Keep on going

In the dim lights, maybe because Taehyung forgot to switch on the lights, or maybe because he didn’t want anyone to know he was home, Jungkook fumbled with the bag he brought with him. Maybe when Taehyung left him at Jeon Mansion, he went in to only get his bag. Maybe he planned to come back to Taehyung all along. This was something only Jungkook would know. He finally found what he was looking for.

A small red faux leather pocket diary, more like the telephone book, peeked as he brought it out. He extended it towards Taehyung, who was equally confused and intrigued. Pages fluttered as Jungkook went through them. He kept mumbling something and Taehyung was confused as he couldn’t decipher it at all.

As soon as Jungkook found what he was looking for, a wave of pride and relief washed over his face. It suddenly felt as if he found a lifeline. As Taehyung picked the hints and looked at the page with a frown on his forehead, he understood what Jungkook was mumbling. “Hyung, Hoseok Hyung,” He was saying “Hoseok Hyung” Taehyung mentally face-palmed himself. Not wasting any more time, Taehyung sprang into action.

With a very decisive motion, he tore the page, scribbled with blue ink was an address, home of Jung Hoseok, in a village not very far from Boseong. Sunghun used to travel there sometimes as a chauffeur for Jeon Estate and come back the same day. Thus, Taehyung knew it was a short-distance trip. He folded the paper with care and tucked it safely in his wallet. The red telephone book landed with a soft thud somewhere in the dining area of the house.

Taehyung looked at Jungkook with his trademark broad smile. He wanted to tell Jungkook that he understood what was needed and that he would take Jungkook safely there. There was no need for him to worry. He tried communicating it with a little touch on Jungkook’s elbow and his smile. The miracle was - Jungkook understood. As he faintly returned Taehyung’s smile, he understood it.

It was nearly 11 p.m., and the dark skies covered Boseong, but Taehyung couldn’t afford to rest. There was a sense of urgency with which he moved. He grabbed some essentials and put them in a bag of his own. He knew Detective Seokjin would be back at his doorstep any moment again. The detective had seen Jungkook fleeing with Taehyung in the market. It was only a matter of time. Not wanting to tickle his luck anymore, he decided they needed to leave immediately.

Jungkook was standing all this while with fingers twisted and sometimes pulling on the skin of his neck. He was anxious, but of course, Taehyung didn’t know these signs. Taehyung turned towards Jungkook. He took a beat; and breathed in softly. Tying the shirt around his waist once again, Taehyung held the hem and extended it towards Jungkook. Pointing towards the door with his thumb, he gestured that they needed to leave now. Grabbing a couple of fruits that were lying around in the house, Taehyung walked out, with Jungkook behind him, holding the hem of the shirt. 

Even though it was late at night, Taehyung was still careful as he headed to the main bus stop for the town. Taehyung led the way and Jungkook trailed behind him. The road, empty at this hour of the day, stretched long and far. Taehyung was feeling a weight of responsibility on his shoulders, and surprisingly, he never questioned it, not even once, despite the madness it brought with him. As they reached and found the tickets for the next bus going towards Hoseok’s village, it was 1 am. The bus was not even a passenger bus. It was a goods carrier, with farmers, cattle, and cargo alike.

They boarded the bus and just shut their eyes for a minute, Taehyung thought. The entire adrenaline drop caused him to not know when he slept. The faint sun of the morning was when he opened his eyes again. His immediate reaction was one of surprise. He turned his head immediately to look for Jungkook, who was sleeping like a baby. His mouth was open, and he had thrown his head back against the body of the traveler. Seeing Jungkook like that brought a smile out of endearment to Taehyung’s face. However, Taehyung could also see that the position must be very uncomfortable for Jungkook. He pulled the other by the shoulders to straighten his tee shirt, resting Jungkook’s head on his shoulder, and closed his mouth with a little tuck at Jungkook’s chin.

The traveler was going through rice paddies, the breeze fresh with the morning coolness. Jungkook shuffled into his seat soon and started to wake up. As soon as he opened his eyes, Taehyung knew. Jungkook started to recoil, his entire body inward. Taehyung was quick to pick up on the discomfort the other was feeling. He brought a hand and kept it reassuringly over Jungkook’s thighs. This helped as it brought Jungkook’s entire attention to Taehyung.

It was around late morning when they reached the bus stop near Hoseok’s village. Taehyung was careful while getting down, asking Jungkook to stay put for a while. After scanning the surroundings for probable triggers for Jungkook and finding not many, he gestured Jungkook to come down. He was vigilant to point the puddle of mud and muck to Jungkook as he knew the other boy might not like anything foreign touching him.

They walked like that for a couple of miles. The uneven ground made it difficult for the shirt on Taehyung’s waist to be of any use for Jungkook. Taehyung after carefully looking around found a clean bamboo stick and that was the connecting thread between him and Jungkook. It was a longer distance from the perspective of Jungkook, Taehyung thought. His primary concern was keeping Jungkook engaged so that he is calm. Seeing a bunch of dried leaves Taehyung attempted to kick it with one foot, double step on the other and then repeat with the second foot. Jungkook took a few tries to catch the momentum but was easily mirroring Taehyung as they walked. The quiet muffled giggles of Jungkook were the most adorable sound, but it was unfortunate that Taehyung wouldn't be able to hear it.

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