You Need To Survive

Tell me why

        That was two more deaths.
        Two more he could have avoided, but failed.
        Miserably.
        He reminded himself. There was Jimin.
        Jimin still had a chance.
        Taehyung ran in the direction of Jimin's house. He had shared it with Jin hyung, Taehyung dimly remembered.
        

                                                                                                              *        *        *
        Jimin sat in the tub, holding a paper.
        It was part of Taehyung's old diary. He had written all of their names and nicknames on it.
        Jimin had found it a while after Taehyung's death. He ripped it out and was now reading it.
        Taehyung had called Jimin Chimchim.
        He smiled.
        Taehyung had called Jungkook Seagull, like his old nickname.
        He called Suga Grandpa.
        He called J-Hope the Hope Destroyer.
        He called Jin Eomma.
        He called Namjoon Angel.
        But what surprised Jimin was that he called himself V.
        What type of nickname was V?
        Jimin said it. "V."
        It still sounded strange.
        He felt a sob in his throat. Of course, it didn't matter.
        Because Taehyung was dead.
        He grabbed a lighter from the counter and burned the paper. He watched it burn, then leaned over on the side of the tub and dropped it on the ground.
        Jimin stayed in the tub. He clutched his head, then threw the lighter at the door.
        He already made his decision. He would drown away his memories, his life, him.
        He lowered himself in the tub, then slipped under the cold water.
        He opened his eyes and smiled. He imagined himself hugging Taehyung.
        Then he heard it. Footsteps down the hallway, then the door rattling.
        He almost pulled his head over the tub.
        The door rattled again, then there was a rapping on it. "Jimin, please open the door!"
        TAEHYUNG.
        It was Taehyung?!
        No. Taehyung was dead.
        The person outside cleared his throat. "Jimin, please. Jungkook and Suga are both dead. Please don't die, too. You're the only one still here for me. J-Hope's back in Seoul, and Namjoon's disappeared, probably dead, too. Please, Jimin, please."
        Jimin gasped, then coughed because of the water he had suddenly inhaled.
        Jungkook and Suga were DEAD?!
        Jungkook, the youngest of them all, who loved life and every single day of it?
        Suga, who had taken the mother-like responsibilities of Jin hyung and supported them all?
        They were both dead?
        Jimin's head broke the surface of the water. He felt the sob rising in his throat, then pushed it down.
        "Jimin hyung?"
        Jimin sighed. What good would it do for him to die? Taehyung lost his three best friends already. The best Jimin could do was help him.
        He got out of the tub, wrapped himself in a towel, and opened the door.
        And Taehyung hugged him.
        "Thank you," he breathed into Jimin's ear. Jimin felt something wet down his throat, and realized Taehyung was crying. He put his arms around Taehyung, smiling. "Tae, you know I would always try to help you." He pulled away, still smiling.
        Taehyung nodded. He was wet, but he didn't care.
        Then Jimin became serious. "Why?"
        "Why what?"
        "Why did you try to kill yourself?"
        Those horrible moments came back, flooding his mind. Taehyung gasped, overwhelmed, then staggered.
        "Taehyung?" Jimin caught him before he fell. "What happened?"
        Taehyung looked at Jimin, emotions of guilt, grief, and anger showing in his eyes. "Hyung," he started. "I did...I..."
        "You did what? Tell me. Please tell me."
        Taehyung swallowed hard, then tried again. "My Appa...Eomma..."
        Jimin gasped. J-Hope had told them all what happened between Taehyung's Appa and Eomma. "He killed Eomma?"
        Taehyung shook his head. A dam was threatening to burst. In an effort, Taehyung pushed the tears back. Then he opened his mouth and everything spilled out. "Appa was about to, then I grabbed a bottle and...and...I killed App-" He was cut short as the dam burst. He collapsed, sobbing.
        Jimin stared, realizing slowly. He pulled Taehyung up, looked into his eyes, and hugged him tight. "It's okay," Jimin whispered. "It's okay."
        Taehyung clutched Jimin, sobs still wracking his body. It felt good to finally tell someone. He felt a little of the burden slipped off his shoulders, and he smiled.