the end of the world | KTH

| Chapter Seven - The world shakes |

Present

Taehyung stares down at the Twitter feed on his phone, only sparing a single glance at the posts on the timeline. Seemingly bored, he sneaks a look around the car, catching sight of Namjoon and Yoongi staring down at their own phones. Quickly looking back to his, he sits further back in his seat and opens up his text messages.

He wants to send something to you, wondering if you heard about the commotion in the streets today. His mind wonders if you're okay before he shakes his head and closes out of the app. Concern and hesitance cloud over him at once, causing only frustration to prevail.

Namjoon is looking in his direction, and Taehyung realizes that the sad look on his face must give away his exact feeling at that moment.

"It's okay, Tae~" He reaches over and sets his hand down on the younger's knee. "Do you want to talk about it?"

The conversation catches the attention of Yoongi, who sits up straighter in his seat and worriedly glances at Taehyung. The members almost feel helpless when it comes to comforting the heartbroken boy. They distract him, but they never quite take his mind away from you completely.

"It's all good," leaves Tae's mouth when loud yells outside of the car are heard.

Ringing catches the attention of all three boys as they stare at Taehyung's hands. His phone is lit up, chiming on full blast; Jin is calling him. He sends a questioning glance before answering the phone and putting it on speaker.

"What's up, hyung?" He questions, gulping down slightly.

"Did you guys feel that earthquake?" The older's voice is oozing with concern and fright. "All four of us got pushed around the car for a minute there."

"There was an earthquake?" Namjoon questions, grabbing Tae's phone directly out of his hand. "What the hell is going on?"

"I'm not sure Namjoonie, but we are all headed to the house now to see if it's safe to do anything else. Meet up there."

The line disconnects, and Tae's phone is thrown onto his lap. Outside of the car, loud shouts and muffled sobs are being shared by those walking on the street. Traffic proceeds to get worse as radio hosts turn off music from their stations, insisting to update the public whenever possible. Theories of the end stay burned into people's minds as they leave work early to see their families. Only one thing is on Tae's mind as the car slowly approaches their home: you.

-

You stand up and stretch before exiting the small studio you created inside your house. Your stomach growls at you, mad that you woke up extra early today to finish editing together some vocals for a new song from an indie artist you have recently befriended.

You grab a banana and a glass of chocolate milk before making your way to the living room. Barely getting to set down your cup on the coffee table, you suddenly feel the floor beneath you shake, causing you to fall backward and landing on your ass with a thud. The ground doesn't stop shaking for another long moment while you sit with a shocked expression on your face.

Your fingers fumble around your back pocket to pull out your phone before ditching it for a second to turn on the news on the television. The anchor isn't speaking as he gulps nervously, listening to something in his earpiece. Your shaking fingers hover over his name in your phone for a second when you pick back up the phone. With a heavy heart, you shake away your thoughts and tap on your mother's contact instead.