Rest of the dinner went splendidly and Taehyung seemed very much normal putting Jungkook at ease. They drove back home- Taehyung's home, and had a little chat during which Taehyung walked in kitchen to grab a glass of water while Jungkook got up to take his leave since he had office next day. When Taehyung came out of the kitchen and saw Jungkook putting on his shoes his face fell.

/He's leaving again. He's leaving me. He's leaving me for someone else./

When Jungkook looked back up, his eyes met with Taehyung's frightened ones and he quickly dropped his other shoe to walk over to him.

"Tae, what happened?"

/He's leaving you.
No, he can't.
Look, he's leaving.
No. Shut up.
He obviously has someone waiting for him.
Shut up shut up shut up./

Taehyung gulped hard as he tried to silence the voice in his head but it kept getting louder and louder. Soon, Taehyung started shaking and Jungkook began to panic. He feared that Taehyung might be having a seizure or something so he tried to run to get his keys but Taehyung quickly grabbed his arm tightly and held him back.

"Tae, wha-"

Jungkook tried to talk but Taehyung suddenly screamed.

"Please don't leave me again! Please don't go to someone else! Please. Please stay with me. I'm begging you."

Jungkook froze in his spot as he heard Taehyung's words and stopped struggling. Here he was thinking that Taehyung was back to normal but out of nowhere the younger started talking about Jungkook leaving him for someone else? Jungkook couldn't make sense of it no matter which angle he saw it from so he dropped the idea of understanding the meaning and just pulled Taehyung closer to his chest as his strong arms wrapped protectively around Taehyung's weakened frame.

"I'm not leaving you, baby. I never will. I promised, remember?"

Taehyung was still shaking in his embrace as Jungkook kept telling him that he wasn't leaving him and rubbed his back, simultaneously. After around five minutes, Taehyung calmed down and when Jungkook felt that the shivering has stopped, he pulled his neck back a little to see Taehyung. The younger was looking down continuously and didn't say anything. Jungkook was struggling with words since he didn't know what could trigger Taehyung and put him in trouble again so they both stood there in each other's arms in a comfortable silence.

Finally Taehyung broke the silence.

"Will you stay with me?"

Jungkook didn't think twice and nodded as he answered.

"Of course, I will."

Taehyung still didn't seemed convinced as he looked up and stared at Jungkook as if he was searching for something on his face.

"You won't leave once I fall asleep, will you?"

Jungkook shook his head. There was no point in reasoning with him because he wasn't in a situation to understand logic. He just worked on whatever crap his mind made up for him and Jungkook was well aware that right now his mind just needed the reassurance that Jungkook was not going to leave Taehyung for anyone else. That's why Jungkook was giving the younger every answer he wanted to hear regardless of the other factors in reality.

Taehyung nodded his head as he pulled away as if nothing happened but Jungkook could see clearly that he didn't believe the older.

"I'll take a shower first. Or do you want to-"

Jungkook shook his head slightly as he smiled at him.

"No. I'll join you, instead."

Taehyung's face turned red in an instant as he gaped at him for a few seconds before turning around running to his room.

Jungkook sighed as he took off his only shoe he was wearing and walked after Taehyung.

"I guess I'll have to take a leave for a few days."

Taehyung had already turned the shower on but didn't lock the bathroom door even though he looked so surprise when Jungkook suggested to take shower together. Jungkook took off his clothes silently before approaching Taehyung with a back hug.

"Should we make this interesting?"

Taehyung smiled slightly as another blush appeared on his cheeks before it dropped all of a sudden. He turned around and faced Jungkook with a somber look making the older hold his breath.

/Who is waiting for him?/

"Why did you want to leave just now?"

Jungkook showed no expression at all so that Taehyung doesn't get confused by his own assumption again.

"Because I have office tomorrow."

/Liar, maybe?/

Whatever Taehyung's mind was riling up, it was showing very vividly in his eyes and Jungkook had no difficulty in reading it all. At least now he knew what Taehyung was thinking so he could respond in a much better way than before when he had no clue whatsoever.

"If you don't believe me you can come with me everyday if you want."

/He's not lying. Stop accusing him.
He left you before so why can't he again?/

Taehyung bit his lip as the voice reasoned and his eyebrows knitted. He couldn't decide who to believe, Jungkook or the voice in his head.

Jungkook could clearly see the struggle of Taehyung and it was obvious that he was having pessimistic thoughts. Jungkook grabbed Taehyung's hand and pulled it up to put on his own chest.

"Do you hear this, Tae?"

Taehyung didn't understand what was going on so he tilted his head slightly.

"Hear what?"

"My heartbeat."

Taehyung looked at his hand placed on Jungkook's chest under Jungkook's hand and tried to hear but shook his head.

"No."

Jungkook pressed his lips and tried to lighten the air.

"I guess the water is pouring very loudly *chuckle*"

He turned the faucet off and looked at Taehyung again.

"How about now?"

Taehyung felt thumping under his palm and grinned widely. He didn't even know why he was getting happy like a little child but he wasn't thinking about it either.

"Yes. Yes I can."

Jungkook leaned forward and cupped Taehyung's face with his other hand.

"Do you know what happens to it when it's with you?"

Taehyung shook his head as he watched Jungkook curiously.

"What happens?"

Jungkook closed the gap between them and kissed him softly. When he pulled back Taehyung had only love in his eyes and no stupid thoughts.

"It goes crazy. But that only happens with you. No one else. Do you know why?"

Taehyung blushed when he heard that.

"N-no."

Jungkook kissed him again before speaking.

"Because you are the only person in this world that I love and you will always be the only one."

Taehyung stared at him fondly as a small smile escaped and graced his lips. His happiness was once again snatched away when the voice in his head reappeared.

/He said that before and married someone else. He's a liar. He's a liar. He's a liar. HE'S A LIAR. HE'S A LIAR. HE'S A LIAR./

Taehyung suddenly closed his eyes and jerked his hand out Jungkook's grip to cover his ears before he yelled in Jungkook's face startling him.

"HE'S NOT A LIAR! SHUT UP! JUST SHUT UP!"

Taehyung was shivering again and Jungkook fully understood now what was going on in his mind. His guess was right but it was better now that it was confirmed. He quickly put his hands on Taehyung's shoulders and started shaking him slightly.

"Tae? Tae, listen to me. Taehyung? Open your eyes. Please, Tae."

Taehyung kept his ears covered and his eyes shut as his body shivered. It seemed like he couldn't hear Jungkook at all even though the older was only inches away from him. Jungkook shook him again but still no change. He then removed Taehyung's hands from his ears forcefully and took in a deep breath before he yelled at him.

"KIM TAEHYUNG! OPEN YOUR EYES. RIGHT NOW!"

Taehyung's eyes shot open like that of a frightened kitten and he stared at Jungkook who looked like he was about to devour Taehyung in one bite.

"Wh-why did you yell at me?"

Jungkook didn't respond to that but before Taehyung could get another stupid idea Jungkook spoke up.

"Do you love me?"

Taehyung looked at him dumbly and replied with a 'huh?' so Jungkook repeated like a robot.

"Do you love me?"

Taehyung quickly nodded like a five year old this time.

"Yes. Yes I do."

Jungkook sighed as he closed his eyes for a second before opening them again and staring at Taehyung's curious ones.

"Do you trust me?"

Taehyung was about to say 'yes' but he couldn't bring himself to. He knew he trusted Jungkook but he couldn't say it. Jungkook noticed that and changed his expression to hurt.

"How can you say that you love me when you don't even trust me?"

Taehyung felt guilty immediately and shut every thought away that was coming to his mind as he shook his head.

"No. I do. I do love you. And trust you. I do."

Jungkook wasn't sure if Taehyung was saying this voluntarily or not so he played on a little more.

"You still think about the past and doubt my love for you, don't you? I know you do."

Taehyung cupped his face and shook his head again.

"I won't do it again. I'm sorry. I really love you, Kookie. I swear."

Jungkook was satisfied for now and thought this might actually work. If Taehyung's attention was diverted from the pessimistic thoughts this way then he should work on it more.

Jungkook sighed as he dropped his hands from Taehyung's shoulders and stood back up.

"Let's wash up quickly."

Taehyung bit his lip but didnt say anything.

/You hurt him. You shouldn't have but you hurt him.
He hurt you first.
Fuck off.
I'm just protecting you.
I don't need your protection. Go away.
You'll regret it.
I don't care. Get lost.
Don't come crying when he leaves you again.
I won't because he won't leave me.
Dream on. I know he will. Just wait./

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