"I did WHAT?!"

"It's not a bad thing, Hobi! It's actually – "

"Well, it's certainly not a good thing!"

"Calm down!"

"Yoongi? Angry, annoyed, grumpy, uninterested Yoongi? I gave Yoongi my phone number?! WHY?!"

"Because you two were talking all night after we all danced. It was really cute, actually! You kept complimenting each other and – "

"Oh my god, I'm never going to be able to look Jin or Jungkook in the eye again."

"Hobi – "

"What if they come back to the garden and – "

"HOBI!"

Hoseok finally met Taehyung's eyes.

"It's okay," Taehyung said with a small chuckle. "You guys got on well. You never would've given him your phone number if he was rude and cold all night."

Hoseok observed Taehyung seriously. "He really was nice?"

"Very!" Taehyung confirmed. "And very interested in talking to you."

In spite of himself, Hoseok smiled slightly. "He is cute."

Taehyung grinned. "So, you're not regretting it anymore?"

"I never said that," Hoseok mused. "But, I mean, maybe it's not the worst thing that's ever happened."

-

"No. No, this cannot be happening."

"What's the big deal, Yoongs?"

"I didn't give him hope, did I?"

"Well, you talked to him the rest of the night. And complimented him a lot."

Yoongi dropped his head into his hands. "Fuck."

"Seriously, what's the big deal?"

"I'm not interested!"

"And why not?"

Yoongi stared at Namjoon. "I'm not ready for anyth – "

"But why, Yoongs?"

"You know why!"

Suddenly, Namjoon reached across the table and took Yoongi's hands in his. He observed him very seriously.

"Jia wouldn't want this for you; the way you're living right now. She told you to be happy, Yoongs. Let something make you happy."

Yoongi pulled his hands away, but instead of getting angry as he usually would, tears filled his eyes. "I can't just replace her," he said quietly.

"Of course not," Namjoon agreed. "You couldn't and you wouldn't. But being interested in someone or something with someone isn't replacing her, Yoongs. It's moving on, which you're going to have to do eventually."

Yoongi met Namjoon's eyes as a tear rolled down his cheek. "It's hard, Joon."

Namjoon sighed. "I can't pretend to understand how you feel, Yoongs. But I can imagine, and I know it's hard. But you deserve to be happy. I hate seeing you this way; the way you've been for the past year. You're not you, Yoongs. And I miss you."

More tears began to fall as Yoongi let out a small sob. "I'm sorry."

Namjoon shook his head. "You have nothing to be sorry for."

"I miss me, too. But I just...miss her more."

"I know."

They sat there in silence for several long minutes. Namjoon just being there for his friend, and Yoongi trying to sort through the multitude of thoughts running through his head. Finally, Yoongi sighed deeply and met Namjoon's eyes.

"So, I should text him?"

Namjoon smiled kindly. "It's up to you, but I think you should, yes."

"What would I even say?"

"I dunno...hi?"

Yoongi rolled his eyes as he pulled his phone out and added Hoseok's phone number into his contacts. "Here goes nothing, I guess."

-

Unknown Number Hi.

Hoseok stared at his phone. He had no idea who would be texting him, if not Taehyung or Jimin.

Hoseok Um, hi?

Unknown Number How are you?

Hoseok I'm sorry, who is this?

Yoongi facepalmed.

Unknown Number Sorry, this is Yoongi. From the club last night.

Hoseok's eyes widened. "Tae!"

Across the table, Taehyung jumped at Hoseok's sudden shriek. "What?!"

Hoseok held up his phone. "It's Yoongi!"

"No way!" Taehyung jumped up and ran around to the chair next to Hoseok, peeking at his phone.

Hoseok Oh, hi! I'm okay...crazy hungover, but otherwise fine.

Hoseok You?

Yoongi Same.

Hoseok waited, but no further reply came. "What do I say now?" he asked Taehyung, who shrugged.

Hoseok But you made it home okay last night?

Yoongi Yeah, I stayed at Joon's.

Yoongi You?

Hoseok That's good. And yeah, I stayed at Tae's.

They were at an impasse and neither texted again for a while. Finally, with Namjoon's encouragement, Yoongi sighed and picked up the conversation again.

Yoongi Look, I'm going to be completely honest with you...

Hoseok's heart dropped. Taehyung noticed his friend's suddenly disappointed expression. "What? What happened?"

"He's turning me down."

Taehyung snatched Hoseok's phone away from him and read the message.

"What are you talking about? He didn't say anything like that."

Hoseok took his phone back from his friend. "'I'm going to be completely honest with you'? He's going to tell me something like he was drunk and he's not really interested."

"You don't know that!" Taehyung said, trying to keep Hoseok hopeful. "Look, he's writing more. Just wait to see what he has to say."

Hoseok sighed and watched the three dots for a few moments. He had just about put his phone away when a new message finally came through.

Yoongi It's been about six years since I've done this. I want you to know that I do want to talk to you, but I don't really know what to say. I'm a little rusty, I guess? This is just kind of hard for me. I hope you understand.

Hoseok let out a sigh of relief. He showed Taehyung the message, and Taehyung grinned.

"See? I'm glad he told you that. Points for honesty!"

Hoseok smiled as he replied.

Hoseok That's okay! I do understand. It's been a while for me, too. We'll just figure it out together.

"Aw, Hobi! That's so sweet!"

Hoseok's cheeks flushed at his friend's words.

Yoongi 🙂

"A smiley face? That's...different," Namjoon said as he looked over Yoongi's shoulder. Yoongi pulled his phone out of Namjoon's view and scowled.

"What else should I have said?" he snapped.

Namjoon shrugged. "Emojis just aren't really your style. But hey, you do you."

"Since you're snooping, you obviously saw that I told him I don't know what to say."

"And that's great that you were honest with him! But, just be yourself, Yoongs. What's something you want to know about him? Ask him."

Yoongi considered this.

Yoongi How old are you?

"A good start," Namjoon encouraged.

Hoseok I'm 23. What about you?

Yoongi I'm 25.

Hoseok When is your birthday?

Yoongi Not until March 9th.

Hoseok Cool. Mine is February 18th.

Yoongi Close together.

Hoseok Yeah! So, what's your favorite color?

Yoongi Oh, we're going cliché now? Haha, mine is white.

Hoseok Interesting! Mine is green.

Yoongi So, your nickname is Hobi, right? How'd you get that?

Hoseok My mom used to tell me that I was her hope. Hope kinda evolved into Hobi, and it stuck.

Yoongi That's really sweet. My friends call me Yoongs...for obvious reasons.

Hoseok I heard Namjoon calling you that! I think it's a cute nickname.

Yoongi's cheeks turned pink, which did not go unnoticed by Namjoon.

"Did he compliment you again?" he asked with a cheeky smile.

"Shut up," said Yoongi.

Namjoon held up his hands as if in defeat. "Just asking because you blushed a lot last night when he'd compliment you."

"It was probably the alcohol," Yoongi muttered.

"Sure," Namjoon replied with a smirk.

Yoongi Thanks.

Hoseok 😊

Suddenly, Taehyung's front door flew open. Jimin hurried inside.

"Hobi!"

"Uh, hey, come on in," Taehyung said.

"You gave us keys for a reason," Jimin replied. "Anyway, Hobi, I need to talk to you."

Hoseok eyed his friend curiously. "What's this about?"

"Yoongi," Jimin said. "Please tell me you haven't talked to him yet."

Hoseok and Taehyung glanced at each other.

"I'm talking to him right now," Hoseok said. Jimin sighed. "What's going on, Chim?"

"It's about the last relationship he was in."

"Yeah, it was long term. He told me it lasted like six years."

"Five, actually," Jimin answered.

"What are you talking about?" Hoseok asked. "How do you know that?"

"I talked to Jungkook about it last night. Yoongi was married."

"What?" Hoseok asked in disbelief. "Seriously?"

Hoseok heard his phone chime with another text, but he was fully engrossed in what Jimin currently had to say.

Jimin nodded. "That's why he has brothers-in-law. They're his wife's brothers."

"Wait, is he still married?"

"No," Jimin said. "That's what I wanted to talk to you about. She died last year."

Hoseok gasped. "Oh my god."

"Yeah. Look, I just want you to be careful, Hobi. Jungkook said Yoongi hasn't entirely moved on from her. I mean, he seemed happy that you two were talking. But, I don't want you to end up getting hurt if Yoongi really is still hung up on her and the situation."

Hoseok considered this. He was shocked by this revelation. He wasn't surprised Yoongi hadn't disclosed that information. After all, they'd just started talking and were getting to know each other. Part of him wanted to continue talking to him, but now there was a small part of him that was wondering if it might not be a good idea after all.

He finally picked up his phone to see another text from Yoongi.

Yoongi What are you up to today?

Hoseok bit his lip. He decided to end the conversation in order to give himself some more time to think.

Hoseok I'm hanging out with Tae and Jimin soon. I actually need to go so I can get ready for that.

Yoongi Ah, okay. Talk later?

Hoseok Sure.

Hoseok put his phone away. Taehyung raised an eyebrow.

"Are you already done talking to him?"

"I told him I needed to go, but that we can talk later. I just need some time to think about all this."

Taehyung frowned. "While I do agree with Jimin to an extent, don't let it stop you from at least continuing to get to know Yoongi. He seems like a really great guy, Hobi. I really don't think he'd hurt you."

"Not on purpose," Jimin said. "But you never know if it might happen without any intentions to do so." He turned to Hoseok. "I'm not saying you have to stop talking to him. I just want you to be careful."

Hoseok nodded as he chewed on his lip. "Thanks, Chim."

Jimin smiled, but it was regretful. "I'm sorry I had to be the one to tell you this. Maybe I should've let Yoongi be the one to do so. I just – "

"You're looking out for me. I understand," Hoseok said. "I won't say anything to Yoongi about it, though. I'll let him tell me in his own time."

Jimin nodded. "I think that's a good idea."

"Well," Taehyung said suddenly. "Let's get out and do something today. Get your mind off things for a while."

Hoseok nodded. "Sounds good to me. I do need to run by the gardens at some point and water the plants. Especially Yoongi's. They need extra care."

"Kind of like Yoongi himself," Jimin mused.

Hoseok considered this. "Well, maybe I can be the one to help him, too."