Deal With Death | BTS V
Prologue
The Real Underworld. It's a dangerous place to be in, hazardous.
And maybe that's why, all the books on religion and spirituality and philosophy, whether it be Christianity, Islam or Buddhism, speaks extensively about doing good and kind in this world.
Even in the Hindu Mythology, quotes and books on karma in the world:
"𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗲; 𝗯𝗮𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗲."
And yet, Hell is not empty.
As it 𝘪𝘴 destined to be full of souls that have sinned, and sinned so extremely, that their only penalty is death...
But of course, the world has different beliefs. That's what it revolves around. And according to different beliefs: each gets what they deserve, and only what they deserve.
So, there are people who have sinned minutely, under circumstances, and have faced the consequences accordingly....
Then there are people who have sinned enormously, but not vitally, and have faced consequences accordingly...
Even then, there are people dissolved in all seven sins and sinned gravely, that their sins are (almost) unforgivable...
But..then there are those that have sinned passionately..
Those that have sinned so skillfully, that even the devil would take a seat and watch their drama...
Those that have all sins engraved in them:
All are so deeply engraved in them, that even the largest wipe of goodness won't be able to cleanse their hearts away...
Unforgivable, unforgettable sins; Sins that leave a scar. And a scar remains forever.
So, all these people... Shadows of tortured souls; screams, moans, and the crack of whips fills the air like a symphony of agony.
𝘚𝘩𝘢𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘴... 𝘚𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘴, 𝘮𝘰𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘧 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘱𝘴 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯... 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘺, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘧, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘛𝘩𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳...
No, these are empty sins, hollow and devoid of any intrinsic motivation, of any desire or lust...
... 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘣𝘰𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘯; 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘦𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺, 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘵....
Neither these, sinners that sinned but not with all of them...
... 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘩𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘱𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯, 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘸𝘭 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮...
Every being has an evil inside them, but evil, in itself, are not them...
....𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘦𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘬𝘦𝘴, 𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘴...
Evil is agony, desire, greed, lust, desperation and passion; everything that is and everything that darkness takes over...
𝘋𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘭𝘦𝘴, 𝘸𝘪𝘦𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘳𝘰𝘯 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴, 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴...
That is Evil. In its pure form.
Stone steps emerge before them, spiraling downward, deeper into the abyss. The air grows thicker, the screams fading into a heavy, oppressive silence.
Only a dim, flickering flame casts weak light over a single figure.
Cold gripped the room, snuffing out any fire, while the silence chilled the air.
Chains hang like dead vines from the ceiling, clanking faintly as if whispering secrets.
They stop a few feet away, polished boots gleaming faintly in the dim light.
???
Still breathing, I see?
Their head tilts. As if, in amusement. And they step forward. The light bends around him, dims down and darkness envelopes even further...
Bruised, bloodied, and hollow-eyed, he stares at the man before him. Instead, he lets out a faint, guttural exhale, the sound of a man pushed beyond mortal limits but still alive.
Bruised, bloodied, hollow-eyed, 𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘶𝘱.
???
Ah, don't tell me you're getting tired, already.
His lips part slightly, as though he wants to speak, but nothing comes out. 𝘛𝘩𝘺 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘦𝘤𝘩, 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘺𝘪𝘦𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥.
Their feet circle him, like a 𝘩𝘢𝘸𝘬 𝘨𝘢𝘸𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘺, 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘰𝘸𝘯...
And the prey...𝘨𝘶𝘭𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨...𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘵, 𝘨𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘦𝘹𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘦...
"𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦, 𝘪𝘵𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧, 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵?"
???
You know why I'm here?
𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 crouches down, leveling their gazes; glowing eyes pierc𝗂𝗇𝗀 into the prisoner’s very soul.
𝘔𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘭 𝘪𝘯 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮?
𝖡𝗎𝗍 𝖾𝗏𝗂𝗅 𝗂𝗇 𝗂𝗍'𝗌 𝖽𝖾𝖾𝗉𝖾𝗌𝗍 𝖿𝗈𝗋𝗆...
𝖣𝖾𝖾𝗉𝖾𝗋 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗇 𝖺𝗅𝗅 𝗆𝗈𝗋𝗍𝖺𝗅𝗌...
..𝖨𝗌 𝗇𝗈𝗐 𝗌𝗁𝗂𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖻𝖾𝖿𝗈𝗋𝖾...
𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘮. Whose voice is not heard—it is felt, a deep reverberation that pushes past every layer of existence in the mortal's body...
And how many times he had to pass through it, losing his soul and getting it back...
???
"Damien Hayes 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘴 at the face of death"
???
"Damien Hayes is the inevitable"
???
"Even the 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘭 𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘮, 𝘢𝘩, 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘭 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧...𝘢 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘭.."
The mortal's pulse quickens. He cannot speak, cannot question, but he won't be allowed to think...
Not when 𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮.
Death
But I don't see you laughing now.
No one actually realizes the end of life, unless it's on their door...
They treat their lives like a game...
They treat their life like complete 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘵...
𝘞𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘪𝘮𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘭𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦...
𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦...
But when death comes at their door, they cling to their life, take shelter under it, try to escape, try to run...
𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘦𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘦...
Death
"𝖶𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗌𝗁𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽 𝖨 𝖽𝗈 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝗒𝗈𝗎? 𝖫𝗂𝖿𝖾 𝗁𝖺𝗌 𝗋𝖾𝖿𝗎𝗌𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗈 𝗍𝖺𝗄𝖾 𝗒𝗈𝗎, 𝖺𝗇𝗒𝗆𝗈𝗋𝖾."
Damien Hayes
(shivering and trembling, gulping constantly in the suffering)
The end, as you know it, has never been.
𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘦𝘵, 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘪𝘳𝘤𝘭𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬.
Death
"You have bled the earth..."
Death
"𝗡𝗼𝘄, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻."
Me (Author)
Alright so I hope you felt that.
Me (Author)
And ok, so this is my first experiment of testing how a book would go if there is no romance in it because I wanted to write a webtoon-typa-shit but ofc I don't know how to do webtoon so this is what we have-
Me (Author)
Ok I'm blabbering but fine. This is the book.
Me (Author)
And yes, this is JUST a glance. The real thing is too ahead. So you have to ask yourself: Am I ready for this?
Me (Author)
If your answer is NO, please leave. It's for your own good and obviously, I'm not upset. Kudos to you, for recognising if this book isn't for you
Me (Author)
And if the answer if YES, ah you're welcome. And be prepared.
How A Life Ends
Suddenly, the air stills.
The torment halts. Death—emerges from the darkness, radiating a presence that silences even the chaos of Hell.
Death stops in front of him, lowering itself into a crouch, its knees bent in an almost casual posture.
Damien Hayes
(desperate, defiant):
“What is this? Another trick? Another punishment? What more could you take from me?”
Death
We're sending you back; where you came from.
Silence. Plain Silence. Heavy silence.
A faint, distorted sound begins to rise in the background—soft at first, like whispers. Then, they grow louder, overlapping, and are chaotic.
“Oh, isn’t this precious? Going back to the land of the living? Another chance to crawl in the dirt, to fail all over again?” Lust, purrs from the background.
“Back to Earth? Oh, this is rich", Greed enters next, grinning. "Aren't you so special now, Damien Hayes?"
The laughter swells, echoes of cruel amusement that seems to come from everywhere and nowhere at once.
Damien Hayes
(shouts, with anguish)
“What more do you want from me?! I’ve been here for—God knows how long! I’ve paid for what I’ve done!”
Death
(mocking):
“Paid? You think eternity here was payment? No. This was merely… the prelude.”
His eyes widen in terror as Death continues, its tone unwavering, almost surgical.
Death, rises slowly, towering over the kneeling man like an executioner over his prey, turning around to exude the darkness of uncertainty before the sinner.
Death
(continuing, voice growing darker):
“You will be torn apart. Not by me, but by the life you created. The pain you gave. The choices you made."
Death
All of it is waiting for you, Damien Hayes.”
Death slowly lowers itself onto a stone-like throne that materializes behind it. It sits with a languid grace, leaning forward slightly, resting its chin on steepled fingers.
Damien Hayes
(whispers, in a broken voice)
“Why… why are you doing this?”
Death
“Because there is balance. The scales must be evened.'
Death
And because mercy, for you, would be cruelty to the countless lives you destroyed.”
The void begins to shift, pulling at the gangster like unseen hands dragging him into a new existence. He thrashes, but it is futile.
Death
“You will return to the world you poisoned, but not as the king you once were."
Death
No. You will crawl as the very thing you despised—a weak, broken mortal.
Death
You will face the consequences of the empire you built with your own bloodied hands.”
Death
“Your empire was built on the suffering of others. Your redemption will be built on your own.”
Death steps back, and the gangster feels the crushing weight of its presence lift, replaced by a bone-deep dread.
Damien Hayes
NO...NO...NO!!!-
The schoolyard is bustling with the usual energy of students—some laughing, some walking in groups, but there’s a tension in the air.
It was nothing unusual-the sight I meant. At the very far end of the yard, he stands clutching his stomach, where, now, the impact of the hit must've begun to show. But it's hidden, which was good for the both of them: The Bully and the Bullied.
With a deep groan he throws his head back against the fence, huffing and mòaning in the pain.
While, he watched from a distance.
His eyes flickered from the bully to the bullied. There's an amused smirk on his face, mirroring the same smile the others of his kind had, when he watched that guy, the bully making his way towards the kid.
They chanted his name, like he was some kind of a hero. Well, he was no less, that was for sure.
Sometimes, they wonder if he's a God.
And he walked with so much authority, so much aura and so much confidence-
Like he didn't just thrash that child just a second ago.
Choi Mingyu
Tsk...what a sad day!
Mingyu stopped. But the chants didn't.
That was the kind of power a bully had on them. The kids would once despise him, see him as a symbol of fear and tyranny.
But they soon came to like him. His aura, power-Mingyu had everything. He had all the girls he wanted, he had all the power he wanted, and-
Choi Mingyu
Where's my 2,000 Won, Piggy?
-all the money he wanted.
???
(groans, shaking his head and panting, as his eyes meet the sky)
But before he could take another deep breath, he felt a large force on his jaw-
Like someone stopping him from breathing.
Choi Mingyu
Hey. I'm asking you something here, you know?
Choi Mingyu
Where. Is my. 2,000 Won, Piggy?
Choi Mingyu
Hm? What did you say? (leaned closer, to the boy who was shaking his head and mumbling something)
Choi Mingyu
(pulls back) You can't?
"MINGYU!!" The crowd continued cheering, unbothered of the conversation
Choi Mingyu
What do you mean, piggy?
Choi Mingyu
SHUT THE FCK UP!
The crowd fell silent, at the loud voice into small mumbled and incoherent whispers that didn't bother Mingyu
He didn't care what the crowd thought about him, they would worship him, anytime of the day
Choi Mingyu
(looked back at him, his voice cascading into a very slow, deep tone)
Choi Mingyu
This is not an answer, Piggy...
The fingers of the boy stopped twitching. The silence in the yard was palpable.
Even the others held their throats back for a second and looked at the boy.
Choi Mingyu
(stood up, looking down at the boy for a while before turning around and walking away)
Choi Mingyu
Take him to the infirmary, and make sure he brings it tomorrow.
And with that, everyone rushed to pick the boy and drag him to the infirmary.
And it all went over again -
Choi Mingyu
Not you, Taehyung.
Taehyung
(turns around) Huh?
Choi Mingyu
You're coming with me.
And so, I threw a last glance at the pathetic nerd being dragged away to be healed, only to get thrashed again, someday or the other.
And I followed Mingyu. Like every other side-kick did.
Taehyung
"Being around Mingyu is profitable."
Taehyung
"You get his money-well, not exactly his own's, but his hard-earned money, and he buys you all kinds of beers.
Taehyung
"You get the power he yields, you get part of the fame he has..."
Taehyung
"And most importantly..."
Taehyung
"You get Mingyu's friendship."
Choi Mingyu
I hope you can make him understand
Taehyung
(snapped out of his own thoughts and looked at him) Huh? Who?
Choi Mingyu
That guy. You know, I know the importance of having that money...
Choi Mingyu
You know how bad I want that money...
Choi Mingyu
So, why don't you tell him to just bring me them?
Choi Mingyu
He was your friend, after all.
Taehyung
...I don't make friends with pathetic weaklings.
Choi Mingyu
(laughed) Oh, are you trying to be strong? Look at you! You're so skinny and weak, yourself!
Taehyung
(looked down) "I knew that fact very well. I was bullied a long time ago because of that, by Mingyu."
Taehyung
"But I didn't disobey him and did what he told me to. That's until he became my friend and got distracted with the other kids...weaker than me."
Taehyung
"In this jungle, there's only three rules you have to follow to survive..."
Taehyung
"Do not disappoint, Mingyu. Do not disappoint, Mingyu. Do not disappoint, Mingyu"
Taehyung
Yeah-I...I will talk to him and make him understand. You'll get the money, don't worry-
Choi Mingyu
No, I wasn't talking of that.
Taehyung
(looked up at him)
Choi Mingyu
Don't abandon him too much.
Choi Mingyu
Who knows, we'll abandon you someday too? (grinned and walked ahead)
And just like that, I went home.
But my mind was still at school and whatever happened. Mingyu told me to talk to him, but I would rather not.
He's not my friend. And he's too annoying.
I kicked the old, cranky door open and walked inside. Ours, was a very small house, for a very small family.
Father was dead, but I couldn't let anyone know that. Otherwise, I would be called the "skinny, weak bastrd".
Taehyung
"Sometimes, I think the real bastrd was my old man. How dare he leave me here, all by myself in this poor shed-house?"
Taehyung
"I cannot even invite my friends home because of the condition of this place."
Taehyung
"Ah, my life sucks! Its so fcking hard-"
Kim So-hee
Taehyung-ah? You're back home?
Taehyung
"-to stay with her."
Taehyung
Yes, eomma (groaned and threw his back aside)
Kim So-hee
Aish, did something happen at school? Why do you sound so frustrated, baby?
Taehyung
It's nothing, mom-leave it.
Kim So-hee
(tilted her head, gently) You know, I'm sorry, Taehyung-ah.
Kim So-hee
I am trying so hard, but things just don't seem to change at all. I promise, next month, I'll definitely buy you those shoes you wanted and we can-
Taehyung
STOP IT, EOMMA! I TOLD YOU TO LEAVE IT. (snapped)
Kim So-hee
(breath hitched as she looked at him)
Taehyung
(sighed) I am hungry, I want dinner. Please.
Kim So-hee
(she kept looking at him for a while before walking back inside the kitchen)
Taehyung
"My mother is just another woman widowed by a shïtty bastrd that decided to abandon us, just to evade parental custody."
Taehyung
"And she still chants his name day and night, and expects me to be like him..."
Taehyung
"I'd rather die."
Kim So-hee
(served dinner for him and smiled) Here, enjoy.
Taehyung
(begins to dig in) I have to...(munch)...go to the club tonight...(munch)...I need some money.
Kim So-hee
(smile falters as she looks at him, focused on his food) Taehyung.
Kim So-hee
Are you getting bullied, at school?
What is she talking about?
No, I am not getting bullied!!
Of course, I'm not getting bullied!!
I AM the Bully, how can I get bulli-
Choi Mingyu
"Don't abandon him too much. Who knows, we'll abandon you someday too?"
Taehyung
No...No, eomma. I-why would you think like that? I'm completely fine at school!
Kim So-hee
… Then why do you want to spend so much money on your friends, Tae? They don't seem to spend on you.
Taehyung
"They don't spend on me? They..."
Taehyung
"No, they do! Mingyu gives me his attention! He knows me. I am his acquaintance, and that's what is his payback."
Taehyung
(sighed) Don't overthink anything, eomma and just give me the money
Kim So-hee
I just...(sighed)
Kim So-hee
I'm sorry, Tae.
Kim So-hee
I'm sorry...I haven't been able to take care of you, very well.
Kim So-hee
I know, it must have been so suffocating for you and- I didn't want it to be this way, but it seems like no matter how hard I try, I can't be a good mother for you...
Kim So-hee
I'm sorry, Tae. If your father was here-
Taehyung
(left the chopsticks on the plate, stood up and walked out)
Kim So-hee
(watched him leave, as tears foamed her eyes)
The air is better here, it's fresh.
I come here to this old, broken bridge that just reminds me every damn time, how broken I am, myself.
And I know that. But this breeze always feels like it's telling me something.
So, I should rather quieten my senses down and listen.
Why? Why did she have to bring that up? Why is she sorry, now?
I didn't want a father, she was enough for me. When would she understand?
But then- if she was, then why do I feel so empty inside?
Taehyung
(raises his head and looks up)
Taehyung
"The sunset is so beautiful"
Taehyung
(looked down) "And so is the water beneath me."
Taehyung
"Should I see how deep it is?" (steps forward to the edge)
Taehyung
"A teenage boy, ending his life before a sunset quietly in the deep, deep water..."
Taehyung
"... Who'd care really?"
Kim So-hee
"I'm sorry, Tae…"
Taehyung
(snapped and immediately stepped back, huffing)
Taehyung
(sighed and ran a hand through his hair) "I should go back home, eomma must be looking for me..."
And perhaps for a fleeting moment, I heard the breeze really talk to me.
As if she was telling me to come home.
Why isn't home beautiful?
Taehyung
(walked slowly towards the house, but his head snaps up at the incoherent mumbles)
Our house was at the shabby, isolated corner of the big city. No one would even want to show their faces here.
Even if they did, the smell would terrify them. That was one of the reason-
That was one of the reasons why I didn't invite anyone home. I didn't want my reputation to be tarnished...
So, I walked close to my home and watched from outside.
There were some grown men, inside. Rough bodies and faces, and they had a grim expression on their faces.
None that was familiar to me.
Taehyung
(about to step inside but-)
Kim So-hee
Just some more time. Please (speaks in a begging tone)
Kim So-hee
Look, I-I am not asking for too much. You know, how we make ends meet right? And yet, I always pay back, right? You know that, right?
Loan Sharks
But how long will this go on, So-hee?
Loan Sharks
(sighed) Look, we don't mean to be so pressurizing. But this is our job.
Loan Sharks
We didn't charge any interest, because we knew your situation, and it'd have been impossible for you to pay it.
Loan Sharks
But the principal amount cannot be exempted.
Kim So-hee
I know, I'm very grateful for that, thank you so much...you know, I'm grateful for it...I promise you, I'll pay it back.
Loan Sharks
(looked at her for a while)... One week.
Kim So-hee
One week, yes, yes, thank you!
Loan Sharks
Let's go (left)
Kim So-hee
(exhaled deeply) Thank God, Tae wasn't here...
I couldn't look eomma in the eyes
But I did look someone in the eyes.
Choi Mingyu
So he didn't bring it, this time again, huh? (poked his cheek with his tongue)
Taehyung
(looked at him, knowing what's about to come up)
Mingyu didn't say anything, and just stood up and left.
Everyone knew what that meant.
???
(coughed out blood, with the impact of the wall hitting his back)
Choi Mingyu
Have I got your attention now?
The classical "Mingyu" method.
When any action of a student exceeded his limits of fun and enjoyment, and turned him annoyed: this was what he would come up with.
Beating and thrashing, till every punch and every jab leaves the victim almost near-to-death.
And what'd happen if he did? Who'd complain him?
He owned the teachers, the school, the students. He owned each of their words, their thoughts.
???
Please...please...(begged, with swollen cheeks and half-lidded eyes)
Choi Mingyu
I don't want you to beg, I want you to learn.
Choi Mingyu
And you're gonna do it we-
???
Please... you're the...only one...
Choi Mingyu
....(scoffed) I don't remember hitting you on the head, Pig-
???
Please.... Taehyung...
There he was. Pathetically, lying on the ground on his face with bruised swollen cheeks, open wounds and blood cluttered in his mouth that he didn't even have the strength, to spit out.
Choi Mingyu
Hah! Ha..Haha (laughed)
Choi Mingyu
Taehyung? You're asking him? (yanked him back up with his collar)
Choi Mingyu
Hey, you think he's gonna help you, huh?
There he was. Defying Mingyu's law. When he was beating you, you had to look him in his eyes, so that he could see the fear in them. But there he was...looking at me.
Choi Mingyu
Don't annoy me more than you already have, Piggy. Answer me.
???
Taehyung...please...(eyes foams with tears, that burnt on the bruised eye)
Choi Mingyu
HEY!!! I'M TALKING TO YOU, PIGGY!!!
There he was. Still looking at me. Not begging, or pleading. He was calling me. Calling me to stand by his side. Like it was all he ever wanted.
Choi Mingyu
You've chosen death, Piggy. (stood up) This is it, then.
Choi Mingyu
You didn't listen to reason, now you'll know your end.
Choi Mingyu
I'll remember your...audacity, Pig-
Choi Mingyu
(looks up and slowly turns back) What?
Taehyung
(looked at him, right in the eye) Do you know what it is?
Choi Mingyu
.... What do you think you're doing?
Taehyung
I'm following your orders.
Choi Mingyu
(frowns) What?
Taehyung
You told me not to abandon him.
Taehyung
So I'm doing that.
I saw the others turn their heads at me, their aggressive demeanor changing towards me. But fear didn't creep my way?
If it did, it crept his way. I could see it.
The fear of not being feared, anymore.
Having no power, sucks. But having absolute power and then having it stripped off, sucks even more.
Choi Mingyu
So, the cub has grown its claws now?
Taehyung
(tilted his head) I call them my fangs. Do you see them?
Choi Mingyu
(scoffed lightly) Yeah, I do. But not for long.
And there I was. Like a rabbit challenging a pack of wolves, pouncing on me and devouring every inch of me.
But I fought. With my frail body, as much as I could. I didn't have anything they had, but I have something they didn't.
Taehyung
(kicked his face, getting the opportunity)
Choi Mingyu
(thrown back, in shock as he slowly looked up) So, you're using my own tricks against me now, huh?
Taehyung
They say, keep your enemies closer.
Choi Mingyu
(laughs aloud, standing up) Oh, this is going to be fun... I am going to have so much fun with you, Taehyung.
Choi Mingyu
Step back all of you. It's me and him.
Choi Mingyu
Well….(smirked).. Only me, in the end though.
Every punch was felt in the gut. My tricks didn't work anymore. He anticipated all of them. Mingyu was a professional, not just a bully.
It felt fcking unfair that he was so talented. He didn't deserve it! Anyone, but him! Anyone! Just-
???
...Tae...hyung...(reached out his hand for him)
Choi Mingyu
(keeps punching his face) HOW DARE YOU, YOU FCKING SKANKY BASTRD?!! HOW DARE YOU STAND UP AGAINST ME?!
I'm sorry, I wasn't the child you deserved. I'm sorry, I wasn't grateful for whatever you did for me. I'm sorry, this teen boy couldn't be that son who actually respected your efforts...
I wished, things weren't this way. I wish I could cry to you.
Yeah, I want to cry. I want to cry, so badly.
Am I pathetic, brother? Tell me. Why don't you call me pathetic? I turned my back on you, so why are you reaching your hand out to me?
I'm sorry, brother. I'm sorry. I betrayed you. If I could turn it all back, I would never have left your side.
It's so ironic. Is it what I get for my sins?
Choi Mingyu
(beating him up) You motherfcker, son of a bītch, how fcking dare you raise your hand against me?!!
Choi Mingyu
(stopped and looked at the grin, taken aback)
Taehyung
"You liked to laugh at people.."
Taehyung
"You liked to see fear in their eyes.."
Taehyung
"But when they're so used to fear, they lose their shït."
Taehyung
(begins laughing out loud)
I saw that feral look in his eyes.
After that, I kept laughing. I kept laughing and laughing and laughing-
And crying, weeping, and sobbing inside-
Could I ever be forgiven?
Is there any way, my eomma could know how much I love her, how truly sorry I am, and how deeply grateful I am to her?
Is there any way, my brother could forgive me for not being by his side when he needed me the most?
Taehyung
...Death. So, I am dead.
Death
Good job. Now, rest.
Me (Author)
Phew, what a rollercoaster! I hope you could imagine it all or picture it before you.
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