-----------------------------------

Seokjin tilts his head in confusion. He looks around, lost and unsure for a few seconds before he decides to just go for it.

His hand reaches out to touch the fluffy, white fur while the Persian kitten stares back at him with an incredulous look in her eyes.

She feels smooth and incredibly warm against Seokjin's palm as he gives her gentle, cautious pats.

"There you go, sugar.", he coos at her pleased, purring figure, looking around once again, wondering if this little lady belongs to the owners of the store or if someone left the poor bean here all alone.

She doesn't really seem to mind as Seokjin gently takes her away from the bookshelf and into his arms, soft, rumbling purrs making their way out of her while the man tries to cradle her like a baby.

"Are you kidding me? Elsa, what the hell are you doing here?"

Seokjin turns around at the deep, exasperated voice, his eyes widening in surprise as the owner of the voice froze while staring at him as well.

Even though the voice sounded a bit familiar to him, Seokjin was not expecting it to be the man standing infront of him right now.

"Taehyung!", he blurts, words refusing to come out of his mouth for a brief moment as Seokjin stares at him in disbelief.

"Hi, Seokjin hyung.", Taehyung smiles, soft and shy, and maybe, just maybe Seokjin saw a glimpse of guilt in those expressive eyes before Taehyung lowered them, looking at nothing in particular.

"Hey...", finally, Seokjin realizes he needs to say something if he doesn't want the situation to seem awkward.

"Taehyung. Wow, I mean-", he stutters, making the younger look at him with wide eyes before breaking out into a chuckle. "I didn't expect to see you here, to be honest."

Taehyung nods, "Me neither...", he says, "I came here to buy a book for Yeonjun- Yeonjun, my son."

"Oh yes! Yes I've heard about your son from Jimin.", Seokjin sighs, his attention finally coming back to the fluffy queen in his arms as she started to squirm and mewl while looking at Taehyung.

Oh. Ofcourse!

"Aah so this graceful baby right here is yours!", he grins, handing the kitten back to Taehyung as their forearms brush against each other. "Elsa, if I'm not wrong?", he tickles her chin just a little, "She is so pretty."

"Thank you, hyung.", the younger smiles like he took the compliment personally, his cheeks bunching up like freshly baked breads.

His appearance has sharpened but the warmth of the high-school boy Seokjin knew more than two decades ago was still there.

"Hey Taehyung, I was wondering if we...", Seokjin stops himself for a second, "You know... catch up someday? If its okay with you. I mean I hope our childish rivalry ended after school only, right?"

Taehyung looks at Seokjin in the eyes, nodding softly as he took out a phone from his pocket.

"Give me your number, hyung.", he whispers and they exchange their phone numbers.

"You will for sure pick up my calls right? I have tried before many times but you-"

Taehyung shakes his head, his deep voice rumbling like waves as he chuckles again.

"I will, hyung. Don't worry."

--------------

  2 Years Ago  

"Yes, Somin, there will be the teachers, its an absolutely sober get together. Don't worry, I wouldn't have brought Yeonjun here in the first place if hard drinks and stuff were allowed here. Okay I'm hanging up now, Good night...", Taehyung swiftly parked his car before turning his head towards his son sitting at the backseat.

"Yeonjun, say bye to mom.", he said, to which the six years old boy perked up, his attention coming back from outside the window.

"Bye bye Eomma! I will be a good boy.", he chirped, nodding obediently as his mother gave him a few more advices before she finally hung up.

Holding his son's hand, a rush of emotions and nostalgia hit Taehyung like a hurricane as he entered the school premises where he had once spent the best years of his life.

It has been so long, all of it almost feels like a dream.

They were invited at the celebration of 150 years of their school, and everyone he knew from school was super excited. Families and close ones of the ex students were invited as well, some are bringing their spouses, some partners or friends and a lot of them are bringing their parents.

Since the only family Taehyung has right now is Yeonjun, he thought it will be best to bring him along only.

The first person who spotted them was, very much expectedly, Park Jimin.

Jimin came almost running towards them, lifting Yeonjun up in his arms.

"And here comes the star of the fuc-"

"Jimin!", Taehyung gave him a glare of warning, his face scandalized.

Jimin stuttered. "-the God darn show!", he squeaked, twirling with Yeonjun in his arms as his other friends, Jungkook, Namjoon and his husband joined them.

Taehyung felt genuinely happy after a long time. Don't get him wrong, spending time with Yeonjun always gives him pure serotonin boost, but four days a month doesn't feel sufficient to him when it comes to spending quality time with his son.

Also its not like he rarely gets to meet his friends. Luckily, their group often arranges sleepovers or small close-knit parties at their places, so Taehyung's life is not particularly void of moments like these.

But what made this day different was the fact that they came together here, at the very place where they first met each other and gradually developed a lifelong bond.

"Excuse me, guys. I will be right back!", Jimin's hand slid down Jungkook's biceps before he took excited strides towards another group of ex students.

And only then, Taehyung noticed who those people were. The famous trio of their school, Jung Hoseok, Min Yoongi and... and Kim Seokjin.

The Kim Seokjin who was his senior but that never stopped the entire school and even the teachers to put them against each other. Academics, sports, arts, music, you name it, Kim Taehyung and Kim Seokjin were always breathing at each other's necks.

Sworn rivals, that's what they were. Or maybe more than that, Taehyung might have felt it there sometimes but they never got to explore that possibility, the circumstances, their surroundings and their crave to be the best never let them.

Or maybe there was actually nothing like that, maybe no spark ever passed between the two of them, maybe those lingering gazes, not so hurtful teasing, those flirty bantering and the tension were actually all inside Taehyung's little imaginative head.

"By the way, do you know Yoongi hyung and Hoseok hyung got married just a few weeks ago?", Jungkook muttered beside him, the information most probably coming from Jimin, as he was the only person from their group who somehow stayed in touch with the trio after their final year of school.

"Obviously... everybody in school knew they were a thing.", Taehyung muttered back, gaze fixed on Seokjin's wide grin, his natural blonde hair bouncing as he laughed.

And then, finally, his eyes met Taehyung's all of a sudden, probably after sensing the weight of the younger's gaze on himself.

Seokjin looked at him, eyes softening as he gave his gentlest, most charming smile.

Taehyung gave him a nod and it looked like Seokjin was about to do something before Taehyung saw a guy snaking his hand around Seokjin's waist and kissing him on the cheek.

Taehyung's thoughts stumbled midway. He blinked, staring at the scene while Seokjin gave a hesitant yet sweet smile to the unknown guy, unknown... only to Taehyung, it seemed.

"See that guy? That's- Ah... I forgot his name, some Choi, I guess. Jimin was saying the two of them have been fooling around for a while now, and apparently the dude proposed him just a few days ago.", Jungkook was at the peak of his gossip mode, innocently unaware of the fact that none of it seemed spicy or even slightly appetizing to Taehyung.

   Present Day    

That evening, Taehyung knew he wouldn't be able to face Seokjin without making a stupid mess of himself.

And so, even after being a thirty seven years old full grown man, he left the get together right away, like an escapist.

What did he escape from though? And why? Why did he stubbornly ignore each and every attempt that Seokjin had made to reach out to him after that night?

Because he was childishly bitter about something that was left behind decades ago? Something that was probably never there in the first place? That too after the life he himself has led?

Taehyung's chain of thoughts breaks as his phone goes off beside him.

Seokjin.

He scoffs at himself, rubbing his eyes softly, he receives the call.

"Jin hyung..."

"Hey Tae...", Seokjin's voice comes out like silk and honey from the other side. "So you picked up.", he exhales. Taehyung can hear the mild chuckle at the end.

"Told you!", he hums, smiling to himself as another hearty chuckle made its way out of the older's lips.

"Um... so... are you still okay about tomorrow's dinner? I mean- its final right?", Taehyung can hear the slight nervousness in the weight of Seokjin's tone.

It has been three weeks since they accidentally came across each other at the bookstore.

Well Taehyung likes to give the credit to Elsa instead of destiny, but that's not important right now.

They exchanged numbers that day and have been talking through texts almost everyday. The conversations were nothing special though, just small, mundane things, complaining about their professional lives, how drained out they feel, how the life during school years were far better than this living hell.

Taehyung sends Seokjin pictures of Elsa once in a while, because the older seems to have become extremely fond of the pearly puddle of fluff.

And just like that, during a lunch break of a hectic Wednesday, he got a text from Seokjin, asking him if he would be free to have dinner with him at Saturday night.

Without giving himself much time to overthink about it, Taehyung said yes. What's there to be so cautious about this anyway? Its just dinner.

"Yes, hyung.", Taehyung giggles this time and mentally slapped himself for thinking that he might have heard a little stutter of Seokjin's breathing on the other end.

"Its final. You can trust on me, I'm not going to ghost you."

"You better not.", Seokjin's voice sounds breathy, way too alluring for Taehyung's senses.

"I won't.", he whispers, he can hear his voice getting hoarse unintentionally but seems to can't really help it.

A moment of silence passes between them before Seokjin speaks up again.

"Tomorrow at 7 in the evening, then?"

Taehyung nods and immidiately realizes that the older can't see him. "Yes...", he answers. "See you soon."

"I can't wait.", Seokjin's deepened voice murmured against Taehyung's ear before he hung up.

Taehyung stares at the screen of his phone until it shuts down on its own.

He groans, smothering his face with a pillow while he hears Elsa sneering at him. To Taehyung, it sounds like a snort.

"Shut up, you menace.", he scoffs, glaring at her. "I'm not nervous!"

Yes he isn't. There is nothing to be nervous about.

Tomorrow evening will be just a very normal, very usual dinner between two old friends... no, rivals... uh no, actually friends... whatever they are.

Taehyung will not make a fool of himself and it will be over smoothly before he will know it.

He can't wait for tomorrow.

--------------

"Jin hyung!"

Seokjin beams at Taehyung as the younger takes long strides across the hall.

He takes a good look at the younger, who barely looks younger than him now. His tall, lean structure along with his well built shoulders and muscled arms gives him a soft, gentle yet magnetic masculine vibe.

Seokjin gets up from his chair and Taehyung shyly gestures him to sit back down, mumbling under his breath "Sorry... did you have to wait for too long?"

Seokjin shakes his head slightly. "You're not that late, Taehyungah. Relax."

Almost instantly, Taehyung slumps back against the chair. The first two buttons of his dress shirt are left open, the sleek silver chain he has around his neck does the perfect job of highlighting the edge of his collarbone.

The wide frame of specs sharpens his look even more, Seokjin finds himself shifting on his chair.

"So... you didn't bring my little girl?", he pouts, "That's so heartless of you, Taehyung."

Taehyung lets out a very quiet laugh.

"She doesn't like to be in midst of so many people, hyung. I have to drop her at Jimin and Jungkook's apartment most of the times."

"So that means Jimin knows that you came here to have dinner with me?", Seokjin asks, to which the younger gives him a concerned look.

"Why hyung... Is there any problem? I can ask him to not tell anyone-"

"No no.", Seokjin extends his hand on the surface of the table between them, briefly grabbing at Taehyung's hand, giving it a gentle yet firm pressure before retreating his own hand.

"Its not that. Jimin is just- you know... That evening when you vanished from the event in school, I had bothered him a lot to get your number after that. But... when I didn't get a reply from you even after half a year, I decided to not nag to him about this anymore."

Taehyung purses his lips. "Hyung I-"

"Its fine! You don't need to give explanations, really. Um... what will you have?", Seokjin pushes the menu towards him. "Should we get some wine? I can't drink too much though, I'll have to drive."

The attendant takes their order, letting them know that the wine will be on their table shortly after.

"I had heard you brought your son that evening at school? Too bad I couldn't meet him.", Seokjin tries to divert the topic of conversation. "How old is he, by the way?"

"Just got eight.", Taehyung smiles, his face lighting up at the mention of the boy. "His birthday was a couple of days after we met. I was actually at the store to buy a gift for him only."

Seokjin nods, pouring the younger a glass of red wine while their attendant sets the table for them.

"I had heard about your divorce from Jimin..."

"Yeah, that...", Taehyung's fork nudges at the salad. "That was meant to happen actually."

"Somin and I... we met at college and instantly clicked. We were really good friends, like really. But we made a dumb decision by trying to make our relationship romantic.", he snorts.

"When we both became thirty, her parents started to pressurize her to get married and she said if she really needs to get married, she would rather be married off to me than a random, strange guy."

"So I was like, yeah that's not really a bad idea. I mean we are super comfortable and compatible with each other. What can go wrong with us, right?"

Taehyung looks up at him, eyes sharp and gaze heavy. "But it was never meant to work out anyway. By the time she got pregnant, we both figured out that we are better off this marriage. We wanted the child to come, but we both knew that if we forced ourselves to stay together, things could get really worse and we couldn't just raise our baby in a dysfunctional family. So it was... a mutual decision."

Seokjin listens to him attentively, smiling as Taehyung continues,-

"I don't regret any of it though. Neither of us do. No matter how dumb we had been, that brief relationship gave us Yeonjun and... if you ask me personally, he is the most precious thing in my life right now."

"He is one smart boy, very understanding... sensible. Oh and he is Elsa's favourite, so its a win win.", he laughs, wide and heartfelt, brighter than the sun.

They eat in silence for a few minutes, Seokjin stealing glances of the younger every now and then.

"Why are you still single though?", he stops himself from almost sputtering at his own blatantly curious question.

"I mean- if you are, that is... Sorry for assuming, though."

"Its okay, Hyung.", Taehyung giggles, deep, warm and embalming. "And yeah, I am single. Well mostly because I didn't want to make another stupid decision... atleast not at this stage of my life. I want to commit to someone whom I will... actually feel drawn to, with whom I can have an actual relationship."

"Okay now enough about me. What about your boyfriend, hyung? Tell me about yourself too!"

Seokjin blinks in surprise. "My boyfriend?"

"Yes, Seokjin hyung, the one you brought at that event.", Taehyung rolls his eyes. "You think I wouldn't know that you have a boyfriend just because you never mentioned him?"

Seokjin laughs, "You really think he is still my boyfriend?", he smirks.

The tip of Taehyung's tongue swipes over his lower lip absentmindedly. Seokjin's thumb ran along the seam of his glass of wine.

"He isn't?", Taehyung asks.

"He never really was.", the older shrugs.

"We had an on and off relationship for... years? It started off as a no strings attached, but then he wanted to make it serious. I, like an idiot, gave it a try but..."

He looks at Taehyung, only to find the other staring back at him with a glint in his eyes.

"But it was never meant to work out.", Taehyung finishes his thoughts and they both break into infectious smiles.

Seokjin holds out his glass infront of Taehyung, "To the dumb decisions!", he toasts and the younger laughs, clinking their glasses.

"To the better late than never realizations."

--------------

"Thank God I didn't drink more than a glass, my alcohol tolerance level is getting lower day by day, I swear.", Seokjin huffs as both of them stroll across the parking area.

"Guess I'm finally getting old. I mean, I'm already forty two, so yeah."

"Hyung, I'm literally a dad.", Taehyung deadpans, "Stop being dramatic."

The back of their fingers brush against each other, Taehyung's breath hitches when Seokjin takes his hand in his own, eyes everywhere but him.

"Tell me honestly, Taehyungah.", Seokjin mutters, "Have you never thought about me all these years?"

Taehyung feels his heart beating erratically, almost mirroring the way it did when the two of them used to play basketball against each other.

"I-", he stutters, "I mean-"

"Not even when your boss gives you a hard time?", Seokjin's finally looks at him, eyes mischievous and his smile sly.

"Well to be honest, every stubborn employee in my firm reminds me of you."

"Very funny.", Taehyung scoffs.

Their hushed laughs and giggles echo inside the parking lot before Taehyung hooks his arm around Seokjin's waist and leans in to plant a sweet, small peck on his lips.

"I have, hyung.", he murmurs and everything stills around him, even Seokjin.

"I have thought about you a lot. A lot, you have no idea, Jin hyung."

He looks up at the older's eyes, feels all warm and dizzy under that intense gaze.

It was as if Seokjin's wants to know more from him, and more is what Taehyung will give him.

"I didn't vanish that evening from school without any reason, Jin hyung. I left... I left because I didn't like to see you with someone else at all. I never reciprocated to your texts and emails after that night because I felt bitter... extremely bitter about it."

His hands cup Seokjin's face gently. "I always regretted going against what I wanted so bad, hyung. If only we weren't rivals, things would've been so different between us, wouldn't they?"

"Look at me.", he chuckles, his eyes moist and voice shaky, "A fucking thirty nine years old man acting like a love sick teenager. This is what you do to me, Jin hyung. This is what you've always done to me."

He whimpers, presses his face against the older's neck when Seokjin encircles his arms around his waist, holding and hugging him tight against himself.

"Am I being stupid, hyung? Is this- Is this all inside my head?", he mumbles, fingers running through the silky smooth blonde tresses of Seokjin.

"No, Taehyungah. Not at all. Trust me.", Seokjin inhales him in, his palm firm against the small of Taehyung's back. "Trust me..."

"Then take me home, hyung.", Taehyung demands earnestly. At this point, he doesn't care if he sounds desperate or shameless.

His mind is too fuzzy to worry about it right now.

"Say no. Push me away. Say no to me or just take me home tonight, Jin hyung, please."

--------------

They don't even get the time to turn the lights on when Seokjin pins Taehyung up against the wall as soon as they enter his lavish apartment.

He captures the younger's lips in a searing kiss, both of their hands roaming mindlessly on each other's body.

In the desperate search of some skin, Taehyung sneaks one of his hands inside Seokjin's shirt, the sudden warmth making Seokjin shiver in delight.

Seokjin pushes his tongue inside Taehyung's mouth, their tongues fighting for dominance while Taehyung's hands go down towards the older's thighs.

Pushing himself off of the wall, Taehyung pulls at the back of Seokjin's thighs, lifting him up swiftly on his hips.

With the help of Seokjin's direction, Taehyung stumbles inside the older's bedroom, giggling when Seokjin started marking up his tanned neck impatiently.

Clothes scatter around them and Seokjin pushes Taehyung against the mattress.

The entire room fills up with the sinful sound of skin slapping against skin and the raw smell of sweat and sex.

Seokjin rolls his hips, pushing back on the younger's length, hissing and mewling at the maddening burn, the blissful stretch it creates on his walls.

He whimpers, giving Taehyung sloppy, open mouthed kisses across his lips and jaw.

Taehyung coils his arms around Seokjin's petite waist, thrusting up his hips and Seokjin just falls apart on top of him, broken moans leaving his lips, gripping hard at Taehyung's hair as the overstimulation makes him extra sensitive.

"Look at me, hyung.", Taehyung grips at his jaw, kisses him hard and wet, snapping his hips up again. They moan into each other's mouths.

Seokjin trembles like a tender leaf as Taehyung's hand presses down on his spine. He looks down at the younger's eyes, his own eyes filled with tears of pain and pure pleasure.

"Can't we start from the beginning, hyung...?", Taehyung's thumb wipes underneath Seokjin's right eye.

"We have wasted so many years, so much time... we have wasted our first chance, hyung. But isn't it possible to get what we couldn't have years ago? Can't we atleast try?"

Seokjin tucks his face beneath the younger's jaw, softly kissing the vein on the side of his neck.

"We can. We can, Taehyungah.", he drawls, nipping at his jaw teasingly. "And we will."

-----------------------------------

That got much longer than I expected actually. Hope it didn't get boring by the end 😅

Let me know in the comments.

Also don't forget to like.

Take care, Purple Ya! ^-^💜