The Taste Of Ink | Taekook | ENG

THE EPILOGUE: TILL THE END

The younger man, as usual, looked phenomenal. His dark, almost jet black hair was tied back in a ponytail again. The boy was wearing a black sweatshirt that he had seen on him many times, and although the fabric was already a bit worn and the sleeves seemed to be a bit too long for him, Jeongguk clearly had no intention of parting with it. His athletic legs this time were emphasized by tight, light-colored jeans with a strong tear at the knee, which made it possible to admire the perfectly sculpted quadriceps, so temptingly emerging from under the pale fabric of the trousers.

Yugyeom involuntarily moved his gaze over his silhouette as if he wanted to enjoy this beautiful sight with impunity for the last time, then sought his dark eyes and smiled gently.

"For you black, no sugar," the brunet said finally, holding out a mug of steaming coffee to him.

The elder stretched out his hand and, taking the cup, thanked him softly. He set the coffee down in front of him and watched Jeongguk take the seat across from him for a moment. The brunet sat down and looked at him, just watching him for a moment. It was hard to explain, but Yugyeom felt there was something new about him. His eyes seemed to sparkle strangely, as if he had just learned something that made him really happy. So he wet his lips quickly, feeling his nervousness rising, and he moved a little nervously, adjusting himself in his place.

"I'm glad you called because I wanted to meet you too," he said finally, breaking the silence.

"I'm sorry about yesterday," Jeongguk apologized quickly, then smiled gently. "I know you were disappointed that I ran away like that," he admitted.

"You don't have to apologize," the elder protested. "I..." he began, but paused, feeling his throat tighten painfully.

He knew that was what should be done. Jeongguk needed to know the truth, but he felt that when he did, he would lose him, and he didn't know if he was ready for it. He loved him and did not want to lose him, but he wanted his happiness, and more and more often felt that he would not be able to give it to him. Nor could he lie to him any longer, knowing that the man he loved had returned to Seoul.

And what more. Most likely, he came back here for him.

"I should be the one apologizing to you," he confessed, and the young artist furrowed his eyebrows together, as if he did not understand what the psychiatrist was talking about and what he wanted to apologize to him for. "Jeongguk, I... I need to tell you something..." he began cautiously. "I should never have hidden it from you, but... I don't know why I did it..."

After these words, silence fell between them again. Yugyeom shifted his gaze to his hands and stared at them for a moment, then finally sucked a gasp of air into his lungs. He wasn't looking at Jeongguk. He did not dare to meet his eyes. But he allowed his lips to slowly pronounce what he should have told him long ago.

"The night your exhibition took place... I wasn't the one who bought you these flowers..." he confessed, and Jeongguk quickly reached out and grabbed his hand lying on the table.

"I know," he admitted, and hearing his words, the young psychiatrist looked up at him with surprise.

"You know?" He repeated, clearly surprised.

"I asked about these flowers... because I felt that only one person could choose them..." he explained. The corners of his mouth lifted involuntarily.

"Have you seen him?" Yugyeom asked, though in his mouth it didn't sound like a question at all. "That boy with the tattoo... Is that why you chased him?"

"When I saw his tattoo. I knew he was the one who made it. I don't know how. I just knew it," he replied. "This boy gave me the address of his tattoo artist, so I had to go over there and see if it was him..."