A/N: I had hoped to share this chapter earlier, but my 78-year-old neighbor called me to give me updates I missed after not seeing her for the last couple of weeks. I tell myself that if I live to be 78, I aspire to be as active and full of energy as this woman is because she jumps around like a teenager and never with a cry of ache or pain, even after having eight kids!  She plays tennis, goes fishing, is active in the gym, swims, hikes, plays basketball, and so much more that I can't keep up. She also drives like she is auditioning for a role in Fast and Furious 😂

******

Taehyung, after spending time focusing on and working on his assignments, decided to take a break. He had made his way back to his room after delivering the pizza to Jimin. Since he no longer felt at ease in the company of Jin and Jin's friends, given the response he received after trying to offer pizza,

He tried not to take it personally, convinced Jin's response was unintentional. After all, there were many times when Jin had been perfectly fine with him getting and bringing food. In Taehyung's mind, it seemed that something happened to put Jin in a sour mood at that particular moment. Confident in his beliefs, he leisurely extended his arms and rose from the floor of his room.

He had opted to sit near the broad wall window, taking in the view of the city below. He wasn't sure if he could ever get used to the view. But with no idea of when this view might disappear, he was determined to enjoy it while it lasted fully.

Despite his thirst and the intention to head to the kitchen for a drink of water, he found himself leaning against the window wall, captivated by the view outside. The sight of the vibrant city below moved him to tears, evoking memories of his mother. He pondered whether she had ever witnessed a view like the one he was currently beholding. He found himself wondering about her past, curious about the experiences she had as a young woman. He wished that amidst her responsibilities as a wife and mother, she had the chance to experience different things that made her whole.

He had always seen her as someone who radiated joy and optimism, even during the most challenging moments when life seemed to be throwing everything at her. He felt disappointed that he couldn't fulfill his promise of providing the life he had always envisioned for her and his father. Thankfully, she recognized his intentions and the goals he had in mind. It's the very reason why he would not give up on school or any of his dreams, as he had to push forward, even in the hardest and most challenging moments, motivated by the desire to make his parents proud.

Lost in a timeless haze, Taehyung remained slumped against the window wall; his vision clouded with tears as he mourned the heartbreaking absence of his mother. He felt an indescribable ache in his heart, aching to scream, but he held it back, aware that the silence surrounding his life would only bury it deeper.

Witnessing Jin and his friends ' interactions made him realize the value of companionship. In times of sorrow, having someone around who cares can make a difference, and a few moments of laughter can work wonders for the soul. This became one of the factors that influenced his decision to accept Jin's offer and move in with him. He didn't want to face his misery alone, even though he knew that Jin might not be good for him. Still, Jin provided him with hope. Something he needed to move forward.

After composing himself and collecting his thoughts, Taehyung mustered the strength to leave his room and go to the kitchen.

When he walked into the kitchen, he was taken aback and saw Jin aggressively chopping a carrot on the cutting board. Taehyung's face displayed a clear expression of concern, impossible for him to hide, as he was genuinely worried.

"Are you alright?" Curiously, he inquired while going to the opposite side of the counter, distancing himself from Jin.

"I am fine." Taehyung's eyes widened as Jin reacted harshly and proceeded to cut an onion—more like slashing at it. "Are you sure?" Taehyung questioned once again, his expression doubtful.

"I said, I am fine!" Jin scowled at Taehyung after stabbing the knife deep into the heart of the onion he was chopping. "Now go about your business and leave me alone. Better yet, go ask Jimin whether he's okay."

Although hesitant, Taehyung walked over to Jin, pulled the knife out of the onion, and pushed it aside. He then focused on Jin and said, " Whatever you were attempting to cook, I will finish it. Just tell me, and I will do it."

"I can cook my own food; I don't need your help!"

"I know you can, but I am offering because I want to, so let me, please?" Taehyung said as he moved closer and looked Jin in the eyes. "You know I have always preferred helping you with things like this."

"Yeah, and you also like helping Jimin too! Why don't you help everybody? Maybe that's your calling!" Jin raised his voice and actively waved his hands.

Although Taehyung felt he had done nothing wrong and was unsure of the meaning of Jin's outburst, he remained silent and let Jin have his moment.

When he noticed Jin had calmed down, he asked, "What were you making? Do you want me to make it?"

Jin folded his arms as he looked at all the vegetables he had chopped up. "I don't know."

"You don't know what you were going to make? Or you don't want me to make it? Which one is it, Seokjin?"

"Do you like Jimin, Taehyung?"

"As a person, I believe he is kind and friendly," Taehyung replied after taking a big breath in and out. "But I don't see him as someone I would date or be interested in like that."

"Really? I would've thought otherwise. Maybe you should reconsider. He could use a distraction from his annoying ex."

Taehyung sighed, "Are you recommending that I date Jimin?"

Jin shrugged, "I don't care who you date or don't date. That's your personal choice and preference to do whatever you want with your life."

"As it should be, I guess," Taehyung answered, looking at the mess Jin had made on the counter with the veggies. He was trying to decide what he could prepare because Jin was not telling him what he wanted to eat, so he wondered what he could make.

"What do you mean by that?"

"You stated anybody I date should be my own decision and preference, and I agreed," Taehyung said, glancing at Jin. "You are right in saying that. It is my preference to choose who I like and who I date or don't date. This implies that I am not obligated to date Jimin just because you or anybody else thinks I should. I rather keep my focus on who I want to keep my focus on and date who I want to date."

"But really, who would you go out with? So far, Jimin is the only person who has shown interest in you." While staring at Taehyung, confused, Jin questioned.

Taehyung turned completely around, focusing all of his concentration on Jin. "Because we seldom talk about my private life, Seokjin, I don't think you know anything about me. Having said that, Jimin is by no means the only one who has shown interest in me. Those kinds of stuff simply don't interest me. School is my main focus, which is why I moved to this city."

Jin's eyebrows knitted together in confusion as he questioned, "Who are the others who have shown interest in you? Do they go to our school? Where are you meeting them? How come I've never seen any of these so-called people who have an interest in you?"

"How would you? You act as if I don't exist when we are at school. I don't think you even notice if I walk by you. So, how exactly would you see any of this, Seokjin?"

"Well, forgive me if I don't care to pay attention to you at school. I have more important things to focus on other than you, Taehyung! You are not a priority."

"I am aware, and I don't need a reminder. Anyway, what do you want to eat? Because if you don't want anything, I am going to bed." Taehyung expressed his frustration with Jin's hurtful words, which always seemed to deeply affect him even when he didn't want it to.

Jin chewed on his lip as he stared at Taehyung, "You don't have to make anything. I am not hungry."

"Then why did you cut up all these vegetables? Are you meal prepping?"

"No. I am going to dump them. Don't worry about it."

Taehyung's eyes grew wide. " Dump them? Seokjin, you can't throw them out. These vegetables are of high quality." He then sighed, "Don't worry about it. I'll clean them up and store them in the fridge. I can save them for another day and use them to prepare dinner." Taehyung couldn't believe Jin wanted to get rid of the vegetables. He strongly opposed wasting food and considered it wrong.

"Whatever works for you. Also, when you said you were going to bed, you meant my bed, right?" Jin was curious to hear Taehyung's response.

"I don't think it's a good idea for us to sleep in the same bed-"

"What do you mean by that? Earlier, you agreed. Why are you suddenly changing your mind?"

"Yes, I did agree, but..." Taehyung broke off mid-sentence as he saw a glint of tears in Jin's eyes, literally making his heart hurt. "I am sorry. You are right. I agree, and I will."

"You are an asshole!" Jin screamed and rushed out of the kitchen, shocking Taehyung.

Something was obviously wrong, but Taehyung couldn't put his finger on it. Something had changed in Jin ever since he got back from his vacation to the US; he was noticeably more tense and emotional than usual, even about little things. While it made Taehyung concerned, he restrained himself from probing Jin with questions he was unlikely to get satisfactory answers to.

He spent a few minutes in the kitchen cleaning up Jin's mess. He took a few minutes to clean up and put away the vegetables in the fridge. As he did so, he thought about the meals he could make with them. He decided to quench his thirst by pouring himself a glass of water, but one glass quickly turned into two as he couldn't seem to satisfy his thirst. Later, he went back to his room and put on a T-shirt and shorts before heading off to find Jin's room.

Locating Jin's room proved to be a breeze for him. As he strolled down the hallways, his eyes landed on Jin, who stood by a door with his arms crossed, tightly holding a pillow against his chest.

He couldn't help the smile that appeared on his face as he said, "Were you waiting for me?"

"No! I am going to Hoseok's to sleep."

Taehyung let out a sigh before approaching Jin. With a gentle touch, he took hold of Jin's arm and guided him towards the door, opening it to reveal what he assumed to be Jin's room. "I am sorry about what I said before. I would love to sleep in your bed with you. There's no need for you to go to Hoseok."

"Don't ever do that again," Jin said as he walked into the room closely beside Taehyung.

"I won't," Taehyung reassured him with a confident gaze. "Now, let's go to bed."

As he saw Jin's room, his eyes widened in awe. It was four times larger than the one he was in, with curtain-style windows that offered a breathtaking view of the city, even revealing glimpses of the ocean in the distance.

After approaching the bed and climbing in, Jin stated, "Make sure the door is locked with the lock before you come to bed."

With a nod, Taehyung went to the door and locked it.

*****

Shortly after Taehyung settled into bed, Jin drifted into a peaceful sleep. Nevertheless, after four hours, Taehyung was still wide awake, struggling to fall asleep. Jin's relaxed position, with one arm and face resting on Taehyung's and his thigh thrown over Taehyung's waist, made it difficult for Taehyung to move and made him feel very heated.

Nevertheless, he remained completely still, unwilling to disturb Jin's peaceful sleep, sensing that he was in a deep sleep. He lay there in the darkness, his fingers gently running through Jin's hair, lost in thoughts of what it would be like if Jin felt the same way about him.

As soon as he sensed Jin's slight movement, he swiftly withdrew his hand from his hair.

Jin inched closer to Taehyung, wrapping his arms around him tighter. He questioned, "Why did you move your hand?"

Taehyung's eyes grew wide with surprise, yet he remained silent except for a simple apology. He gently resumed running his fingers through Jin's hair. Shortly after that, he could hear the gentle sound of Jin's snores as he peacefully fell back asleep.

He wasn't sure how long he had been doing that, as at some point, he, too, had fallen asleep.