His sacrifice

—take care of her, for me.

taehyung.

please listen to this while reading, thankyou.

and opened her eyes to see what made she fell. She thought she was going to get taken by the demon who wanted her as a replace of Jimin.

It wanted true love. She has true love and she was ready to give her life, her soul and her love just to made sure Jimin could live a better life after this.

Even she knows he would be sad after she's gone, but at least he could start loving without any interfere.

But now, why she was on the floor? She was supposed to be at the middle of the rooftop so that the demon could take her.

Did something happen? Or— someone wanted to replace her? Scared that it was Jimin who pushed her away, she looked at the person who was standing on the middle of the circle.

Her sight was a bit blurry but then it went back to normal. Enlarging her both eyes, she looked at the tall figure on the middle of the circle.

At the first glance, she thought it was Jimin. But when she looked carefully, she realized that the person who was standing in the circle was— Taehyung.

Kim Taehyung.

"Taehyung?! " everyone gasped.

Everyone was totally shocked of what they were seeing. At the moment, no one could even utter a word.

Even the old man was confused by what was happening. The old man looked at Jungkook and asked, "Who's this guy? Why he's here? ".

As expected, Jungkook was surprised as well. He didn't know what was going on and had no idea on what to say to the old man who was asking him about Taehyung. He was speechless.

Aera blinked her eyes. "Taehyung? What are you doing— here? " she coughed due to the dusk that was flying around her. The wind was too strong.

Taehyung turned his head to look at Aera. The three men; Jungkook, Jimin and the old man was left speechless as they were only could stare at both of them.

"Aera, " Taehyung smiled. This time, his smile was sincere and soft. It was like his last smile. Soft and warm.

"Taehyung, " Aera tried to sat up as her eyes were glued on him. She was confused about what he was going to do.

"Why— are you here? " she asked once again as Jimin just let her talked with Taehyung.

The hole was ready to take its victim that was placed on the circle. And Taehyung was the one who was standing on the circle. Not Aera.

Did he wants to replace Aera?

"Taehyung? What are you doing? Why are you standing on the circle? I'm the one who should be there. Move away. You might die." Aera said as she tried to stand up but failed.

Taehyung just smiled at her action and wiped his tears that was forming in his eyes. He didn't want anyone to know that he was crying.

But Jimin noticed that.

"Aera, I may not love your relationship with Jimin. Because— I love you, " he confessed all of the sudden.

Aera gasped when he said that, right in front of Jimin and Jungkook. But she didn't say anything.

"Even so, I know you don't love me. But I won't force you. " he sniffled.

"You're the one who made my life meaningful when I'm at my worst. You made me love to live my life, " tears fell down from his eyes. He couldn't hold it anymore.

"T-Taehyung? " Aera stuttered as she saw his tears. "What are you going to do? " she asked.

Taehyung turned away, "And— as long as I'm alive, I'll never let you get hurt. That was what I promised to to you. "

"So, I'll never let you sacrifice yourself when I can do it for you. " he spoke, making Aera widened her eyes.

"What are you saying? No. They should take me. Not you! " she shook her head. But it was no use. The hole was ready to take Taehyung. Before he closed his eyes, Taehyung looked at Jimin and told him, "Please take care of her when I'm not around. I trust you, Park Jimin. "

He then turned to Aera to see her face for the very last time and said, "Goodbye, my childhood crush. I love you. "

Then, in a blink, he lost from their sight and the hole was finally closed.

"Taehyung!! " Aera screamed frantically.

He was gone. Taehyung had gone and the black hole was already closed.

He had gone and will never come back.

It was his ending.

"Sir, let me help you. " Uncle Seon said as he helped Jimin to carry Aera into the car. She hadn't talk since what happened 2 hours ago.

Jimin understand that she was still surprised by what happened. She had cry for the whole 2 hours and now, Jimin finally managed to calm her down.

Gently, he put her at the back seat and patted her head. "It's okay babe. Let's go home, " Jimin said softly and sat beside her. He took her head and rested it on his shoulder.

Then, he wrapped his arms around her and slowly caressed her hair to comfort her. What happened just now was extremely hard for her to accept. So they needed to give her some time.

"Shh, it's okay. Everything is fine. Don't worry, okay? " Jimin whispered gently into her ears.

"Taehyung— he's gone now. " it was the only thing she said since the incident. She couldn't accept that Taehyung sacrificed himself just for her.

Jimin sighed and shook his head. "But it wasn't your fault. He chose his path. You can't blame yourself when he was the one who wanted to do so. " he said.

Aera sniffled, "But why should he sacrificed himself for me? He makes me feel bad. He lost his life because of me. " she cried.

Jimin sighed and his hand stopped caressing her hair. He looked down at her face that was placed on his chest. He knew she was sad and shocked. Yes, she cried for Taehyung but Jimin can't get jealous. Because of he sacrificed his life for her.

He gave them chance to love each other by sacrificing his life. So he can't get mad when Aera cried for him.

"Aera, " Jimin spoke and continued to caress her hair again. "This is how I felt when you were about to sacrifice your life for me. I felt my world had turn upside down. I don't think you should sacrifice yourself just for me. Because you're the reason why I want to live. " he stated.

Hearing what he said, Aera just kept quiet without responding to the thing he just said. Maybe because she didn't know what to say.

They reached Jimin's home as all of them got off from the car. But since Aera was still in trauma, Jimin decided to carry her into the house.

"Welcome home, sweetie. " he whispered into her ears softly as he carried her into his room. Gently, he put her down on the bed and pulled up the blanket to cover her cold body.

He turned to Mrs Song who was watching them with a worried look and asked her to make a cup of hot tea for Aera. Then, he looked back at Aera and said, "You're safe now. Don't worry. I'm here, ".

What Jimin said had somehow made Aera felt better.

"This room missed your scent. 2 months you distanced yourself from me. I missed you. " he said.

Aera breathed softly, "You have no idea how dead I was everytime I remembered you. " she spoke.

"Knowing that you're in danger and I was doing nothing really hurt me. Why should I stay and watch you hurt when I can save you from getting hurt? That was what I had been thinking about. " she told him while looking deep into his dark hazel eyes.

Jimin lost his words when she said that. For this whole time, he forced himself to believe that she left him because she cheated. But the truth was, she loves him so much. More than her own life.

His eyes pierced into hers as he lowered his head while rubbing the back of her hands.

"But if you sacrificed yourself just for me, that means you sacrificed our love too. " Jimin spoke.

He was sad and shocked after what happened as well. But he didn't show it to her.

To not making her sadder, Jimin smiled then said "You need to rest. Have some nap. I need to go down to see Jungkook and Uncle Seon. "

"But I want you to be with me " Aera pleaded as she wrapped her arms around his waist. She didn't want him to leave her. She was still scared.

Jimin's heart softened when Aera suddenly hugged him and he defeated. "Okay then. I'll be here, don't worry. " he said softly and laid beside her.

Jungkook was done explaining the whole thing to Uncle Seon. "Now I see why you did that. " Uncle Seon spoke.

"The old man said he only needs her blood to clean the agreement between Jimin's dad and the demon. So I trusted him and told Aera about that. "

"But then, I ended up knowing that the old man lied to me. The demon wanted her. Not her blood. " Jungkook muttered madly.

"But why did it wants her? What she can give to satisfy him? " Uncle Seon asked as he really wanted to know.

Jungkook shrugged, "I don't really know about this. But the old man said, the only way to clean the agreement between them was true love. "

"I didn't get it at first. Well, it's cliche and only happens in drama. But after awhile, I realized something. " he said.

"When Jimin's dad started the agreement, the first condition was; he can't be with the person he loves. "

"So, to clean the agreement, the demon wants a true love as its replacement. Only true love. " Jungkook continued and Uncle Seon just nodded his head as if he was trying to make a conclusion in his mind.

"The demon took Taehyung as the replacement. So does it means— he has a true love? " Uncle Seon asked.

"And his true love is— Ms Aera? "

Jungkook looked at him sharply.

His eyes were looking into the old man's eyes as he was searching for an answer. "Yes, he loves Aera. With all his heart. " he spoke.

"But I don't get it. Why'd he calls Aera as his childhood crush? Does it means they have known each other since kids? "

"I don't know, "

"We need to ask Jimin after this. "

"Jimin. We need an explanation, " Jungkook said to him as Aera was standing beside him.

He raised his brow, "For what? " he asked.

"Everything. " Jungkook answered.

They had something they had been wanting to ask him for this whole time but they didn't have the courage. But now, they know they need to ask him no matter what.

Aera stopped her steps and looked at Jimin. "I've a few things to ask you too. And you need to explain it to me. " she said.

Jimin could feel the tensed. But he just relaxed and cool down. He sighed, "Okay, ask me anything. I'll answer you."

"Explain to us about the necklace. I noticed that you kept staring at my necklace when we were together. It was as if it reminds you of something. Tell me, I want to know " Aera gestured.

Jimin stopped. He had expect the question to be asked. But he had never think of an answer to reply her.

He heaved a sigh and scoffed. "Alright, I'll explain everything to you. Including the necklace. "

Uncle Seon, Jungkook and Aera were all focus to listen to his answer.

"Actually Aera, we have known each other since we were kids. You were my best friend where I always shared my problems. But we needed to separate because my dad had to work in the city. " he said looked at Aera to see her reaction.

Surprisingly, she didn't seem surprised. She was relaxed. "Aren't you — surprised? " he asked.

Aera shook her head. "No, because I have already knew it. " she spoke.

"How? " Jimin gasped.

"Because of the necklace. I remember everything now. You were the one who give it to me a day before you need to leave Busan. " she said as Jimin was a bit shocked.

"You— remember it? "

"Yeah, "

"Then why you wanted me to explain? " he asked.

"Because I want to see if you still want to hide the truth or not. Fortunately, you told me the truth. " she smiled.

"But how about Taehyung? Why'd he calls Aera as his childhood crush? What does it means? " Jungkook interrupted, Jimin and Aera turned to look at him.

"It's because— " Jimin stopped. It was hard for him to say it. But he needed to tell them.

"He's actually my cousin. " everyone in the living room gasped.

"What?! Why didn't I know that? " Jungkook asked in disbelief.

"Then why don't you like him? He's your cousin anyways. " Jungkook scoffed.

Aera was speechless when she heard that so she decided to just listen to his explanation.

"Actually, his dad, Kim EunGa is a brother to Kim Ahra, my mom. " he told them the truth.

"As her brother, Taehyung's dad didn't bless my mom's relationship with my dad. He didn't like him from the first place. And so did he. They fought with each other. "

"And when I grew up, I got to know that Taehyung wanted to steal my crush— which was Aera. "

"I was jealous. So I somehow didn't like him. "

"But then, I started to hate him when he once tried to kill me by pushing to the road. I didn't know what was his real reason. But what I know was, he wanted to kill me. Because he loves Aera. " Jimin sighed

"Oh no. " Aera shook her head. "I can't believe this. How can I never know about this? " she asked.

"I wanted to tell you. But I don't know how."

"One more question, what did you hide from us in your secret room? You always get into the room and never let us in. Why? " Uncle Seon asked.

Jimin sighed, "It was because, it's the place where I keep all the memories I had with Aera and my mom there. I want the pictures and gifts to be safe. That's why I never let anyone in. "

He answered him. Uncle Seon nodded. "I understand now. "

Jimin turned to Aera. "Are you mad at me now? " he asked gently. She took a few moment before answering.

"I'm not mad at all, Jimin. It's just— I need some time to accept all of this. Because it all happen too fast. "

"At first, I got to know that we're childhood friend. Then, Taehyung sacrificed his life for me because he loves me. And now, you told me that he's your cousin? It's too much for me to accept at once. " she shook her head.

Jimin smiled. "It's okay, just take as much time as you want. I'm fine. As long as you will always be with me. "

"That's for sure. I'll never leave you, "

Aera and everyone else was already asleep. Except for Jimin. He received a text for someone that wanted to meet him outside his house.

He opened the gate and slowly made his way to the person who was covering his face with a mask.

He stood in front of the man and looked up at him.

"Taemin, " he said his name.

"You came. " he said. At the moment, Taemin didn't do anything except just looking at Jimin.

He had no emotion on his face. But he had tears in his eyes. "What do you expect me to do after my brother's death? " he asked.

Jimin looked at him.

"Taemin. I know it's so sudden. But please do—"

"Stop there, Jimin. " Taemin cut him from talking any longer.

"I'm here not to argue with you. " he said.

"Hm? " Jimin didn't understand what he was trying to say. Taemin shoved his hands into his pockets and cleared his throat.

"I just want to let you know that— I'm happy. I'm happy because my brother, Taehyung sacrificed his life for the person he loves. "

"Even she never loves him back. "

"At least, he's happy and willing to give his life for her. " he continued as he lowered his head.

"It's better for him to die than living a horrible life. I failed to make him happy. So I allowed him to sacrifice his last breath for Aera. At least , he's happy. It was his last request and I agreed. "

"You have no idea how happy he was when I allowed him to do so. "

Jimin didn't understand him. "How did he knows about this? I didn't tell him that true love could destroy the agreement. " he asked.

Taemin stopped and chuckled bitterly. "Because I was the one who told him that. I knew it. Then, I told him. Because I know. He would be so happy to sacrifice his life for Aera. " a drop of tears fall down from his eyes but he wiped it right away.

"It may be crazy. But at least I know he's happy now. "

"And, what I want to say is, please make Aera happy and take a good care of her. Because my brother sacrificed his life just to make sure she can live a happy life with you. Please don't waste what my brother had done to you. "

He sniffled. "I won't disturb you anymore. So, please be happy. Be happy with her. Don't make her sad and treat her nicely. That was what Taehyung asked me to tell you. "

Jimin nodded.

"I promise. I'll make sure she's happy with me. Keep my words. "

"That's good, thank you. " Taemin licked his dry lips.

"Btw, I'm moving to Japan tomorrow. I'll stay there and maybe will not come back here again. Because I'll always remember about Taehyung. It's hard for me, " he holds himself from bursting into tears.

"Remember that. Make her happy. And take care of her. That's all what I want. " he said.

"Goodbye, Park Jimin. This is maybe the last time we meet. " Taemin said.

Jimin couldn't say anything when he heard that. He was shocked. But he didn't expect that Taemin could be that kind towards him. He sighed, "Goodbye, cousin. "

He pulled Taemin into a hug. "Take care of yourself. Don't forget us here. I will miss you. For real, "

"I'll miss you too, Park Jimin. "

Any questions? Just ask me here »

•••

Taehyung sacrificed his life to give Jimin and Aera a chance.

A chance to love.