It takes a moment for Choi Minho to lean on the desk, then stood up to scrutinize the two men standing in front of him. Suga, with his sharp gaze, does nothing to intimidate the officer. His crisp Louis Vuitton black tuxedo falls in the perfect curves, hugging him tightly, and his jet black hair finishes up the look of the most influential person in South Korea. He looks undeniably handsome, inexplicably powerful in the eyes of Taehyung. He remembered the days when they were back in the home, childhood at its peak, and Yoongi used to be a small skinny boy, always taking care of Taehyung. He smiles less, talks relevant, and works in private. Just like in the old times, Taehyung took his sweet time admiring Yoongi. The lawyer brushed the hair strand softly, showing his undercut, and kept the piercing gaze on his dark brown eyes.
"Now you know us. Then let me finish what I was saying. You've no right to do anything to my party since he's not the culprit here."
Suga said, dark eyes digging holes in the officer's body, Chanyeol too, has eyes on the officer. The tensed air became thick and unbearable to sustain. Taehyung wanted to cover his ears because for him everything felt overwhelming. Scared to inhale, he sat between them, hands cuffed and exhausted eyes holding back emotions behind the salty tears. He turned to look at the officer when Yoongi placed a file on the table with a loud thud, glaring at the officer. Taehyung couldn't bring himself to look at Chanyeol. The elder has sorrows written on his face as much as on his own face. They both missed Baekhyun. The dead male was both their safe place and reason for happiness. No one can replace Baekhyun and the hurt of losing his lover was easy to catch in Chanyeol's eyes.
Taehyung averted his gaze to the file on the desk.
"My client, Kim Taehyung, was at his shop when all of this happened. You can clearly see that in the CCTV footage of Taehyung's shop."
Suga placed his laptop on the table, and the screen showed Taehyung, wearing the same jacket in the snaps the officer showed. The said younger male gasped at the scene. He was selling someone a bouquet of daisies. A girl stood next to the man and bowed to him, showing him their gratitude. Taehyung grinned at them, returning to place the cash on his counter. The footage was clear enough to prove the point of the lawyer. And the caramel-haired boy thanked Yoongi twice in his head. His tired gaze met with officer Minho's puzzled ones. They made a mistake but the officer wasn't acknowledging that. His expression was way too baffled to comprehend, nevertheless, the lawyer continued with his words.
"...Which certainly proves that he's innocent of the crime you're accusing him of. Since Taehyung was in his shop, someone tried to trap my client by impersonating him. You should've reweighed the assumption you made before arresting my client, officer."
The lawyer tapped on the table, placing a file that Taehyung believed is the way to save him from the hell he was being trapped. He tore his gaze from the photos Minho showed him and the footage on Yoongi's laptop. The lawyer was right. Someone dressed up like Taehyung. The same jacket, scarf, and face mask, they're of the same height but maybe Taehyung is a bit skinnier than the person in the snapshots. Someone really tried to put him behind the bars, trap him in his own brother's murder. But why? And whom? Taehyung doesn't have any friends. Neither Baekhyun had any rivals, at least in his knowledge. Then why does someone plan something like this against them? He was sure whoever was behind it was intended to make him suffer, even after knowing every weakness of him. Taehyung felt tears pricking in his mint green eyes, legs shivered at the thought that someone was really noting his every movement. Or maybe, still penning down the way Taehyung taking every shaky breath while gripping on himself to survive that dingy room.
He found Minho examining videos and proofs that were submitted in front of him, with an irritated frown never leaving his face, his shoulders tensed and fingers fidgeting to show how much distress he was in at that moment. Taehyung waited for the officer to say anything but no words came out. The look on his face showcased that he was trying to digest the information, hardly connecting the dots he missed, and somewhere the disbelief of his misunderstanding was too shadowed by his frowned eyebrows. Yoongi and Chanyeol passed glances at the officer and then at Taehyung who had been holding on to a slight ray of hope. The officer chose to keep his mum, making the lawyer leave a frustrated sigh.
"And... About his fiance...
How in the world do you know that guy is my client's fiance?"
That made the officer snap out of his trance, raising an eyebrow at the lawyer's rough tone of asking him questions. He threw another file on the table, shaking Taehyung with that unexpected thud. The officer was about to shoot an answer back but something stopped him. More like a smooth voice that hits the scrooge hush between them.
"Because they were in love.
They were in love for years. Madly and deeply.
At least he was."
The unknown man said, startling the room, especially Taehyung. It was a lie. Because there's no way in heaven Taehyung was in a relationship or love. Then how come this man can say this to him? Taehyung quivered at the look the man gave him. He took a moment to draw the unknown male's appearance. With his broad shoulders, blond hair was falling over his forehead as a mess, but his handsome face looked like a piece of the moon, shining brightly in the shady room. No, he hadn't seen the man before. The said male walked forward to Yoongi along with another male behind him, in a black tuxedo, perfectly accentuating his tall figure, he was wearing Chrome Hearts glasses, raven hair combed back neatly, sharp eyes, and jaw clenched. They had their gaze landed on Yoongi, then at the officer.
"I'm sorry, what are you saying? Tae and he---"
Chanyeol butted in, confused with the man's words. The blond male passed a glance at him before cutting him off, glances now landing on Taehyung's petite figure.
"Jeon Jeongguk."
Taehyung paused his breathing. Never in a million times did he think a simple name can do this to him. His heart wavered for a bit and his body felt numb not because he was familiar with the name. He simply didn't know what happened. A while passed and Taehyung finally brought himself to reality, mind still chanting the name he just heard. Even though it was the first time, there was a foreign urge started to pile up in the pit of his soul, pulling the strings of his heart. As if he's a broken guitar chord, forgetting to play the harmony, Taehyung sat in the middle of the chaos. The name does nothing to him. But he wanted to.
He wanted it to paint a face, with a beautiful smile, and a million stars in the eyes. He wanted to outline a world where he halts on the footpaths adorned with cherry blossoms in the spring to meet the person with the name Jeon Jeongguk. Taehyung feels the phosphines in front of his eyes slowly unraveling into his brain, forcing him to stop where he started daydreaming.
"Officer, I'm Kim Namjoon. I'm a lawyer. And this is my husband and Jeon Jeongguk's brother, Kim Seokjin."
The man in the tuxedo explained and Taehyung felt shivers running through his spine. The guy wasn't even trying to be authoritative. Yet his civil words were so tapered that made the caramel-haired boy skip a beat. He could feel the wild thumping of his heart clear to his ears. As Taehyung peeked at Yoongi, he found the lawyer already fixated his eyes on Namjoon. Taehyung knows Yoongi is the best out there. And he trusts the elder more than himself now. Nevertheless, he couldn't help but wonder what was going to happen to him in the next moments.
"Look, Namjoon-ssi. We're sorry for your loss. But my client Kim Taehyung here is not the one involved in this fatal thing. We have proof that he was at his shop when the incident happened."
Yoongi broke the silence and pointed to the laptop in front of him. The look on Namjoon's face was fairly believing what the other lawyer said. Either way, he glanced at officer Minho who replied in a low yet stern voice.
"He's right. This guy was not the one who... Someone impersonated him and did all this to trap ---"
"I've told him. I've warned him. I always did. I always tried my best to tell him that this man is nothing but bad luck for him. I've always warned him not to fall into the trap of this bastard. I--- I told him Joon to not... My Jeongguk..."
The outburst wasn't expected. The way Jin voiced out all those in pure disgust towards Taehyung and his tears streaming down only made the scenes worse. Jin's bloodshot eyes were staring at his soul and Taehyung quivered. He didn't even know why there was an impulse telling him to unknowingly lower his head even though he didn't do anything. But who needs his broken confession? Who needs the pain of his heart and guilty of his lone soul after making all those people around him sad. People he doesn't even know. Yet Taehyung couldn't stop the tears falling on his cheeks.
"Jin, calm down. They... They do have a point. He didn't..."
"Not you too, Namjoon. You know the pain I'm going through. You know what my brother was to me. And out of the blue when everyone says that I can't see him anymore, I can't see his smile, I can't fight with him anymore because... He... He left me...? And it's all his fault. He killed my brother. He killed Jeongguk and took away our happiness. I knew it, Namjoon. I told him before that..."
Jin paused, a sharp glare shot at Taehyung's fragile body which was now shaking in fear and hurt. Then he blurted out, hate seeping from his mouth to the caramel-haired boy while his finger pointed at Taehyung.
"...Loving him is poisonous.
I told him to stop falling for his charms only to get hurt in the end. Because this man doesn't know my brother has devoted his entire universe around him.
You will never know how much Jeongguk loved you..."
A hand placed on Taehyung's shoulder brought him back to reality, silently telling him to not break down because Yoongi knows. Taehyung always had his heart on his sleeves, soul blissful and optimistic in every phase of life, from childhood. He believed that Taehyung never changed. The mint green eyes might be broken now, but he was sure of the determination to overcome whatever coming towards him. There was something deep obscuring behind those mint green orbs that Yoongi couldn't pinpoint.
Namjoon held Jin in his arms, consoling him by whispering sweet nothings in his ear. The more he tried to be professional and strong in front of the people in the room, the harder he was failing to protect his beloved from the pain. The lawyer knows that no one can replace their loss. Nothing can. However, life goes on, even in a situation like this. We may not be ready to face what's on our way, but we will find a way that will lead us to the right destination. Namjoon was always a positive-minded man, understanding the reasons behind everything before snapping out, and clever enough to make a decision and face its consequences. Just like Yoongi, Taehyung got the same vibe from the other lawyer in the room. Especially when they both think before speaking and listen to understand not to answer back.
"Namjoon-ssi. Taehyung has never been in a relationship with anyone, let alone with your brother. We can understand the emotion of your husband, but we're really sorry. My client has no involvement in this incident. How did you even get the idea that these two are lovers?"
Yoongi inquired in the most civil way he could ever with his opposition. The room found Namjoon lowering his head, letting out a deep sigh before taking something out of his pocket. He placed the transparent cover on the table which had a phone supposed to belong to Jeongguk. They waited for officer Minho to open the cover, anticipation dripping from the bottom of their heart.
"This is Jeongguk's phone. He forgot to take it with him on that night."
Namjoon said as Minho switched it on, the screen lit up with the white bright light breaking the gloominess of the room which made Taehyung close his eyes tight. The screen came into his view, threatening him to take a shaky breath while his hands fidgeted continuously. The lock screen wallpaper showed a man in the middle of flowers. Taehyung restrained his hand from touching his heart. It was him. With wide long eyes, fluffy hair falling on his forehead and looking all soft in his favorite dirty white shirt, it was him.
He couldn't help but peek at Yoongi. The elder had a flabbergasted expression, eyes sticking on the phone screen. Taehyung felt he was again put on the edge of thin ice, and couldn't help but break down while witnessing the new play fate was planning with him.
"We don't know if you guys were lovers or not. But as you can see, you were always there with him. The Taehyung he used to tell us that he's in love with... it's you...
He used to tell us you called and would talk on the phone for hours- giggling and blushing, sometimes would be gone for hours from home telling us he has a date with you. He wouldn't be returned all night after leaving a message that he was out with Taehyung. We remember a time when he was sick and you took care of him, he told us he was at Taehyung's. He even... showed us the brooch you gave him as his birthday present...
And one night, he told Jin that you called and told him that... You need him, by his side... So... He left... To meet his beloved, Kim Taehyung... "
Namjoon hesitated to speak more as he found Taehyung's eyes on him, wide and not believing a word he just uttered. The denial can only make Namjoon let out a frustrated sigh, shaking his head while accepting the reality silently. After being silent for all this time, Taehyung decided to break it up. He had nothing to lose here.
"I don't know who he's... I was never in love with anyone. I don't know how he knows about me and... All that you said... I'm sorry..."
Taehyung whispers, folding his hands in front of Namjoon to express his helplessness and keeping his gaze lower. His deep confession truncated into last drops of hot tears which fell on the wooden desk. The sound of the file and phone placed on the table can be heard and then Minho leaned to gather all his stuff. For a moment, Taehyung's delusional mind thought the officer was about to unlock the cuffs from his hand. A small smile of relief frightened to plaster his lips as he wished the officer would free him finally. Taehyung stared at the people with his wide eyes looking like a puppy in the middle, who lost his home.
"Namjoon-ssi, the phone is locked and we would have to report to the cyber team to access it since you don't know the passcode. If we get any hints from this, we will surely tell you about it.
And... It's concluded that Kim here is not involved in Baekhyun's murder, we would have to keep him for another day to interrogate him about Jeon Jeongguk."
Minho said, gaze breaking at Taehyung's frame who looked colorless. It was like he became a part of that opaque room, filling the voids with his neat grey palette. Namjoon nodded before turning on his heel to confront Yoongi. The other lawyer stood next to Chanyeol, but his eyes sternly met Namjoon's gaze. He intentionally avoided Jin who was standing less concerned about the emotions of Taehyung, nevertheless, Yoongi didn't judge. Pain changes people.
"Yoongi-ssi, we all hope for the truth to win, right? So, let's hope for the best."
Namjoon voiced out. The elder lawyer took the words of the other and suppressed a scoff he wanted to let out so badly.
"Trust me, Namjoon-ssi. That's what we all want. The truth in the freakin' daylight. Clear and sober."
Yoongi shot back in the same tone Namjoon used with him, before averting his gaze to the officer. Taehyung was awestruck by the way the lawyer just stood up for him and he didn't know how to show his gratitude to Yoongi. He was dipped in thoughts when he heard Jin cursing at him, loud enough to not ignore.
"Kim Taehyung, I hope the love you deceived will come to you on every peaceful night, on every happiness you'll find. Because you should know. How it feels to be loved and betrayed dearly."
Namjoon stops Jin by pulling him by his arms. However, he didn't cease glaring at Taehyung with misery in his black orbs. The caramel-haired boy does nothing but struggles to keep himself straight after hearing the words. He doesn't deserve all this. Especially when he did nothing. But no, Taehyung had no energy to explain himself in front of anyone. As soon as Namjoon and Jin left the room, Taehyung peeked at Yoongi, who assured him with a soft glance. He only trusts this man now.
"Suga-ssi, as long as the mystery of Jeon Jeongguk's murder isn't solved, we can't release your client. Since you know... We have a suspicion about this case now. And we would have to wait until the phone unlocks to get any hints. So, I hope you know how that works."
Yoongi nodded at Minho's words. His stoic expression somehow eased the nervousness in Taehyung. He was sure that now that Yoongi is here, the lawyer will find a way to get him out of the hell hole. Taehyung holds his faith and patience dearly.
"I get it. But before anything else, I would like to talk to my client, personally."
Minho hears the lawyer's dominant voice and agrees to the demand. He gathered his stuff before leaving, giving the three of them their space and time of ten minutes to talk out what they wanted. He closed the door with a loud thud, leaving Taehyung, Yoongi, and Chanyeol in that room mildly lit up with the string of sunshine coming from the window. Yoongi sat in front of Taehyung, and Chanyeol stood next to the lawyer. It was the first time in this chaos Taehyung took a good look at his lawyer friend. The young kid Yoongi has grown up to be the finest man with sharper eyes, and a perfectly pitched voice that can make anyone shiver. Taehyung felt proud to be the friend of Min Yoongi.
"Hyung... How did you know?..."
The caramel-haired boy asked as soon as the tension in the air ameliorated a bit. Yoongi took a sharp breath before answering Taehyung. His eyes didn't miss to notice how Taehyung's silver hair is now smooth caramel, his childish looks are there but the goofiness was hiding behind his sorrow. The flawless face is still the same, delicately beautiful, with his mint green eyes widening like a puppy while searching for answers in the middle of the mess going on around him. The eyes of Taehyung haven't changed in years.
"As soon as I got the news of Baekhie... I... contacted Chanyeol."
Taehyung nodded lightly, passing a grateful glance at Chanyeol. He couldn't control it anymore while looking at them both. Tears streamed down his puffy cheeks and he whispered in a low voice.
"Hyung... I did nothing... I don't even know who he's... I... I would never... Please... Save me, hyung..."
While holding Yoongi's warm hands, Taehyung felt a little relief taking over him. His fingers curled around Yoongi's hand as he couldn't stop himself from whispering those words. Yoongi on the other hand, let Taehyung find his comfort in his warmth and replied to him ever so softly.
"We know, Tae... Trust me... We will find a way... You don't deserve to be here..."
With the words left from Yoongi, an assuring hold of Chanyeol on his shoulder, Taehyung felt his energy coming back to him, head slightly feeling better with all the turmoil that was burning him from the moment he got in there. He took a deep breath, believing the lawyer's concerned voice, and kept his hold on Yoongi's hand.
Dawn broke like a beautiful painting around them, the sky looked warm through the windows. With the hope of finding a way to hold on to happiness again, Taehyung sat in the silent room, eyes oh so badly wanting to doze off, but couldn't give in because of the flashing thoughts inside. He wishes for another morning where he can convince himself that all of this was just a nightmare. He wanted to sleep again, just to wake up to realize that the dream that took away his peace is no longer near him. As soon as he felt the vague room suffocating him, Taehyung closed his eyes slowly, holding on to Yoongi's hands and the sweet whisper the elder was telling him. He finds serenity in between the daze and mayhem.
~ 🍁 ~
Kim Namjoon
Lawyer.
Husband of Kim Seokjin.
Honest and intelligent.
Kim Seokjin
Jeongguk's brother.
Caring and protective when it comes to his beloved people.
Sensitive but understanding.
~ 🍁 ~
Hey there,
If you're here, don't forget to comment and share your thoughts. It really makes me happy 😊 And thanks for reading 💜
See you soon...
~Rin