T A E H Y U N G

I looked down at the picture in my hand. I had managed to retrieve it from the American man. Jungkook looked ethereal. The name still sounded unusual rolling on my tongue.

"All the passengers please put on your seatbelts, we are ready to land." The announcement over the speakers rang. I had taken up the first flight from Incheon airport, thanks to Rosé's dad. Now here I was halfway through my journey. I had to change flights. For a person who has never even been on a train on his own, I was daring too much. I was so thankful to myself for knowing English well.

I also got to know that usually the luggage is directly transferred to the joining flight but today was an unlucky day and I would have to do it by myself. I wish I had taken upon my mum's advice to take someone along with me, but I had no time to wait for another ticket and all the documentation. My Bunny needed me, and I had to go for him.

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T A E H Y U N G

I crashed into someone as I ran to the luggage counter, both of us falling to the ground, my luggage drifting on wheels. I hurriedly stood up catching my trolley. "Mianhe," I said, on second thought adding, "I'm sorry, I was in a hurry," I said giving a small bow to the masked stranger, before turning to the luggage counter.

"Tiger?" A single word that made me freeze in place. I turned around as if pulled by the red string. I took in the face I'd been staring at my journey, but in person, it looked more angelic, if that was possible. My knees gave away under me, and I was pulled to the ground. The tears I had held back so long now fell uncontrollably. Through my blurred vision, I saw the stranger behind the letters kneel down besides me, his eyes welling up as well. And just like that, we both sat in the middle of an airport, staring at the faces behind our letters, for what seemed like hours.

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J U N G K O O K

"How did you know it was me?"

We had come into a café at the airport, my cappuccino remained untouched as Taehyung sipped on his chocolate Frappuccino, I found it quite funny that he didn't like coffee, how's that even physically possible? He looked relax as if hadn't just missed a plane, even though there was no point in boarding a plane now that the person he wanted to meet was right here. His long fingers curved around the glass, the same way they must have held a pen when he wrote to him. There was no way of defining his face, his sharp jawline could cut through paper, his shoulders wide and giving away a hard stance while his chocolate brown eyes were soft as they came.

Taehyung rubbed his eyes; he must be just as tired as me then. He didn’t look it, his skin was golden and healthy, his hair smooth and well-kempt.

"You wore the same perfume." That made him blush.

"You recognized me just by my scent?"

"It was a shot in the dark, but it was worth a try."

"And how'd you know it was me?" I asked as I was surprised myself when he had dissolved in a puddle of tears just because of one word. He stood up retrieving his wallet from his back pocket. He rummaged through it and pulled a piece of paper out. He glanced at it once before turning it towards me. It was a picture of me standing in a studio, with a small forceful smile, wearing a white shirt.

"Woah Tig- Taehyung," his name still felt foreign on my tongue, "that is not fair! No wonder you weren't surprised at seeing my stupid face."

"Of course it is fair, how was I supposed to find you if I didn't know how you looked?"

"You didn't need to search for me," I said, my voice a small mumble.

"I had to," he said, his hand reaching out to tangle into my fingers, "I was ready to cross over the world for you, literally. I cannot believe fate had great plans for us."

"You shouldn't have done it though, what if we had missed each other? You'd be on a plane to a place you know nothing of."

"But as I said fate had different plans for us. I fell in love with your words Bun, and I couldn't lose you because of some shitty people in your life. I realized how eagerly I waited for Mondays to come, just so I could read your letters. I want us to be together Kookie." The pet name made me feel butterflies in my stomach, he wants me. Me- a stupid, sad, lonely person.
Why would he want me?

I took I'm a deep breath to form the question, but he beat me to it.

"Why?" He asked as if pouring acid on the butterflies in my stomach.

"Why, what?" I asked although I already knew what he was implying.

"Why did you decide to come to me, instead of going ahead with your plan." I almost snorted 'plan', is that what it was- a goodbye plan.

"I wanted to see the face behind the beautiful letters and the body wearing my favorite perfume before you know-" I trailed off. "Also I thought jumping in Han river might be better than Hudson, like my father says near to my roots." At this Taehyung stood from his chair to come and sit besides me. He pulled me into a tight hug, his face burying in my neck. I felt his body shiver as he sobbed.

"Pl- please Kookie, never say that again. You are never going to l-leave me, please."

I wondered if I should lie, just to make the beautiful boy besides me stop crying. "Tae- I can't, you have to understand this life it's too hard. I cannot endure it anymore. You cannot just take away my last shot at peace, away from all this pain."

He pulled away from me, holding me at arm's length, "No way! I'm never going to let you do that. I have only got you now and I'm not losing you again for the world."

Protests died in my throat as the wet chocolate eyes stared at me, his lips wobbled trying to keep a sob in.

"I don't want to go there Tae. I don't want to face them again. My father will kill me if he gets to know what I am gonna do, although that's what I want but not from him." I held up my palm, letting them linger on his wet cheeks. Wiping away the tears. He relaxed into my touch.

"You don't have to go back. You can stay with me, I'm sure my mom will love you. You don't have to go back Kookie. And because I'm selfish I'm never letting you go either."

"Okay."

"Huh?"

"I said okay, I will come with you." My heart pounding at my momentary decision. I wondered how it would be to see the guy holding onto my hands every day. To have to never face my father again. It felt like a beautiful dream.

"For real, you would come with me?"

"Yes Tae, I'd love to. But for now, let's walk through the streets of Paris? I don't think we'll ever be able to come here again, even if it was destiny this time."

"But your flight?" He asked giggling.

"It's delayed for 3 hours and it is 3 hours before its original timing. So it gives us 6 hours. And anyway aren't we going together? What about your ticket."

"I'll call Rosé, I'm sure she's going to kill me when she sees me."

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J U N G K O O K

"This is beautiful, I have always wanted to see the Eiffel tower." He looks at the structure now lit in golden lights. We are both standing at a bridge away from the tower, giving us a full view. Slowly I let my fingers brush against his. Butterflies bursting in my stomach. He suddenly turns his face towards me, giving me the hugest smile as he takes my hand in his. His grip is strong as if afraid I'll disappear.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *. ☽️ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

I can't believe this story is coming to end soon. Although it was supposed to be a one-shot. Thank you for coming this far. I hope you don't hate me after the end.

Yours Aarch
Borahae 💜