chapter XII 기억 [memory]

feelings fade, people change, but memories are forever

        "We're going on a little road-trip today, Daehyun." A nurse announced as she finished taking his blood pressure. Daehyun's head shot up immediately and stared shock at her before his eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "You have some people in Busan that want to meet you."

"Meet me?" Daehyun echoed skeptically. "Why? Who are they?"

The nurse smiled kindly at him before positioning her hands in front of her. "The Busan police force, of course." She answered. "They helped save you. You never truly met them but...maybe two of them could bring a memory to light. Do you want to try?"

Daehyun swallowed thickly and looked down at his fingers, his eyes still wide as he began to nimbly play with the fabric of the blanket laid over him. It was light blue in color, most likey had been used many times before but somehow looks brand new. He couldn't help but wonder, "I wonder who died while being under this blanket..."

"Well...they saved me, right?" He looked up at her hesitantly. "I would like to meet them to thank them. And if it means that I could get more of my memory back, then I'm more willing to try."

The nurse seemed to enjoy his response, for her face lit up and her lips curved up into a pleased smile. The next thing Daehyun knew, he was shoved into normal clothes instead of the hospital ones and the hospital security escorted him out of the hospital and into a black SUV. His brown eyes were like mirrors as he stared out of the window; the buildings, the trees, the passing cars and civilians reflecting in his eyes as the SUV began driving down the road. The whole way there, Daehyun stared out of the window; fixated on the environment that he didn't recognize, but strangely felt at peace just by staring at the buildings that began to slowly grow familiar. It wasn't until the door opened that he managed to snap out of his daze and let the two security guards lead him towards the building. It was a rather large building with an even bigger parking lot. It was 3 stories high with two large pine trees in adorning the entrance walkway that leads to the entrance doorway itself. Truth be told, it looked rather sophisticated and pleasantly remodeled.

"...I feel like I've seen this building a million times." Daehyun murmured as they walked up the entrace walkway.

"You actually were born and raised in Busan." One of the security guard's answered, making Daehyun look at him. Tall and bulky but no name-tag. The one beside him was shorter, so Daehyun just figured he'd nickname him Short and Stumpy while he's at it.

Daehyun hummed softly in response. "No wonder this town feels like home..."

"Annyeonghaseyo." A police officer greeted before bowing. "Are you Jung Daehyun?" Daehyun blinked, dazed a little bit but managed a nod. "Alright. Follow me...Oh, and don't mind the stares."

"Stares?" Daehyun exclaimed, staring at the officer but got no answer in return. The officer turned and began walking past the receptionist desk, Daehyun quickly followed. He noticed that the woman sitting at the desk was on the phone, chatting away with a dull expression as she examined her long nails. Once she noticed the officer past by, her eyes lifted and her expression changed into shock. She stopped chatting and watched Daehyun pass by with a slightly ajar mouth.

'Why does she seem so shocked to see me?' He thought to himself, suddenly beginning to feel anxiety crawl under his skin. The officer continued leading him through various hallways and up to the second floor. The entire time, even passing officer stared at him with the same reaction the woman at the receptionist had. Daehyun felt him shrink a little lower each time and the sudden urge to run away hit him.

"Oh my god, is that really...him?" Daehyun caught wind of an exclaimation and turned his head in the direction of the voice. He blinked in wonder as a taller male officer began approaching him, with a red-head at close by.

"...Hello. It's nice to finally be able to meet you, Daehyun." The taller officer greeted, his voice soft and cautious; as if he was afraid of saying the wrong thing, like it might break Daehyun even more. "My name is Jaebum. Captain Im Jaebum. My team and I helped rescue you."

Daehyun glanced down at the hand extended to him, slowly lifting his hand up to shake it. "Hi, uh... it's--yeah, it's nice to meet you too." He greeted back bashfully. Jaebum smiled at him before turning to the red-head beside him, Daehyun's eyes shifting there as well.

"Ah, right." The red-head laughed sheepishly before extending his arm. "My name is Mark. Mark Tuan. I'm not a police officer--"

"--Yet--" Jaebum added.

"--I'm just Jaebum's--"

"--Boyfriend." Daehyun finished. Both Jaebum and Mark blinked in both shock and confusion.

"...How do you...?" Jaebum murmured awe.

Daehyun managed a faint smile. "Well, judging by how attached-at-the-hip you two are, it's not entirely hard to figure that out." He chuckled at Mark's flustered expression. "And you...Mark...I remember you." That's when the entire room fell silent.

Mark stared at him all wide-eyed. "You...wait, you remember me?" He pointed to him and got a nod from Daehyun in response. "H-How?" Daehyun took a moment to study him.

"I remember being in a cell." He started off. "Alone. The entire room was poorly lit and I was curled up in the corner. But then the door opened and you quickly s in with a tray of fresh food in your hands. You shut the door behind you, hesitantly approached me, and gave me the food before introducing yourself. You told me you weren't any harm, that you were...just as innocent as I was. And I remember thinking to myself, 'so he must be a prisoner here, too.' Am I correct?" Mark continued staring at him shock, in silence, before he let out a sudden, shaky breathe and tears began pouring down his cheeks. "W-What's wrong?!" Daehyun panicked, scrambling for a box of tissues he spotted on a desk. Mark reached up and covered his mouth with his hand before gratefully taking a couple tissues.

Jaebum rubbed Mark's back as he began speaking on his boyfriend's behalf. "He was held captive there and was forced to be one of them. 7 years he was there..." He turned his head and looked over at Mark. "7 ing years."

"And finding me also had meant that you found him?" Daehyun pondered before nodding. "Hmm, guess you got a package deal." Jaebum laughed before nodding, kissing Mark's forehead.

"With a few extra bonuses, too!" Someone cheered from the side, making Daehyun turn his head. A shorter male began approaching him with a bubbly aura and a big smile on his face.

'Cheeks.' Daehyun thought to himself as the officer approached him. 'His cheeks look so...'

"My name is Park Ji--waaaaaaae?!" Jimin whined loudly, but rather cutely as Daehyun couldn't resist the urge; reaching up to begin playing with the boy's cheeks. The boy squirmed a little and whined even more and Daehyun couldn't help but find him beyond adorable at his point.

"You're so cute." He commented out-loud before eventually removing his hands. "Sorry, it was an urge."

The officer huffed before a blush crossed his already slightly red cheeks. "T-Thank you. Anyways, I'm Park Jimin. I'm in Captain Im's team."

Daehyun's smile grew even more. "Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, Jimin." He chimed before ruffling his red hair. Judging from how bright it was, he must have recently dyed it.

A small giggle left Jimin--and Daehyun couldn't help but internally squeal--before turning around, waving at some people. "Get over here, guys!" He called out. Daehyun blinked and looked up, watching a few other officers walk over to them. "This is the rest of the team."

"My name is Bambam." A slightly chubby-cheeked boy greeted warmly and shook hands with Daehyun. "This is Jinyoung, Taehyung, and Jungkook. Jungkook's the newest to the group, though." Daehyun shook hands with Taehyung and Jinyoung calmly but as soon as his hand touched Jungkook's, flash images began hitting him all at once. His body froze as he stared in shock at the hand holding his, his own mind trying to comprehend the memories currently flooding him. A memory of him sitting in the corner of the same cell room, the same door opening but a group of rather intimidating men walking in. They forced him into a chair, where they bound him to the legs and the arms. One had ordered another to grab a video camera ready and he remembered looking up, catching clance of a young boy setting up the camera. That boy, the one with raven black hair and a face of a 17 year old at the most. That same boy who picked up the camera and began recording the group beating Daehyun...was no standing right in front of him.

"...Daehyun?" Mark came to Daehyun's side. "Are you okay?" Daehyun looked up at Mark then at Jungkook, who stared at him with wide eyes, before slowly letting go of his hand. Daehyun stared directly into Jungkook's eyes and as if he sensed Daehyun's tension building, Jungkook began to feel his hands shake.

"I..."

"You." Daehyun spoke, his brown eyes beginning to narrow. "You were there." The tension in the air were bricks on Jungkook's shoulders. Daehyun continued staring at him before suddenly reaching to the side, where Jaebum stood, and grabbed Jaebum's gun before aiming it swiftly at Jungkook. Jungkook jumped and immediately backed up as Jimin quickly got between them.

"Put the gun down!" A officer yelled, not apart of Captain Im's team. Then suddenly everyone began yelling, telling Daehyun to lower the gun as Jaebum yelled at them to lower theirs. But it was like Daehyun didn't hear any of it as he stared murderously at Jungkook, who was shaking visibly as Jimin pleaded with Daehyun to lower the gun.

"YOU WERE THERE!" Daehyun shouted, making the entire room fall silent. "You were there. You piece of --how dare you?! You seriously have some balls, beating with the men who nearly killed me then be a cop?!"

"Daehyun, please put the gun down!" Jimin continued to plead but Daehyun ignored him.

Please log in to read the full chapter