5

Namjoon was a tattoo artist.

Owned a parlour near the outskirt of the busy city where the rent was cheaper than the one inside of the city. He was not part of the gang – he was not that stupid to be part of something that will ruin his life when he escaped from the nightmare before. The life where he was caged inside and trained like an animal to be the best in the society. Every mistakes turned into bruises and every steps came along with reminder.

He had enough and ran away from his house, living the life the way he wanted where no one will abuse him for everything he did and be able to breathe comfortably. He started to work in as a tattoo artist before becoming his own boss. He loved his job, making arts on the skin of his customers whether he designed it or the customers requested for it. He did not have any thoughts to change occupation or moving out from his comfortable life.

Not when one particular teenager caught his eyes, who always standing in front of his parlour, looking inside before walking away with Namjoon’s eyes on it.

But Namjoon caught him in a conversation, one day.

“I saw you most of the time, standing here.”

Namjoon said, as he stepped out from his shop to greet the younger properly. Again, there was no smile on the younger and all gloomy as if he walked under the rain of tears every day. The younger did not say anything but staring at one particular design shown on the glass wall of the Namjoon’s store.

“You like the design?”

“It’s beautiful…”

“Wanna learn how to draw it?”

The younger finally lifted his chin to look at the older, breathes out a yes.

Namjoon taught him how to draw using pencil on a piece of paper before moving to a tattoo ink on the customer’s skin while the younger taught Namjoon his name, his favourite things and his beautiful smile that was hidden behind the sad face.

Taehyung, was his name.

A young man who lived in the old cheap apartment together with his older sister and brother-in-law, who loved the red sky of sunset and flying freely butterfly, who did not smile much because of the torture in his house he could never call it as home.

It took few bruises on the younger’s tan skin for Namjoon to figure out his pain. It even took few fractured bones and internal injuries for Namjoon to knock Taehyung’s door just to punch his brother-in-law as a reminder. But it never stop the torture, Namjoon knew, even when the younger hide the bruises and pain behind his warm sweet smile.

Namjoon could not make a police report when Taehyung begged not to, for his and his sister safety. Namjoon could not even take him out from the house when Taehyung insisted to stay, to protect his sister from the abusive bastard that always comes home drunk or with anger. Namjoon could not even do anything when Taehyung stumbling into his store, beaten till he lose half conscious.

Like he was at the moment.

“He needs to be teach a lesson again.”

Namjoon said, as he cleans the visible cut on Taehyung’s forehead.

“He never stop. Should I ask Hoseok to make him forcefully goes overdose?”

Taehyung laughs but to wince afterward at the pain on his lower abdomen.

“Funny, hyung.”

“I’m not joking, Tae.”

“I know …”

Taehyung gently wrapped his hand around Namjoon’s wrist and another on his hard biceps, putting the older’s arm down for him to touch it gently with his rough fingers. Taehyung smiles softly at his arm that has tattoo on few parts, caresses the recent one on the wrist lightly.

“I hate it when you act like this, hyung. It’s like you’re giving me a hope.”

“What is it, Tae?”

Taehyung looked up into the older’s eyes as he smiled.

“That you love me. That you’ll, one day, save me from this mess.”

“It’s not just a mere hope. I will save you.”

“Because I’m pitiful?”

“Because I love you.”

Taehyung was not breathing, was not expecting to hear it from the older. Namjoon could see the shocking expression on him, caressing his cheek gently as the way Taehyung liked it.

“I always wondering why that boy is standing in front of my parlour before disappear like a wind. Always wondering why that sad looking face hurts me more than it should be. I thought it was just a concern-“

Taehyung moved his eyes away from the older, because he knew he was just a pitiful boy from the start. Who Namjoon brought in like a stray dog and take care of him till his injuries is completely hidden behind those happiness. There was no way Namjoon will ever-

“- but it’s actually my heart yearn for you as it fell hard the first time I saw you.”

Taehyung tried to find any sign of lies in the deep dark eyes of the older man in front of him, in sleeveless white shirt and black short pants, arms secured around the tall tiny frame of him. But they both know, Namjoon was telling the truth.

“I even fall harder when you’re smiling for me.”

Namjoon smiles.

“I love you, Taehyung and I always want you to be mine.”

Taehyung tried his best to hold his tears as he bit his lower lip, before pressed his lips into a thin line.

“Seems like I don’t have to dream about it again tonight.”

Namjoon chuckled at Taehyung’s answer and pulled him closer into his warm protecting arms, placing his lips on the younger’s that fits perfectly to each other.

A