The New Year's Kiss \\ pjm x kth

Part 8 - Memories

(R) Verbal abuse & gaslighting
If any of these topics trigger you or make you uncomfortable, please skip this chapter.

~

The house they walked up to was all too familiar to Taehyung, and all too intimidating to Jimin.

The place had a long roundabout driveway. Taehyung had become accustomed to seeing Hwayoung's parent's cars parked in it, however they weren't there this time. There were many trees around, lining the gardens along the sides of the house. They created a nice shade, though it wasn't needed at the moment as the sun was almost set.

The house only had two floors and an attic, though due to the high ceilings it appeared much larger from the outside.

Normally, the bright lights inside would be shining out of every window, but the lights appeared more dim from the outside at this moment because of everything that was going on beneath them. Taehyung had always thought the lights were too bright, so it was refreshing to see.

The home was always kept neat, white walls and floors had been wiped and polished down to every speck of dust. The potted plants outside were always in the exact spot every time. The garden had always just finished being weeded and watered. However, none of that mattered at this moment. The place was a mess.

The pair assumed the party had been already going on for a while judging by how dirty and out of place everything was.

They were quite a distance away from the house, but many people attending the party still lingered around the perimeter. Both were silently debating whether to go in at all. They could tell right away there was at least 150 people here, and it nearly tore Taehyung's brain in two to think about entering the house.

"You know...we don't have to do this, Taehyung. We could just go back home, lie to Namjoon, say I went, you know..." Jimin suggested. He was just as, if not more nervous than Taehyung.

Taehyung let out a laugh in the form a single breath.

"As if I hadn't thought of that." He thought.

He knew he had to go in. He didn't want to risk Hwayoung ratting him out and his father being able to contact him.

After taking a deep breath, then letting out a discouraged sigh, Taehyung began to walk to the house. Jimin was quick to follow behind him.

The moment the two walked through the open door, there was a plethora of faces that seemed to recognize Taehyung. Jimin didn't know why he was surprised, he was the rich host's boyfriend after all.

After a while, they found themselves in the kitchen, trying their best to blend in with the group of kids they were certain weren't of age to be drinking.

Taehyung had been dragged to countless parties in the past, but he didn't recognize most of these people. A consistent friend group never was Hwayoung's specialty.

"Hey! Tae! Is that you?" A woman called as she approached the two. "How've you been? You want a drink?"

Jimin could already sense the flirting, but Taehyung was clearly oblivious to the woman's subtle advances.

"No thanks. I've been okay, you?"

Jimin thought it was strange seeing Taehyung this awkward. The Taehyung he had gotten used to was playful and happy and outgoing, but this seemed like a whole separate person.

"Well, I mean, how good can you be if you're at one of Hwayoung's parties, you know?" They shared a forced small-talk laugh. Jimin supposed Hwayoung had a reputation of some kind.