The two boys didn't say much to each other that night. Once Taehyung finished his shower, he went to the kitchen and found Jeongguk there, waiting for him to eat together, although he had told him not to. They started eating in silence, and they finished eating in silence as well.

Jeongguk didn't know why they weren't talking to each other suddenly. He thought that even if he asked what was wrong, he wouldn't get an answer again, so he didn't question the awkward silence between them. All they said to each other was goodnight and then both retreated to their rooms.

🥀

Taehyung went for his shift the next day at his usual hour. He was ready to greet Inguk when he realized that he was talking on the phone.

"What do you mean today? That's not possible! You guys should have thought about that sooner. How are we supposed to reserve a whole restaurant for tonight?"

He resumed listening carefully to what Inguk was saying with furrowed brows.

"I don't know what to tell you. Think about something, and I'll try to think of something too." Inguk sighed as he hung up.

"What's wrong?"

"Hoseok, Namjoon, and Yoongi are stupid, that's what's wrong. It's Jeongguk's birthday today, and they suddenly decided that they want to reserve a whole damn restaurant for a party, but that's just not possible."

"It's his birthday?"

"Yeah, you didn't know?"

"No, it never came up," he muttered as he lowered his head. He recalled what Jeongguk had told him about how he spent his last birthday and couldn't help but pout at the idea of spending it the same way again.

"Anyway, we don't know what to do now. We want to surprise him, but we can't think of anything."

Taehyung stayed mute for a spell as he thought about it. "Hyung, you have a restaurant, though. Maybe it's nothing too fancy for a CEO or whatever, but it's good enough?"

"Oh my God, Tae, you're right! We can totally do it here. Shit, I have to prepare everything."

"Relax, we have like six hours. And I'll help you too."

"You're awesome, Tae, thank you so much." Inguk scuttled around the bar and muffled him into a hug, which Taehyung accepted with a giggle.

He then called Hoseok to tell him about the idea Taehyung had, and he was utterly excited about it. He was a little astounded as well since none of them thought about Inguk's cafe for his surprise party.

Taehyung texted his two friends, and since both had a morning shift that day, they could come too. After eating his lunch, he went to change his clothes, and soon enough, he was ready to start his shift.

"Hyung, I haven't bought him a present!"

"It's okay, he doesn't like gifts, anyway," Inguk reassured with a small smile before going to the kitchen.

"Everyone likes gifts," he whispered to himself. I can buy him something tomorrow.

As hours passed by, it was now almost seven, and Inguk burst out of the kitchen. "We have a problem."

"What happened?"

"The boys suggested to Jeongguk to come here to eat now, but he said that he's not in the mood and that he wants to stay for a little longer at the office."

"Okay, so what? He'll come when he comes, what's the big deal?"

"It's his birthday, Tae. Do you really want him to work until late? He should be here partying, not working."

"Then what do we do now?"

"Can you call him or something and tell him to come here?"

"With what excuse?" Taehyung already didn't like the idea of lying to him.

"I don't know, tell him you finished earlier today because we don't have many customers or something."

A heavy sigh tumbled out of him. "I'll try," he uttered as he took his phone out of his pocket to call him.

"Hey."

"Hi, Jeongguk, um, I just finished and I was wondering when you'll be here."

"It's not eight yet."

"Yeah, Inguk told me to go since we don't have many customers and he can handle everything on his own."

"Oh. I wanted to finish up some things here. I can tell Hanae to come and drive you home."

"No," he retorted as he shot a glance at Inguk who was beside him, listening to their conversation in depth, and he turned his back to him. "Actually, I was thinking maybe we could get some takeout and go to that place with the lake? So we can talk too." There was a moment of silence, and Taehyung could only pray he would agree to his request.

"Okay, I'm on my way."

He released a shaky breath when they hung up. "He's on his way."

Inguk clapped in tiny out of excitement and scrambled to prepare everything. He had already informed their customers that the cafe would close at seven, so they didn't have to worry about that.

Soon enough, the three young businessmen bobbed into the cafe. "Hey, Tae," Hoseok said with a grin.

"Hi, guys."

"Jeongguk's gonna be a little late apparently," Namjoon said.

"No, he's not. I called him, and he said he's on his way."

Namjoon didn't comment on that but smiled knowingly to himself.

"I can't believe Jeongguk is listening to you more than his own hyungs," Yoongi snickered as he cast him a scornful look.

"I'm his hyung too," Taehyung murmured, his brows pulling together in a frown.

"You're not his hyung," he spat out, voice harsh with contempt.

"Then what am I?"

"I really don't know. Maybe his new toy or something."

"Yoongi!" Namjoon hissed. "Why are you being like this to Taehyung?"

"Can't a person make a joke? Jeez." Yoongi rolled his eyes, annoyed.

"It wasn't a joke, though," Taehyung breathed out as he let his head fall. Since he still hadn't changed his clothes, it was a good excuse to leave the three boys and have some time to himself.

He didn't know why he felt tears flood his eyes as he dragged his feet to the storage room, but he did. And once he closed the door behind him, his emotions built up too high and spilled out involuntarily from his eyes. Deep down, he was afraid. Afraid that what Yoongi said was true. And he didn't know how to handle it.

🥀

Once Jeongguk parked the car, he walked idly towards the door and entered the cafe. Everyone yelled 'surprise' and cheered loudly as the younger just stood there, shocked to the bone.

"Happy birthday, Kook," his hyungs said one after another as they hugged him.

"I thought you guys forgot about it," Jeongguk uttered, all out staggered by what they had prepared for him.

"Of course not." Namjoon beamed at him. "We didn't say happy birthday earlier because we wanted to surprise you."

"Well, I am surprised, I had no idea," Jeongguk said with a faint chuckle as he eyeballed the room in search of Taehyung, but his face contorted with confusion when he failed to spot him. "Where's Taehyung?"

"He went to change his clothes. Bad timing," Hoseok said.

"But he's in there for a while now," Namjoon pointed out quietly.

"Anyway, thank you guys for this. Bring out the drinks and put on some music. I'll go check on Taehyung." He forced a smile and rushed towards the storage room. He knocked on the door and heard a somewhat panicked 'come in' before entering.

"J-Jeongguk," he spluttered, startled by his appearance. "Happy birthday." He edged closer and enfolded him in his embrace without meeting his gaze.

"Tae. I can tell you were crying."

"No, no, I'm fine." He rubbed his face with one hand, wiping the last tears that just rolled down his cheeks.

"Why are you crying, Tae?" He kept his arms wrapped around his waist and pulled back to look at him. Gloom settled in his chest upon taking in his bloodshot, puffy eyes, and he couldn't help the heavy sigh that seeped through his lips.

"It's stupid, it's really just... stupid."

"If it made you cry, it's not so stupid."

"No, it's really stupid. I'm just emotional."

"Tell me what's wrong. Please."

Noticing the desperate look the younger was giving him, he sighed before he spoke up. "Promise me you won't do anything."

"I promise."

"Um." He glanced away, anxious. "Yoongi just said something," he trailed off and didn't fail to detect how Jeongguk's mellow expression altered to a wooden one in a heartbeat.

"What did he say?" he asked intensively since the older didn't speak for a few seconds.

"He just said that maybe I'm your new... toy."

Jeongguk's brows clumped together in a scowl then, a stream of outrage blazing inside him. "What? Why? How did this even happen?" He released the boy and took a faltering step back.

"I told them that I managed to make you come here earlier, and Yoongi said that he can't believe that you listen to me more than your hyungs. I said that I'm your hyung too, but he said that I'm not. And then I asked what am I, and he said that." His voice was subdued and frantic as he spoke, his eyes wandering everywhere but him.

Jeongguk curled his fingers into fists as he pressed his lips together in utter vexation. "What the fuck is he talking about?" he growled and spun around, ready to bolt for the door.

"No, Jeongguk." He was quick enough to snatch his hand and stop him. "You promised."

"He doesn't know what the fuck he's talking about." Jeongguk raised his voice and wrenched his hand away, causing him to recoil. When he saw the frightened look on his face, his expression softened, and he took a hesitant step towards him. "I'm sorry," he uttered as he engulfed him into a hug. "I'm just pissed at him. I shouldn't be taking it out on you."

Taehyung didn't hug him back. "If he's wrong, why are you so pissed about it?" he whispered and felt the younger stiffen right away.

"Because you're really not, Taehyung," he said as he drew back. "You never were and you'll never be. And I'm mad because he made you think that you can be just a toy to me. That's why you were crying, right? Because you believed him. Tell me, do you really believe him?"

"I-no, I don't," Taehyung mumbled. "Can we just have a good time now? It's your birthday."

"Big deal," he drawled with a sigh as he twisted around and bolted out of the storage room, making Taehyung drop his head in defeat.

⚜✳⚜