The Pandoras Box we've made

Chapter 7: The Deal

Jung family was having their dinner when Bambam suddenly started a topic that Taehyung didn't want to hear. He told him about his workmate who saw him joining a band and performing in front in one restaurant that he went to. Taehyung didn't want to remember it anymore because it didn't turned well and now it was open again and he loss his appetite coz he didn't want to talk about it. "It's not like I am against you joining some group outside but I want you to concentrate your studies and start thinking about your future." Bambam told him.

"I didn't play." Taehyung answered back. "If your friend told you the right thing that happened then he will said that I run away and didn't continue."

"Whatever it is I don't want you joining such stuffs besides can you even play? You are just embarrassing yourself if you didn't know anything about music but you are trying to do it." Bambam continued his words.

"Should we really talk about this in front of the dining table?" Taehyung asked him. "Besides no matter what I wanted to do doesn't concern you at all. You are not my father." He continued.

"Tae." Hyun Ae called. "Don't answer Bambam like that. He is just stating what he think is right for you. I also agree with him. if you didn't know anything about music then you should avoid it. I don't want to hear same thing like this anymore. Just concentrate on your studies ."

"Who do you think is at fault why I am like this?" Taehyung replied back as he stands up. "I'm done. Thanks for the food."

"Tae... we are not done talking to you." Hyun Ae told him but he was already upstairs and already lock his room.

...

The next morning, Taehyung go away from home without eating breakfast again and he even didn't said to his mother that he was going to school already. He was in bad mood because of the conversation last night and that cause him not to sleep well. As he ride his bicycle, he almost met an accident when he didn't noticed that someone was coming through his direction as well but gladly he didn't get injured. He was even late at school because of some old woman asked for his help and he was summoned to the administration office to listen to his explanation. His day didn't start well and he think it will not end good coz he was already in bad mood and he can't afford to talk to anyone or else he will just yell at them even he knew they didn't do anything bad to him.

"Tae, are you not going to join the outreach program?" Jungkook asked him as he holds the paper where the lists of names are written.

"No, I am not interested." Taehyung answered him but a bit surprised by the nickname.

"But this will be a big opportunity to show people that you can really do well in music. Everyone decided that we will have something like a mini concert. You are good at playing guitar and you can even sing, you will be a big asset if you will join this." Jungkook tried to pursued him.

"I told you I don't want to join. Leave me alone already. I am not in the mood to talk to you."

"But Taehyung..."

"I said go away!" Taehyung shouted on him and he was shocked when he saw Jungkook's startled face. He knew it will happen, he knew that he will yell at someone anytime soon.

"Is there something wrong with you? Do you have a problem?" Jungkook asked worriedly and that just made Taehyung more irritated. "Just tell me, we can talk about it if you want."

"Can't you understand what I said? Leave me alone and I don't want to join that stupid outreach program. What's the point of joining? Are you pretending or just blind? You know that there is something wrong with me right? I have stage fright and I can't face many people. Do you want me to be a laughing stock again?"

"That will not happen." Jungkook assured but Taehyung slap the paper away from Jungkook's hand making it flew away.

"I don't want to hear that the most." He groaned.

He stands up and walk out of the classroom. On his way out he bump into Yoongi who saw everything that happened and he look at Taehyung as if he was his enemy. He always hear from Namjoon how Taehyung treat Jungkook badly but he was not aware that he can even shout at him like that. Yoongi watched as Jungkook pick up the paper that was on the floor and he even wipe the dirt from it and stings his heart that his friend was treated like that. He followed Taehyung to where he was going and then he called his attention.

"What do you need from me?" Taehyung asked Yoongi as they face to face each other. "Don't tell me you saw what I just did to Jungkook and you are here to talk to me telling me that I am the bad guy."

"If you knew already then why are you still doing it. I don't know what's your problem with Jungkook, but he was approaching you so nicely but you are treating him so badly. You are just a transfer student but you act like you are some sort of boss here. Not because he was treating you so nicely you can do whatever you want to him."

"Are you jealous? He is giving more attention to me than you." Taehyung asked proudly.

Taehyung received a strong punch on the face that made him fall on the ground. Yoongi punched him and it seems like he was not sorry at all about what he just did to him. "Who will be jealous to your bratty attitude? First and foremost, Jungkook is our friend and seeing you humiliate him like that is something we can't afford to see."

"Jerk." Taehyung cursed. "You and even that Namjoon... what's good with that feminine guy to make you attracted to him? He is just annoying as hell? Acting so kind... he is just stupid. He always act like he knew everything, he treat people like everyone is his friend... I don't like him."

"If you don't like him then leave him alone... avoid him. If you can't appreciate his kindness then go away and don't show yourself to him. Isn't that as easy as that? Jungkook is already giving importance to your dull existence but you are just taken it for granted? Don't you think you are fortunate? I don't know what you did to him to make him act like that towards you but... as much as possible I want all those attention he is giving to you towards me."

Taehyung stand up and he wipe his cheeks. "If you like him then you can have him whole... it's not like I care!" he shouted back and then he run away. He went to the washroom where he wash his face and when he is about to get some tissue it is already out of stock. "Shit..." he cursed as he stomp his hand on the lavatory.

"You can use this." Someone offered and when he take a look it was Jin who is offering his handkerchief to him. "I didn't use it yet." He confirmed.

Taehyung take it and wipe his face with it. "What are you doing here?"

"I saw it... your conversation with Yoongi." Jin started. "I'm sorry for what he did for you. I apologized." He said and then he bowed down. "I know it is reckless on his part but... he is just in love with Jungkook and so..."

"Are you okay with that?" Taehyung asked. "You are... in love with him right? That guy in the other class..."

"H...how?"

"It's all over your face... This place is annoying. It feels like everything is revolving around that guy? That Jeon Jungkook ... is he really that important? Is he really that likeable? I can only see him as an annoying brat who is concealing his true self towards other."

"No... Jungkook is really a nice guy even before. He is not a type of person who is masking their other self. What you see is already his true self and that's the reason there are lots of people liking him. it's his nature... it's his personality." Jin explained. "Please don't treat Jungkookie badly again." He continued. "I'm going already. You can have that handkerchief; you can throw it if you didn't need it anymore."

...

Days pass by and examination is finally over. Everyone was now busy for the special program of the school. Performers are busy practicing for there number and staffs are busy for promoting the events. Students who are not involved are back to their ordinary life like studying, going to club activities and going back home.

Since that day that Taehyung shouted on Jungkook, the two didn't talk at all though Taehyung felt sorry the next day he can't help himself to apologize. His pride was eating him that he can't approached Jungkook and say sorry for how he treated him. As exams are already over, everyone was excited to know the result. Top 100 students are posted in the lobby and every student look at it to know how they perform. As expected the top 5 students came from 3-A and then next was Jin who was rank 6. Jungkook was rank 12 and Taehyung was rank 13. Yoongi was rank 20 and Namjoon was rank 36.

When Taehyung checked his ranking he decided to leave but then he saw Jungkook standing in front of him. "Congratulation for entering top 15." He said.

"You're one rank higher than mine." Taehyung answered back.

"But we only have a point something difference so it's not a big deal. Let's us do our best on the next examination."

"Jungkook." Taehyung called awkwardly. He felt like it is his first time to call his name after this time that they were together.

"What? Is there something you wanted to say?" Jungkook asked him.

"Nothing... I just feel like saying your name." Taehyung lied, actually he wanted to apologize but he can't do it.

"Tae, can you go with me?"

"Where?" Taehyung asked him.

"Just come with me." Jungkook said. Taehyung noticed that Jungkook wanted to grab his hand but he step midway maybe realizing that he didn't want being touched. Without asking anything anymore, Taehyung followed Jungkook. If he can't say sorry then maybe doing something he wanted him to do can be considered as a way to pay.

The two went to a music instrument shop. Jungkook explained why they are there while they are on their way. He was asked to buy some guitar strings but he didn't know what to buy and so he asked for his help. It should be Namjoon who he will going to brought with him but with an emergency on his side he can't go with Jungkook and so he asked another one that he knows have a knowledge for string instruments.

Taehyung look at the strings checking the list that Jungkook give to him. While doing so he heard someone playing piano (I need u [piano version]) and then the last thing he knew Jungkook is the one who is doing it. Like usual, his music never fails to amused him and each time he heard him the more he wanted to see him doing it. His music is sending you into a far away place, a place where there is only peacefulness and gentleness exists. Soothing and melancholic, calmness and tranquility was overflowing. Though he really look up high on him whenever he is doing this, he also feel envy and jealousness. If only he can play as good as him, only if his music can reach people just the way he did, if only he is not like what he used to be. Everything in his mind are filled with 'what if' stuffs.

"I really love his music." An old man standing besides Taehyung said. "I always wanted to hear him play whenever he went here."

"Who are you?" Taehyung asked him.

"I am the owner of this shop and I know Jungkookto since before." He said but Taehyung wonder who Jungkookto is. "I still can recall the first time he came to this shop and he is with a little boy who I forgot his name. They where so excited to see the instrument but because they don't have money they can't buy the things that they like. I'm bored that time and I let him play the piano and then the little boy played guitar. Both of them are really great and their music was so beautiful that it captivated my heart."

"His name is Jungkook not Jungkookto." Taehyung corrected.

"Really? I thought it was Jungkookto... haha... I'm such an old man already I forgot people's name." he scratched his head and laughed. "But you think he is great as well right?"

"I wonder how he can play like that?"

"You just need to enjoy what you are doing. I think that is the key for being successful. If you are enjoying what you are doing you will put everything into it and even it fail you don't feel regret coz you did something you really want to do. I think Jungkookto's piano is his partner and he really enjoy it but I think it is better if that guitar boy was here. I wonder where did he go now."

"I told you it's Jungkook... stop making up names." Taehyung told him again. He look back at Jungkook who was playing the piano. He wanted to play like him, he wanted to express himself towards music and feel that same attachment Jungkook have towards his piano. "Let me play with him." Taehyung told the old man. "Can I borrow your guitar?"

The old man lean him one and he approached Jungkook and position himself and then he joined in. Jungkook was surprised when he heard something joined him and when he take a look it was Taehyung.

I love music but I am not attached to it. I always think about what happened before, not concentrating on the music I am producing. I need to be attached to it, I need to get closer to it so that I can be one with it. I need to enjoy playing and love what I am doing for things to be successful. I want to be like Jungkook... I want to play the way he did. If only I can do it... If only then... how happy I could be.

The music they produced attracted people who are inside the shop to watched them. The owner was so amazed as well like he was seeing the young Jungkook and his partner being back to his shop. It seems like the time stop to that shop as people listened to the music the two produces and when they are done everyone clapped their hands. That's the time Taehyung realizes that there are lots of people who were there and saw what they did.

"Tae... you did it." Jungkook said. "You did it... you played in front of all these people."

Taehyung was just in silent can't believe what was in front of him. He look at all the people who watched them with a smile on their faces like it was the first time he saw his surrounding like that. His heart was beating so fast but not because he is in fear but because he was so happy and excited at the same time. He stayed like that for seconds, trying to seek in reality in his mind. "I..i did it." he whispered and he lips slightly curved.

"Yeah you did it." Jungkook smiled.
.
The owner immediately approached them and tap the shoulder of the two. Taehyung was shocked but he was not able to shout on that old man because he was laughing so loud. "This feels so nostalgic. It feels like I saw the past. Jungkookso, who is this guy? Is he the guitar boy that was with you before?"

"Eh? No..no... He is Kim Taehyung. He is a friend of mine in school. That boy that you are talking about is not here anymore." Jungkook answered back.

"Paeyon?"

"Taehyung." Taehyung corrected. "Oh well whatever... I am done here. I already picked all the strings that you needed and so pay for it already so we can go back." he said to Jungkook.

Jungkook paid for the strings and the two leave the shop. The old man was so happy that he give them discount for the strings they bought. As they walk together Jungkook asked Taehyung if wanted to some ice cream since they have spare money to used. Jungkook bought two and give one to Taehyung and they eat it as they walk going back to school.

"Who is that boy that the old man is talking about?" Taehyung asked Jungkook as he licked his chocolate flavor ice cream.

"He is an old friend. We used to play in that place together. Like you, he is a guitarist too." Jungkook explained.

"Where is he now? What do you mean he is not here anymore? He went somewhere far? Abroad? Dead?"

Jungkook paused for a moment before he was able to reply. "He is alive but... we are not meant to see each other again besides I am sure that he already forget about me. I am part of his dark past and so... it's better if... we pretend that our existence never really coincide with each other. It's the best thing that could ever happen between the two of us."

"I understand the part wherein your friend didn't want to see you since he can remember his dark past that you are talking about but how about you? Why you didn't want to show yourself to that friend of yours anymore? You have this dark past concerning him?" Taehyung asked him.

Jungkook bite on his cone and smiled. "No... everything I experience together with him in the past are all good and not worth to be forgotten but there are circumstances that should happen to protect other people. You can say that I am just a good natured guy who is sacrificing himself for the benefit of others." he smiled.

"It's so deep I feel like drowning." Taehyung answered sarcastically. "But you said this yourself, the one who is hurting the most is the one being forgotten so that means that... you are the one hurting the most here."

Jungkook was been speechless for a moment but then he look at Taehyung and give him his usual carefree smile. "Do I look like that to you?" he asked him back. "Oh well... what's done is done and I don't want to cause trouble anymore so everything is better the way it is."

Taehyung didn't reacted anymore but for the first time, he was sure, he saw Jungkook's true personality and worries. He gobbled the last piece of cone that he have and then stretched his arm up high. "Do you still have that paper?" Taehyung asked him.

"What paper?"

"The list of participants for the event."

"Yeah... I still have. Jin is not taking it yet."

"Then put my name there. I'm going to join."

"Really? Seriously?"

"I will join not because of you. I will join because you need more manpower right? Seeing everyone of you doing anything looks so pathetic." Taehyung said.

"Taehyung looks so cool." Jungkook commented.

"What's with that random comments?"

"Nothing... I just want to say it."

TBC~~~~