Driven (BIGBANG)

Chapter Twelve: A Good Send Off

POV: Seungri

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The letter read, exactly, as the following:

Dear Dong Young Bae,

This year, as every other, five hundred young men are drafted to train in the military. This is in preparation in case the country may ever need your service. This is a high honor; one which should make you proud.

Your departure date is **/**/****. Please insure that you have all you need settled. You will be put in a camp to train for two years. It is imperative you leave behind a well handled economic and social standing.

We look forward to your participation.

Sincerely,

Korean Military Department

Taeyang set on my bed. It was me, Dae and him in my room. He sat with the letter in his hands. Ji would be in here, but he was too busy yelling on the phone at the company. He was upset about Taeyang leaving - it was a major inconvenience, right before our tour.

"They need to change it!" He said angrily. I bet the response was something about they don't have control over that. I make a game of what they would say on the other line. It is a distraction from the silence engulfing us. The carpet is thin and hard against my butt and the slight scent of pizza makes me crave it, but the best distraction was my game.

"We need him for our tour."

You can't have the tour then. You'll have to reschedule.

"He'll be there for two years."

We know. We can't change that.

"You need to."

Can't.

"Whatever, I don't want to listen to your excuses."

Then don't.

Ji slams down the phone on the charger and, judging by the sound of tapping feet on tiles, walks to his room. That leaves us three staring at each other bleakly. We would have invited TOP to join our dismal party but he isn't much company for anyone besides Dae.

Sometimes I still think of the accident two months ago, and it makes me cringe. I want to thank TOP for defending my right of speech but I want to thank Ji for trying to help me through my interview. Mostly I want to apologize for being such a blundering fool.

"So," Dae speaks up, forever trying to lighten the mood. "We should do something to send you off." His choice of words is brash, but the sentiment is there.

"What would you want to do?" I ask.

"I'm not sure.. Something I wouldn't normally do."

"Club!" Dae cries out.

Taeyang doesn't look upset by it. "Club?" Mine is more of a question.

Taeyang looks at me and nods his head. "I think that would be fine, but I'm not asking the others. Also, I want to do it tomorrow."

It's not that Taeyang doesn't like the others - he just is at arms length with most of us. I'm very close with Ji and Dae is very close with TOP, but Taeyang is there with everyone. He could hang with any of hs

He reminds me of me, if I dedicated my life to the bible. But he just doesn't want to upset anyone and do good. It makes me respect him all the more. "I'll ask Ji." I volunteer.

"I can go ask TOP." Dae gets up off his bed and is out of the door before me. I see him disappear into TOP and Taeyang's room. I walk slowly to Ji's room. I know he's upset because the tour was supposed to be our way of redeeming our mistake. And now we can't do that.

I knock. "Come in." His voice sounds terse.

"Ji?"

He turns to face me, exhaustion in his face. His expression lightens though when he sees it's me. Ji has tried to be gentle with me because for a while after the interview, I was very fragile (I cried easily). "Hey, Ri."

"So...uhm, Taeyang." I pause at this, knowing that this is a sensitive subject for Ji. He feels personally responsible - he believes he should've gone first because he is the leader. Either him or TOP, since TOP is the oldest.

"He wants to go out and party at a club tomorrow before he leaves ya know causehewantstohavefun before leaving." I blurt it out, trying to keep the words from clumping together but failing miserably.

Ji nods. "Okay. But I want to sleep tonight so shoo." He motions me out with a smile. Once I exit, I breathe a sigh of relief. That was easier than expected. I just hope the same for Dae.