Namjoon: 12 June Year 22

The countryside town hadn’t changed even in the slightest. Aside from the change of the seasons, everything was exactly the same. I headed for the rest area by going all the way around town, purposefully avoiding the riverside stores. The path was almost completely uphill. The sunlight was so hot that I started sweating. A scooter passed us, kicking up dust. Taehyung complained a little because it made him cough. The curve where the accident happened came into view. 

 

There wasn’t any kind of sign left on the roadside. Taehyung bent his knees and crouched down, looking at the asphalt as if someone had collapsed there. I had told Taehyung about what happened that winter a couple of years ago on the bus ride here. I told him about the competition at the riverside restaurants, the snowflakes falling from the overcast sky, Taehyung’s wounded face, and the moment when I slipped on the scooter that made every hair on my body stand on end. I told him about Taehyung’s accident and death. And how easily it was wrapped up and forgotten. I told him about how there was something Taehyung never got to say. About Taehyung’s expression when he had something to ask me and about all the moments I spent living in this countryside town. About the truth that I called that guy Taehyung because how much he reminded me of him. 

 

“Namjoon, let’s not die.” When I turned around, I saw Taehyung looking up at me with his hand touching the asphalt. I tried to find the words to reply, but nothing came to mind. I thought I saw Taehyung, I mean the countryside town guy, laying there on the ground below Taehyung’s hand and on top of the white line. There’s no person in the world that should die the way he did. When he died, no one took responsibility or even tried to. Myself included. 

 

“Let’s go back down.” After I said that, Taehyung stood up. “Where are we going?” Instead of answering Taehyung’s question, I said this. “You had something you wanted to say to me that time at the beach, right? Tell me now. Let’s solve whatever it is together.”

 

@shootinghearts_

 

 

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