Chapter 2 - A Birthday Wish

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Author's PoV

A Black Mercedes slowly trailed in behind him. 
"Welcome to Seoul Kim Taehyung."
Jin smirked lowering window and tilting his head out slightly.
"Thanks Hyung."
Said the handsome killer as he broke his stare on his witness and gently kicked the foot of the dead man to check whether there's still life left in him.

"Done?"
Jin questioned.
"Easy."
Taehyung turned with a smirk.

"Nice shot tho. Are you sure one bullet is enough?"
He asked watching Taehyung walk around to the passenger door.
"That's enough for him. I don't like wasting my bullets, I'll save the rest for my special friend."
He smiled looking at his gun.
"Get in. I'll get the boys to clean up".
Jin cocked his head towards the passenger seat. Taehyung nodded.
"Home?" asked Jin looking at the rear view mirror checking the surroundings.
"Yes."
Taehyung replied while peering through the window in the direction where the girl ran.

"How's Korea? Doesn't look like much has changed."
He stated observing the streets through the window.
"You got it. Same old man! But, it's good to have you back."
Jin tapped his shoulders as he drove.

Taehyung remained quiet for almost half of the journey and Jin didn't bother him. Killing isn't normal to both of them. But Taehyung was determined to take revenge with his own hands for his father's death. Jin eased his foot on the gas, watching couple of teenagers carelessly run across the street. One of them wore a white hooded jacket. Taehyung's eyes focused on the one with the white hoodie. It was a boy, not the girl he saw shuddering in front of him earlier. He watched him as they went past them in their car. Somehow he couldn't get her face out of his mind.

"A girl saw me."
He confessed while unwinding the silencer from the gun.
"What?!"
Jin's head turned sharply.
"A girl saw me shooting him. She saw my face."
Taehyung blew into the hole of the silencer as he spoke.
"Aishh! You were supposed to wear your mask!"
Jin snapped.
"I was just caught in the moment a little."
"That's not like you. You let her go?"
"For some reason I did."
He bit his inner lower lip still staring into the hole of the silencer.
"Man! We will have to find her."
Jin said after gently punching the steering wheel with his fist.
"No. I don't think she'll go to the police. She seemed scared enough."
Taehyung breathed.
"Well, Even if she does, we can deal with it. Few bones and the dogs are happy. You know what this place is like."
Jin snickered shaking his head.
Taehyung snickered along and sat back. His smirk disappeared shortly.

"Any updates on the name?"
Taehyung's jaws clenched as he spoke looking at the closed shutters of the street side shops.
"What do you mean? You said not to search. what's bringing this topic up all of a sudden?"
Jin was confused.

Taehyung sighed locking the gun and looking through the window again. He did stop searching, and his heart always scolds him for it. But he's convinced himself there's no point. The pain and abandonment had made his heart numb. Yet, deep inside, his heart have always weeped in pain. Ignoring it, he has preserved to bring back their business following the death of his father.
Tae: "Don't know. Just coming back here brings everything back."
His eyes grew somber.
Tae: "But who keeps promises these days Hyung? It's a bit silly and unreal isn't? She probably wouldn't even remember anything..."
He chuckled as if he wanted comfort himself with that thought.
Jin: "Hm, I don't know. I thought you forgot."
Jin shrugged.

Taehyung scoffed.
Tae: "I try...everyday."
He said after a long pause.
Jin: "Well, I'll get the boys to search again. Maybe we will have luck this time."
Jin said as he braked slowing down on his speed.
Tae: "I don't know hyung!"
He sighed.
Jin: "Why? You scared of her?"
He teased with a chuckle.
Tae: "No, I'm scared of myself."
He rested his head back on the leather headrest as they drove through the streetlight lit city of Seoul.

Footsteps echoed announcing Taehyung's arrival as he walked on the luxurious marbled floor of his mansion. He wore a calf length black wool coat with an all black suit. His eyes were cold and empty as if his soul had fled. He walked with gaze that had no purpose. Every servant in his vicinity bowed as he walked passed them. But he continued without paying any attention to what was happening around him.

"Dinner is ready to be served young master" said the butler as he bowed, stood to his right side.
Tae: "I'm not hungry. Don't bother me."
He said in the same gravely cold voice while continuing to walk up the stairs to his room.

He placed the gun on the bedside chest and opened the doors leading to the bedroom balcony.
Leaning his hands against the glass framed balcony rails, he stared at the clear starry sky displaying its fully grown ivory moon. Those void eyes suddenly started filling with questions, disappointments and doubts but most of all sadness.
He continued to stare for few minutes. His head dipped slowly and he swallowed before he spoke.

"Hello my old friend! Good to see you back. It's been fifteen years. I've been punished for far too long. Could you tell her it's too late. If I find her now, I wouldn't let her out of my sight...ever. This monster will capture her forever."
He snickered as his eyes sadly stared at his hands clasped around the metal bar.

"No matter how hard I try, our memories never fade from my heart. Tell her... I better not find  her."
He murmured a warning looking up at the moon again, his saddened eyes were now glowing with the most eeriest determination.

Taehyung took off his black silk robe revealing his upper body and perfect smooth skin. He was a visual feast with his tall slender body, broad shoulders, strong neck and well toned chest and abdomen. He pulled out a small wooden box from under the bed. He knows its exact position as he's done this countless number of times wherever he was.

His eyes turned melancholic as soon as he opened it. A small brown teddy bear stared back at him, there were some pictures of a small girl and a boy.
The boy looked few years older than her and was dressed in garments made of lavish materials. One could easily tell he was extremely rich. Meanwhile, the girl seemed simple, just a plain washed cotton smock dress with a ruffled puff sleeve and no shoes. Her wavy hair grown up to her chest framed her small round face hiding her pink cheeks.

But her enticing large round pupils sparkling with joy would capture anyone's attention. The boy was tightly hugging the girl on one picture while she was holding the teddy bear. And  on another picture, the girl had her arms wrapped around the boy's neck with a wide innocent smile on her face. He was holding the teddy looking at her. It was clear he was lost in her smile.

He took out the teddy which was once a bit big for his small hands but now easily tucks into his large manly hand. He gently caressed the necklace tied around its neck, a necklace with a gold broken half heart pendant that read
..."y/n".
It was supposed to be around his neck. But he had taken it off several years ago. It kept reminding of her, stabbing him with the pain of loss and tearing his heart to pieces.
He breathed rubbing the name with his thumb as it took him back in time.

Tae's PoV

I still remember that day, fifteen years ago.

"My dear Taehyung! Daddy wishes you a very happy 10th birthday. I am sorry for not being with you on your special day as I have a very important meeting. I hope you like your present.
Lots of love from daddy".

The butler looked at me as he finished reading the message and handed me the present. I pushed it away with a tight face holding back my tears.
I didn't want it. It wasn't the first lonely birthday I had, it was one of many.
My father was very protective of me. I was home schooled, so I never experienced the normal things an ordinary boy of my age would experience. Friends, playground, school and walks on the pavements with friends while enjoying an ice cream were my dreams at the time. I would watch them longingly while I was being driven to my private swimming lessons, that was the only time I left my house, any other time would be to fly away with my father after stubbornly crying for hours to get his permission to go with him.

"I'm sorry young master."
The Butler Mr Wong sympathetically apologises before bowing to leave.

Sat on the floor, I looked down watching the teardrops falling on the floor between my feet. No one would come forward to console me. After all everyone around me were just servants getting paid for a job and they couldn't afford to get emotionally attached with me. It was beyond the limits of their job.

As I sat sniffling, I heard a very soft humming sound growing louder as it got closer to me. I looked up and I was met with a pair of twinkling pearly eyes and the most innocent enchanting smile.
I still remember it so well. She blinked twice, very slowly. Her sweet smile disappeared after seeing my face. She pouted her lips while tightly holding a small brown teddy bear against her chest.

"Hi!"
She greeted as she kneeled down in-front me. Tilting her head she smiled at me again in an attempt to make me smile as well. I wiped my tears with the back of my hand. I felt embarrassed, like I lost my pride by showing my tears.
"Are you crying?"
She asked hesitantly widening her eyes.
"No"
I shook my head in denial. I was more intrigued by the little fairy like figure in front of me.
"My name is y/n...what's your name?"
She asked eagerly.
"I am...Tae"
I replied with a sniffle.
"Are you sad Tae?"
She questioned drooping her lips.
"Hmm... I don't know, maybe" I mumbled shrugging my shoulders.
"Why are you sad?"
she continued while her eyes became a little serious but also curious.

"Well... it's my birthday, but...but..."
I fidgeted my fingers.
Before, I even finished my words, her eyes opened even wider with excitement. She suddenly dropped her teddy on the floor and cupped my face with her small soft hands. Squeezing my cheeks, she leaned forward and pecked my forehead with her baby lips.

"Happy birthday!"
She squealed with excitement releasing my face. I was dumbfounded. I've never experienced such a beautiful innocence.

"Why did you do that?"
I asked bewildered. No one had embraced me or touched me like that before, only my father occasionally when he was here.
"Because that's how you wish people on their birthdays. Mummy wishes me like that." She said proudly batting her eye lashes, and swiping her wavy hair behind her ear.
"No body wish me like that" I said looking at the floor.
"Ohhh! Your mummy doesn't wish you like that for your birthday?!"
she exclaimed covering her cheeks with her hands.
"I don't have a mummy".
I looked at her.
"Oooh no! Where's your daddy?"
Her voice unbelievably sympathetic.
"He's not here, he's always at work".
I dropped my head again.
"Oh look! You have a present"
she pointed to the large box wrapped in glossy blue wrapping paper.
"I don't want it"
"Why? You don't like it?"
She sat down properly in front of me.
"No"
I murmured.
"Hm, then what do you like?"
She asked leaning forward to see my face.
"Do you like him? His name is Toto. Mummy bought him from the market."
She said picking up her teddy from the floor and squeezing it into my hands. That was probably her only toy.
"Thanks".
I smiled at her kind gesture.
"Did you blow your birthday candle and make your wish?" she asked curiously holding her hands together.
I shook my head silently staring at her.
"Oh! noooo! You didn't get a birthday cake?!" She gasped in shock.
I shook my head again.
"You look after Toto, I'll be back soon".
She ran out of the room calling her mother in a very high pitched voice.
"Mummyyyyy...."

Moments later, she reappeared with a new maid and butler Mr. Wong. The maid was carrying a birthday cake lit with candles and y/n was following her holding on to her apron.

"Surprise!"
They shouted together and started singing happy birthday.
I happily blew out the candles and was going to cut the cake when y/n grabbed my hand.

"Oh! Not yet! TaeTae need make a wish. Now close your eyes and make a wish." She whispered to me holding my hand.

"Sweetheart! stop being rude to the young master", the maid instructed with raised eyebrows.
"But mummy...TaeTae needs to make wish to the angels remember?".
"Ok, but come here, don't disturb him" she said as she pulled y/n by the arm and picked her up.
"You have to keep your wish secret. Otherwise it won't come true."
She whispered but loudly while wrapping her arms around her mother's neck.
"Y/n! Honey, stay quiet. Just let him do it."
Her mother said sternly and smiled at me politely.

I closed my eyes and made my wish silently...

"I want y/n to be with me forever!"

That was my wish. My first and only wish I ever made in my life.

I've never wanted or longed for anything like this before. In those few short moments, I discovered friendship, care and unconditional affection.

She didn't even know me. But she wanted to know the reason behind my tears, she wanted to know if I had made my birthday wish and most of all she wanted to see me smile. For all this, she expected nothing in return.
Being the only son of one of the wealthiest men in the world, everything I wanted was at my finger tips before I even thought about it. But, until I experienced her friendship, love and care, I didn't realise something like this even existed.

Within a few hours she became my whole world. My big empty house was filled with her giggles and excited squeals. We ran around yelling, screaming and laughing wrecking everything in our way.
I was ecstatic like a beggar who had just found the most precious treasure in the world.
She had no limits. Innocent and free, nothing could stop her from having fun. She didn't care about the rules or the consequences. So I happily became her partner in crime.

"Ok...ready...one two three."
Mr Wong took a picture as we sat on the sofa.
I held Toto in my hand while y/n wrapped her arms around my shoulders.

"Y/n, enough with the pictures now sweetheart. it's time for school, come on now, please excuse us young master."
Her mother came forward after the picture was taken picked y/n up apologetically.
"It's ok, but can y/n come back once the school's finished? or she could even get home schooled with me".
I offered with a big smile.
"That's very kind of you young master, thank you. But I think it's best if she continues with her normal school. I am sorry."
Her mum bowed as she held my world in her arms.
"It's ok" I said with a fading smile, dropping my shoulders.

"I'll be back with mummy this evening when she comes back to work, ok? Look after Toto for me"
She babbled wrapping her arms around her mum's shoulder as she was being carried out the door.

I watched her longingly as my house fell into silence again.

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