Snow and Ice || 태국

Side story: Childhood elopement

Taehyung once 'eloped' with Jungkook when he was young.

It was an event triggered by a scolding from his father after he did something wrong. He was punished to face the wall and reflect on his wrongdoings for half a day while his mother simply stood by the side and watched.

Feeling that his parents did not love him enough, he wanted them to experience the pain of losing their kin.

It just happened that a musul yeong-ung drama was being broadcasted on television. After entering the various sects and learning martial arts, the heroes all had to trial themselves by roaming the world. Taehyung was roused and decided to make his way in the world as well.

The first step was to escape the house.

It was impossible to leave home. As they stayed on the twelfth floor, the only way he could make his way out without alerting an adult was by jumping out of the window. If he did jump down, he would probably become as flat as a pancake.

Hence, he could only leave school.

The next day, Taehyung went to school with a vengeful heart and the ambition of roaming the world. He told Jungkook his plan and invited him to join.

Jungkook did not agree. Thus, Taehyung's invitation became a demand that he was unable to refuse.

When lessons were over in the afternoon, he and Jungkook ran over to the school canteen where a tiny pickup truck was parked at the side. They climbed onto the cargo bed quietly and tucked themselves into a corner tightly. After delivering the goods, the burly delivery man got on and drove off without giving the truck a thorough check.

Taehyung crouched in the cargo bed, his heart beating rapidly as he felt super nervous and excited.

Jungkook planted himself against the back of the truck and cautiously stuck out his head to look at the school that was getting further and further away behind them. Oddly enough, he felt an incredible sense of excitement from this act of rebellion.

Though it was fun at first, they began to feel cold after some time. That was right. It was the twelfth lunar month and currently winter, so how could they not feel cold?

After a while, they gave up and hugged each other tightly for warmth, all the way until the truck finally stopped.

After they heard the driver get off the truck, the two children moved their stiff limbs and snuck down the cargo bed furtively.

The sky was already dark. It was a worn neighborhood that was still and silent. Even the street lights seemed eerie. Taehyung was about to die of fright but he was too embarrassed to admit it out loud. He clutched Jungkook's hand tightly, holding on to him like how a drowning man would clutch at straws.

The adventure to roam the world did not seem to be kicking off to a good start.

Hand in hand, they circled the area and finally managed to roam out of that tiny neighborhood. Walking on the main street, Taehyung felt hungry. He rubbed his stomach and suddenly clapped his head. "Oh no!"

"What's wrong?" Jungkook asked.

"I left my bag in the truck!"

In the bag were rations and water that he had prepared painstakingly. There was also a map that he had stolen from his father.

Jungkook felt a bit of a pity as well. He asked, "Shall we go back?"

"No." Taehyung did not want to re-experience the fear and uneasiness brought by the stifling atmosphere earlier. As he dug through his pockets, he asked, "Jungkook, do you still have any money?"

"No."

After emptying his pockets, Taehyung had two won and fifty cents. Still holding hands, they stopped in front of a Jian bing store at the intersection. Taehyung asked the auntie selling Jian bing, "Auntie, how much is a Jian bing?"

The auntie glanced over and sighed over how good-looking the two children looked. Then, she replied, "Three won each."

"Mm, if I add an extra egg, how much is it?"

"Three-fifty."

"What if I don't want the egg? Can you just charge me two-fifty?"

"Ah?" The auntie looked puzzled. "Not a single egg? Then won't you simply be ordering a spring onion wrap?"

"Auntie, we don't have money." Taehyung seemed as if he was about to cry. He opened his hand to reveal the crinkled two won and fifty cents lying in his palm.

When the auntie heard him say this, her heart nearly melted. "Oh dear, don't cry. I'll give you an egg for free."

"Really? Thank you, auntie!"

"You're welcome. Are both of you from the same family?"

"No."

"Oh, where are your parents?"

"They're busy. We are heading home shortly."

"Oh, I see." The auntie looked at their linked hands and teased, "Are both of you going to get married next time?"

Before Taehyung could reply, Jungkook shook his head. "How can I possibly marry him?"

Taehyung felt like he was scorned. Embarrassed, he huffed, "Jungkook, you're a little dog if you don't marry me next time."

The auntie laughed at their conversation as she flipped the Jian bing. Once it was done, she slotted it into two layers of a paper bag and passed it to them. "Careful, it's hot. Go home after finishing it."

"Mm, mm!"

They wandered with the Jian bing and found a nice spot. Then, squatting by the road, they took turns to eat it in bites like two tiny beggars. 

They were only halfway done with it when, led by the savory aroma, a large and gaunt dog appeared in front of them.

Taehyung froze in fright, not daring to move as he stared at the huge dog with widened eyes.

Jungkook did not move either. Their teacher once said that they should not provoke dogs when they saw them.

After staring at each other for a few moments, the dog lowered its head, and without any reservations, snatched away the Jian bing in Taehyung's hands and went off.

Taehyung, "..."

Why was his journey to make his way in the world so arduous?

The final blow was given to him by Jungkook.

Jungkook was not yet full. He felt his pockets and fished out two pieces of bubble gum.

Taehyung swallowed when he saw the bubble gum in his hand.

Though it would not fill their bellies, the bubble gum was still better than nothing.

A tiny flame of hope had just flickered into existence when Jungkook unwrapped the two pieces of gum and tossed both into his mouth.

Taehyung was both angry and aggrieved. He grilled him, "Why did you eat both without saving a piece for me?"

Jungkook chewed on the bubble gum and said, "I won't marry you."

Following this, Taehyung stared blankly into the air as he squatted by the road. Jungkook squatted next to him and blew bubbles. By chewing two gums together, the white and round bubbles he blew were bigger than his face.

On roaming the world... Taehyung felt that this world was not suitable for roaming at all.

He wanted to go home.

Their teacher once said that they should look for their parents if they ran into any trouble outside. If they could not find their parents, they should look for policemen.

Thus, holding hands, the two of them walked up to a traffic policeman. "Mr. Policeman, we want to turn ourselves in."