CHAPTER SIX: SOLITUDE

Fast forward. Four years later.

Bearing zero resemblance from his previous identity, he felt like someone taken out from a popular historical fiction. Kim Taehyung couldn’t help but be proud of himself.

Growing his hair proved to be very convenient as a disguise. He won’t need to forge a new identity to cover himself even if he could -  for him it was too much of a hassle. His parents would never have thought about it, not like they care because they’ll still love their son no matter what. Like who would’ve noticed that he was the same Kim Taehyung they knew before? He even had gotten his skin a bit more tanned courtesy of Daegu’s humidity and ever-loving sunshine. Adding the fact that being a strawberry farm owner living in the countryside for four good years had its own benefits. 

Yes, you heard it right. It was a silly childhood dream that he wants to accomplish. He now owned three acres of cultivated land that’s set at the foot of Mount Gasan all from which came entirely from his savings where he invested half of his money to buy a farm that’s right next to his traditional styled house. Taehyung wishes to settle there for good to be able to raise and grow old with his children as he claimed that he was a country boy before their family moved into the city.    

It was a cold winter evening at the Kim household. Taehyung had just finished preparing a hearty meal called ‘Samgyetang’ (Ginseng Chicken Soup) for his kids when he noticed the sound of the door being opened without any idea who it was.  

There he saw Yoongi on his gray parka moving towards the kitchen carrying something his nagging mom told him to bring for Taehyung and the kids. Their house was just a block away from his and Yoongi’s mom wants to shower Taehyung’s little darlings with her signature ‘hotteok’ and rice pops. 

Taehyung flashed a ‘meaningful’ stare at the visitor as if he’s done something bad.

“You sure are getting familiar with the house, not ringing the doorbell when you’re coming, hyung...” he frowned in response to Yoongi’s sudden appearance at his humble house

Carrying a large tupperware of sweet goodies in his hands, Yoongi couldn’t help but raised his eyebrows. “Was it supposed to be that way? And it’s cold. Do you want me to shiver out in the open?” he argued as he gently put them on the countertop.

Taehyung defeatedly sighed on his reaction. His eyes were darting at the older with concern.

“What if the kids copy you? You’re their Uncle. You’re the second one they look up after me, hyung. I know it’s too much to ask but for the sake of the kids… ” the brunette sighed deeply, not wanting to nag his hyung about manners

“Alright. Alright. Don’t be uptight, Mom.” Yoongi replied, shrugging Taehyung’s seriousness but carefully acknowledging the fact that he won’t do it again. For the sake of the kids. Even if it had become a habit of him comfortably barging into someone else’s house especially Taehyung’s. Because hello, who else would come when everyone knew all the people in the countryside -but still, Taehyung has a point.

The brunette sighed for the third time. “When you’ll have the one you can call your own, you’ll know what I’m feeling.” Taehyung naggingly told the elder. Yoongi just scoffed and rolled his eyes at the thought. ‘Yeah right.’

Known for his penchant of flings and one-night stands before he crossed paths with Taehyung in Daegu, Yoongi didn’t even consider the least to have kids or even marry. “Over my dead body.” He mutters as he makes his own gesture to sit on a chair.

Taehyung smiled warmly. “You silly old man. I know you’ll have one of your own soon.”

Yoongi just rolled his eyes.

“I might as well get a vasectomy to prevent that from happening. I’ve already got my hands soiled with vomit and pee from your kids ever since they were born. Thanks for the thought mama bear but I think I’ve had enough.” The elder reluctantly said earning a roaring fit of laughter coming from the brunette.

“Having kids are a blessing hyung. I don’t know, but whenever I see the twins at home after a day’s worth of work, they just release all the stress I have in me. At first, it was hard but it’s very rewarding at the end. I don’t regret anything.”

The elder just shot him a dubious look. “Oh yeah? If it wasn’t for me pestering my mom about you expecting those twins when you’re on your final trimester you wouldn’t know anything about childcare.” Yoongi pointed out bluntly

Taehyung couldn’t help but agree. Recalling all the years he’d spent on Daegu to settle for good to be able to raise his children was a good thing. He still calls his parents and sometimes his hyung for a little catching up but that was it. Between him and his brother Seokjin, he has this unorthodox way of settling things. If possible, he wants to keep his intentions and agenda off the radar. His family still didn’t know about his kids nor the information the he and his husband got divorced several years ago, except for Seokjin.  

He then returned Yoongi’s sarcasm with a grin.

“Absolutely, and I am gratefully indebted to your mom, hyung. She’s so nice, just like you.” The brunette said while giving him a teasing wink

Yoongi just rolled his eyes.

“She’s just nice to you because she likes you and the kids.” he said nonchalantly citing the admittedly well-rounded fact that his mom always nags him whereas Mrs. Min treats Taehyung so gently like his own. Talk about favoritism. Somehow over the years Yoongi got used to it.

“And what if Jungkook knew about this? How will you tell him? That you have the twins?” he casually blurted out what seems to be a sensitive question but doesn’t mind doing it because he is ‘Min Yoongi’.

Taehyung blinked at the question twice. He knew it was coming.

“He wouldn’t know. And if he asked me, I’ll just tell him that they were adopted… We’re one big happy family now, hyung. I don’t want any complications.” He answered it coolly as possible even though saying the word ‘adopted’ makes him cringe.

His hyung was right. One of these days the father of his kids might possibly reappear into his life and he needs to be ready. It may just be a slightest chance since Jungkook never bothered to find him over the years but he is thankful for that. His ‘unrequited’ love for Jungkook meant nothing to him now and the memory of it was meant to buried in the deepest part of his consciousness, sealed in tight and never to be bothered again. His ex-husband can do whatever he wants on his life now. Not like he cheated on him or something… In a sense, it wasn’t like that. Jungkook and Jimin loved each other before Taehyung came and split the two apart.

He was never meant to be with him anyway since he finally has Jimin by his side.

To his very own understanding, he was just a mere replacement.

‘But now I have them.’ Taehyung’s eyes began to soften at the thought of the twins

Because right now, his world revolves around his children and that’s what mat