Jin did the last button on his shirt, running his hands down its smooth silky material. He turned his head from side to side, examining his face. It had been a while since he had seen it in one color. The reflection in the mirror showed a tall, majestic and handsome young man of 20, but his heart was breaking every single day he lived.

In a way, days when Hoseok had been battering him and painting multiple colors on his face had seemed fairer to live in than the recent times when he seemed to be walking around eggshells with Jin. It was stupid to think, Jin knew it. But the pain had been more bearable because Jungkook had been there to comfort him.

Even when he had not mentioned the abuse to Jungkook, just being in his company and making small talks had taken away all his pains and made him happy, satisfied. To think he had left that one person for someone like Hoseok. Jin didn't know what he had been doing when he had let Jungkook slip from his grasp. He had been sure Jungkook would never leave.

To Jin, Jungkook had been that person he was always certain would stick around. The type you felt was a permanent necessity. He had never foreseen a moment where he would crave Jungkook's presence and attention to the extent it almost killed him.

It made him so frustrated because he blamed Hoseok for being the reason Jungkook had given up on him. Because Hoseok had fucked up his reasoning and mentality to an extent he had chosen him over Jungkook when he had obviously known he loved Jungkook more. When he had known Jungkook was the safest, most reasonable and best choice for him.

Jin didn't hate Hoseok, no. He still loved Hoseok very much. But he blamed Hoseok for being the reason why he was hurting and heartbroken. And he was angry because he could not tell Hoseok to his face that he was at fault.

And even though Hoseok was trying, but Jin had gotten over those times when he had craved those kinds of things from Hoseok and had hoped for this change from Hoseok to come, now he was walking on a thin edge with Hoseok, he was going to fall off soon. He knew it.

As he prepared to go to dinner with Hoseok, all he wanted was for the night to be over again, so he could go to school the next day and get distracted with his exams.

Jin's thought was interrupted when he heard a knock on the door, followed by Hoseok's voice. It was low and calm. He had not raised his voice in the house for the last 1 week, as if speaking loudly would hurt Jin too. "Babe, are you ready?"

A sigh escaped Jin's parted lips. He moistened his lips and shook his head. He didn't want to go to dinner. He wanted to be alone and not out with Hoseok.

"Jin?"

Jin turned from the mirror and left the bathroom, meeting Hoseok who was standing outside the hallway all dressed. He looked handsome with his chocolate brown hair tousled forward in a boyish style and his grey contacts glimmering in the fluorescent light, but Jin wasn't going to tell him. He didn't remember the last time he had been confident enough to compliment Hoseok's good looks.

Hoseok's eyes moved down on his body then back up to his face. He pursed his lips in a smile and ran his hands down his thighs. "Ready?"

No. "I am."

"Let's go." Hoseok intertwined their fingers and they left the dorm.

Downstairs, a cab waited for them. The evening was cool, best enough to sit under and play soft music while relaxing.

Hoseok walked Jin to his side and opened the door, shutting it when Jin was situated on the left side back seat. Then he walked over to the right side and climbed in next to Jin.

He smelt musky with a faint of fruitiness, almost delicious as he sat beside Jin. His hair danced carelessly in the relentless breeze. Jin couldn't look away from him. Not because of his handsomeness but because Hoseok was trying —so hard— but somehow, Jin wasn't very moved by it as he knew he should be.

If Hoseok's change had come a month earlier, Jin would have been in his laps kissing the shit out of him and humping his brains out. They probably wouldn't have made it to the cab. Dinner would have been them in bed in between a mattress and a duvet.

At that moment, he was trying to see Hoseok. Not just look at him like he was doing, but actually see him for who he was trying to be. But there was a high wall blocking him from putting himself in a position to do so.

Soft music eased from the radio, it was sultry and emotional. Jin leaned his head against the headrest and shut his eyes. Soft songs like that caused him to remember how unhappy he was. He preferred listening to loud, rock music whenever he felt sad because they usually would help to lift his spirit.

The can driver eventually pulled over in front of a building. It was eight stories high with a large banner, with the Hotel's name, hanging from the first floor down. Crescent Palace.

"Do you like it?" Hoseok asked, standing next to Jin who examined the building.

It was a beautiful building painted in a light color —maybe white or milk— but Jin could hardly tell from the white bulbs stuck to the building walls.

He nodded. "It's nice."

Hoseok smiled. "I knew you'd like it. Come on."

They start to head into the building.

"Jin!!"

Jin swiveled to find Jackson on the other side of the road, waving at him. He was shocked to see Jackson but he pulled his hand from Hoseok's hold. He walked towards the road and smiled.

"Hey!" He called at Jackson, waving. He felt a little happy seeing Jackson, almost relieved. "Where are you headed?"

"Nowhere!" Jackson yelled back as cars sped past their middle on the highway.

"Oh! Do you want to join us!? We're having dinner!" Jin called.

"Isn't it a date!? I would love to though. I haven't eaten all day!"

"No, no, it's not a date! Just dinner! Cross over here!" Jin finished.

Jackson waited for the traffic light to turn red before he ran over to them. He snaked his arm around Jin's arm.

"Hey, Hoseok."

Hoseok frowned. "Sup?" He turned away and headed into the building.

"Is he mad?" Jackson asked Jin.

He was. But Jin cared more about his comfort than Hoseok's mood. "I don't think so. Come on. You said you haven't eaten all day."

Jackson pouted. "I haven't though." And they both began to head into the building.

"Why not? You shouldn't starve yourself."

In the restaurant, Jackson took the seat across from Hoseok, making Jin sit next to him. Hoseok looked livid. He said nothing. And Jackson seemed to be enjoying himself.

A waiter came over with menus and they all ordered their meals.

"This is beautiful, Jin. You should date me so you can bring me to fancy places like this, " Jackson teased.

Jin shook his head. "I can still bring you to fancy places, you know?"

"It would be a lot more fun if we were dating." He turned to Jin with a smirk. "We could do things without limitations then. Like, holding hands, hugging..." Jackson held his breath and winked at Jin. "Even kissing."

Jin furrowed his brows amusingly. He shook his head at his funny friend.

"Isn't that right, Hoseok?"

Hoseok's fists were clenched. He glared at Jackson. "You do realize you're asking his boyfriend this question?"

Jackson scoffed a laugh. "Boyfriend? Please."

"Jackson, enough."

Jackson shrugged but kept shut. He still felt Hoseok's angry eyes on him. He didn't care. It was exactly what he wanted. To show Jin the kind of person Hoseok was.

The waiter arrived pushing a trolley to their table. He placed their meals in front of them and bade them a wonderful meal before leaving.

"Give it." Hoseok reached for Jin's plate. "Let me help you cut the chicken."

"I can do it." Jin picked his cutlery and began to cut his chicken breast into bits.

Hoseok sighed and retreated. He watched Jin struggle to cut the meat. It was his job. He usually cut Jin's chicken in tiny bits. Not Jin.

"This is super delish," Jackson said loudly, splattering chunks of food at Hoseok whose food was opposite his. "Right, Hoseok?"

Hoseok watched a disgusting chunk of broccoli fly from Jackson's tongue and land on the back of his hand. He swallowed a gag.

"Dude, can you shut your mouth while eating?" He said through gritted teeth and glaring eyes.

"What!? I'm just making a conversation," Jackson called loudly, a large chunk of food landed in Hoseok's plate.

Hoseok's eyes turned red with anger, his fists cracked and his glare turned deathly.

"Oops!" Jackson smacked his hands over his hands. "Sorry!"

Jin wished he had not invited Jackson over in the beginning. He might be mad at Hoseok but he didn't want Hoseok to feel angry or out of place, and that was what he realized Jackson was doing.

"Jackson, stop. Seriously, " Jin said to him. He turned to Hoseok who looked like he wanted to rip Jackson's head off. "Let's order another food, okay?"

At the sound of his voice, Hoseok's expression softened and his shoulder fell. He looked to Jin and met Jin's calming gaze.

"Okay?" Jin mouthed.

Hoseok nodded. "Yeah. Okay."

"I'll do it!" Jackson volunteered. He jumped to his feet, knocking his glass of wine over and spilling it all over Hoseok's shirt. "Oh my God! I'm so sorry!"

Hoseok angrily got to his feet, shocked at his stained shirt. "Are you fucking crazy!?"

"Relax, dude. I said sorry," Jackson deadpanned.

"Sorry? You said sorry!? Do I seem stupid to you!? I fucking know what you're doing!"

Jackson smirked smugly. "Oh, really?"

Hoseok began to inch closer, hot air flaring from his nostrils. He wanted to pound Jackson's face into his skull. His eyes pierced into Jackson's challenging one. With all his restraint, Hoseok turned around and stormed out of the building.

"You see what I told you?" Jackson turned to Jin. "He's horrible for you."

Jin let out a heavy breath. "Jackson, you shouldn't have, okay?" He stood up, too, and began to head out.

Jackson quickly grabbed his wrist and pulled him back. "Where the hell are you going?"

"After Hoseok."

"Are you crazy? You're still chasing after that imbecile."

"Jackson, no! Don't call him an imbecile, " Jin defended, frowning at Jackson.

Jackson let out a mixture of shock and amused laugh. "You have been brainwashed, haven't you? After all he did to you!"

"He— You didn't have to embarrass him to prove a point!" Jin retorted.

"Oh, yes, I did! He's a monster!"

"He has changed!"

"He can never change! He's a fucking maniac!"

"No, he's not! I know Hoseok was a horrible person to me but this time, I know it, okay? He has changed. He's the Hoseok I used to know. My Hoseok."

"Jin, please, no. Don't do this, " Jackson begged. "You have no idea what you're saying."

"I do. You don't know him! You don't know anything! Stop acting like you're some kind of superhero. You have no idea what is going on!"

"I do know that he pummels you like a panel beater! I know he has no regards for you! I know he's a self-centered bully who always wants things to go the way he wants it even though he's fucking aware there's a thing called life that always screws our plans! I, also, know.... he's a fucking drug dealer."

Jin's words hung. His eyes itched causing him to blink. He gulped. Hoseok? Clearing his throat, Jin found his voice again.

"Of course you would know that. But guess what? That's my business, Jackson." Jin felt his anger begin to take the form of tears as his eyes wells. Hoseok was a drug dealer? "Because you hang out with me, it doesn't give you the right to do what you did."

"You're angry at me because we're on different perspectives. If you were on my own side of the wall, and you get to watch a sweet innocent guy get physically and emotionally abused by a total idiot, trust me, you'd make it your business whether you're asked to or not."

Jin's mouth hung low with loss for words. He shook his head and walked away, ignoring Jackson's calls and the numerous eyes that had witnessed their argument.

Outside the restaurant, Hoseok stood, leaning against the wall with his head lowered. He lifted his head when he heard someone —Jin— approach.

"Jin, I'm sorry for leaving."

Jin shook his head. "No, it's fine." His eyes focused on Hoseok's red-stained shirt. "Doesn't look so bad. It looks like a tie and dye shirt. Fancy."

Hoseok laughed. "I guess so. If you like it, then I like it."

The amusement died off as quickly as it came. Jackson's words echoed in his head like a desperate voice in the mountains.

"Let's go home and have our dinner there instead, " Hoseok suggested.

Jin's heart beat faster in his chest. His hands shook and his stomach flipped upside down. He shut his eyes just as he felt his throat go dry.

"Jin?"

When Jin opened his eyes, they were red and glossy.

"Babe, are you okay?"

A shaky breath escaped Jin's lips. He looked into Hoseok's eyes, those eyes had once brought his comfort, safety, and sanity.

Not anymore.

"Hoseok, let's talk."