Taehyung breathes in the air of Seoul while closing his eyes. Apparently, he's sitting on his comfortable chair in his balcony with a cup of hot chocolate to accompany him in the cold night.

Tonight is very peaceful, he thought. City lights shining from buildings and streets and silent sounds of the gushing wind easily calms Taehyung. He hugs himself through his big sweater and slightly shivers. It's so cold, yet so satisfying. It's this time of the night that the brunette wants to stay forever.

At the balcony beside his, the sound of a cup being put down on a table made the brunette frown. It was actually a very tiny sound, quiet almost, like the person holding it was very careful not to make a sound. Taehyung sighs and opens his eyes, he then sips at his cup of hot chocolate, not even bothering to glance at his neighbor next door.

Taehyung reaches for his phone at the small round table and decides to play a game. He clicks on Candy Crush and makes himself busy, minding his own business.

He swaps candies here and there, making three similar candies disappear, four to make stripes and five to make a huge sprinkled candy ball. He becomes engrossed in this lame shit that he blocked out his surroundings.

"Ehem.."

Taehyung heard Jungkook clear his throat. The brunette didn't mind him and just proceeds to playing.

"Mr. Kim."

That actually halted the brunette, making his thumb hover over a purple candy in the game. A second passes by and Taehyung continues to swipe his thumb on the screen.

"Are you cold?" Jungkook asks the male on the other side. But soon realizes what kind of question was that? Of course he is.

The raven haired male faces his body towards the brunette and looks at him. He sighs as he stares at the beautiful side profile of the male.

What mesmerized Jungkook: Taehyung's hair being blown by the wind, his sexy eyebrows furrowing from the game he's playing, the soft slope of his tall nose, his plump lips with his tongue slightly poking out, and his strong jawline. That's indeed a beauty to be stared at.

Jungkook sips at his own hot chocolate and grimaced at the burn on his tongue and the too sweet taste. He must've added too much sugar on this.

"My chocolate tastes shitty. How'd you make yours, Mr. Kim?"

But Taehyung looked busy playing with his phone. He didn't even glance or made a reaction.

"I suck at making hot chocolate, y'know. It's either too sweet or tasteless." Jungkook chuckles. He probably looked like an idiot talking to himself. He wants Taehyung's attention, wants Taehyung's forgiveness. But how...?

"Tae?" He tries again. Testing.

But still no reaction. Taehyung is still focused, he has only three moves left in the game. He continues to swipe candies and pretends he's not listening.

"I'm sorry.."

Taehyung halts again for the second time. He slowly grits his teeth but didn't make it noticeable.

"I want to talk to you about everything. I want to explain. I know I fucked up and I'm- I'm sorry. I know sorry's not enough for what I've done to you. But I'll do anything for us to be okay again."

Taehyung doesn't still look up from his phone. He's still glaring at the stupid red striped jelly bean and he has only one move left.

"I know it's not easy for you, but I'll do anything for you to forgive me." Jungkook ruffles his hair and gulps a lump in his throat. "Just- just give me one more chance. Let me in. Please.."

Taehyung now sits like a statue. He can feel a crack at the wall he built for himself. Dammit. He tries to ignore it and forces his attention on the game.

"I wish you're mine again. I wish we're together again." Jungkook didn't hold back now. If Tae wanted him to be honest, then he'll do it.

Taehyung accidentally made a wrong move and didn't accomplish the required mission in the game. He slams his phone down on the table. But checks the phone screen immediately after realizing what he had done. Still in one piece.

Jungkook still stares at him all this time. He flinches when Taehyung suddenly faced him.

"Did you really expect me to welcome you with open arms and forgive you just like that?" Taehyung said while looking at Jungkook's eyes. Now that he can see the raven head, he was again swept away by his looks.

Jungkook is wearing his simple white T-shirt again and brown sweatpants. It's like his trademark fashion whenever he's just at home. And his hair was slightly messy. But still looking handsome.

"I'm sorry, Tae. I won't be tired repeating it if you want to. I know I made a big mistake back then. I was too selfish and immature. I'm- just- just- sorry." Jungkook replies back with a gaze so soft and fragile.

"Look it's all in the past. You should move on."

"But have you moved on?"

Taehyung didn't answer anything back. He stares ahead and opts his eyes to stare at the stars.

Silence engulfs them.

In their minds, they're having an inner battle.

Jungkook wanting to say and explain more in detail. Taehyung scolding himself for not answering, and convincing himself that of course I had moved on.

"The stars look beautiful tonight, right?" Jungkook's voice sounded again.

Silence.

Jungkook continues to talk. "I remember you admiring the stars back then. You were so cute that even small things amazed you."

Taehyung continues to be silent. He quietly sips his cup of hot chocolate, feeling the wind become twice as cold now. He tightens his arms around himself this time.

"And your eyes used to sparkle beautifully like the stars." Jungkook adds. Taehyung turns to look at him again. The raven head was also looking above to see the stars.

"Used to?"

"Back then, your eyes are sparkling like everything you look at made you happy."

"And now?"

Jungkook also turns his head to look at Taehyung. He stares at the brunette's eyes, as if searching something. "Not anymore.."

"Why?"

"Yes, why Taehyung? They seemed dull and sad now. Tell me. Tell me what should I do to bring that back."

Taehyung holds down his gaze. He doesn't know how to answer that.

"I don't know Jungkook.. I don't know."

Taehyung slowly stands up from his seat. He grabs both his phone and cup from the table, then walks straight into his room. He closes the glassed door and puts down the curtains, not emitting any sound after that.

Meanwhile, Jungkook was too drowned in his thoughts. That was the first time after eight years that Taehyung called him by his name.

+++

8 years ago

It was the night after the first contest, and Jungkook is hugging and stroking the back of a sobbing Yugyeom. The raven head ignores the burn on his lips from the previous kiss. Both boys lying on the bed of the latter's room.

"Do you really love him?" Yugyeom asks softly.

"I love you.." Jungkook whispers, hoping to calm the broken boy.

Yugyeom slowly looks up to face Jungkook, staring straight at the said boy's eyes. "Dad is probably angry at me. Please stay.." He murmurs.

"Okay." Half of his brain pushed him to say that.

The other half is wandering to a picture of certain brunette boy with teary eyes after he pushed him away.

+

Jungkook is happy Taehyung and him are friends again. Apparently, he's smiling while walking out the campus after football practice. Jimin and Hoseok are waiting for him at the diner and he's feeling ecstatic lately.

"Jungkook."

The said boy turns around, only to find out Yugyeom called him.

"Hey.." Jungkook greeted.

"Can we talk for a minute?"

Jungkook smiles. "Of course, what is it?"

"Can you do something for me?"

The raven head furrows his brows. He can sense something's off. He didn't respond.

"Hey..you said you love me right?"

Jungkook then looks up to his eyes. Then slowly nods.

+

Jungkook and Taehyung are walking out of the school. He promised Taehyung to lend him his suit for the prom, hence they're heading to his house. As their shoulders brush against each other, Jungkook can feel his heart beating in a not so normal pace.

His mind keeps wandering to the kiss they shared at the beach. And his face is starting to blush. He didn't regret asking Tae to the prom with him.

Yugyeom appears and Jungkook was startled. Like his fantasies immediately crash down after seeing the other boy. As they stand at a corner out of Taehyung's hearing, he was reminded once again.

"So, how was your trip? Did you start the plan already?"

Jungkook's ecstatic self deflated. He didn't know why.

"I-uhm- not yet." He answers.

"What? Why? Kook, the contest is approaching. I thought you wanted to help me?"

"I want to! But not like this.."

"There's no other way, Kook. You can't have me if you keep being like that."

Jungkook falls silent. He's not even scared anymore, he wonders why.

"And besides, where are you two going? I was about to ask you to go to prom with me."

Jungkook gulped. "Actually, Taehyung and I are already going to the prom. I asked him..."

Yugyeom frowns at that, visibly disappointed at what he heard. "You didn't even asked me. Tell me Jungkook, do you really love me?"

Panic rushes in. "Of course! Uhm actually, going with him to the prom would be a great way to start the plan right?" He answers quickly.

Yugyeom smiles at that.

+

"Bye, Tae.." Jungkook bids and kisses the said boy's forehead after driving him home. The prom ended late and he wants Tae to be safe in going home.

"Bye, Kookie. Thank you for t-tonight." The brunette blushes while adjusting his glasses.

"Anything for you.." Jungkook responds truthfully.

As he drives back to his own house he thinks. He has this feeling of protecting someone, the feeling of making someone happy and loved. He has feelings for someone. But he's not sure anymore.

Is it for Yugyeom? Or for Taehyung? He asks himself.

But all he could think about was the shy brunette's face and its making his heart flutter. He stops at a red light and glances at the unoccupied seat.

There's the white rose Taehyung had given him earlier. He smiles fondly.

Maybe he's just fond of Taehyung.
Maybe he just missed Yugyeom or missed having a boyfriend generally.

Yeah, that's it..

+

Jungkook is inlove and its not with Yugyeom anymore.

After spending time with the brunette, he realized he's falling. He didn't know where or when, but he is. He's in love with Kim Taehyung.

He remembers many times Taehyung told him he loves him. He wanted to say it back, but he can't. Guilt is eating him.

He wants to stop this scheme of Yugyeom and end all this plan. Hell, even Jimin and Hoseok had no idea of this.

"I can't do it anymore."

Currently, Jungkook and Yugyeom are alone at the locker room.

Yugyeom looks at him straight in the eyes. "What did you say?"

"I can't! I'm not doing this anymore Yugyeom."

"Why? I know you can and you will!"

The raven head sighs in guilt. "My conscience has been haunting me. Taehyung is a nice guy and I don't understand why we're doing this. He doesn't deserve this."

"Are you backing up now? That's why you're being slow? Just ignore your conscience. You want to be with me right?"

Jungkook decided to tell him the truth. "I love him okay? I'm not doing this anymore!"

Yugyeom becomes speechless for a moment and made a pained expression. "You're not inlove with him. You're inlove with me." He mumbles.

"No. I've fallen in love with him. I'm sorry." The raven head apologizes.

The other male looks stunned, looking like he doesn't want to believe any of this. "You don't understand. My dad will kill me if I fail again."

Jungkook shakes his head. He is sure. He loves Taehyung. "I'm sorry."

"You're just confused right now, Jungkook." Yugyeom still mumbles, then he looks straight at Jungkook's eyes, looking like he's planning something again. "And besides, I wonder how your dad will react if he knows you're dating a poor boy living a poor life. He wouldn't fit in right?"

At that, Jungkook's eyes widen. "Y-you're not-"

"You don't know what I can do Kook. Remember what I told you." Yugyeom shows him a sinister look and smirks. Jungkook can only think that the boy is crazy.

"You-"

"Oh hi there, Taehyung!" Yugyeom's sinister smile magically turns into a kind one as he looks at the locker room's door. He's really good in this.

Jungkook was surprised after hearing his boyfriend's name. He turns his head towards the door with a shocked face. "Tae? What are you doing here?"

Taehyung was holding a paper bag and raises it to show him. The brunette too looked shock seeing them. "I-I brought food f-for you. What are you d-doing here?"

And as Jungkook and Taehyung walks out of the locker room, the raven head suddenly becomes scared. His dad should not be involved in this. Maybe Yugyeom is indeed crazy.

👉 aaaaand that's it for today. That's just part of the past and there's more to come. Happy new year again! ❤

👉 hello hello to my good friend AkumaNoKami ! ! !