It wasn't good. Jeongguk was trying to have a moment alone with him, and Taehyung was trying to abstain from even glancing at him.

Taehyung had no idea what he felt about this. He didn't know why the thought of Jeongguk liking someone else — and let alone his best friend — bothered him so much. Why he avoided him, and why his chest felt heavy every time he thought about it.

Somehow he managed to get through his shift without talking to Jeongguk at all. And since he didn't want the younger to drive him to the subway, he sneaked into Chang Wook's office, startling him a bit.

"Is everything okay?"

The gloomy boy plopped down on the couch, his head hung low, and his eyes droopy. "Yeah."

"Tell me what's—"

Taehyung's phone started ringing, silencing him. He glanced at the phone in his hand, only to see Jeongguk's name on it, and a sigh passed through his lips as he put it in silent mode.

"What's wrong, Taehyung?"

"Nothing. I'm just avoiding... someone."

"Someone from here?"

"Yeah."

"Why?"

"Mr. Ji, I just need to hide in here for ten minutes or something. You can just ignore me."

The boss shook his head at his words as he sat next to him. "Did someone hurt you?"

"No, Mr. Ji. Don't worry."

"Then what is going on?"

The door was rammed open then, making Taehyung flinch and the boss snap his head at the sound. "Jeongguk? Do you need something?"

"Yes. Taehyung." He wasn't having it anymore. He ignored him continuously before, and now he even hid from him.

"We—we have something to t-talk about, you know. You c-can leave," Taehyung ventured, his voice hesitant and shaky.

"I will wait."

"B-but it'll take a while."

"I will still wait," he stated in a decisive tone and took off, slamming the door on his way out.

"I guess my questions have been answered," Chang Wook snickered. "What did he do to you?"

"Nothing. He just wants to talk to me, and I don't know if I wanna hear him."

"Just stop being childish and leave. Even if he doesn't talk to you tonight, he'll talk to you tomorrow. You work at the same place, you know."

Taehyung could only sign for the nth time as the older's remark was entirely true. "Fine. Goodnight, Mr. Ji."

"Goodnight, Taehyung. Take care."

Taehyung bowed and left the office, his heartbeat speeding up at the thought of facing him.

When he exited the cafe, he scoped around the place for a spell and spotted Jeongguk in the parking lot, standing beside his car. His shoulders sank as he traipsed towards him, his head firmly curved, staring at his faltering steps.

Jeongguk had his arms crossed over his chest while leaning against his car, his piercing gaze already glued to the older boy, who awkwardly stood before his eyes. "Taehyung... this can't keep happening. You can't avoid me every time you don't wanna talk about something. It doesn't feel... good, you know?"

"But I-I get it. You like m-my best friend, there's nothing to talk about."

"Taehyung, it was just—"

"You know, Jimin is a really nice and beautiful guy. You'll be lucky to have him in your life. And—and you're nice too, so you'll be great together. He wants a stable relationship, just so you know. He isn't looking for—"

Jeongguk charged at him in a blaze of frustration and grasped his shoulders, ready to scold him, but nothing came out as he perceived Taehyung shrinking away and protecting his head with his hands. "Don't—don't h-hurt me."

Those words took his heart and twisted it painfully. Shock mixed with sorrow and a ton of remorse penetrated him in the blink of an eye as Taehyung started shivering. "T-Taehyung, I would—I would never..." He tucked him into his hug when a few sniffles reached his senses, one arm circling his waist, and the other holding his nape securely.

"I'm so sorry, Taehyung, I didn't—fuck, I didn't want to scare you, I'm so sorry," he whispered to his ear as he rubbed soothing patterns on his waist. "Please don't cry. I would never, never hurt you, okay? Never."

Taehyung clutched his jacket for dear life, pressing his head against his chest while tears leaked out of his closed eyes.

At that moment, he realized how broken he was. He knew Jeongguk wouldn't hurt him, but still, the way he suddenly walked towards him brought the image of his hyung in his head and spread fear through every inch of his body.

"Taehyung, please don't cry. Don't do this to me. I'm so, so sorry," he said in desperation as he felt utterly lost with a crying Taehyung in his hug.

"It's n-not... your fault," Taehyung rasped and sniffled a few more times, trying to force his tears to stop. You're okay, you're okay, Jeongguk is here, and you're okay.

"Of course it is. I scared you." Jeongguk ran his hand up and down his back with gentle moves as he fiddled with his hair.

"I'm okay," he drawled while he released his grip on his jacket and wiped his wet cheeks.

"Are you sure?" Jeongguk glanced at the tearful boy to meet his gaze, but he held his head bowed.

"Yeah."

"Should I let you go then?"

"You should," Taehyung mumbled but didn't move nor pushed him away. Instead, he curled his quivery arms around his waist in a loose wrap.

"Should I, Taehyung?" he asked in a hushed tone, his mellow gaze boring holes into the top of his head as his hand skimmed his back in palliative circles.

"Yeah, you should." He released an audible breath at the pacifying effect it held to have Jeongguk so close to him. Although he freaked out like there was no tomorrow when Jeongguk hugged him before, it was everything he needed to feel safe again at that moment.

"Okay then," Jeongguk said, voice low and velvety, as he stayed in his place and only held him tighter.

They stood there for a long time in their own little world, nestled in each other's hug, and savoring the safety, warmth, and a galaxy of unexplainable things they felt.

Taehyung had melted in his hug so much Jeongguk was actually amazed. He could never imagine that unexpected change towards him, but he wasn't complaining at all. How could he? Despite that he still felt bad for scaring him, he was outright joyous about that fond hug.

"Sorry for... breaking down like that," Taehyung's subdued voice dissolved the comfortable silence.

"Don't be, please. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have been aggressive with you at all. I was just a bit mad because you didn't let me talk."

"Still... I'm sorry." He edged away and laid his eyes on him.

Jeongguk offered him a tender smile as he cupped his cheeks. "Don't be." He gazed into those mesmerizing eyes with his soft ones, and truly wished he could take all the sadness they held away.

Was it too much for Taehyung? Yes. Having Jeongguk looking at him as if he were the most important person in the whole world was indeed too much for him, and he didn't know how to process it. His eyes roamed around, anywhere except on him, as his cheeks were tinged with pink.

A honeyed chuckle perfusing his ears and feeling delicate thumbs stroke his blushed cheeks made Taehyung even more flustered. "You're just adorable." Jeongguk set a hand on his back and led him to his car to ease his flushed state.

He opened the door for him as usual and waited with a fond smile for him to enter. "Thank you." He heard Taehyung whisper a moment later and shut the door softly before he got into the car as well. "Will you now let me explain what happened before?" he asked as he started the engine.

"O-okay." Taehyung kept his head lowered as he twiddled with his hands, his heartbeat slightly rising in fear of what he would hear.

"Alright. I'm gonna be completely honest with you, and you're free to think whatever you want." Jeongguk exhaled a deep, trembling breath. "I asked Yoongi and Hoseok to bring Jimin at the cafe today."

"Well, if—if you like him, it's reasonable."

"Just shut it, please," he said, something playful coating his words. "I wanted to ask him about you, Taehyung. I know it was a stupid idea, but... I want to know you. I want to know more things about you, and you don't tell me anything. And I asked him a few things, but the others were confused and thought I liked Jimin. And just to be one hundred percent clear, I don't like him."

His doe eyes were now anchored on his profile, a stream of relief pulsing through him at his last remark. "But—but why would you do that?"

"Taehyung... I only know five things about you, and it's sad that I actually know that. I shouldn't be able to count the things I know about you. And two of them are your name and age for God's sake."

"There's nothing really worth knowing about me," Taehyung mumbled as a downcast expression swept over his face.

"Everything about you is worth knowing to me. I don't know why you think so little about yourself, and I don't know what you are so afraid of, but I want to know you."

"Why are you so obsessed with that?"

"Because you're beautiful. And I'm not talking about your looks. Not that you're not beautiful in appearance. You are breathtaking. But what you are, what you're hiding and don't let anyone see is way more beautiful."

No one had ever said these kinds of words to him, and it felt like a dream hearing them from him. Did it really matter what Taehyung thought about himself when Jeongguk just said to him the most heart-warming words he had ever heard before?

"You—you said you're not good with words," Taehyung uttered in a trance, brimmed with countless unknown emotions.

"Your point?"

"What you said was just... so amazing?"

Jeongguk giggled mildly, stealing a few glances of his astounded face. "It was, huh?"

"Yes."

"Well, I meant it, Taecute. Will you now please let me know you?"

"What if you don't like what you'll see?"

The younger stopped at a red light then and fully turned to look at him. "I can guarantee you there's no way this will happen. Whatever you say, whatever you are, whatever you do. I will like everything about you."

That ride wasn't so good for Taehyung's heart. It ran riot most of the time as he was unable to keep it at a stable, normal rhythm with Jeongguk saying all these amazing things. Things that didn't feel like a friend would say to another friend, but he was too awestruck to pick up on that.

"Maybe... Maybe slowly? Maybe one thing a day? It's just difficult for me. I hope you understand."

"I'm not asking you to tell me everything, anyway. I just want to know a few more things."

"Okay. I'll give you two questions because what you said before was really sweet. So, what two questions would you ask to get the most information about who a person truly is?"

"That's an interesting way to put it." Jeongguk had to take a few moments to think about it. "I think one would be what are you most afraid of. And the second one... where do you find comfort when you're down?"

"I'm afraid of living the life I have right now forever. And I only find comfort when I'm playing the piano."

"How's the life you have right now?"

"That's... That's a story for another time."

"Okay, fair enough. So, you play the piano?"

"Yes."

"For how long?"

"For nine years, give or take."

"And do you wanna be a pianist?"

"Jeongguk... that's too many questions."

"Okay, I'm sorry. I just got excited for a moment there." Jeongguk released a small chuckle with his remark.

"Wait, you just passed the subway station!"

"Yes, because I wasn't going there," he rascally said, throwing him a wink.

"Jeongguk! Why are you doing this for me?"

"I'm doing it for me because I like your company, okay? I don't do it for you."

"You're a dork." Taehyung couldn't help the smile that surfaced on his lips. "But I like your company too. I just don't want to be a bother."

"You're not, and you'll never be. Don't say that again."

"You're a bit bossy, you know that?" He frowned, but his eyes gleamed when he heard Jeongguk's endearing chuckle.

"If it's to prevent you from thinking stupid things about yourself, then bravo to me."

"Anyway," he said as he didn't want to continue this conversation. "What about you?"

"What about me?"

"What are you most afraid of and where do you find comfort when you're down?"

Jeongguk cast him a look in disbelief, surprise crawling over his features. "You want to know about me, Kim Taehyung?"

The said boy averted his gaze as he gulped, disquiet swirling in his eyes. He didn't want to admit it, but the answer was yes. He wanted to know more things about him.

Since the moment he met him, Jeongguk became an inspiration for him to write more songs. And it was quite strange since Taehyung never had anyone as inspiration except for his pain, his love for piano, and his best friend.

"Can you just answer the question?"

"Okay. I'm afraid of a lot of things, to be honest. But I think losing my parents is my biggest fear. I don't know what I'll do without them. And I find comfort when I'm punching the shit out of my punching bag."

"That's nice," Taehyung uttered with a smile as he returned his gaze to him. "Do they love you?"

"They do. And I love them. Wait, that's a little embarrassing to say to someone else."

"It's not. You're lucky they love you and you love them."

"Well, they chose me, so they should love me at least." His words brought a questioning look on Taehyung's face, but before he could ask anything, he explained further. "I'm adopted. I have two dads."

"Shut up! That's so cool. That you have two dads I mean."

"Yeah? You think it's cool?" A grin popped up onto Jeongguk's face as he peeped at him. And seeing his similar wide smile with his luminous eyes while he nodded vigorously made his heart prance. "You're truly beautiful, Taehyung."

His sugary, unforeseen statement struck him with ultimate fondness for that cherry-haired boy as he felt a fire blaze in his chest — a fire that was stronger and deeper like no other.

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