"Visiting me one last time?" Jungkook asked as Hoseok entered the room.

"Just checking if you're still breathing before your sentence." Hoseok answered, sitting opposite to the other.

It was the day before Jungkook's transfer to another precinct where he would spend the days in waiting for his sentence.

"Eager to see me dead, huh?" Jungkook said, flicking his tongue.

"You have no idea." Hoseok responded, casually sitting with his legs crossed.

There was a long silence before Hoseok spoke once more.

"He's here."

His words immediately registered in Jungkook's mind and in a blink of an eye, his expression changed.

"I should've just killed you." Jungkook threatened, eyes blazing in anger as the cuffs clinked from his now trembling fist.

"Don't shoot daggers at me. He begged me to see you." Hoseok retorted before standing from his seat.

"I'll let him in."

"No!" Jungkook wanted to drag Hoseok and beat the living daylights out of him.

The detective didn't say anything as he went for the door and leave. With every second that passed by, Jungkook could feel something inside him stir.

He couldn't see him. No.. he must not see him.

As the door opened once more, the ravenette didn't lift his head. He could hear the faint steps as it grew closer.

The sound of the chair being dragged a little resonated in the room, and yet, Jungkook could not look at the man from across the room.

"Hyung.."

His voice sounded so lonely, so desperate and it only made Jungkook clench his fist.

Why? Why did he have to see him?

It only made his heart waver.

"How are you doing here, hyung? Are they treating you well?"

"Leave." Jungkook uttered instead.

He finally lifted his gaze and once he did, his world stopped at the sight of the only person who had been haunting him in his dreams.

Those dead eyes brimmed with tears, tears he had only seen for the very first time.

"You.. why?" Jungkook felt his heart clench at the sight of those tears that continued to stain his beautiful face.

"I miss you, hyung.."

His words cut like a knife and Jungkook wanted to say the words back, but he couldn't.

He couldn't.

"Leave now." Jungkook said, pressing the buzzer which immediately summoned the guard who would bring him back to his cell.

"Hyung.."

"Go home and don't come looking for me again." Jungkook warned as the officer came, followed by Hoseok.

"Take him with you, detective. Starting today, I won't be accepting visits from you." He added, glaring at the detective who could only raise his hand in surrender.

He didn't want him to be seen with him nor to give anyone the idea that he's his only weakness.

As he was being escorted out, Jungkook was halted by his voice again.

"I'll wait, hyung."

He felt his heart squeeze in so much pain. He wanted to grab him in a warm embrace, but he knew he shouldn't.

"I'll wait.. so please come back to me."

Just like before, he's promising to wait for his return.

However, they both knew waiting this time would be nothing but futile.

"Don't. You know I won't be coming back anymore."

As he reached the door, he heard his sobs which brought pain in his chest. He had been holding back his own tears and with every step away from the room, he knew this would be the end.

The end for the promise both of them couldn't fulfill.

————

The flashes of the camera blinded Jungkook as he was being escorted out of the police car.

He could hear a lot of people chattering from both sides, but he couldn't comprehend anything they say.

His mind was filled of nothing but his end as he was being taken to the place where he'll have his last breath.

"How are you feeling?"

"Have you repented from your sins?"

"Look here!

"Any last words?"

Noise.

All he heard was nothing but noise.

The faces of the people clamoring around him didn't register in his mind. They all looked like they're wearing a mask as they laughed at him.

Taunting him.

Jungkook scoffed, feeling his body turn cold with every step.

So this is how death felt like.

In the past few days, after seeing Taehyung, Jungkook's fear of death became stronger.

He would cry in his bed, praying for the first time to be saved.

He wanted to live.

He prayed to live.

Seeing Taehyung so miserable because of him ignited fear in his heart.

He didn't want to leave him.

He wanted to stay by his side, live with him until their last breath.

"How foolish." Jungkook whispered, eyes tired and sorrowful as he looked at the people around him.

And as he did, he saw that one face, that face with genuine tears and longing.

"Hyung!"

He was calling out to him, pushing through the people surrounding him.

"Please! Hyung!"

His tears glistened brighter than the flashes, blinding Jungkook with his own tears.

My little lamb.

Jungkook could see the sadness in his face, the last image of him in his head before he was forced inside the station where he would finally meet death.

He wanted to look back and see Taehyung's face once more, but the crowd of reporters and spectators blinded his sight.

"Hurry."

The police officer dragged him by the arm towards the end of the hall. He could see the execution room by the end of the hallway which enveloped his heart in fear.

He was pushed inside and the sight of the rope where he would be hanged was the only thing he could see.

So this is the end.

Jungkook wanted to laugh but nothing came... nothing came but fear.

"Stand there."

He was pushed once more to stand on a pedestal behind the hanging rope. His hands were still cuffed on his back as he clenched his fist tight.

He clenched it so tight as if his life depended on it.

"What's that in your hands?" The officer noticed, immediately holding his arm as he forced his fist open.

"It's nothing!" Jungkook struggled as the officer successfully opened his hand.

A tinkling sound echoed in the room as an object fell from his hand and rolled down the floor.

"Give it back!" Jungkook continued to struggle, eyes fixated on the ring now on the floor.

He felt so helpless as no one listened to him while they tried to place the rope around his head.

"Please.. just let me hold on to it." Jungkook begged, tears brimming his lifeless eyes as he gazed at the ring.

Taehyung..

My Taehyung..

Calling his name was the only thing he longed to do, but his voice won't come out.

At the very least, Jungkook wanted to be with Taehyung for the last time. With the ring in his hand, he could feel him, imagine that he's with him in his last breath.

Taehyung..

Jungkook could only shut his eyes close, letting his tears fall.

Even in his last breath, he only wanted to be with Taehyung.

My Taehyung

With all the wrong things he had done, Taehyung was the only thing that's right.

The image of his love in his mind had brought a small smile on his lips.

If not in this lifetime, maybe in another, Taehyung and him could finally be free.

As Jungkook accepted his fate and with just one pull of the lever, he knew it would be the end.

His eyes were shut when suddenly the door burst open and in came the police force with Hoseok and Yoongi in the frontline.

Everything was vague, and nothing registered in his mind. His blurry vision could only picture the figures of the men entering.

To his tearful eyes, they were blinding lights, something akin to hope... yes, hope.

"Stop the execution." Hoseok ordered, eyes glued to Jungkook who had his eyes wide open.

"Get him out of there." He added, letting an officer help Jungkook down.

"What's going on here?" The head chief asked, eyes spitting fire.

"We got an order for retrial." Yoongi said, presenting the order to the other.

"What?"

Hoseok grabbed Jungkook by the arm. He's still shaken and unable to understand what's going on.

"The execution will no longer take place today due to retrial. This is an order from the judge." Yoongi informed, gazing at the ravenette.

Nothing seemed to get through to Jungkook who felt his knees give way, letting him fall down the floor.

His shaking hands reached for the ring on the floor, eyes full of tears as he held it tightly in his hands.

Taehyung..

"I want to live." Jungkook whispered, tears cascading his eyes as he held the ring closer.

"I want to live!" He uttered once more, raising his head as tears flooded his vision.

"You will. I'm not going to let you die unfairly, not on my watch." Hoseok uttered, helping Jungkook stand.

For the very first time after 10 years, Jungkook had begged to be saved.

For the very first time, someone actually did.

———

Hoseok had been working to file a motion for reconsideration for Jungkook's case for a while now.

He had gathered evidence, and through the help of Yoonho who stepped up on his own to be a witness, he was able to get an order for retrial.

Yoonho stood as a witness during the retrial which shed light to the events that the accused had undergone.

His account as the police in charge of that time was a huge impact for the case.

However, as he came out as a witness, his name and his honor were tarnished, but he couldn't care less.

After all, just like Hoseok, he vowed to help Jungkook 10 years ago, but he failed. Now, given the chance to help him, he stood up for the truth.

As the case rolled once more, with people standing as witnesses, the claim to have the accused undergo psychological treatment strengthened.

And when the ruling happened, the public was once again in divided positions.

"The accused is hereby sentenced not guilty by reason of insanity and shall be given a chance to undergo psychological treatment."

The judge had finally given his verdict which gave the public another reason to have divided opinions.

In the middle of everything, Hoseok, who had vowed to help Jungkook in the right way, could finally say that he had fulfilled his promise.

"Get better and come out as soon as you can." Hoseok uttered, tapping Jungkook by the shoulder.

"Have I ever said 'Thank you' to you?" Jungkook asked which made the other scoff.

"Hm.. Have you?" Hoseok retorted, eyes smiling.

"Next time, I'll thank you." Jungkook said, passing by the detective who only nodded.

He was taken to a medical facility where he would be getting treatment for the childhood trauma he had experienced.

During his treatment, Jungkook held on to Taehyung's promise that he would wait. They hadn't met since the time he almost got executed, but he knew in his heart that Taehyung would keep his words.

He always does.

Days turned to months and months to years with Jungkook doing everything he could to be better.

He never missed a consultation with his doctor, never skipped meals and medications.

He wanted to get better the soonest possible time, so he could be with Taehyung again.

This was his goal the moment he opened his eyes in the morning and before he closed them at night.

For him to be with his love, he needed to be a better version of himself.

For his Taehyung... and for himself to finally be free from the nightmares that haunted him.

For the fifteen year old him who was trapped in the darkness for so long to finally find that light of freedom he had longed to see.

"I want to live." Jungkook whispered, seeing the beauty of the surrounding from the window of his room.

No matter how long it takes, he'll fight to live.

———

5 years later

"Thank you for all your help."

Jungkook extended his hand for his doctor who smiled as he took his hand.

"Live the life you always wanted." His doctor said with a warm smile.

"I will." Jungkook responded, smiling back.

It had been a long journey for his recovery and now, he's finally free.

Gone were the days that he would wake up from nightmares and his mind was nothing but chaos.

Now, he's full of life and hope for a life he never knew he would have.

"Visit me, all right? not as a patient, but as a friend this time." His doctor added before giving him one last tap on the shoulder.

"Of course, doc. You're the only person who believed in me here." Jungkook said, smiling gratefully.

It's true. When no one else even himself believed that he could, his doctor was the one who pushed him to believe.

It took him a long time, but he's glad he did.

Now, he could go back.

As Jungkook finally stepped out of the place he had been accustomed to for five years, he couldn't help but feel a bit strange.

It still felt surreal, but each step of walking away, his heart jumped in happiness.

"Finally out?"

Jungkook turned his head and saw Hoseok leaning by his car.

"Detective.." Jungkook smiled, not expecting to see the person who made everything happened.

The person who helped him experience the second life he never knew he'd live.

He hasn't taken a few steps when the door of the car opened and his world seemed to stop.

Jungkook couldn't help but stare at the man who emerged, eyes now brimming with tears as he smile at him.

The wind blew hard as the leaves fell and danced from the trees. The sound coming from the cars in the highway turned deafeningly silent as he stared at those eyes.

Jungkook wanted to run towards him, but his feet won't move. His knees turned to jelly as his tears began falling in his eyes.

Only one look from the other and the longing that filled his heart for the last five years came crashing down in a pool of emotions he had never felt before.

His reason for living was finally in front of him, and he couldn't stop his tears from falling.

He felt his warm embrace around him which brought euphoria in his heart.

"Hyung.."

His voice was the deepest yet the softest as he called him.

When Jungkook lifted his gaze, Taehyung was the only one he could see.

His arms around him felt like home as he warmly smiled at him.

"I'm back, little lamb." Jungkook whispered in between tears.

He saw him smile through his own tears before nodding.

"I have been waiting, hyung." Taehyung uttered, breathless.

Jungkook couldn't help but cup his face with his trembling hands as he kissed him lovingly.

He's holding him after so long and it felt like home.

Finally, he's home.

Jungkook gently took Taehyung's hand where he placed in his palm the ring that he had kept from all those years.

The ring that kept him sane in the insane world he had to live in.

As he gazed in those loving eyes, the words he had been dying to say finally came out.

"Ready to fulfill our promise?"

———

End.

Hello roses! Congratulations for making it this far. 🎉

You deserve an award for having the patience to wait for my updates (sorry for my sick ass) I'm really beyond grateful for that. 💜

However, this is the end for RB and I hope you enjoyed every bit of it.

I've done a lot of revisions for the epilogue because I'm conflicted as to how I'll end it. I hope this ending suffice.

I'm leaving it hanging to let your imagination do the rest. Give our Taehyung and Jungkook in this book the best ending they deserve.

Okay, thank you for reading my long ass note.

Buckle up for new stories to unravel.

And as always, I love you 💜

Take all my love and gratitude.

💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜

Your girl,
Rosie 🌹

RB is now signing off.