"Jimin,You are ruining my night right now"

"I am not ruining anything,I'm just taking your car because of the job you left for me to do,I wouldn't have been in this position if you still went to the missions" Jimin said to him,rolling his eyes. Grabbing the car keys from the table.

"Yes but that's my car. Take your own,I have a meeting to get to" Taehyung said as he applied the strawberry chapstick on his lips so they weren't dry.  Putting on some other lotions on his face too.

"Meeting? What Meeting? Yoongi didn't say anything about a meeting? Why are you wearing a black silk button down to a meeting? thats not very formal" He asked him as he watched the older man just doing the most for his looks.

"I'm meeting....with Jeongguk. He agreed to talk to me" Taehyung answered,burying his head into the drawer looking for favourite silver rings. Hearing Jimin gasp in the background.

"Holy shit are you for real? like Jeon Jeongguk? the one whose heart you broke because you were too scared?" He asked in disbelief. Making Taehyung roll his eyes.

"Yes,Jimin. That's why I need my car to get to the location. You get your own" Finally,found the rings and wore them on his hands. a silver chain around his neck and he looked flashy.

"And here I was thinking why are you getting so dressed up. It's…nice to see you like this Taehyung. Putting effort into yourself for the first time in years" Smiling wholeheartedly at his best friend.

"Are you saying I have been looking ugly all this time?"

"No,it's not about dressing up, it's about the energy you are giving out right now. I love it and I really hope this date changes things for you guys…for the better of course"  Jimin got up from his seat and hugged his friend from the side.

"It's not a date and I hope so too. I still need my car though"

"God, Taehyung, I will drive you there. I need the car. I told you,Namjoon took mine because it had some problems with it so he being the best boyfriend ever was like I will fix it for you. I need to go to my job,so just please hop in. I will drive you" Jimin explained his situation,making Taehyung sigh.

"That's not the problem,Jimin. How will I get home once I am done? It would probably be past midnight by then,you would be busy at work." He asked Jimin,who stood there for a second. Thinking for a solution when his mind clicked.

"Ask Jeongguk"

"Jimin,I can't. We are not on the best terms to be giving each other rides home. I am glad he is even talking to me after everything I made him go through" Taehyung put on his million dollar worth watch and he was finally ready. Taking one strand of his hair and pulling it behind his ear.

He was checking himself out,he looked really nice. Jimin was right,there was this glow in his face that he had never seen before.

"Just ask,It won't hurt anyone"

"Whatever Jimin,Fine. Let's go,It's going to be 9pm in 10 minutes. I am already late.The restaurant we are meeting at is 30 minutes away. Should I text him that I would be late?" He asked,Jimin nodded and Taehyung quickly took out his phone and texted Jeongguk.

Taehyung
Hey,I would be about 25-30 minutes late I'm sorry

Gukkie
it's alright.

Taehyung
are you there yet? I hope I won't make you wait too long

Gukkie
No,I would be a bit late too so take your time.

Taehyung
Oh that's good then :) will be there soon.

Gukkie
OK

Jeongguk texted him back and shut his phone down. Putting it on the restaurant table,that he has been here for almost 10 minutes now. Sighing, Thinking if he made the right choice of coming here.

He rushed out of the car,quickly bidding goodbyes with Jimin and running towards the main entrance of the restaurant. The restaurant was a pretty rich restaurant,As it was quite unique from others.

It was Traditional Korean restaurant where each table had a seperate room of their own. With the whole place designed as if it came out of the Joseon era,it was quite fascinating to see.

"Do you have a reservation?" The employee asked Taehyung at the entrance.

"Yeah,under the name of Jeon Jeongguk I suppose " He mentioned his name. The employee started to check his list and stopped when he saw the familiar name.

"A reservation for two under Jeon Jeongguk. The host has already arrived,He has been waiting for you for almost 40 minutes now,Please come this way" He told Taehyung,walking inside as the older man followed with furrowed confused expressions.

Forty minutes? Did he really say forty minutes? A lot of time has passed since Taehyung texted Jeongguk. Does that mean Jeongguk got here earlier than the original Time and lied to Taehyung? But why?

It didn't make any sense. Maybe asking Jeongguk would help.

Soon,they reached the room. There were shoji doors leading into the room,which are essentially traditional sliding doors that are seen a lot in older time period Asian movies or dramas. He opened the door for Taehyung,he thanked the man and walked inside.

Closing it the second he got inside. The room was also sticking to the theme. His eyes fell on the younger one who was sitting on the floor with a drink in a small glass in his hand and a table full of food in front of him. He had his head held down.

Looking up once he saw Taehyung enter. His eyes followed that older man who walked towards Jeongguk and sat right in front of him on the floor. Taehyung won't lie,He felt a sense of success when he saw Jeongguk glance all over his body. He was checking him out shamelessly.

"You are finally here,I thought you said only 20 minutes" he taunted Taehyung who immediately apologised.

"I am sorry, there was too much traffic so I got stuck for another ten minutes. What about you? did you have to wait too long?" He asked him this on purpose just to see what he would say.

"No worries,I got here only 10 minutes ago too so It's not that big of a deal" He is lying,why is he lying? He wants to call him out but he doesn't think this is a situation where he can call him out, it will make things worse he knows.

"Right,I see you have already ordered. Shall we start eating first? I think it's better to talk with a full stomach rather than an empty one" Taehyung told him,looking at all the dishes especially his favourites,he remembered.

"Agreed,Let's eat!" He answered and started to put the food on his plate. Taehyung did the same and soon they were too indulged in eating to notice anything else.

The silence was shockingly comfortable to sit in. It wasn't awkward or even weird. It felt really nice if he was being honest. Eating a meal with Jeongguk…just like the old times. Glancing at Jeongguk to see with a distressed expression on his face as he munched on the food.

It made Taehyung giggle,which caught Jeongguk attention. "What? Why are you laughing? Is there sauce on my face or something?" He questioned him.He immediately shook his head.

"No,It's just you still have this distressed face whenever you are eating something really good. That habit of yours is still there and it's cute" He giggled more,It made Jeongguk smile too.

He has been putting up this cold act on but seeing the older smile still warms up his heart despite how shattered it is. It's crazy the insane amount of impact Taehyung still has on Jeongguk. He hates it,everything that takes him back to Taehyung,he despises it.

Going in to take the kimchi from the bowl but his chopsticks clash with Taehyung's. Both backed away,offering the other to go first and take it. After multiple back and forth exchanges like this,Jeongguk grabbed the kimchi with his chopsticks and put it in Taehyung's plate.

He ignored the red face of Taehyung for the rest of the dinner. Once they were done, the waiter came inside and took their plates away. Leaving them both with a clear table with only their drinks on it. It came to the thing they were here for. 

"Let's just get right into it because I don't think any of us got time or patience for a small talk. You start because I actually have nothing to say to you. I made that clear the first day we met" Jeongguk declared to Taehyung, who nodded and cleared his throat.

"Yeah,I know. I am sorry if this meeting is a hassle to your schedule but we do need to talk if we are going to work together from now on. If we don't clear the air,people around us will find out and it would put us in an awkward position" Taehyung tried to act professionally before he got too emotional.

"That's the only reason I came here" He answered,making Taehyung scoff.

"Can I ask you some questions before I start? the new you seems to shock me every time you speak" He asked for his permission. Jeongguk chuckled and straightened his back as he unbuttoned his coat. Letting it stay aside,thank god he was wearing a dress shirt underneath. "Go ahead,I have nothing to hide but I will also ask questions too then"

"Fine,The first and most obvious question,why are you here? Why are you a businessman…I thought you wanted to sing?"  He questioned Jeongguk.

" I stopped singing once we broke up. I never picked up a mic after that day. I got a lot of offers you know,from big agencies. They were begging me to join them and I can debut as a soloist or even an already debuted group. I rejected all of them. How could I sing when my only inspiration left me?" He smiled at Taehyung,making him feel more guilty.

"I am sorry"

"I am not here to hear you apologise. I am tired of your bullshit apologies, Taehyung. Anyway, After that I told my mother living here was hell because every fucking place reminded me of you so I wanted to leave. She said she will only let me leave if I listen to her and study business and management so I can inherit her company. I agreed,I had nothing to lose. So I went to the States,got my degree and opened another branch of our company there. So here I am, unfortunately sitting in the same room as you again." Jeongguk told him.

Taehyung had nothing to say. It made sense and he is glad Jeongguk went to another city and didn't stay here, losing his mind every single day. "You hate me a lot huh? I get it. You have grown a lot,Jeongguk"

"I dont hate you,Just a little mad that my decisions really held no importance to you. Whatever, what happened, happened. My question, why are you here sitting with me? Don't you have people to kill, Taehyung-sshi? What about my safety now?" He was mocking him straight up. He was spitting fire, leaving no space for Taehyung to breathe.

"No. I have left that,I am still the boss but I have stopped going to missions. I only focus on business related matters mostly and sometimes I handle the gang affairs. I have overall stopped killing people because my therapist advised me that it's better if I control myself and stop doing the things that have caused me to have borderline personality disorder" He was telling him everything with full honesty. It's Jeongguk. He doesn't care about anything else. He saw how the younger's expression got softer too.

"You are seeking a therapist. You finally listened to me,Ha? Good for you,I am happy that it is working out for you. But it seems hypocritical to me that you stopped getting involved in more serious matters once you broke up with me. Wasn't that your main concern? My safety? I am pretty sure my safety wouldn't have been in danger if you were planning to pull back. Or was it that you just stopped loving me and was ready to kick me out of your life?" Five years later he is still so bitter. It sounds like he is still hung up on their relationship when he says he has moved on.

"That was never the case!! and I won't tolerate you belittling my love for you like that. Every single word that came out of my mouth for you was the truth. I loved you so uncontrollably that I had to let you go." Taehyung yelled at him,that made him mad. He saw Jeongguk looking back at him with the same fire in his eyes.

"Sure the danger has lessened ever since I pulled back from missions but that doesn't mean it vanished. I still have people around to protect me. I have been getting attacked every 3 months,it's still there but it's not as deadly as it used to be. I would admit my choice of breaking us up so unheartedly was fucked up. I had valid reasons. I am sorry for hurting you so bad because I can't name one day in the last 5 years where I was happy-'' He was cut off by Jeongguk who was holding it in.

"Don't you fucking dare act like a victim,Taehyung. You were the one who broke up with me. Y-You-You have no right to act all sad and h-heartbroken" Jeongguk voice cracked,he pointed his fingers at Taehyung. "What's next you are going to beg me to take you back? because trust me you are in denial if you think I would run into your arms and accept it immediately"

"Don't worry I won't do that. I am not here to beg you to take me back because I know you won't ever agree and I also don't want you to be in misery again. I am here to apologise for hurting you and saying everything that I said to you. Behaving that way to you" Taehyung told him,Jeongguk scoffed because he doesn't believe him.

"I never went out of misery because every single day I get reminded of you. You were my first actual fucking love,Kim Taehyung. I thought my shitty ex was my first love but no you were and you just became just like him. Treating me like an object to use me and throwing me away once you are done with me. Thank you for making me feel like absolute shit" Jeongguk said to him.

"Jeongguk please,It was never my intention to hurt you. Back then I thought if I push you away,Your life would get much easier because I only bring danger to you. I was foolishly in love with you and still am but I can't let my desires put your life in a critical situation. That decision killed me and I haven't felt alive and I can't imagine how it was for you and for that I am sorry. I really am so fucking sorry i valued your life over us" He wanted to yell 'please take me back' but he can't.

He really can't. He can't just put all that damage onto the younger when the younger has decided to move on. He has a boyfriend for fucks sake who actually cares about him and loves him. He won't dare to ruin Jeongguk's perfect normal life again. His heartache is worth it if it means Jeongguk would be happy.

"Do you still love me?" Jeongguk asked him,trying not to cry.

"I never stopped" He answered,feeling his heart getting squeezed to the point of suffocation.

Examining the younger's emotion and it looked like he was fighting with himself. His doe eyes had turned narrow and they were on the brink of tears. Had this angry expression that showed how intense his emotions were. They were really similar in this case.

"Fine,whatever. I don't care anymore. I stopped caring about everything a while ago because it is all meaningless. Love is the biggest curse of them all and you are the one who has made me lose all hope in It. So,let's just move ahead. I forgive you, I am very upset because the heartbreak you made me experience almost brought me to death,Taehyung" He broke down,Tears falling out of his eyes.

He tried to wipe them away but they kept on flowing. The older man couldn't move,he was frozen in his seat. Feeling his whole body go numb because of what the younger one just said.

"If it wasn't for Namjoon hyung who was also staying in the states for vacation to come check up on me at midnight I might have not been sitting here with you. I truly did love you more than anyone I have ever loved Taehyung. I saw you go through hell when you lost Seungho even years after his death. When I was in the same position as you almost 4 years ago I realised how broken you were. I was worried, you know. I was like I am dying here but is he alright? Is he also suffering like me? but I don't want that. I don't want him at rock bottom again, even at my lowest i was thinking about you" He kept on talking. Seeing Taehyung who had his head held down,now crying too.

"I was ready to book a flight the next day to check up on you, to see if you are alive like me because I know you loved me as much as I loved you. I was ready to beg you to take me back even though I didn't. I didn't go,I realize that it's a waste because it was so easy for you to push me away so what makes me think you won't do that again? So I just didn't. Thanks to Namjoon,Even Jimin and also Jake I was able to not die every single day. I just focused on work and work only" He paused after continuing again after taking a sigh.

"So that's why,I forgive you. Rather you made a mistake to break up with me or no,I am too tired to even know. You apologised and I don't want more apologies. So let's move on. Let the past stay in the past. That's all, Do you have something to say?" He asked him finally,Trying to hold himself back and just not get up and wipe his tears.

"No,thank you for forgiving me. I really appreciate it. I just want you to know i truly do care about you,i always have and i always will. I would never hurt you again"

"Thank you,I appreciate that"

"also-" He was cut off by Jeongguk's phone which was also on the table. He glanced at the caller ID and it was jake. Jeongguk picked up the phone immediately.

"Hey,Hi why are you calling me so late,is everything alright?.....Ha! missing me so late at night? Too bad I am out…yes at this time don't yell lord,I'm just meeting up with Taehyung…..Jake,we talked about this…yes,Yes it's not anything like that yeah. you should sleep, it's almost midnight...OK bye" He hung up the phone with a small smile on his face that made Taehyung so jealous.

"What was he saying?"

"I won't sugarcoat it,He knows you are my ex. He also doesn't like me meeting up with my exes so late at night" Jeongguk told him.

"He got a point. I would be mad too If you were my….boyfriend"

"Yes,but I am not his boyfriend so-"

"Wait what? You aren't dating jake? but yesterday you both called each other your boyfriends'

"Honestly,Jake sometimes keeps calling us boyfriend and I just wanted a reaction out of you when I called him that. We aren't dating but we are still seeing each other. No labels so no official dating. He likes me and I like him but we are taking it really slow, nothing too serious" Jeongguk explained and Taehyung feels bad for being happy about this.

"Oh,are you planning to pop the question soon?"

"No,not really. I am too busy with work and I'm content with our relationship status right now. What about you? Are you not seeing anyone? any boyfriend or girlfriend I don't know about?"

"No, after you I wasn't able to be attracted to someone else. It was like every person I tried to be with I was looking for you in them so no,I am very much alone" He smiled shrugging at his fate. He saw how Jeongguk raised his eyebrow in interest and smirked.

"Right. Guess we both fucked eachother over. Very unfortunate. Well I wasn't expecting to be as emotional as I got today but I'm glad we are on stable terms now. We are just business partners and it will be only that"

"Right,thank you once again for giving us this opportunity"

"Shall we leave then?" Jeongguk buttoned his coat and started putting his phone in the pocket as he stood up.

"You can leave first. Jimin took my car so I just have to call uber to go home" Taehyung took out his phone and started to look for uber.

"Do you still live in the same penthouse?"

"Yeah…?"

"Let me drop you off,I live close to you. I don't mind"

"No,it's alright I don't wanna bother you. You can leave it's fine really" Taehyung insisted,standing up as he touched Jeongguk's arm. Trying To make him leave.

"No,it's really not a problem,Taehyung. Your place is in my way anyway,Just hop in alright. For old times sake?" He really didn't just pull that. How was he supposed to say no to that? So he just sighed and agreed. Both exited the restaurant after splitting the bill in half and entered Jeongguk’s Mercedes soon after.

Sitting in the same car as him was more awkward than having dinner. Though they agreed to be on neutral terms there was still this thick tension surrounding them. Taehyung leaned his head against the window, staring outside into the rainy night of Seoul. The sound of rain falling on the car, as the water droplets slid down the window. It was quite therapeutic. Concerningly rain kept on getting heavier and heavier.

Glancing at Jeongguk from the side of his eye and younger looked too busy, focusing on driving since it was pretty hard to drive in the rain anyway.

"Be careful while driving,It's raining really hard. I don't want anything unfortunate to happen" Taehyung said, A very wrenching feeling inside his chest. A familiar one that reminded him of his past.

Jeongguk immediately caught on to what Taehyung was trying to hint at and why he looked so upset. Even though he doesn't want anything to do with Taehyung -or does he?- he still can be a friend to him.

Putting his hands on Taehyung's and holding them. Rubbing his palm like he used to. He wants to kiss them but that would be crossing a line he doesn't want to cross. "Don't worry, I'm driving pretty slow so nothing would happen, ok?" He gave him a comforting smile,easing Taehyung's worry. Really like this side of the younger one.

"You said my apartment is in your  way, but last time I remember yours is on the other side" Taehyung asked him. Deciding to change the topic so he can keep his mind off it.

"Yeah, I changed my apartment. A lot has changed Taehyung since I left. I am a different person now with different interests and different places. 5 years might not seem too long but it did change me completely. I also have a penthouse now" Jeongguk told him,Making Taehyung chuckle. "Really?"

"Yeah, you know how much I liked yours. No wonder I stayed there for that long, it was nice and cosy" He commented, the older wanted to say not anymore but he doesn't want to ruin the lighthearted mood.

"So you stayed with me because you liked my place and not me? I see how it was" Taehyung joked around, making Jeongguk chuckle too. It was nice, having a little laugh like this. They both deserve that after that heavy conversation that still isn't sitting well in their stomachs despite ending with no hard feelings.

"So,have you really not dated anyone else after we broke up?"

"Why do you find that so hard to believe?  no I haven't, Jeongguk. I figured my lifestyle wasn't suitable for me to have multiple partners and of course same as I said before, it isn't easy getting over you so nope have been single for 5 years now" Taehyung said so,Jeongguk just nodded in response. Saying nothing else.

Putting them back into silence. He sighed and looked away once again. They were sitting in silence until they heard some kind of strange sound that the car was making. Jeongguk furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. Examining the car to see what happened.

His speed got slower and slower, some more malfunctioning sound and it sounded like the car was breaking down. He pulled it over to the side so they won't crash into other cars that passed by them.

In the middle of the road, swerved it to the right and turned off the car there. There were trees on both sides of the road and many fewer cars passing by to help since it was midnight. The rain was still going on very hard.

It was hard to even go out and check if they don't want to get fully soaked in seconds and none of them want to be sick.

"Did your car really break down?? What are we going to do now? It's the middle of the night" Taehyung questioned him.

"Are you scared,Taehyung?"

"Do you even know who I am, Jeongguk?" He asked him back,rolling his eyes. "It is dangerous to be here at midnight on this dead road but that's not a problem,the problem is how are we getting this fixed?"

"I think there's some kind of malfunction in the engine. It's raining a lot,we won't be able to do anything. Let me call someone for this" He took out his phone from his pocket and immediately called that someone.

The man picked up the phone and they were conversing. Judging from Jeongguk's expressions during the call it sounded like they would be here for too long. He sighed disappointingly when he hung up the phone.

"What?"

"They said they can help me but we would have to wait till the rain dies down as many roads are already flooded and they don't want to risk anything right now,so we have to sit here for another hour or two until the rain stops" Jeongguk explained it to him,Taehyung threw his hands in the air in annoyance.

"Just great,2 hours??? What will I do till then? your dumb car really had to breakdown today"

"Hey,my car is not dumb but true though. It feels like we are in a movie,two exes stuck in the rain inside a car. Very dramatic,I would watch that"

"You seem like the type to watch that"

"What does that even mean?"

"Nothing" The older man gave him a smile. Making Jeongguk now roll his eyes at his attitude.

He took his coat off so he could be a bit more comfortable,and threw it in the back seat. Not caring where it ends up. Pushing his hair back with his hands and stretching his neck. The other man couldn't help but stare at Jeongguk.

It's true Jeongguk got mature but not only personality wise but even body wise too. He was definitely a lot buff than he used to be. Those big arms were screaming to be let out in the dark grey dress shirt. He could see his smooth chest because of the top 3 buttons unbuttoned.

Feeling his cheeks heat up as a lot of dirty thoughts flood into his mind. Looking away immediately when his eyes met with Jeongguk suddenly who noticed the flushed expression. His sex appeal really was irresistible.

Jeongguk smirked and he wanted to tease Taehyung about it. In moments like he forgets everything that happened between them and he likes it for some reason.

"So Taehyung,even though you said you haven't dated anyone but did you slept with anyone?" Jeongguk asked him straightforwardly. Taehyung scoffed.

"Excuse me?"

"Come on answer,there's no way you went 5 years without sex"

"Of course I slept with other people, Jeongguk. I don't need to love someone to sleep with them as I had only one night stands but not a lot of those either i stopped sleeping around" He admitted,felt like he was shying away from something.

"Why so?"

"N-no reason,What about you? Did you had one night stands or like fuck buddies?" He revered the question on him. Jeongguk shrugged.

"Do I seem like the type to be fuck buddies with people?"

"Won't surprise me,you can get anyone when you are built like that '' He pointed towards his body,making him laugh.

"You are right to think so. I had some night stands but then Jake came. We actually started as an sexual relationship. No strings attached,only sex but Jake, he started to like me and confessed. I thought he wasn't bad so I decided to give us a shot" Jeongguk explained to him.

"So are you still like that? since you said you guys are not dating yet"

"Do you mean if I still only do it with him? yes I do. We mostly only do that when we meet up but sometimes he drags me out for dates and shit so I give in. Yeah, he's really good at sex" Jeongguk told Taehyung who was feeling extremely jealous. The thought of some other guy getting touched in places by Jeongguk's hands makes his blood. He should be the only one.

"Better than me?" He said in the heat of the moment. Jeongguk got caught off guard for a second.

"What?" He asked him in a questionable tone. He couldn't believe his ears.

"The reason why I don't have one night stands anymore is because all I think about is you " Taehyung declared. Moving closer to Jeongguk who was in shock. "When I feel their hands on my body,lingering on my skin. they burn on my skin,It feel so wrong because i would look up and I would see you"

"When they put their mouth on me,all I could think about was how softly your lips were on me. How they kissed me like it was the last day you will get to kiss me,Your mouth in places, hell forbid I would let anyone go near."

"Taehyung,stop" Jeongguk's eyes darkened as he kept on hearing those lewd words coming out of his mouth. Feeling jealousy inside his body but pride at the same time.

"It didn't even feel half as good as you. I felt so fucking disappointed when the sex would be over and I hadn't even came yet. You never did that,You made sure I came before you did and not only once either"

"Hyung,please"

"Lord,you made me feel so fucking good,I never admitted this to anyone but sometimes I would even touch myself to thought of you…that felt better than the sex with other peop-"

He was cut off rudely by Jeongguk smashing his lips next to Taehyung's,taking him into a passionate kiss.

✤-----------------------------------------✤