Paper Cuts - EXO-CBX

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It almost as though if the world just stopped spinning. Every air molecule just stopped moving right in their spot. The wind outside has came to a stop and Jungkook's heart beat became slow in rhythm.

Almost too steady.

He heard Yeosang beside him muffle in a gasp choked breath, yet Jungkook can't feel himself even breathing anymore.

No.

She.... She can't be serious.

"W-What?" Yeosang asks, his voice cracking in clear awestruck, "What do you mean he's dead? I-Is this a code for something or-"

"Gem!" Iodine bellows towards him, staring at him with her own teary eyes, "I wouldn't lie about this..... You know I wouldn't. He was my kid..... My kid."

Jungkook could feel the heavy weight of her words yet it..... It doesn't sink in.

No.... Woosung isn't.... Hes not....

Why can't I breathe?

"Jungkook?" Iodine gently asks him, running a hand down the side of his now pale face, "Talk to me kid."

As much as he wants to ask something, there's nothing in his head. Nothing.

Woosung isn't dead.

He doesn't die.

No..... No he doesn't.

H-He promised.

So he breaks a smile to her, patting her hand on his face, "Nice joke, ha almost had me fooled," He says forcefully, trying light the mood as he takes her hand in his, "Now what is the real reason that you're here?"

Iodine's face only twists more in remorse, seeing the way Jungkook prefers being blinded from the truth, so she only places another hand over his.

"A few Segas killed him," Iodine whispers, being careful with her words, "Left dead by a bodega. They just.... They beat him up pretty bad and.... Stabbed him in the abdomen.... Repeatedly."

Suddenly she pulls her hand away to reach inside her pocket of her jacket, pulling out multiple photos and setting them on the coffee table.

Ha, no it's not him.

That caramel hair color doesn't look like his.

They picked a very good clone, even had the same c-cute mole on his eye....

Just completely...... Covered in blood.....

And bruises...

His body..... Horrifyingly tortured....

Oh God..

"These are police pictures from the crime scene," Iodine whispers over Yeosang sudden chipped breathes, who holds the pictures on his shakily hands while Jungkook stares at them in a mixture of disbelief and paranoia.

This is not Woosung.

Why are they saying it's him?

I-It's not!

That's not my Woosung!

"Jungkook," Iodine says, forcing him to snap his eyes away from the picture to look at her, seeing her completely blurred and that's when he realized he was actually crying, "I know how hard this must be for you, I would know since I saw you guys as kids, I'm really sorry."

N-No.

No this isn't real.

He was just calling him last night!

The other day he just saw him!

This is bullshit!

Jungkook shakes his head, a weak smile now on his lips as he gets to his feet, "Don't say that, he's alive. He wouldn't just.... Even if he was, what can I do about it? Nothing, shit happens right?"

Don't say it if you don't mean it.

This is tearing him apart inside.

Yeosang looks over broken heartedly to his brother, knowing very well how he's trying so hard to keep his composure and believe in a lie that his first love is alive.

Jungkook's hands are trembling uncontrollably now and his heart is racing inside his chest, not catching up to a specific pace.

This is not real.

He's dreaming.

He has to wake up!

Wake up!

Iodine could almost see the hysteria of complete and utter denial rushing through Jungkook's eyes and she takes a step forward to him, "Jungkook-"

"No!" He snaps, moving past her to stand in front of the fireplace, "No! He's not dead! He's not dead! Don't fucking say that!"

Yeosang now has his face buried in his hands, whimpering quietly to hold back his own need to scream while Iodine looks pained at the ravenette, denial just so clear in his voice and it breaks her heart to hear him like this.

She has seen him grow.

It may not settle in now but when it does....

It's going to completely destroy him.

In the midst of this Taehyung and Jimin entered the living room after hearing Jungkook shouting, but froze to the way how the Jeon brothers are reacting. Jungkook didn't even notice they were there as massive flashbacks storms into his mind at once to the point he's leaning against the wall, clutching to the area of his heart and feels as though he's been shot.

Repeatedly.

Why does it hurt?

This isn't real.

He's not dead.

Woosung isn't dead.

They're lying.

That's his pay back for hurting his feelings.

Yeah that's it.

"I'm sorry Jungkook," Iodine says shakily, "But I have to go back. The funeral will be in a few days. Please just, keep your word and don't come back. I know this means a lot to you but yours and Yeosang's safety is what matters to me right now. so stay here please."

So she gave the two boys a comforting hug, one that Jungkook didn't even feel by how paralyzed he was against the wall, before approaching Jimin and Taehyung, taking them aside.

Jungkook can't feel..... Anything.

It's almost as though a glass just shattered before his eyes and he can't breathe by the shards that hit his body painfully deep, no way of yanking it out without feeling the full burn of the cold air against the wound..

This can't be right.

This isn't right!

Woosung isn't dead, hes hiding somewhere.

Those pictures..... T-Thats not him.

That's not the same man that called him B-Bambi.....

No, not my Woosung.

The sound of a door opening and closing fills his ears and he feels someone in front of him. When Jungkook looks up, seeing Taehyung with that Pitt look in his eyes and a deep frown, taking in the informtion Iodine gave him, Jungkook instantly shakes his head.

He can't believe her right?

Taehyung is always on his side. He can't possibly believe that Woosung is actually dead.

"H-He's not dead!" Jungkook whispers hysterically under his voice, grabbing the collar of Taehyung's shirt, shaking his head feverishly, "He's not dead! She lied to me! Why would she lie to me!"

Taehyung only stares back at him with that deep frown and wordlessly tries to wrap his arms around him, but Jungkook screams and jumps away, storming off to avoid the way Jimin is comforting his little brother.

Who's still completely paralyzed.

"He's not dead! He's not fucking dead!" He yells and gets into his room, slamming the door shut behind him.

He's not dead.

He's not dead.

Not the man who calls him his Bambi.

Not his first love.

Not the man who has been consistent with his heart on his sleeve, always hoping for the best for his beloved Bambi.

This is wrong!

He promised he would survive!

This is all a fucking lie!

Jungkook's eyes lands to his phone on his nightstand and quickly goes to it.

There was the voicemail from last night, that Jungkook never noticed, but he only goes to dial his number instantly.

"The person you have dials is currently unavailable-"

Dial again.

"The person you have dialed is currently unavailable."

PICK UP WOOSUNG!

ANSWER ME!

"The person you have dialed is currently unavailable-"

The phone is shaking on Jungkook's hands now, heart clenched so tightly that he can't help but feel as though someone is stomping on his chest repeatedly to leave no room for him to recover from the blow.

It won't stop.

He's not dead.

This is not real.

He's not dead.

HE WAS JUST CALLING HIM YESTERDAY!

"H-He's not dead," Jungkook shutters quietly when he felt Taehyung's presence in the room, who came in silently through the door, "Don't fucking tell me anything! He's not dead! He's just busy, that's why he's not answering me."

Yeah he's just busy.

Woosung is a busy man.

Maybe he's spending time with his family, right?

Just busy.

Taehyung slowly squats down in front of him, from his sitting on the bed, a wobbly frown on his lips as he places a hand on his thigh, "Jungkook..... It's okay."

N-No..... IT'S NOT OKAY!

NONE OF THIS IS OKAY!

Jungkook shakes his head, feeling his heart grow more and more empty with pain with a glimmer of hope, "No, he's not gone. It's okay. He's going to call me back, you'll see. They got the wrong guy. I still need to apologize to him."

He didn't get to say he's sorry.....

NO!

He's not gone!

To this Taehyung doesn't say anything, only watches as Jungkook slams his phone on the bed stand before rubbing his face with his hands, masking a smile.

"We should enjoy today right, it's Valentine's Day after all!" Jungkook says with a strained smile as he pats Taehyung's head and gets up, leaving Taehyung on the floor as he goes to the closet to pick up his clothes.

All this is so familiar to Taehyung, so familiar.

The denial Jungkook is feeling right now once upon a time Taehyung felt that same way too. The denial that this isn't real. That this is all just a dream.

A twisted dream.

That this is all just in his head, that he's going to wake up and nothing wrong was happening.

The anxiety sudden raised up inside Taehyung's heart to the point he couldn't even be in the same room anymore as Jungkook, who is feverishly looking for something to wear while humming a weak tune under his breath.

Taehyung gets up and leaves the room quietly, walking past Jimin, who's trying to get Yeosang to say something but he doesn't say anything, before going into the bathroom.

The second Taehyung closes the door behind him, his tears glistens his eyes.

This is all too familiar.

His mom.....

When he heard his mom was gone.

Taehyung's face breaks with a hand on his chest, feeling the empathy for his ravenette, knowing the pain as it resurfaces once again.

Woosung was Jungkook's everything once upon a time.

And they didn't even get to fix anything together......

That alone is going to destroy Jungkook the second he accepts the fact that the once love of his life is now dead.

And he's never going to forgive himself.

Taehyung feels it....

The grief.

He lost Woosung too...

From enemies to friends, Taehyung never once thought about his life without Woosung. In the beginning it was annoying, he was always there. No doubt Woosung felt the same way. Then it slowly developed.... It became something eventually. 

However, Taehyung always wanted to protect him, that's why he would urge him consistently to be away from Jungkook. The less people involved around Jungkook, the easier it would've been for Taehyung to have completed what he needed to. 

But Woosung being a stone in Taehyung's shoe was what Taehyung need. 

It was through him that he pushed him closer to Jungkook, to understand and grow an attachment to him.

Woosung, even if it didn't seem like it, was the anchor for his and Jungkook's relationship.

Now he's gone....

A pathetic sob escaped Taehyung's lips, shakily reaching into his phone and pulls it out, going to his call logs to see the missed call from Woosung yesterday.

It was before he called Jungkook.

Taehyung didn't notice, he doesn't like to have his phone when he's around Jungkook.

A missed call that followed with a voicemail.

Taehyung closes his eyes and presses on the voicemail, bringing the phone to his ear.

"Taehyungie-"

Taehyung brought the phone to his chest, choking on his breaths to his uncontrollable sobs. He presses the back of his hand against his lips to hold it back, biting against his skin to supress it the best he could.

His voice.

Woosung's voice.

How is it possible that he's gone...

Taehyung shutters and brings the phone back to his hear, listening more.

"Taehyungie..... Please tell me it's not true," Woosung is crying, the sound of shuffling in the background, "Segas? The heir of Segas? Returning Jungkook back to his father? For fuck sakes, what were you thinking of being involved with Jungkook while being part of a mafia?! While knowing he's associated with Iodine!?"

The tone in Woosung's voice is fueled by a heartbroken betrayal than it did as a scolding.

"This is why you warned me, right? To stay away. To not get involved. You felt guilty and didn't want collateral damaged with someone else involved?" Woosung hiccups, the sound of rustling of papers, "What changed now? Hm?"

I got to know you.

I got to know Jungkook.

The deal got cut off.

Taehyung isn't the heir anymore.

Those were the words Taehyung wished he could've comforted Woosung with so he wouldn't worry. So he wouldn't turn his back on him.

But he died thinking of Taehyung as a monster.

"For fuck sakes Taehyung, please answer the phone and explain this to me before I fucking lose my mind-"

Footsteps and mutters echoes in the background, and Woosung's breathing grew tense, now rapidly quickening its pace, "I'm going to tell Jungkook about this once I'm out of here, and I want you to sit down with us and explain what the fuck is going on. I'd hate to think of you as the bad guy Taehyung, you're not but this - It's fucking with my head."

More rustling echoes in the background, sounding like Woosung is now walking quickly, "I'm in Segas headquarters, I'm sneaking off now and made it a few blocks away. Please, Taehyung, please..... Call me back. Please. I don't want to go to extremes, please. I need to hear your side - Fuck, I gotta go."

The line ended after a series of shouts and angry outburst echoed in the background, leaving Taehyung with his heart shattered to pieces.

Even before death, he still had hope for Taehyung. 

Even after seeing the evidence, he wanted to hear Taehyung himself explain.

Woosung..... 

Taehyung places his hands on his face, fighting with everything not to scream, but then remembered this bathroom was soundproof.

So he screamed.

He screamed and screamed like a child in pure agony.

He screamed until his throat burned, feeling the guilt clutching his throat viciously like a brutal hand.

Woosung is dead because of him.

He's dead because of Segas.

He's dead.... Because....

Suddenly Taehyung's teary eyes flickered in rage upon the realization of how Woosung possibly could've been dead right now.

No, not because he was caught because he wasn't....

It's because someone lost their patience.

Mother.

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A/N:
Here comes the angst.....

Jungkook is..... Going to be so hurt for a while, but be ready..... Let's see what's going to happen soon!

I PURPLE YOU!! <33