Jeongguk became even more caring with Taehyung in the next few days that passed.

And just like his need to protect him and keep him safe grew, his unexplainable feelings for him raged and overwhelmed him.

He couldn’t count anymore the times he was this close to kissing him out of the blue, and he didn’t know for how long he would be able to hold back. The small pool of fear that had crawled into the pit of his stomach and also nestled against his heart obstructed him from turning his suffocating desires into words or actions.

Was it fear of rejection? Fear of not being enough? Fear of failing to make him happy? He couldn’t pinpoint that, but whatever it was, it was reason enough to keep him awake until late at night, fighting with his thoughts.

His distressed state bottomed out when he lost at his match that Sunday, and he felt utterly helpless.

After his match, he went straight home and locked himself in his room without letting anyone talk to him. When Taehyung texted him to ask how it went, he asked him if he was okay instead, and once Taehyung said that he was, he requested to leave him alone.

He hadn’t forgotten about Taehyung’s words from that day when they were in the car. But he also couldn’t help but think that he once again failed everyone who believed in him.

Even the next day, Jeongguk didn’t appear for breakfast. He only showed up when he was ready to go to work since he had to. He reassured his parents he was fine, something they didn’t believe of course, but they didn’t pressure him to talk.

  
He arrived at the cafe and said a halfhearted ‘heyʼ to his boss, Dohwan, and Taehyung, who were there already, and continued his way to the changing room.

“Let me guess. He lost yesterday,” Chang Wook said once the younger disappeared.

“Yeah, and it’s bad.” A bitter sigh left Taehyung’s lips as he thought about what to do.

“Go make him happy or whatever.” Dohwan nudged Taehyung’s shoulder.

“What?”

“What what? He always smiles when he’s with you, so hurry.” Dohwan placed his hand on his back and gently urged him to leave.

As confused as Taehyung was, he had no other choice than to comply with his order. He headed to the changing room, musing over what to do to make him feel better, and pushed the door open as he arrived.

The moment he glimpsed inside the room, he flung his head down and hastened to turn his back to a shirtless cherry-haired boy.

“Taetae, are you okay?” Inhyuk wrapped his arm around his shoulders as he peered at him.

“Y-yeah.” Taehyung forced a smile, his heart racing in his chest. “You?”

“I am, but are you sure? You seem weird.”

“I’m fine, really.” He let out an uneasy chuckle.

“Okay, see you upstairs.” Inhyuk patted his biceps and exited the room.

The fluffy-haired boy peeked behind him and sighed in relief as he saw Jeongguk all dressed up.

Jeongguk observed his rosy cheeks, the flustered look that had settled on his features, and his restless steps as he neared him. “You’re like this just because Inhyuk... hugged you?”

His brows clumped together at his question. “What? No!”

“Then?”

“I-I m-mean...” He was trapped, and he knew it. He couldn’t just admit that the source of his flustered state was his damn well-built body. So he said the first thing that came to his mind. “Yes.”

Jeongguk raised an eyebrow as he stood up. “Yes? So you’re like this because Inhyuk hugged you?”

“Yes.”

“Oh. I get it.” Jeongguk chuckled, the sound gruff and bitter, as he whisked his gaze away.

What was Taehyung supposed to do? Tell him he didnʼt like Inhyuk? Then he would ask him why he blushed, and he most certainly couldn’t tell him the real reason.

So he stepped closer to him and curled his arms around his nape, trying to make him forget what had just happened. “Thank you for coming today. I know you’re not okay, but I’m here if you want to talk.”

Jeongguk enfolded him into his embrace and laid his chin on his shoulder, choosing to ignore the bitterness that overflowed him. “Thank you, Taecute. This feels good.”

While they would usually pull away and gaze at each other for a brief moment, Jeongguk just released him and gave him a smile that Taehyung could easily tell was fake.

They went upstairs in silence, and Jeongguk got behind the bar to make iced chocolate for the boy and a coffee for himself.

Taehyung wasn’t used to this Jeongguk; gloomy, mute, unsmiling. He didn’t know what to do to cheer him up since usually it was the other way around. And just like that, he found himself blurting out whatever popped up into his mind once again.

“Can I come to your house tomorrow?” He noticed him twisting his head and looking at him with a wordless question in his eyes. “I mean, to meet your parents a little better.”

“Oh.” Jeongguk resumed his task then, his movements sluggish, spiritless. “Sure.”

He was actually hoping for Taehyung to say that he wanted to spend more time with him, and a greater stream of bitterness washed over him since he didn’t.

“I didn’t ask, what did you say about me to them? I’m sure they questioned you the next day.”

Jeongguk placed his chocolate in front of him, hearing a faint ‘thank youʼ from him a moment later. “I’m not telling you.” He shrugged an idle shoulder as he started making his coffee.

“Why?”

“Ask them yourself tomorrow.”

“Oh, come on, don’t make me do this,” Taehyung whined, a pout forming on his lips.

The younger was sure he was sulking and couldn’t resist peeking at him. He snorted at the endearing sight, and an askew smile swept over his face when he turned away from him.

Taehyung’s heart sank again as the other stayed silent, feeling despondent to the bone. “Kookie, please talk to me.”

“There’s nothing to talk about,” Jeongguk muttered and nibbled his lower lip. In that moment, he was at a loss. Was he so moody because he lost at his match yesterday or because he found out that Taehyung liked Inhyuk? He was void of any answer to that question.

Taehyung didn’t try to make him talk again. He sat there, sipping his drink, chatting vaguely with Namjoon and Seokjin, who joined him a while later, and started his shift soon enough.

. . .

Two hours later, Jeongguk sighed but offered a wan smile to a certain brown-haired girl that walked towards him.

“Hey, dorky.” She got behind the bar, ignoring Kang Joon’s nagging, and engulfed him into a hug.

“Hey, nitwit.” Jeongguk returned the hug, patting her back. “To what do I owe the visit?”

“Well, I knew you wouldn’t want to see anyone yesterday or this morning, so I thought I should just drop by because you don’t have a place to hide here.” She quirked a brow as she grabbed his hand and dragged him outside, instructing him to sit in front of the bar beside her.

“Yah, he’s working!” Kang Joon scowled at the annoying — as he thought — girl, earning a scornful snort from her.

“Mind your business, you asshat.”

“I should close that big mouth you have somehow.” Kang Joon tsked and was ready to leave when he heard a rather amused chuckle from the annoying girl.

“You could try, but with your nonexistent brain, you won’t be able to do much.”

“Are you calling me stupid? Seriously?”

“What? Aren’t you?”

“I’m much smarter than you at least!”

“Ha! That was the funniest thing you’ve ever said.”

“Listen here—“

“Okay, stop!” Jeongguk finally exclaimed as he couldn’t hear them bicker anymore. “This happens every damn time you come here. Leave him alone, and you leave her alone too!”

Kang Joon only tsked as he returned to his work, and Sejeong stuck her tongue out at the boy who just left.

“Why are you being so childish with him?”

“Because he’s an ass and doesn’t deserve something better.” She flicked her hair back and leaned against the counter. “But let’s not talk about that assface. Tell me how you’re doing.”

“I’m fine.”

“Kook, stop that. I know you're not okay. Stop thinking so little about yourself. You were awesome yesterday, and it doesn’t matter if you lost. Please don’t do this to yourself. I hate seeing you like this.” She reached out, slipping her arm over his shoulders.

“I can’t help it, Sejeong-ah. I don’t know what to do with my life.”

“Learn from it, train harder, and become better. The world doesn’t end just because you lost a match. And no one doubts that you are an excellent boxer. We’ll always be proud of you, no matter what. Don’t forget that.”

Jeongguk smiled faintly as he rested his head against her shoulder. “Thank you.”

As the two continued talking, a certain fluffy-haired boy was gaping at the scene with big doe eyes. From the very beginning. Why are they hugging like that? Don’t tell me... is that his girlfriend or something? But isn’t Kookie gay? Wait, shit, he never really said that. I just assumed his sexuality, I’m such a horrible person!

Taehyung had one of his small freakouts once again and palmed his mouth at his last thought.

“What’s wrong with you today?” Inhyuk’s voice close to him startled him wholly.

“Nothing!” Taehyung jolted in his spot and continued his way to the bar in haste.

“Hey, Taehyung,” Jeongguk called as he beckoned him to come closer.

Although he didn’t want his fear that Jeongguk had a girlfriend to be confirmed, he trudged towards the two. “Hey.”

“This is Sejeong, and this is Taehyung,” he introduced with a small smile that faltered rather fast once he perceived his stiff face.

“You made a new friend and didn’t say anything to me, huh?” she hissed at her cousin and cracked a smile as she set her gaze on Taehyung. “Nice to meet you, and damn, you’re gorgeous.” She went for a handshake, and the other accepted it warily.

“Nice t-to meet you too,” Taehyung mumbled, his brows creasing at her last remark. Why did she compliment me if she’s—

“Are you okay?” Jeongguk interrupted his trail of thoughts.

“Um, yeah.”

“Okay.” He didn’t seem convinced but decided not to say anything else about it. “Well, I’m glad you finally met my cousin. She’s a little too much sometimes, but she’s a gem.”

Taehyung felt as if an enormous weight was just lifted off his chest when he heard that word. Cousin. She is his cousin. “She’s not your girlfriend,” the words rolled off his tongue in a whisper, and he didn’t comprehend that he actually said them out loud.

Sejeong burst out laughing as Jeongguk was left dumbfounded at his faint mumble. “Jeongguk is gayer than his two dads combined!” she said through her cackle, slapping her hand on the counter as she almost folded in half.

“Well, I wonʼt argue with that.” Jeongguk chuckled as well while he fixed his gaze on the fluffy-haired boy. Before he could say anything, he heard a customer call Taehyung’s name.

“I have to go, but it was nice meeting you,” Taehyung said, a grin stretching on his lips as he skipped away.

“I have to return to work too,” Jeongguk said once he tore his gaze away from Taehyung.

“Fine, but I’ll come by your house tomorrow so you can tell me more about that boy,” she said, her tone sly, as she wiggled her brows.

“Taehyung will visit tomorrow too, so youʼll see him again. You better not embarrass me!”

She giggled as she gave him another short hug. “Don’t worry, dorky. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Bye.” Jeongguk caressed her shoulder before she left. He went back to work with his only thought being why did Taehyung even think he had a girlfriend, and why did he seem so relieved when he said that Sejeong was just his cousin.

⚜✳⚜