The Secret of The Swan Ch14

Taehyung woke up with the sun beaming into his eyes through the cracks of the blinds. He reached over for his phone and squinted at the screen. 10:00. With a stretch, he sat up to gather about his senses. What were his plans for today? He thought back to yesterday and finally Jimin’s voice swam into his head. Shit.

He got up and walked to the bathroom to shower. When his towel was secure afterward, he opened the door and jumped back when he saw Minjun was right there waiting for him. “Where is yesterday’s report?” he demanded. Taehyung sighed and shoved past him, moving towards his room.

He walked over to his desk and handed Minjun his notebook and typed report. Of course, things were not exactly true, he could never mention that he had ever had serious contact with Jimin. As far as the notes reflected, he just sat in the car for hours every time he watched Jimin.

Minjun nodded in approval and glanced up at Taehyung who was purposely ignoring him. “We used to be so close, Taehyung. What happened?” Minjun asked softly. Taehyung shook his head.

“Please leave.”

Minjun angrily tossed the notes and paper on the desk and got into Taehyung’s face. “You seriously think you can judge me? I know why you were beaten, and it’s better to just go and do what’s expected. You didn’t choose this life, I didn’t get much choice in mine either, but I’m here making the best in this. The last thing you need to do is break the bonds and become isolated now,” he growled.

“Well, you had to have some choice! I didn’t! I was on the streets and I didn’t know better!” Taehyung yelled back defensively. How could Minjun even begin to justify the way they lived?

“Oh yeah, I’m sure you were always raised to think killing people was alright, huh?” Minjun sneered. Taehyung’s heart sank. “Don’t play the victim card. You’re not stupid, you have a sense of right and wrong, so you cannot pin all of this on everyone else but yourself. One thing you should know by now is that you’re out of choices, Taehyung. You went along so you’re too far gone to turn back now. The Swan will not let you live to see any other possibilities. Just do yourself a favor and just be pleasant.”

“Being plesant has never been an order,” Taehyung spat. The guilt gnawed on him like a starving monster. He didn’t want to admit that Minjun was right.

“Caring about you like a son after all of these years was never an order, but here we are.” Minjun sighed and softened his expression, lifting Taehyung’s face towards him. “I’m sorry, but we just have to go on. I want you to know that in this world, you at least have me. We can’t turn on each other now.”

Taehyung’s eyes watered. He couldn’t fight the affection that had grown for Minjun as the only fatherly figure he had ever known. “I just want to know the truth. Why am I even here? If you care, then tell me something, Minjun. Anything.” Taehyung pleaded.

Minjun frowned. “Look, you know how limited I am. The Swan is lenient with me but I only have so many rights. I can’t say anything now, but as soon as I find a chance, I will.” he said after a moment.

“Do you promise?” Taehyung asked shakily. Minjun nodded.

“I promise, Taehyung. You just have to trust me,” he replied, wiping a stray tear that had finally escaped from Taehyung’s cheek. Minjun was fighting tears himself.

Taehyung let out a sob and buried his head into Minjun’s chest. He let it all out, he couldn’t hold it in anymore. He would still have to find a way to discover The Swan’s truth, but he had to trust someone. Maybe Minjun could help him, he would just have to get him up to it. Minjun stood and held him.

After a few minutes, Taehyung composed himself and stood. He took the papers from the desk and handed them back to Minjun. “I’m going to take some time for myself today, I have the day off as far as I know and I just need to reach a peace with these things.” Minjun took the papers and lightly nodded.

“I understand, just watch yourself, okay?” Minjun warned.

“Okay,” Taehyung agreed. Minjun took his cue and left the room. Taehyung closed the door behind him and took a deep breath. He hoped spending time with Jimin would take his mind off things for a while. Jimin was the only innocent soul he knew. He was the only one he knew genuinely cared for him, at least until he found out the truth about him. How could he care about the man who nearly killed his father?

There were so many times that he thought about coming clean to Jimin, but it would only open of the can of worms that would lead to the full truth that he couldn’t have Jimin know. He’d grown spoiled to Jimin’s friendship and couldn’t go back to the isolated life he had led before.

He got dressed throwing on a Nirvana t-shirt and jeans. It was an unusually warm day for it being so early in the spring, but he welcomed it. He gazed in the mirror on the wall before he left the room. His eyes seemed empty, yet there was a glimmer that even he couldn’t help but notice. Something he could have easily missed had he not cared to pay attention. Hope.

Hope. Something so powerful in the heart of the right person. He just had to keep it concealed and nourish it. He needed it more than anything now. It was all he could truly own and trust in this world.

Taehyung grabbed his keys off the hook and looked back to see Minjun watching his normal overplayed kdramas. He was going to walk off without a word but the look of genuine care and concern in Minjun’s eyes earlier and stopped him. “I’ll be back later,” he said. Minjun looked up at him and smiled.

“Take care of yourself, don’t be doing anything that can get you in trouble with the boss,” he warned. Taehyung nodded and waved before heading out the door.

***

It was slightly after eleven when Taehyung parked in front of the 7-Eleven. Jimin sat on the front step of the store looking up and down the street. Taehyung couldn’t help but smile looking at Jimin seeming worried. He really did care.

Grabbing his phone and turning off the ignition, he got out of his car. When hearing the slam of the car door, Jimin looked up. His eyes lit up and he smiled like a child seeing his best friend. “You made it!” he yelled across the street excitedly. Taehyung laughed.

“You told me to be here, so I’m here,” Taehyung grinned crossing the street to get to Jimin. His dismal mood fading fast drown under the wave of happiness up seeing him.

“I’m surprised you listened, yesterday ended weird.” Jimin shifted his weight looking a little uncomfortable. Taehyung felt bad.

“It’s okay, I was just still shaken up,” Taehyung explained. Not the whole truth, but certainly not a lie altogether.

Jimin threw an arm around Taehyung’s should and guided him down the sidewalk. “Well, I hope you’re feeling better today. I have the perfect plan for us today,” he beamed. Taehyung looked at him curiously, hoping to get a further explanation but Jimin only laughed. “It’s a surprise until we get there.”

They walked for a while. They shared normal small talk but Jimin shot down any question regarding where they were going. “We could have taken my car, we’ve been walking forever,” Taehyung whined. Jimin groaned in fake annoyance.

“We’re about to be there, stop being a cry baby, it’s nice outside anyway.” They walked for two more minutes before flashing lights caught Taehyung’s eyes. A moment later he was able to read the sign. Arcade. Taehyung’s eyes lit up. He had never been to an arcade, he had only played games on his phone occasionally. Jimin noticed the look on Taehyung’s face.

“It looks like I was right to think to take us here,” Jimin chuckled. “You like arcades?” Taehyung shook his head.

“I’ve never actually been to an arcade,” Taehyung admitted shyly. Jimin gasped.

“Seriously? Have you lived under a rock? What was your childhood?” he teased.

“Not under a rock, but I can certainly say I didn’t have the typical childhood full of fun and arcades,” Taehyung shrugged. Jimin began to run, dragging Taehyung behind him.

“We’re going to have the best time!”

Hours had passed by and Taehyung lost track of the number of games they had played. He could do nothing but laugh and smile. His injuries, Irene, Minjun, not even The Swan lingered on his mind. All he could think about was the game at hand and Jimin’s infectious laugh. Was this what he was missing? He never had a friend to play with once The Swan came in the picture.

While Jimin learned how to play connect four, Taehyung learned how to not leave trace evidence at crime scenes. While Jimin played racing games, Taehyung had learned even before the law permitted age how to drive in order to be self-sufficient in his assignments. While Jimin killed rouges in these games, Taehyung held and fired real guns ending people’s lives. Innocent people.

Taehyung had to keep cool when Jimin pestered him about his skills in the shooting games. Jimin stared in awe watching him play with complete focus, and Taehyung hated it. Jimin wouldn’t look at him that way if he knew the truth.

At the end of it all, they grabbed some Bimimbap and headed back in the direction of the 7-Eleven. It was already getting dark and Taehyung couldn’t believe how a whole day flew by so fast. His days normally dragged under the normal drawl of his schedule, but it was different to actually have fun.

They continued to walk until started to walk past a now-active strip club. The place was already booming. Taehyung sped up his pace, he didn’t like these settings, especially after learning what The Swan specialized in.

They were almost passed when a man was walking out quickly on his phone. The phone fell and the man cried out in anger. Jimin apologized and Taehyung bent to pick up the phone. The screen was on the display of recent texts. Taehyung’s eyes ran cold when two names caught his eyes. Jeon Jungkook and Lim Minjun. Who was this man? There could not be this much of a coincidence. He had to hide his expression when he handed the man back his phone.

The man thanked Taehyung and took another look at the two. He almost did a double-take at Jimin. “Park Jimin?” he asked in disbelief.

“Yes?” Jimin confirmed questioningly. The man quickly realized that Jimin didn’t recognize him. “I’m Min Yoongi, I used to work with your father. I haven’t seen you in years since…” he trailed off. Jimin stared at him for a moment until his face glinted recognition.

“That’s right! You were so kind after my father’s attack, thank you so much,” he said bowing to him with respect. Yoongi shook his head.

“No need to thank me, we’re a family at the department. I hope he’s doing okay, is he still in that condition? He asked. Jimin nodded.

“He might get better though, just slowly,” Jimin said with optimism. Yoongi smiled.

“I’m glad. It’s good to see you, but I have to get going. Goodbye Jimin and..” he paused when he looked at Taehyung, studying him.

“Taehyung,” Taehyung finished for him. Yoongi smiled.

“And Taehyung.” Yoongi quickly walked off and went into a car parked a few feet from them and sped off. Taehyung’s blood was cold. Did this man work for The Swan? Was he The Swan? He could barely think straight.

“Jimin, I really need to be getting home, mind if we hurry?” Taehyung asked trying to contain the shaking of his voice. He didn’t want Jimin to notice and question.

“Yeah! We’re almost there, race?” he asked, taking off before Taehyung could answer. Taehyung started after him, diverting his mind to the race for the moment.

They got back to the 7-Eleven out of breath. After a moment to regroup, Taehyung threw his arms around Jimin. “Thank you for today, it helped more than you know,” Taehyung whispered, meaning every word. Not only did he get a taste of an actual childhood, but he ran into someone who had to have a connection with The Swan-hell, he could have been The Swan! He had a name and a face, he was a step closer.

“You’re welcome, I’ll see you soon,” Jimin smiled, releasing their embrace. Taehyung waved and ran to his car. He had to go home and brainstorm to figure out who Min Yoongi was.