Taehyung sat on the couch as he stared at his phone for a long while. He couldn't stop himself from feeling anxious as he waited for Jeongguk to arrive.

He finally decided to reply and ask the ravenette to come to his house and put an end to all the questions and worries that had been lingering in his mind since the other's birthday.

A lot of scenarios had played before him which he didn't want to come true. His imaginations were running wild with every tick of the clock's hand, not really helping his already troubled mind.

"Hurry up, Gguk." He muttered, gripping his hands on the phone as he counted every minute, every second.

He almost jumped from his seat when he heard a car arriving and stopping in front of the house which immediately heightened his tension.

Taehyung suddenly wanted to go for the door and lock it in the hopes of escaping the confrontation, but Jimin's words rang in his head, making him patiently wait.

As the door slowly opened, Taehyung was greeted by Jeongguk's worrisome face.

"Hey, beautiful. Is everything alright?" Jeongguk quickly made his way next to him, tenderly taking his hand to keep it in between his own.

"I was worried sick when you're not replying to my messages and even not answering my calls. Is everything okay?" He asked, voice soft and tender as he stared at Taehyung in the eyes.

The latter forced a smile as he tried to feel the warmth in the ravenette's hands but it just oddly felt cold.

He abruptly pull his hand away which earned a surprise look from Jeongguk.

Taehyung didn't want his emotions to show, yet just meeting those raven eyes had instantly made him vulnerable.

"Why did you pick me as your model, Jeongguk?" Taehyung asked, trying to calm his now raging emotions.

"What do you mean? Wait, Tae. Why are you asking me this? What's going on?" Jeongguk asked, confusion and worry were written all over his face.

"You tell me what's going on, Jeongguk." Taehyung retorted, now staring deeply in the ravenette's eyes.

"Why did you choose me? Is it because I resemble the man in the picture you're secretly keeping inside your wallet?" He uttered, unable to stop himself from sounding hurt.

The mortified look on Jeongguk's face made Taehyung scoff. He was too easy to read and it fucking hurt like hell.

"So it is, huh?" He smiled bitterly as he battled the tears from flowing down his eyes.

This seemed to have snapped Jeongguk from his shocked state as he took Taehyung's hand to firmly hold it.

"L-let me explain.. Tae.." Jeongguk's voice wavered, looking so desperate.

"Go on. You have all the right to explain, Jeongguk." Taehyung answered, biting back the tears.

"I.. I never meant to hide it from you. It's just that... I thought it's not important anymore and.." Jeongguk trailed off, hands firmly holding Taehyung's own as if doing so would not let the other slip away from him.

He sighed as he tried calming himself before staring back at Taehyung's misty eyes.

"He's Hansung, my... lover when I was in high school." Jeongguk started which earned a restrained chuckle from Taehyung.

"I-I know you might think that I only approached you because you resembled him, but.. but that's not the case, Taehyung." Jeongguk tried to reason out but Taehyung just laughed at it.

"Tell me a better lie, Jeongguk." He said, every word leaving a bitter taste to his mouth.

"So the two of you didn't work out that's why you decided to hit on me instead." Taehyung added, voice full of sarcasm.

Jeongguk vigorously shook his head to deny his accusations.

"No.. no. Tae. Please listen to me. I took interest in you because you're you." He uttered, desperately wanting to clear every misunderstanding.

"Really? Then let's call him and have a reunion here. Let's see if you would still choose me." Taehyung challenged.

He waited for Jeongguk to respond but his face was suddenly enveloped with sadness.

"What? I won't accept excuses, not unless he's dead." He said in anger but the look that Jeongguk gave him only made him feel worse.

He is dead.

"What the fuck is this, Jeongguk?!" Taehyung couldn't stop his emotions anymore as his tears cascaded down his eyes. He bolted up from his seat to move away from the other.

"I'm sorry, Tae. I-I didn't intend to hide this from you. I should've listened to Jin-hyung and told you about him." Jeongguk said in regret.

Oh.. so Jin-hyung knew about this.

Suddenly, like the flashbacks that happened in movies, everything seemed to fall into place.

It finally answered all his whys.

Why Jeongguk was so desperate to have him as his model even after seeing him just once.

Why he kept on addressing him as 'my angel'.

Why Jin looked like he had seen a ghost when he saw him for the very first time.

Why the two were whispering in secrecy as if they're talking about something he shouldn't hear.

Everything was starting to make sense now.

And as if to add fuel to the fire, Taehyung remembered the first conversation he had with Jeongguk that he had found to be mysterious that time but was buried in the back of his mind.

camgguk:
i focus more on nature
so this is the first time
i'm photographing
a person

kimtaetae:
why, though?
if you don't mind me
asking of course

camgguk:
uh..just because

Taehyung suddenly felt his body turn cold from realization as he turned his now tear stained face to the ravenette who had the same emotions written on his face.

"Did you promise him to be your model, Jeongguk? That's why you couldn't photograph anything else other than those fucking landscapes?" He gritted his teeth, seeing Jeongguk's face turn even more sorrowful.

"Tae.. I-"

"Just a fucking yes or no, Jeongguk." Taehung cut him off, not wanting to hear any more excuses.

He stared at Jeongguk's eyes and he almost bursted in pool of tears when Jeongguk nodded.

"Yes." He whispered but it was loud enough to shatter Taehyung's heart to pieces.

"Wow.. just.. wow.." Taehyung found himself laughing as tears continued to stream his sad eyes.

All along he thought he's making Jeongguk's dream come true with him by his side, not knowing that it was a dream he had with someone else.

"So that's why you badly want me to be your model. You finally found his replacement in me that's why you were so desperate." Taehung flicked his tongue as he shook his head in disbelief.

He's hurting, too much that he wanted to just cry until there's no more tears left of him.

No matter how he looked at it, Jeongguk made him a replacement for the love he lost.

For the love he wouldn't have back.

"No.. that's not it, Taehyung. I- at first that's what I thought, but after everything we have been through together, it's not the case anymore." Jeongguk said as he walked towards him, only to stop when Taehyung backed away.

"How could I believe you, Jeongguk? When in the first place all you did was to make me a replica of him. You're superimposing him to me!" He bellowed, feeling so hurt and betrayed.

"You wanted me to be your model so you could fulfill your promise to him. You longed for me to be him so you could have the second chance the both of you would never have!" Taehyung was already a crying mess.

It's true. Jeongguk even said so himself. Taehyung was just too blinded by love to let those little things Jeongguk said to be buried at the back of his mind.

There are a lot of things I'm thankful for, but above all, I'm most grateful that you came to my life and make me believe in second chance.

He should've seen the signs, but he chose not to because he was crazy in love.

"I'm sorry.. I'm sorry, Tae.. p-please.." Jeongguk came near him, cupping his face with trembling hands.

He's crying as he stared at Taehyung who could only smile sadly.

"When you look at me like this, Jeongguk... are you seeing me? or was it him?" He asked in a whisper

"It's you, Tae.. It's you." Jeongguk sobbed, pressing his forehead on Taehyung's own.

He was crying so hard and so was Taehyung who couldn't describe the pain in his heart.

He wanted to believe him. He badly wanted to, but the truth that he wasn't aware of until now wouldn't let him trust his words.

Was it really him he loved? or was it just his face that reminded him of the person his heart truly treasured up to now?

"Let's rethink about our relationship, Jeongguk." Taehyung whispered in between sobs.

"No.. Please.." Jeongguk was shaking his head in disagreement, but Taehyung's decision was firm.

"Until you have truly let go of him and you're finally over with finding him in me... let's rethink about us." He added, voice shaking as he removed Jeongguk's hand on his face.

"Until then... Goodbye, Jeongguk."

———
I know. I'm dramatic 💁‍♀️
but you know it wouldn't be my book without a little twist and a bit of drama so.. 🤷‍♀️
I'm calling it a day. Goodnight from here 💜
Love you 💜