Please read the Table Of  Contents (chapter 1) for description.

HIGHLY highly recommended song— Begin Again- Taylor Swift (bc that is what this excerpt is based on)
======================

Took a deep breath in the mirror
He didn't like it when I wore high heels
But I do

Bow ties. It's not a mainstream accessory for someone to adorn on a daily basis. Taehyung however relishes in them.

They've always stockpiled a sense of completion in his deportment, without which he feels a feeble part of him missing constantly keeping him uneasy. Like an overly chipped nail.

He chuckles into the mirror, shakes his head. If he's being forced into a blind date, might as well put on what his ex quoted 'the most repelling thing to ever exist.'

He ties the red and yellow bow on his collar, makes it as pristine as he did two years ago when it used to be a necessity for his attire.

He chuckles again. This day better end soon.

Turned the lock and put my headphones on
You always said I didn't get this song
But I do, I do
Walked in expecting you'd be late
But you got here early and you stand and wave
I walk to you

The moment his eyes catch the name of the sushi-bar from the cab, he begins to shuffle in his sling bag for the headphones.
Muttering profanities, he ponders he should've pre-chosen the playlist to hear while he waits for the date he does not look forward to.

He doesn't pilot his feet to screech to a stop right outside the restaurant when his eyes immediately catch the only singularly occupied table at the side.

Taehyung fishmouths.

Although he's pretty sure of his hunch, he still second checks. He opens Jimin's chat box to where he sent a photo of the chosen one for himself; then glances at his watch.

This guy is half an hour early.
Oh and, is absolutely enchanting.

It's a curse how despicably advanced man claims to be, a picture doesn't do justice, not half, as even through the grime of the glass entrance, the boy radiates glitters in his aura.

So his hand flies straight to the bow tie that he snatches away from his collar and pockets quickly, clears his throat and induces himself for hours of discomfort.

You pull my chair out and help me in
And you don't know how nice that is
But I do

After a heckling monologue, he finally enters the venue. The jingle of the door syncs well with the bass- drum beats of his heart, as he beelines straight to the guy.

The aforementioned is quick to pull away the nail he was chewing on, and stands up as if to honour an arrival. That was new.

"Kim Taehyung." He extends an awkward hand in the air, not sure how semi-blind dates are supposed to greet.

Much to his triumphant relief, the guy takes it gladly and nods back. "Jeon Jungkook."

There's an arm full of illustrative tattoos emerging out of the sleeve of the folded sleeve of the grey cardigan. The handshake firm, but gentle at the same time.
He has his hair beautifully tossed back with a perfunctory flick loose on his forehead in the most Wade Walker style Taehyung has ever come across in real life.

Contrastingly though, Jungkook rushes to the opposite side and pulls the chair, something cinematically surprising to Taehyung, and waits for him to step in.

When Taehyung settles, trying not to stumble on himself, Jungkook flashes him a smile so lustrously child-like, that there's a whole whirl of warmth blanketing Taehyung's insides almost to the point of making him perspire.

"Thank you." The peak of his cheeks are emitting enough heat to cause his eyes crinkle.

And you throw your head back laughing like a little kid
I think it's strange that you think I'm funny 'cause he never did
And I've been spending the last eight months
Thinking all love ever does
Is break and burn and end

"Ooh, ok. I got one." Taehyung lisps with a mouthful before speed chewing on his temaki, and sips his soda thereafter. "Why don't teddy bears ever get hungry?"

"Y'all don't?" Jungkook giggles and dodges back the hand Taehyung swings at him. "Ok, ok. Why not?"

"Because... they're always stuffed."

Taehyung presses his lips together, almost packets his laughter in an inflated pouch of his cheeks, but one loud guffaw from Jungkook and they both lose it together.

Taehyung's own chortles however quickly simmer into a sedate smile of content watching the other toppling backwards and doubling over, loud and unmitigated.
There's a drop of elation on the corner of his eye, and he cackles uncontrollably till it's scratching into a quailing cough.

"Your turn now." He says with an amiable smile that, to see, is only a little delighted twitch of lips; but to feel, it's denting right on his stitched-wound heart.

And we walked
Down the block to my car and I almost brought him up
But you, Start to talk about the movies that your family watches
Every single Christmas
But I want to talk about that
And for the first time, what's past is past

Sitting affront each other, exchanging jives and puns turned out more easy flowing than Taehyung had fretted it to be.
Or if he divulges, maybe it's the effervescence of sincerity that Jungkook leaves at every end of his sentences.

Taehyung ducks his head to conceal the shy smile slipping on him for no reason.

Now however, three hours and four kinds of sushi later, as they stroll out side by side it is all a notch realer.

The cashmere over the shoulder of Jungkook's cardigan softly brushes on the cotton of Taehyung's shoulder eliciting a gentle hum that none of them want to rivet their eyes on... or draw away from.

"So, um." Taehyung pep talks himself to start this time, the boulder over his shoulders suddenly a quintal heavier.

"Taehyung." It's then at this restive call that he notices how this guy walking parallel to him isn't the radiantly exultant one from earlier, rather a more nervy one who's practically on the edge to put out his thought.

Oh no.

It's fine though. Doesn't matter. A little rejection wouldn't make a change in his life. Nothing Taehyung hasn't faced before (countless times in one past relationship, if we're on that topic).

He braces himself for bad, but still not the worst now that he's seen how weighing the goodness on Jungkook's heart is.

"I... uh." He sees him rub the back of his neck, tumbling over his word as if searching for subtlety to cushion the blow.

"Jungkook-" Taehyung chuckles and hopes it doesn't come out as forlorn to the other as it did to himself.
"I can take a no. Not like I would throw a tantrum... not until I call my Mommy at least." He tries to lighten the air that had settled heavy between the two.

"What are you talking about?" Jungkook mocks, the previous calm in his features makes a short comeback and that has Taehyung unwiring into a sigh instantly.
"I was just nervous for... this."

"What's this?" Taehyung takes the box that Jungkook miraculously presents out of his pocket.
"May I?" After a nod he starts to gently unwrap it out of the white gift paper with tiny sunflowers on it.

Whilst he does that, he can see Jungkook thrum with nervous blabber, while he knocks the tips of his shoes together.

"I, um, had wanted to bring something for you, you know, 'cause you agreed to come to this date even though Jimin told me you weren't really looking for anything, so as a thank you! I.. uh.. went through your Instagram and thought.. WaitIWasn'tStalkingISwear!!—"

Jungkook cuts off the moment Taehyung inhales a loud gasp, clutching tight the content of the box.

The prettiest bow-tie he's ever laid eyes on.

'Cause you throw your head back laughing like a little kid
I think it's strange that you think I'm funny 'cause he never did
And I've been spending the last eight months
Thinking all love ever does
Is break and burn and end

Jungkook volunteers to tie the gifted bow on his collar, and he realises he has no word in his vocabulary other than a yes.

Taehyung stands with the most vivid blush on his face and a sense of accomplishment in his chest as Jungkook straightens the knot, smiles proudly, then hails a cab for him.

"Please, please text me back." Jungkook says his parting words with a grin. "Or I'll have to call your mommy to cry."

Taehyung shakes a dismissive head, and with a smile takes a step closer. He extends himself closer, watches the other flutter his eyelids before he places the gentlest kiss on Jungkook's rosy cheek.

"How about a game of OW at mine for date #2?"

But on a Wednesday in a cafe
I watched it begin again.

==================================

If you got the Wade Walker reference, I love you almost as much as I love Johnny Depp

Thank you for sparing your time

Byeeeeee