Chapter Text
Kapitel 5
The day Taehyung was born was also the day of his imprisonment. He lived on the hills overlooking the city on an estate, which was enclosed by electric fences and barbed wires. Throughout his childhood, this is where he grew up. On the estate, they grew vegetables, and a known meat supplier supplied fresh meat to the kitchen. It was like a small village. The residents of the estate earned their income by selling the vegetables and fruits grown in the farm in the city. The small estate was owned by Taehyung’s father. They called him the “Leader”.
Everyone worshiped the Leader. They would listen to his sermons at the assembly hall, and even sometimes in their own rooms through the intercom. The residents could not read contemporary books or watch television. The library only consisted of classics and non-fiction books, including the specified norms for living on the estate. Taehyung never developed a taste for classics and he hated the norms, because they prevented him from functioning like a normal child. His classmates, throughout elementary and junior high school, avoided him, and that was all because of his family condition and where he came from. He only ever stepped out of the estate to go to school. He smuggled in teen and young adult novels that he borrowed from the school library.
However, it wasn’t entirely true that the young rebel did not have a best friend. He made friends with a boy named Baekhyun on the estate. Baekhyun’s parents worked closely with the Leader to maintain the estate and look after the internal affairs. Taehyung’s father, popularly known as the Leader, had actually been a professor at the esteemed Seoul National University. He had become obsessed with the idea of starting revolutionary social movement which had a communist ideology. Fortunately, he hadn’t decided to move to North Korea, despite his communist mindset. He wouldn’t take such drastic steps. The Leader went on to gather college students who supported his opinions, and created a group known as the Red Federation, because of the significance of the colour red. With time, however, the Red Federation gained the status of a religion from the government. Yes, the revolutionary social movement had turned into a religious cult. The Leader resigned from his position at the Professor of Political Science, and the students, who followed him, quit university to live a “spiritual life” on the estate.
Life at the Red Federation was extremely structured and disciplined. Many families lived on the estate. The day would begin at 5 in the morning with an annoying alarm, which was followed by a small sermon by the Leader, which was basically the repetition of the doctrines of organized religions that had existed for centuries. Taehyung found this absolutely monotonous and unnecessary. His friend, Baekhyun, was his only companion to cut through the monotony of life and the routine at the Federation. However, happiness was short-lived for the both of them, as Baekhyun was clinically depressed. His parents refused to send him for any mental health treatment, because the Leader believed that depression wasn’t an actual disease but an American propaganda to sway children and teenagers like Baekhyun. This took a toll on his health, and ultimately, Baekhyun committed suicide by jumping off the terrace of one of the buildings, a week before he graduated from junior high school. Taehyung was broken. He had lost his only friend, just because of the stupid doctrines followed by the members of the Red Federation, also known as the Reds.
This was an emotionally turbulent time for Taehyung himself, as he had discovered that he was gay, which was one thing prohibited in the doctrines. However, after Baekhyun’s untimely demise, he was furious. He had lost faith in the ridiculous norms of the Red Federation. The norms had prevented him from having a normal lifestyle. So, on graduation day of junior high school, Taehyung confronted his father. He marched to the Leader’s office and announced, “Dad, I need to talk to you about something.” He maintained eye contact with his father.
“What is it, Taehyung?” His father’s face was inexpressive.
“Dad, I’m gay. I like boys.”
Taehyung stormed off, leaving his father speechless. He proceeded to pack his bags and ran away from home that night. He took a train to Seoul and was wandering the streets of Gangnam, when he met a tall boy, who seemed to be in college. This boy had also been in one of the Reds, and had left the Federation, after he entered college, because he was gay. This boy was Kim Seokjin.
*
MISSING
NAME: KIM TAEHYUNG
AGE: 23
GENDER: MALE
HEIGHT: 175 CM
IF FOUND, PLEASE CONTACT JEON JUNGKOOK
*
Jeon Jungkook looked at the missing notice on the newspaper. He tore the page and throw it across his room. The police had just revealed the background details. They did not want to take any steps because the Leader possessed money and muscle power. This angered Jungkook more than anything. What’s wrong with being gay?
*
5 th June 2018
I think I need a break. I need to go on a vacation. Seokjin also agrees, but what about the diner? He says he and Hoseok will look after it along with Jimin, but let’s face it, Jimin is kind of irresponsible. He can’t look after himself. How will he look after the restaurant?
Speaking of vacation, I really want to travel to Jeju. Almost everyone I know has been there. I want to try the seafood and the black pork and everything. I want to go to the beach and smell the sea. I always wanted to go on a vacation. When I lived on the estate, my parents never took me out. They told me to shut up, follow the rules and go to school like good kid.
*
The dark-haired man entered a low-budget hotel right near the beach. He had booked a decent room for himself and planned on staying there. He opened the door to his room, and went to the bathroom to shower. After this, he went to a nearby cafe for breakfast. He had a cafe au lait, a croissant and a doughnut. Pretty classy for a guy, who thought of himself as ratchet. Then, he went on a walk near the beach. He felt like there was a void. A void, which could not be filled easily. He remembered the friend he had left behind in the city of Seoul.
Suddenly, that familiar ache returned. It was the same feeling he experienced, when his best friend died. The world seemed to be falling apart for the man. He felt like he was turning to dust. Was this the time to end his life? He sighed, and spoke loud and clear, “Jeon Jungkook, come find me before I disappear for real.” He hoped that the boy he was addressing could somehow hear his voice.
*
“Jeon Jungkook, come find me before I disappear for real.”
Jungkook heard a familiar voice. The voice belonged to the vanished man. The words stabbed him in the heart like a dagger. Wait, the apartment was empty. How was he able to hear Taehyung’s voice? He sprung to his feet and looked around. He called out loudly, “Taehyung! Kim Taehyung, are you here?” To his disappointment, Taehyung was absent. Jungkook ran back to his room and plopped himself on his bed. His eyes widened, and started welling up with tears. Had been hallucinating?
“Hello, Taehyung. Please return. I love you.”
*
Time flew by. A week had passed, but no news of Taehyung’s whereabouts had reached the six men. Jungkook and Jimin continued going to college normally. Seokjin and Hoseok tried to run the diner efficiently. They realized how skilled Taehyung was at his job. Managing a well-known restaurant was difficult, especially in a bustling city like Seoul.
Namjoon started working on his new novel, but he tried to stay away from caffeine as much as he could. Yoongi was busy making music at his studio, but he often wondered where Taehyung had disappeared.
Seokjin remembered the day he met Taehyung for the first time. Both of them were so similar in thought and history. They were gay and had escaped the Red Federation. Seokjin had also taken his cousin, Jimin with him. There was no way he was going to let him stay in that hellhole of an organization.
As unsociable as Taehyung was at junior high school, he managed to get amazing grades, and was therefore, offered a scholarship at high school, which made it easier for him to fund his education. In addition to that, he had been living with Seokjin and Jimin, until he found a place for himself. Seokjin did not have a problem with Taehyung living in his apartment. In fact, he really appreciated the latter’s presence, but Taehyung did not want to be a burden on the elder. So, when he entered college, he worked small jobs, and saved up enough money to at least pay his share of the rent. When he became the manager at Seokjin’s, it was only then that he could get his own apartment and afford to pay the rent by himself.
Taehyung developed more as a person. He felt like he could attract everything he wanted in his life. For the first time, he felt happy, but something went wrong. Seriously wrong.
*
The dark-haired boy bought a newspaper to read one morning from the newsstand. He ordered a cup of cafe au lait, and started reading the contents. Nothing unusual. Just robberies, corruption, murders, riots and all the social evils of the contemporary. But, one particular news article makes him almost spit his coffee. The Red Federation’s leader had been found dead that morning in his office.
Reading the news of his father’s death on a national daily surely made Taehyung anxious. It was the most unexpected and unsettling thing he had read that day. The news was all over the media. Why would his father just hang himself like that?
Apparently, a suicide note was also found, which seemed more like a telegram than a letter.
“Dear Taehyung,
I’m sorry. I’m all alone now. I shouldn’t have let you go. Building this organization was my biggest mistake.
-Dad”
Well, at least, the man apologized. How could you just disown your own son because of thpse stupid doctrines you created? Unfortunately, for Taehyung though, this would make it easier for the police to find him. All he could do now, was wear a mask and pretend that he didn’t know anyone. He didn’t really believe in the idea of heaven or hell, but they could exist. If he killed himself now, he could reunite with his father either in heaven or in hell.
Taehyung left the cafe, and found himself extremely preoccupied. He couldn’t concentrate very well clearly. All of a sudden, his vision went blacked out, and his heartbeat became faster. He felt a sudden excruciating pain in his head, as a massive migraine hit him. He collapsed on the asphalt. People, mostly tourists, gathered around his seemingly lifeless body. A wise young man decided to carry him to the hospital.
*
Namjoon could see the light at the end of a dark tunnel. He could see a silver lining. The Leader’s death could lead to a clue as to where Taehyung was, and why he had just disappeared. He smiled faintly, watching the news about the Leader’s suicide note. That’s when he was interrupted by a phone call.
“Hello, is this Namjoon?” The voice said.
“Yes, who am I speaking to?” The voice seemed familiar.
“It’s me Jackson Wang. You destroyed my mugs, remember?”
“Uh-huh? Why are you calling me now? Weren’t you in Hong Kong?”
“I’m in Jeju right now. Okay, let me get straight to the point. I found your friend unconscious on the street.”
“My friend?” Namjoon frowned. He was so confused.
“Yeah, what was his name? Kim Taemin?”
“Kim fucking Taehyung? You found him?” Namjoon screamed.
“Yeah, him. I know y’all are friends. I’ve seen your pictures with him and that gay ass dude on instagram.” Jackson said, in a flat voice.
*
When Taehyung opened his eyes, he found himself in the hospital. A stranger was sitting near his bed. He looked perplexed. Jackson looked at him and smiled.
“Hey, man. It is I, Jackson Wang.” He helped Taehyung sit up.
“H-hello? What am I doing here?”
“You collapsed on the streets for some reason and, I brought you here. Simple.” Jackson shrugged, still smiling.
“Can you do me a favour? Can I borrow your phone?” Taehyung pleaded. His eyes were glassy.
Jackson handed over his phone to the boy.
*
Jungkook had just returned from university. He plopped himself on his bed, after gulping a bottle of water. He wasn’t preoccupied with Taehyung’s disappearance that day. He had a 10-page essay to complete. That’s when his thoughts were interrupted by a phone call.
“Hey, it’s me.” A familiar voice spoke.
“Tae-” Jungkook gasped.
“Jungkook. Please come here. I need you.”
At that exact moment, Jungkook’s phone slipped from his hand, and his eyes started welling up with tears.
*
Seokjin was mad that Taehyung hadn’t called him up first. Well, obviously, he was. The man had looked after the latter as his younger brother for years now. He pleaded the police to close the case, but the police refused, because Taehyung was the Leader’s son. They weren’t ready to close the case, until they physically met Taehyung in Jeju. This rea;;y annoyed Seokjin, but well, it was how things worked. He even offered to help, being a former Red.
The Reds wondered, who caused pain to their leader. They put the blame on his son. But, what was his fault? The Leader was responsible for his own demise. He had also mentioned it in the suicide note. Were the Reds that ignorant?
Namjoon and Seokjin did not want the police to just barge in Taehyung’s life, and make his mental health any worse. The police in Seoul contacted their counterparts in Jeju, and that’s when Jungkook made a decision, he had to make urgently. He decided to go to Jeju. Joining him were Seokjin and Jimin, obviously. Seokjin also dragged Namjoon, Yoongi and Hoseok with him. Yoongi felt like he had helped enough. But, he couldn’t say no to Namjoon. He didn’t want to break the bro code. At the same time, he also did not want to go on a trip with Hoseok.
*
As he climbed down the stairs, Yoongi knew something was wrong. It was that feeling that something horrible was about to happen that day. When he walked to the living room of the university house, he saw Hoseok sitting on the couch, covered with a blanket. He was shivering. Yoongi ran to him and checked his temperature. He couldn’t believe his own actions. He hated Hoseok with all his guts. So, why was he being so nice to the man?
“I overdosed on a bunch of drugs, I guess.” Hoseok said.
“You guess? Well, son, we need to take you to the hospital?”
“Are you kidding me? We’ll all be imprisoned for possession of drugs.”
“Let me correct you. You will be imprisoned. But, if you die because of your addiction to drugs, I’m going to jail for murder. You take drugs, and I go to jail for not being even remotely involved? Bitch no!” Yoongi said.
At the hospital, Hoseok was given an invitation to join rehab. Yoongi encouraged him, and so did Namjoon, but obviously, Hoseok refused, and announced that he was going to snort some cocaine right after he got discharged. Yoongi promised to bring death to him, if he did so.
“Why are you so worried about me? Didn’t you hate me?”
“You’re Namjoon’s friend. I can’t say anything.”
*
10 th June 2018
You know, I think I really like Jungkook. I like for real. I want to date him, but I think he’s into girls, because today, he was like, “Let’s go out and flirt with some girls” or something along those lines, and then, I told him I’m gay. It sucks, when so many people are straight in this world, and being gay is like a taboo thing, you know.
Scratch that. I’m truly in love with Jungkook’s whole existence. Please love me back, Jungkook!
*
“Please love me back, Jungkook!”
“I fucking love you too, idiot! And, I am very much gay!” Jungkook laughed as he read on. He was so excited to reunite with Taehyung. He couldn’t wait to hold him in his arms and kiss him, take his scent in and wake up next to him.
*
“Dude, are you crying?” Jackson gasped, as he saw Taehyung sobbing, still sitting on the hospital bed.
“I-I miss Jungkook. We like each other so much. I just want to hug him and kiss him.”
“That’s some gay shit, but fortunately, you’re gonna reunite. So, don’t worry.” Jackson smiled warmly, and hugged Taehyung briefly.
Taehyung hadn’t spoken to Jungkook. They hadn’t had a conversation about this, but he knew. There was some connection. As if, they could hear each others’ voices somehow- a telepathic communication of some sort. It was magical, and he couldn’t wait to to reunite with e man who mattered the most to him.
*
“I have a question, Seokjin. Don’t get mad. Will we ever have our first night together?” Namjoon looked at Seokjin curiously. The two had been dating for quite awhile, but hadn’t done the deed.
“We will. Come here.” Seokjin smirked.
“What the hell? Right now? I’m sorry. I’d be up for it, but I’m absolutely knackered. I’ve been working on this book, you see.”
“Oh, don’t worry, then.” Seokjin was disappointed. He was going to show his sexy side to Namjoon, but the opportunity didn’t come.
Namjoon smiled and took Seokjin in his arms and kissed him softly. This unexpected action caught the latter by surprise.
*
The next day at the restaurant, Hoseok noticed something rather unusual about Seokjin. He wasn’t nagging him and the staff as much. He looked extremely elated for some reason. He seemed to be in a pleasant mood.
“Hey, are you on party drugs?” Hoseok pulled Seokjin to the side and asked him, wiggling his eyebrows.
“No, why would you ask me that?” Seokjin chuckled at the strange question. Well, it wasn’t strange coming from a man who had overdosed on drugs in college.
“You look all happy and shit.”
“Why do I need a reason to be happy?” Seokjin frowned.
“Don’t give me that shit.” Hoseok scoffed.
“Namjoon and I- We did it.”
Hoseok gasped and grinned, “That’s amazing. Finally, your dry spell has ended! This calls for celebration.”
“Yep, but only after we meet Taehyung and bring him home safely.”