Umi: What happened?
Umi took a close look at the sketch. There was a caption above the picture too.
"My angel baby"
As a singer and song writer, it was not hard for her to understand what it means.
Umi: So, it's a boy? Wow! His hands around your waist looks pretty hot. Do you know him?
Tae's heart started to beat too fast to ignore the shock he just got. He definitely knows those hands and the person whom they belong to. Now all the sketches started to make sense to him. The one and only person in the universe who saw each and every version of Kim Taehyung, how could it be someone other than Jeon Jungkook?
Being concerned, Umi kept the diary aside and held Tae by his arms gently.
Umi: Tae! You know him, don't you? You look like you just got shocked by the thunder strike.
As Umi softly shook him, Tae looked up straight into her eyes and kept staring for awhile.
Umi: Tell me, Tae.
Tae: Umi, it's him.
Umi: Whom do you mean by him? It can't possibly be Jungkook, right?
Tae didn't break their eyes contact. Umi knew the answer.
Umi: So, it's really him. But-
Tae: But it doesn't make sense, right?
Umi: Yeah. Didn't you say it's all your wishful thinking?
Tae: It really was, and it still is. He said he is done playing with me. He said attitude and ego is the only thing I got. he said I'm a pathetic sentimental kiddo who's all talk. He refused to see me every single time I went visit, he didn't contact with a single one in our friend circle for last four years, he-
Umi knew well what could possibly happen next. So he quickly took the initiative to give him a warm hug that he needed most at that moment, though not from her, and he knew it better then anyone. But again, that's the only thing she could do for her first love that was never meant to be returned.
Umi: Calm down, bear! It's alright. I'm right here.
No, Tae wasn't crying. Umi didn't see him crying ever in her lifetime, but neither thought she would witness this side of him when he's barely breathing. She patted his back while uttering the words of condolence, or it's better to be called a warm approach to calm his restless soul and huffing body.
The later on history of the day was quite simple. Umi got a call from a South Korean music director and went out to meet him. Tae took the diary with him and lie down on his bed.
Tae's POV: There was only five more sketches in that diary. And those were more than enough to understand what he used to feel about me.
The first one reminds me of an incident. That day we arranged a Karaoke inside the gymnasium. Kookie was singing with his all heart and I was playing basketball arcade challenge with a microphone in my hand. As a result, I accidentally threw the ball over the machine and it got stuck up there.
So, I went straight to him and dragged him with me to help me get the ball back. Jimin was teasing us saying,"Are you my brother or his brother, Jungkookah? You didn't even try to listen when I called you. And Tae! You got plenty of juniors here. Must you call Jungkook who was singing peacefully an hold his hand with a ridiculous excuse? Aish! These lovey dovey bitches are the pain of my single ass"
That time, we laughed a lot, but now, thinking about it..... probably Jimin was right. It's definitely Kookie who drew all these. Did he really took me as someone to love? It's true that we always found a way to hold each other's hand, cling onto each other. The problem is, we realized things too late.
Next sketch was of two hands, holding onto each other most delicately.
VKOOK? Well, that's what written at the corner of the handcuff. It can't be V and Kook, right? Or is it? I know this way of naming. Why won't I? I'm a South Korean who grew up following lots of Kpop idols. This way of naming is well known in Kpop industry. That's the way fans name their favorite ships, taking the half of one idol and the other half from another idol. So, the meaning of this picture is pretty clear.
This one is old, back in our rivalry days. It was from our camping trip by the sea, clicked by Mingyu sneakingly, when we were talking. I was too drunk to remember a single moment though.
About the next sketch, I don't have a memory of this incident. It might be a trivial matter to me, as we often used to rest on each other's lap during practice.
But the way he was caught off guard, I wonder how he resisted himself from crossing the limit, specially that night, when we shared the same blanket.
Tae smiled and turned over for the last sketch of the diary.
Tae's POV: Or maybe.... he crossed the limit thousand times in his dreams, just never tried to implement in real life. Was it because of the fear of losing our friendly relationship by then? Then why the hell did he pushed me away saying that he was done playing with me?
Making sketches of every single part of my body, drawing out happy and sweet moments we spent together, shy moments, sweetest and craziest imagination of yours... Jeon Jungkook! This is what you call playing with someone? Are you sure it's not a self deception? Or could it be.... You were doing it on purpose??
Under all these circumstances, why does the second one sounds more convincing to me? Did I really miss something? But what on earth is it? And lastly, why this diary ended up in my balcony? Was it always there? Or was it well hidden? Then why did I find it so suddenly? Isn't it too suspicious to be a coincidence? I must find out before it's too late.
Taehyung jumped off the bed and grabbed the phone.
Tae: Umi, can I have a minute?
Umi: Is that an emergency?
Tae: Yeah, more like a life and death condition.
Umi: Huh? It's been barely an hour since I left. What happened suddenly?
Tae: Just tel me one thing. You said that you had some friends who graduated from University of Florida, right?
Umi: Yes, I indeed have two friends. Why?
Tae: Do you have their contact info?
Umi: Um.... do one thing. I left a small diary on the table. It's filled with the contact information of all my acquaintances. I brought it with me for finding all my Korean friends. Find Lalisa and Eun Woo.
Tae: The second one sounds like Korean.
Umi: He really is Korean. Tae, I gotta go. The director reached already. I'm hanging up.
Tae: Yeah, sure.
TIME SKIP TO THE EVENING
?: I didn't expect you would agree to meet me at a Cafe, Captain!
Tae: And why did you think like that?
?: As far as I remember you don't like coffee.
Tae: Did I ever disclose this matter in the interviews? I don't remember, really. Anyway, what would you like to have Mr. Eun Woo?
Eun: You don't have to use honorifics, Captain Hyung! I'm two years younger than you. And about the coffee.... I bet you know only one name, Iced Americano. I want that one.
Tae's POV: Hey why do I feel like I'm talking to a sasaeng fanboy? The way he's talking, it seems like he knows every little details about me. But he's a well known pianist himself. Why would he dig out things about me. I might be overthinking.
Tae ordered Iced Americano for Eun Woo.
Eun: But I didn't know you knew Umi.
Tae: We met in our childhood, more specifically, when I went on a tour with my adoptive family.
Eun: You went to USA for family tour? Great! Your dad must be super rich. But I heard you stay with your elder brother.
Tae: Yeah, I used to live with my brother, but not anymore. Now I live alone.
Eun: All alone? But you're a Phasmophobic, aren't you?
Tae: Eun Woo! Can I ask you why-
Eun: Why I know all these things?
Tae: Right. How do you know? I mean, we never even met before, did we?
Eun: We didn't but I know someone who did. That little punk- (cursed himself internally) Ah, Hyung, sorry!
Tae: It's alright. You were brought up in USA. Being habituated with honorifics is not quite easy for you, I understand. Continue what you were saying. By the way, who's that little punk?
Eun: Yeah, that stupid friend of mine used to talk about you for 24/7. From your sweet smile to venomous curses, we know everything. His name is Jungkook, Jeon Jungkook. I'm not sure if you still remember him though.
Tae: He.... he was my friend.
Eun: Friend? But he always used to say that you were his rival. Well, that's about when we used to study together. Later he left for SK.
?: Well, again after one year or more, he went to visit us. That time he said he fall in love with that venomous rival of his.
Tae sat up from the chair looking at their old acquaintance.