Taehyung thanked the polite chauffeur upon arriving at the mansion. He unlocked the door with the key Jeongguk had given him a few days ago and stepped inside.

He scoped the living room in search of the younger but didn't spot him. He left the food in the kitchen and headed towards Jeongguk's bedroom. He paced outside of his door as he puzzled over what to do. He told him himself that he was tired, and Taehyung didn't want to disturb him, but he couldn't stop wondering if he was okay.

He knew he wouldn't be able to sleep without checking on him first, so he slid the door open with careful, tentative moves, not wanting to wake him up by knocking in case he was already sleeping.

The boy was tucked in his bed and didn't respond in any way to his entrance. Thinking that he was sleeping, he let out a soft sigh and tiptoed closer to him. He went to the side of the bed and kneeled in front of him as he leaned against the bed.

He observed him for a spell and felt the need to run his fingers through his hair, but he reined it back. "What happened to you?" he uttered as he extended his hand and placed it on top of his, the touch almost imperceptible.

The older stayed there for quite a while, gazing at the beautiful boy fondly and holding his hand. "I hope you're okay, Kookie." A sad smile crept over his lips as he pulled away, but he went stock still at the sudden tug on his hand.

Jeongguk peeled his eyes open and released his grasp to interlock their fingers.

"Did I wake you?" Taehyung asked in a muted tone as he peered at his drawn face through worried eyes, and he received a wan shake of his head as a response. "Are you okay?" He saw the other shake his head once more, and he couldn't help the gloom that nestled against his heart. He pushed himself off the floor and sat beside him as he cupped his hand. "Do you wanna tell me why?"

The younger sat up in the bed, leaving a tiny space between them, and rested his back against the wall. "Not really."

"If I hug you, will you tell me?" Taehyung asked cutely, trying to get even a simple smile out of him, and his face lit up once he heard a weedy chuckle from him.

"Hug me and I'll think about it."

Taehyung snorted at his words but didn't waste a second to fasten his arms around his nape, pressing his body against his side and tangling their legs together as Jeongguk's arms girdled his waist.

The younger melted into the embrace and tucked his face into the crook of his neck as Taehyung laid his chin on his shoulder. The latter caressed his nape and back in a tender manner in his attempt to remedy his saddened state and make him feel better, even though he didn't know what was wrong. He couldn't care less about that anyway — he just wanted to make him smile again.

They stayed in this position for a while, with their breathing in sync, as they enjoyed the warmth of this heart-soothing hug. Taehyung ventured to place a small, gentle kiss on his neck, a kiss that made the younger shiver lightly.

"It's my father's death date today," Jeongguk spoke below his breath, but the other was able to hear him.

He halted every movement abruptly at the sound of these words that rolled off his tongue with such sorrow they pricked his heart.

"You're probably confused since you know I wasn't so fond of him," he continued with a dry, frail chuckle.

Taehyung drew back a tad to look at him and shook his head. "He was your father," he trailed off as he cupped his cheek in a delicate hold, gazing into his sunken eyes.

"I went to his grave after my hyungs left. Probably they forgot about it. They didn't know him anyway. When I became the CEO, most of the people who were working there were old, and I wanted to give opportunities to younger people like me. But of course, for everyone I fired from the company, I helped them find another job first, and for those I couldn't find something, I kept them at their position. Anyway, that's why I didn't come to the cafe. I was too overwhelmed to meet anyone. I'm sorry, Tae."

"No, I'm sorry that you had to do this alone, Kook." He made his way into his hug again, clasping him tightly.

"It's okay," he drawled and planted a sugary kiss on his exposed shoulder.

"It's not." His voice came out broken as a sob rose up his throat, his emotions going wild inside him, the reason unknown.

Once Jeongguk heard the faint crack in his voice, he pulled back, alarmed, and held his downcast face. "Don't cry about me, Tae," he whispered as he swiped his thumbs over his cheeks, collecting the first tears that leaked out of his eyes.

"I'm sorry." He sniffled, trying to suppress his unreasonably emotional state. "I want to make you feel better and I don't know how."

"Seeing you cry definitely doesn't make me feel better."

"I'm sorry." He drew in deep puffs of calming air, succeeding in diminishing his sudden outburst of tears.

"Stop apologizing. I won't hesitate to push you off this bed," Jeongguk said, somewhat frustrated, but to his surprise, he received a throaty chuckle from him.

"Now I want to see if you're really gonna do it."

"I won't do it because I don't want to hurt you," he said, and in a split second, he noticed a grin spreading on his lips.

"That's my Kookie." He giggled and threw himself on him, forcing him to lie down as he straddled him, their bodies pressed together.

"Your Kookie?" he questioned with raised brows as his hands traveled to his small waist and held onto it loosely.

Taehyung wiped a few teardrops from his cheeks and supported himself with his hands, gazing down at him. "Yes."

"I'm yours?" He saw the black-haired boy nod vigorously with a goofy smile on his lips. "Since when?"

"I don't know, but you are." He chuckled. "You're the best friend in the whole world," he chirped as he wrapped his arms around him again, missing how Jeongguk's expression changed into a blank one the moment these words left his mouth.

It stung — there was no doubt about that. These words took his heart and twisted it painfully. They disillusioned him in a rather merciless way, and they left him to wallow in a bitter void. It did sting, but he never thought it would sting that much.

Taehyung drew back to look at him as the other didn't respond to his hug. "What's wrong?"

"What?"

"You didn't hug me back."

"Do I have to hug you back every time you hug me?"

"Yes, you do."

"No, I don't."

"Fine, I'll just give my hugs to other people who want them," Taehyung tossed off, indifferent, as he slipped off him.

"Oh, yeah? Like who?" Jeongguk sat cross-legged in the bed, staring at him with a raised scornful brow.

"None of your business." He shrugged as he folded his arms over his chest and snapped his head away from him.

"Who wants your hugs, Tae?"

"Many will once I become a model."

"What are you talking about?"

"Your hyungs offered me to become the model for their next photoshoot. And I will say yes."

"No, you won't," he snarled as he shook his head, feeling an unexpected wave of rage simmer inside him.

Taehyung huffed at his remark. "Why?"

"Because you won't. We're not discussing this."

"Exactly, because it's my life, and I can do whatever I want."

"Taehyung, don't argue with me over this. I'm the CEO and I won't approve it whether you like it or not."

Taehyung glowered at him for a few seconds as his hands clenched into fists. "You know what? I don't wanna talk to you anymore," he hissed as he jumped off the bed.

"Where are you going?"

"Away, so I won't have to look at your stupid face," he growled as he stamped towards the door and slammed it closed on his way out.

"Not this again," he muttered with a sigh as he rose to his feet and followed the other with long-legged strides. "Can you stop?"

"Go away."

"Taehyung," he called in a fit of frustration, but he didn't stop. He spectated as Taehyung settled down at the table and unwrapped his takeout. "Can you please stop acting like a child?"

"Can you please go away? I want to eat in peace," he snapped back and took a deep breath before he started eating.

Jeongguk said nothing and took a seat across from him, keeping his drained eyes on him.

After a few minutes, Taehyung cast him a glare, unable to bear his stare on him anymore. "Either eat or leave me alone."

"If you forgot, it's my house." His voice didn't contain any semblance of scorn, but it visibly bothered Taehyung either way.

"I don't ever forget it, don't worry about that," he said with a taunting smile that disappeared rather fast.

"Can we not argue?"

"No, because you're obnoxious as always!"

"Tae, I'm really not in the mood."

He stiffened then and couldn't help but sigh. Shit, I'm such an idiot. "I'm sorry. Please, eat something," he mumbled and continued eating after a moment.

"It sounds like you're saying sorry just because. You're not really sorry, right? You're still mad at me." A bitter chuckle seeped through his lips, and his face clouded over when Taehyung stayed mute and shot him a wary glance. "Fine, I don't care anymore." He stood up and slouched off, leaving Taehyung frozen in his seat.

He dropped his chopsticks and sighed in exasperation. Why did I get so mad at him? He scolded himself as he rubbed his face, massaging his temples a bit.

With droopy shoulders, he strolled towards his bedroom and knocked on his door. He waited for a while, and his brows drew together when there was no answer. He decided to just open the door, only to find the room empty. His eyes fell on the bathroom's closed door, and he inched closer with hesitant steps.

He heard the faint noise of the jacuzzi and knocked on the door. "Kook?"

"What?" Jeongguk's voice sounded rather aggressive to him.

"Can we talk?"

"I'm in the jacuzzi."

There was a moment of silence as Taehyung filled his lungs to the brim with a fortifying breath and exhaled slowly. "Can I join you?"

The younger didn't answer immediately. "Okay."

Taehyung rushed to the younger's closet then and took clean clothes and a towel. Although he had all of his clothes there now, he preferred wearing Jeongguk's clothes when he was sleeping.

He slipped out of his pants and wavered as he fiddled with the hem of his shirt. He gave himself a decisive nod before he pulled it off his head and held it in his hand. He wrapped the towel around him, feeling self-conscious about suddenly appearing half-naked in front of the younger, and cracked the door open.

He left the dirty clothes in the clothes hamper and glanced at him, but he lowered his eyes once he noticed that he was already gawking at him. "Stop staring," he hissed, embarrassed, as he edged closer.

Jeongguk tossed his head down, and the older took the opportunity to take the towel off and get into the jacuzzi as fast as possible. "You're not wearing a shirt," he stated as he peeped at the boy who sat across from him.

"Yeah." It was the only thing he could say as he felt flushed circles form on his cheeks. "Why is the water so soapy?" he asked in a hushed tone as he tinkered with the bubbles.

"No reason," Jeongguk mumbled, stealing another glimpse of him. The thought of seeing his upper body naked lingered in his mind and overflowed him with a sudden thrill. He only managed to peek at his body before he got into the water, and with the bubbles now, he couldn't see anything below his neck.

It surprised him, to be honest, how he found himself yearning to see it at least once more.

     
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  *This chapter will have another part and I hope I can finish it today so I can let you guys read it. It's gonna be fun🤭💜*

  
   
   
I will never shut up about this Taehyung
 

And this Jungkook