Heartfelt Chronicles: Echoes Of Affection
"Hearts Across Eras"— 15
Jungkook was shaken up, reading the letter over and over again. Taehyung snatched it out of his hands, and he turned his face away.
Taehyung became angrier by the second as he read it and looked over at Jungkook; his face had become sullen, and his eyes were looking in all directions.
Jungkook had been in control for the last twelve years, being able to pick out everything about his surroundings, noticing things that others would miss. The fact that there was a stalker hiding in the shadows, watching him without it ever coming across his mind, was daunting.
The space was closing in on him, and he realized it could be anyone in this room or anyone on the street. He had become too trusting of his surroundings, and that irritated him.
Sometimes he wished he were still a jumpy 14-year-old with a smart mouth, keeping track of everyone who breathed in his direction and making sure that shifty eyes were never directed at him. He knew it was too good to be true, that his life could be normal, that he was allowed to be normal.
It was so unfair, and his heart contorted painfully in his chest.
Taehyung
We’re going to Hyunjin. Right now.
Taehyung whispered in Jungkook's ear, placing a hand at the small of his back.
He looked at literally everyone they passed, trying to get an idea of who they were and whether or not they wrote the letter.
Jungkook scanned everything about everything; the way they walked, their mannerisms, the way they typed, searching for ink on the tips of their fingers, trying to capture the scent of the outdoors he had picked up from the paper.
He frantically searched their shoelaces, cufflinks, and jean pockets for anything to connect them back to the letter. He was struggling. They were all clean. Every single one. Nothing he could come up with could connect them back to the letter, but the letter itself could give him a few leads.
His mind started spinning theories and ideas, the gears turning in his head, connecting everything together like strings. As he glanced at the sheet of paper in Taehyung's hands, a theory had formed.
Jungkook squeezed his eyes shut, going through the gallery of his mind to see if he could find anyone who fits firmly in his description, but he knew he didn’t before he even started thinking back.
Taehyung’s voice was gentle as he looked at Jungkook squeezing his eyes tight. He hesitantly opened them, seeing the elevator stop at the correct floor with a ding. Taehyung walked out of the elevator, and Jungkook followed behind.
They entered the lab, freezing up when they saw the whole team there. Jungkook quickly stood behind Taehyung, trying to hide his face from their prying eyes.
They might not have meant for them to be prying, but they certainly were. Jungkook had never met them before, and he didn’t want to deal with coming face to face with them for the first time under these circumstances.
Taehyung called, his face hard.
Hyunjin
What is it? What happened? *Hyunjin asked*
Hyunjin clocked the air between the two of them almost immediately, and his heart started to beat faster.
Taehyung extended his hand, thrusting the letter in Hyunjin’s direction. Hyunjin gave him a look, taking the paper from him and reading it.
Hyunjin
What the hell is this?
Hyunjin asked, his face turning to one of horror.
Taehyung
It was delivered to his desk in an envelope with the mailman.
Hyunjin followed up, his eyebrows furrowing with worry.
Taehyung
Hell if I know. There wasn’t a return address.
Taehyung replied, breathlessly, his face hard.
Hyunjin
Do you still have the envelope?
Hyunjin asked, and Taehyung shook his head.
Taehyung
It’s still on his desk.
Hyunjin
We need to get it, see if we can find out where it came from.
Hyunjin said, and Jungkook slowly moved from behind Taehyung, stealthily grabbing a notepad and a pen from his dad’s desk. He went back to hide behind Taehyung, feeling the team’s eyes on him every time he moved.
These were certainly not the circumstances they had hoped to meet him under, with him shrinking and hiding behind his protection detail, a fearful look in his eyes as he clutched his notepad and pen.
Jungkook took a deep breath, passively listening to what Hyunjin was telling the team about while he tried to separate the emotional aspect of this investigation. He reset, thinking back to the few seconds he was holding the letter.
His eyes recalled the thickness of the paper. Normal everyday stationary you can get from any store. The paper was very slightly damp, but the envelope wasn’t. It can only mean one thing; it came from somewhere humid. A different country?
He thought and then shook his head, getting rid of that possibility since it didn’t make sense due to the South Korean state postage stamp he recalled seeing on the envelope. He wracked his brain for places that would have excess humidity, scrolling through the endless possibilities, before landing on the perfect answers; Daegu Valley and the Ilsan; the only places that are humid this time of year.
He remembered the perfect creases. They were made with an automatic paper folder. And then his mind went to the typewriter; it was old, the ink faintly smelling of stale cigarettes. The curvature of the letters was also unique.
They were made with a Sphinx typewriter. Those were discontinued in World War I, and there are none known in any collections today.
Jungkook scribbled a note down on the notepad, writing out his conclusions, and once a lull hit their discussion, he moved from behind Taehyung and tugged gently on Hyunjin’s sleeve to get his attention.
Hyunjin asked, turning to Jungkook with worry. Jungkook ripped the page out of the notepad and handed it to him. He looked over it, reading the few sentences that Jungkook had written down.
The person they’re looking for has money to spend and lives in Daegu Valley or the Ilsan. They own a Swiss ‘Sphinx’ typewriter. Probably purchased on the black market.
Hyunjin asked, looking down at Jungkook, and he nodded. Hyunjin always knew he was a genius, the things he knew he was able to pick up, and how quickly he processed information; there was definitely something special about it, something almost superhuman.
Hyunjin really wanted to just keep him safe and not make him have to deal with all this. He didn’t believe it was good for his psyche, even though he had proven to him time and again in the past that it was probably not the case.
His mother didn’t break him, people didn’t break him, maybe being a target was what finally did it. Maybe realizing how much danger he was in was his tipping point; the point of no return.
How was Hyunjin supposed to know for sure that he wasn’t dangling on an edge? A hair’s breadth away from losing his sanity all at once?
But Hyunjin also knew that they probably needed his expertise. At this point, they needed someone who could create a lead out of nothing, a working theory with a blade of grass to get them out of the slump they were in, and Jungkook was the only person who could do that.
Hyunjin smiled and put a hand on Jungkook's head, ruffling his hair.
Hyunjin
If you guys don’t mind, I’ll introduce you all under better circumstances. I think he just needs some time now, though.
Hyunjin turned to the team, hand moving to rest on Jungkook's shoulder. The team had solemn looks on their faces as they eyed him and nodded.
Lee Minho
Of course. Whatever you need.
Minho offered, and Jungkook gave him a gentle smile.
Hyunjin
Kim, take him home.
Hyunjin advised, and Taehyung walked towards Jungkook, putting a gentle guiding hand on his back as he led him out of the lab and to the elevator.
The ride down was awkwardly silent, with thoughts swimming in Jungkook's head. He was feeling even more hyper-aware of his surroundings than usual, taking specific note of every sound, every scent, and every footstep he’s come across.
Taehyung noticed as Jungkook stared at the ground, brows furrowed, and listened to his memories in the silence of the elevator. He watched as Jungkook pulled up an old memory in his head and looked through it, squeezing his eyes shut and shaking his head once to dismiss it and move onto the next to repeat the process.
Taehyung called, and Jungkook looked up at him.
He commanded in a low voice. It took Jungkook a few seconds to reply as he gazed into Taehyung's blank expression.
Jungkook shakily replied as the elevator dinged, signaling that they had reached the floor of the department.
Taehyung walked with him into the office and shielded him from everyone else with his broad back while he waited for Jungkook to collect his things from his desk.
Jaekhyung
Well, well, well. Heading out so soon? What, did daddy give you the day off?
Jaekhyung, a man in his department, came up to the two of them.
Jungkook
I'd rather not deal with you right now.
Jungkook spat without looking up at him as he shut his laptop and tucked it away.
Jaekhyung
Why? Too busy dealing with the weight of being a trust fund baby?
He snarked. Taehyung was ready to step up, but Jungkook put a hand on his arm, giving Jaekhyung a quick once-over before speaking.
Jungkook hummed, and Jaekhyung rolled his eyes.
Jaekhyung
What? Have you figured out what I had for breakfast this morning? *Jaekhyung snorted*
Jungkook replied, looking him in the eyes with a serious expression. His smile disappeared at Jungkook's answer, and he knew he was right.
Jungkook
But that’s not what I learned.
Jungkook gave him a look, and Jaekhyung swallowed hard. He seemed to be nervous about something.
Jungkook
Tell me. How’s your boat doing?
Jungkook asked, and he gave Jungkook a look.
He tried to look confused, but his eyes momentarily shifted away from Jungkook's.
Jungkook
Yes, your boat. The one you’re hiding from your fiancé, paid for by your gambling winnings.
Jungkook confirmed matter-of-factly. He saw Jaekhyung's chest stop moving as his breath hitched in his throat.
Jungkook
Don’t want to talk about that? Fine. We can talk about something else. How’s your pursuit of a mistress going?
As soon as the words left Jungkook's mouth, Taehyung started ushering him out.
Taehyung warned. Everyone in the office was watching this happen, hanging on every word as Taehyung guided Jungkook out of the department as quickly as he could before he turned around and decided to spout some more facts about his coworker.
Taehyung kept ushering him out until they got to the car. Taehyung peeled out of the spot and started driving back to Busan. Jungkook looked out the window, elbow sitting on the armrest while his fingers moved to touch his lips.
Taehyung
You went too far back there.
Taehyung pointed out without looking away from the road. Jungkook sighed, shutting his eyes briefly.
Taehyung
What’s going on with you?
Taehyung asked, and Jungkook gave him a look, turning his head to look at his features. They were mostly blank, but his eyes gave away his concern.
Jungkook
Nothing. *Jungkook murmured*
Taehyung called him out with a scoff and continued to drive. Jungkook let the silence hang in the air as he wondered whether or not Taehyung would call him pathetic with his answer.
It made sense to him, but perhaps saying it aloud will alert the two of them to how absurd his thoughts really were.
Jungkook swallowed hard and looked away from Taehyung again, not willing to meet his face. He rarely opened up to people. Jeonghan, Minyoung, Taeyong and Hyunjin were exceptions; he trusted them. And he trusted Taehyung, too.
But insights into his thoughts were reserved for people who have known him for far longer than he had known Taehyung, and yet, there was something in him screaming at him to let it out.
Perhaps it was different since he had no choice but to trust him as his protection detail, or maybe it was something more. The exact reason didn’t matter; his mind was shouting at him to tell him, and for the first time in a while, he made a realization about himself. He trusts him.
Comments
Katsumi.Orbiting_. かつみ
he is Sharlock Homes in alternate universe!
2024-06-20
0
Venizia
THEY ARE FASCINATING ❤❤❤❤ some paragraph i read 2 times just to make sure I didn't miss anything....nd the insight of jk mind was a gem !!! gift dear
2024-03-31
0
Venizia
no for even FBI,CIA nd secret service wouldn't be able to find all this in first 15 min of the incident nd with that much precision......I'm stunned 😳
2024-03-31
0