Staegma ✧ taejin

12

The screen was completely filled in black. A small, circular thing had appeared slowly on screen, moving in a clockwise manner. The game was loading.

After the screen had faded slowly, Jin could see himself standing in Taehyung's room, without Taehyung.

So what has changed? Will he still be here?

Will he still come up with ways to provoke realistic reactions from Taehyung? (That's not even a question. Of course he will do that.)

Suddenly, the door flew open, slamming on the wall perpendicular to its own wall. Taehyung rushed in, panting, seeming as if he had ran from somewhere. He still had the same hair, but his outfit had changed — he looked more like an artist from years ago rather than the business man look he had.

Sorry, I was late. I have news for you.

Like before, Seokjin ignored the subtitles.

"You paint or what?"

Yes, but I didn't paint today. Did I take too long?

"Take too long doing what?" Seokjin observed that the archery equipment were now gone. "And hey, we were playing archery."

Taehyung raised an eyebrow.

We were playing that weeks ago, Jin.

"Weeks ago," Seokjin mumbled unbelievingly, annoyance evident in his tone. "How does time even work here? What was I doing after we played the game?"

Alright, Jin. It's only archery. Taehyung raised his hands as if to calm the other down. Let's not fight about this, please. . .

"You're avoiding my question."

Taehyung's eyes slightly widened in disbelief.

"What was I doing after we played archery?"

I-I got busy. . .

"How do you even stutter through—for goodness' sake—" Seokjin massaged his temples. "Where was I, Taehyung? What was I doing?"

I don't know.

"You don't know or you don't remember?"

Jin, why are we arguing?

"We're not arguing. I was just asking you a question," Seokjin explained calmly, crossing his arms.

Jin, I got busy. I didn't know where you were. I assumed you went home.

"Got busy. . . Didn't know. . . were. . . Assumed, went home," Seokjin read aloud. "What does that mean?"

Do you know?

"Taehyung, I'm asking you."

How is this even possible?

"You tell me."

But Taehyung was apparantly talking about something else. He looked confused, and instead of looking at Seokjin, he was looking at his shelf, as his hand brushed his hair back, while his other hand rested on his waist.

Jimin is, without a doubt, talented.

"Taehyung?"

Jin. His eyes darted towards the player. I'm sorry.

"For what?"

I — I think you went home. But I couldn't remember, exactly.

Seokjin figured that this was a consequence of being a virtual character, so he decided to let the matter go. His curiosity wouldn't be satisfied if he would prolong this, anyway.