A spasm of ache crossed Taehyung’s face first things first when he woke up, pulling a stifled whine out of him. The surface his head was resting came into his focus then, finding it a lot harder than usual, and he unsealed his eyes to examine the situation he was into.

He was met with a sturdy, thankfully clothed chest, and lifted his head to trace out the owner. Why is he in my bed? He puzzled over this question for a while, endeavoring to find an answer in his aching, dopey head, but he had no luck whatsoever.

With a mental shrug, he nuzzled against him as he swathed an arm around him and hooked his leg between his as if he were his human pillow. This is so nice. The corner of his lips curved into a blissful smile, melting in his warm hug and wishing he could stay there for hours.

A few moments flowed by as he fixed his attention on the soothing sound of Jeongguk’s breathing and heart, which seemed to pulse a notch faster than normal. Why do I feel like something important happened yesterday?

His thoughts halted as he felt the heat beside him shift a bit and a delicate hand wander on his back. “Kook?”

Jeongguk gave him a soft hum in response, pretending that he just woke up. Honestly, he wanted to continue pretending to sleep, but he was pining to know if Taehyung remembered anything from yesterday.

“Why are you in my bed?”

He didn’t think a simple question could make him feel relieved and crushed at the same time, but that was exactly what he felt at that moment. “I helped you lie down yesterday and I was too lazy to leave.”

Taehyung drew back an inch to meet his gaze, losing his words for a moment as he couldn’t believe how beautiful he was even when he just woke up. “I don’t remember... anything. But why do I feel like something important happened yesterday?”

Jeongguk pushed a strand of hair behind his ear and stroked the side of his neck, shoulder, and bicep before letting his hand travel back to his nape at the same slow, savory pace. “Nothing happened. We just drank, watched the fireworks, ate, drank some more, danced a bit, and then I brought you here to sleep.”

“But I remember... being in the bathroom with Jimin for a while. Why?”

“Probably he helped you wash your face because you were already drunk then. Don’t dwell on it.”

“And we had a good time? I didn’t ruin our night because I was drunk, right?”

“No, Tae. You didn’t ruin anything. We had an amazing time. And especially me.”

“Why?”

“Because I enjoyed taking care of you. It felt good... to have someone to take care of.”

Taehyung stared in doe-eyed amazement at his mildly spoken words as his stomach did tiny flips, a feeling that was all too familiar, as if he experienced it recently. “Tell me what happened yesterday.”

“I told you, Tae. Nothing—“

“You’re lying,” he cut him off as he pulled himself to a sitting position, a glint of tumult blazing in his eyes. “I f-feel—I feel, ugh.” He buried his face in his hands, massaging his pounding head.

“You can ask the others too if you don’t believe me,” he uttered in the softest voice as he sat next to him, rubbing calming circles on his back.

Then why do I feel this way? There’s definitely something I have to remember. But why is Jeongguk lying to me?

“I told you not to dwell on it. Go freshen up, and I’ll make you a tea.” Jeongguk caressed his shoulder and crawled out of bed, hoping the others would be awake.

He spotted Jimin, Namjoon, and Seokjin sitting in the living room and released a sigh of relief. “Listen, if Taehyung asks, we drank, watched the fireworks, ate, danced, and then slept yesterday, okay? Nothing else happened.”

“Um, good morning to you too?” Seokjin playfully said, but he regretted it once he perceived his serious expression.

“Why do you want us to lie to him?” Jimin asked with furrowed brows.

“Because. And you come here.” He beckoned Jimin to follow him to the kitchen, and although confused, he did without questioning him.

“We aren’t allowed to hear?” Seokjin plastered a pout on his lips as he spoke, his puppy eyes already in use.

“You are. I just have to make a tea, and I can’t talk loudly.”

“Well then.” Seokjin grabbed his cup of coffee and swiftly moved to the kitchen, perching on the chair with a cheery smile decorating his face.

“Nosy much?” Jeongguk scoffed with a shake of his head and began making the tea.

Namjoon followed a few seconds later and took his seat as well, giving an indifferent shrug to Jeongguk, who shot him a glance with a raised brow.

“Anyway, is there a way for Taehyung to remember?”

“Well, if he says or hears something that was said when he was drunk, he’ll experience something like deja vu. It has happened before,” Jimin explained.

“Oh, I see.”

“Why don’t you want him to remember?”

“I don’t know.”

“What’s the big deal if he remembers?”

“You all know me, Jimin. I don’t do crushes, I don’t do relationships, and I think... I have a crush on him. It’s kinda scary, and I don’t like it.”

“Oh my God, you have a crush on him!” Jimin said in a high-pitched tone and clasped his hands together in front of his chest while Seokjin’s tiny squeals filled the kitchen.

“Shh! Shut up,” Jeongguk gritted out as he pointed a warning finger at the two. “You better not tell Tae about this. None of you.”

“We won’t,” Seokjin reassured, still smiling by the exciting news.

“Anyway, after I kissed him yesterday, I noticed you disappeared with him.” He laid his eyes on Jimin. “Did he say anything about the kiss? Did he hate it?”

“Yes, he hated it.”

“Really?”

“No, you twerp,” Jimin sneered as he rolled his eyes sky high.

“Yah, don’t joke around. It’s serious!”

“No, it’s stupid! It’s so obvious that he likes you, and you’re asking me if he hated the kiss?”

“You’re gonna blab everything, aren’t you? You just ratted on your best friend!”

“I didn’t rat on him because everyone knows about this. And Tae hasn’t even said anything to me. He hasn’t talked to me about you.”

“If that’s true, is it really so obvious that he likes me?” Jeongguk’s eyes roamed on the three boys who all nodded, and he let out a light puff of air in realization.

“So are you gonna make him remember? I can help you,” Jimin suggested with hopeful eyes.

“No. Not yet. I’m not ready.”

“Ready for what?” Taehyung shot out from the back, startling the boys enough to become unable to come up with anything to say. His vision narrowed in suspicion the longer they stayed mute, and Jeongguk’s awkward chuckle drew his eyes to him.

“Nothing, we were just talking about uni.”

“What about it?” He sat at the table and uttered a quiet ‘thank you’ when the younger placed a cup of tea in front of him.

“You know, our classes, the projects we have, the exams that are close by. These things.” A brittle, faltering smile popped up onto Jeongguk’s face, and he ducked his head as he couldn’t possibly maintain eye contact. “Um, I’m gonna go freshen up.”

Taehyung watched in depth as he scooted off right away and redirected his gaze at the three boys once he disappeared from his sight. “What happened yesterday?”

“Nothing much,” Jimin said with as much confidence as he could to persuade him. “We had some drinks, watched the fireworks, ate the delicious food Jeongguk cooked, danced a little, and then we slept.”

His eyes crinkled as his brows pulled into a frown, still confused to the core and a dram incredulous. “Really?”

“Yes, Tae,” Seokjin said with a small smile.

“Just help me remember. Tell me something specific that happened.”

“To be honest, I don’t remember any details because I was a bit drunk myself.” An uneasy laugh accompanied Jimin’s remark as he scratched his nape.

“Me too.”

“Yeah, same.”

Seokjin and Namjoon said one after another, both sipping their coffee afterwards to dodge his gaze.

“Good morning,” Hoseok sleepily greeted as he headed to the counter to make some coffee.

“Hey, Hoseokie, what happened yesterday?”

“You don’t remember? You—“ He hushed up the moment he saw three wide-eyed boys shake their heads as discreetly as possible and cleared his throat. “You were so funny when you were dancing drunk yesterday, haha, it was so funny to watch. Anyway, I don’t know anything so.” He spun around and focused on making his coffee, cursing himself in his head for being so awkward.

“You guys are all so bad at lying! Only Yoon will tell me the truth,” Taehyung spat with an angry pout and hopped off his seat, storming off to his room before anyone could stop him. “Yoon, are you awake?” He knocked on the door, but then Jeongguk emerged from the bathroom.

“What are you doing? Let him sleep.” He curled his fingers around his wrist to lead him back to the kitchen, but Taehyung jerked his hand away.

“I want to talk to him, so leave.”

“Tae, come on—“

Yoongi swung the door open, a bored, half-asleep expression enshrouding his features. “Why are you talking outside of my room?”

Taehyung shoved him inside and shut the door behind him, leaving the younger an anxious mess. “Sorry for this, but I feel like everyone is lying to me. Something important happened yesterday. I can feel it. What happened, Yoon?”

“Jeongguk kissed you,” he said in a rather indifferent tone as he rubbed the sleep off his eyes with his fists.

“What?”

“Did you expect me to say something like this? No, Tae, nothing happened yesterday.” He chuckled at last as he ruffled his hair. “We just had a good time as usual. Why do you seem so stressed about it?”

“Yah, don’t joke around with these things!” Taehyung gave his shoulder an annoyed push as his face twisted in a scowl. “I told you, I just feel like I have to remember something.”

“If you feel that way, maybe you should just confess. He was by your side all night long and you two disappeared at some point. Probably he took you to your room because you were wasted.”

“So it’s true that he took care of me.”

“Look, Tae, even if he’s lying, he must have a reason. Don’t pressure him because that will only push him away. Just focus on today.”

Taehyung filled his lungs with air to the maximum and deflated them with a long sigh as he ran his fingers through his hair. “You’re right, okay. Thanks.”

“Leave, go latch onto him so I can change.”

He huffed at his words, but honestly, that was exactly what he wanted to do and what he was about to do. “Fine.” He exited the room and trod back to the kitchen. He approached an oblivious Jeongguk with silent steps as he signed the others who saw him to stay quiet, and he draped his arms over his neck, caging him in his hug.

Jeongguk jolted at the contact as he gripped Taehyung's forearms out of instinct, and his restless state only mounted when he saw the one who hugged him. “What—What happened?”

“Nothing. Sorry for being so weird and suspicious. Sorry, guys.” He glanced at the other boys with an apologetic expression, and they smiled in return, silently telling him it was okay. “Let’s move to the living room. We don’t have enough chairs.”

“Well, I think Jeongguk’s legs are strong enough to support you. There’s your seat,” Jimin said, something kittenish coating his voice.

“Yah, are you—“ A short screech jumped out of Taehyung’s throat as the younger yanked him down, placing him on his lap and then fastening his arms around his waist.

“You owe me for taking care of you yesterday,” he spoke in a whisper, making sure no one else could hear him.

The hot breath hitting his skin had Taehyung gasping softly as it shivered down every bone in his body. “What do you mean? What do I owe you?”

“As many hugs as I want.”

A content smile etched on Taehyung’s lips automatically, and he turned his head to the side, still unable to make eye contact. “Is that the only thing you want?”

Oh, how much Jeongguk wanted to say no to this question, but fuck, he couldn’t do it. He was too much of a coward to do that. So he tightened his grasp a notch and pressed the side of his head against his back as he inhaled deeply. “Yes, that’s enough for me.”

“I want you in my life. That’s more than enough for me.” These words rushed into Taehyung’s head and caused him to flinch at the unexpected tingling sensation they brought along. What... Who said that?

“Are you okay?” Jeongguk asked as he detected Taehyung's agitation and leaned to the side to glimpse at him.

“Yeah, I—I’m fine.” He gave him a reassuring smile and pushed back his thoughts, focusing on today as Yoongi advised him to do.

⚜✳⚜

So he doesn't remember....
I'm so excited about the next chapters, but I didn't have time to write them yet ☹ The next update will be in a week, and then I'll be able to write more and update more. Please be patient💜
Love you💜