"I'll call you never." Taehyung declared with newfound liberation. "I'm finally free, and I should have done this earlier. Ah, the air here is so refreshing, like a breath of fresh air for my lungs. I'm never coming back!" he confidently proclaimed upon exiting the bus as he was on a call with his best friend, Jimin, who couldn't join him on the trip which obviously prompted Taehyung to get upset and begin this solo trip without him by his side.

The bus had come to a stop along a highway, surrounded by a dense jungle. Passengers took the opportunity to refresh themselves and gather water from a nearby stream.

Although Taehyung had embarked on the trip with fellow passengers from his city, he found himself alone in terms of friends.

Talking to Jimin over the phone, Taehyung lamented the absence of his friends on the trip, yet found solace in the adventure. "Tae, I just want you to be safe," Jimin expressed concern. "We would have joined you, but a jungle getaway wasn't on our holiday plan list. You're so stubborn, but please, be careful. Otherwise, I'll have to come rescue you."

"You don't have to worry, mister. I'm not dumb. I can take care of myself, okay?"

"Tae, you sound upset, but please, just be careful—" Jimin's voice was suddenly cut off due to the low signal. Taehyung glanced down at his phone, patting it gently.

"Ah, I haven't even let him know that I've not informed my momma," Taehyung muttered to himself, realizing his oversight.

Continuing to pat his phone, Taehyung felt it lifting him up into the air as he began to roam around, searching for a better signal.

Observing that the other passengers were still gathered near the stream, he ventured into the dense woods in search of a stronger signal.

With his focus on the screen, Taehyung marched forward, oblivious to the distance he covered from the bus.

"Oh, there's some signal," he exclaimed upon finally finding strands of network on his phone. However, to his dismay, he had wandered far from the bus without realizing it.

Panic set in as Taehyung looked around, surrounded by dense greenery with no idea of his location. He was lost, and the realization hit him hard.

Frantically, he searched the area, calling out for the bus driver, the only name he knew, in a desperate attempt to find his way back.

With only his single backpack and phone, Taehyung's panic intensified as his search for a way back proved futile. Each attempt led him back to the same spot, heightening his anxiety.

Exhausted and overwhelmed, he collapsed onto a nearby rock, burying his face in his hands as tears streamed down his cheeks. His phone, once a source of hope, now offered no help as the network disappeared.

Feeling utterly alone and helpless, Taehyung lamented his decision to venture into the jungle alone. "I... I should have listened to him. I shouldn't have come alone," he sobbed, consumed by regret.

As the day began to wane, the impending evening only added to his fear. Hugging his knees close to his chest, Taehyung appeared vulnerable and terrified, lost in the wilderness with no one to turn to.

"Eomma! Jimin-ah?" He called out, though he knew they couldn't respond. Feeling alone and scared, he cried, then wiped his face and took off his backpack to eat something to fill his hungry belly. All he could find were some crackers and a banana. As he tried to open the banana, a monkey snatched it from his hand, surprising him.

"NO! THAT WAS THE ONLY ONE I HAD!" Taehyung yelled at the monkey, carrying a stick to frighten it, but it only seemed to taunt him instead.

"Please give it back to me!" Taehyung begged, but the monkey only climbed higher into the tree, enjoying annoying Taehyung. Taehyung pouted, feeling helpless. He looked down after giving up, and that's when he saw his banana falling at his feet.

As he looked up, he saw someone strike the monkey's nape, hitting the back of his head for its stupidity. Frightened, the monkey ran away, fearing the jungle's "mafia."

Taehyung gazed up at the tall, muscular, tanned man with long hair and a makeshift cloth around his crotch that resembled shorts.

The man stood tall and commanding, his muscular physique honed from a life spent navigating the dense jungle. His tanned skin bore the marks of countless hours under the sun, a testament to his rugged existence. Long, dark hair cascaded down to his broad shoulders, framing his chiseled features with an air of wildness and vitality.

And Taehyung found himself staring at the work of nature for a good while.

The man jumped down in front of Taehyung, who stepped back in amazement, breaking out of trance. The strange man picked up Taehyung's banana and offered it to him, surprising the scared and bewildered Taehyung.

"W-who are you?" Taehyung asked, stuttering with fear. The man approached, causing Taehyung to panic and rush back into a tree trunk.

"N-no! D-don't come near!" Taehyung yelled, his fear evident. The man glanced around before returning his gaze to Taehyung, not fully understanding why he was so afraid.

"I...I don't want it. Keep it! J-just stay away!" Taehyung pleaded, his hands trembling in panic.

Hearing his voice, a group of apes peered from the tree above, and now Taehyung couldn't be more scared. Taehyung's eyes widened as the group of apes gathered around him, treating him like some strange new puppy.

The strange man stood among them, staring at Taehyung with dark, intimidating yet curious eyes. As one ape moved closer, patting Taehyung's shoulder, he fainted from terror, falling onto a pile of dried leaves, looking vulnerable.

The muscular man frowned, approaching the unconscious Taehyung on all fours, checking him strangely, touching his hair and poking his cheek. He realized Taehyung was incredibly soft and couldn't resist touching more of his face, inadvertently getting dirt on his cheeks.

To the man's eyes, the guy looked somewhat similar to himself, but his face appeared much softer and prettier.

The wild man couldn't believe the warm feeling spreading across his chest as he watched the boy closely; now, he felt an overwhelming urge to protect him at all costs.

The apes peeked to steal a glance at this new strange creature, but the wild man stood, signaling them to step away.

Bending forward, the wild man known as the Tarzan of the jungle lifted the boy up into his arms, his face close to Taehyung's, feeling him as light and fragile as a feather.

He carried Taehyung away from that spot to a safer place, where he lived with his other monkey friends.

~~~

Taehyung felt a chill in the air, the cool breeze brushing against his face, yet a warmth enveloped half of his body as he flickered his eyes open.

Above him, a sky adorned with countless stars stretched out, a sight he hadn't beheld in such abundance before. Realization dawned, and he sat up abruptly, taking in his surroundings. He found himself encircled by a group of apes, gorillas, and monkeys, with the strange wild man’s rugged yet kind face hovering above him. A fire burned in the middle, its flickering flames providing the only source of warmth in the cool night air.

The poor boy was overcome with fear as he regained consciousness fully, sitting up abruptly and startling the other apes, who backed away to give him space while the wild man leaned back.

Taehyung looked around with terror in his eyes, curling up into a ball and shivering.

"W-what do you all want? L-let me go," he cried, his lips quivering with fear.

The wild man leaned forward, observing tears in Taehyung's eyes, which he touched with his finger before licking it. Taehyung recoiled, making a disgusted face. "Who the heck are you? And why are you licking my tears? It's gross!" he yelled.

The wild man was testing Taehyung's health by tasting his tears, his own way of determining if someone was okay or not. He couldn't comprehend why this soft city boy was so frightened when he wasn't even sick.

"Ah ah ooh," one ape said from behind, causing the strange human to turn to his side and actually reply to the ape. More apes began talking to him, and he could answer them easily, a sight that shocked Taehyung.

"W-what? Can you understand them?" Taehyung asked, surprised. Taehyung looked back and forth between them, his eyes full of shock, unable to comprehend what he was witnessing.

"Hey, I can understand you too." the man said, causing Taehyung's mouth to fall open in astonishment.

"W-wait, you can speak? Can you speak my language?"

"Yes, I'm human too."

"If you can speak, what the heck were you doing all this time with me? Are you a kidnapper? A pedo? WHAT ARE YOU?" Taehyung freaked out, and the wild man flinched, his ape friends shouting back at Taehyung, who jolted from the impact and shrunk down, scared.

"Ohh ohh ah ah." the wild man replied to the monkeys, and they all fell quiet.

"Why are you so loud?" The man asked, sounding annoyed.

"W-who are you? H-how did you take me here? What are you doing in the jungle, and how can you talk to apes? It's all weird." Taehyung panicked, and the guy sighed.

"I'm just a human like you, but I live here with them."

"B-but why?" Taehyung asked.

"I don't have a family, all I have is them as my family since I was ten." He replied, and Taehyung chuckled pathetically.

"Ha, and you want me to believe your ridiculous story? Who are you trying to fool? I bet you're a robber or a smuggler hiding in the woods. Stop trying to deceive me."

The guy looked down at him, visibly exasperated.

"Smuggler? Oh yes, I smuggle drugs to these apes here." The Tarzan of the jungle said sarcastically.

"Whether you believe me or not is your choice. I live here because I was separated from my family at a very young age during a childhood trip, and they raised me." He gestured towards the monkeys.

"And that old lady over there? She's literally my mom." He pointed to an elderly female ape who extended her arms to pat the guy's head.

"I can speak to humans. I lived in a village when I was young, and I still visit it occasionally, but this is where I belong. This is my real home." He explained, while Taehyung blinked innocently, listening to his story.

"What about your family?" Taehyung asked, noticing the other's downcast expression.

"I couldn't find them... Some said they were gone, and there was no one left to raise me in the village. I had to survive somehow, without them."

Taehyung sat up, watching the man's face with concern and worry in his eyes.

"What's your name?" Taehyung asked softly, and Jungkook looked at him, his eyes reflecting the fire burning in the background.

"Jungkook. Jeon Jungkook, the mafia of the jungle." He answered, causing Taehyung to look shocked and freaked out.

"B-but why live in the jungle? Why not just stay in the village?" Taehyung asked curiously.

"In the villages, there's no main job except farming, and a few years ago, a huge flood ruined the farming areas. People were getting poor, so they started hunting and destroying jungles for money. Nobody had enough food to survive, so I chose to help those in need. They saved me from dying, so I had to return the favor by protecting them from the bad villagers. Now, they've all become my family." Jungkook explained his story, touching Taehyung's heart.

"Do you miss your family?" Taehyung asked, and Jungkook looked down, letting out a sigh.

"It doesn't matter anymore. They are my family now, and this is my home." He replied, his tone tinged with resignation. Taehyung's expression softened in understanding.

"It must have been tough." Taehyung remarked sympathetically.

"Toughness is what makes you strong." Jungkook replied with a genuine smile, eliciting a smile from Taehyung in return. Jungkook's warmth made him instantly likable.

Their conversation was interrupted by a strange sound emanating from Taehyung's belly. He looked down, feeling embarrassed.

"Ah..." he gasped, realizing his hunger.

"You need to eat." Jungkook said, observing Taehyung's discomfort. Taehyung looked up at him, grateful for the offer.

"Ooh ooh ah ah, ah ah ooh ooh," Jungkook communicated something to the apes, who nodded and scurried off.

With a wave of their hands, they all collected huge banana leaves and arranged them in front of Taehyung, upon which they placed an array of exotic fruits. Taehyung couldn't believe his eyes.

"We have plenty, don't worry." Jungkook reassured with a smile, sparking a glimmer of hope in Taehyung's eyes.

Taehyung glanced at the apes and monkeys before tentatively reaching for a banana.

The elderly ape approached Taehyung, who recoiled in fear, but the ape simply sat down and began peeling the banana for him as a gesture of care which Taehyung accepted with trembling hands.

"He's my dad. He's gentle, don't worry." Jungkook introduced, and Taehyung bowed respectfully to the ape, who regarded him with gentle eyes.

Taehyung appeared fragile and diminutive in their presence which was intriguing for the apes for multiple reasons. They have never seen a boy this beautiful before. And they were certainly in love.

One of the apes effortlessly cracked open a coconut and offered it to Taehyung, who accepted it with a shy smile.

Taehyung accepted the coconut gratefully, sipping the refreshing juice as he marveled at the kindness and hospitality of his unexpected hosts.

As he ate, Taehyung couldn't shake the feeling of awe and wonder at the bond between Jungkook and the jungle creatures. It was a world unlike any he had ever known, filled with acceptance and unity.

Jungkook watched Taehyung with a sense of satisfaction, pleased to see him enjoying the meal provided by their jungle family. It was moments like these that reaffirmed his choice to protect and care for those who had become his kin.

As the fire crackled and the night enveloped them, Taehyung couldn't help but feel a sense of belonging amidst the trees and the sounds of the jungle. And in that moment, he knew that he had found not only a new friend in Jungkook but also a deeper connection to the natural world around him.

As Taehyung ate, his bangs frequently fell into his eyes, becoming bothersome. One of the apes noticed and decided to delicately brush them aside, attempting to touch him with the utmost gentleness. Taehyung found himself beginning to feel at ease with their presence.

"Don't worry, there's nothing to be scared of. I was more afraid than you at first, but they all have very kind hearts," Jungkook reassured, joining Taehyung and sitting down beside him.

Taehyung gazed up at him with innocent eyes. "It's strange to meet people like you. I was just so scared."

"That's understandable, but seriously, don't worry." Jungkook insisted, his tone reassuring.

As they continued their meal, Jungkook's small monkey friends joined them, one of them perching on Jungkook's shoulder. With a smile, Jungkook offered the little monkey some grapes.

"So, where is your home?" Taehyung asked, intrigued by Jungkook's life in the jungle.

Jungkook simply pointed upwards towards the tree.

A small, room-like structure nestled in the tree's branches caught Taehyung's attention. It resembled a treehouse.

"That looks like a treehouse." Taehyung remarked.

"It is a treehouse." Jungkook confirmed.

Taehyung gazed up at it, finding it rather charming.

"I sleep there alone. The others are fine sleeping out in the open, but my skin isn't as tough as theirs, so I have to retreat there to avoid mosquitoes." Jungkook explained. Taehyung looked back at him, pondering.

He wondered how someone like Jungkook, who seemed to have so little, could be content, while he, who had almost everything, often found himself complaining and feeling dissatisfied.

"You can sleep there, I'll sleep out in the open." Taehyung offered, but Jungkook shook his head.

"No, you're too soft for this jungle. You should sleep there." Jungkook insisted, and Taehyung couldn't argue any further.

"Wanna see?" Jungkook asked, and Taehyung looked at him with a curious expression.

"Come up." Jungkook signed, gesturing for Taehyung to cling to his back.

"B-but..." Taehyung hesitated.

"C'mon, trust me." Jungkook urged, his expression reassuring. Reluctantly, Taehyung placed his trust in Jungkook and clung onto his back as Jungkook climbed up the sturdy branches leading to the cozy abode above.

Once they reached the treehouse, Taehyung couldn't help but admire its coziness from the inside. A fire lantern hung from the ceiling, casting a warm glow that illuminated the space just enough.

Taehyung marveled at its simplicity yet practicality. It was small but well-constructed, with wooden walls and a thatched roof providing protection from the elements. Inside, there was a makeshift bed made of leaves and vines, along with a few personal belongings neatly arranged in a corner.

"It's not much, but it's home." Jungkook said with a fond smile, inviting Taehyung to take a closer look around.

Taehyung couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for Jungkook's resourcefulness and resilience in making the most out of his surroundings. Despite the challenges he faced, Jungkook had created a comfortable sanctuary for himself in the heart of the jungle.

"That's cute." Taehyung whispered, gazing down at the bed of leaves.

"You can stay here, no problem." Jungkook smiled warmly at him, but Taehyung felt too awkward to accept.

This man literally had nothing, yet he had a huge heart, offering almost everything to Taehyung.

"Thanks." Taehyung whispered, feeling a pang of guilt as he looked down sadly, but Jungkook chuckled.

"You don't have to. Just make sure to let me know if you need anything. I'll sleep on my hammock." He said, pointing to a bed made of ropes suspended between two trees. Taehyung nodded, watching as Jungkook climbed down from the tree.

The apes surrounded the tree below where Taehyung's treehouse was located, their protective stance both comforting and surreal to Taehyung. He couldn't believe he was witnessing such a scene.

As the night settled in, Taehyung found himself grappling with a mix of emotions. That day had been a whirlwind of adve

nture, and he knew he would have plenty of stories to share with his friends.

Coming to the jungle hadn't been a bad choice, as he had initially feared. In fact, there was still so much for him to discover and learn.

A lot indeed.

______

Author: Must share your reviews and thoughts with me. I would love to read them.

Next Part will be out this FrIday!