Second Chance (Taekook)

CHAPTER -13

Serenade of Silences

As soon as Jeongguk parked the car and turned off the engine, Taehyung quickly jumped out of the passenger seat and waited impatiently for Jeongguk to follow. When Jeongguk emerged from the car, Taehyung beckoned him to follow, and though he was puzzled, he complied without a word.

Taehyung led him a short distance, stopping abruptly as they reached their destination. Jeongguk's eyes widened in disbelief as he took in the sight before him.

Jeongguk followed Taehyung in silence, not questioning his sudden change of direction. The asphalt road beneath their feet soon gave way to a rugged, rocky path. Gripping each other's hands for support, they carefully navigated the winding mountain trail.

An unusual humming filled the air, reminiscent of a swarm of bees. The sound seemed to travel through the rocky path beneath their feet, sending a peculiar tingle up their legs and into their fingertips. As they rounded the bend, the source of the sound became clear.

It was a stunning waterfall, cascading down the rugged mountain face like ribbons of liquid silver.

It plunged into the depths of a pristine, paradise-blue pool. At its base, the water churned and foamed into a frothy lather.

As they drew closer, the waterfall seemed to dissolve into threads of liquid silver, cascading down the rocks like a woven fabric of water. The roar intensified into a thunderous cacophony as the torrent crashed into the cavernous pool below with the force of a thunderclap.

The water rushed down the mountain, churning and bubbling, boiling with relentless energy. Two smaller waterfalls fed by this grand cascade added their own subtle voices, though they were far less deafening.

They walked along the rocky edges, leaving behind the thunderous roar of the large pool. The sound transforms into a gentler symphony of swoosh-plunk and hiss-plop, a softer, more fluid melody. The two waterfalls converged into a serene infinity pool of bliss, from which the final spillway flowed with the smooth grace of silver dew. It cascaded over the gravelly bed with the honeyed sensuality of a lover's kiss, its movement both svelte and slinky as it glided past their feet. The delicate chinking and tinkling sounds echoed from the rocks, created by the water's languid slickness.

It resembled the sleek robe of a water witch, its glassy brilliance catching the light on shimmering silver edges that glinted in the golden glow.

The noise of the waterfall faded to a distant hum as they moved further away. Taehyung settled onto a large rock and patted the space beside him. Jeongguk sat down next to him, his eyes taking in the majestic waterfall before shifting to Taehyung. Taehyung, leaning against Jeongguk's shoulder, rested his head gently, savoring the closeness.

"Ggukie, this is my favorite place," Taehyung said, his voice soft as he rubbed his face gently against Jeongguk's shoulder. "I come here whenever I'm feeling down. I've never brought anyone else here before. You're the first person to know about this place. Please, don't tell anyone. I want it to be just ours. Whenever we need to escape from the world, we'll come here. Okay?"

It was true that no one knew about this place—it lay deep within the forest, far from civilization. Taehyung had frequented this place not just in this life but also in his past one. This was the forest where he had lost his Ggukie, a place that had become a sanctuary for him after Gguk's death.

Here, amidst the towering trees and whispering leaves, Taehyung had wrestled with his sorrow, but it was also the place where some of his most cherished memories were forged. This was the place where Jeongguk had first said, "I love you," and where they shared their first and final kiss. Despite its association with loss, it was imbued with profound significance and tender memories.