"Wow, straight to the point, huh.” Jeongguk laughed ironically.

“S-sorry.” Taehyung said hastily, “Forget I said that.”

“No, it’s okay.” Jeongguk said, “I mean, you were bound to ask eventually. So, what in particular do you want to know?”

“Specifically? Well, I guess it’d be helpful to know why he showed up and crashed our date.” Taehyung said.

There was a weird tension in the air. One that wasn’t sitting there waiting to break, but one that was slowly and menacingly building up between them. Neither of them had been particularly rude or snarky to each other, but both boys could just feel themselves getting worked up already, just from being back in each other’s presence again. And though they didn’t know it, the tension was a result of them leaving things unsaid for far too long.

Jeongguk shrugged.

“I have no idea. He likes to piss me off. He probably gets off on that shit.” Jeongguk rolled his eyes, sitting back in the chair and taking a swig of his beer.

“Jeongguk.” Taehyung said sternly.

“I’m being deadass.” Jeongguk said. “Hoseok has a grudge against me and likes to make my life hell. I don’t know how he managed to show up where we were, but he definitely did it to piss both of us off. I nearly punched him after you left. I really don’t know how he managed to find us. Why there of all places?” Jeongguk asked rhetorically.

“Well you did take him on a date there before.” Taehyung muttered as he rolled his eyes.

“Huh?” Jeongguk asked. “What did you say?”

“Nothing.”

“I wasn’t asking for clarification; I heard what you said Mr Spiteful.” Jeongguk said, rolling his eyes back.

“Don’t call me names.” Taehyung frowned.

“I think I have every right to after you just took that dig at me.” Jeongguk huffed.

“It was hardly a dig.” Tae scoffed. “You already took Hoseok there and then you took me again afterwards.”

“I told you it was a special place for me. Nice to see you enjoyed yourself.” Jeongguk snapped sarcastically.

“I did until Hoseok showed up.”

“What are you implying? Just say it outright.”

“How could you sit there and let him shit on our date?” Tae blurted.

“Why are you saying it like it’s my fault?” Jeongguk asked in confusion.

“I’m not saying it’s your fault. But why didn’t you do anything when he showed up? You didn’t tell him to stop talking. You didn’t tell him we were on a date, nor did you tell him to stop being rude. Why didn’t you tell him to leave?” Tae asked.

“Why didn’t you?” Jeongguk asked back, staring right into Taehyung’s eyes. “I wasn’t the only one on the date.”

“Don’t put the blame on me.” Taehyung said irritably. “None of this is my fault.”

“And it’s not my fault either; I didn’t ask him to show up, did I? I won’t blame you if you stop blaming me.” Jeongguk said seriously.

“I’m not blaming you-”

“Yes, you are. Don’t lie.” Jeongguk said bitterly. “If you weren’t blaming me, then you wouldn’t have ignored me for 3 weeks. If you weren’t blaming me, then you wouldn’t be playing the victim role right now. I don’t know how you have the audacity to be complaining at me as if I've been having the time of my life these past few weeks.”

“Jeongguk-”

“Whatever.” Jeongguk dismissed. “Don’t ask such loaded questions; it’s rude. We both met up to sort things out and get answers, not to interrogate and inculpate each other. You can’t sit there and get pissy at me and expect me to sit here and accept it. I know I hurt you, Tae, but it wasn’t intentional and you know it. There's not much I can do about it if you don’t like my answers, but I don’t appreciate you blowing up at me like this as though I have no emotions of my own. Starting a fight with me isn’t going to fix things between us.”

“Sorry.” Tae apologised meekly. “I didn’t realise I was being such an arsehole.”

Jeongguk shrugged.

“It’s okay. I know you’re just trying to protect yourself. I feel like pure shit right now, so I can’t even fathom what I’d feel like if I had a kid to look after on top of all this. I know you haven’t been a dick on purpose. Still sucks though.”

“I’m sorry.” Taehyung apologised again, head hanging low as he truly realised how self-absorbed he was being. “I’m really sorry, Gukkie.”

Jeongguk put his can down on the table and opened his arms out wide, beckoning Taehyung forwards to give him a long and warm hug.

For both of their sakes.

The two wordlessly cuddled together on the sofa, quietly allowing themselves to cool down and think with level heads.

“Petition to make silent cuddling the way we handle all arguments.” Tae laughed quietly.

“All those in favour say aye.” Jeongguk said, smiling as he and Taehyung simultaneously agreed.

“I’m sorry for being an arse, Jeongguk.” Taehyung apologised sincerely.

“And I’m sorry for being a prick in general. I shouldn’t have been so closed off in the beginning.” Jeongguk said. “Do you have any other questions? I feel like now that we’ve calmed down, it’s better to get it all out of the way."

“Why does Hoseok hate you so much? What actually happened between you two? Did you fall out?”

Jeongguk nodded his head knowingly.

“Something like that. It's kinda complicated and I don’t even know where to begin. Or if I even want to begin.” Jeongguk said bitterly.

“It’s alright, Guk. You don’t have to tell me.” Taehyung reassured.

“I’m sorry, Tae.” Jeongguk said. “Ask me something else.”

“Why was he so mean to me? Did I do something he doesn’t like? Is it because I was on a date with you?”

“Well, the only answer I can offer to that, is that he’s an insecure piece of shit. Hobi does whatever he wants and has very little regard for other people’s feelings. It was by pure chance he showed up to the same place we were, and I guess he seized the opportunity and fucked us over.”

“I get that,” Taehyung said, “But why was he so rude to me specifically? We were alright at the fundraiser and he seemed to be quite friendly there. Why did he switch up like that?”

“I honestly don’t know.” Jeongguk sighed, “Sometimes he can be really nice and kind and make you think he’s gonna change but then doesn’t. He'll apologise and says he’ll do better, that he’ll be better, and stupidly, I started to believe it. But I guess he saw you and I together and decided to go back to his shitty ways. My friends even warned me about this, because I do it every time, but for some reason I thought this time would be different. And it sucks coz I dragged you into my shit this time too.” Jeongguk said disappointedly.

“Aww, Gukkie it’s okay.” Taehyung said sympathetically.

Jeongguk shook his head adamantly.

“I-it’s not. And we have to face the fact that it’s really not okay. I need to sort my shit out, but I just need t-time. I know I need to be honest with you, Tae, but I can’t. Not right now, at least. But wait for me, okay? I promise I'll sort things out."

“Don’t put so much pressure on yourself, Gukkie.” Taehyung reassured, “You can’t help what you’ve been through, and it’s understandable that you’re hesitant to say. Believe me, I know.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, I have a lot of baggage too. And it freaks me out, you know, because I have a son to look after and I’m constantly worried that people will think less of me or that Yeonjun’s gonna get hurt again because I'm too incompetent or something. I-I didn’t even start dating again until Junnie was about 3 years old. It was just so scary and frightening, and even now, I'm absolutely terrified of relationships because I genuinely don’t know what I'm doing. I'm still young and dumb and you’ve witnessed first-hand how irrational I can be. And I'm aware that I need to be honest with you in order for us to work out, but it’s...it’s scary, you know?” Taehyung said vulnerably. “So don’t feel pressured to give me detailed explanations, because honestly, I'm in the same boat.”

Jeongguk kissed the top of his head and pulled him closer.

“I want to give us another try.” Jeongguk said. “I-I really like you, Taehyung, and I think with rational, and clear communication, we could definitely work out. I want to be there for both you and Yeonjun, because we’ve all been through so much together. I know I'm being a bit forward about all of this, but I know I’d regret it if I let you leave without asking for another chance.”

Taehyung looked up and smiled at Jeongguk.

“I like you too, Jeonggukie. And I'm still really, really sorry for ignoring you this whole time and being so immature. I know an apology can’t undo the hurt I've caused you, but I really want you to know that I’m sorry for treating you that way. B-but I don’t know if you’ll still want a second chance with me after I tell you this next part.” Taehyung said.

He took a deep breath.

“I’m kind of already seeing someone.” Tae mumbled in shame.

“W-what?”

“The guy at the restaurant. We've been seeing each other for a couple of weeks now.”

“Oh.” Jeongguk said, face completely stoic. “I already knew, but it still stings to hear it come directly from your mouth.”

He began to move his arm away from around Tae’s waist, an apology beginning to form on his tongue.

“B-but I don’t have super strong feelings for him.” Taehyung said hastily. “We’re not in a proper relationship or anything.”

“So then why are you two seeing each other then? Correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m pretty sure the whole point of dating is because you actually like the other person.” Jeongguk said in confusion.

“I know. I know.” Taehyung said, rubbing his face in embarrassment. “But I was being irrational and emotional and I wasn’t thinking straight when I accepted his advances. But anyway, I-I want to be with you too, Jeongguk.”

“Does that mean you’re going to ditch the other guy? Or are you still going to keep seeing him.”

Jeongguk inquired. “Because if I'm totally honest, I’m very much hoping you’ll end things with him and never see him again.” Tae shrugged.

“To be 100% honest, Jeonggukie, I do like him a little bit. He can be kind and fun, and I think Yeonjun is beginning to warm up to him too. But I don’t like him even a quarter of how much I like you. It's you, Jeongguk who I want to be with and I’m going to do everything I can in order to prove it.” Taehyung said, “But I still have to keep Bogum around. It probably doesn’t make any sense to you since you’re not a single parent, but I'm kind of worried to take this away from Yeonjun. Junnie might not see him as a father figure, but I still don’t want to keep moving people in and out of his life, because he’s only little and he needs stability. People always used to come and go in our lives and though he’s still a young kid, I know it’s definitely affected him. I guess that’s why I was so dramatic about this whole situation; I don’t want people getting close to us and leaving when we form a bond. It's already happened before and I’m really trying not to let it happen again. I'll try and end things romantically with Bogum, but it might take a little while, because I really want to make sure he won’t ditch Yeonjun and rock his little boat even more.”

Jeongguk put his arm back around Taehyung and stroked his back calmingly“It’s okay, Tae.” He reassured. “It’s amazing how much you really have Junnie’s best interests at heart. And if it means anything, I won’t leave you two ever, regardless of what happens between us all.”

“Thank you, Jeongguk. That really means a lot.” Tae smiled, tearing up slightly.

“And this just means that I'll just have to try harder to win your heart then.” Jeongguk smirked mischievously. “I’ll take you two out to the coolest places and I’ll take you out on the best dates, and pretty soon, you’ll both forget all about Bogum. Mr Gukkie will be the best guy you two have ever had the fortune of meeting.”

Taehyung giggled and snuggled closer to Jeongguk.

“I’ll hold you to that.” He laughed.

Jeongguk smiled warmly, feeling content for the first time in a little while.

“How about we go on a date next Saturday, then?” Jeongguk suggested. “A real one. One with no evil exes or ice cream anywhere in sight. Just an honest little date for the two of us. What do you say?”

Taehyung tilted his head up and grinned bashfully at Jeongguk. “I’d like that, Jeongguk.”

“I’d like that very much.”

****************************
Happy New Year!

Sorry for the long wait, but I've been super stressed with this lockdown thing and on top of that, my exams are cancelled 🥴 I'm a wreck internally, but writing this chapter helped me relax a bit ☺

Here are some questions to answer:

After hearing his emotional side of the story, has your opinion of Taehyung changed? Why/Why not?

Do you think Taehyung and Jeongguk resolved their argument well? Or do you think there are more things to talk about?

If you were Jeongguk, would you be fine with Taehyung seeing Bogum while you two were trying to start a relationship? Why/why not?

Thanks very much for reading!!

-BB 💜