer out, much to Seokjin's frustrations.

"Fine, you can eat later." He changed his direction, heading into what I remembered as the lounge room, tugging me behind with a determined stride.

"Why are you not fazed by the fact that I've been gone for ten years?" This time I was careful not to speak of my death, shielding the truth with my mother's meticulously crafted words. Thankfully she hadn't retaliated when I told Jimin, so I guess she got the green light for me to tell some people.

"Did I say I wasn't?" The snap of anger that slipped out from Seokjin's level headed demeanour was a surprise, momentarily pulling me to a halt to see his grim frown staring back just waiting to be sparked by the wrong words. So I didn't say anything more, looking around to see two familiar people sitting across from each other as they engaged in a very intense game of chess.

One of them was the man who had held Jungkook on that balcony, who had saved him from falling off the building. The other was who had brought a radiating kindness I had been drawn to, one who treated me with a compassion only cursed lovers had shown. "Hoseok..." I whispered with a relieved smile to see he was doing well. The moment he heard his name Hoseok's head whipped up and his eyes grew wide as he looked me up and down.

"Taehyung?!" The shriek of shock and surprise all in one brought a fleeting smile to my face, warmed by someone that held a neutral gratitude to seeing me. "You're alive?! How? What? Where-" each question weighed down my answer, mind burrowing into overdrive that buckled my knees and sent me nearly crashing to the ground. A grasp on my arm held me steady, twisting to see Seokjin supporting my weight.