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The tension in the room was palpable as Taehyung's voice cut through the air, sharp and impassioned. "You can't do this!" he exclaimed, his tone carrying both frustration and urgency. "Don't you remember last time? You wanted to postpone it, but it was a success!"

Taehyung's eyes bore into Soobin's, his hands gesturing wildly as he tried to drive his point home. "Your photographs aren't fake, and you know it!"

Soobin stood rigid, his jaw clenched and his gaze fixed on the floor. His hands were stuffed into his pockets, his posture defensive. The weight of Taehyung's words pressed on him, but he refused to engage.

"Let's just postpone it," he muttered finally, his voice low and clipped, as if the decision was final. He turned away slightly, avoiding Taehyung's intense gaze.

Just then, a faint chime broke through the charged silence—a notification lighting up his phone screen. Reflexively, he pulled it out, his thumb hovering over the display. His brow furrowed as his eyes scanned the message, his expression shifting subtly, though it was hard to tell if it was annoyance, relief, or something else entirely.

hyung♡

Getting started without you hurry

"Let's just calm down..." Taehyung said, his tone shifting as he leaned closer, trying to defuse the tension. His eyes flicked to Soobin's phone screen, curiosity piqued. But before he could process anything, the younger man abruptly grabbed his bag and started gathering his things with a flurry of movement.

"Where are you going?" Taehyung asked, his voice rising in alarm as Soobin slung his bag over his shoulder and made for the door.

"I'm going to get going. I'll see you at home," Soobin said quickly, his tone clipped as he avoided Taehyung's gaze.

"No, see me here, Soobin!" Taehyung shouted, his voice echoing in the room as he moved to follow him.

Soobin didn't look back, his long strides carrying him to the door in seconds. Taehyung chased after him, his frustration boiling over. "Hey, Soobin!" he yelled, desperation creeping into his tone as the door swung open.

Soobin stepped out, his movements hurried and determined to leave the conversation behind.

"I'm going to faint!" Taehyung called out dramatically, throwing his hands up in a final attempt to stop him. But Soobin didn't slow down, the sound of his retreating footsteps fading quickly down the hall.

Taehyung stood in the doorway, his chest heaving with exasperation as the reality of the moment set in. The younger man was gone, leaving Taehyung alone to wrestle with the unresolved decision on whether to launch the exhibition.

;)

Soobin exhaled a plume of frosty air as he approached the warm glow of the restaurant's entrance. His hands were buried deep in the pockets of his coat, and his breath curled visibly in the chilly evening air. Pushing the door open, he stepped inside, the sudden warmth hitting him like a soft embrace.

"Hey, Daeun," he whispered, his voice hoarse from the cold.

Daeun,Jungkook's wife standing near the counter with a welcoming smile, turned toward him. They both had opened this restaurant together after getting married. "Soobin! You look frozen. Come in," she said warmly, motioning for him to step further inside.

"Hi, Daeun. It's freezing out there," Soobin muttered, rubbing his gloved hands together as if to ward off the chill.

At the sound of his voice, another figure emerged from the kitchen—Jungkook, dressed in his chef's coat, his sleeves rolled up slightly. "Soobin! You're late," he teased, though his tone was lighthearted.

"Hey, Jungkook," Soobin replied with a small grin, extending his hand for a quick shake.

Jungkook chuckled, wiping his hands on a towel before pointing toward the corner of the restaurant. "He's over there," he said, gesturing toward a boy sitting by the window.

Soobin followed his gaze. Yeonjun sat with his head resting on the table, his hair slightly disheveled, the soft glow of the streetlights filtering through the glass casting a faint halo around him.

"She looks tired," Jungkook remarked softly, his brows knitting together.

Jungkook shrugged. "She's been like that for a bit. Go talk to her," he said before disappearing back into the kitchen.

Soobin took a deep breath, steadying himself, before making his way across the restaurant towards Yeonjun.

>.<

"I think she got rejected again," Daeun whispered, balancing a bowl of steaming soup in her hands. She gave Soobin a gentle push toward Yeonjun before darting off to serve a nearby table, her soft voice lingering in the air.

Soobin sighed, his shoulders sinking slightly. He took another steadying breath before walking toward Yeonjun. His slumped figure and the disheveled state of his light hair made his chest tighten slightly. He slid into the seat across from yeonjun, the cold surface of the table pressing against his forearms.

"Hey," he said, his tone soft yet familiar.

Yeonjun groaned, his head still buried in his hands. "Drinking on an empty stomach again?" Soobin asked knowingly, his brow furrowing as he leaned back.

At his voice, Yeonjun finally raised her head, using both hands to push back the strands of hair that had fallen into his forehead. "Oh, you're here," he mumbled, his voice muffled as he tried to appear less disheveled.

Soobin sighed, the sound heavy with a mix of concern and mild exasperation. Before he could say anything, Eunsoo straightened slightly, his expression shifting. "Soobin," he said, his tone carrying an edge of seriousness that caught his attention.

"Yeah?" he replied, folding his hands neatly on the table and watching Yeonjun closely.

"Do you know anything about unrequited love?" 

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