CHAPTER 29

The door slides open and Jungkook's face lights up when he recognises Jimin. He doesn't greet him aloud, as Jungkook guesses Tiger's lost in his own thoughts for the narrowed eyebrows and the soft lip biting.

"Still no luck?" Jimin approaches Jungkook, glaring at Tiger's back.

"Huh?" he spares a quick glance to Tiger, who pretends not to acknowledge Jimin's presence. "We were only looking at the sky - ah, nope, we didn't see any shooting star." he giggles. "Do you want to join us?"

Jimin keeps his lips on a fine line and his eyes send daggers to Tiger. "I only want my Taetae back."

"It makes sense, it's been hours since -"

Jimin steps between Tiger and Jungkook. With his small hands, he carefully holds the alter's. "Taetae, can you hear me? I'm your Chimmy."

Tiger removes his hand harshly and takes a step back.

"Stay away from me." He warns, his voice coming out deeper than usual.

Jimin gets closer again and cups his cheeks. "Baby bear, don't listen to him. You're our lovely Taetae, remember? Come back, baby. I promised you I would be right in front of you. Here I am."

Jungkook wants to put a hand on Jimin's shoulder and make him step back from Tiger, but his feet stay glued to the ground.

Tiger senses Taehyung closer.

But he wants to stay a bit longer, he doesn't want to fade back just yet.

He pushes Jimin away with a sharp movement of his arms. "Don't touch me never again!"

Jimin's body bumps with Jungkook's and the younger gasps for air. It makes him finally react and helps the blond head recover his balance. He exchanges looks with Tiger, looking for an explanation. The alter clenches his jaw and follows Jimin's every movement, ignoring the silent screams from Jungkook.

"Tae Bear, I know you can hear me." Jimin insists, never losing his angelic voice. "Don't let this monster consume you. You love us so much, you're safe to come back, we've got you. You're not like that. You're our lovely bear. Tae, remember who you're and come back to yourself."

Jungkook's eyes widen. Monster?!

Tiger's eyes shift to Jungkook's. For just a second, the younger recognises a wave of panic in them.

Jimin slowly walks to him again, but Tiger reacts faster. "Don't you dare to come closer. I mean it."

Has Jimin just called Tiger monster?!

With a quick movement, the tattoo boy gets in front of Jimin. "He doesn't want to talk to you right now. You should respect him and his decision, if he doesn't want you close, you must stay back. Jimin, don't say or do things you'll regret later, remember? Taehyung will come back soon, don't mess with Tiger."

"A person?!" Jimin gasps, his eyes widening. "Jungkook, that's not a person, that's a monster. An evil voice living in Taehyung's head. His brain created this - this - thing because of everything he went through. My Taetae isn't like that, he's not that. You understand me, right?"

Jungkook pokes his tongue in his cheek. "Jimin, I understand it must be hard for you to see someone else in Taehyung's body. It shocked me at first, too. But even if he's just an alter, even if he doesn't have his own body," he pauses and takes a deep breath. "It doesn't mean he doesn't have emotions like us, does it? Have you thought about his feelings when you called him a monster? You showed me you're better than this, don't make me change my mind."

Jimin's eyes tear up. "You - you don't know what you're talking about." his voice shakes. "Jungkook, it - it only hurts the people Taehyung loves, it makes sure to ruin everything Taehyung adores. Everyone knows it takes over Taehyung's body, but it's just a monster living in Taehyung's brain. Jungkook, what you've been talking to isn't human."

Jungkook frowns his eyebrows in disbelief. With a heavy voice and a look of disappointment, he says, "Jimin, you should head inside. Taehyung won't die if you don't keep your promise, believe me. When he comes back you'll know."

Jimin chews on his plump bottom lip. "Jungkook, don't let him fill your mind with stupid ideas. It's just an evil product of Taehyung's brain. Here only exists Taehyung. Whom you've been talking to is just a monster, a voice, an illusion. Never forget Tiger's not real."

With that being said, Jimin lowers his head and returns inside. He only wanted his lovely Tae to come back, not to have a misunderstanding with Jungkook. Now he has another problem to add to his list.

Jungkook stays quiet for a moment, his hands damp. He slowly faces Tiger, who stares back at him with a poker face. What can he say after he has been leveled as a monster? After his existence has been eliminated? Jungkook's heart aches.

Maybe he shouldn't have liked Tiger when he first met him.

He shouldn't have thought he's cooler than Taehyung.

He shouldn't have felt comfortable around him.

Still, he stares at his black eyes, a feature all of them seem to miss. Tiger returns to his spot in front of the handrail with a lost sight. Jungkook approaches him and stands closer than before. The wind increases its speed as the minutes pass by, neither of them sure what to say.

"I don't think the same." Jungkook finally mutters. It comes out more confidently than he intended.

"Bunny, he's right. I don't have my own body."

"So what? You're still Tiger."

A small smile unconsciously appears on Tiger's face. "That's why I like you."

"Huh?" Jungkook blinks rapidly, for a moment he believes he hasn't heard it right.

"When I was about to break your face you thought I was cool. You don't try to get rid of me, I don't disgust you, you don't plead for Taehyung to come back, you don't reject me. You accept me. What the hell, you even make me company."

Jungkook bites his lips to suppress a smile. "You like me because I like you?"

"I accept you because you accepted me first." he finally looks at him, but Jungkook can't recognise the expression in his eyes. "I've never met someone like you—if we ignore Taehyung for a minute. Tough I guess he likes me. He better like me—I'm here because of him."

Jungkook raises his eyebrows with a grin in his face. "I accept you because I'm a Bunny. We animals understand each other, don't we?"

For the first time, Tiger laughs. A sweet, raspy melody invades Jungkook's ears and he finds himself laughing along. It slowly fades away, but both of them have a smile on their faces. His eyes stay locked while the night lights reflect in their dark eyes.

"Hey, would you like to be my -"

"Jungkook!" Seokjin yells from the door. "Dinner's ready! Tiger, do you want to join?"

Tiger hesitantly shakes his head.

"Coming, Jin!"

The oldest nods and walks away.

"I don't like him either, but I've to recognise he's the kindest to me."

"Yeah ... Seokjin cares about us."

"Anyway, what were you saying? If I want to be your what?" He tilts his head in confusion.

"Uh—nothing. But I want you to remember something before I go. I didn't lie when I told you you've your own eyes, please don't forget it. No matter what everyone says, don't forget you've your own light. Your eyes doesn't look like Taehyung's."

"Bunny -"

"See you, buddy."