The next few days passed by in a flash. True to his word, Jeongguk met with Taehyung every day after his work, making it up to him for the days he didn't call him. That was the reason they met daily — or more accurately — their excuse.

It was a pleasant routine for both of them. Jeongguk would go to his house around nine, they would drink a beer and chat for some time before ending up in Taehyung's bedroom. Even if they had sex every day, they were always eager, exhilarated, and horny as if they hadn't met for weeks.

Then, they would take a bath together, mostly cuddling the whole time as they chatted some more or just enjoyed the comfortable silence. They would shower, then order something to eat, and sit in the living while waiting for the food.

Taehyung nagged him to let him pay every time, but the younger wasn't having it. They settled on taking turns in paying for the food by Jeongguk's persistent requests, even though Taehyung repeatedly said that he didn't mind paying every time.

And at last, they would lie in the bed together, holding each other, and drift off to sleep with imperceptible smiles on their faces.

They didn't talk about them at all; Taehyung ignored the constant butterflies in his stomach, and Jeongguk ignored his constant need to kiss and cuddle him. They simply enjoyed their happy place and both wished not to end quickly, but it was already their last day.

And they didn't know what would happen from here.

Jeongguk also hung out with his friends after their classes often, but no matter how many times they asked him about Taehyung, he didn't say anything.

Yuju tried to talk to him at the uni multiple times, but he brushed her off and said that he was busy these days. He didn't feel the need to have sex with her and that puzzled him a tad, but he ended up thinking that it was because he was meeting with Taehyung every day.

Taehyung, of course, didn't have time to meet his friends because of his busy schedule and because he spent his free time with the younger. They talked on the phone during his lunch breaks, but he didn't say anything to them about Jeongguk. He didn't really know what to say, and talking about whatever was happening with him over the phone didn't seem right.

🥀

It was officially Friday, the last day they could spend together with the excuse of making it up to Taehyung for the six days Jeongguk didn't call. What made that day even worse was that Taehyung's mother practically ordered him to go to their house and have dinner with them since he had been avoiding them for a while now.

With a heavyhearted 'okay', he hung up the phone and texted Jeongguk.

Taehyung: Hey, we need to change the time tonight, my mother basically commanded me to have dinner with them *sigh*. I'll leave an hour earlier from work, go home, take a quick shower and go to the devil's house. I don't know why I just wrote that, you probably don't care, haha. Anyway, is ten okay?

That's a really awkward text, Taehyung thought as he reread it. What surprised him was that he got a reply not even a minute later.

Jeongguk: You're cute even through texts. Why are you going if you don't want to? You don't have to listen to her.

A smile crept across his lips the moment he read the first sentence.

Taehyung: I've been avoiding them and they won't leave me alone if I don't go. And aren't you supposed to be at uni right now? Why did you answer so fast?

Jeongguk: But we have to sleep early and we won't have that much time... And yes, I'm in class and it's really boring so I was playing games.

Taehyung: I know, I'm sorry. But I really have to go or else they'll keep nagging me. Pay attention to your class!!!!

Jeongguk: I can totally relate to that. Okay then, I'll come at ten. If you were the one teaching it I would 😉

Jeongguk: Okay, that was a lie. I wouldn't be able to concentrate at all. I would be too busy staring at your thick ass and angelic face.

Taehyung: Shut up, you horny dork! Put your phone away and pay attention to your class. I have to continue working. See you at ten~

Jeongguk: Can't wait baby.

Taehyung shook his head faintly, grinning like crazy as he read his text over and over again.

"Mr. Kim?" Seolhyun called, peeking through the half-closed door since he didn't hear her knock.

He immediately placed his phone down and replaced his smiley face with an awkward, serious one. "Yes?"

"We have a date for Mrs. Kan's trial, the victim of the domestic violence case. It's in seventeen days from now."

"Oh, thank you," Taehyung said with a nod, and she bowed before leaving his office. He continued working for a few hours, and when the clock struck seven, he left the office and drove home, got ready, and then went to his parent's house.

"You're in time. I'm surprised," Taehee said with a scornful chuckle, giving one of her usual halfhearted hugs before going inside.

Taehyung closed the door silently and trailed behind her. "Hello," he murmured as he sat at the table with the rest of them.

"How are you doing, son?"

"I'm fine."

With Taehyung's dry answer, they started eating in silence and remained in silence for a while. He didn't take his eyes away from his food at all. He was already regretting going there.

"So Taehyung, how's work?" Jitae asked, indifferent.

He didn't want to talk about that because he knew the results. His mother would belittle him and his work as usual, and he didn't think he could take it again. He cleared his throat nonetheless and spoke in a quiet tone, "It's going well. I have a trial next Friday."

"You're not tired or something by your so difficult job?" Taehee commented as expected, her tone dripping with irony.

"Actually I am. You don't have to understand or even try to understand my job. But don't judge it either."

"I'm not judging it, I'm telling the truth."

"That's your opinion. Didn't you hate it when other people thought about your job as an easy thing to do? They were saying you were just posing for a camera, how difficult could that be? But every job has its difficulties and it tires you in one way or another. Why can't you understand that?"

"Because you're not even that good, honey. Come on, don't kid yourself. Just because you've won a few cases doesn't mean you're good at your job. You just got lucky. Your brother, on the other hand, has helped our company sell so many houses!" She sent a sweet smile at her older son at last.

"Taehee, that's not a nice thing to say," Gyuyeong ventured with a hesitant look.

"Don't interrupt, sweetie, this has nothing to do with you." Taehee's eyes darkened a bit. "Taehyung will never reach Soohyun's level. He's successful, and always made the right decisions, and always made us proud. He's doing great at his job, and he's gonna marry a lovely girl soon. You, on the other hand, like to mess around with boys. How are you going to have kids, Taehyung? But now that I think about it, it's better this way. We already have you to disappoint us. We don't need your kids too."

Every word that was spilled from his mother's mouth was like a million stabs in Taehyung's heart. He didn't cry, though. He couldn't let them see him cry. He swallowed his tears and strained to hold them back as he spoke. "This is the last time you see me. I will never come here again and don't you dare call me ever again. I'm ashamed I have to call you my mother. I will never do that again." With that, he grabbed his coat and stormed to the exit, banging the door on his way out.

Tears flooded his eyes the moment he entered his car, and he couldn't confine them any longer. He burst out crying in a matter of seconds, clutching his coat with one hand and hitting his chest with a weak fist. He didn't know how long he sat there, crying his eyes out, but tears coursed down his face uncontrollably the whole time.

Feeling shattered and exhausted to the bone, he decided to drive home with his only wish to lie in his bed and cry himself to sleep.

He struggled to drive with teary eyes, but he managed to arrive sooner or later. He took his clothes off and wore an oversized shirt before he slipped under the covers.

He was still crying as he reached for his phone to send a text to Jeongguk.

Taehyung: I'm really tired. Let's meet tomorrow.

Once he pressed send, he dropped his phone onto the floor, huddled up into a ball, and continued sobbing as he had been doing for a while now. He didn't pay attention to his phone that beeped a few seconds later, and just lay there, unable to control his emotions.

At least forty minutes passed by, but tears still escaped his eyes. What jolted him out of his agonizing state was the doorbell that blasted out through the house on repeat. With the minimum strength he had left, he slid out of bed and dragged his feet to the door. He rubbed his tearful eyes and peeked through the peephole. His bottom lip started trembling as he recognized Jeongguk standing outside his door.

He didn't say anything, nor opened the door. He couldn't let the younger see him like this. So broken — a complete wreck.

Jeongguk resumed ringing the doorbell in vain and dropped his head at some point, defeated. "Tae, I know you're inside," he said with a loud voice, hoping he would hear him. "Your car is here. Can you open the door, please?"

Taehyung palmed his mouth to silence his suffocated sobs as he leaned against the wall for support.

"If you can hear me, please open the door. I just wanna know if you're alright."

He drew in a deep, calming breath and swallowed thickly as he stood in front of the door again. "I'm fine," he uttered, trying to sound normal, but he couldn't help the crack in his voice.

"Tae. You don't sound fine."

"I told you I'm tired. Why are you here?"

"Because I know you lied. I'm not stupid. You had dinner with your family and suddenly you texted me that you're tired and didn't even answer after that."

A row of muted sobs tumbled out of Taehyung as he wiped his endless tears. "I'm not in the mood for sex."

"I'm not here to have sex with you."

Taehyung couldn't stifle the next sob that flew off his mouth; it was choked and loud enough for Jeongguk to hear.

"Open the fucking door!" he growled as he banged on the door, a worried scowl taking over his features.

And Taehyung did. With lifeless and slow moves, he opened the door but didn't dare to make eye contact with him. He kept his head bowed, his hair covering his flooded with tears eyes just a bit.

Jeongguk's heart ached at the sight.

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Don't worry, I won't leave you like this. Another update is coming💜