The serene slumber cloaking Jungkook’s consciousness dispersed by the constant whispers and muffled giggles that resounded through the room.

“Come on,” Jimin grumbled. “It wasn’t that bad.”

“He didn’t even raise his head from his laptop, Chim. You dolled yourself up for nothing,” Taehyung mocked and burst into hushed chuckles with Hoseok.

“Yah!” Jimin hissed louder than he should, and the other two shushed him immediately. “Whatever. It was just the first day. I’ll make him notice me today.”

Hoseok smiled at his determination. “You can do it, Chim.”

Taehyung agreed with a nod. “Of course you can. We’re just teasing you. You know that.”

Jimin shot a grin at them and spread his arms, silently asking for a group hug. The other two giggled and sneaked into his embrace.

With a husky groan, Jungkook snatched his extra pillow from beside him and slammed it over his ear to block their irritating chatter.

The three friends twisted their heads towards the exasperated sound, still holding each other. “Shit, we woke him up,” Taehyung murmured.

“It’s already eleven in the morning and he’s still sleeping. It’s his fault,” Hoseok said loud and clear, lifting an indifferent shoulder.

“You can just go somewhere else to yap on about your embarrassing love life.”

Jimin withdrew from the hug as his expression darkened in offense. “Embarrassing? What’s embarrassing about trying to get what I want?”

“The fact that you were completely invisible to that guy,” Jungkook quipped.

“Yah, you ass—”

“Chim!” Hoseok rushed to say as he clutched his biceps. “Remember. We should just ignore him. Don’t bother answering him.”

Taehyung gave a soothing pat on Jimin’s back. “He’s right. Let’s just do whatever we want without caring about him.”

Jungkook huffed in scorn and removed the extra pillow, since there was no way he could fall asleep again. Seokjin’s words from yesterday crawled into his head, and he pondered on them, as the other three continued getting ready and chatting about things he didn’t pay attention to. It’s too late to be nice to them. And I don’t even want to be.

A few minutes later of bantering without caring about the fourth presence in the room, Taehyung slipped his folder with his drawings, blank papers to draw new ones, and his tablet into his backpack, and they were ready to go. They exited the room and sauntered along the hallway towards the elevator.

“I swear that guy is so weird,” Jimin said. “Why is he wearing his mask even in his sleep?”

“He probably wants to hide something,” Hoseok guessed. “Maybe he has a scar. Or a burn. I don’t know.”

“Or maybe he just wants to hide his face.”

Jimin glanced at Taehyung at his remark in puzzlement. “But why?”

“Who knows?” Taehyung sighed, but then his eyes widened at the remembrance of his pencils, which he forgot to take. “My pencils... Go downstairs. I’ll come find you.”

Once he received a nod from the two, Taehyung hurried back to the room. He unlocked it with the card key and burst inside, but the sight of the shirtless stranger sitting up sideways in his bed got him stuck to his spot.

Jungkook covered his right arm with his stout upper body and grasped his pillow to use it as a shield. His owlish eyes stared at the floor, his heart stumbling over its rhythm in extreme anxiety. He could discern the intruder was still gaping at him frozen stiff with the corner of his eye. “Yah, turn around, you creep.”

His frantic words ripped Taehyung out of his entrancement, and he twirled to face the wall at once.

Jungkook put on his long-sleeved shirt in a hurry, hoping — praying — that guy didn’t manage to see anything. “I thought you guys left.”

Taehyung cleared his throat, still deep in a state of shock and stupefaction. “Um, I—I forgot my—my pencils.”

Fuck, why is he stuttering like that? He saw it, right? Fuck, fuck! Jungkook screamed in his head as his face wrung with frustration. “Just take them and leave. And next time knock first.”

Taehyung ducked his head and scuttled to the nightstand where he had placed his pencil case. “Sorry. I won’t tell anyone about it.”

“About what?” Jungkook shot back, round eyes boring into his profile.

“Um, about seeing you, you know... shirtless.”

The tension from Jungkook’s muscles subsided. “Good.”

Taehyung, still with his chin tucked into his chest, bolted out of the room. He shut the door and leaned his back against it with a trembling sigh, arms hanging on each of his sides as if they were lifeless. Ink. He has tattoos on his right arm. And on his back... Was that a scar?

He screwed his eyes closed as he endeavored to make out what that mark was. But he soon realized he was too mesmerized by his well-built muscles and too busy drooling over them to pay attention to anything else. After seeing that, I can die in peace. I don’t even care. His lips curved into a blissful smile as the image of his mouthwatering muscles jumped around in his head.

The sound of a door opening near him had him jolting, and he resumed his way with long-legged strides and a spellbound smile inscribed on his face.

I wonder how hot his face is, Taehyung thought, sighing lightly. Why does he have to wear a mask? So annoying...

Taehyung arrived at the ground floor and trod towards the reception. His steps faltered upon finding Jimin leaning against the counter and chatting with Yoongi. He stood there, gazing at the scene in sheer amazement.

  
After Taehyung went back to the room, the two friends headed to the reception. Before making their presence known to the man behind the counter, Hoseok held onto Jimin’s hand. “Yah, this is a good chance to chat with him. I want to use the bathroom, anyway.”

Jimin’s eyes gleamed in glee. “You’re right! Go, go.”

“Good luck.” Hoseok winked and gave him a pat on his shoulder before bundling off.

Jimin brushed his hair back, giving them the natural messy look he wanted. He squared his shoulders and advanced, keeping his eyes locked on his target. “Hello, Yoongi-ssi.”

The said man, who was seated behind the counter, didn’t tear his gaze away from his laptop, nor showed any change in his blank expression. “Hello, have fun,” he said so mechanically, as if it were a recorded message.

A pout attempted to sink the corners of his mouth, but Jimin forced it away. “I’m not leaving yet. I’m waiting for my friends.”

“Oh, okay.”

Jimin made a moue of rage at his failure to make the man simply glance at him. He pasted a kittenish smile on his lips and leaned against the counter. “So, are you from around here?”

Yoongi’s movement of scrolling down the page ceased at the question, and for the first time, he glided his eyes up to his. He reclined in his seat and rested his elbows on the armrests, his view narrowing on him. This is the guy Jungkook mentioned yesterday, huh? Without wanting to, his mouth twitched into a slanted smirk.

“Oh? You’re finally looking at me.”

“Yeah, I wanted to see who’s bothering me, so I can make up an excuse to avoid him next time.”

“Yah,” Jimin grunted, his affable smile now long gone. “What did I even do? I just wanted to chat a bit.”

“Exactly. I don’t want people to talk to me.”

“You know, you’re not so kind to your guests. You can get fired for being rude.”

A chuckle broke out of Yoongi as he rolled his head to the side and then aimed his eyes at him again. “Why would I fire myself?”

Jimin didn’t have to examine his words too much to comprehend their meaning. “You own this place?”

“Yes. And I can kick you out if you keep harassing me.”

Jimin gasped in affront. “Harassing? I just talked to you!”

“It’s the same for me.”

Jimin’s irritation melted away as he decided to go all in on his last attempt. He smiled sweetly, batting his eyelashes. “I’m sure you have a nice side as well somewhere deep inside you. Why don’t you surface it by yourself and save me the trouble, hmm? Don’t be an ass without a reason.”

Yoongi copied his smile. “No, thank you,” he sneered. “And tell your friends to come here already. They’ve been watching us from the start.”

Jimin glanced behind him and indeed saw his two friends partly hide in the hallway. “Guys. Let’s go.”

The two spurted forward with awkward smiles. They bowed their head to Yoongi and dragged Jimin out of the hostel.

“It didn’t go well, huh?” Taehyung asked with a sympathetic smile.

And Jimin could only sigh and narrate what happened with a pout on his lips.

🥀

Yoongi entered the storage room at eight sharp and found his three friends already seated there with beers in their hands. “To answer your question, Kook, no, we didn’t find anything, and everything is going well in Seoul.”

Jungkook stared at the seemingly annoyed Yoongi, who snatched a beer and plopped down on his chair. “I... didn’t say anything?”

Yoongi’s riled-up nerves soothed a fraction at the first sip of his beer. “Sorry.”

“Why are you so pissed?” Namjoon asked.

“I don’t know. I’m having a bad day.”

“You sure nothing happened?” Jungkook questioned, maintaining a straight face of nonchalance.

“Yes, nothing happened.”

Jungkook nodded slowly and nipped at his drink in the fragile silence that ensued. “Yoon. That guy who said he’ll make you fall head over heels for him. Remember him?”

Yoongi tensed at the mention of him, though he strove to obscure it. “What about him?”

“He was bitching about how he got rejected again by you. And I took a glimpse of him. He’s hot enough for you. Don’t you think?”

Yoongi expelled a bitter sigh, then chugged his beer. “He’s more than hot. But especially you, you know where we come from. You know what we are and the shit we’re going through right now. How can you suggest making a move on him?”

Jungkook allowed a smile to take over his face, even though it was small and highlighted by a glimmer of sadness. “Is it so bad to have a little fun while we’re in this shitty situation? He wants to play with you. Play with him too. He’ll disappear in a few days, anyway.”

Yoongi reflected on his short speech, gazing at his can of beer. “What if I put us in danger?”

“The only one who can do that is me. And I’m not planning to reveal my face or have fun with anyone. I can only stay in that damn room and hide. You, on the other hand, can have as much fun as you want. I’m just saying don’t let the opportunity go to waste.”

Yoongi’s eyes flew to him and narrowed to a pinprick. “You just want him to stop bitching about me because it annoys you. That’s why you’re saying all this. Right?”

Jungkook’s lips sprawled into a grin, then he broke out laughing. “Was I too obvious?”

Yoongi slapped his shoulder, laughing with him like the other two. “Yes, you were, you little asshole.”

As their cackles quieted down, Jungkook regarded Yoongi with genuine fondness. “I mean it, though. We’ve been stuck here for four months because of me, and I don’t know for how long we’ll have to stay here. I want you three to at least enjoy your time. And not feel imprisoned like me.”

Everyone felt the heaviness that poured into the atmosphere at his last remark, and it pained them, truly, to see their dongsaeng go through this torment.

“It’s for your protection, Kook,” Seokjin uttered. “And it’s not your fault we’re stuck here. We chose to come with you.”

“Of course,” Namjoon said with a nod. “We would never leave you alone in this. And we’ll protect you with our lives if we have to.”

“Yah,” Jungkook snarled. “Thank you for caring, but don’t do anything stupid. I want all of you to be careful. And if you reach a dead end, just give me up. I’ll get away somehow and find another place to hide.”

“That’s not happening,” Yoongi snickered. “We’ll stick together. Always.”

Jungkook gazed at his friends with fond gratitude, and his face split with a warm smile. “Cheers.” He held his can out, and the other three clinked their drinks together as similar smiles decorated their faces.

 
After their two-hour gathering, Seokjin headed down to the reception for his night shift, Yoongi went to sleep, Namjoon reviewed the pending payments, and Jungkook retreated to his room.

The said room was thankfully empty, and he spent his time like he did the past four months in these four walls; playing games on his phone that didn’t contain a sim card.

He did nothing else than exercising and playing games, really. There wasn’t anything more he could do, anyway.

It was about an hour later when the beep of the door unlocking rippled through the room, and he turned to face the wall, continuing his game time.

“That was a long day, but we had so much fun!” Hoseok chirped as they entered.

“Yes, if we take out my humiliating rejection, this day was fun indeed,” Jimin said with prominent sarcasm.

Jungkook rolled his eyes skywards, smacking his phone on the pillow. Not again, for fuck’s sake.

“You can’t give up, Chim.” Taehyung rubbed encouraging lines on his back. “I think we all expected his curt behavior, judging by his frosty persona.”

“Oh my fuck,” Jungkook snapped, unable to contain his nerves any longer. “I feel like I’m watching the same damn movie over and over again.”

The three trained a quizzical view on him. “What?” Taehyung asked.

“Weren’t you here just a few hours ago saying the exact same things? Yoongi was a jerk, he rejected you, and you’re embarrassed. Okay, deal with it, and try again, for fuck’s sake.”

A charged hush spread through the room as the three friends exchanged glances of utter confusion. “Did... Did you just give me advice? Or are you lashing out at me to make me shut up about it?” Jimin asked.

“Both. So talk about something else or please, I’m begging you, shut up.”

Taehyung cracked a smile as he approached his bed and propped his forearms against it. “That was cool of you. You know, to give Jimin advice. Maybe you’re warming up to us?”

“Are you leaning against my bed?”

“Yes.”

“Don’t. Go away.”

Taehyung tsked, straightening his posture. “Or maybe you’re not,” he murmured with a sigh.

The three bantered some more about their day as they put on their pajamas and slipped into their beds.

“I’m wasted,” Hoseok breathed out. “Goodnight, guys.”

“Me too. And we have to wake up early to go diving, so set your alarms,” Jimin reminded.

“But we’ll wake up... You know,” Taehyung pointed out, feeling just a tiny bit bad at the thought.

“Then what are we going to do? We have to wake up somehow,” Jimin said.

“Just set your alarms,” Jungkook cut in, indifferent. “I don’t care.”

“Thanks,” Taehyung smiled. “One alarm is enough. I’ll wake you guys up if you don’t hear it.”

Both agreed and said their goodnights before closing their eyes. Taehyung faced the wall and curled into a ball, sighing softly. It was quite early for him to sleep, to be honest, and they didn’t go for drinks this time to feel tired enough.

He tried his best nonetheless to empty his mind of any thought, but even half an hour later, he kept rolling from side to side, clutching his extra pillow. At last, he remained on his side, facing the stranger across from him, and regarded his back.

The image of the shirtless stranger bloomed in his head once again, and he swore there wasn’t a way to banish it. It lingered there, toying with his sanity and bringing goosebumps along his spine.

Light breaths echoed in the room for a while now from his two friends, who seemed to have fallen asleep in minutes, and he focused on these sounds in his attempt to understand if the stranger was asleep as well.

He soon concluded he was right; these breaths that sounded like muted snores came only from Jimin and Hoseok. He cleared his throat, pushing down his anxiety about the thought of talking to that man, and unfolded his mouth. “Um, masked man? You’re not sleeping, right?” The silence after his question went on strong, making him doubt himself. Was I wrong? Is he sleeping?

No, he’s probably ignoring me.

“You know, I hate calling you that. Masked man. It feels rude. And so distant. Can’t you just tell me your name?” Still, no kind of response sounded from the opposing bed. The tips of his lips drooped in defeat and his eyes darkened with gloom at the realization that he was all alone in this battle with his raging thoughts.

This will be a long, sleepless night. Taehyung could only sigh and accept his doom.

“No.”

Taehyung’s eyes grew double their size, and a gasp exploded out of his mouth in gleeful surprise. He answered! Okay, okay, calm down. Play it cool. “Um, what should I call you?”

“Maybe don’t call me at all?”

“Come on,” Taehyung snickered. “I don’t like referring to people with such nicknames.”

“If I remember correctly, you wondered if you should call me an asshole yesterday.”

“That was because you pissed me off. Sorry.”

Jungkook stayed mute once more since he had nothing else to say. He wasn’t even sure why he answered him in the first place.

“Um, so why—”

“Do you always start your phrases with um? It’s annoying.”

Taehyung fought the pout that desperately wanted to reign over his features with a vengeance. “I... It’s just awkward. You’re not even looking at me. I feel like I’m talking to a ghost or something.”

“Then you should probably stop talking to me.”

Taehyung tsked and rolled on his back, fixing his gaze on the ceiling. “You’re mean,” he whispered, but it was loud enough for the other to hear. “I can’t sleep. I need something to distract myself so I can sleep.”

“You slept just fine yesterday.”

“Because I was almost drunk. I couldn’t think, even if I wanted to.”

“Then drink again and sleep.”

“I’ll end up an alcoholic if I get wasted every night. And I don’t like the morning headache.” A long sigh rang from the opposing bed, and Taehyung’s features gave in this time; they forcefully accepted a deep pout that even had his gaze filling with sorrowful bitterness. “I’m bothering you. Sorry.”

Jungkook slammed his eyes closed as his face wrung at the sudden fight between his logic and an unknown feeling that broke out within him. He sucked his bottom lip between his teeth as he held his breath. He vacated his lungs with a sharp, sonorous sigh, and reluctantly embraced his overriding defeat.

He turned on his back and positioned his gaze on the ceiling as he held his hands together, letting them rest on his belly. “Why can’t you sleep?” His voice was small, as if he had to force it out of his mouth.

Taehyung twisted his head and stared at him in absolute amazement. He didn’t question his sudden change of heart and instead answered him. “Because I keep thinking about stuff.”

“About?”

“Life, I guess.”

“Then... don’t think.”

He held back a caustic remark about how he hadn’t thought of doing that before. “That’s why I want to distract myself. So I won’t have to think until I get sleepy enough.”

“Why don’t you wake up one of your friends? You know, since they like to talk so much.”

“I can’t do that. We came here to rest. They need their sleep.”

“Then I don’t know what else to say to you.”

Taehyung shifted to his side again, facing him. “You know, your mask makes you suspicious.”

Jungkook stiffened a tad, though with the darkness of the room he was sure the other didn’t notice. “What do you mean? It’s just a mask. Everyone wears one.”

“In their sleep? I don’t think so,” he chuckled quietly. “But seriously, why are you hiding your face?” A gasp spewed from his lungs at the possible reason that sprang into his head. “Are you a celebrity?”

A crooked smile cut across Jungkook’s face. “Why would a celebrity stay here?”

“Hmm, you’re right. Then... Did you come to South Korea illegally with a fake ID?”

“How would I have booked this place? They ask for a bunch of information.”

“You’re right again.” Taehyung contemplated about other possible reasons. “Did you cheat on your wife and she caught you and you’re hiding here?”

“That would be a reasonable explanation.”

“Yeah, but it’s not reasonable for the mask you’re wearing all the time,” Taehyung pouted. “Did you scam someone?” Another gasp left his mouth as his eyes widened. “What if you’re a criminal? That would be so much fun.”

With a frown of sheer confusion, Jungkook turned to look at him for the very first time. Only the table lamp illuminated the room, but he could still make out that man’s gorgeous characteristics. Finally having a visual with that husky, rich voice felt fulfilling, although the baby face he encountered wasn’t what he expected from the said deep voice of his.

He snapped his head away as he blinked on repeat. He strove to discard any shred of shock and awkwardness with a slight cough. “Why would that be fun? Are you crazy?”

Taehyung paid no mind to his once again bizarre behavior. “I don’t know. My life is so boring. I’ve never met someone dangerous. I’ve never been in danger, never did anything illegal, never fought with anyone. I’ve done everything perfectly right in my life.”

“That’s boring indeed. So why did you do that?”

“Because I was raised this way. My father is a surgeon and well-known in Seoul. He taught me from a young age to always behave myself, so I won’t embarrass him.”

“And you never caused trouble? Really? Not even once?”

“No. Never.”

“Did he force you to follow his profession?”

“No, thankfully. My mother tried at first, but I’m just not made to be a doctor. They fought about this a lot. My father knew I wouldn’t be successful as a doctor because I didn’t want to be one. So he let me do what I love. As long as I make my own money and I’m successful, he doesn’t care.”

“Are you?”

“What?”

“Successful.”

Taehyung smiled bitterly to himself. “No, not yet. Maybe that’s why I haven’t seen him in a year now. He doesn’t think I’m worthy of being his son.”

Jungkook scoffed. “Why? Just because you’re not successful yet?”

“That and... some other reason.”

Jungkook rotated his head in his direction at the hesitant hue of his voice. “Which is?”

Taehyung wavered. “Don’t be mean.” He peeked at him multiple times, debating with himself if he should share something personal with someone he met just yesterday — with someone who hadn’t even told him his name yet. “I’m gay.”

Jungkook returned his eyes to the ceiling, as if he had heard the most common thing ever. “A gay, unsuccessful man isn’t worthy of being a surgeon’s son. Sounds about right in this messed-up society.”

Under the bitter irony of his words, there was something soothing and encouraging that painted a warm smile over Taehyung’s features.

“Anyway, are you sleepy yet?”

“You didn’t answer me.”

“What?”

“Why are you wearing a mask?”

“I’m ugly.”

“Yah, no one is ugly. Everyone is beautiful in their own way.”

“Really, I’m so ugly people can’t stand looking at me. So I’m practically doing you a favor that I wear this mask.”

“Come on,” Taehyung snorted. “There’s no way you’re ugly.”

“How do you know?”

“Because no one is ugly. Just let me see your face. I’m so curious.”

“If I was planning to do that, I wouldn’t be wearing a mask from the start. So no.”

“Tsk. You’re impossible.”

“I know. Now let me sleep.” Jungkook turned his back to him and squeezed his hand between his head and his pillow.

Taehyung’s only response was a sigh. Thinking he had already annoyed him enough for the night, he drew his limbs closer to his body and closed his eyes.

Although he still wasn’t sleepy enough, he had the conversation he just had with that stranger to keep him company and occupy his mind instead of his self-deprecating and dark thoughts that often tortured him.

And for some reason, it felt more soothing than he could ever imagine.

───⭒───༺🎭༻───⭒───

So many exciting things are coming! It feels so good to update again, read your comments, and interact with you all. I missed it so much🥰

Don't forget to add this book to your reading list so you won't miss any updates. I decided to update every second day until I finish writing, and then you'll get daily updates💜

Whoever made this edit is going to hell😊🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲