Archive of Our Own

Taehyung tries to sleep, but the bed feels extremely empty without Jungkook by his side. He heaves out a loud sigh, looking at the clock. It reads 03:25, a time which he isn’t really used to. It’s only his first day in this house without his husband, and he already feels tired. Already feels like he’s done. Taehyung switches sides, facing the window now, there’s a faint light that comes in through the little cracks of the window, and there’s sounds of crickets, indicating it might rain soon. 

Taehyung breathes in through his nose, the digital clock on his wall is prominent, moving with a vigor, reminding Taehyung that he needs to sleep, that he has to wake up and work tomorrow. Usually, it would've been by Taehyung’s side of the bed, but to make it easier, Jungkook came up with the idea of sticking it to their wall. But Taehyung doesn't think it was the best idea, considering the clock stares at him, blatantly. Every time he tries to sleep. And today, it's unbearable. Because it reads 03:30, meaning five minutes have already passed. 

Taehyung has tried calling Jungkook's phone countless times. He just wants to listen to his husband, to make sure Jungkook is okay, to tell him that he has been doing awful since the morning Jungkook had to go. Why couldn't that hiking trip just fucking wait? They had moved only a month ago, and Taehyung hasn't been able to settle into this house well. It's too big for only two people, but Jungkook has always loved European style cottages, and they had been lucky enough to get one by the countryside. 

Taehyung misses city life. The buzzing sound of the horns, the crowds of people, the never-ending trains, just everything. And sure this life is pretty too, early morning he wakes up to birds chirping, the cold, the morning dew, the greenery, the sound of nothingness, yet he feels he was better off in the city. 

The clock strikes 03:32, indicating another two minutes have passed. It's never ending, Taehyung thinks. The clock or the time that passes, and Taehyung thinks it should pass sooner, because he wants his husband by his side. He wants Jungkook –

There's a loud creak that's heard from the bedroom door, making Taehyung jump up, breaking his train of thoughts. The door was locked, Taehyung remembers, but now it's a bit ajar. He wonders if it's something to do with the latch, so he walks forward and closes it again. Only for the window of their room to open with a thud, making Taehyung flinch. “Shit!” He exclaims, carefully walking towards the window. If it's a serial killer, Taehyung's dead, and if not Taehyung's dead too, considering how the window opened so suddenly? 

The window is seemingly opened by wind, because when he walks towards it there's a gush of wind. He breathes in a sigh, although that's broken, because suddenly there's a voice of someone's cry. A guy crying, and Taehyung turns around hastily to look at his room, but he sees no one. “Who's there?” He asks, scared with the whole thing. Except, instead of a reply, the voices get louder, until he can hear it directly in his ears. As if someone's standing right behind him, someone's crying right behind him. 

“Tae…” There's a weak whisper of his name in his ear. A whisper that makes him scream in fear, making him lose his mind, making his surroundings fade slowly, as he goes down as a result. All he can see is the clock. It reads… 03:33.  

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“The house is spectacular!” Jin exclaims after a house tour. Jungkook returned from his trip this afternoon, and considering it’s a Sunday they had decided to host a housewarming party, with their close friends. Hence, Namjoon Taehyung's school friend, his husband Seokjin, Yoongi; Jungkook’s best friend since they were in diapers, his husband Jimin, and their mutual friend in college, Hoseok had been invited. Hoseok’s wife couldn’t attend because of her pregnancy. 

“Thank you, hyung!” Jungkook comments from Taehyung’s side. Taehyung just lightly smiles, pretending to be exhausted. And it’s no lie, he was exhausted. He had been since the first day of Jungkook leaving for that hiking trip, yet better he has been exhausted since they moved here. “Have some wine.” Jungkook offers, and Taehyung ignores him, walking towards Jimin. 

“Hey,” Taehyung smiles, Jimin and him connected instantly when Yoongi introduced them as boyfriends years ago. It had been the best thing for Taehyung, because apparently, they were of the same age, and Jimin had such similar tastes as him in food. “Hope you liked the lemon rice I cooked.” 

“Oh, Tae.” Jimin hugs him, “I loved it so much.” Jimin kisses his hair, “but I’ve been watching you, Taehyung. Is something wrong? Are you fighting with him?” Jimin’s concerns were valid. But Taehyung didn’t have it in him to tell Jimin the truth, yet. He had been distressed for quite a while now, he had even begged Jungkook to cancel the party, but their friends were literally on their way, so they had to go ahead with the plan. 

“I’m okay, Jimin. Just exhausted.” And that was no lie. He can see in Jimin's eyes that his best friend still doubts him, but he nods his head and lets it slide. 

“Jungkook.” Taehyung calls out to his husband who had been talking to Seokjin, his husband turns around with a smile, but that doesn't seem to reach his eyes. 

“Yes, baby?” Jungkook asks, and before anyone can question, his husband takes him to the side, he can feel Jimin’s suspicious eyes on him, hell he can even feel Namjoon raise his eyes in question at Jungkook's odd behavior, “what is it, Tae?” 

“I'm tired, can we end this? Everyone's had dinner already.” Taehyung says carefully, observing the change in his husband's expression. Jungkook looks displeased by the idea, indeed it's the worst thing. To tell someone to leave the house, the someone being guests, and those guests being their close friends, that's extremely rude. And Taehyung's all about ethics and culture. But today isn't the day, today he's not feeling that well. 

“Taehyung, you know we can't.” Jungkook says, ignoring the gaze Yoongi throws at him, “why are you being difficult today, Tae?” 

“Difficult?” Taehyung questions, he has been all but difficult. He even cooked food, a variety of it. Just so, he could celebrate a little time with their friends, but now his husband claims he's being difficult. “What about you? You've been difficult for the past two days, Jungkook.” 

“For God's sake, Taehyung, I told you I lost my phone and I couldn't contact you.” Jungkook says with an angry expression, any person looking at them would definitely deem they're arguing, “I lost it ten thousand feet deep, there was no network, how was I going to contact you?” 

“Just leave it, Jungkook.” Taehyung sighs, it's pointless talking to his husband about this thing. It's pointless talking to Jungkook, who doesn't understand how deep he has been hurt. 

“Taehyung, we can talk after they leave. But please, just for tonight, please.” Jungkook's tone hurts Taehyung. When has his husband thought of others before him? And yes, he knows all their friends are their family, but he isn't the one who would put anyone above Jungkook. Not in a situation like this. A situation where he had told his husband about what happened with him, about what has been happening with him. 

“Okay.” Taehyung agrees, looking at a similar digital wall clock in their living room. Except this one leans on a potted plant and isn't stuck to the wall like in their bedroom. 

It reads, 22:56. 

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“It's late, already.” Seokjin argues with his husband who drinks his wine, “we've overstayed our visit.” 

Taehyung watches from afar, he's not eavesdropping, no. But Seokjin has always known to have a high-pitched voice, and Taehyung isn't really that far. And nor is their living room that big. That makes him wonder if any of their friends heard the conversation him and his husband had. It makes his back hair rise, because they have always been the ‘it’ couple, sure they had arguments and stuff. But they were known to solve it before it got out of hand. Except since they've moved here, they have been having problems, and lately, Jungkook seems distant. Sometimes, Taehyung feels like he doesn’t even know his husband lately. And that hurts to even think. 

“You haven't, hyung.” Jungkook mutters, smiling brightly. Growing up, Jungkook has always been a great actor. He wonders if Yoongi knows this, or if Hoseok knows about it. He wonders if anyone knows Jungkook the way he knows him. 

“Tae,” Hoseok calls from behind, making Taehyung flinch at the voice. “Woah, woah, calm down Taehyung,” Hoseok laughs, the guy cheerful as always, “you've been lost for a while, thought I'd offer some wine.” That's when he sees another glass of wine in Hoseok's hand, he carefully maneuvers it to Taehyung. 

“Thank you, hyung.” Taehyung smiles. “How's Sora? I hope she's okay with you being here for such a long time.” 

“Already trying to kick me out?” 

And no, oh God, no he didn't mean it that way, “hyung no–.” 

“Taehyung, I know, I'm just joking.” Hoseok laughs, “she is with her mother, so no worries.” Hoseok assures him, and it feels nice that someone does care about their spouse here, “though, not to be that person, but I've been watching you and him, why has he not been eating anything? He doesn't even drink, and as far as I remember wine has always been Jungkook's thing.” Hoseok asks the question Taehyung has been trying to avoid. 

The unsaid truth is that he has no idea why Jungkook doesn't eat, “he helped me cook, and eat while doing so. He just returned, hyung, he must be exhausted.” Is what he said. Except that's not the truth, since Jungkook has entered the house all they did was argue, Taehyung cooked alone while Jungkook unpacked and bathed. Taehyung cleaned the kitchen, while Jungkook just sat and stared at him. Taehyung served the table while Jungkook literally blamed him for being a crybaby . 

“That is true.” Hoseok agrees, “I do hope he eats after we're done though, it's been a long time.” And it has been. A long time. A really long one. “But are you okay, Tae? You really don't seem like you're here, you're lost, Taehyung.” Hoseok does look concerned, and Taehyung wants to cry at that question, because can he really tell anyone what's bothering him? Would anyone ever believe him, when his own husband refuses to do so? But Hoseok would, because Hoseok would always support him, even in his little stupid pranks back then, and even in his stupid idea of proposing Jungkook in the water park. Because Hoseok would definitely, but his husband wouldn't. 

Except he doesn't get to say it, because Jungkook beats him to it. “He says he has been seeing ghosts, hyung.” Jungkook laughs, incredulously. When did Jungkook even get here? And why does Jungkook think it's okay to make fun of what he has been experiencing?

“Jungkook!” Taehyung yells, and this time he's sure everyone hears it. 

“Hey, Tae. What's up?” Yoongi asks, coming forward, “do you want us to leave? We did overstay our visit here, didn’t we?” 

“No hyung.” Jungkook answers for him, instead, “he has been seeing ghosts, hyung. Since I've gone on that trip.” And Jungkook still laughs, he does. While others just stare at them shell shocked. Taehyung feels extremely humiliated by his husband's words. Extremely degraded by his own husband. But he just stands there and takes it all. Because that's his truth. Because that's what he has been experiencing. Because that's exactly what he has been seeing. 

“Stay here then.” Taehyung says suddenly, making Jungkook look at him curious, “all of you stay here, and then you can get the proof that I'm not lying. Stay here till that,” he points towards the digital clock, “that clock turns 03:33.” 

Everyone turns their heads to look at it, and indeed there was still time for it. A lot of time. Because the clock now only reads 23:59. 

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“Taehyung, you should've told me about it.” Namjoon utters from his side, “we would've come to stay with you.” 

“For how long?” Taehyung asks accusingly, he doesn't mean it, but right now he has half a mind to sound sane, “for how long would you've stayed, hyung? You have work, Seokjin hyung has work.” Taehyung can see Namjoon sighing. But he can't really help it. 

“You could've told us about it. We would trust you, Taehyung.” Namjoon holds his hand, “you know that, right?” And he knows. He knows that! That's the problem. He knows anyone in this room, but his husband would trust him in a heartbeat about the whole thing he had been experiencing. 

“He wouldn't.” Taehyung looks at Jungkook, who sits on the couch along with Yoongi, seemingly being scolded by hyung for his previous behaviour. Taehyung wonders if those words anyhow affect his husband. If his husband would come and apologize to him. If Jungkook would actually let, go of his strong beliefs and for once believe him. “He's a science person. He needs logic in all.”

“I'm from the same background, Tae.” Namjoon squeezes his hands, “and I do believe you.” His friend assures him. And that's the second time that day, that someone other than his husband thinks about him too. 

“But that's because you've experienced it, he wouldn't waver from his beliefs hyung.” Taehyung argues. It's true, Namjoon had an experience when they were younger, and in highschool. He had talked about it with the group (Hoseok and Jimin weren't their friends then), Jungkook had laughed. He had joked about it too, tried to find a logical reason behind it, and since then Namjoon had grown a bit distant from his husband. 

“You've experienced it?” Jimin questions. Why is everyone randomly giving him a heart attack? First it was Hoseok and now it's Jimin. 

“He has.” Jungkook affirms. 

The whole group now sits around the circular dining table, as Namjoon recites what happened to him in his vacation house. 

“It was recently bought.” Namjoon starts, everyone's keen eyes on him, except Jungkook just smirks. Because till today, Jungkook doesn't believe any of this. “They had claimed that the previous owner was in a haste to sell it, so he sold it to us at a relatively lower rate. My dad was over the moon when we bought it. Nobody had said anything suspicious about the house, not even the neighbours.” Namjoon takes a deep breath, getting his hand squeezed by Seokjin in return. They look at each other, conversing with their eyes. And Taehyung wonders how long has it been since he conversed with his husband like this? The answer is literally easy, they had stopped doing such things after they moved. Considering they didn't get enough time for each other, and after countless times of telling Jungkook that they need to have a real talk, all they did was spend the night tangled in each other. Just mechanically. Where was this love lost? 

“It was really nice at first. Everything was beautiful. There were lush gardens around, there was a tree house, there was a small playground only a few minutes away. It was the best vacation I had, until” Namjoon takes a break, though Jungkook doesn't let him talk further. 

“Until he felt a presence,” Jungkook snorts, “it was hilarious, hyung’s mouth had taken an ‘o’ form,” and to prove his point, his husband imitates how Namjoon had looked when he had told the story to the group. 

“Jungkook! Stop it!” Taehyung chides from besides, “let him talk. You cutting between him is unnecessary!” 

“Alright, alright! Sorry.” Jungkook apologies, but everyone in the room knows he doesn't mean it. Especially Taehyung, because he knows Jungkook well. Because Jungkook isn't the one for these things. Because Jungkook doesn't fucking care!

“I found a book.” Namjoon starts again, completely ignoring Jungkook's existence, and in a way Taehyung is glad. He doesn't want this to turn into something ugly, he has been suffering enough already. “The book had stories of fairies and witches and ghosts; it was an interesting book. We siblings would love reading about it, except one day Jo found a story that creeped her out,” it's Namjoon's eldest sibling, Namjo, they call her Jo. She stays in the states now, having settled down with her own family. “It was about the house. It said that someone had hung themselves, mostly the previous owner, in the attic, and there's an invisible rope that can only be visible at the right time. So, we decided to check it. We were like Jungkook once,” Namjoon gives his husband a pointed look, earning nothing but a smirk of lips, “it was late at night, our parents were sleeping, so me, Jo, and Namgil hyung walked to that attic. It was the biggest mistake.” 

Namjoon takes a small break, “Joonie, continue only if you're comfortable.” Seokjin states from the side, hugging Namjoon. The latter only smiles at him, assuring him. 

“Don't worry.” Namjoon utters, taking a deep breath, he continues, “Jo had been the first one to see that rope, she had screamed loudly, waking our parents. I saw it too, but Namgil hyung couldn't, nor could our parents see the rope. The same night, Jo and I had felt a presence on our backs, it was horrible. The next day we both got extremely ill, she suffered from high fever while I had gone down with food poisoning.” Namjoon stops, and it feels like he's done but then he continues, “for the rest of the vacation we felt odd things. I would suddenly feel cold, while Jo would just stay in her room talking to someone, her fever only went down when we got back. My father sold the house, deciding we could use the money in some business, but I'm glad that house is gone now.” Namjoon ends his story, leaving the room in a pin drop silence. 

“That's… scary.” Hoseok says after a while of silence. 

“It literally isn't!” Jungkook argues, and Taehyung wants to punch his husband in his face. “They had played the whole day! Namjoon had those odd flavors of ice cream. From a shady place! And according to science, fever can cause hallucinations.” Jungkook sighs, “your sister saw a hallucination, hyung. You saw one too. You both were already ill! And the pressure you felt? It can be caused due to exhaustion, and that's true, isn't it? You played the whole day in the sand, what did the doc say hyung? Tell that too!” Jungkook glares, he even throws a glare at Taehyung. 

Jimin looks at Jungkook and then turns towards Namjoon, “was it exhaustion?” 

“It was. The doctor was adamant on it.” Namjoon accepts, “but I know what I saw Jungkook. And that's my truth, you can't make me sound delusional, nor can you talk about Jo like that.” Namjoon's eyes are fire, they hold Jungkook's tough gaze, none of them backing down. 

“Hyung!” Taehyung steps in, “Jungkook is trying to find logic everywhere, please don't mind him. Please, I'm sorry.” 

“Taehyung, it's not your fault.” Namjoon assures, “why would Jungkook even buy such a house? That too for lower rates? The lower the price, the scarier the place. Did you not know about it?” 

“Hyung, don't put your beliefs on me.” Jungkook denies instantly, “the lady had to leave for the states urgently, and she needed money.” 

“So wouldn't she sell it at a higher price?” 

“Hyung! Why would she? She knew if she put up a higher price no one would buy it as instantly as we bought it.” 

“Stop it!” Taehyung yells, ending the rapid fire between them. Namjoon flinches at the voice, and Jungkook stares at his husband in utter shock. “Can we end this discussion now? I'm tired, let's rest for a while.” 

And so, they disperse, walking here and there, except everyone's eyes are on the digital clock. That reads, 01:17. 

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“Hyung, for what it's worth, I do believe you.” Taehyung assures Namjoon, who sits with Jimin and Yoongi, both of them sipping on the wine. The alcohol is almost over, but they need to survive, and with Jungkook being extremely difficult, they've almost given up. But Taehyung tries to ground them. Tries to reassure them that he trusts them, that Jungkook is being a menace, and Taehyung is sorry. 

“I know you do.” Namjoon smiles, and Taehyung does feel a bit at ease. 

“We do too.” Jimin supplies, and Taehyung is glad there are people that support him. He just wishes his husband would support him too, his husband would reassure him too. But that's feel nearly impossible. He turns around and sees Jungkook sitting there with Hoseok hyung. They aren't talking, just staring blankly at the T.V. 

“Oh, thank you, Jimin.” Namjoon seems surprised. Seokjin comes and joins them, smiling at Jimin's words. 

“Yeah. I had experienced something too.” Jimin whispers, making heads turn in his direction. 

“Jimin?” Taehyung questions, earning a nod. He never had any idea that Jimin also suffered something or maybe experienced something similar to what he had. Taehyung couldn't believe his ears, can't believe how his days are turning into. 

“It was back when I was still in middle school.” Jimin explains, he takes a sip from his wine. Yoongi is there by his side, patting his shoulder in encouragement. And to say the least, Taehyung does feel a little jealous. He looks back at his husband who pays half a mind to the conversation, still watching the T.V.

“I was in awe of turning a teenager, so I wanted to do things every kid wanted. I wanted to sneak out, I wanted to go to those cliche sleepovers, and I wanted to play truth and dare.” Jimin sighs, “one day I did that. Snuck out, had fun, partied with the older kids, tried beer for the first time. But then it was getting late, and I needed to sneak back in before mom would wake up, and she had a habit of waking up at four in the morning, so I ran back. It was dark, Taehyung, pitch black. All I could hear was sounds of bats, and it was so horrifying to witness as a child. It was three in the morning when I reached home, and that's when it happened.” 

Taehyung braces himself for what Jimin would say ahead. Three in the morning is the worst hour, the witching hour, they say. Worst hour for humans, and the best one for the other world. Three o'clock is when most of the countries have crossed midnight, and three o'clock is when the veil that protects two worlds from connecting is the thinnest. Three o'clock is truly the worst hour. 

“I could hear sounds. Someone was laughing, Taehyung. Someone was laughing at me. They were mocking me, so I tried to close the window, Tae. I tried to, but the sound of the wind howling grew louder, and you know what's the funniest part. There wasn't any wind blowing, Taehyung. There were no trees moving at all, there was nothing. It was so scary; I remember screaming and running to mom's room, because I just couldn't take it anymore. She hugged me tightly that day, Tae. I remember after that for a few nights, I would sleep with my mom.” Jimin is almost crying, the story isn't just terrifying, it's sad, considering Jimin was just thirteen. Thirteen. “Sometimes, in the night, I still hear the wind howling. And those nights, I've to cuddle Yoongi, because I just can't. Whenever I close my eyes, I see those bats moving around, it's horrible, Tae.” And it is! It really is horrible, Taehyung lunges forward, hugging Jimin tightly. 

“It's okay, Jimin. I'm here, we're here.” He shushes the other. Trying to calm himself too. Yoongi is by Jimin's side too, rubbing his back in a calming way, and Taehyung has to look away. Has to leave the hug, so the couple can hug properly. 

“Can't those be your drunken state?” Jungkook suddenly speaks, making everyone turn towards him. Taehyung's eyes are blown wide at the subtle suspicion in Jungkook's voice. It's directly blaming, and Taehyung really, really can't have a fight here. Not right now, at least. 

“What do you mean?” Jimin questions, and shit, he can't do anything. Jimin has a bad temper, so does Jungkook. They're both like fire and fuel. Adding them together is only going to be destruction. 

“I mean, you were drunk.” Jungkook shrugs, “you said it yourself.” 

“I said I tasted beer. Just had a sip!” Jimin yells.

“Hey, hey Jimin.” Yoongi tries to hold the other, but Jimin doesn't listen to him. 

“I never said I was drunk. Jungkook, you've become such a selfish person.” Jimin points a finger at his husband. “You don't even give a fuck about your own husband!” 

“Don't talk about our relationship! You've got no fucking right!” Jungkook yells right back. “You all are delusional. Fucking delusional! Taehyung, I thought better of you, I did. But why would you go and listen to sob stories of people? Why would you even go behind my fucking back and listen to those stupid one on one tales of horror? Just why?” 

“Jungkook, that's enough!” Taehyung's voice roars in the quiet hallway. The thunder thuds with it. Indicating that rain is just a few minutes away. “If you don't want to believe, don't! But if you're going to laugh at people because of it, I would prefer you leave rather than staying here and enjoying yourself! Just get out!” He says it with a heavy chest. Not meaning it wholly, but Jungkook has been getting on his damn nerves. 

“You don't mean that.” Jungkook looks perplexed, eyes wide blown in horror. 

“I mean it. I mean it!” Taehyung yells again, pulling on the roots of his hair, “I was against buying this.” He points around the living room, “I told you it wasn't worth the investment! I told you I liked the city better! I told you I wanted to stay ! But you never listen! You never do, Jungkook!” Taehyung can feel his cheeks getting damp because of the tears, but he doesn't care about them right now. He has half a mind to move, when Jungkook walks towards him and tries to wipe those tears, the hurt. “You wanted to renovate it! You wanted to go on that hiking trip! You ! You lost the phone! You didn't call me. You left me alone. Here! Here all alone in this damn creepy house. You did it all, Jungkook! And now you blame it on me? Blame me for listening to our friend's stories? Why? Because you can't believe any of them?” 

Taehyung wipes his own tears with the back of his hand, jabbing a finger at Jungkook. “Did you know what happened with Hoseok? His wife tripped last week, on nothing! She was just walking! And since then, she has been with her mom! Did you know she was advised to stay away from the dark? Did you know just because she's pregnant she's prone to these things more!” Taehyung sees how Jungkook whips his head to Hoseok, who's looking down at the ground. “You know nothing, Jungkook! Now you'll go and find a logic on how she must've fucking tripped on her own legs! Because people do that, don't they? But you won't think how she's fucking pregnant and how she would've walked with utter care! You wouldn't do that! Because all you care about is yourself and your damn fucking science!” Taehyung huffs. His voice is coming out breathy now. Though, he has had enough. 

“Jungkook, you can't do things and blame me for it. You can't keep doing this, you can't fire at me without pulling the trigger. You pulled the trigger, Jungkook. You did it. You started it, you bought this house, you went on that trip. You fired me by pulling that damn trigger, Jungkook.” Taehyung wipes even more tears that fall from his eyes. Everyone just watches them with guilt, having no idea of what to say or how to stop it. Jungkook's eyes look watery too. “At least do this one thing for me, Jungkook. Just wait until the clock strikes the time.” 

Taehyung cries, “just please. Please, Jungkook.” 

He stumbles ahead, falling directly in Jungkook's arms, who shushes him. Calms him down by rubbing his back. And that's when Taehyung feels like this is his Jungkook, and not the stranger he felt like he was living with since they moved here. 

Everyone else in the room pats Taehyung's back in support, only looking at the clock and its vigorous movements. 

It reads, 03:01. 

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“It's only a few minutes now.” Jungkook points at the clock, everyone nods at him. Taehyung is by his husband's side, enjoying the warmth. It is indeed only a few minutes away now. The clock reads 03:21. “I'll just check all the windows and doors of our room.” 

“Jungkook,” Taehyung tries to stop his husband. Jungkook just pats his back and kisses his forehead. 

“I’m so sorry, baby.” Jungkook gets up, looking at everyone else in the room. “I'm so sorry.” Jungkook apologies, and this time Taehyung can easily recognize the sincerity in the voice, “I'm sorry, Jimin, I overstepped my boundary, I'm sorry Namjoon hyung, I shouldn't have laughed. I'm sorry, Hoseok hyung.” 

“Jungkook, it's okay.” Namjoon smiles gently. 

“I won't say it's okay, but thanks for apologizing, Jungkook-ah.” Jimin smiles, albeit a sad one. But Taehyung can understand, it must be difficult for him. However, he's really glad that Jungkook is repenting his mistakes. 

“I'll be back.” Is what his husband says before disappearing down the hallway, where the stairs are. 

As soon as Jungkook is gone, they hear the doorbell ring. Taehyung's eyes shoot up in alarm, who can be here at such odd hours? He looks at the time, and he sees it's 03:28. Everyone else looks just as confused. 

“I'll check.” Taehyung announces, as he walks towards the door, opening it slightly to see a police officer standing outside. “Yes?” 

“Are you Kim Taehyung?” The officer asks, and Taehyung nods. He lets the officer in, everyone now beside him, curious as to why an officer is here this late at night. 

“What's wrong, officer?” Seokjin asks. 

“I'm sorry, Mr. Kim, but your husband, Jeon Jungkook, was found dead this morning.” 

“What?” Taehyung yells. How's that possible? He was just talking to his husband! He was just in his husband's embrace! He was just there. How the hell is it even possible? “You're lying! Jungkook was just here!” Taehyung runs towards the hallway, stopping just beside the entrance of the stairs, “Jungkook! Jungkook!” He yells for his husband, but there's no response. He rushes upwards, but there's no one there. He looks in their room, and in the guest rooms too. He looks in the attic, and still no one. He comes back down, everyone giving him a worried glance. “Guys! Tell him!” Taehyung urges, his tears resurfacing. 

“Mr. Kim, please. The weather at the hiking point worsened, and your husband slipped, falling ten thousand feet down. It took us three days to find the body.” The officer announces, everyone's ear bleeding at that, “this is his ID, and his wallet. You'll have to come in the morning to the morgue to identify the body.” The officer hands the ID’s to Taehyung, and indeed those are of his husband's. “His phone, it fell with him, but we were able to recover the data.” 

“This can't be happening!” Taehyung screams again, Seokjin hugs him from behind, trying to calm him. 

“I'm sorry, Mr.Kim. in fact, his last call was to you, at 03:33!” The officer looks at him with pity, “make sure you come. I'll take my leave.” 

“Jungkook was never here!” Jimin cries out, “he never drank the wine, Taehyung! He never ate anything!” 

“He didn't even eat while cooking.” Taehyung cries. 

“But you sai–” Hoseok is interrupted by Taehyung.

“I lied, hyung, I lie–”

They were all interrupted by a loud noise of a window opening and a thud of a door. They looked at the digital clock, it read, 03:33. 

And soon there was a loud wailing, along with a soft whisper of Taehyung's name, “Tae, I'm sorry.” 

That's when Taehyung recognizes the voice that has been haunting him at the same time every day. It was Jungkook. It was his own husband. It had always been Jungkook. 

He feels like fainting, so he lets go of himself, imagining himself floating, imagining himself in Jungkook's arms as he falls down. And sees the digital clock, stuck at 03:33. 

⋆⭒˚｡⋆

He wakes up with a shudder. His body soaked in his own sweat. His hands are shivering, and he feels like he'll faint any second if he moves. But he forces himself to get up, to look at the stupid clock attached to the wall. It reads, 03:34. 

Has he been fucking dreaming all of it? Did he dream about all the stories he heard the previous day from his friends? Did he just dream about the hiking trip going to ruins? The trip Taehyung had told him not to go to? The trip he had gone to so many times, the one that he usually loves to go to. What could the reason for this weird dream be? Why would he even have such a dream? Just when he's about to question something else, he gets a call. Who would call him at such late hours? It's an unknown number. 

“Hello?” 

“Hey, hope you're doing well, man. The weather got so shit, thank God we didn't take that trip. Thank you for cancelling man! Someone slipped from there, it's a blessing that someone managed to survive. You should thank your husband.” The other voice says from the phone. 

“Who's it?” He asked, relatively confused. 

“Jungkook, It's me. Minseok.” Oh? Oh. Minsoek! His colleague. He hadn't gotten a chance to save the number. “Anyways, I gotta go, man. Sorry for disturbing you at such a late hour.” 

“No worries, thanks for letting me know.” And then the call hangs up. 

Jungkook just stares at the wall, blankly. He dreamt a true dream. Did he just live a life from his husband's point of view? From Taehyung's point of view? The T.V. of their room suddenly turns on, making Jungkook flinch. The news channel is the first one to be displayed, talking about the weather being bad at the place they were supposedly going to go for a hike. People were found to leave the trip halfway, and few got stuck, while one man survived a fall. This makes a shiver run down Jungkook’s spine, he looks at his husband, who seems to be waking up due to the sound of the T.V. and Jungkook rushes to switch it off. 

“Hey, Kookie? Are you still mad? Come back to bed, baby. I'm sorry for not letting you go on that trip, but I was scared. I promise you can go next time.” Taehyung says, peeking out of the blanket. Looking extremely cute. He tugs on Jungkook's arms, urging him to sleep. 

“Tae, baby!” Jungkook smiles at Taehyung, kissing him on the forehead, “thank you so much for not letting me go on that trip, thank you.” Jungkook smiles through his tears, kissing Taehyung on the lips. “I love you.” 

“I love you, too, Jungkook, but you're acting a little weird.” Taehyung giggles, “did you drink too much with Jimin last night? Or are you still in denial that ghosts do exist?” 

“Doesn't matter.” Jungkook kisses him again, “I'm just glad to be here in your arms. We can go back to the city, if you don't like it here, Taehyung. We can rent this house, we can live in a small apartment in the city, if that would make you happy. I just want to see you happy, love. Happiness suits you.” Jungkook can see how Taehyung's face is twisted in confusion. He kisses the pout, softly. 

“Can we really?” 

“Yes baby!” 

“Oh, Jungkookie, thank you.” Taehyung hugs him tightly, sobbing quietly in his arms. “I hated being here, Jungkook. It feels really lonely here, I'm sorry Jungkookie.” 

“No, no baby.” Jungkook kisses his neck, “I'm sorry for putting my decisions on you, for not asking your opinion. We can stay anywhere you'd want, love. Anywhere.”

“Thank you, Jungkook. Thank you.” 

And Jungkook thanks the dream. He thanks the damn weird dream he saw. He thanks that fucking digital clock as he tries to sleep in his husband's arms. Looking at it for the last time. It reads, 03:44.