Chapter Four

The next few weeks were hell for the boys, they experienced the hardship that came with being independent in a city as big as Seoul with nothing but a few tattered clothes which they brought all the way from Daegu.

in order to survive they've done things they didn't think they would do. Things like pick-pocketing and straight up stealing from food vendors. they got caught sometimes, got a few punches here and there before they manage to escape.

And despite all the hardships the thought of ever going back to the orphanage was completely out of point for they preferred to stay in Seoul and suffer than to go back to that boring place where nothing awaits them.

"Tae, come see" Jimin calls out one afternoon after they've had the day's meal and Taehyung was chilling under a big tree with broad leaves that had him on the verge of dozing off because of the cool shade it provided.

"what is it? " Taehyung said wiping at his eyes to get rid of the drowsiness.

"I went to the toilet (a public one) and once I finished what I was doing and came out of the stall, I saw this on the sink" Jimin says happily showing him a wallet.

"and see what's inside" he continued opening the wallet to bring out it's content, waving it in front of him. "it's $50 in cash, do you know how far this money will go to help us" he said, excitement coursing through every veins in his body.

Taehyung gaped at him, ever since they came to Seoul, this is the first time they've had this big an amount.

"wow that's amazing" Taehyung said, a big smile appearing on his face as he suddenly latches himself on Jimin's left hand.

"Chim let's have a proper meal today please?" Taehyung pleaded, giving Jimin the best puppy eyes he could muster.

"of course Tae, anything you want" Jimin says without hesitation, Taehyung was never the athletic type and the running around and eating less was causing him to unhealthyly slim down, and even though a slim Taehyung was fine, Jimin won't have it at the expense of his health.

"Come on, let go to that restaurant close to the mall" Jimin said standing up and dusting himself and Taehyung does the same only faster, barking at Jimin to hurry up.

"Jimin this is the best black bean noodles I've ever tasted in my life" Taehyung commented using his finger to scrape out the last stain of sauce in the plate before bringing it to him mouth, sighing in content once he brings his finger down.

"I know right, this place is the best" Jimin agreed leaning back on his chair since he couldn't help himself, this was the biggest meal he's had in a while.

they rested for a while before paying for their meal and going home or in their case, under a bridge.

"who would have thought we'd make it this far in Seoul" Jimin suddenly said on their walk home, he reached out to grab Taehyung's hand and intertwined it with his, swinging it playfully between them and Taehyung hears the familiar pit-a-pat-a of his heart, one that beats only because of Jimin.

"I know, it actually feels like a mirac..." Taehyung was saying when something blocks his vision, he reaches out with his free hand to take it off and it appeared to be a paper blown to his by the wind.

"what's it?" Jimin asked once he sees taehyung opening it.

"wow it's bighit" Taehyung gasped

"what!? " Jimin asked, snatching the paper out of his hand. "they are recruiting" Jimin said reading over the information on the paper with wide eyes and an equally wide smile which was so contagious it had Taehyung grinning too.

Suddenly Jimin's smile dropped and with immediate effect Taehyung's too disappeared upon seeing the way his shoulder deflated.

"what's wrong Jimin? " Taehyung is quick to ask

"the termly fee is too much Tae" Jimin answered, his voice weak and Taehyung reached out to grab the paper since it looked like Jimin couldn't tell him and he gasped

"$1000/term? " he whisper-yelled, covering his mouth with his hand in shock.

"we might as well just go back to Daegu Tae, we can't afford it" Jimin said, disappointment heavy in his tone.

"No! we can't give up just yet" Taehyung encouraged, reaching back for his hand, "the money is huge, but it's not more than you".

" Taehyung please, let's stop this, there was no hope from the beginning " Jimin said already on the verge of crying. "let's just go back" he completed, already walking away before Taehyung's voice stopped

"the registration is for a month, let's try to get jobs and save the money, if we don't come up with it before the end of the registration, then" he looked into Jimin's eyes "then we can go home"

*** *** ***

Hunting for a job was no joke, they started to look around early the next morning after eating breakfast with some of the money remaining from the $50 they luckily had the previous day.

"Tae, let's split up, that way we'll cover more grounds, if we keep walking together, it will be too slow" Jimin suggested and Taehyung nodded in agreement.

"fine, let's meet each other back at the bridge" he said as he waved at him, already choosing the side he wanted to go to and he feels Jimin's eyes on him until he was out of sight.

Hours later and Taehyung was getting tired, hunger piercing and slashing through his organs, his feet ached from walking for too long.

"This is for Jimin, you have to stay strong" he encouraged himself, seeing yet another salesperson vacancy only to walk in and get rejected for not looking competent enough just like the others.

"I'm so tired and hungry" Taehyung said sitting at the pavement of a building not caring if it's dirty or not, he's clothes were no better.

He was thinking of what to do when he saw a grocery store a few feet away from him and he stood up abruptly, moving fast so he could reach the store quickly despite the fact he had no money.

He took deep breaths before walking in, he immediately saw the food section and speed walked there, his brain was too clouded by hunger to think properly.

He moved closer and saw those beautiful tiny fresh breads and without a thought he grabbed it up and wolfed it down, sighing in relief when his stomach rejoice at the meal. but one wasn't enough, so he grabbed another and just as he bit into it, a harsh voice asked from behind him

"and how do you plan to pay for that boy? " a man probably in his 40s asked and Taehyung turned around, mouth full of bread with some still in his hand, he looked like a deer caught in headlight.

"I... I... don't have any money sir" Taehyung responded, finding it hard to chew the food now that he was caught. he would prefer to just spit it out.

"WHAT? YOU DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY AND YOU EAT BREAD HERE? " the man fumed, moving closer to Taehyung to grab the front of his shirt before landing a slap to his face.

"DO YOU THINK THIS IS A CHARITY STORE" the man yelled, raising his fist in the air and Taehyung instinctively closed his eyes, ready for the punch to arrive, a small whimper leaving his mouth.

"I'll pay for him, what did he take" a gentle voice said and Taehyung opened his eyes to see the store owner lowering his hand as he turns to face the man talking.

the man was young, probably just a bit older than him, he had a small face, his hair fell on his forehead beautifully, he wore a nice suit and everything about him screamed money.

"He took five breads sir" the man answered and Taehyung's eyes widened in shook, 'this man is lying' Taehyung thought but didn't dare to voice it out.

"here" the young man answered, handing his card over to him, "swipe it"

"okay sir" the elderly man took the card and went away unaware of the glares Taehyung sent his way.

His eyes dropped however when the store owner was out of sight and the young man in front of him was eyeing him weirdly.

'what is his deal' Taehyung thought and just as the store owner handed the card back to the young man and he turned around to walk out, Taehyung turned towards the store owner

"Liar" he mouthed and the store owner only shrugged making his blood boil.

he looked forward and once he doesn't see the young man, he bolted out of the door in an attempt to flee from an awkward moment of appreciation.

"not so fast" a hand on his shoulder stopped him from moving forward and he turned around to see the stranger who just saved him.

"look thank you for saving my life but I have to go" he said hurriedly and turned around to run away but a firm grip on his hand stopped him this time.

"let me go" he whisper-yelled struggling to free his hand but to no avail

"is this how you pay me back for helping you? " the man asked, a playful smirk on his face.

"I don't have any money, please just let me go" Taehyung pleaded, wanting to go away from this place.

"how about you work for me for one day to repay me" the man asked, loosing his grip on the other's hand.

"I'm not interested" Taehyung answered before turning around to run away but the words the man said next stopped him.

"I'll pay you an additional $2000 if you agree" this had Taehyung spinning around

"$2000? " He asked eyes wide

"yes only if you agree" he man answered smugly, shoving his hands in his pockets.

"what type of job is it?" he asked suspiciously.

"nothing strenuous, I promise. but you have to come with me to find out"

"how do I know you are not planning to kill me or sell me? " Taehyung asked because even if the young man in front of him doesn't look like someone who'd do such a thing, there was no harm in being too careful.

"I promise I won't do such a thing" the man assures

'if I get this $2000 not only will Jimin be able to go to bighit but we could get ourselves a temporary apartment to settle in for the time being. anything for Jimin' Taehyung thought

"Fine, lead the way" he said and the man happily did, opening his way too expensive car to a wide eyed Taehyung who settled inside with utmost care.

"My name is Kim Seokjin by the way, what's your's? " the man asked as he started the engine and drove out to the main road.

"I'm Taehyung, Kim Taehyung" he answered, eyes marveling at the rich view outside the moving vehicle.

"how old are you? " he heard the man ask

"16, you? " he asked back absentminded and the man chuckled,

"you're so young but that would do. I'm 20" the man answered and Taehyung nodded even though he paid no attention.

shortly after they pulled up in front of a house which looked like a palace in Taehyung's opinion. Taehyung looked around at the house, a winged creature statue stood near the entrance of the house with a vase in its hand from which water poured from.

"come in Taehyung" Seokjin beakons from the entrance and Taehyung rushes over. now the outside was one thing but inside left him speechless.

"your house is so beautiful" Taehyung commented, spinning on his feet to look around.

"thanks, now come on" Seokjin said not waiting for Taehyung as he started to move up the stairs until he stopped at a door and opened it, using his eyes to tell Taehyung to move in first.

once he does, Seokjin goes in too and locks the door.

The room was dimly lit but Taehyung could make out the king sized bed taking almost all the middle part of the room.

Seokjin walks close to the binds on the window and pulls it down slightly allowing a bit of light to flow into the room before he turned around and starts stalking over to Taehyung slowly while loosing his tie.

Taehyung starts to panic, his heart beating in a not-so-romantic way.

"what... What am I to... to do? " he stuttered out, his head hung low while he nervously played with his fingers.

Seokjin puts a finger under his chin and raised his head up.

"for starters, how about stripping for me hmm? "

"WHAT? "

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***