TIME ─ JAEYONG

015⸰

before taeyong could take a bite from his meal when it arrived jaehyun nudged his phone to him. questions that were better left unsaid swarmed taeyongs thoughts as he took the phone into his hand.

he turned the camera and counted down, successfully taking the picture. he awkwardly handed back jaehyun his phone.

"it's just for memories." jaehyun set his phone down on the table after typing something. without responding tae began eating away.

midway jaehyun left to use the restroom, leaving his phone behind. the screen lit up and dinged multiple times. curiosity got the best of taeyong, he took the phone and unlocked it, instantly clicking on the incoming messages.

Nakamoto

yuta, we're eating at our old after game restaurant. i'm trying to contain my happiness.
Sent at 7:46 p.m

congrats bro.
i'm with sicheng right now.
he's so cute, i'm trying so hard to not kiss him.
his uncle drove us to get ice cream.
Received at 7:59 p.m

you haven't tried to kiss taeyong right?
if you do just go for it, you lil gay boy. 😏
Received at 8:01 p.m

"what are you doing?" taeyong flinched, the phone fumbling out his hands onto the table. jaehyun snatched it and read the screen, his pale face filling with color.

"i–i was just– i'm sorry. i don't know why i read it. sorry." jaehyun's eyes glossed over, his embarrassment exceeding its limits.

"we should leave." he turned on his heel, fast walking out the restaurant. taeyong glanced at the food on the table, he wasn't even fully done with everything.

he continuously looked back and forth from the door to his plate. he cursed under his breath, took one last bite from his sandwich and walked out the building, scanning the roads for jaehyun.

"jaehyun!" he called out, jogging to the boy walking with his head hung. "stop walking faster!" he latched his hand onto jaehyun's arm, stopping him from continuing.

from under the streetlight, taeyong could see wet trails of tears on his cheeks. he sniffled, wiping them away. "why are you crying?"

"i'm embarrassed! you went through my messages without my permission and now you know i'm gay. you must think i'm so creepy."

"i don't think you're creepy. sure, you're really weird but it's okay. you don't need to be embarrassed because of your sexuality."

"doesn't me being gay make you uncomfortable? i would be after all the things i did..."

taeyong did feel slightly uncomfortable but it was something he would have to deal with for the time being. his main concern was not wanting jaehyun to grow feelings for him, especially since he would never be able to return them.

"jaehyun i just want you to know, you can't start liking me. i don't want you to end up hurt."

"like you? no no!" he played it off. "i don't like you. i barely even know you. if you're saying this because of what yuta said–"

"i just assumed–"

"don't assume. yuta jokes a lot because he knows i'm gay. i um, actually like johnny." he lied. it took everything in his body to not slap himself.

"oh. yeah? that's good." taeyong was relieved. although johnny didn't seem good enough to be jaehyun's lover he had no say, especially since he only witnessed one side of him today.

"yeah." jaehyun chuckled awkwardly. "i should call the limo service now."

he took a few steps before calling the service. taeyong rocked back and forth on his feet, thinking back on how awkward and random his day was.

if every day is like this, i don't think i'll last...

"taeyong..." jaehyun spoke after ending the call. "let's forget this day happened, okay? well, for the most part." 

"i agree."

"tomorrow..." he paused, finding the right words. "let's just stay home and get to know each other. i know you said you'd tell me everything when you're ready so we'll start with me."

would taeyong ever actually feel ready to openly talk about his past with jaehyun? who was merely a stranger that forcefully took him in?

"it'll be like starting fresh as new friends instead of awkward strangers. i like the idea, do you?"

do i?

✿

do you think taeyong will open up to jaehyun after starting over? thanks for reading! 💖