The ride to Jeonggukʼs house was serene and mostly silent. Both had a whirl of things they wanted to say, but not even a grain of courage to do it. At least not now.

“Kookie?”

He hummed in response as he turned right at the intersection, now being close to their destination.

“Do you ever think about disappearing?”

His question startled Jeongguk, something that Taehyung could easily discern. “What do you mean?” he asked, a deep frown settling on his previously calm face.

“Like, we’re adults, right? We have so many responsibilities, so many things to take care of. We have to make our own money, we have bills to pay, and so on. I often thought about disappearing because I didn’t want to deal with any of these sometimes.”

“Oh.” Jeongguk puzzled over his words, throwing him a string of wary glances. “I guess that’s how life works. We have to deal with these things, even if we don’t want that. I’ve thought about disappearing every time I lost a match. But I only thought about it. I didn’t want to actually do it. I didn’t want to part from the people I love.”

“That’s nice. To have people to love and be loved by them.” A wistful smile etched on Taehyung’s lips as he gazed out the window.

“You have someone too. You have Jiminie. And—And me. Well, not to love, love. You’re not even my boyfriend yet. How can you love me, right?” A long chuckle filled with awkwardness jumped out of Jeongguk's mouth as he shifted in his seat, not daring to look at him.

Taehyung went stock still at his words, his wild eyes wandering anywhere but him. He fumbled to find the right words to his daunting question, but all of his endeavors came to nothing as he had dried up throughout.

“You know what? Forget what I just said. Why am I so stupid?” Jeongguk murmured, cursing himself mentally at how uncomfortable he made him.

“I, um, s-sorry,” was all Taehyung could say, dipping his face in his palms. To be honest, he did feel sorry. For a lot of things, but mostly because Jeongguk had poured his heart out to him, and he instead hadn’t even accepted to be his boyfriend.

He wanted to. Even though he was still scared, he wanted to take that risk with him. Jeongguk was one of those rare people; he made him want to risk everything for him.

“What are you saying sorry about?” Jeongguk asked, a scowl flashing up onto his face without realizing it.

“Because I don’t know w-what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything. I just shouldn’t have said that, so forget it. And stop apologizing for everything.” He parked the car then and turned off the engine.

“Bossy,” he muttered, but Jeongguk managed to hear him, leading him to snort and break into a smile.

“Damn right I am.”

“No, you’re the kindest and sweetest boy ever.” A bright, toothy smile accompanied his remark, but it altered into a timid one when he comprehended what rolled off his tongue.

Amusement adorned Jeongguk’s entire face as he tossed his head in his direction, his eyes glowing with adoration for him.

“Shut up,” Taehyung spouted off in a murmur, since judging from his face, Jeongguk was ready to say one of his usual teasing remarks, and only the thought of that made a hue of pink bloom on his cheeks.

“Who’s bossy now?” Jeongguk asked with a throaty chuckle, placing a delicate hand on his nape and pulling him closer. “I was just gonna say thank you.”

“Really?”

“No, I was gonna say please say more,” he playfully uttered, earning an endearing giggle from him.

“Knew it.” Taehyung attached their lips as he entwined his fingers in his hair and tilted his head to the side to deepen the zealous kiss more.

Jeongguk moaned the moment he felt his tongue collide with his eager one, a burst of body-tingling emotions sprawling through his system.

Taehyung gliding his hand down his chest, tracing his body to his thigh at a rather tantalizingly slow pace was enough to make his pants tighten and his mind go blank.

Except that he didn’t expect Taehyung to do that even in his wildest dreams, he strove to control his raging hormones, which that boy knew perfectly well how to ignite, probably without realizing it.

Taehyung noticed how his body stiffened and couldn’t help but think if he shouldn’t have done that. He felt self-conscious real quick and broke the kiss, keeping his eyes closed. “Did—Did I go too far?”

Jeongguk took his time to answer, trying to catch his breath and ease his overexcited state. “No, w-why?”

“I just—I mean, you tensed up.” He ventured to peep at him, something that only confirmed his thoughts as he saw his aflutter expression.

Jeongguk drew away, shifting in his seat and squeezing his legs together. It amazed him how he was hard as rock only by Taehyung caressing his body and dreaded to think what would happen when things would get even more intimate.

“I’m just, um, it’s that I-I’m, damn.” Jeongguk chuckled in stark embarrassment as he covered his flushed face with his hands.

“You can tell me,” he empowered him to continue since he hated seeing him struggle like that.

The cherry-haired boy mused over the possible outcome of telling him why he was so tense. He knew he would make him uncomfortable, and he had already done that a few minutes ago. “I’m just cautious because you’re hurt and I don’t want to worsen that.”

Taehyung wasn’t convinced; he seemed too nervous to him to believe his words, but chose to put aside his dubious thoughts and give him a smile. “Only my right shoulder and my ribs hurt. Don’t worry about it too much.”

Jeongguk bit his bottom lip as he sighed nasally and laid his eyes on him. “Let’s go inside so I can take care of you, hmm?” The corner of his mouth tipped up into a smile once Taehyung nodded, and he leaned closer to plant a few pecks on his pretty lips.

They exited the car and walked towards the house. Jeongguk peeked inside when he opened the door, only to see his parents sit on the couch, watching TV.

“Hey,” Jisung said with a small smile that grew bigger the moment he noticed the other boy with him. “Hi, Taehyung!”

“Taehyung!” Seungjo exclaimed and jumped to his feet, wanting to hug the boy, but Jeongguk placed a hand on his chest, stopping him.

“Um, he’s a little hurt.”

“Why?” Seungjo asked, his brows clumping together.

“Babe, what did we say about questioning everything?” Jisung quietly asked and chuckled as he rushed to his side.

“It’s, um, a little complicated—“

“You don’t have to explain, Taehyung. Don’t worry,” Jisung said with a dismissive hand gesture.

“But maybe we can help him—“

“Shush.”

Seungjo rolled his eyes at his husband with a sigh. “Fine. But you’re free to tell us anything, Taehyung.” He reached out to caress his cheek as he offered him a heartwarming smile.

“Thank you.”

“Anyway, Taehyung is gonna stay here tonight.”

“Should I prepare the guest room or...?” Seungjo eyed the two as they became a drop tense.

“Whatever you want,” Jeongguk whispered to the boy, praying internally he would say no to his dad’s question.

“Um, is it okay if I s-stay with Kookie?” Taehyung spluttered, dropping his head as he felt timid.

“Of course it is!” Seungjo’s face lit up in a split second. “You’re just an adorable fluffy ball. How is bunbun able to resist you?”

Jeongguk threw a hand over his now beet-red face as he turned his back to them, feeling embarrassment swallow him whole.

Taehyung’s reaction wasn’t better in the slightest; a small, surprised gasp spewed out of his mouth as he whipped his head away from the three, trying to hide his rosy cheeks.

“And you did it again. I give up.” Jisung raised his hands in defeat and headed back to the couch.

“What did I do? They’re perfectly fine—“ He hushed up when his son shot him a glower. “Oh, whatever, you’re all such babies, and especially you!” He pointed at Jeongguk as he anchored a hand on his waist. “You can’t even hide that you’ve fallen for that breathtaking boy, and you’re scowling at me because of a little teasing.”

“Oh my fucking—“

“No curses in this household, Jeon!” Seungjo growled, his eyes darkening as he pointed a warning finger at him.

Every ounce of hostility fell from Jeongguk’s face and was replaced by an apologetic expression as he ducked his head, holding his hands together in front of him. He knew better than to mess with his father when he had that look on his face. “I’m sorry.”

“I’m sorry,” Taehyung uttered under his breath as well, copying Jeongguk's posture.

Seungjo wanted to maintain his austere look, but it was impossible when that endearing boy spoke up. “Why are you apologizing?” He inched closer and cupped his cheeks, lifting his head. “You’re the sweetest boy. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“But Jeonggukie is s-sweet too,” he mumbled with a pout that left Seungjo cooing hard.

“He is, isn’t he?” The older man asked in a baby tone, squishing his cheeks. He saw the boy nod wordlessly and cracked a smile. “Then I shouldn’t stay mad at him for cursing?”

Taehyung frantically shook his head and stepped closer to the cherry-haired boy, holding his hand. “He’s sorry, right?”

Jeongguk ventured to glance at his father, giving him the same apologetic look as before. “I am.”

“Great!” Seungjo chuckled, surging forward to engulf his son into a tight hug. “See how he defended you? He has fallen for you too,” he whispered, meant for only him to hear.

Jeongguk became fidgety, burying his face deeper into the crook of his neck. “He has not.”

“What are you two whispering?” Jisung asked, causing the two to withdraw from the hug.

“Nothing.” His husband smiled a little awkwardly and turned to the younger again. “Trust me, bunbun.” He sent him a wink and ruffled his hair. “You must be tired so go rest. You’re free to do anything you want,” he added as a suggestive smile crept across his lips.

“Dad!”

“Thank you, Seungjo-ssi, goodnight. Goodnight, Jisung-ssi,” the fluffy-haired boy said in haste and dragged the other to his room as he couldn’t handle Seungjo’s teasing remarks any longer.

⚜✳⚜
  

This chapter is filled with awkward moments for some reason😅

Another update is coming in a while💜