Blinding lights and deafening music filled the dance floor during the afterparty of the fashion event that Taehyung and his friends participated in.

"Congratulations!" Namjoon said as he handed the drinks to his models.

"Thanks, hyung." Jimin beamed, drinking the alcohol in one go.

Taehyung's concerned gaze landed on his best friend upon seeing how quickly he finished his drink.

"Don't get too drunk, Chim." Taehyung advised.

He took a sip from his own glass as he secretly scanned the place. There were famous faces on the dance floor, businessmen, and even artists who were all having a great time dancing to a popular song.

His eyes continued to search the crowd, only to feel disappointed when he failed to spot the person his eyes were desperately looking for.

"He probably went home already." He said, thinking out loud.

"Who?" Jin asked, curious.

"Huh?" Taehyung flinched.

"Who went home?" Jin repeated, and everyone's attention was shifted to Taehyung.

"Who? What are you talking about?" Jimin inquired which had Taehyung looking away.

"Nothing. I was just blabbering." He quickly responded, finishing his drink in panic.

There was an instant kick in his system that he disregarded as he excused himself to avoid further interrogation.

"Excuse me, restroom break."

Before Jimin could grab him, Taehyung was already making his way to the restroom. He had to pass through the crowd, a few bumps here and there, before he was safely out of the dance floor.

"That was wild." Taehyung murmured.

He made his way inside the restroom where he saw a couple making out near one of the cubicles. The two did not seem to care as they continued to eat each other's faces.

"Ehem... excuse me." Taehyung awkwardly said, walking quietly towards the sink. He wanted to turn around the moment he entered, but that would be too obvious.

The sound of the water coming from the faucet drowned the sound of kisses and moans of the two. Taehyung quickly washed his hands and grabbed a tissue from the dispenser. He could feel his cheeks burning from embarrassment with every second he stayed inside that place.

As he was about to turn and leave, his eyes caught a glimpse of a figure entering. Taehyung's eyes turned wide as saucers when he stared at the man who was stoned in the entrance upon seeing his face.

"Jungkook..." Taehyung uttered in surprise.

He saw Jungkook's gaze go steady on him before it darted to the couple who were heavily making out in the corner.

There was a hint of amusement in Jungkook's face before he looked back at Taehyung whose face was as red as a tomato.

Jungkook took a couple of steps towards Taehyung, carefully grabbing his hand in the latter's surprise, intertwining them before dragging him out of the restroom.

The warmth of their hands together made Taehyung's heart go crazy. He could not comprehend what was going on as he allowed himself to be led by Jungkook past the crowd.

"What are you doing here?" Taehyung asked, voice muffled by the blasting music.

Jungkook stopped, leaning down until his lips were almost touching Taehyung's ear.

"Let's talk outside. I cannot hear your voice here." Jungkook responded.

Taehyung felt shivers down his spine upon hearing Jungkook's voice. It was too vivid despite the loud music playing on the dance floor.

He allowed himself to be dragged by the ravenette until they were out of the establishment.

Still with their hands intertwined.

-------

"You did not answer my question."

Taehyung stared at Jungkook as he waited for his response. The two of them were sitting inside the ravenette's car which was parked a few blocks away from where the afterparty was being held.

"Hm..." was all Jungkook's response before leaning backwards, grabbing a box of chocolates and a bouquet of flowers on the backseat, which Taehyung failed to notice because it was covered by a blanket.

"Congratulations on a successful show." Jungkook said, handing him the flowers and chocolates with the most coquettish grin he had seen from him in a long while.

Taehyung failed to suppress his own smile from showing.

"Thank you, but you really shouldn't have." He uttered, touching the three blue roses in the middle of the vividly red ones.

"I want to, Tae." Jungkook answered, staring deeply in his eyes.

"You look lovely, Taehyung." He added, reaching his hand to caress Taehyung's face.

The warmth in Jungkook's hand settled Taehyung's thundering heart.

"When you walked confidently on the runway earlier, I couldn't be prouder." Jungkook continued as he gently traced Taehyung's face with his thumb.

"I thought I was hallucinating. You should've told me you're coming." Taehyung said, meeting Jungkook's gaze.

"I wanted to surprise you." Jungkook answered, smiling.

The two of them kept their eyes fixated on nothing but each other for a long time. Slowly, their faces inched closer, breath fanning each other, and lips almost touching.

Jungkook pressed their foreheads together with their eyes still locking each other's gaze. The tension was palpable, and it took a lot of restraints on both ends not to cross the line.

"What are we doing, Jungkook?" Taehyung asked, breathless.

It was a question that both of them could not answer... afraid to answer.

"I'm sorry, Taehyung." Jungkook whispered instead.

"I know you said last night that you need time to think whether to spend a day with me or not, but here I am making you even more confused." He added, cupping Taehyung's face with his hands.

"I will be going back home tomorrow night because of an emergency, Taehyung."  He informed.

He could see the hesitation in Taehyung's eyes for a moment.

"Before I leave, tomorrow night at 8... I will wait for you in the park in front of the Eiffel tower, Taehyung." Jungkook promised.

"Jungkook..." Taehyung felt conflicted.

"I won't be forcing you to accept me again, Taehyung, nor will I expect anything from you." Jungkook assured.

He had always been the one to wait, then and now. Only this time, he finally learned to accept whatever the outcome of waiting could become.

"I will wait for you before the first sparkle of the lights. If you show up, I will take you in my arms and never let go ever again. If you choose not to..." Jungkook sadly smiled, thinking of the possibilities.

"If you choose not to go, I will respect your decision and let go. I will still support you in everything you do, Taehyung. I will still wish you happiness."

Taehyung could see the sincerity in Jungkook's raven eyes. Sincerity that he had seen from the Jungkook of his memories.

Before all the pain.

Before all the regrets.

Before all the secrets.

His Jungkook.

Taehyung felt Jungkook's lips brush the corner of his lips in a fleeting kiss, and the only thing that he could think of at that moment was the warmth it made him feel.

-------

In the morning of the next day, Taehyung woke up feeling a bit under the weather. He gazed at the time and it was past 10. He sluggishly went out of bed to take a quick shower before going down the dining hall of the hotel he was staying together with his friends.

He immediately saw Jimin and Jin eating together.

"Finally, I thought you're not going to wake up." Jimin commented, tapping the chair next to him.

"Sorry, did you try to wake me up?" He asked as he took a bite from the bread Jin handed him.

"You have no idea! I was banging your door for 5 minutes, and I almost got scolded by the hotel staff." Jimin exaggeratedly said.

"Oh, come on." Taehyung groaned, not buying it.

Jin was simply enjoying his breakfast and the endless bickering of the two, when Namjoon arrived and joined them.

"You're all so energetic." Namjoon commented, taking a seat next to Jin.

"You bet." Jin agreed.

"That's perfect. We are free today and tomorrow, so you can put all your energy into going around the city." Namjoon informed.

"Yes, finally! I already have a lot of places in mind." Jimin excitedly showed them the places he saved for their free days.

"Let's finish eating, freshen up a bit in our rooms, and then let's meet at the lobby after an hour. Okay?" Jimin instructed, to which they all agreed.

As soon as they finished eating, they went back to their rooms to do exactly what Jimin had instructed.

Taehyung was applying a bit of makeup when his eyes lingered on the corner of his lips, and everything that had happened last night flashed in his mind.

I will wait for you before the first sparkle of the lights.

He stopped, losing himself in his thoughts for a long time.

Taehyung glanced over his reflection in the mirror one more time, and all he could see was a man shaped by time and changed by everything he had been through.

A man who is ready to formally close a chapter in his life, so he can officially start anew.

-------

Love you 💜