Once again, thanks to Jungkook, Taehyung was able to fall back into a calmer, manageable pace. The panic from his encounter with Daewon dissipated, at least for now, and that was all the mattered. He needed that peace even if but temporary.

He owed Jungkook. Hated to admit it, but he did.

Late afternoon came around and Taehyung walked into work feeling a lot better than he did roughly an hour ago. He could breathe. He felt okay. And okay was enough.

Although, as they often did, Jungkook's words lingered in his brain in that way he wished he could shake off. Except these ones, these words burned more vividly than anything else that boy had said to him.

"You're not a freak, Taehyung."

He had sounded so sure. So convinced, as though getting his point through to Taehyung was the only thing that mattered to him.

"And there's nothing you can say that will ever convince me otherwise."

For whatever reason he believed this so strongly bewildered Tae. It was one thing Jungkook didn't look at the other boy oddly for being the way that he was, but to hold such a high viewpoint of him seemed beyond bizarre. Then again, Taehyung was well aware of his own dislike towards himself and his behavior, so maybe it wasn't as weird as he thought.

But that didn't explain why Jungkook thought this way and nobody else did.

He's different...

It bothered him, but not in a headache-inducing way.

Taehyung walked into the Fermata Pavilion that day with a desire to relax behind piano keys and a microphone. As usual, he greeted the employees he met upon entrance, which today, as often was the case, happened to be Hoseok.

"Hey, Tae!" The boy greeted happily. "Taekwoon just left, the stage is all yours."

"Thanks, Hoseok."

He forced the faintest smile and made his way over to the stage, sliding across the bench of the piano and hovering his fingers over the keys as he pondered for a moment what to perform. After about twenty seconds, he arrived at the decision to simply play. Shutting his mouth, his fingers traced the keys in the melody of Clair De Lune as the rest of him settled at ease.

Relaxation. He needed the relaxation. Freedom from stress and overworking his mind. That's why he majored in music. Why he loved music so much to begin with. An escape.

He played for longer than even he realized. Time slipped between his fingers, but mere trivial time, of which held little importance to Taehyung at the moment. He had nothing better to do right now than to be here. Right here.

With the approaching of the cafe's closing hour, Taehyung chose to wrap up his playlist selection for the night with another peaceful piano melody.

Most of the customers were beginning to finish up and leave, thankfully, while others seemed to be taking their time. Regardless of whether or not they finished before Taehyung did, he told himself this would be the last song.

He managed to finish it. Not a second too soon, before all music-related muscle memories abandoned him, and he forgot everything all because of one person which so abruptly stole every last bit of his attention of focus.

Another familiar face. The second time this day. Not the same person, no, to Taehyung's relief it wasn't Daewon again.

It was that man. From the photo Blue had sent him.

It flipped a switch of some kind in Taehyung's head - seeing as Blue left the café shortly after thanking the staff for their service, and watching him disappear out the door.

He nearly tripped off the stage. Hoseok, having just brought some guests a water pitcher in the seating area nearest to that stage, turned to him with immense concern and blurted, "Taehyung, are you okay??"

The question went ignored. Taehyung was already in the process of tearing up carpet to reach that man before he got away.

He threw himself out into the chilly night air without a care as to how ridiculous he might have looked to anyone else. All that mattered was catching Blue. And it didn't take long, because the man seemingly wasn't in a rush to get away.

Maybe he didn't notice me.

Without a warning Taehyung threw his hand on Blue's shoulder which immediately stopped him in his tracks.

Gave him a heart attack, too, it appeared.

"What the f—what are you doing??"

Clear-cut shock and disgust. But there was no mistaking it. This was the man from the photo. Taehyung took a moment to gather his thoughts together. "Blue, you're Blue," he said breathlessly. "I'm Taehyung, I mean, you knew what I looked like already, didn't you?"

"Did you escape from a mental hospital?? Jeez," the stranger heaved a sigh and dusted himself off, staring Tae up and down with the oddest look in his eye. "Your performing was great, don't get me wrong, but wow, the manners could use some work."

It hit in the most uncomfortable way. Taehyung felt his face drain. "So you don't..." He dug hastily into his pocket for his phone. His hands shook as he scrolled up to find the photo. "You didn't send this to me?"

"What the-...no." The stranger squinted at the photo, even greater alarm now in his expression. "I took that on vacation last year, that's just creepy..." He shuddered. "Look, man, someone must be cat-fishing you or something else like that, that's not me. And I gotta get home, so please, if you'll excuse me."

In ten seconds he was gone. Completely out of sight, making Taehyung wonder for a moment if he had been here at all. He couldn't move. Feet rooted in place from the realization alone of what this meant.

That wasn't Blue.

A false alarm.

He had been lied to.

And knowing that fact absolutely infuriated Taehyung, so much that he climbed into his car and drove home without even bothering to let his boss know. It didn't cross his mind. They were closing, anyway, so luckily it didn't matter.

Upon arriving back at his apartment, Taehyung slammed his door shut and collapsed on his couch again. It hurt. The seething anger rising from his chest, directed both towards Blue, for making him believe he was someone trustworthy, and towards himself, for being so gullible in the first place.

He took out his phone.

Purple
i was right, i shouldn't have been so quick to believe you

Purple
that picture wasn't you

Purple
you lied to me

Purple
won't tell me your real name, you show me someone else's face and tell me it's you

Purple
for all i know everything you've said could be a lie

Purple
you probably don't even have blue blood

Purple
i'm so stupid for trusting you

Blue
taehyung please calm down and let me explain

Purple
let you explain???

Purple
why should i listen to ANYTHING you say at this point???

Purple
i don't see why showing me who you really are would be a problem if you really want me to trust you

Purple
it's despicable, you're a despicable person for this

Blue
taehyung, please, i have good reasons, just hear me out okay?

Purple
no you lost your chance for me to "hear you out"

Purple
if you had good intentions you wouldn't have made a fool of me

Purple
if you had good intentions you would tell me more about you so i can build my belief on something worthwhile other than a nameless stranger who claims to be like me

Blue
do you want me to bleed in front of you?

Blue
will that make you believe me?

His heart stopped for a moment, then beat harder against his chest as if begging for Taehyung's attention. But Taehyung couldn't hear it. His rage-flooded eyes remained fixed on the phone screen. His hands held the device unsteady, ready to either drop or throw it.

Purple
i don't know why you're telling me this now

Blue
taehyung what i'm saying is

Blue
if it'll make up for lying to you

Blue
i'll meet you in person

Blue
except i can't show you my face, that's my one condition. but to prove to you i'm legitimate, i will agree to meet in person. and i can even show you that i truly am someone who understands you

Purple
how do i know you won't lead me into a trap of some sort

Purple
i don't trust you at all anymore

Blue
taehyung please, i'm begging you, give me another chance

Blue
it can be a public place where we meet if that makes you any more comfortable

Purple
i get to choose

Blue
that's fine

Purple
do you live far from busan

Blue
doesn't matter where i live, i swear i'd be there even if i lived on the other side of the world

Purple
in busan, there's this bookstore called dogseo corner

Blue
if that's where you'd like to meet, then fine

Blue
would tomorrow night be convenient? or does the store close early?

Purple
it closes at eight p.m.

Blue
how's six then

Purple
fine. don't stand me up.

Purple
you won't get any more chances after that

Blue
that's fair.

Blue
can i say one more thing taehyung?

Purple
what?

Blue
thank you for giving me this chance

Blue
thank you, and i'm sorry for everything

Blue
i will see you tomorrow :)

His heart tried to bargain with him.

He didn't want to be fooled again. Even if no real harm came out of it. He didn't want to continue chasing shortsightedly after ideals that would only leave him feeling more alone than before.

But as it had always been, Taehyung wanted it to be true.

So in his mind he had already arrived at the decision he would show up at the book store tomorrow.

If Blue really would meet him.

Even if he couldn't see his face.

The legitimacy of his physical presence would count for something.

*
*
*

end of chapter twelve.