The man was the only one left. His raven black hair blew side to side in the stormy wind, the mans legs slowly made its way to the abandoned church ahead of him. He had come back here after years of hiding. His old village was ruined, everything was left to nature. to eventually fall into ashes. He couldn't protect his family, he couldn't protect his friends. mainly because he never had them. They left him there. The boy who never heard anyone say his name after that. no one knew him. He began to lose who he was, he didn't remember anymore. He didn't know what to do, where to go. he didn't want to be here. Every day and night he sent his prayers to get the life he wanted. a happy life. a life of joy, love and happiness....he just wanted to be happy.

The man entered the broken church, the wind finally disappearing, making him able to open his eyes again. The storms never seem to stop. He didn't remember the last time he had seen the sun shine here on the abandoned village. Not that it mattered there was nothing else than death here.

Slowly his steps neared the middle of the church, the broken gap of the roof made the rain fall down on him as he sat down on the decorated but dirty floor. the cracks breaking the once beautifully painted image. He clasped his hands together and bent over closing his eyes.

"P-please.....please give me happiness.....please reunite me...please" the man said. Thinking of how his life would be if his love was still at his side. the only one that saw him in the shadows. the only one who truly loved him. But he was long gone. He never saw the other named Taehyung after that. He just disappeared. going to the afterlife right in front of him. The boy never had the time they both needed. He had merely two short years. too less for the raven. ever since he died the raven's life went back to being nothing but pain.

He held back a sob and he brought his hands up his soft whispers growing louder. his eyes looking up at the faint moon between the dark clouds. "please...please give me the life of my dreams..." tears fell down his face as he looked up. and then...a voice was heard.

"Jeon Jungkook......" the raven haired man named Jungkook gasped and then everything turned black. his body falling down on the church's floor.

"...."

"....."

"baby..."

"..."

"Love wake up" the oh so gentle and soft voice was heard. The most beautiful voice Jungkook had ever heard. He smiled, it's been so long. He would always dream of him, but he never could hear the sounds. but now. he could hear him. He heard him again.

"I know you're awake silly" A soft kiss was placed on his nose. which made jungkook open his eyes. Not expecting to see his lost over right in front of him. He just froze right there in place. Taehyung noticed the change and frowned puzzled.

"uh. you okay? Is something wrong?" Taehyung asked, a little concerned.

"T-tae?" Jungkook whispered softly and sat up looking at the other. the one he wished for. the one he wished would come back alive. the one he wanted to grow old with. but it never happened.

"yes?"

"I-its really you?" jungkook reached out touching the other's cheek. he felt the warmth of taehyung's skin. he felt every little detail. His eyes teared up and he grabbed the older pulling him tightly in his arms hugging him. he thought the other would vanish into air any moment. his soft sobs and tears wet the other's skin.

"woah there you okay. Did you dream of something?" Taehyung chuckled and hugged back, caressing Jungkook's back.

"Bad dream, yes" Jungkook said. He didn't care. He didn't care if this was just a dream. He was just so happy to feel taehyung now. even if it will just be a minute or just ten minutes. he will be happy with any. Did his prayers get accepted, does he have taehyung back? was this all real?

"Ahw, dont worry. im right here with you" taehyung smiled wider and pulled back cupping jungkook's face to place a short kiss on his lips. leaving Jungkook so stunned and tearing up even more. Taehyung not knowing what all went on in Jungkook's head. "Shall we go brush our teeth?"

"let...lets just hug a little longer...please" jungkook doesn't want to let go of the other. He wasn't ready to.

"okay. if you say so" taehyung said and laid down with Jungkook, resting his head on the other's chest.

It felt way too short to jungkook, but in reality they stayed like that for almost half an hour. it just felt like mere three seconds to Jungkook, it didn't make up for all the years of loneliness he had felt when Taehyung died. It didn't fill the empty void inside his heart.

"okay, now we really need to get up. Or else we will be late '' Taehyung sat up patting jungkook's chest.

"Okay" the raven got out of bed following his lost lover like a little puppy following its owner. He won't leave Taehyung's side. When they were in the bathroom he began to realise the place he was in. This was the house they had always wanted. the house they were saving up for, the house they would grow old in together. He walked into the bedroom and opened the curtains to look outside. a lively place was seen. the sun shining brightly on the street and people walking by. He could see life. not just storm and dead. He saw the life of a rich place. The place what was no longer there. The place jungkook had seen getting destroyed and abandoned.

"You ready? we will miss the festival if you don't hurry up" taehyung said as he got dressed into something more traditional for the festival. They always had traditional clothes in their closet for celebrations and festivals. even now.

"Yes" Jungkook hurried in the bathroom, quickly rinsing his mouth. I'm scared that if he takes longer Taehyung will be gone. so he hurried out his eyes searching for the other who was still getting dressed. A relieved sigh left Jungkook's lips seeing the other was still there. maybe..just maybe, this was really real. maybe he really got the life he had always wanted. maybe this was reality...

"Here!" Taehyung handed Jungkook his dark purple clothes and went to get their shoes from the box under the bed. "Okay okay, i'm excited!"

"Me too," Jungkook smiled. Slowly he got more comfortable. It was so strange to see Taehyung again. He never thought he would see him again. Yet here he was. Jungkook couldn't wish for anything better. He took a deep breath and nodded to himself. he was going to enjoy his time. he will live how he had wanted it to.

-

And so they went to the festival. joining the many people who all walked to the location. it wasn't far, it was being held at the river side for the ritual later. A thing they did every year in this city. They would send off a lantern for their lost ones and make a wish, the wishes that burn from the lantern's flame before they sank into the water were believed to come true.

They held hands together as they walked over the field looking at the small shops that sold themed accessories or decorations. From lanterns to earrings, for everyone they had something to their liking. A pair of children ran by them laughing holding a fish lantern in their hand. Everything seemed to be enjoying themselves.

"Hey Jungkook, taehyung. I was beginning to doubt if you would even come, you're late!"

"Jimin, don't be so dramatic, we were only twenty minutes late. it's not like we missed everything" taehyung chuckled. Meanwhile Jungkook was surprised to hear someone other than Taehyung say his name. This..jimin person knew them? jungkook had friends?

"So, how is it? isn't it so pretty" jimin said excitedly and looked around at all the beautifully decorated stalls and lanterns stuck in the grass field. they would be lit at dawn to give the night a comforting glow.

"It is" Jungkook said, smiling. This is what he wanted, friends, taehyung, fun...happiness. This was just perfect.

"Alright, imma go back to yoongi, let's go eat after the ritual all together" jimin suggested. He himself was wearing a golden and yellow colored outfit.

"Sounds great, we will wait at the entrance for you," Taehyung said, smiling at his friend.

"great, see you later!" Jimin waved at them and rushed off to join his boyfriend who was trying to win a game with a younger kid a bit further away.

"So Kook, what shall we do first?" Taehyung asked.

"hmm, maybe....look at the shops?" Jungkook asked, looking at all the colorful things.

"sure" the other took Jungkook with him, swaying their hands back and forth making Jungkook smile at him lovingly. "ohh this is cute!" taehyung said and grabbed a bracelet with a small serpent dragon pendant.

"It's pretty" jungkook agreed and grabbed the other one. his breath then got stuck. He recognized these bracelets. they bought it together, jungkook still had it. The black beaded bracelet with the serpent pendant. a treasured gift from taehyung. "shall we get these?" he asked, no way he will just let go of this. He had to get these.

"Yes!" Taehyung smiled and spoke to the maker wanting to buy them. Meanwhile Jungkook kept staring at the bracelet, feeling the pendant with his thumb. He remembered when they first bought these, they were just together for his first year. Jungkook had bought these as a gift. not knowing that taehyung would take him all the way into his grave. where it would stay forever to be consumed back to the earth where it once came from.

"Can you help me?" Taehyung asked, holding his wrist out, he couldn't get it on his arm by himself with one hand.

"of course"

Jungkook put the green version of the bracelet on Taehyung's wrist but kept the delicate hand in his own. feeling the soft well cared for skin.

"I love you...i really love you" jungkook whispered softly.

"I love you too...."Taehyung asked a bit confused why Jungkook was acting so strange. "kook?"

the raven looked up.

"What did you dream about?"

"I....'' Jungkook sighed and let go of the other's hand, letting Taehyung put the black bracelet on his wrist. "I dreamed you died of sickness....the village was burned down and abandoned.. i was alone."

"oh..." taehyung looked up. "but now you're awake, don't worry. I'm not sick, I'm not going to die on you. We would be together right? we promised remember" taehyung smiled cupping jungkook's face with his hands. "it was just a dream" He then gave the other a kiss. melting jungkook's heart with just that.

"Thank you" jungkook whispered and took the other's hand again walking further over the field. The fun and happiness he felt those hours couldnt be taken from him. He had been smiling. He had been able to hold taehyung, he had met friends. Everything was just....perfect. Time flew by, and the sun had already set. The couple were now eating their quick snack on a bench as they waited for the ritual to start. slowly people gathered on the riverside, talking together. some sitting in the grass.

"shall we join them?" taehyung asked as they finished the snack. Jungkook nodded in reply, his mouth still full. Together they walked to one of the men who were handing out the lanterns and note papers. Taehyung and Jungkook both took one and the ink brush. using the small table to write down their wish.

Taehyung went first. Jungkook tried to peek at the other's note.

"Hey, don't peek. Or else it won't come true," taehyung said, quickly covering his paper. playfully swaying the ink brush towards jungkook who laughed and quickly took a step back.

"sorry love" jungkook turned around with a big grin and waited for the other to finish.

"done, your turn"

Jungkook nodded and took taehyung's place in front of the table. taking the brush in his hand and put it in the ink cup. Looking at the long rectangular paper in front of him. what was he to wish for? what was there to wish for? Jungkook would think there was nothing. but it seems there still was one thing he wanted to wish for. he put the tip of the brush on the top o the paper and began writing. Watching the lines form letters to words. He folded the paper one time so no one could read his wish before walking to Taehyung who was waiting for him. holding both their lanterns.

"Here" Taehyung handed Jungkook the lanterns and they walked to the river side. where everyone was waiting for the last person to join. Which took a moment, but eventually everyone was there.

"Tonight we gather to say goodbye to our lost ones" The older man said who stood up front. "We will remember their memories and give them a peaceful rest. The god gives us all a wish in return for the lives we all lost" he bend forward to place his lantern on the water everyone else following his example. "May our wishes come true and not get lost on its journey." He let go of the lantern. and everyone followed him.

Jungkook looked at his lantern thinking of the one he once lost. The one who was sitting right next to him at this very moment. The one he never want to lose again. With a new feeling he let go of the lantern watching his join the many others on the river stream. slowly but steady floating away in the stream.

Taehyung wrapped an arm around Jungkook and rested his head on his shoulder. both watching their lanterns go away. hoping their notes will burn and come true. Jungkook was about to open his mouth and say something when everything faded away. his sight filled with darkness...

-

".....soul accepted..."

A cold body was lying in an abandoned church when the morning came. The body of someone who was named Jungkook. laying there on the old painted floor. his clothes wet from the rain. his eyes open but lifeless. bloody tears had rolled out from them dripping on the floor. He wasn't breathing, he wasn't blinking....he wasn't alive anymore. The endless storm had died down making space for a warm pleasant sun, the rays reflecting on a bracelet around the man's arm, the serpent pendant shimmering in the sunlight. The man didn't look sad anymore, the man was smiling. He looked...peaceful. In his right hand he held a slightly crumpled note with bloody letters. his own fingertip having the same deep red color. on the note it said,

'please, please let me stay in the life of my dreams'

The sun moved slowly peeking through the broken gap in the roof. and That's when the note in Jungkook's hand suddenly caught flame, slowly burning away into a little pile of ashes that was blown away by the breeze.....

-

"..."

"..."

"Hey kook?..."

The raven haired man opened his eyes. looking right in the eyes of his lover.

"ah you're awake, you passed out there for a second" taehyung smile relieved jungkook was fine.

"Oh, really?"

"Yes. Maybe you need to eat. let's go eat something" taehyung said, taking jungkook by the hand......

---

thank you for reading this short story if mine. i had this idea in my head but didnt think if would fit a whole book so i just made a short one of it. i enjoyed writing this even if it wasnt long. i hope vene if its not much you enjoyed the story, i thank you for your tie and hope to see you again in a other book! bye bye~🐣💕

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