Chapter Text
Funerals.
The first time Seokjin went to one, he was 9 years old. His grandfather had passed away that summer from cancer. Seokjin didn't really understand what was going on, but there was a bunch of family and friends dressed in black and hysterically sobbing. Especially his mother since it was her father.
Seokjin didn't really get why they were all sad. His grandfather had been suffering, and now he was in a better place than a hospital. At least that's what Seokjin thought.
After that, when he was 13, he attended his second funeral. This time, it was for his mother. Seokjin was broken after that. His mother was his closest friend after Hoseok. He told her everything. Now that he was older he understood that when someone dies, they have a funeral for that person, and you'll never be able to interact with the person ever again. You can't touch that person(except when they're freshly dead), you can't ever talk to that person again, and you can't create new memories with that person.
At his mothers funeral, his uncle had brought him up close to see her body. Seokjin touched her hand gently that was lying in her lap. It was cold. Deathly cold. It makes sense since she was dead, and her skin was deathly pale, even thought his mom had a slight tan to her skin.
After that, he attended two more funerals. Both for his two grandmothers. One had died from old age, and the other from a heart attack.
It was the first time Seokjin saw his father cry.
Surprisingly after all these funerals Seokjin had attended, he wasn't traumatized nor cried during or after any of these. Seokjin knew it wasn't good to hold it in, but his pride kept himself from crying.
So now here is Seokjin. Aged 23. Highschool graduate, in his last year of college. After graduating highschool, Seokjin didn't really have a dream or anything. Since he family was well off, he didn't really need to get a job in the future, but he thought majoring in acting and maybe becoming an actor would be fun to try.
But besides that, here Seokjin was. Attending his best friend, Hoseoks, funeral. It was kind of out of blue that his best friend has passed. Apparently, this had been an "accidental" overdose. Seokjin knew nothing good could come from Hoseok popping pills 24/7. Seokjin knew he was exaggerating, but still. He had told his friend to stop taking those pills as he saw Hoseok getting addicted to them. Hoseok just brushed it off everytime, saying it was fine.
So now here Seokjin, watching his best friend getting buried 6 feet under. He didn't know whether to mourn over his friend, or be extremely angry. Still, Seokjin did not cry.
Seokjin just stared at his glossy dress shoes, as he watched Hoseok's family mourn over their son. He felt guilt for the family. That he didn't do a better job at preventing this from happening.
He shook his head. 'Now is not the time to be blaming yourself.' He thought to himself. He stared at Hoseok's closed coffin. He could feel his eye tearing up.
He remember what they were younger and Hoseok would get yelled at by his parents and he would come running to Seokjin, tears streaming down his face. Snot running down his nose.
Seokjin chuckled at remembering Hoseok's crying face. It was pretty ugly face, if Seokjin had to be honest. But he loved his best friend no matter what, even if he wasn't here anymore.
Seokjin also remembers Hoseok's face when he came out to him. Hoseok had pink tinted cheeks as he stared at Seokjin in shock.
"You.. You don't like me that way right? I-I mean! It's not that I.." Hoseok had began to stutter.
Seokjin had just laughed and shook his head, "Sorry but I like tall guys."
Hoseok had pouted and hit his best friend. "I hate you."
Seokjin ruffled his friends hair, "I know you love me. You can't live without me."
A smile replaced the pout on Hoseok's, "Yah.. Who told you that?"
Seokjin just rolled his eyes as they both began watching the movie they had been watching before.
"But thanks for telling me.."
Nostalgia hit Seokjin, as he realized the funeral was over. He was glad he didn't actually pay attention to where Hoseok was being buried or else he would have broken down. He noticed Hoseok's mom coming over to him with a sad smile.
"Hey..." Hoseok's mom had started.
"Hi auntie." Seokjin softly smiled.
"You'll be okay, right?" Hoseok's mom asked with a worried face. "I mean.. You two did everything together.. You've been jointed to the hip since you were both young."
Seokjin smiled at Hoseok's mom. He knew he wouldn't be okay, but he knew how to lie his way out of this. "I'll be okay, auntie. I'm more worried about you."
Hoseok's mom just smiled as if she expected that answer. "I'm sure it'll take time to heal." She sighed, "Hoseok had such a great future ahead of him. It's such a shame this happened."
Seokjin nodded in agreement. "He had such a good dancing career in front of him."
Hoseoks mother just smiled. "Well.. I'm sure we'll see each other soon. Come by our bakery sometimes. You'll probably get lonely."
Seokjin knew she was talking more about herself than him but nodded. "I'll make sure I do."
Hoseok's mother just nodded and walked away to her husband and daughter. They all hugged each other, then walked away to their family car. Probably on their way home.
After noticing everyone had gone away, he walked up closer to Hoseok's grave stone. He crouched in front and payed his respects.
With his eyes still closed and hands praying in front of him he said, "Hoseok... Why did you do this.."
He opened his eyes and glared at the grave stone.
"February 18th.. To July 30th.. What a joke." He spit out, "I knew... I just knew there was no helping you... But still.."
Seokjin felt his eyes get watery, but he held back his tears. "I just.. I just wish I had bugged you more about it.. And maybe we would be together still."
Seokjin just smiled in anger, "Dammit... Dammit Hoseok.."
"Do you remember that times you'd always come to my house when we were kids? You always complained about my butlers being secret agents and that they were trying to kill me..."
Seokjin took a deep breathe. "Remember when you were so excited that we made it into the same college..you told me you studied so hard. I was happy, too.."
Seokjin furrowed his eyebrows, trying not to cry. "I was a-always happy with you.. Even if I didn't show it much. You meant a lot to me.. I.."
Jin looked down at the grass, " I just wish you were here still..."
"I wish you didn't die."
Seokjin smiled sadly, rubbing his eyes dry. He didn't cry, he never liked crying in the first place. He had never even cried in front of Hoseok. Sometimes he's shed a few tears here and there from sad movies or shows, but that's it.
"Wah.. This is like a sad movie." Seokjin froze. He had never heard this voice before. I mean, it seems like he has, but he wasn't sure.
He looked up, he tried not to make it so obvious he was looking to where the voice was coming from. He looked right at Hoseok's grave stone, and creeping right behind it were two playful looking eyes.
Seokjin had thought everyone had left, he saw no cars parked down below, unless this person had walked.
"Um.. Hello..." Seokjin had started slowly, "I-I'm sorry I didn't mean to bother you."
They childish eyes had widened, "Wait.. Are you talking to me?"
Seokjin wanted to reply in a sarcastic tone, but he was too worn out today. "Yeah.."
The figure had stood up, a rectangular smile on his face. "This.. This is great!" The person was a boy, maybe around the age 14.
"Um.." Seokjin had started, "I don't really understand what you mean.."
The boy walked right beside Seokjin, "I'm Kim Taehyung."
Seokjin slowly nodded, "N-nice to meet you.."
The boy eyes Seokjin and smiled. "This is the first person who's ever been able to see me.. I'm so happy."
Seokjin had, had enough Of this. He wasn't in the mood the fool around with this little boy. Seokjin had gotten up abruptly, not giving this boy a second glance. He started walking towards his car that was parked below.
"Wait!" The boy had grabbed Seokjin's wrist, "Woah... This is the first time I've been able to touch someone in a really long time.."
Seokjin had finally cracked. "What do you want from me? Don't you have to be somewhere? Where are your parents?"
Taehyung had looked at Seokjin, and given him a sheepish smile. "Well.. About that.."
Seokjin crossed his arms in front of him, and tapped his foot impatiently.
Taehyung's face turned serious. "Um.. Do you believe in ghosts?"
Seokjin scoffed. 'Was this kid serious?' "No, I don't believe in something as silly as that."
Taehyung just looked Seokjin in the eye, "Well you should now.."
"Why is that?" Seokjin narrowed his eyes.
"Because I'm a ghost." Taehyung said.
Seokjin scoffed. 'Is this some gag the kids these days are doing?' "Right.. Like I'm totally going to believe that."
"Well I'm glad you think I'm still alive. But look, try to touch me." Seokjin looked at Taehyung skeptically, what was this going to prove?
Seokjin gentle put his hand on Taehyung shoulder, only to let it go right through him. Seokjin was in disbelief, he tried again, and again. Only receiving a shudder each time from the coldness.
"What the.."
"Told you." Taehyung smiled triumphantly.
Seokjin felt his legs lose strength and fell do the ground. "H-How is this possible?"
Taehyung just shrugged, "Don't know. But.." Taehyung's mischievous smile formed on his face, "You interest me.. Plus you're the only person that can see me!"
Seokjin frowned, "Whatever you're thinking about, the answer is no."
Taehyung pouted and crawled, putting himself in Seokjin's lap, receiving a shiver in reply. "C'mon.. You don't a young man like me to be all alone.. With no one to talk to." Even thought Seokjin knew they were fake, tears formed in Taehyung's eyes, which were actually beautiful in Seokjin's opinion.
Seokjin pouted, and Taehyung just smiled, knowing he had won. "Okay.. Okay.. You can come with me, but don't you want to cross over or something? I don't know what ghosts do.."
Taehyung caressed Seokjin's cheek and gave him a peck on the cheek. "You're so naive.. By the way, you haven't told me your name..."
Seokjin's cheeks were tinted pink, "K-Kim Seokjin.." He mentally slapped himself in the face, why did he stutter?
Taehyung smiled, "Well Seokjin-hyung, it seems like we'll be with each other for a long time.."
Seokjin sighed and got up, Taehyung landing on the grass. "You're so mean hyung." Taehyung pouted.
Seokjin rolled his eyes, "Shut up. Let's go."
Taehyung smiled brightly, getting up racing over to Seokjin, grabbing his hand.
"I love it when they play hard to get."
•
The ride home was quiet to Seokjin's surprise. Taehyung had sat on the front seat, with a seatbelt even thought he was already deceased, but Seokjin had insisted. Seokjin knew it made no sense, but maybe someone else could see him as well and see he had no seatbelt on.
After their little fight, Taehyung had just softly hummed and stared out the window. Seokjin kept looking at him every minute, wondering how this all happened? Seokjin had so many questions he was afraid to ask. Like, what happened to Taehyung? How long has Taehyung been dead? Could he see other ghosts? Could he see his mother? Grandparents? Hoseok?
"Hyung! Stop!" Taehyung suddenly yelled.
Seokjin slammed on the breaks. Almost hitting his head on the steering wheel. "What is it?!"
Taehyung looked revealed, "Look hyung, I don't need you joining me anytime soon.. And you almost ran a red light."
Seokjin stared at the light and see that it was in fact red. Seokjin just sighed in relief, "Thank you, Taehyung."
Taehyung just nodded, continuing to look out the car window.
The rest of the ride they made no communication with each other, except for when Seokjin looked over at Taehyung for what seemed for the millionth time and saw him staring back. His cheeks had reddened, and he quickly turned back to the road. His cheeks were even more Crimson red after hearing Taehyung chuckle. Come to think of it, Taehyung did have a deep voice for someone as young as Seokjin thought he was.
Seokjin had noticed the sun was shining unusually bright today. Seokjin scoffed to himself, 'Mother Natures a prick.. Why couldn't it be cloudy today.. Or raining?'
'But,' Seokjin thought to himself, 'The sun does represent Hoseok best.'
Hoseok was his sun in Seokjin's cloudy sky.
•
When they finally got home, Seokjin sighed in relief. He looked over at Taehyung who was looking back at him. Taehyung smiled, and Seokjin rolled his eyes. 'How can someone smile so brightly?'
Seokjin spent a few minutes staring at Taehyung. He noticed the boy was a black hoodie that was a little too big for him, and black jeans, and a grey t-shirt inside.
"If you keep staring at me, I'll call you a pedo."
Seokjin snapped out of his trance and glared at Taehyung, "What your mouth... How old are you anyway?"
"I'm 13, but if I was alive I would be 20." Taehyung smiled. Seokjin started feeling pity for the kid, he was so young, and had a lot of his life ahead of him, but it all ended in a blink of an eye.
"Don't make that face, you look too cute." Taehyung had a cheek smile plastered on his face, "How old is hyung?"
Seokjin scowled, "I'm 23 at the moment, but I'm turning 24 in December."
Taehyung made an 'O' shape with his mouth. "Hyung is so old." Taehyung teased.
Seokjin attempted to flick Taehyung's forehead, only to have it go into his head. "Ahah.. That feels weird, hyung."
Seokjin took out his hand from Taehyung's head. "Let's get out."
Seokjin go out of his car and stared at the tall building in front of him. He lived in an apartment that was extremely cheap, but it one was of the best complexes where he lived. It was probably because his father and the owner had connections.
Seokjin sighed and headed to the lobby. "Wait for me hyung!"
Taehyung jumped out of the car and quickly caught up to Seokjin, immediately grabbing his hand.
"Caught ya." Taehyung smiled, and lifted Seokjin's hand up, giving it a quick kiss.
Seokjin's cheeks turned pink as he bit his inner mouth. He just continued walking, opening the door for them both. He kindly smiled at the desk lady, and the bell boy. Seokjin wasn't holding Taehyung's hand back so it didn't look as weird. But it's not everyday you get to hold hands with a ghost that's 10 years younger than you, but is actually 3 years younger.
Seokjin quickly walked to the elevator. Letting out the breathe he didn't even know he was holding.
"Hyung?" Seokjin looked down at Taehyung. Taehyung actually wasn't that short, He was up to Seokjin's chin.
"Yeah?" Seokjin softly whispered back, pressing a button to go to his floor, which was floor 4. He didn't really like heights.
"Hyung.. Can we eat when we get home?" Taehyung looked at Seokjin with hopeful eyes.
"Do you even need to eat anymore?" Seokjin raised an eyebrow at the latter.
"I mean, technically no," Taehyung sheepishly smiled at Seokjin, "But my friend before said there's a bunch of food I haven't tried before, since my parents always put me on a diet. I just wanna try those foods out, since I never really got the chance to."
"Who is this friend?"
"Hyung~" Taehyung whined, "that isn't important right now! What's important is to get TaeTae food in his tummy!"
Seokjin looked down at the kid, who was making puppy dog eyes at Jin. After a few minutes though, Jin succumb to Taehyung, "Aish.. This kid. Can you even eat though?"
Taehyung pout was immediately replaced by a rectangular smile.
"You're the best hyung ever! And I think I can.. I mean I stole some old lady's doughnut before."
"Taehyung!" Seokjin scolded at Taehyung.
"I-I couldn't help it!" Taehyung said defensively.
Seokjin sighed as they finally reached his, now their, apartment room. Seokjin got his keys out of his back pocket and opened the door, not bothering to lock it.
Seokjin threw his keys on this couch. Ah, how he hated this feeling. Always after a funeral he would go into this depressed state, and sometimes he even forgot to eat meals. He immediately sat on the couch, sprawled out.
"Hyung?" Taehyung called out innocently.
Seokjin didn't bother answering and just closed his eyes.
"Hyung are you okay?" Taehyung voice sounded nice and sincere. Seokjin liked it.
"There's a phone book on the kitchen counter filled with places that deliver food, and my credit card is on the counter as well. You can order whatever you want, it doesn't matter to me." Jin said to Taehyung.
Jin didn't hear Taehyung reply, just Taehyung moving around. Suddenly, Jin felt a coldness on his lap.
"Hyung.. You don't look okay." Taehyung worriedly caressed Seokjin's left cheek.
Seokjin opened his eyes, looking at Taehyung. "I'm fine, Taehyung.. I'm fine."
Taehyung noticed the latter didn't want to talk about it anymore and got off his lap, heading to the kitchen counter Seokjin mentioned before.
"Ne, Seokjin Hyung?" Taehyung didn't receive an answer but kept talking anyway, "You have a nice apartment, do you have a job?"
Seokjin shook his head not that the latter could see him anyway, "Not at the moment, I come from a well-off family, and my dad wanted me to stay here."
"Just your dad? What about your mom?" Taehyung asked, "by the way where is your phone? I wanna order chicken."
"The home phone is next to the kitchen. And my mom is dead." Seokjin explained to Taehyung.
"Oh.. I'm sorry Hyung." Taehyung said.
"It's okay. You didn't do anything wrong," Seokjin said, he stared over at Taehyung as he pressed buttons on the phone.
"I'm surprised you even know how to work that home phone." Seokjin's added.
Taehyung chuckled at Jin and looked up from the Seokjin to him, "I died in 2008 Hyung, I've seen what you people have now, and I'm jealous. You guys can play games on your phones and you can actually touch the screen!"
Seokjin smiled sadly, "I forgot about that. Sorry.."
Taehyung just smiled and shook his head, "You didn't do anything wrong, hyung."
Seokjin just watched as Taehyung came over to Seokjin with the phone book and phone. "I forgot I can't talk to other people.. Can you order this for me hyung?"
Seokjin nodded and started ordering whatever Taehyung wanted to eat.
•
It was now 7 PM, and Taehyung and Jin were laying on the couch watching tv together, eating chicken.
Jin had the AC cranked up, so he cuddled into the blanket with Taehyung. Furrowing his eyebrows he said, "Taehyung.. You're too cold."
Taehyung looked down at his childish hyung, and just smiled.
Jin was always a cuddler, especially with Hoseok. He was pretty sure he had got the habit from Hoseok. Jin frowns, he keeps remembering Hoseok.
Jin slowed recounted his whole day. He remembered he woke up at 5 AM and couldn't fall back asleep, not that he could sleep in the first place. His best friend died. Jin still couldn't believe, even though he didn't really show it.
After not being able to sleep and staring at the ceiling for about a couple hours, it was time for Hoseok's funeral. Jin sluggishly walked to his closet, reaching out to get the suit he already had prepared. When he had checked the clock it was already 9 AM. Hoseok's funeral was early in the morning(10 AM) and it was a 30 minute drive to the grave yard. Jin had quickly put on his shoes and ran out the door into the elevator.
He then got into his car once he reached the lobby. He smiled to the desk lady and bell boy.
_
He then sat through Hoseok's funeral for 3 hours, but you already know that.
Then, at 1 PM he meets this strange ghost boy and ends up taking him home.
Jin chuckled to himself as he feels himself falling asleep, something he hasn't done in a while. "Hyung?" He hears Taehyung's deep, gentle sounding voice.
"Mm.." Is the only noise Seokjin can make before letting the darkness engulf him.
Taehyung slowly caressed Seokjin's head, watching him fall asleep. He smiles, "Goodnight."