When the line between "need" and "want" gets blurred...
To the outside world, they're just good friends. But the truth is, Taehyung isn't entirely sure what they are to each other.
Kim Taehyung, rising soccer star.
Jung Hoseok, team physician.
...
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Hoseok found Taehyung in the locker room. He was sitting on the bench, his arms around his knees. The room was quiet except for the noise of the football match still going on outside.
Taehyung shoulders stiffened when he entered, but he didn't look up, staring blankly at his boots. He was still wearing his blue football kit.
"Go away," Taehyung said, without looking up. "They might need you on the pitch. What if the golden boy breaks a nail and you aren't there?"
Taehyung said nothing, eyeing Taehyung warily. In the two weeks since their conversation, Taehyung had been distant and tense, avoiding him and refusing to talk. Taehyung wasn't the silent type. When he brooded too long, it meant nothing good. Hoseok had expected the emotional breakdown, but nothing this public.
"Oh wait," Taehyung said, still looking at his boots. "This is your last day here, so you don't care, of course."
"This was incredibly stupid," Hoseok said. "What were you trying to prove? You've been getting all kinds of shit from the media as it is. Why did you give them a stick to beat you with? The press are going to have a field day with this. The coach is furious—you publicly undermined his authority. And you know how much the fans love Jungkook—they'll boo you every match now. What the fuck did you think you were doing?"
Taehyung lifted his gaze to him, his eyes the only color on his pale face. "You told me to walk on my own." A crooked smile curled his lips. "That was me walking on my own. I think I did pretty well, don't you think? I scored two goals."
Hoseok stared at him. "Don't do this to yourself."
"Why? Why do you care?"
Hoseok stepped closer and hauled him to his feet. "Are you trying to make me feel guilty? Is that it?"
Taehyung shrugged, looking aside, his jaw clenched.
Hoseok chuckled, shaking his head. "Are you kidding me? So what am I supposed to do? What? Stay by your side, watch you build a family, and be alone for the rest of my life?"
"You said you love me," Taehyung said, still looking aside, his voice tight. "If you really loved me, you wouldn't leave me."
Hoseok inhaled sharply. "You can't use this against me. Not this. Do you have any idea how much this sucks? Unrequited love isn't fun."
Taehyung's gaze snapped to him. "Unrequited love?" He laughed. "What are you talking about? What unrequited love?" He freed his shoulder from Hoseok's grip. "You're not leaving because your love is 'unrequited.' You're leaving because—because sex means more to you than love."
"It's not the same," Hoseok said. "You don't love me that way—"
"What way?" Taehyung yelled, flushing and breathing hard. "What way? But fine, whatever—leave. I don't care anymore. You're just like everyone else."
Dammit.
Hoseok touched his shoulder, but Taehyung jumped away and glowered at him. "Don't touch me. I told you to leave. Bye! Fuck off!"
"tae—"
"Don't you 'Tae' me," Taehyung said, his face hard. "You know what?" he said, looking Hoseok in the eye."I hate you."
It was like a punch to the gut.
"I wish I'd never met you," Taehyung said with feeling before stalking out of the room.
Hoseok stood frozen, staring at the locker and seeing nothing as Taehyung's words ran in his ears. The worst part was, he knew Taehyung meant them—at least a part of him did.
