Finding My Way
Remember
Wednesday
March 17, 2016
11:30am
We’ve spent at least an hour in the car, sitting in silence as Jungkook drives us. I turn my head to check on Suga, who’s using all of the back seat to lay down and sleep. I heave a sigh and check my cell phone, which is nearly dead by now. I open Seokjin’s messages and decide to contact him.
Me: I’m coming home.
Minutes later, he shoots me a few messages.
Seokjin: What time do you think you’ll be back?
Seokjin: I told Byeol you were sleeping over a friends house to study.
Me: We’ll be there before noon.
Seokjin: Are you in your school uniform? If we want Byeol to believe you slept over, you have to come home with us from school.
Me: Ah, right, I forgot. I’ll see at lunch then. Call in for me?
Seokjin: Yeah.
“Jungkook.” I say, suddenly. His eyes are still on the road, but I can tell he’s listening. Both of his hands are on the steering wheel. “What are your plans, you know, in Buncheon?”
“What do you mean? I’m just giving you… and Yoongi a ride.” Jungkook clears his throat and puts a hand on the gear shift.
“You don’t plan to stay for a while?” I question, a bit disappointed. “That’s it? Don’t you want to see Jimin? What about your friends in Buncheon that you haven’t seen in a while?”
“It’s not like that. I just-” He stops himself and glances at me for a few seconds before redirecting to the road. “How did you know I’ve been to Buncheon before?”
My eyes grow wider for a moment and I look down. Shoot, I didn’t think of that. He didn’t tell me anything about his time in Buncheon. “Uhm… I mean, how else would you know Suga and Namjoon? Besides… Jimin told me everything.”
"Jimin's there...?" I wait a minute for him to give me more of a response respond, but instead, he stays silent.
With that, I continue talking. “How could you hide that from me? Seeing Jimin without even thinking about me? Did you even consider… how I've felt all of these years...? How I felt when he was dragged away from us before our eyes? When he told me you approached him one day, on top of that went a trip to Buncheon together, it broke my heart. I felt so angered and stupid.”
“Your not stupid.” Jungkook shakes his head in disagreement. “I admit, I made the decision to leave you out of everything, but it’s only because I was protecting you.”
“I don’t need protection. I should be the one to decide on whether or not I want to get involved with something.”
“This is different.” He pauses and I watch as he looks through the car mirror at Suga before continuing. “I… It was a matter Jimin and I had to be deal with. If he found out you…”
His voice trails off and I raise an eyebrow. “If who found me?”
“Nothing.” Jungkook responds almost instantly. “We’re about ten minutes away from Buncheon. Where did you want me to drop you off?”
“Buncheon High School.” I say plainly. “Suga and I still have school. I don’t know when our break is… Do you know where the high school is?”
“Yes.”
“Of course he does, Jae.” Suga groans and sits up in the middle seat. He ruffles his hair and buttons his uniform jacket. “I don’t think he’d ever forget where everything in Buncheon is-- he points to either side of his temples--. Photographic memory.”
“Shut up. I could say the same to you when it comes to Seoul. At least I don’t memorize Jaemi’s -and others- whereabouts every single day and follow her around in the dark.” Jungkook retorts rather loud. “I’m not the type person who does that. I still have dignity.”
“I can’t believe you can claim to have dignity in yourself after deliberating killing m-”
“KIM YOONGI!” Jungkook is almost about to scream his lungs out.
“IT’S SUGA.” Suga lowers his voice. “Jaemi’s the only one who can call me that.”
Kim… Yoongi? Not ‘Min’ Yoongi? Jungkook killed someone?
“It wasn’t deliberate.” Jungkook takes a deep breath and stops the car in front of the school. “Suga, get out of the car.”
Suga stays put and I turn around to meet him his gaze. “Just… give me a second.”
Once Suga’s out of the car, Jungkook lets out the breath he’s been holding. He flips his hair to the side and locks eyes with me.
“Can’t you just… come inside? Say something to Jimin?” I check the time on the car. “The lunch bell rings in a few minutes. Stay for lunch. You can leave afterwards, I promise.”
“I’m afraid-” Jungkook clears his throat to speak normally. “I’m afraid the nightmare will come again.”
“Well… this time I’m here.” I nod my head and put a hand on my arm. “It won’t be like the last time you came here because I’m bringing myself into this situation. I’m only asking for a lunch.”
He takes his seatbelt off and I follow with a smile. Jimin, Jungkook and I… we’ll be reunited as one. Finally.
As we get out of the car, the school bell rings. Students fill the hallways almost immediately and few of them come outside with their lunches to eat on the benches. Instantly, the recognize Suga and I. We walk up to Suga and head to the cafeteria together once the hallways have died down. I walk in the middle as Suga stays on my right and Jungkook my left. Students who roam the hallways give the three of us strange and surprised looks. I would understand for Jungkook. He’s wearing casual attire while Suga and I wear our uniforms. I don’t think we’re even allowed to bring outsiders in the cafeteria. No one seems to mind, though.
“Are you satisfied with our trip?” Suga asks me, almost sarcastically.
“You have a ton of surprises up your sleeve Yoongi.” I don’t think twice as I mutter the words out of my mouth. “Taking me to Seoul is nothing. Having pages of notes and observations about me is-”
Jungkook bursts out laughing as we walk into the cafeteria and the room grows silent. Suga falls behind in our walking pace to hit the back of his head. Jungkook about to strangle him, glances at both of us. Our next actions are cut off by a small voice from a table.
“J-jae?” Taehyung almost trips as he runs towards me, taking me into the tightest embrace he’s ever given me. He doesn’t give me any chance to look at his face. I can tell Suga is judging him immensely. My head turns, revealing Jungkook’s face full of surprise and fear. Taehyung strokes my hair and buries his face into my shoulder. I hear him sobbing and Suga pats his back, rather lovingly. “I’m sorry… I-I would never hurt you. I couldn’t s-sleep last night because I was worried something happened to you. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I never saw you again. I thought you left me forever, I-”
He stops himself as I slide my arms around his waist and rest my chin on his shoulder. I bring my lips close to his ear and whisper so only he can hear me. “I love you.”
There’s silence before he responds by planting a soft kiss on my shoulder, sending shivers throughout my body.
Hoseok, Seokjin and Jimin stand up and make their way to us. Jimin bear hugs Jungkook, warmly. Jungkook without hesitation wraps his arms around Jimin. I feel Taehyung let go of me slightly as Hoseok coughs.
Turning around, I find him expectantly waiting for his hug. From Hoseok to Seokjin, I greet them with a friendly hug. “Thank you for your help, Seokjin.”
“I’m just glad your okay.” Seokjin smiles brightly and notions the table. “Why don’t we all take a seat.”
------
Jungkook’s POV
I watch as Taehyung takes my Jaemi into his arms. The two of them. In embrace. It’s something I never imagined seeing. He looks healthier than the last time I’ve seen him. Healthier than the last time Suga described him to us.
Jaemi glances me and I feel my heart stop beating. They… aren’t… together, are they?
“I’m sorry… I-I would never hurt you. I couldn’t s-sleep last night because I was worried something happened to you. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I never saw you again. I thought you left me forever, I-”
Jaemi and Taehyung. He’s living the life I was meant to. With Jaemi… until she came here. Jaemi’s supposed to me mine. I guess he deserves it… after what we did to him.
Jimin and I take minutes to process being in Buncheon together. Again. Seokjin notions for all of us to eat together at the table. Jimin springs to Jaemi and Taehyung, checking on her. As we head to the table, Seokjin puts pats my back gently and Hoseok almost jumps on my back. As I sit down first, Jaemi sits to my right with Jimin immediately at my left. I cockily smile, remembering how the three of us would eat lunch like this. My head turns and I watch as Taehyung sits next to Jaemi, putting an arm around her shoulders. She doesn’t mind it either. Quickly, the table fills up, but Yoongi doesn’t join us. Not that he’d actually be welcome to sit here either.
“How did you guys get back here?” Hoseok questions and continues to eat his lunch. Taehyung pushes his lunch in front of Jaemi for her to eat.
“My friend, Jungkook drove us here?” Jaemi says and her eyes widen. “Ah, I forgot to introduce you guys to each other. This is…”
I space out as she introduces everyone to me. Taehyung makes the first gesture. “It’s nice to meet you, Jungkook. I’ve heard about you from Jaemi.”
I bow with a fake smile. “So this is the famous Taehyung. I recognize your face from a few years ago.”
“You got your license Jungkook?” Seokjin reaches over the table to ruffle my hair. “Aigoo, you actually got it. I’m proud of you.”
“How’s Seoul? I heard from friends you were accepted into the best dance institution in South Korea. Yah~” Hoseok says, cheerfully.
Taehyung chuckles and stops himself. “You guys know each other?”
“Yes. Jungkook and Jimin came to visit here for a month a few years ago.” Seokjin explains. “We’ve met and spoken to Jungkook before, but Jimin was too shy to introduce himself to us.”
“It explains why we didn’t recognize him at first.” Hoseok nods his head. I watch as Jaemi takes in the information along with Taehyung.
I open my mouth to say something, but someone taps my shoulder from behind. “Oh, Bae Joohyun- I mean, Irene-shi.”
Everyone at the table turns to her. I glance at Jaemi and watch her face darken at the sight of Joohyunnie. She’s about to stand up and verbally attack Joohyun, but I get up first.
“It’s good to see you, Jungkook sunbaenim.” She starts and bows formally.
“Is Yoongi still bossing you around?” I immediately confront Irene about Yoongi blackmailing her. Her eyes look away from mine and I nod my head. “He’s still the same old, Yoongi.”
“It’s Suga, Jungkook. How many times do I have to tell you.”
“Yoongi is the only person I know. Suga is an alter ego.” I fireback. It’s true. When I first met him, he was the complete opposite of what he is now… but that’s mostly my fault.
“And you?” He raises his eyebrow and folds his arms. “You’ve been keeping things from Jaemi far too long. I’m not talking about the trip you made here a few years ago. I’m talking about Daegu. Why don’t we just tell her? Hm? You think she’ll love you and Jimin then?”
Jimin and Jaemi stand up at the same time, however Jimin brushes past Irene and manages to speaks first, “Suga. Doing that will make her hate you more. You care about her as much as we do, as much as Taehyung does. Isn’t that why you took her to see Jungkook in the first place?”
For the first time, he doesn’t have anything to counter. I scoff and walk until I’m next to Jimin. “You love her? Is that why you wrote down things about her on your little clipbo-”
Yoongi pushes me with two hands. “Don’t start anything with me.”
I hear another person stand up but I don’t have bother looking back. “You are the one who start everything. You brought me here for a purpose. You knew I had spring break. Why did you bring me here?”
“How did you know…” Jaemi’s voice is soft and curious.
“Know what, Jae?” Yoongi answers, plainly.
“About Jungkooks whereabouts for the past few weeks when you were here, in Buncheon… You knew that he’d offer to take us back here from Seoul, and how I’d ask him to come in the school… why… how…” My body shifts so that I can see Jimin, Yoongi and Jaemi at the same time. Taehyung was the one who stood up when I didn’t look back. He’s holding her hand, looking down at her shoulder. His hair hovers over his eyes. “It has to do with Daegu, doesn’t it? Jungkook, Jimin and I were there… in Daegu. 2008.”
“Daegu…” Taehyung whispers. My heart beats really fast and I feel cold sweat forming at the sides of my temples. He doesn’t remember… right? There no way he could remember… if he does, Jimin and I are screwed.
I glance at Yoongi, who stares at Taehyung with somewhat desperate eyes. He can’t remember… Jaemi would never forgive me.
March 17, 2016
11:30am
We’ve spent at least an hour in the car, sitting in silence as Jungkook drives us. I turn my head to check on Suga, who’s using all of the back seat to lay down and sleep. I heave a sigh and check my cell phone, which is nearly dead by now. I open Seokjin’s messages and decide to contact him.
Me: I’m coming home.
Minutes later, he shoots me a few messages.
Seokjin: What time do you think you’ll be back?
Seokjin: I told Byeol you were sleeping over a friends house to study.
Me: We’ll be there before noon.
Seokjin: Are you in your school uniform? If we want Byeol to believe you slept over, you have to come home with us from school.
Me: Ah, right, I forgot. I’ll see at lunch then. Call in for me?
Seokjin: Yeah.
“Jungkook.” I say, suddenly. His eyes are still on the road, but I can tell he’s listening. Both of his hands are on the steering wheel. “What are your plans, you know, in Buncheon?”
“What do you mean? I’m just giving you… and Yoongi a ride.” Jungkook clears his throat and puts a hand on the gear shift.
“You don’t plan to stay for a while?” I question, a bit disappointed. “That’s it? Don’t you want to see Jimin? What about your friends in Buncheon that you haven’t seen in a while?”
“It’s not like that. I just-” He stops himself and glances at me for a few seconds before redirecting to the road. “How did you know I’ve been to Buncheon before?”
My eyes grow wider for a moment and I look down. Shoot, I didn’t think of that. He didn’t tell me anything about his time in Buncheon. “Uhm… I mean, how else would you know Suga and Namjoon? Besides… Jimin told me everything.”
"Jimin's there...?" I wait a minute for him to give me more of a response respond, but instead, he stays silent.
With that, I continue talking. “How could you hide that from me? Seeing Jimin without even thinking about me? Did you even consider… how I've felt all of these years...? How I felt when he was dragged away from us before our eyes? When he told me you approached him one day, on top of that went a trip to Buncheon together, it broke my heart. I felt so angered and stupid.”
“Your not stupid.” Jungkook shakes his head in disagreement. “I admit, I made the decision to leave you out of everything, but it’s only because I was protecting you.”
“I don’t need protection. I should be the one to decide on whether or not I want to get involved with something.”
“This is different.” He pauses and I watch as he looks through the car mirror at Suga before continuing. “I… It was a matter Jimin and I had to be deal with. If he found out you…”
His voice trails off and I raise an eyebrow. “If who found me?”
“Nothing.” Jungkook responds almost instantly. “We’re about ten minutes away from Buncheon. Where did you want me to drop you off?”
“Buncheon High School.” I say plainly. “Suga and I still have school. I don’t know when our break is… Do you know where the high school is?”
“Yes.”
“Of course he does, Jae.” Suga groans and sits up in the middle seat. He ruffles his hair and buttons his uniform jacket. “I don’t think he’d ever forget where everything in Buncheon is-- he points to either side of his temples--. Photographic memory.”
“Shut up. I could say the same to you when it comes to Seoul. At least I don’t memorize Jaemi’s -and others- whereabouts every single day and follow her around in the dark.” Jungkook retorts rather loud. “I’m not the type person who does that. I still have dignity.”
“I can’t believe you can claim to have dignity in yourself after deliberating killing m-”
“KIM YOONGI!” Jungkook is almost about to scream his lungs out.
“IT’S SUGA.” Suga lowers his voice. “Jaemi’s the only one who can call me that.”
Kim… Yoongi? Not ‘Min’ Yoongi? Jungkook killed someone?
“It wasn’t deliberate.” Jungkook takes a deep breath and stops the car in front of the school. “Suga, get out of the car.”
Suga stays put and I turn around to meet him his gaze. “Just… give me a second.”
Once Suga’s out of the car, Jungkook lets out the breath he’s been holding. He flips his hair to the side and locks eyes with me.
“Can’t you just… come inside? Say something to Jimin?” I check the time on the car. “The lunch bell rings in a few minutes. Stay for lunch. You can leave afterwards, I promise.”
“I’m afraid-” Jungkook clears his throat to speak normally. “I’m afraid the nightmare will come again.”
“Well… this time I’m here.” I nod my head and put a hand on my arm. “It won’t be like the last time you came here because I’m bringing myself into this situation. I’m only asking for a lunch.”
He takes his seatbelt off and I follow with a smile. Jimin, Jungkook and I… we’ll be reunited as one. Finally.
As we get out of the car, the school bell rings. Students fill the hallways almost immediately and few of them come outside with their lunches to eat on the benches. Instantly, the recognize Suga and I. We walk up to Suga and head to the cafeteria together once the hallways have died down. I walk in the middle as Suga stays on my right and Jungkook my left. Students who roam the hallways give the three of us strange and surprised looks. I would understand for Jungkook. He’s wearing casual attire while Suga and I wear our uniforms. I don’t think we’re even allowed to bring outsiders in the cafeteria. No one seems to mind, though.
“Are you satisfied with our trip?” Suga asks me, almost sarcastically.
“You have a ton of surprises up your sleeve Yoongi.” I don’t think twice as I mutter the words out of my mouth. “Taking me to Seoul is nothing. Having pages of notes and observations about me is-”
Jungkook bursts out laughing as we walk into the cafeteria and the room grows silent. Suga falls behind in our walking pace to hit the back of his head. Jungkook about to strangle him, glances at both of us. Our next actions are cut off by a small voice from a table.
“J-jae?” Taehyung almost trips as he runs towards me, taking me into the tightest embrace he’s ever given me. He doesn’t give me any chance to look at his face. I can tell Suga is judging him immensely. My head turns, revealing Jungkook’s face full of surprise and fear. Taehyung strokes my hair and buries his face into my shoulder. I hear him sobbing and Suga pats his back, rather lovingly. “I’m sorry… I-I would never hurt you. I couldn’t s-sleep last night because I was worried something happened to you. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I never saw you again. I thought you left me forever, I-”
He stops himself as I slide my arms around his waist and rest my chin on his shoulder. I bring my lips close to his ear and whisper so only he can hear me. “I love you.”
There’s silence before he responds by planting a soft kiss on my shoulder, sending shivers throughout my body.
Hoseok, Seokjin and Jimin stand up and make their way to us. Jimin bear hugs Jungkook, warmly. Jungkook without hesitation wraps his arms around Jimin. I feel Taehyung let go of me slightly as Hoseok coughs.
Turning around, I find him expectantly waiting for his hug. From Hoseok to Seokjin, I greet them with a friendly hug. “Thank you for your help, Seokjin.”
“I’m just glad your okay.” Seokjin smiles brightly and notions the table. “Why don’t we all take a seat.”
------
Jungkook’s POV
I watch as Taehyung takes my Jaemi into his arms. The two of them. In embrace. It’s something I never imagined seeing. He looks healthier than the last time I’ve seen him. Healthier than the last time Suga described him to us.
Jaemi glances me and I feel my heart stop beating. They… aren’t… together, are they?
“I’m sorry… I-I would never hurt you. I couldn’t s-sleep last night because I was worried something happened to you. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I never saw you again. I thought you left me forever, I-”
Jaemi and Taehyung. He’s living the life I was meant to. With Jaemi… until she came here. Jaemi’s supposed to me mine. I guess he deserves it… after what we did to him.
Jimin and I take minutes to process being in Buncheon together. Again. Seokjin notions for all of us to eat together at the table. Jimin springs to Jaemi and Taehyung, checking on her. As we head to the table, Seokjin puts pats my back gently and Hoseok almost jumps on my back. As I sit down first, Jaemi sits to my right with Jimin immediately at my left. I cockily smile, remembering how the three of us would eat lunch like this. My head turns and I watch as Taehyung sits next to Jaemi, putting an arm around her shoulders. She doesn’t mind it either. Quickly, the table fills up, but Yoongi doesn’t join us. Not that he’d actually be welcome to sit here either.
“How did you guys get back here?” Hoseok questions and continues to eat his lunch. Taehyung pushes his lunch in front of Jaemi for her to eat.
“My friend, Jungkook drove us here?” Jaemi says and her eyes widen. “Ah, I forgot to introduce you guys to each other. This is…”
I space out as she introduces everyone to me. Taehyung makes the first gesture. “It’s nice to meet you, Jungkook. I’ve heard about you from Jaemi.”
I bow with a fake smile. “So this is the famous Taehyung. I recognize your face from a few years ago.”
“You got your license Jungkook?” Seokjin reaches over the table to ruffle my hair. “Aigoo, you actually got it. I’m proud of you.”
“How’s Seoul? I heard from friends you were accepted into the best dance institution in South Korea. Yah~” Hoseok says, cheerfully.
Taehyung chuckles and stops himself. “You guys know each other?”
“Yes. Jungkook and Jimin came to visit here for a month a few years ago.” Seokjin explains. “We’ve met and spoken to Jungkook before, but Jimin was too shy to introduce himself to us.”
“It explains why we didn’t recognize him at first.” Hoseok nods his head. I watch as Jaemi takes in the information along with Taehyung.
I open my mouth to say something, but someone taps my shoulder from behind. “Oh, Bae Joohyun- I mean, Irene-shi.”
Everyone at the table turns to her. I glance at Jaemi and watch her face darken at the sight of Joohyunnie. She’s about to stand up and verbally attack Joohyun, but I get up first.
“It’s good to see you, Jungkook sunbaenim.” She starts and bows formally.
“Is Yoongi still bossing you around?” I immediately confront Irene about Yoongi blackmailing her. Her eyes look away from mine and I nod my head. “He’s still the same old, Yoongi.”
“It’s Suga, Jungkook. How many times do I have to tell you.”
“Yoongi is the only person I know. Suga is an alter ego.” I fireback. It’s true. When I first met him, he was the complete opposite of what he is now… but that’s mostly my fault.
“And you?” He raises his eyebrow and folds his arms. “You’ve been keeping things from Jaemi far too long. I’m not talking about the trip you made here a few years ago. I’m talking about Daegu. Why don’t we just tell her? Hm? You think she’ll love you and Jimin then?”
Jimin and Jaemi stand up at the same time, however Jimin brushes past Irene and manages to speaks first, “Suga. Doing that will make her hate you more. You care about her as much as we do, as much as Taehyung does. Isn’t that why you took her to see Jungkook in the first place?”
For the first time, he doesn’t have anything to counter. I scoff and walk until I’m next to Jimin. “You love her? Is that why you wrote down things about her on your little clipbo-”
Yoongi pushes me with two hands. “Don’t start anything with me.”
I hear another person stand up but I don’t have bother looking back. “You are the one who start everything. You brought me here for a purpose. You knew I had spring break. Why did you bring me here?”
“How did you know…” Jaemi’s voice is soft and curious.
“Know what, Jae?” Yoongi answers, plainly.
“About Jungkooks whereabouts for the past few weeks when you were here, in Buncheon… You knew that he’d offer to take us back here from Seoul, and how I’d ask him to come in the school… why… how…” My body shifts so that I can see Jimin, Yoongi and Jaemi at the same time. Taehyung was the one who stood up when I didn’t look back. He’s holding her hand, looking down at her shoulder. His hair hovers over his eyes. “It has to do with Daegu, doesn’t it? Jungkook, Jimin and I were there… in Daegu. 2008.”
“Daegu…” Taehyung whispers. My heart beats really fast and I feel cold sweat forming at the sides of my temples. He doesn’t remember… right? There no way he could remember… if he does, Jimin and I are screwed.
I glance at Yoongi, who stares at Taehyung with somewhat desperate eyes. He can’t remember… Jaemi would never forgive me.
Notes
Annyeonghaseyo Readers :),
This chapter gives many hints to the upcoming events and showdowns. What you think is the climax WON'T be a climax. That sounds confusing, but you'll see soon. It'll blow your mind.
How does Jungkook know Irene...? Irene's -from Red Velvet- real name is Bae Joohyun just in case anyone was confused. HINT: Bae Joohyun changed her name from Joohyun to Irene. BUT! Kim Namjoon changed his name from Namjoon to Rap Monster. AND!!! Min (Kim) Yoongi changed his name from Yoongi to Suga... you think they relate to each other?
JUST something to think about. <3 LOVE YOU ALL BTW. Sorry I didn't give you all an EXTRA chapter this week, just too busy that's all.
VOTE///COMMENT///SUBSCRIBE To hear more from meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!! AND, if you like this story so far.
See you in the next chapter~!
~Alexis Thao
P.S. KIM TAEHYUNG STOP KILLING ME! LEWHFIUEWHFIUHDSKFHLEIUWDFHJD
<3 <3 <3
I'm seriously fangirling it's just-
5/16/18