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Jungkook sighed as he approached the apartment door.  If only his friend were simply hiding from him.  Behind that door.  With some cute girl on whom he’d developed a crush.

Today, Jungkook didn’t even care if she caught him.  Unless he sprinted down the hallway, she was going to catch sight of him.  And this time, she might recognize him. 

But Jungkook didn’t have the energy to run.  Not today.  He felt completely drained of all motivation.  He was missing Tae something awful.  And he was very afraid something terrible had befallen his friend.

Heaving a deep breath, Jungkook knocked on the door.  And didn’t move.  Not one muscle.

Until the door swung open a moment later.  And Jungkook’s jaw hit the floor.

“Tae!?” Tears of relief filling his eyes, Jungkook lunged forward, throwing himself at Tae.  His strong arms embracing his long-lost friend.  “Are you okay?” 

He pulled back.  “It really is you!   You look all right.  What are you doing here?  Why have you been missing for a week?!”

Tae stared at his friend.  “Jungkookie?”  His face split into a boxy grin as a kaleidoscope of memories suddenly flooded him at the sound of that sweet voice.  “Jungkookie!  I remember you!  And…everything!”

Jungkook’s brow wrinkled.  “Had you forgotten me?”

Tae nodded.  “And everything else too.  Including my own name.”

Suddenly, two stunning, aquamarine eyes peeked around Tae.  “Jungkook!” an unfamiliar, feminine voice gasped.  “You were the first one to show up at my door.  Last week.”

He nodded dumbly.

“Come in!” she exclaimed as she backed up.  Belatedly, she informed him, “I’m April.”

Tae pulled on Jungkook’s arm, drawing him into the apartment before he swung the door shut.

Still confused, Jungkook glanced up at his friend.  “So…you lost your memory a week ago, and that’s why you haven’t come home?”

Tae bobbed his head emphatically as his dark eyes happily drank in his friend’s countenance.  “I missed you so much!” he suddenly ejaculated, throwing his arms around Jungkook again and hugging him tight.

Jungkook glanced at the girl watching them.  He held a box out towards her.  “This is for you,” he murmured against Tae’s shoulder.

April smiled and received the gift.  “Thank you.”  As she glanced down at the box, she asked him, “Did you find the note?”

“The note?” Jungkook furrowed his raven brows.  “You mean, the notecard?  In the box?”

She shook her head.  “The note I left on the door.”

“On the door?” he echoed hollowly.

“Yes,” she frowned.  Then she stepped forward to swing the door open.  And found the note lying on the ground at her feet.  “You didn’t even see it, did you?”

He shook his head.

She bent to pick it up.  Then she handed it to him.

“‘Please don’t go.  Tae is here.  He’s waiting for you,’” Jungkook mumbled as he read the words she’d carefully penned yesterday.  Then he beamed at his friend.  “Yes, you are.  Thank God!  I’ve missed you so much, Tae.  And I was so worried about you.”

Tears were now pouring down his cheeks as he stared up at his hyung.

“Oh, Jungkookie,” Tae murmured.  “I’m so sorry I put you through that.  I didn’t know until yesterday who I was, and I still couldn’t remember much.  Like how to get home or how to reach any of you.”

“I’m so glad I didn’t run away today.”

“Me too,” Tae agreed heartily.

April stood watching the two of them.  Her heart was emitting several pangs.  She was going to miss her new roommate.  But she was so happy for him that he had found his way home.

She glanced down at the white box in her arms.  Curious about its contents.  She tugged on the brown velvet ribbon before lifting the lid.  A bright smile crowned her face.

“Anyone want some hot chocolate?” she queried.

Tae and Jungkook glanced at her.  And Tae’s eyes lit up.  “Today was the box of cocoa packets, wasn’t it?” he asked Jungkook.

His friend nodded.

And Tae beamed at her.  “I’ll have some.”

“Me too!”  Jungkook suddenly felt like celebrating.  He reached into his pocket.  “I’ve got to call the guys.”  

While he dialed a number, Tae reached into the box and withdrew today’s notecard.  Then he read it to her. 

“‘Is there anything more comforting on a cold winter’s day than a cup of hot cocoa?  The richness of chocolate mixed with much-coveted warmth?  I know you love this drink.  Here’s a month’s supply.  I hope its happiness wraps around you like a comforting hug.  Every single time you enjoy a cup of it.’”

April’s eyes filled with tears as she stared up at her handsome gift giver.  Tae had gifted her with several days of wonder.  And warmth.  And peace.  And joy.  And friendship.

“Thank you,” she whispered.  “For everything.”

Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of shouting.  It was coming from Jungkook’s phone.  A wide grin lighting up his gorgeous face, Jungkook held his phone out towards Tae.  “The boys want to say hello.”

Tae accepted the phone as his boxy smile suddenly appeared to shed light upon the room.

Jungkook approached April.  “Thank you,” he murmured.

“For what?” she asked.

“For taking such good care of my friend.”  He glanced at Tae.  “We were worried sick about him.  He’s never disappeared before.  Well,” he caught himself, “not like this.”

She giggled.  “He’s disappeared before?”

“Yeah.  Well, when we were in another country.”

“What?” she gawked at him.  “That sounds worse.”

“It wasn’t.  He had a camera crew with him then.  This time he was all alone.  And he was gone for days.  I was beginning to question whether he was still alive,” he whispered into her ear.

“I am so sorry.  We didn’t know who he was until we saw the billboard yesterday.  With BTS pictured on it.  And even then, he didn’t remember much.  We’d already planned to leave the note on my door.  Figuring one of you would come visit me today.”

“It was a good plan,” Jungkook bobbed his head.  He gazed at Tae.  “I’m glad today was my turn.”

“You really love him, don’t you?” she asked as she watched him watching Tae.  A multitude of sweet emotions were cascading across Jungkook’s countenance.

“He’s one of my best friends.  He’s like my big brother,” Jungkook whispered.  “I can’t imagine life without him.”

“Well, thankfully, you don’t have to!” she responded bracingly.

Jungkook wiped away the tear that had begun to slide down his cheek.  Then he sniffed.  “I need to take him home.”

“Yes,” she replied positively even as her heart sank.  “Of course, you do!  I’m so happy you found him.”

Jungkook’s eyes collided with hers, and he felt her sorrow.  He understood.  Tae wasn’t an easy person to say goodbye to.

––

Tae returned home to a lavish birthday cake.  And a plethora of hugs.  And tears.  The Bangtan Boys were swimming in relief. 

As soon as Jimin had heard the news that Tae was safe, he’d made a beeline for the nearest cake shop.  The one that carried Tae’s absolute favorite cake.  The one with all the huge strawberries on top.  Even in January.

Nothing was too good for his best friend.

Jimin’s thought repeated itself as his arms enclosed Tae and pulled him near.  Jimin hadn’t been sure he’d ever rest his forehead against that strong shoulder again.  He burst into tears the instant Tae’s arms hugged him close.  Tae held him for a while.

“Hey, hey, you know I’d never leave you, right, Jiminie?” he whispered into his friend’s ear.  “You were the first one I remembered,” he murmured softly.  So only Jimin could hear.

His friend lifted his head and blinked up at him.  “I was?”

Tae nodded.  “I heard your name floating around my mind.  Long before I remembered my own.”

Another tear escaped Jimin’s eye.  “That’s beautiful, Tae Tae.”  He hugged him close again. 

He wasn’t letting Tae go.  Not for a very long time.