Left and right. A pair of beautiful eyes scanned the area left and right and let out a breath of relief. He shook his head and then finally walked ahead.
"Kim Taehyung." A voice stopped him in his tracks as he closed his eyes shut tightly and cursed under his breath.
He plastered a fake, big smile on his face and then turned around to face the person who just called him.
"Yes, my beautiful, handsome, wonderful, gorgeous, pretty, marv—"
"Enough buttering. Now tell me why are you entering your own home like a thief?" The voice boomed again when Taehyung sighed.
"The house was already too quiet so I didn't want to disrupt the peace by entering loudly as I always do." Taehyung replied as the other person narrowed his eyes.
"You don't have any more lectures now? Why are you back home so early?" The person questioned making his eyes big to make him look scary.
"Oh my beautiful Jinnie, this is also a reason why I call you mom. Look at your big, round eyes, damn I am scared of them right now." Taehyung said as he fake shivered to show he was scared.
"Don't change the topic and answer me." Jin asked as Taehyung genuinely let out a smile.
"No Jinnie, I don't have any more lectures today and the reason I am back home early is because I need to talk to Jeongguk hyung." Taehyung said as he saw Jin's eyebrows creasing.
"And don't worry, it's not about my undying love for him. I'll never bring that up again, you can let go of that frown now. You will age soon and get a lot of wrinkles if you worry so much about me." Taehyung further said as he let out a fake laugh and walked towards Jeongguk's room.
"Taebear, I didn't mea—"
"I know my beautiful Jinnie but I felt I should still explain." Taehyung replied as he walked up the stairs as Jin stood there feeling his frown disappear yet his face crumbled as he felt tears brim at the back of his eyes because no, he shouldn't explain but maybe Jin's unnecessary expression made his little Taebear compile.
Suddenly it felt like their little Taetae was right there with them yet extremely far from them as well. It was wrong for him to feel that because maybe, just maybe the distance was only between his Taebear and Guk.
Jin rubbed his eyes with his forefinger and walked back to the dining table as he decided that it's better to visit the restaurant. It would at least divert his mind.
By the time Jin decided this Taehyung had already reached Jeongguk's room but he stood outside the closed door and curled his hands into tight fists.
This is not the first time he is standing here yet today it feels very foreign to him. This door, this room, the person inside the room. It was eerily silent but he expected it because the only loud person in this household was Jin and he himself.
Taehyung inhaled a deep breath and raised his fist to knock on the door. He can't contemplate anymore. If something needs to be done, it needs to be done regardless of what's going on currently.
He knocked once and waited till he heard a reply from the other side. He felt his heartbeat rising with each passing second. He felt his heart would pump out of his chest the way it was hammering in his chest rapidly.
After a long minute, which almost felt like a whole month to Taehyung, he heard a reply.
"Jin hyung, I am not hungry. I'll eat later on when everyone is back home." The honey-laced yet stern voice made Taehyung feel his body go a little limp. It feels like he is hearing this soft, velvety voice after a very long time.
"Hyung, it's m-me, T-Taehyung." Taehyung replied as he felt his throat clogged up and he would throw up any second due to his nerves wrecking his body.
Suddenly he felt like the silence prolonged. Probably, he won't be comfortable enough to talk—
Right then he heard the door open a bit too quickly while a messed up Jeongguk stood in front of him. This Jeongguk is nothing like his Boba. This Jeongguk had messy hair, it looked as if he didn't even touch his hair for hours and his eyes—oh his precious doe-eyes that held the entire galaxy in them—were bloodshot and blank. It's as if it had lost its shine, its charm.
Taehyung noticed everything and his throat itches and tongue lapped to comment on it yet he didn't.
"W-Why—u-uh, why didn't you just come inside?" Jeongguk asked as Taehyung smiled softly as he looked away from Jeongguk's round eyes staring deep into his soul.
"You had told me to take permission before entering your room bo—hyung. I didn't want to disrespect you anymore." Taehyung said with a shrug as Jeongguk felt his eyes turning stern and blank. He understood that the nickname was about to slip yet he couldn't help but just feel anger running up his nerves when his baby corrected himself.
"I had just told you to knock and then enter my room, not to knock and then take my permission." Jeongguk replied as Taehyung dumbly nodded his head. It irked Jeongguk, it felt as if Taehyung wasn't even paying attention.
"Uh, hyung, can I come inside? I need to talk to you about something important. O-Or we could even talk downstairs?" Taehyung gave out an option and Jeongguk felt frustration sweep up his spine. Why was he getting options suddenly? Why did—he made the situation like this. Awkward.
"No, j-just come inside." Jeongguk answered as he moved aside a little to let Taehyung enter.
Taehyung walked ahead and sat down uncomfortably on the bed where he has spent his entire life. He has slept there, laughed there, cried there, squealed there and above all he has hugged his entire world there. Yet today, right now, his skin crawls when he sits there.
Jeongguk came and sat down beside Taehyung and even though there was a big space between them, Taehyung shifted a bit more away and the action didn't go unnoticed by Jeongguk. He saw it by the side of his eyes as he curled his fists tightly on his lap.
Taehyung noticed this action and chuckled sadly in his head. Is his boba now that disgusted to sit beside him and then needs to calm himself?
"Uh—I am sorry to disturb you hyung like this at a very odd time but it's something important." Taehyung said as Jeongguk's body turned more stiff. His baby now comes to him only for important things. He couldn't help but hear a mocking laugh behind his head. "You wanted this."
"What is it?" Jeongguk's voice came out harsher than he intended to. His mind is screwing him up.
Taehyung flinched a little at the tone and immediately nodded. He inhaled a deep breath and made himself understand that be happy that just his tone is harsh and he didn't tell him to just fuck off.
"I want to start working at the Jeon Corporations. I will intern for a month and then I will start working. This is my last semester, hyung, so I need an internship anyway. I hope it won't be too much of a problem for you." Taehyung said as Jeongguk creased his eyebrows and looked at him.
"You don't even need my permission, it's yo—"
"I know, I know it's my company. How can I forget it when that was literally my first birthday gift from you. I am not taking your permission but rather informing you because maybe that company is in my name, it is still yours. And another reason why I am telling you this is because I think it's enough now." Taehyung said as Jeongguk stared back at him in sheer confusion dancing on his face.
"You have done enough of something you don't really want to do. After the one month training that you give me, you will leave and follow your dreams. You have given me this company for my safety and so that I have a secure future and no one ever questions me but I think it's time that I become responsible too." Taehyung said with a small smile as Jeongguk stared at him as if his baby had grown two horns.
"What dreams? This company is not something I don't wan—"
"Hyung, I know you always wanted to sing and I have prepared everything for you to follow your dreams. Now just leave the company on my dad and my broad shoulders and do something for yourself. You've done enough for all of us already." Taehyung said as he brushed his sweaty palms on his lap.
"What makes you think I will listen to you?" Jeongguk asked sternly as Taehyung giggled adorably but his eyes held no happiness.
"I know you won't. Why will you listen to me? That's why I have already decided that my second option is to throw you out of the company. I had promised myself hyung, hook or by crook I would make you follow your dreams." Taehyung said as he laughed a little loudly.
"If you will throw me out then who will you intern for?" Jeongguk asked as he felt his insides burning due to something he couldn't exactly pinpoint. He felt like cradling his baby close to him.
"My dad. He is the acting CEO of the company anyway." Taehyung replied casually as he felt Jeongguk's lips curve a little upwards but soon it dropped when he saw Taehyung's hand approaching his face.
He felt his body going stiff again and he felt the burning sensation back in ten folds. He felt moving his face forward and just accepting the touch because it has been so long.
He wanted that touch. He wanted Taehyung's long, slender hands to wrap around him and not just touch him but instinctively he flinched back when those familiar fingertips touch his skin right under his right eye.
Just when his body jerked a little, Taehyung took back his hand at lightning speed. And for the very first time Jeongguk felt guilt rise up his entire body. He wanted his baby's touch, he wanted more than those light feather-like touches yet his action maybe just drifted them further apart.
"I wasn't touching you inappropriately hyung but I apologise if you felt uncomfortable. Actually there was this eyelash and when we were small, I always used to catch it and put it on your palm for you to make a wish. I am sorry I think old habits get to your head and I should remember that we are not kids anymore." Taehyung said as he blew on the eyelash on his fingertips and chuckled humorously.
Jeongguk felt himself tearing up. He felt someone threw a big rock on his heart yet all he could do was sit there, stiffly, keeping his tears at bay, gulping the bile in his throat down.
The touch didn't make him feel uncomfortable, rather he wanted more of these touches. When did they drift apart so much that his baby apologised only for a child-like habit of his?
This was his baby. His baby touched him as he always liked and yes, Jeongguk created some boundaries but they didn't have to drift apart so much that even a feather-like touch repulsed him this much. It didn't either. But maybe sometimes our body just does things which are not in our control.
"Okay hyung, I'll take your leave now, I am supposed to meet Minjae for coffee. Talk to Hoba about what I told you okay? He will help you with the rest." Taehyung said as he abruptly stood up and walked towards the exit.
Jeongguk felt his hands itching. He felt the burning sensation get out of control. He felt like taking ten long steps and just wrapping his entire self like a blanket around his baby's body. He wanted his baby's warmth. He missed him so much. He can't do this.
"Baby—"
"Hyung, it's better you don't call me that. Don't get me wrong, the outside world will not understand it plus I'll be working in the company soon, so out of habit if you call me b-baby, people will start talking. I hope you understand." Taehyung said as he stood near the door but didn't turn around.
Jeongguk halted on his step and felt the burning sensation in his eyes finally give out as his eyes teared up and pearl like droplets dampened his always pink cheeks. His lips trembled as his chest hammered strongly in his chest. His baby just asked him not to call him baby anymore. The person who suddenly allowed everyone else to call him baby suddenly asked him to not call him that precious endearment anymore.
"And Sajangnim, don't stress too much okay? Practise well, I am capable enough—you have made me capable enough to handle everything." Taehyung said it in a simple, blank tone and left the room.
Jeongguk felt his limbs tremble as he kneeled near his bed and froze completely. He knows.
But more than his baby knowing the hidden truth, he realised his baby is not his baby anymore.
Before you jump into any conclusions, No, Guk is still not in love.🙃🙃 You have to understand that they've been extremely close as long as he remembers so suddenly the distance is making him miss everything.😌😌
But that's also a small path that leads to love. Human nature! I hope I could bring that out properly.😅😅
Also, please don't blame stupid Gguk too much, he is dumb but he will reach his destination soon!🌝🌝
Now, what do you think about it currently? I would love to know your thoughts?
I have two questions too for you guys:
First question: do you think their behaviour with each other currently is how they should react?👀👀
And the most important question: What would you do if you were in their shoes?😌
Let me know in the comments okay?🫶🏼
I PURPLE YOU!💜💜💜💜
Love,
Miri~🩵