✨29✨

^Soulmates 🥰

__________

That morning, he felt better.

Nope. It was not the right way to say that. Let him frame it again.

That morning when he walked down the stairs for breakfast, he felt like a fucking diva. Peasants looked at him like they did when royalty walks down. They couldn't hold the grace, the charm, and the beauty so they looked away the next moment.

Huh!

Poor things.

Okay, maybe that became a bit too dramatic, but he was in a good mood.

"Morning Mom." He kissed the woman's cheek as he walked into the kitchen. Everyone was loitering around dining table, on the couches in the living room. Some casually ate here and there. Taehyung watched Luke pushing his sandwich all in one go like a hungry animal.

What else could he expect from him anyway. He was an animal.

He didn't have any grudge against any of his cousins. He just preferred to stay away from them for reasons explained. But with Luke, it was kinda... personal.

He didn't know why, but he didn't like him much.

Ignoring him, his eyes drifted around. He noticed Jimin with Suzy. Most probably flirting like he always did.

Any other time, he would have rolled his eyes, or shook his head, but today, he chose to ignore his very existence. That made life so much easier.

Cian and Sera were busy laughing over something as they ate. Taehyung ignored the crowd, like he mostly did and stuffed some scrambled eggs into his plate and poured a glass of apple juice. As he walked away from there, from the corner of his eyes, he noticed Jimin looking at him.

As per plan, he ignored him but added an extra sway to his hips. If he was watching, why not give him a show? That was very dramatic of him. But it was not his fault. It was just something different about the morning.

He didn't stop in the living room.

Having a lot to tick off from the list of his pending work, like sending out applications for admission, he made a way to his room.

It was almost one when he walked down again. His headphones around his neck and phone in his hand, liking a post about his favorite bl ship. The house was quiet.

He didn't know where everyone was, and honestly, he didn't care.

He was just going to lay out in sun and listen to some music as he got some tan, but Jimin's mother asked him for help with some boxes.

"What are these?" He asked picking up the cartons.

"Just some stuff. Need to put it in the storeroom."

Taehyung nodded and followed her.

First thing he noticed was his own mother and aunt Yoona sitting on the ground, surrounded by boxes and things scattered around. Flecks of dust floated in the air. Taehyung fanned the air in front of him as soon as he left the boxes on the ground.

"What are you guys doing?"

His mother smiled at him. "Party."

Taehyung saw the playfulness in her gaze. "That's... a weird place to hold a party."

He looked at the dusty boxes, the old paintings, artifacts and what not under the layers of dust. "But it looks interesting. You mind if I join?" He added, eyeing the unboxed boxes they were sorting.

Yoona beamed at her. "Of course, honey. Settle down. I need someone young around me anyway. The two oldies are boring the F out of me."

Taehyung giggled at her dramatic gesture but settled down.

"The guys out at the beach. You didn't go?" His mother asked remembering.

Taehyung shrugged pulling an unopened carton towards himself. "Will go later. Maybe." It felt nice sitting here, surrounded with memories and nostalgia and a warmth that made his sweat prickle in summer but also a coldness that grounded him.

"Here." Yoona extended a beer towards him, which Taehyung accepted with a polite thanks. The cold, condensed droplets seeped into his blood through the pores in his skin. He flicked it open; the drink hissed.

Taehyung took a sip, loving the bite of cold liquid on his tongue before it cut through his throat as he swallowed, his eyed Yoona as she looked at him brightly. "You will also be going to the masquerade party this year. Are you excited?"

Ooooh!

Masquerade Party!

It was next week.

It had totally escaped his mind amid all the chaos in his life lately.

The masquerade party was Meridian key's ritual. A very sinful ritual in fact. Understandably so, a popular one. It was held on fourth Saturday of June. People from far and distance came there for the night. It was hosted on Isle Écarte, a secluded patch of land cut off by water channel, where an ancient cathedral sat crumbling under ivy and time.

People called it the cathedral of sins.

One has to take a boat to go there.

He had heard so many stories over the years, from tourists, from his cousins, and even some playful ones from his father about the underground catacomb where prayers echo but it's not for salvation. Where people begged but not for mercy. Where one cried but not from sorrow.

It wasn't a place for the pure. It was a sanctuary for the beautifully damned. And damn! That one description has made him curious, but he was not allowed. He was a kid. They really counted a sixteen- or seventeen-year guy as a kid.

And kids and adults were not allowed. Just the bachelors and youngsters.

Jimin had told him how beautiful the cathedral looked from afar. He had even shown some pics to Taehyung. The lights glowing from afar had given birth to a fascination. He also wanted to see it up close, touch the stone, press his ears to the wall and hear the names gasped on the other side. Back then, he had wanted just that much.

Now, he was looking for more. He was looking for more with Uncle Jeon.

He was excited. He was looking forward to it.

The thought of him made his ears turn red. His heart raced while his breaths turned uneven. He nodded, not trusting his voice.

"Ayyy...." Yoona exclaimed. Taehyung expected her to tease him, because she was the kind of aunt who grew up but didn't. But instead, she started telling him about the place and her own experience when she went there for the first time.

"It looked like a piece from some other world. People there were not names. They were just bodies. No one knew each other. I was blank for hours, just watching around, seeing people dancing in the lawn outside the old cathedral. The deeper you walked into the place, the sinful the air turned. God! That was an experience."

"You are gonna love it. Once inside, you are not the same person you are outside." She added with a wink.

Taehyung could imagine it. He could imagine an old cathedral surrounded by water, a green lawn lit up by neon lights. People dancing. The loud music. Wildness in the air. No recognition in eyes. Just faces. And wild desires. Smell of sweat and need in the air.

The three women were now talking about their weird experiences at the place. A place where reputations blurred, and identities melted like candle wax.

Taehyung absently looked through the content inside the box in front of him. His fingers paused when he found a plain, clearly old, leather-bound diary at the bottom.

His eyebrows furrowed slightly.

He turned it over to search for a name.

There was none.

He glanced up. The women were too busy laughing over a scandalous memory involving Aunt Yoona, a beach, and a missing bikini top. He looked back down and flipped the diary open.

Pale, blank yellow pages which smelled of wood and something else greeted him. The scent was faint, but familiar. It reminded him of old libraries. Of timeworn attics. Of things people forget until the silence reminds them.

But there was nothing.

He flipped the pages only to be greeted with more blank lines that seemed to hold secrets in ink that wasn't supposed to be seen. He almost closed it but something caught his eyes.

He flipped back to the middle, his curious gaze moving over the words before he could stop it.

I forgot the taste of quiet.It used to be a calm thing. A warm, resting thing. But now, it echoes. It hums like fear behind doors, like the pause before a slap. I used to like silence. I don't anymore.

Taehyung stared at the words, blinking, as he tried to make sense out of it. But it didn't. He flipped the pages, searching for something more but there was nothing. He wondered whom did it belong to?

Who wrote that.

It sounded painful. Poetic.

Was someone in his family a writer? Or a poet?

He searched through the diary again, and once again but found nothing except for those four lines which didn't say much but screamed enough to bleed.

Taehyung stared at the words, as if waiting for them to say more than they were allowed to, but they didn't.

He closed the diary, and placed it back in the box. The words refused to leave his mind. Not until he found something else.

"Oh wow! It's your childhood pictures, Somi Aunty." He showed one to the woman. He remembered her from the frames back at home.

Somi looked at him surprised?

"Is it?" She asked offering her hand. Taehyung nodded and handed her the picture.

While the three women looked at it, talking about when the picture was taken, Taehyung took out the rest of them. He smiled wiping the dust from his father's face. That's when he realized why everyone says that he resembled his father, and a bit to his mother.

He looked so alike Taehyung in his childhood pictures.

He found more pictures of Somi, his father, his grandparents, Yuna, some unknown faces and Woobin. It was when he came across a photo of Uncle Jeon that his heart raced.

He let go of the rest of them as his eyes roamed all over the picture. Uncle Jeon in his childhood was so opposite to what he was in present.

He was cute. So fucking adorable. Chubby cheeks and Bambi eyes with those wind-swept hair. Taehyung could see the familiar features hidden beneath the baby fat.

It was a bit difficult to imagine Jungkook as a kid. Taehyung had only seen him as a grown up. But that picture, it made him real.

The photo was probably taken during summer, judging by the sunlight and the tiny watermelon stain on baby Jungkook's shirt. He must be almost three. His front bunny teeth were on display as he was sitting on a man's shoulder, grinning like he had the whole world at his feet.

Beside him, Woobin and Yuna also stood smiling brightly at the camera, slices of watermelon in their hands. Juices flowed down to their elbow as they posed for the camera.

Taehyung looked at the unfamiliar man, trying to recognize him. But the picture was too old.

"Who is he?" He asked pointing at the man.

His mother took a look at a man and shrugged, not recognizing. Taehyung looked at Jimin's mother who was already looking at the picture. Something flashed in her eyes. A memory?

Taehyung frowned.

"That was our cook." she said.

Cook? Taehyung looked at the man. A very handsome man with brown hair and beautiful eyes. Up close when he noticed him, he looked familiar. Like Taehyung had seen him somewhere. He tried to remember but couldn't.

The cuts and burns on his hand were the proof of his profession. The way he held Jungkook over his shoulder made Taehyung smile. "He really loved Uncle Jeon."

Yoona smiled. "Like his own kid."

"He loved all of us like his own kids." Somi added, a beautiful smile on her face.

"Oh yeah..." Yuna agreed. "God! It's been so long already."

While they basked in the memory of old days, Taehyung looked back at the picture. Jungkook's smile made something warm in his chest. For some reason, he didn't put it back.

When the women were busy in talking, he quietly snuck the picture into the pocket of his jeans.

******

The air swept his hairs away from his face as he walked mindlessly at the beach. It was afternoon, but the sunlight didn't feel so intense. The sea breeze felt nice against his face.

The beach was unusually crowded.

Music thumped in the distance. While bass couldn't reach him, the sound did. Break free by Ariana Grande mingled with the noises from the people playing in the water.

He looked around smiling softly.

To his right, a girl dropped her bikini top as she laid back on the sunbed. A guy walked over to her. Taehyung removed his eyes and kept walking. Adults and youngsters, all seemed to be busy in their thing.

It was the best thing about meridian key.

No one paid attention to others. They didn't stop. They didn't judge. Their eyes didn't linger where they shouldn't. Everyone was free to enjoy their life the way they wanted.

He paused when a volleyball stopped in front of him. Someone ran over to pick it up. Taehyung heart picked up its pace when the guy paused midway, as if registering.

He looked up, his blue eyes finding Taehyung.

Lake? No. "Jake?" The name left his lips.

Jake stared at Taehyung, his eyes still warm and soft. Wind played with his hairs which fell over his eyes. Taehyung's eyes drifted down to the bandage at his nose.

"Hey..." His lips curled into a smile. With the ball held to his side, his chest bare, he walked over to Taehyung who stood there trying to process.

"How are you?" He asked.

Taehyung shrugged awkwardly, not being able to process. "I am fine." He ended up giving a breathless chuckle.

Jake tilted his head, a friendly smile on his face. "Good to know."

The casual conversation relaxed Taehyung. He waved his hand. "Sorry for the other night. I didn't mean to hurt you."

"Oh No. You don't need to." Jake shook his hand, an action Taehyung found really attractive. "In fact, I am sorry. You were drunk. I shouldn't have made a move."

"But—"

"Please." Jake interrupted him, a nervousness in his eyes. "Can we just.... forget about that."

Taehyung watched him, somehow understanding his desperation to forget that night. If he was in Jake's place, he would also want that.

He nodded, a soft smile on his lips. "Sure."

Jake's tensed shoulders eased. A relieved smile curled up his lips. "Thanks."

There was a silence between them. Not awkward but still unwelcomed. Taehyung pointed towards his face. "What happened to your nose?"

Jake touched it instinctively, as if remembering the bandage. "Oh... it's... it's nothing." He stumbled upon his words.

Taehyung raised an eyebrow.

The boy hesitated, contemplating before he waves his hand over his shoulder. "Jimin... he paid me a visit."

Taehyung's eyes widened "He... He didn't."

Jimin was shorten than Taehyung himself. Jake was even taller than Taehyung. And he has a well-built body too. He can't punch Jake in his face. Can he?

But the other guy shrugged. That was enough of an answer. Taehyung shook his head, not knowing what to say. "I... I am sorry."

"It's o—"

"No. I am sorry. He is an asshole to do that."

His outburst earned him a chuckle from Jake. He shook his head. "It's okay. He was just being protective of you."

Protective? Oh not at all. He was just being a jerk. That he is. Taehyung wanted to strangle him. Fighting with Taehyung was a thing but going around punching people was another.

Asshole. He rightly claimed that title.

Someone called Jake from behind.

He looked over his shoulder. And Taehyung followed his gaze. His friends were waiting for him. He turned towards Taehyung. "I gotta go."

Taehyung nodded, still feeling guilty. "See you."

Jake smiled, turning to walk away. He had taken only three steps when he turned again. Now back stepping. "You are coming to the party on Saturday?"

Taehyung nodded, confused.

"Then I'll see you there?" The question was unsure.

Something about his hesitation was so cute. Taehyung couldn't help but smile despite the anger. "Yeah."

Jake smiled once more, this one brighter than the rest. He kept walking backwards for a few steps before nodding and turning around.

Taehyung furrowed his eyebrows, only to blink, confused.

What was that?

Not being able to comprehend, he shrugged and continued his walk. Watching people playing around on the beach felt nice. His gaze drifted to the rocks in distance and a smile appeared on his lips.

His feet moved before he knew it.

The music still reached him, but it was faded and distant. The rocks were comparatively silent. He walked through the stones cautiously. It was when he heard a moan that he looked to his right.

Jimin and Suzy were busy making out, the thin straps of her top falling off her shoulder. Jimin had one of his hands inside her top, his fingers in her hair, pulling her face back as he kissed her, his eyes closed.

As if sensing a gaze, he opened his eyes. And his hazel eyes found Taehyung.

Taehyung stood there vacantly, watching the two kissing each other like hungry animals. Jimin's gaze stayed on him, before he slanted his mouth on Suzy. His eyes closed again as he kissed her wetter.

The girl moaned into his mouth.

Taehyung looked at him in disbelief.

What the fuck was the deal with him?

Ignoring them, he continued on his way. Water filled his crocks as he walked, profanities at the tip of his tongue.

Jimin fought with him over Taehyung enjoying his life and here he was, fucking another girl in rocks. Just how can people have such double standards? Hypocrite bitch!

His mood was better. Day was going well. Not so exciting but still. But Jimin ruined it again.

He parted the curtain of the veil from the mouth of the cave and walked inside, not wanting to think about anything. The air inside was cool. Soft. Silent. Just the way it had been when he had visited earlier.

The waves brought the water every now and then. The cold liquid tickled his bare legs, welcoming him back.

He walked deeper.

Sitting down on the same stone he had laid on just three days ago, bare and needy, feeling a claim being branded onto his skin, and deeper into his soul, he gripped the edge of it and looked around.

He didn't get the chance to appreciate the beauty of the cave last time. He had been too busy moaning his uncle's name. Now when he looked around, it was beautiful. Peaceful.

Moss covered the damp walls.

Somewhere in the roof, there was a hole. Sunlight penetrated through it, filling the cave with a faint light. But it was not enough to break that serene blackness that just calls you right in.

His gaze stopped at the wildflowers beside him.

Picking a purple one casually, he tucked it behind his ear.

He looked around the place mindlessly but someone parted the vines, filling the cave with light. He turned only to find Jimin there.

Taehyung watched him looking around the place before walking inside. His hair were still a mess. Two upper buttons of the shirt lay open, exposing his chest, his lips slightly swollen.

He took a place beside Taehyung who ignored him.

"Nice place." He finally spoke.

Taehyung didn't reply. He didn't want him here. His presence irritated Taehyung. The cave... it was his safe place. It was weird he had been here just once and got so attached. But maybe some things just get close to you.

He didn't want to fight with Jimin here. It will ruin it for him.

The other boy pushed a hand through his messy hair, straightening them. "How did you find it?"

Taehyung gave him a cold shoulder again. But then, Jimin's eyes stopped at him. And he couldn't ignore him anymore.

"Just stumbled upon it a few days ago." He lied.

Jimin nodded. Both of them sat there in silence, as if nothing was wrong. Taehyung waited for him to leave. He didn't.

"About earlier—" He paused, looking down at his hands. Taehyung watched him rubbing his palm with his thumb, an action he did when he was guilty, before his eyes found Taehyung's.

"I am sorry. I shouldn't have yelled at you."

Taehyung stared at his best friend.

Oh. So he knew that? Good. But what now? It was already done. He had already yelled at him, fought with him, and ignored him for three whole days.

It had hurt, alright. Sorry wasn't going to mend it.

Taehyung swallowed as tears filled his eyes again. He looked away.

A silence fell between them again. He didn't know what Jimin was thinking but it was going to take more than just sorry. He can't expect Taehyung to just forget everything.

He had fought ugly.

"You were right." Jimin's voice broke his thoughts. "I... I was jealous."

Taehyung's eyes snapped to his, his heart suddenly thudding in his chest. A familiar fear took over him. PleaseI He didn't want anything to change between them.

Jimin offered a small smile as he shrugged. "For eighteen years, it has only been you and me. No matter what, we were always together. And now suddenly... you were ignoring me, avoiding me. Finding excuses to keep me away. I was hurt and then I saw you like that..." He left his words in the middle but silence completed them.

He looked down at his hands again. "I was jealous I was being replaced. But that was not all. I was scared you will be hurt. I was possessive because you are mine. You have always been mine. And then, I was mad too, because you didn't tell me anything. I felt too much at the same time that it got out of control. I was selfish to feel all that but I didn't know how to stop."

Taehyung looked away.

He didn't want to forgive him. Not just yet. He wanted to stay mad, but somewhere, Jimin's words were softening him.

"I missed you."

There. He lost it. Those words, just those three words. They were all it took for Taehyung to forget it all.

"You are an asshole." He told him.

Jimin smiled, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "I have always been one, I guess."

"Good that you know."

His chest felt light. God! Life seemed easy again. Only if the idiot knew how much he meant to Taehyung. They have always belonged to each other in a way. And they always will. Nothing can come between them.

But he didn't know how to tell him. He was overwhelmed.

"So Suzy, huh?" He asked, changing topic to lighten the air. That made Jimin's lips curl up into a smirk. Taehyung raised an eyebrow. "I didn't know you were into incest."

He had always teased Taehyung for being into incest.

Jimin stared at him for a moment, something in his eyes. Something like amusement. He grinned. "I have been constantly asking you to come to bed with me. Remember?"

Taehyung's jaw touched the floor.

His reaction earned him a laughter from Jimin. He shook his head. "Suzy is not so closely related to me. She is the daughter of my mother's uncle's son's daughter. If you start to look at things like that, every other girl will be my sister. You can't expect me to keep my hands off them."

Taehyung watched him grinning, only to roll his eyes. "Of course." He knew Jimin was never going to behave. He was going to grow up into a one wild heartbreaker. He already was one.

"You shouldn't have punched Jake." He told him.

Jimin gave him another apologetic look. "I know."

"That seemed bad."

"I broke his nose."

"I can't believe you are proud of that."

Jimin shrugged. "I am just a man."

Taehyung watched him being smug, only to shake his head. Male ego. He couldn't understand that thing even though he was a male himself. What adrenaline rush could a fight give to a man?

"It's not Jake. Is it?"

Taehyung was still lost in his thoughts when Jimin's words broke the silence. He looked at his best friend only to find him already watching him.

"Chim..." He trailed off, not knowing how to reply. He can't tell him. He couldn't.

"Don't worry. I won't ask who it is. It's your life. You have all the right to live it the way you want, just the way I do." Jimin made it easier for him. "Just... take care. Don't get your heart broken."

His care, and his concern filled Taehyung with a familiar warmth. He smiled brightly at him.

"I won't." 

________

Boring? I know I know.

I know you guys are missing Uncle Jeon and some spice. Don't worry. It's on the way. But this chapter was a filler that was important for the story buildup.

I will see you again with a good dose of what you have been asking for a long long time. 😉

We are almost there. Iykyk 😘

Until then, take care of yourselves.  I love you all ✨❤️

Also, Don't forget to check out these amazing videos!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbfO6WuEA60

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9gD4PTunzo