it was the next morning and taehyung stood in front of a huge brown door with the name tag "J. JEON" on it, collecting all his courage to knock. he had a copy of his script with him, it weighing heavy in his bag with the content it holds.

confidently, he knocked three times, getting no response though. he checked his watch, to see that it was still jeongguk's office hours and that he actually should be present.

he frowned a little, knocking again, already thinking about returning back him. instinctively, his hand landed on the door handle and he pulled it down, something within him jumping when the door opened.

his heart swelled, remembering what jeongguk always did when he knew taehyung was going to come by that day. he would always leave his office door open, in case he leaves shortly for a coffee or a call, so that taehyung wouldn't have to be standing and waiting outside.

jeongguk knew taehyung would be coming over today to hand in his script. is that why the door was left open, even though he wasn't there?

or was it open for someone else?

either way, instead of waiting outside, taehyung stepped into the office with a rattling heart and closed the door behind him. he was here the day before, jeongguk was there and he had his whole focus and rage directed towards him.

he couldn't take in the familiarity the room holds. the way jeongguk literally has view over busan through his windows, that would always be even more beautiful at night when all the lights are glistening like little stars. the dark wooden table, the leather seat and sofa, the bookshelves that were halfway filled with all the books taehyung ever read to them and halfway with work-related documents. the plants that jeongguk always forgets to take care of. taehyung always had to be the plant nurse when coming for a visit.

memories crawled up again, clawing at his throat.

they made so many beautiful moments in the three years that passed within those four walls. from catching up on the couch, to making out on it and... from playing a board game on jeongguk's office desk to, eating take out at two in the morning. there was so much more.

this room held so many memories and taehyung wonders how cold hearted jeongguk must be, to throw all of this away. so sudden.

he put his back on the table next to the sofa, put his jacket of and hung it on one of the hooks on the wall. he strode towards the window to look out of it, something he loved to do. he would always get one of those spinning chairs next to jeongguk's chair by the office table and while the older read through his work
files, taehyung would spin around and look out of the window.

the brunet's lip almost twitched up a little.

but the joy he felt was gone when the reality hit him again.

he should be waiting outside, not invade jeongguk office like that. maybe he used to do that with the other's permission, but he wasn't sure if he was still permitted to do so anymore.
he turned away from the window to leave, when something on jeongguk's office table caught his eyes.

a small photo frame, with a photo of two teenage boys sitting on a hospital bed, smiling into the camera as both held up peace signs with their hands. a knot formed in taehyung's lungs.

if jeongguk moved on, why would he keep a picture of the two in his office?

taehyung's arm itched to grab the picture and look at it up close. it was taken by seokjin after a month of jeongguk staying in the hospital after the car accident that was the reason how they got to know each other.

it was the first ever picture taken of them together.

taehyung had never felt heavier as he did when he finally reached out for the photo to take a better look at it. it's been so long already, how can jeongguk throw everything they had away like this?

a knock on the door made taehyung flinch and he quickly stepped away from the table.

jinah, jeongguk's secretary entered with a stack of papers, looking at taehyung with a confused expression. "mr jeon had an emergency meeting, he is not here," she informed.

taehyung smiled awkwardly. "i see, i thought he might not take too long, so i stayed and waited. i will drop by later, then."

he was about to leave, when jinah rasping her throat stopped him. "i believe that's not yours." she pointed to the picture that taehyung accidentally still held in his hands. his eyes widened, he didn't know he still held it.

"o-oh yeah," he walked back to place it kn the table, while jinah watched him. "are you alright, mr. kim?"

taehyung nodded, halfheartedly letting go of the picture. "please let mr. jeon know that i will be here around 4-5pm."

he strode towards the door, before jinah interrupted him again. "if you are here to give him the script, you can leave it on his desk and he will look at it when he has time. he is very busy and doesn't have time to get distracted," she spoke, her voice plain.

taehyung looked at her surprised. "so you know ?"

"that you broke up?" she smiled lightly, "i know everything."

taehyung's heart dropped, hearing someone refer to him as jeongguk's ex. it still feels surreal and like a huge lie the universe is playing to him. "so.. he is engaged?"

"he—" jinah abruptly stopped talking when a new person entered the room, in suit and tie. jeongguk looked up surprised to see jinah in his office, but he wasn't surprised to see taehyung. it was like an enchantment, once jeongguk spotted taehyung, he only looked at him. "i'm sorry you had to wait, i tried to end the meeting as quick as possible."

taehyung cursed him out under his breath. he just had to look this good in a suit, right? he wasn't making it easier for him at all. "it's fine, i have the script with me. if it is alright, i'd leave it here and go back home." taehyung suggested. he didn't know if he wanted to stay here with jeongguk.

"no, stay.. i mean, i might have questions and it would be easier if you are present. also, there is a contract to be signed."

valid points. taehyung internally sighed, giving up. "then, i'll stay."

jeongguk, for the first time that moment, turned to look at jinah. "i'd like to talk to mr. kim alone."

she waved it off with a smile. "i came to give you this." she handed the stack of papers to jeongguk, who groaned looking at it. "again?"

jinah nodded. "again," she smiled and then left.

taehyung awkwardly stood in the room, both hands holding onto his bag, not knowing what to do next. something within switched though, realizing he wasn't here to show weakness. he took the place in front of jeongguk's desk and sat down. "let's get over with this."

jeongguk frowned at the younger's cold tone, walking around the desk to sit down in his seat. "i knew you would be here."

taehyung's lips opened in surprise, but he closed them again. "we had an appointment."

jeongguk chuckled. "usually the client waits in front of the office, not in it."

so he did leave the door open for taehyung, knowing he would enter? taehyung's hands suddenly became all sweaty, but he kept his hard demeanor. "i thought you were in here."

"you knocked and nobody answered, right?" after all, jeongguk is the one and only person who knows taehyung the best.

"i am sorry for invading your office without permission, can we now talk about the script?"

jeongguk stemmed his elbows on the table, placing his chin on his crossed hands. "the door of my office was and will always be open for you, mr. kim."

taehyung felt his cheeks heating up, but besides the fluster, there was a huge ball of frustration growing inside of him. "if we don't talk about the script, i am leaving."

"fine, let's talk about your script. can i take a look at it?"

taehyung nodded, pulling the stack of papers out of his bag, handing it to the ravenette. jeongguk placed it on the table and taehyung grew nervous when he started reading through it.

"you know.. i've read this story somewhere before," jeongguk marked mockingly.

taehyung gritted his teeth. "cut the crap, gguk. just read through it."

without turning his face up from the script, his eyes went to taehyung, making the other's breathing stop momentarily. "gguk, hmm?"

taehyung gulped, breaking off the eye contact. "old habits."

smirking, jeongguk hummed. "i already told you millions of times that your writing is the best i've ever read. i don't need to read it all to give you a contract."

taehyung knew, if they were still a couple, he would have accepted the offer. "i'd like you to read through it all and then make up your opinion. i'm an author and a client, don't treat me differently." he began packing his stuff. "now, if you'd excuse me, i... am seeing someone," he lied.

jeongguk's eyebrows shot up immediately. "who?"

taehyung chuckled bitterly. "i don't think we should talk about our private lives—

"taehyung, who the fuck are you—

"if you want to talk to me, then give me a legitimate contract for my book. see you until then." he got up to leave and jeongguk shot up as well, speed walking after him, until he grabbed his wrist, to stop him.

taehyung turned around with a speeding heart, internally breaking. nothing of that being noticeable in his expression. "let go."

"i have one last question concerning the book," jeongguk spoke, not letting go of taehyung's arm, "do you think the characters' love towards each other is strong enough to overcome any obstacles?"

taehyung blinked, firstly in confusion, then to stop the tears from forming in his eyes. what does jeongguk want from him? he is well of here. "do you?"

something in jeongguk's expression changed. "i asked you first."

taehyung pressed his lips together, fighting his erratic breathing. "if the love is mutual, i think so."

"is it mutual?" the ravenette asked, expectingly.

taehyung glared at him. "what game are you playing here, jeon? i have no time for this." he managed to rip his arm away from jeongguk's hold and stormed out of the room, making sure to slam the door loud enough to pierce jeongguk's heart.

and once he was outside, he clasped his hand to his mouth to muffle his sobs. he passed jinah, who looked after him confused, and entered the elevator, furiously wiping his tears and taking deep breaths to stop crying.

he was angry at himself for crying, staring into the mirror and cursing at himself for letting jeongguk get to him like this.