With an unlit cigarette between his lips and a lighter in his hand, Taehyung played with the spark wheel, creating a yellow flame with a blue tip and releasing the button to unlit and doing it repeatedly. A scoff left his mouth as his fingers traced the numbers engraved on his lighter: 1011.
Taehyung's eyes were focused on the empty street; the headlights of the two cars occupying the road were on, but still, not enough to light the dark route. With several spectators waiting on either side of the road, he wondered how many wasted their money to bet for him.
Bringing the flame to the tip of his cigarette, he inhaled to light the stick. Throwing the lighter on the passenger seat, he looked at the driver of the other car as he blew a thick white smoke out of his mouth. The other driver shook his head and smirked. Taehyung was known to be that type of person. He would want to annoy the shit out of a person he would go against. His confidence in winning was high.
Seeing a man standing on the sidewalk, holding a flag, Taehyung's foot held on to the accelerator to keep the revs up. He started to chuckle as the car revving gave him an unexplainable excitement. He raised his hand from his car window, and a man rushed to his side, getting the lighted cigarette from his mouth.
As soon as the man waved the flag, signaling that the race started, Taehyung sped off. He glanced at the side mirror occasionally, looking closer at the car behind him. His back slightly slouched, two hands gripping the steering wheel, tongue poking the insides of his cheek while sometimes swiping on his lower lip.
The speed gave him a feeling of delirium. It was his way to release the tension from his mind and body—an adrenaline rush. The sound of the motor thrilled him. It was more of music in his ears. Well, his favorite jazz music didn't go well with his chosen sport. He didn't like rock music at all. The difference clashed, but he was an old soul needing speed.
The spectators waiting at the finish line cheered as the obvious was coming. Some gave up their money right away, while most had a wide smile. As Taehyung's car passed by, signaling that he had won, it was evident that most viewers bet for him. Exchanges of money began. Some annoyingly punched the air because of defeat, and some pocket cash because of victory.
"When can I beat you?" Jungkook, the other car's driver, asked as he unloaded from his car and walked to where Taehyung was standing.
The man who took the cigarette from Taehyung moments earlier gave the stick back, lighting it with a lighter. Taehyung blew a thick smoke as he picked money from his pocket, giving it to the man who 'took good care' of his cigarette before patting the man's shoulder, telling him to go.
"You always bring your car to my shop; why would I recommend something that would make it faster than mine?" Taehyung leaned on his car, facing Jungkook, who just chuckled at Taehyung's answer.
"Plan? Is your penthouse suite available for some alcohol?" Jungkook asked with a mocking smile on his face.
"My penthouse suite is always available for alcohol and open-air parties," Taehyung rode on Jungkook's mockeries, fully aware that his best friend was only clowning his apartment unit.
•••
Jin brought the martini glass to his lips, sipping the clear liquid inside it and carefully bringing it back on the table as his fingertips played on the peel of lemon skin hanging on the mouth of the glass.
"Why don't you move out with Yoongi? I don't understand why he doesn't want to move out of that house," Jin suggested to his friend but suddenly remembered something and scoffed at his suggestion, "Sorry. How dare I suggest that when my husband doesn't want to move out with me."
Hoseok chuckled as he finished the juice in his glass, resting his chin on his hand, "His dad is okay. Not how some view politicians. I mean, I'm not saying he isn't corrupt. Sure he is. I noticed he's only trying to ride on his wife's nonsense regarding Yoongi's life. Mr. Min is often nice when his wife is away."
Jin took a deep breath, feeling bad for his best friend. "Namjoon's parents are both horrible. As if I am not aware that they only like me because I'm from the Park clan. His dad is the worst. Befriending my dad to acquire some stocks. Just like Yoongi, Namjoon seemed to be under the spell of his parents."
Shrugging his thoughts and feelings, Hoseok was thankful for having Jin whenever he needed him, "I used to dream of living in Celestial. Please don't get me wrong; I truly love Yoongi, not only because he lives there. But living there shattered my dreams."
"Don't say that. It would be different if you and Yoongi were living separately. Same with me. It's hard at times, but we have to get through day by day, one day at a time. What's important now is you'll have a baby with Yoongi. Maybe your in-law would have a change of heart once the baby is born."
Hoseok placed his hand against his growing stomach. It had been his dream to have a child with Yoongi, but recently, they finally got the luck. "This baby is my lucky charm. We haven't informed them yet, but I hope you're right."
Hoseok's attention suddenly shifted to his mobile phone. Hoseok grimaced as he quickly opened his mobile browser and was shocked to see the trending news. Hoseok slowly looked up at Jin, who was still attached to playing with the lemon peel on the martini glass. "Jin?"
Jin smiled thinly, giving his full attention to Hoseok. "Why? Is there something wrong?"
Hoseok looked hesitant to show his mobile; he felt worse just by seeing the headline. He knew it would be much worse once his best friend found out.
Jin, who finally read the news, took some time to process what was shown to him. As the information sank in, he took out his phone and started to dial his father's number, but it was turned off. His hand shook as he tried his father's assistant number and heard a faint sob from the other line.
"Please tell me it's not true." Jin was in complete denial. But his face said it all. His eyes were fixed on Hoseok, who was worried about him. Jin almost dropped his phone on the floor as he tried to digest everything he learned.
Jin quickly grabbed his bag, leaving several dollars on the table as he rushed out of the restaurant. He had no time to wait for his total bill. Nor stay in a public place where anyone could recognize him.
Hoseok grabbed Jin's shoulder before Jin could enter the car, "Jin, please be careful driving. Call me anytime; I will be there."
Jin just stared back at Hoseok; he could not speak a word or even dare to cry. He was filled with different emotions. Of remorse. Of disbelief.
His tears finally fell as he drove out of the parking. His heart was screaming in panic. He was broken.
"You cannot die, Dad. You can't!!!" Jin screamed as he stopped his car in the middle of the street. He was ignoring the angry drivers and endless horns behind him.
•••
"Your alcohol level is low; why did you stop in the middle of the crossing?"
Silence.
The police interrogating Jin shook his head. It had been the fifth time he asked the same question, but all he had from Jin was Jin's driver's license. The police raised his hand, and another policeman came, leaning down to hear what the police wanted to whisper. The police nodded and walked away.
"Mr. Kim Seokjin, you should be in a hospital instead of the police station. You look... terrible."
Jin finally shifted his gaze to the attending police, his face unreadable, eyes red and puffy, "My father just died."
The police stared momentarily before leaning back in his chair, rubbing his chin with his thumb. But then, the other police came back, whispering something, then placing his mobile phone against the ear of the interrogating police. The police sighed and spoke a firm 'okay' on the phone.
"Do you need someone to drive you home?" The police asked Jin, who was still quiet and emotionless.
"I'm sorry, Jin. I received your message late, and the taxi was slow. Are you okay? Is there a... Uhhh... Casualty or something?" Hoseok asked awkwardly, making the police smirk.
"You can take him home."
Hoseok was confused. He brought an ample amount of money for bail. He cleared his throat and smiled nervously at the police, "What do you mean? I thought--"
"He did not violate anything. We are sorry for disturbing your night."
Hoseok, though confused, just pulled Jin up. Afraid the police might change his mind. Though he could not comprehend what and how it happened, he was just glad Jin was free. As soon as they left the station, the police looked back at the other table.
"Your eyes were as fast as your car. You're lucky I'm here, and your badass kept on skipping detain for the nth time. Just stop racing and live clean!" The police uttered, making Taehyung scoff.
"Let's just say I have eyes for everything beautiful." Taehyung stood up, inhaling through the mouthpiece of his vape, exhaling the smoke before leaving the station.
•••