Jeongguk didn't call the older in the next six days that passed by. He was actually a bit agitated with what happened the last time they met. He almost kissed him out of the blue, and he didn't know why he had the urge to do so.

It was weird, really. Taehyung was just sitting there, looking like a beautiful wreck and reassuring him that he didn't go overboard and that he liked how rough he was. And he didn't even think about kissing him — his body just acted on its own and moved towards him.

He would be lying if he said that it didn't shake him up a notch.

And so, although he was thinking about him nonstop, he didn't call him at all, trying to convince himself that he didn't need him. And it went somewhat well. He called Yuju twice in the last six days, and maybe the sex wasn't as good as it was with him for some reason, it was decent enough to pleasure him.

They also didn't happen to meet since Taehyung had to prepare for one of his trials and couldn't hang out with the other boys. Thankfully, he won the trial, and he could relax for a few days. It was something he really needed since it was a rather hectic and exhausting week.

 
Taehyung decided not to brood over why the younger hadn't even texted him. He was busy enough, and even if Jeongguk called him to meet, he wouldn't be able to go. But it was strange. Why didn't he just send a simple text in the last six days? And why did Taehyung find himself so bothered by that?

On the other hand, he could easily send him a text or call him instead of waiting for him to do it. He never found the courage, though. Jeongguk had said he would call him if he needed him, and he didn't. That only led Taehyung to think that he didn't want to meet or talk, and wanting to avoid hearing it from Jeongguk himself since he knew how much it would affect him, he chose not to get in touch with him first.

Maybe it was a good thing. It was wrong to have sex with his client, but it was worse to keep having sex with his client. He thought that maybe Jeongguk forgot about whatever happened between them, and even though he wanted it to happen again, if the younger decided to keep his distance, he would do the same. At least he would try to do the same.

🥀

Taehyung went home after finishing his work, took a soothing shower, ate some leftover food he had from yesterday, and went to Namjoon's and Hoseok's house as they had asked him to. Since tomorrow was Sunday, he could stay up until late and drink as much as he wanted. And if he ended up drunk, he could just sleep at his friends' house.

"We missed you, Tae," Namjoon said the moment he opened the door and muffled him into his hug.

"I missed you too. It's been so crazy the last few days."

"I know, but we're here to relax you and have a good time!" Namjoon kept an arm around his waist as they walked to the living room.

"Tae!" Hoseok chirped as he literally flung himself onto the boy and squeezed him into a hug.

A small oh left his lips with a puff of air from the bone-crushing hug, but he was just as excited to see his friends. "Hey," he uttered and drew back a moment later. He greeted the rest of them but didn't fail to notice that two boys weren't there. "We're missing two."

"Yeah, they said they'll come later," Jimin said, nonchalant, as he nipped at his beer.

"Why, though? Where are they?" He didn't want to sound so eager to receive an answer, but he couldn't help it.

"We don't know." Yoongi shrugged idly.

"Is something going on between the two?" Taehyung blurted out. He remembered how closely they were talking the last time they hung out, and now they were somewhere together and no one knew why or where.

"Even if there is, why does it matter to you?" Yoongi asked, his confusion shining through his creased forehead.

"It doesn't, it's just that Jeongguk doesn't like him like that, but Hoseok does, and he knows it."

"Tae!" Hoseok cried out, shocked. "They weren't supposed to know that." He dipped his face into his hands from embarrassment.

"Sorry," Taehyung whispered and shrank in his seat, biting his bottom lip.

"Interesting." Jimin smirked, bending an inch forward so he could look at the embarrassed boy. "So you like Dohyun?"

"I do, but please don't say anything. I'm not ready yet."

"I think you should go for it." Jimin sipped his drink as if he didn't know anything about it, but everyone could tell that he did.

"Wait, has he said something?"

"I don't know." Jimin flashed him a kittenish smile that only managed to increase their suspicions.

"I thought there's really something between him and Jeongguk, though," Hoseok muttered.

"Then you're stupid." Yoongi earned a slap on his thigh by his boyfriend.

"What he means is that there's nothing going on between them and you should just go for it." Jimin glared at Yoongi before sending a sweet smile to Hoseok.

As if on cue, the doorbell was heard, and Namjoon went to open the door. Taehyung composed his confused face, fiddled with his hair, and straightened his cashmere sweater. When the two boys walked inside, he plastered a poised expression on his face, trying to seem nonchalant and not at all excited to see Jeongguk.

"Hey," the two boys said as Jeongguk sat on the floor between Jimin's and Yoongi's legs and let Dohyun sit on the couch. He then laid his eyes on the lawyer who was currently twiddling with his bracelet, his eyes riveted on his subtle movements. Did he get prettier? This thought floated in his head involuntarily. No, you just haven't seen him for a while. He released a nasal sigh as he nibbled his upper lip. He can't get prettier than he already is.

"Kook, you listening?" Jimin nudged his shoulder in his attempt to pull him out of his thoughts.

"Um, no. What?" He glanced around the room and his eyes met with Taehyung's accidentally. Although it was for a split second, it felt like time decelerated the moment they looked at each other, and a strange, evocative feeling rippled through him in comforting waves.

"I'm surprised you haven't grabbed a beer yet," Jimin snickered as he pushed the beer he was trying to give him for a while now closer.

"Thanks." Jeongguk opened the can and chugged down some big sips.

"Did you tell him?" Jimin whispered into his ear, not wanting to be heard by the others.

"Yeah," Jeongguk answered in the same way as he slightly twisted his head towards him.

"Yah! No whispering in front of us. It's not polite," Seokjin scolded the two with a scowl.

"You're just curious to know what we said, hyung, admit it," Jimin teased.

"Of course I am. Now spill."

"Nothing important," Jeongguk mumbled. "So what were you talking about before we came?"

Silence spread in the room as they shared some glances, poker-faced. No one seemed to know what to say, and Hoseok's awkward laugh a few seconds later only worsened the situation.

"Taehyung was telling us about his trial yesterday," Namjoon blurted out the first thing that came to his mind.

"Oh. Did you win?" Jeongguk ventured to set his gaze on the lawyer.

He looked back at him with a sheepish smile on his lips. "Yes."

"That's nice. Will you take on another case?"

"Not yet. I want to relax a bit first. It's been a really stressful week."

"Then why didn't you—um, scratch that." Jeongguk cursed himself mentally, unable to believe what he was about to say in front of everyone. "You should relax a bit and rest before taking on another case."

"Wait, what did you want to say?" Seokjin's brows bumped together in a frown.

"What I said at the end, I just mixed up my thoughts," Jeongguk artfully countered his question and thankfully Seokjin seemed satisfied with his answer.

Taehyung, on the other hand, although he didn't understand what he wanted to say, he didn't believe his excuse either. "Um, anyway, that's what I'm planning to do for the weekend at least. Then, we'll see," he chose to say, easing the tense atmosphere and Jeongguk's discomfort.

They continued chatting about different and random things all together after that. The fiery and lecherous gazes the two shared were subtle, not wanting to get caught by their friends, but they were also driving both crazy. Maybe they didn't talk to each other much, but their eyes often lingered on one another and left them with a galaxy of wild thoughts running riot in their heads.

 
Jeongguk noticed they were running out of beers a while later. "Who's gonna go buy some beers?"

"The store is like six minutes away on foot. Why don't you go?" Namjoon suggested with raised eyebrows.

"We are your guests. You should take care of us," Jeongguk shot back in the same way.

"Our guests drink too much and that's not our fault," Namjoon snickered, making all of them laugh and nod their heads.

"I don't mind going," Taehyung offered.

"You don't even drink beers, Tae," Hoseok softly said.

"I don't mind, I can—"

"I'll go, no worries." Jeongguk heaved himself to his feet and grabbed his jacket. "Should I buy four packs of six?"

"Yeah, and two packs of soju since you're going, anyway." Namjoon sent him a teasing smile.

"He can't carry all that on his own, Joon." Taehyung sighed in worry and stood up. "I'll drive you."

"You sure? I don't want to put you through trouble."

"No trouble at all. Let's go."

And they did. They sauntered in awkward silence until they got into the car, but Taehyung didn't start driving right away. "How was your week?"

Jeongguk didn't expect the question, but turned to look at him and responded nonetheless. "Good, you know, same as usual."

You didn't call nor texted, Taehyung chanted in his head, but the words couldn't come out. With a soft sigh, he started the engine and drove away.

"Why didn't you call if you were having such a stressful week? I could have helped you."

"Why didn't you?" Taehyung asked, keeping his eyes on the road.

"I-I knew you were busy so."

"Your excuse sucks."

"Then why didn't you call?"

"Because!" Taehyung exclaimed, brows drawing together, hands clutching the wheel.

"Because?"

"Because you said you'd call. And since you didn't, it means something."

"What does it mean?"

"That you didn't think about me, and you didn't want to talk or meet." Unlike before, Taehyung's voice came out as a mere whisper.

"And if that's true, why does it bother you? We're not in a relationship, right?"

"Of course we aren't. It's just that—" He gave up on what he wanted to say with a shaky exhalation. "Never mind."

"Hey, tell me."

"No, I'm just oversensitive, don't mind me."

"I can't not mind you," Jeongguk drawled silently but loud enough for Taehyung to hear. "Tell me."

Taehyung parked the car outside of the store, leaving his eyes staring at the wheel. "It's about me and my self-deprecating thoughts. It doesn't concern you."

"What if I want it to concern me?"

Big doe eyes with a hint of sorrow were slowly raised to meet Jeongguk's soft ones. Nothing was said between the two as Taehyung let his words wash over him, and Jeongguk was absorbed in his eyes, trying to figure out what was hidden in them.

"It doesn't suit you, looking sad. So stop." Jeongguk reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind his ear. "I'll be back in a while." With that, he exited the car, leaving a dumbfounded Taehyung behind.

The older rested his forehead against the wheel as his eyes fluttered closed. He didn't know what to think about what just happened or what Jeongguk said, so he ended up repeating his words in his head without getting anywhere.

It was a few minutes later when the younger returned with two bags in his hands and set them in the back seat before getting inside. He observed Taehyung as he wordlessly started the car. "I told you to stop."

"I can't help it." Taehyung sighed, his uneasy and gloomy expression only deepening.

"What can I do then?"

"You... can't do anything. I'll get over it with some soju."

"You wanna lick the soju off me?"

Taehyung's eyes popped with the shock that veiled his features. "What the hell?" He cracked up not even a second later and struggled to keep the car steady, but he recovered fast enough.

"You don't like my idea?" Jeongguk chuckled along with him, finding his laugh contagious and rather adorable.

"You're unbelievable."

"I know." Their eyes met at his cocky reply, and another round of soft chuckles began.

They arrived soon enough, and Taehyung was ready to open his door when Jeongguk's velvety voice stopped him. "You wanna ditch them?"

The older sank back in his seat and fixed his gaze on him. "To have sex?"

"To talk."

A spasm of surprise crossed his face, but he secreted it by biting his lower lip. "It's not right. To leave them, I mean."

"Don't think if it's right or not. Think about what you want."

"But I don't want to leave them because it's not right."

"Okay," Jeongguk said with a nod and got out of the car with slow moves. After grabbing the bags with the drinks, they finally joined the others and started drinking once again.

 
Another hour passed with the eight boys happily drinking, bickering, and having a good time. Taehyung was already at his third bottle, and he didn't seem like he would stop anytime soon. Mostly because when they returned, Jeongguk sat on the floor, but this time in front of him.

He was literally sitting between his legs as he somewhat forced him to open them so he could rest his back against the couch. And he hadn't let him breathe ever since in the slightest.

He would either secretly brush his fingers against his calf, lay his head on his thigh for a few seconds and then act as if nothing happened, or even lightly press his head against his crotch when he was sure that no one was paying attention to them.

Taehyung thought he wouldn't make it out of there sane. And thus, his only solution was to drink so he could drown his lustful desires.

"I'm calling game time!" Jimin chirped, slurring his words just a bit.

"What game this time?" Seokjin asked with a snort.

"Never have I ever!"

"You're already drunk, baby." Yoongi ruffled his hair and placed a sweet kiss on his cheek.

"I'm not! It's gonna be fun! Let's play?"

Playing a game didn't sound so bad to any of them, so everyone perched on the floor in a circle, and Jeongguk didn't miss his chance to subtly cling to the lawyer.

"I'll start since I suggested it. Never have I ever wanted to get a cat."

"Jimin-ah, you already have one," Jeongguk said, endeavoring to choke back the blaze of laughter that bubbled in his chest, but failed miserably. Dohyun and Seokjin laughed along with him since they knew what he was talking about as the rest of them looked rather lost.

"Yah! How many times have I told you not to compare me to a cat?" Yoongi glowered at him, but he was too busy laughing to see his infuriated face.

"Fine! Whoever wants to get a cat, drink." Jeongguk glanced around and saw that no one raised their drink. "So none of us likes cats."

"I'm all in for puppies, I like puppies," Taehyung said, his eyes gleaming in the thought of small fluffy balls running around.

"I bet you do," Jeongguk whispered, seductive and saucy, as a corner of his mouth lifted into a smirk.

The lawyer tossed his head down, his cheeks blooming with a shade of pink in embarrassment. "Never have I ever... been to jail."

"That was a low blow, Taehyung," Jimin playfully said before taking a sip, as well as all of his nineteen-year-old friends.

"Never have I ever"—Jeongguk shifted a fraction closer to the lawyer as he thought about what to say—"been in love."

Everyone took a sip except him. "You could too if you just stop underestimate its power and happiness it brings with it." Seokjin threw him a scornful look.

"No, thank you," Jeongguk mocked and glanced at Namjoon since it was his turn.

"Never have I ever cried over a movie."

And again everyone sipped their drinks except Jeongguk. "You can't be that heartless," Taehyung spouted off.

"You wanna try me?"

"No, thank you," he copied his words and tone from before and then directed his gaze to Seokjin.

"Never have I ever burned food while cooking."

Only he, Jimin, and Dohyun didn't take a sip this time.

"Never have I ever wanted to get a tattoo," Hoseok said, and a moment later, he saw Jeongguk, Jimin, and Yoongi sip their drinks.

"Never have I ever had a one-night stand." It was Dohyun's turn, and his words tensed up two certain boys. Jeongguk and Taehyung nipped at their drinks while avoiding eye contact with everyone, both recalling parts of their lewd encounters.

"Never have I ever slept without taking a shower while I was reeking," Yoongi said, and no one moved for a stretch.

Then, Jeongguk, Jimin, and Hoseok raised their drinks. At last, Taehyung sipped his drink as well, making Hoseok's eyes grow bigger. "Seriously? You hate that!"

"I know." He frowned as he remembered the first and last time that happened. "It was the day I got drunk and I just blacked out."

"Did you ever remember what happened that day?" Namjoon asked.

"No, not a thing." Taehyung tittered and then gulped down a little more of his drink.

"Never have I ever lied to get I wanted." It was Jimin's turn again, and everyone, including him, sipped their drinks.

"Who hasn't even once?" Hoseok's shoulders lifted in a shrug.

"Never have I ever drank before turning twenty," Taehyung said, a teasing smile decorating his lips.

"Yah!" The nineteen-year-old boys scowled at him, but did what they had to do, as well as Namjoon and Hoseok.

"Hmm, never have I ever fallen asleep while eating." Jeongguk cast a knowing look at the lawyer, not missing how he pouted at his remark.

"You're mean!" He shoved his shoulder and groaned before finally taking a sip.

Their game time carried on for a while until pretty much everyone ended up tipsy or simply drunk. Taehyung definitely wasn't capable of driving, and since none of them could leave at this hour, they stayed there.

Namjoon took his boyfriend and disappeared to his room, Hoseok asked Dohyun if he wanted to sleep on a ranch he had in his room and he gladly accepted, and the remaining boys stayed in the living room. Taehyung took the couch as the other three settled on the floor with a thick blanket underneath them.

 
More than fifteen minutes passed, and only their breathing could be heard in the quiet living room. Although Jeongguk felt a bit lightheaded too, he couldn't fall asleep yet. Without dwelling on it too much, and since Jimin and Yoongi were all cuddled up and probably sleeping, he slid out of the covers and kneeled in front of the couch, staring at the older, who was curled up into a tiny ball.

It was as if Taehyung sensed his presence so close to him and dragged his hand to him, grasping his shirt. He fluttered his strained eyes open and locked them on the younger's fond ones.

"Thought you were sleeping," Jeongguk whispered as he cupped his hand, which was still clutching his shirt.

"I tried, but my head hurts too much."

"I'll bring you some water." He attempted to pull away, but Taehyung's grip didn't loosen in the slightest.

"Don't leave," he mumbled as his eyes saddened.

"I'll be really quick." Jeongguk caressed his hand with a delicate thumb, feeling his smooth skin. The tipsy boy shook his head as a response and only tightened his grasp. "You wanna grab some water and go outside to take some air, hmm pup?" He ran his fingers through his hair as he offered him a soft smile. Once he saw Taehyung nod timidly, he flung the blanket away and helped him stand up.

And they did what Jeongguk suggested; they grabbed two small bottles of water from the kitchen, took their jackets and a blanket since it was freezing cold at this hour, and headed outside.

⚜✳⚜
 

He's flawless🤧

He's flawless🤧 x2