The sky was clearer now. Leaves had fallen but baby buds all green brought adorned the trees and brought a sense of freshness in the town.

The boys had not kept in touch for a few weeks following that dreadful day, waiting for everything to blow over. As promised, Jimin’s appa had intervened and took care of the issue.

Relief swept over the boys when the case was finally directed away from Jin. And it was Jimin who texted all the boys that it was time to meet again.

They decided to meet at Jin’s and help out him and his grandpa like they used to before. Tae and Kookie got a few supplies on the way.

As they walked in the direction of Jin’s place, Kookie glanced at Tae, though lost in his own thoughts. He had never brought up the issues he had nor did he reveal how he had felt.

On the other hand events regarding Sohyun seemed ancient to Tae now. Every occasion that he came even close to thinking of it, the unspeakable occurrence came rushing into his head.

Or maybe he thought of it purposely to forget his pain.

As soon as they walked into the Jin’s compound, past his gate, they saw the rest of the boys, all except Joon, waiting outside. Tae made eye contact with everyone giving them a small smile until he saw Hoseok. His smile fell and Hoseok felt pain.

“Where is Joon hyung?” Kookie asked noticing his absence.

“He is inside. He had reached early it seems,” Yoongi responded.

The boys worked together, not making much conversation as they helped around. They didn’t want Jin’s grandpa overhearing them. Also because it was awkward and scary to talk about.

While Yoongi and Hoseok helped in the kitchen, Tae and Kookie in the garden, Jimin went out for more supplies. Joon tried to finish the living room and move onto the bedrooms.

He took a pail and mop and walked towards Jin’s room. As he placed his hand on the door handle to push it open, he heard something.

His brows furrowed, hiding the scar, in confusion. Making sure to not make any noise he pushed it open and what he saw broke his heart.

Jin was sitting on a chair, his head hung down. Joon saw the tears that fell onto his hand that was placed on his lap.

“I’m sorry…” he whispered once.

“I am so sorry…” he whispered again.

After wiping off his tears he raised his head and looked at the mirror in front of him. He straightened his spine, his hand running through his hair making it messy. He stared at himself for a while and then fixed his hair.

After making sure he looked fine, he placed his glasses on his nose and stood up.

Joon felt horrible on the inside watching his hyung suffer. All the terror, fear and guilt. He couldn’t imagine how Jin must have felt at the moment.

Knocking on the door twice he slowly pushed it open.

“Hey!” he gave Jin a smile, “I thought I’d clean your room now.”

Jin smiled back, “It’s okay. I’ll clean here. You have done so much already. You should rest now. Leave something for me to do.”

Joon just nodded and left to the kitchen leaving the bucket and mop with Jin.

After all the work was done, the boys sat in Jin’s backyard eating soup. Grandpa was inside and Jin had gone in to make sure he had fallen asleep. After too many seconds of lull, it was Jimin who broke the silence.

“So, how have you all been?”

“We need to talk about it,” Yoongi suddenly spoke, all eyes on him now.

“Who on earth is 'Jung Taemin'? How did hyung get such an idea?”

“I have been thinking about it constantly since that day,” Kookie joined in turning towards Yoongi,

” because the name seemed quite familiar. And then it hit me. Remember the day at the lake when we discussed about the birthday of Hoseok hyung’s appa?”

A sound of realisation left Joon’s lips.

“Oh yeah!”

“Hyung, you had come up with that name for our supposed dance group!”

Joon nodded profusely, “It was all of your names combined. You formed it! I just refined it.”

“So is that how he got the name?” Tae scratched his head.

“It just came out all of a sudden.”

That’s when they noticed Jin standing at a distance and listening to them. He walked to them and sat beside Hoseok. He gulped, swallowing a knot in his throat and continued.

“It’s not like I planned to make an elaborate lie. I felt helpless. At that moment, I thought I had lost everything. And it just happened,” he hung his head and shook it slowly.

Hoseok put an arm around Jin and patted his back.

“At least they believed it. They are probably looking for a ‘Jung Taemin’ in the 70s streets now,” Tae said leaning against the wall behind him.

“We made it seem like half of the things that ‘Taemin’ told us was a lie. They might start searching the whole state. I hope they’ll give up soon.”

“They will,” Jimin added,” you know how our cops are. They are too lazy. They’ll close it off soon. And appa will help speed it up because he doesn’t want the company name dragged into it.”

It was Joon who asked an obvious unaddressed question.

“What about those two who came with Juan? Why haven’t they shown up yet? And what if they do show up later?”
Kookie twitched in his seat.

“I’m guessing they are as scared as we are. They must have probably lied about their own whereabouts from that day. I don’t think we’ll hear from them again,” Yoongi talked to the boys and then turned to Jin,

” Do you see them at school hyung?”

Jin took a dep breath, gathering energy to speak.
“I haven’t really attended classes much since then. I have been to school once or twice, but I no, I haven’t see them.”

Kookie frowned,
”Wont that affect your attendance?”

“They’ll let me graduate they said. I’m going to self-study and write my exams.”

Hoseok eyed Tae, who still refused to look at him.

“I think it’s safe to say that we are all going away,” he sighed and finally broke his silence.

“You too?” Joon asked him.

“What do you mean you too?” Yoongi raised his eyebrow at Joon.

“Eomma appa thinks its best if I stay away for a while,” Joon sighed,” I’m leaving the state.”

“Ugh!” Kookie made a sound in exasperation.

“Same with my parents,” Hoseok said, his eyes on the ground.

“Okay who else?” Kookie looked around the circle, feeling annoyed.

“I am going away,” Jimin said slightly raising his hand as if in class, “tomorrow!”

“What?”

“That’s too soon!”

“And you are telling us now?”

“It’s the least I can do after appa saved us,” Jimin said feeling helpless as he recollected the conversation with his appa in the car.

“Nobody is sending me away. I’m going on my own. I need to be free,” Yoongi finally spoke of his plan. Nobody even tried to oppose.

On the other hand,
“I understand,”
Joon said as he patted his shoulder while nodding. Jin rubbed his eyes from underneath his glasses and clutched tight the hair that fell over his eyes.

Yoongi had to get out of that house. If this was the excuse, then be it.

“You are right. We can’t stay here forever. None of us can. Life has to go on. The sooner we realise it, the better.”

Kookie raised his eyebrows when Tae suddenly spoke those words. It hurt him to think of the hidden meaning behind it.

What do you mean hyung?

He rested his body lightly on Tae’s, who responded by giving him support.