The Escort S2

Part 33: I too believe in miracles

Tae's POV

After Jimin and Yoongi leave and dad's off to the barber, the house is quiet. Kookie has gone to work and I have an appointment to get ready for. What an active morning it's been. First, I quickly check my email.

"Okay, more shit from Chany with the subject line reading, Cousin Tae, you need to see this! I select all 36 of his emails and send them to trash. I chuckle a bit at Chany's innocence as my phone buzzes.

"Hi, Jin, how are you?"

"Hi, Tae, I wanted to thank you again for going to the appointment with Chany today."

"Oh, Jin, we're in this together. I can't believe he has an interview for the Young Management Program so quick. I'm actually very excited for him."

"Me too, Tae. He's really been working hard." This is true. He's, uh, quite familiar with email and has been meeting with JJ.

"Yeah, JJ says that he's doing well." We both chuckle. "Jin, do you have a few minutes to talk?"

"Sure, the twins are napping, so this is a good time."

"I'd like to ask you about Jae, Kookie's ex." The phone goes quiet.

"Jin?"

"I'm here. What did Kookie tell you?"

I share everything with Jin.

"Jin, I feel that there's more, but he's holding back. I want to know it all so I can support him. He has some heavy guilt."

"Tae, I'm not sure it's my place to –"

"Please, Jin. I want to help him. He and Namjoon are going to be doing business with Jae and his husband Hobi. Old wounds are going to be opened."

"What? Joonie didn't mention this." Jin sighs. "Sounds like he's told you most of this." There is a tense quiet. "Okay, Tae. Kookie left out some details around Jae's attempt to end his life and a few more things." Jin's voice is slow and a bit stressed. "I went to school with Jae's older sister. She was actually my best friend and stood up at my wedding." I sit back and quietly listen as one knee bobs.

"You know how some people can try to harm themselves in this way and it's a cry for help or for attention. They take pills and then they tell someone. Not Jae, he wanted to die. He was devastated by their breakup and how Kookie did it. It was a miracle he didn't die." I silently gasp. As if this wasn't bad enough. I reach for my box of tissues as I know this is going to be hard.

"Jae moved out of Kookie's apartment and then that weekend rented a room at a classy upscale 5-star hotel. He'd hoped to marry Kookie one day. So, he got all dressed up in a white tux, bought flowers, and decorated the room. He then laid in the center of the bed holding a bouquet of flowers, and slashed both of his wrists." My entire body trembles as this picture plays out in my mind. This was too much, even for me, and now I knew I'd never forget this. Jin is quiet and it takes time for me to respond.

"Oh My God," I whisper. "Jin, who saved him?"

"Hobi."

"He and Jae were working on tracking software that they attached to both of their phones for testing. When he could not get in touch with Jae, he called his sister. She called me and we went with Hobi. We finally got to the room." My guts twist into a bunch of tight knots and I rock forward pressing a hand to my mouth.

I can't speak and Jin starts to softly sob. "Oh, Tae." He swallows audibly. "It w-was a scene right out of a horror movie. Pray you never see anything like that. So, m-much blood." Jin stutters faintly. I then find my voice as my concern for Jin surfaces.