Chapter Text
How did this happen? What exactly did happen?
A few minutes prior...
Today was going to be his day. He gathered his courage and decided to confess his feelings after school.
His day began normal. He woke up like always. He was late as always. He took the same route as always.
Only didn’t he know that today was going to be his last day…
Everything happened so fast.
Around the time he was on his way to school, the morning traffic was busting. Drivers were rushing and many didn’t pay enough attention.
“Jung-hee, don’t!!!” He heard someone scream.
He looked at the voice’ direction and saw a mother calling out for her son…
Her son was running after a small ball, which rolled onto the streets. He saw a car, that couldn’t stop on time, rushing towards the little boy.
He didn’t hesitate. He didn’t spare a minute to think and just ran over to save the small boy.
His body practically moved on its own.
That’s how it happened.
’Where am I?’ He opened his eyes slowly and he couldn’t fixate his gaze on anything. Everything was a blur. But he could hear sounds. Gasping, sirens from afar, a child crying and the voice of a woman talking.
”Thank you so much. Thank you.” She sobbed. ”You are far too young to die. I’m so sorry.” She continued when her voice wasn’t shaky anymore. ”I promise you, that I will do everything in my power to give you a second chance.” She murmured.
Her voice was too far away for him to continue listen. The next thing he could hear, were the sirens from the ambulance, which finally arrived.
”He won’t make it!”
Why did this happen?
’I regret nothing… only that I couldn’t tell him how I feel.’
With this thought he drifted off into a slumber like consciousness.
In his dream he could see his family, his friends and him. They were all shocked and many of them were crying. He wanted to comfort them but the next thing he saw was stopping him. It was his name… on a grave stone.
At another place…
He tried to open his eyes but they felt just too heavy.
He wanted to get up but his body didn’t respond.
He took a breath and his lungs burnt.
He could hear voices. They were talking.
“How long is he going to sleep? That useless piece of royalty. He could have just died. Nobody would have cared anyways. Who was the idiot that saved him??”
“Royal Jeon.” A softer voice answered.
The other person hissed and he couldn’t hear more of the conversation. He was just so tired.
The next time he woke up, he was able to open his eyes. There were people talking again.
“Has he woken up already?” Someone asked annoyed.
“Not yet, my lord.”
Someone sighed.
“It has already been 2 days. When does his royal stupidity plan to honor us with his presence?”
Something about this voice was absolutely annoying.
He tried to sit up. And with that move he could hear a gasp.
“His highness has awakened!” A voice shouted.
In the next moment many unfamiliar faces appeared around him.
“Took you enough time.” A guy snorted. That was the voice who always complained.
“Your highness. Do you wish for anything?” Another asked.
He was confused. Your highness?
He opened his mouth and rasped a ‘What’ before he started coughing. His own voice… he didn’t recognize it. It wasn’t his voice.
“Cannot talk?” The rude guy snapped. He scowled. Who did he think he was?
“Are you glaring at me?” The guy asked in disbelief. He continued to look at him. Is this how royalty – according to the other guy - was being treated? He snorted.
“Your highness-.” Someone said, trying to sooth.
“Who do you think you are?” He said hoarse before someone could say anything. He was a nice guy, yeah, but he was no angel and he definitely didn’t put up with everything.
Everyone looked shocked and the rude guy was speechless.
Serves him right.
“What is the punishment of speaking to me like this?” He asked around. Everyone was taken aback but the guy next to him answered.
“Drinking poison or cutting the tongue… whatever pleases you the most, my prince.” He whispered.
He smiled at him. “I hope you will learn how to use your mouth from now on.” He said. “You may leave.”
The guy just stared at him, but nodded. “Please forgive my slip, your highness. I shall return to my position.” He turned around furious and walked away. With him many other went along until only 3 were left with him.
He could still hear the rude guy curse. Something about ‘just wait until I tell him’…
The room was frozen until he cleared his throat.
“I wish for something to drink.” He asked politely. The man who was next to him reacted fast and in less than a minute he came back with a bowl with some fluid inside.
He took it and sipped but had to spit it out right after it reached his tongue.
“Your majesty?”
“What is this?” He asked with a disgusted grimace.
“It is the usual wine you take, my prince.” The guy said, surprised.
“Bring me some water, please.” He said.
This was another comment that was unusual for the servant to hear. Since when did the prince use words like these?
“Yes, of course. Bring water.” The guy said and one of the other servants ran out of the room.
While they waited – who knows why the other needed so long for water - he ogled the guy, who sat near him. He guessed that the man was someone close to him.
“So…” he began and the male’s attention was instantly on him. “This might sound weird, but can you please enlighten me about…” he had to think which word would fit the best, “my situation?” He finished.
The man nodded. He looked understanding. Why though?
“Of course, my prince. What do you wish to hear?”
“What happened?” He asked straight out.
“You…” He paused and one could see that this servant was searching for the right words, “fell into the river.” He explained.
“Oh.” He said perplex.
“It is natural to forget.” The servant explained with a small smile and he nodded. He still had many questions.
“The next question might sound a bit… weird but please don’t question it.” The man nodded again. “What is my name?”
The other couldn’t hide his disbelief but he still answered quickly enough. “My prince… your name is Jimin. Jimin of the royal Park family.”
Jimin nodded. “And what is your name?”
This time the servant needed more time to process the question. “Uh… your majesty does not need to know the names of lowly servants.” He finally answered.
Jimin’s brows furrowed. “But I want to.” He persisted.
The servant bit his lips before he bowed and answered. “The name of this humble servant is Taehyung, my prince.”
“Taehyung. What a beautiful name.” Jimin cooed. Taehyung’s eyes grew bigger, but he still said his thanks.
Then the door opened again and the servant who was ordered to bring water finally came back.
“Took you enough time.” Taehyung scolded.
“My apologies.” The other said out of breath. Jimin kind of felt bad for him.
Taehyung went to him and filled a bowl with water and returned to Jimin’s bed.
Jimin took the bowl and started drinking. It was so refreshing for his poor dry throat.
When he remembered correctly, they said that he was down for 2 days. 2 days without water and food…
Now that he thought of it, he noticed his empty stomach.
“I don’t want to be a burden,” he started “but I’m hungry.”
Taehyung was by now less surprised at the way how his prince spoke, so he didn’t hesitate and ordered one of the other servants to bring food.
While Jimin waited, he continued to question Taehyung.
“How did I get out of the river?”
“Royal Jeon saved you from drowning.” The servant answered.
“I must have been lucky that he was near. He must be a nice guy.” Just like Jimin, who jumped in front of a car to save a small child. Jimin smiled but could see concern on Taehyung’s face. “What? Is he not nice?”
Taehyung looked uncomfortable so Jimin let the question drop. He will find out himself. He had many other questions which were more important right now.
“What time period is this?” He asked without thinking.
“I beg your pardon, my prince. I do not quite understand the question.” Taehyung furrowed his brows.
“No, never mind.” Jimin shook his head.
After his main questions were answered, he asked other things which were less weird – at least he thought that they were less weird – until the food was finally brought to him.
He was overwhelmed at the treats. It looked so good - smelled so good.
He stood up and wobbled to the table, took the chopsticks and started to eat. When he realized that he was the only one eating, he asked why the others didn’t take a seat with him.
“Servants are not allowed to dine with royalty.” Taehyung explained with a small smile.
“But this is too much for me alone.” Jimin protested.
“We could never take your glorious offer, my prince. We do not want to be hanged.” Taehyung explained the last part with a lower voice.
“Oh.” Jimin said. “Sorry... I didn’t know that.”
“Please do not feel the need to apologize to a lowly servant.” Taehyung said.
This world was new to Jimin, so he asked Taehyung for a favor. The favor was to teach Jimin about this world, what he should do and what he shouldn’t. Taehyung was surprised but he still complied. After all he was Jimin’s servant and Jimin knew that he wouldn’t dare to question him since the punishments were… exaggerated.
His first day went pretty well.
At least in his opinion.
“My prince, it is time to take your bath.” Taehyung said.
Jimin stood up. He has to admit that he was really bored. His body wasn’t ready to do anything and in his room weren’t enough objects that could keep him entertained. So the only thing he did was to look out of his window for like… maybe 2 hours? He didn’t have a clock – oh dear – so he didn’t know what time it is and how long he has been here.
He walked after Taehyung to the bathroom, more like a thermal bath.
Taehyung helped him out of his robes and left as soon as he was done.
Jimin was grateful that Taehyung left his undergarments on – another layer of… some kind of bathrobe? He couldn’t care less right now. He took it off and went into the hot water. He relaxed instantly. The steam around him was easing his mind. And he had finally some time in silence for him alone.
How did this happen? What exactly did happen?
The last thing he remembered was that he was on his way to school. He tried to remember more and then everything hit him.
His dream about his family, his friends and him, crying in front of his grave. A car hit him when he saved a boy.
The woman- the mother of said small boy had promised him, that she would try everything to give him another chance.
Was this what she meant?
If he would have known, he’d rather stay in his body and die, because… his love. He never got the chance to confess. Now he was left with these memories of him. The longing and desire would kill him slowly anyways, so why give him another chance?
He sighed deeply and wanted to get out. So he started scrubbing his body when he noticed some bruises around his wrists.
“What the fuck.” He hissed at the pain. He frowned and stood up, only to inspect his body further and yes, there were more bruises.
“Shit.”
That’s why his body was so… difficult.
“Where the fuck did this guy get them?” He asked himself. This was too fucked up for him, so he didn’t spend more time thinking about it. He wrote it off with the thought that he got them when he fell into the river. Not more and not less.
When he was robed again, Taehyung was waiting outside and led him back to his chambers. As soon as he entered his room, he climbed into his bed and tried to sleep, in hope that all this was a bad dream and he would wake up.