Earphones• Vkook

13

Taehyung sits quietly at a bench in the park waiting for Jungkook, Jungkook convinced him to leave his house and stay outside for a little bit. its no longer winter so they can eat ice cream outside without freezing or turning into ice.

Jungkook showed up just as Taehyung was about to clean his already spotless kitchen. He told Taehyung he should go out in the outside world just to see the sun for a few seconds, Taehyung kept saying no and trying to look away so he wouldnt capture Jungkook's objections. Jungkook started texting Taehyung's phone which was in his pocket, the vibrations made him want to throw his phone at Jungkook's face but he didnt, he read the pleads and agreed to go out for just enough time to eat an ice cream cone. 

"Can you believe Taehyung moved around here" Ricky says as him, Hoseok and Mark walk past all the small shops.

"I went to his house one day and he was just gone, its like his parents erased him, but then his mom smiled and said he moved here for his studies, can you believe that, taehyung studying" Mark says making himself laugh, he links his arm with Hoseok as they walk in search of their best friend. 

They were the group of friend's he spent every birthday with, they were the friends that would make him leave his house at midnight just to grab a snack, they were the friends who made him feel whole, but alone when they didn't talk to each other, they are the people who he never shared many secrets with but he knows all of theirs. 

Like the fact Hoseok hates it when Ricky says mean things about others and how Hoseok hates being touched all the time which is basically every time Mark is next to him. Mark overly hugs, links arms, pushes, puts his arms around peoples shoulders all the time. 

"Why don't we just call him?" Hoseok asks and the other two stop dumbfounded in their tracks making Hoseok question why he is with those idiots

"He has a phone?" Mark asks surprised

"he has had a phone, we have a group chat, no-one talks in it anymore" Hoseok says 

"Wait, I have a phone?" Mark asks putting his hands in his pockets, he feels something heavy and pulls it out, "I have a phone!" He says happily holding out his iPhone 7 for the world to see. He clicks the home button. 

"it's not working" he says pouting 

"it's dead, I'm surprised it isn't water damaged from the wash" Hoseok states 

"oh, I haven't washed these jeans in-"

"Shut up" Ricky says cutting off Mark's sentence. 

"I guess I will call him" Hoseok says realizing no-one else would or could. He clicks on Taehyung's contact which is labeled "Tae" and has a picture of Taehyung making a really funny face. He clicks the call button and places the phone next to his ear. 

please answer, I'm stuck in this unknown town with two idiots, that may I add, you left me with, Hoseok thinks to himself as Mark and Ricky point out all the hot girls who are way out of their league.  

Taehyung's phone goes off, a vibration and a ringtone he didn't know was on. He looks at his phone confused wondering why Jung Hoseok would be calling him. He was happy his friend was calling but upset he couldn't answer, because if he did he'd hear nothing, or would have to have some guy sign to him and talk for him. 

None of his old friends know he's deaf and he still doesn't want them to know, so answering this one call would ruin everything. He declines the call and Jungkook walks over to him holding up the two ice cream cones. 

Taehyung's phone rings again, he pretends not to notice and Jungkook taps his shoulder. 

"your phone" he signs in the best sign language he could, 

"You're learning" Taehyung says impressed, but really its laughable sign language because anyone even if they didn't know sign language most likely has used their hands to signal that sentence. But Taehyung didnt find it laughable, he can see how Jungkook is trying. He doesn't know how much Jungkook is trying though, he thinks Jungkook googles how to do these signs, when Jungkook is actually taking classes, watching online video, teaching himself and also having someone teach him.

"Nice ringtone" Jungkook text's Taehyung, Taehyung looks at him confused and he flicks the switch on the side of Taehyung's phone. turning off the volume. 

"Thank you" Taehyung says before eating his ice cream cone.

"Do you think thats him?" Mark asks pointing to a park bench, 

"Yeah I swear I heard a phone ring at the same time you called him" Ricky adds.  

"Who's that sitting next to him?" Ricky asks as if one of the other two boys knew the answer.

"He better not have replaced us, if that really is him.. If its him hold me back, man hold me back" Mark says as he starts walking. 

"Come on guys you don't expect him to be alone" Hoseok mumbles, "I'm happy he found a friend" he adds, the other two not even hearing him. 

They get closer and closer to the bench. 

"It's him" Ricky whispers after seeing Taehyung's side profile. Mark covers Taehung's eyes with his hands. Taehyung tenses up, he needs his eyes to see and communicate, and in this moment someone's hands are blocking his view.  Jungkook looks up at the boy who's blocking Taehyung's view. Who are these guys, he questions, he looks at Hoseok who looks slightly familiar, he thinks hardly about it then he remembers one of Taehyung's Instagram photos, one of the ones with Taehyung smiling, Hoseok was in the background. 

"Taehyung, its only me"  Mark says upset and Taehyung doesn't hear him, removing his hands from Taehyung's face He goes in front of him and they look each other in the eyes. 

"Y-you are here?" Taehyung asks surprised his voice shaky, his insides turning out, he feels like he can't breathe. 

The last people he ever wanted to talk to about him being deaf are right in front of him and for all that he knows, they could already know that something is wrong.