After their sweet, palliative moment in the changing room, Taehyung insisted that they shouldn’t leave work, and so even if he didn’t have any emotional strength, he pushed through and did what he had to.

Throughout their shift, Jeongguk did everything he could to make him smile. He teased him, complimented him, gave him subtle caresses, and even stole a few hugs when he pulled him to the side of the bar where people wouldn’t easily notice them.

And seeing Taehyung smile and hearing his endearing laugh was everything he needed to contain his fury and abhorrence for the person who hurt his strikingly beautiful Taecute.

🥀

Both dressed in their casual clothes, they smiled at each other as Jeongguk extended his hand in front of him and Taehyung grabbed it a beat later.

They said ‘goodnightʼ to their fellow employees and exited the changing room, ignoring every surprised or curious look they received on their way out.

When they passed by the bar, Chang Wook’s voice impeded them from continuing further. “Taehyung, can you come with me for a moment?”

The said boy glanced at the younger as he untangled their fingers and then trailed behind Chang Wook, who was heading to his office.

Once they got inside, Chang Wook leaned against his desk, crossing his arms over his chest, and he gazed at the boy through mellow eyes. “I don’t like seeing you like this. I don’t like knowing that you’re going through all that.” He kept his tone low and his gaze away from him as he felt awful for being unable to help him.

“Maybe what I just said is sudden to you, but I can’t help it. The thought that someone can do that to another person is driving me crazy. I can’t imagine what is like to go through something like this. I can’t imagine how you must feel or how you cope. I don’t know what’s your relationship with your parents and if you have any kind of support. I just want to make sure you have someone who's there for you and loves you for who you are because you're worth it, Taehyung.”

He set his eyes on the younger once he heard a faint choked sound, only to see countless tears flood his eyes and a hand cover his mouth. “There are ways to escape. And I want you to know that I’ll be here when you’re ready to go through them.”

Taehyung didn’t know what to say to that man who gave him so much strength at that moment. He could only cry silently as his shoulders shook with each muffled sob. “W-why? Why—“

“Why do I care so much?” Chang Wook interrupted him in a soft tone and saw him nod as he brushed off his tears. “I think... you could be my son, and you’re such a good kid. You don’t deserve this. No one does. And why are you crying?”

Taehyung sniffled, and despite his efforts, he couldn’t dam up his tears. “Wh—what you s-said was really n-nice.” His broken words elicited a mild chuckle from him.

“Well, I meant everything. And I’m here anytime you want to talk.” He caressed his shoulder in a soothing manner as he offered him a warmhearted smile.

“Thank y-you.”

“I also noticed that you have come closer with Jeongguk.” He discerned that the unexpected mention of the cherry-haired boy brought confusion to his eyes and explained further. “Jeongguk was always nice, in the last two years that I know him at least, and he helped whenever he could. But he never got that close to anyone except for his friends. He’s very picky about the people he accepts in his life. I’m saying this because I’m glad that boy let you in his life. He’s capable of moving mountains for the people he cares about, and it’s a relief, to be honest, that you’re one of those people. I want the best for you.”

Taehyung was in awe with everything he just heard. He knew Jeongguk cared about him, even though he still couldn’t understand the reason. But knowing it was such a big deal for him to let someone in his life made his fondness for the cherry-haired boy skyrocket.

“Thank you for everything you said,” Taehyung uttered, wiping a few more tears that trickled down his cheeks. “And for caring about me.”

“Don’t thank me. I told you, I want the best for you.” Chang Wook gave him another soft smile. “Go rest. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Goodnight, Mr. Ji.”

“Call me Chang Wook.”

Taehyung flickered an eyelid in surprise, but couldn’t contain the smile that flashed up onto his face. “Okay, Chang Wook-ssi.”

“Goodnight,” he said, and once Taehyung bowed his head, he made his way back outside.

Jeongguk smiled upon seeing the older walk towards him. “What—Are you crying?” His face crumpled into a scowl real quick as he placed his hands on his shoulders and scanned his tearful, reddened eyes. “What did he do? I swear I’m—“

Taehyung grabbed his hands since he tried to leave, silencing his turbulent words and keeping him in place. “He didn’t do anything. I just got emotional with what he said.”

The rage that crawled into his system drained away at Taehyung’s explanation. “What did he say?” He slid his arm around him, and they headed out of the cafe.

“You don’t have to know,” he said with a small smirk.

“Oh, come on. I’m curious.” A faint giggle emitted from his mouth as he caressed his bicep.

“Tell me one good reason I should tell you what we said.”

“Because I want to know?”

Taehyung chuckled at his matter-of-fact tone as he nudged his side. “That’s not a reason.”

“Then... because I really, really want to know?”

Another string of throaty laughs seeped through his lips as they halted beside Jeongguk’s car. Taehyung thought he would release him, but he was proved wrong when Jeongguk tucked him in his hug, his hand wandering on his back.

Taken aback by the gentle move, Taehyung flattened his palms against his chest as he felt a fire burn in his, something that made his heart drum at a rapid rhythm.

The sweet eye contact went on strong as if they were incapable of drawing their gaze away. And even though Taehyung could feel his cheeks blossom with a beet-red hue, his focus was on how madly the younger’s heart was palpitating under his touch.

A myriad of thoughts swam across his mind when he perceived that Jeongguk’s eyes fell to his parted lips, and a few more followed once he moved an inch closer.

“Jeongguk,” rolled off his tongue in a sough as he felt his heart would explode out of its place.

The sound of his voice ceased Jeongguk’s every movement and drew his foggy eyes back to his doe ones. An awkward chuckle infiltrated Taehyung’s ears a second later, and he fisted his sweater the moment he realized Jeongguk wanted to step away.

“Why is your heart pounding?” Taehyung drawled. His eyes roamed on his now stiff features and met his gaze, trying to find an answer in it since no words came out of Jeongguk’s mouth.

“I can feel your heart pound even without touching your chest. Why is yours?” Jeongguk spared no effort to hide the simple fact that he was panicking by now.

As if being ready to kiss him out of the blue wasn’t enough to make him have a meltdown, Taehyung was in his hug, gazing at him with his damn bewitching, doe eyes and asking him something like this. What the hell was he supposed to say?

“You know I get nervous easily.” Taehyung fidgeted in his spot as he ducked his head, uneasy under his intense gaze.

“I get nervous too.” He cocked his head to the side with his witty, hushed response, the tip of his tongue skimming his lower lip before he took it between his teeth.

“Liar. You don’t get nervous that much,” Taehyung muttered, his tone indicating light teasing, as he tapped his chest with a tiny fist.

The corner of Jeongguk's lips curved into a crooked smile while he snorted, the grip around him tightening. “Fine, I get nervous with pretty, adorable boys who blush way too easily.”

“I don’t blush so much!” Taehyung argued back, his brows puckered in a frown.

“Who said I’m talking about you?”

Taehyung’s mouth popped open at his inquiry with a soundless gasp. “You just—Your h-heart is—And you’re w-with me—”

The rest of his incoherent babbling was smothered by a sonorous, dulcet chuckle as Jeongguk tossed his head back while displaying an amused grin. Taehyung could do nothing more than plaster his deepest and most endearing pout on his lips as Jeongguk laughed his head off.

But the joy that bloomed inside him upon seeing the younger’s aglow face was as great as when he played the piano, and maybe, just maybe, it was a smidgen more.

“I’m messing with you,” Jeongguk uttered after his fit of laughter as he rested his chin on his shoulder and glided a delicate hand up and down his back. He could feel Taehyung’s heart throb against his chest, but didn’t venture to question it because then he had to give him an answer as well.

And he was void of any reasonable explanation of why his heart was doing little flips just because of his proximity with that boy.

He pulled back and peered at him, a fond smile playing on his lips as he trailed a knuckle from his temple to his chin, giving it a small pinch. His gaze left Taehyung’s attentive one and dropped once again to his rosy lips.

The older was highly aware of what was happening, even though he had no idea why. He clawed at his sweater with his quaky hands, his mind overflowing with a galaxy of promising scenarios, his breath stuck in his throat in anticipation.

“Let’s go.”

These two words were enough to lacerate every dreamy thought Taehyung had at that moment and disillusion him in a rather brutal way. Of course he wasn’t ready to kiss me. Why would he do that?

The disappointment was so profound Taehyung barely managed to force a smile on his face and give two stiff nods.

Unaware of the sullen feeling that nested beside his heart, Jeongguk opened the door for him and waited until he took his seat. Once he heard his muted ‘thank youʼ, he shut the door and walked around the car to get inside as well.

“Suggestion,” he announced as he started the engine. “I have some excellent ointments for bruises and cuts. Do you want to come to my house or are you too sleepy?”

To be invited to Jeongguk’s house at almost midnight was something he could never imagine, to be honest. And despite that he was indeed sleepy, he found himself getting excited about the idea. “What about your parents? I don’t want to be a bother, and you know you don’t have to do that for me.”

“Taecute, please stop thinking you’re gonna be a bother and especially when I’m offering to do something.”

“You offered, but what about your parents? Maybe they don’t want me in their house.”

“Trust me, they won’t have any problem with you. I just hope they’ll be in their room because if they see you, you’re in for a painstaking interrogation, and I don’t want you to go through that.” A honeyed chuckle accompanied his words as he stole a glimpse of him.

Taehyung’s sunken state was replaced by a burst of content when his melodic chuckle reached his senses. “They’re protective, huh?”

“Very. But they’re kindhearted and nice to everyone. You don’t have anything to worry about.”

“I can tell because you are as well.”

Jeongguk broke into a toothy smile as he shot him a glance. “Please continue.”

“Continue what?”

“To compliment me, of course. I can’t get enough of it for some reason.”

A row of velvety giggles resounded through the car as Taehyung gave him a small playful push. “You're such a dork.”

“This dork makes you laugh,” he sing-songed and cracked up with Taehyung joining him a second later.

“Yeah, I give you that. And thank you, by the way. I feel normal with you.”

“Is this another compliment? Because as far as I know, normal is boring.”

Taehyung snorted as he redirected his gaze to the window. “It is. But my life was never normal. And I need a normal life so I can... survive,” he whispered, unsure about the words that left his mouth. “I feel like my life is normal when we’re together. Thank you for that.”

Jeongguk gloomed upon hearing the boy who now held a big spot in his heart talk with such bitterness. All he wanted was to help him, hold him close, and tell him that everything was going to be okay. But it struck him hard when he realized there was a chance he wouldn’t be able to do that.

⚜✳⚜