Trigger warning: Contains sensitive topics to certain readers.

The morning came. The chirping birds can be heard through the stillness of the early morning scene. The sunlight that passes through the curtains gently fall on his skin. The young man shift, his hands traveling to the other side of the bed. The moment his hand touches the cold, empty side of the bed, he refrain to open his eyes. The memories from last night came rushing back.

Of course, he remember everything, even what happens after the rain finally stop. He shut his eyes tightly when he remembered him, lifting him up and placing him on his bed, before leaving without a word.

A stray tear escaped his eyes. The horrible feeling of being left alone returned, finding its own place on his fragile heart.

Once again, he felt alone. A feeling he tried to burry a long time ago.

Jeongguk yawns. He's not interested with what the professor discusses. He took out his phone and hide it under his desk. He open their group chat and sent a photo of the blank page of his notebook, indicating that he's not taking notes. Jimin responds with a photo of the three of them, hanging out at the café. With a caption "tnx for coffee hyung". Great.

He was about to lock his phone again when a message pop up from an unknown number

It says:

Hey, this is Kim Namjoon 😎, you know, the guy you met at the toilet room. 🚽 😂 Just wanted to say I wanna meet with you later so I could give you your salary. 💰 💵And also, we might not be needing your help for a while. Reply ASAP. 😎 😎

He should be happy. He should be. After all, he'll be able to get his money. But for moment, he realized something. First, it has not been long since he started his 'job' so why is Namjoon giving him his salary already?; Second, what does he mean by 'we might not be needing you'? But most importantly, what's up with the emoji?

What could have gone wrong?

"What could have gone wrong?"

Namjoon asks in English. Jeongguk, he hardly understand English, but miraculously speaks with no problem with diction replied, "Pardon?"

Namjoon snorts, giving a thumbs up before fetching the envelope containing Jeongguk's salary.

"I don't know what happen but Taehyung said he won't be needing someone to accompany him for a while. And we don't know how long that 'for a while' is, but since you already started yesterday, I'll be giving you this."
The taller man hand him his money, to which Jeongguk hesitantly accepts. He didn't even spent at least twenty-four hours with Taehyung yet he's going to have a big sum of money. He even left him alone last night.

"It's hella money and it's hella thick. Whatcha think 'bout that?"

Jeongguk shrugs, "So, about Taehyung... Can I see him?"

The moment he mention Taehyung's name, Namjoon look behind Jeongguk and mouthed the "Taehyung".

"Uhm, no I don't think he's available right now, man. What about some other time?"

Jeongguk turn to see Seokjin, crossing his arms and shaking his head furiously. When he noticed that Jeongguk found him, he quickly smiles and waves, before rushing back inside the car.

Namjoon coughs, catching the younger male's attention before speaking, "I should get going. We'll contact you soon... Hopefully. It's almost winter so take c-"

He stop abruptly.

"Almost winter. Holy fuck, why did I forgot it?!"

And just like that, he disappear from Jeongguk's sight.

There's really something wrong.

"Is that all you can do? Use your fucking mouth!"

Taehyung turns to see a kid, his body thin and full of bruises. He sobs as an old man, sitting at the edge of the bed forces the kid to take his shaft in his mouth. It's snowing inside the dim room, with the small lamp at the bedside act as the source of light.

"Stop!" Taehyung scream, running towards the kid and pulling him away.

The kid turn around. It was him. His own face drench with tears, his mouth full of cuts.

Save me, he said.

Then the younger Taehyung fainted. It was really him.

He look up to see the belt coming closer to his face. It was a slow motion at first, but then the snow stop falling mid-air, and the belt is coming closer, faster. And faster.

He close his eyes instinctively, and he wakes up with a sudden jolt.

"Whoa, sorry! Did I wake you up?" Seokjin asks, placing a tray on the bedside.

Taehyung shake his head and hide under the sheets. It was just a dream. It's not going to happen again.

"Here's your food. You should eat soon, okay?" Jin pats him. "We'll be going out for a while. We'll be back soon."

When there's no reply, Seokjin sigh and walks towards the door and close it as he left.

Taehyung heard him scream 'We'll be leaving', followed by Namjoon's "See you later'.

Taehyung sits up, rubbing his face and glancing at the tray. There are snacks, such as cookies and chips. Even a strawberry shake. He stand up and choose to go to take a bath.

Already naked, Taehyung turn the faucet on and watch it fills the tub. He stand there, staring blankly at the water.

He get it, he's useless. Nobody needs him. No one even care to ask what's wrong or how he have been.

Nobody would even care if he suddenly went missing, or left behind.

Then Jeongguk's name pop on his mind, to which he quickly dismiss. He knows that Jeongguk won't actually come back for him. Even at the mall or even now. After all, they just met. Taehyung is just a stranger to him. Just a somebody.

But Jeongguk. He is someone for Taehyung. Someone he met long ago. Someone who became his hope.

Taehyung enters the tub when it's already half full. He just sit there, blank and mindless. The bathroom reminds him of Jeongguk and their carelessness that night. His heart aches.

From his room, he could hear his phone ring, and it keeps going on non-stop. Annoyed, he slides his body lower until his head is under the water. The water started spilling, but it muffles the sound of the phone ringing, and Taehyung thinks it's better.

He stayed under the water for a minute, and as he run out of oxygen, he choose to stay in the water. He held tightly at the edge of the tub, and refuses to lift his head. Taehyung's consciousness is slowly slipping away. But then, a hand appears in front of him. Slowly lifting him up once again.

Everything is blurred. He look up to see Jeongguk. No, it was Jin who's carrying him.

He heard him shouting for Namjoon to hurry up, even tried calling his name.

Before he close his eyes and see darkness, Taehyung thought he saw Jeongguk's face, worried and guilty. Maybe it was just his imagination.

He soon lost consciousness with Jeongguk's face painted in his mind.

Because within this pitch black darkness, you are shining so brightly.