"we've been neighbours for nearly ten years and I'm just finding out your name."
"tell me about it. all these years I've been calling you the boy from-"
"-two doors down...," I finish for him,my eyes wide.
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appetence (n.) - an eager desire,an instinctive inclination; an attraction or natural bond.
"where's your man anyway?," I ask jimin and he breaks into this really silly school boy grin.
"he's on the way."
jimin's mystery man is coming over to pick him up from the mall because we had just got done shopping and watching a movie. he wouldn't tell me the guy's name even though they've been talking for a month because I was going to meet him anyway.
a minute or two passes before his ringtone goes off and he talks for a bit before saying his boyfriend is at the entrance.
"you're sure he can give me a ride home?"
"yeah. just give him your address."
we head out to the entrance and see a sleek black car waiting at a corner. it looks really familiar but I can't put a finger on it.
we walk over to the car and I open the back door as jimin gets in the passenger seat. the moment my ass hits the seat,the guy turns to greet me.
"hey,my name is h-"
"hobi-hyung?," I say,eyes widening when I register who's sitting in the driver's seat.
"jungkook?"
jimin stares at both of us.
"do you guys know each other or something?"
my eyes are still stuck on hobi,unable to believe what I'm seeing.
"jungkook and I practically grew up together. we're family," says hobi,still staring.
"oh,makes sen-," jimin starts but I cut in.
"you're gay?!"
"you're gay?!," hobi asks right after and I turn to jimin.
"you told him about taehyung?"
jimin chuckles nervously. the rest of the car ride is slightly awkward and silent. when we reach my front yard,I take a deep breath and hug hobi-hyung from behind.
"congratulations."
he smiles fondly and ruffles my hair a little. "you too,kook."
I head into the yard and wave to jimin,watching as the car rounds the corner. I'm about to head into the house when I feel something hit my shoulder. I turn and see taehyung standing in his yard,eyes expectant. he gestures to the grass by my feet and I look down to see a small paper ball.
I pick it up and smooth it out.
meet me when the sun starts setting. there's something I have to show you.
I look up at him and nod once. he smiles and turns to go back into his house.
I wait for the sun to touch the peak of ms. smith's roof because it happens to be the tallest house in the entire neighbourhood. I lay on the grass and stare upward,watching clouds pass as I wait for the sun to make its appearance.
when it finally happens,I get up with a start and tell namjoon I'm going out. I begin dusting myself off when I see taehyung leave his yard and walk to the side of the wall,winking before hoisting himself up the pipe.
I open the gate to ms. smith's house and head inside,bounding up the stairs and pulling open the door to the third bedroom. taehyung's here,pacing around the room somewhat anxiously. he sees me and walks over,grasping my hands.
"hey," I say softly and he rests his forehead against mine. I hear him swallow.
"what is it you wanted to show me?"
he walks past me and shuts the door. I look around the room and squint a little. the sunlight flooding the room is sort of blinding. I turn towards him and see him standing against the blank wall,motioning for me to stand in front of him. he's glowing because of the sunlight,illuminated by the fiery orange glow.
I stand in front of him and he looks at me for a second and our eyes lock. he's trembling slightly,I notice. a few moments pass before he exhales a shaky breath and grabs the lip of his sweater and tugs. he peels it up over his arm,his head and out his other arm and drops it to the floor.
he's a sight to behold. and surprisingly it isn't the shine of his skin that catches me off guard,but the amount of bruises. healing ones,fresh ones coloured black and blue and some a deep purple around his rib area,his tummy,his throat.
I don't realise my mouth has fallen open in shock until I look up at him and see him with his face turned away,eyes shut as if worried I might say something or do something. I close my mouth and peel my own t-shirt off.
he opens his eyes and looks at me.
"you don't have to do that."
I don't say anything but walk up to him,our bodies touching. I hold his wrists gently and begin kissing down his throat. he squirms a little and I tighten my hold slightly. it takes him a few seconds to realise that I'm not intending to have sex but I'm kissing every bruise on his body.
I bring him over to the pillow and blanket set up and lay him down before kissing at the bruises on his ribs and tummy and arms and wrists. when I've made sure that every bruise on him has been kissed,I pull away and sit by his head,caressing his face and running my fingers through his hair.
his eyes are teary and his chest is heaving shakily.
"it started when mom died. first it was playful smacks on the back of the head. then it turned to whacking. and then punching. then it all sort of worsened. he drank a lot. way too much until this side of him would come out where he would yell and hit and b-blame me for mom's death."
I reach out for his hand and he gives it,intertwining our fingers.
"he had been drinking really bad the night you saw me like that. I had talked back,I think. that's what set him off. he grabbed me and threw me. and then he punched me in the face. I keep telling him he needs to go for anger management," he finishes,chuckling softly.
"why don't you go to the police?"
"you think I haven't tried? he plays the role of good father every time the police come over. and when they do sniff out something suspicious,all he does is slip them a couple of fifties under his I.D and they leave us alone."
"well,why don't you leave then? you're turning nineteen this year,aren't you?"
"I don't have money. I don't have connections. it's just dying earlier in the streets than later in the house."
"my dad's a cop,he'll help you. please,let me help you,taehyungie."
he shakes his head,smiling sadly.
"I accepted my fate a long time ago,jungkook. I'll be okay."
I frown,tearing up. he sees my eyes water and sits up,wiping my tears away with his thumbs.
"don't cry for me,angel. smile while we have all this time together."
and I do,for the rest of the night. I smile and laugh at his jokes and I hold him. and he holds me. and for a second it feels like nothing is wrong.
