Ashen || k.th.

6

3RD PERSON'S POV

The ghost boy found himself infront of the tile of the mausoleum he chose to stay in. His reflection wasn't that clear but somehow enough to see his features. His hair was tousled up and he's been trying to tame it for God knows how long. He also checked on his clothes and try to straighten the worn out material.

"Why am I even doing this?" He murmurs to himself and sat at the corner. He's a ghost. His appearance won't be any better no matter how long he spend on trying to fix it.

Y/N would be visiting him again. This has been happening for a week now, the constant visit of the girl. He wants to look good for Y/N this time. He actually feels so intimidated by her beauty and he knows it the first time he laid his eyes on her. Last night, he kept on reminiscing the memory of her smiles, her giggles, even her funny faces because it does something to him. Something he felt when he's embraced by his mom or when he got to breathe in the air in Daegu after a business trip with his dad.

He feels warm when he's with her. He feels impossibly close to alive when he's with her.

"Taehyung? Are you there?" The soft voice startled the trail of his thoughts and as he look up, he saw her there. Clad in simple jeans, shirt, and converse, she still manages to look so beautiful despite the dead (literally) ambiance around her.

"Kitten." He mumbles before appearing to her. "How are you?"

"I've been good. School's kinda hectic. Hell week's quickly approaching and I gotta finish all my tasks." She cringed at the thought of all the schoolwork she ditched just to visit Taehyung. Running a hand through her hair, she approached her friend.

"Exams and deadlines are a gift from hell." He smiles at her as she nods in agreement. "I miss them though."

"Are you crazy? Who misses deadlines!?" She looks at him and he laughs at her reaction, showing off the way his lips form a box.

"I would do anything that would remind me of how to be alive again. Even if its deadlines and exams." He muttered. She stared at him and examined his face.

"What?" He asks her when he noticed how she bites her lip as if refraining to say or do something. Long silence surrounds them until she sighed and voiced out a question she's been contemplating on the last night.

"What do you think of the world out there?"

---

"What?" He asked looking more confused as ever.

"What do you think of the world outside? Like, the people, environment, or everything outside this cemetery." I asked him. I saw how sad his face looked whenever we talked about being alive and I want to change that.

"Nothing."

"N-Nothing?" I asked him with a frown and he looked at me with a straight face, his lips pursing.

"Yeah. I don't give a bloody damn about what's out there." He stood up and turned his back on me, his own way of telling me that he wants to cut this conversation short.

"But why? Aren't you curious? You've been here for three years, Tae. Don't you wonder about what is out there? Don't you want to take a peak?" I pressed. I know how he hates talking about these things but if I'm being honest, I would want him to somehow experience how to be alive again. How to be around people again in an actual living environment.

"Y/N I told you, I'm not leaving this place." He said sternly still with his back on me. I stood up and tried to persuade him more.

"But--"

"We are not talking about this, Y/N."

"I understand but--" he cut me off.

"No! You don't understand! You are not the one who's dead. You are not the one who is all alone for three years! You are not the one who saw how his parents die, or how that world outside killed them!" He trashed out and I tried to keep my composure at check. I knew very well that this situation is very sensitive but I need to take action. I want him to get better.

"Listen Taehyung, I know how much you love this place. How you love the memory of your family in here. But Taehyung it has been three years since--" I scanned my mind for a word that won't offend him so much. "Since the incident happen. You should let go of it and free yourself."

"What for Y/N? I told you. I don't have anything. Not even a life!" He faced me with an exasperated expression.

"You have yourself, Taehyung! Try moving on for yourself. You don't deserve this, you know? You are a great person. You've suffered enough in your living life. Don't you think it's time to face something better?" I moved closer towards him as he remained silent. "You have me as well, Tae. I'm--"

"Who the fuck do you think you are?" He turned towards me suddenly with a face I've never seen on him before. He looked so angry. "Who the fuck do you think you are trying to change my mind into stepping out there?!" He shouted making me take a step back.

"I-I just--" again, he cut me off.

"Shut up! You have no right to tear me away from this place!" He growled lowly at my face making me close my eyes and swallow hard.

"I just want to help you, Tae."

"Well you are far from helping!" His thick eyebrows pressed together in anger as I felt myself growing mad as well at the very second. "This is the only place where I can be with my family. Out of all living creatures in this planet, I thought you would understand!"

"Will you just stop screaming at me for once! I told you I just wanted to help! I don't even know what's holding you from stepping out! Don't tell me that it's your parents because I know very well that you know they are not in here anymore!" I panted then I realized my tears were flowing out. I hate it when this happens to me. There are times where I cry out of frustration or anger and I hate it. It makes me look so weak.

He talks to me as if those conversations we were having were just worth nothing. That our friendship is just nothing and it hurts me. It hurts me because I thought I am somehow important to him just like he is to me. I just wanted to help him. I want him to move on and stop from making himself suffer more because he doesn't deserve it anymore. I just feel so bad that he chooses to dwell in this space with this atmosphere.

"Ever since I met you all I wanted to do is to help you. Taehyung, you don't deserve any of this anymore. I'm sick and tired of seeing you down every single time. I can't bear it." His eyes widen when he heard me sob and took a step towards me. "No, stay there." I dried up my eyes and breathe.

"Y/N I'm--" I cut him off. If we weren't arguing I would genuinely laugh at how many times we've cut off each other.

"If you don't want to help yourself then fine. I won't be making my efforts too." And with that I turned away.

A/N: What do you think?? Should Taehyung follow Y/N's advice on leaving the cemetery or nah? Let me know! Vote and comment if you liked this chapter. Always remember, you nice, keep going! Ily 💜