As soon as Hoseok held the café door open for Yoongi, a whiff of sweet aroma surrounded them almost immediately. The smell of sugary treats such as freshly baked cookies, cakes, cupcakes, and a variety of breads filled the atmosphere around them, drowning the two in sweet serenity.
Since the temperatures outside have only been dropping, the café also welcomed you with a comfortable and cozy heat, which was radiating off several vents placed around the walls.
Awkwardly shuffling in, Yoongi just stared questionably as Hoseok before the taller eventually spoke, "You can pick anything you want."
Yoongi felt bad for denying, but only felt even worse for accepting it by taking Hoseok's hard earned money for something he didn't need. It did hurt to say it though, since he knew Hoseok was only trying to be nice, and it didn't help that Yoongi was greeted with his signature heart shaped smile and cute little dimples.
"Thank you, but I really don't have to get anything. You didn't even hurt me, I promise. See?" Yoongi lifted his wrist up to show Hoseok that he was indeed okay, and tried convincing the younger by displaying his gummy smile.
But of course, that didn't change the brunet's mind, "Even if you aren't hurt, I should still buy you something since I did randomly drag you here after school without your permission," Hoseok giggled sheepishly.
"Are you sure?"
"Mhm."
Even though the last thing he wanted to do was take another person's money, he knew that Hoseok would win the foolish bicker anyway. Plus, he had to get home to work on assignments after this, so the elder couldn't afford to waste any more valuable time.
After ordering the cheapest item on the menu and thanking Hoseok endlessly, the pair sat down at a small table for two near one of the huge windows.
It was a very pretty view, as the trees were starting to turn into their stereotypical autumn colors. And all you were met with when walking outside was a vibrant clash of oranges, reds, and yellows, all flowing and mixing together as if in a painting.
But, although the sight of it and overall setting was very pleasant to be settled in at the moment, Yoongi had to admit that he did not want to be there right now.
It wasn't because of Hoseok, though.
No, it was because of the fact that Hoseok wanted to talk about Chul. Of course, Yoongi understood why, and it was honestly very sweet of Hoseok to consider others before himself.
Since that was the sole reason he was doing this.
But recalling those memories only made the elder angry, or hold this bitterness against someone, which he hated doing.
However, he had to put those grudges away and sacrifice his own mentality just for an hour and suck it up.
Don't be selfish, Yoongi told himself, fingers nervously tapping on the round wooden table before him.
"Order 23!" A barista called, making both Hoseok and Yoongi jump up from their respective seats friskily as if it was race to see who could get it first.
"It's okay, I got it," Hoseok reassured, motioning for Yoongi to sit back down.
"No no, you paid I can get it," and before Hoseok could even have the chance to object, Yoongi had already skidded his way over to the counter and headed back with a drink and small treat in hand.
"Okayyy," Yoongi began slowly, handing Hoseok the coffee, "so um, what and why did you wanna know about, Chul?"
"Please don't judge me, but I'm pretty sure you already know from the beginning of the year, since Jungkook, Jimin, and Tae would not stop teasing me about it," Hoseok chuckled.
"But," he continued hesitantly, "I know I have this stupid, small crush on him. And I was fine with it before, but once you told me how rude he can be I felt bad since I don't wanna like someone who's awful to my friends."
He paused.
"It wouldn't be fair to you guys."
A smile couldn't help form on the corners of Yoongi's lips at the word 'friend'.
Knowing that Hoseok was still giving him a chance and more than happy to start anew only made the boy swell up with hope and graciousness.
"Hmm," Yoongi hummed, "well, you can like whoever the f*ck you want since it's not my business. I was just warning you so you know what you're getting yourself into, from past experience."
Nodding, the younger motioned for him to continue.
"I've know Chul since Freshman year, Hoseok. And when you first meet him, he's super kind and helpful and all these great things that you hear from other people. So in return, I was nice to him treating him with equal respect. But as soon as you're nice to him, he just takes advantage of it and completely manipulates you."
As Yoongi paused to nibble on the sweet he ha gotten, Hoseok took time to soak this information in.
It made sense to the younger perfectly, how people are often two faced and rarely show their actual personality. And Hoseok felt horrible that Yoongi had to deal with this constantly, and he couldn't even do anything to stop it.
He was useless.
"How come you don't complain about his behavior to the coach, or something," Hoseok gently asked, not wanting to infuriate the boy sitting across from him.
"Because," Yoongi hesitated, "he's just a jerk, like a lot of other students in this crappy school. It's not like he's beating up people or physically harming anyone, it's just his snotty and extremely impolite behavior that gets on my nerves. So it's not anything worth telling on for," he nonchalantly explained, gazing down towards the table to avoid any eye contact.
But something about that made Hoseok angry, that they simply couldn't do anything about because it wasn't bad enough?
He understood where Yoongi was coming from, but the mere idea of it made the boy livid.
"That's dumb," and as soon as those words slipped out, Hoseok instantly slapped a hand over his mouth, eyes widening in shock.
"N-not you-u, just 'cause-"
Yoongi cut him off from blabbering, "It's okay, I get what you mean," Yoongi lightly chuckled at Hoseok's shocked facial expression, "I even agree with you, it is dumb but the school wouldn't follow through since Chul technically hasn't even done anything."
Nodding, Hoseok asked further questions, "So, um, what has he done specifically to you?"
Yoongi tensed up at the question, yet knowing he had to put away his own selfishness for now, for Hoseok's sake.
"Well, literally after every practice he says something stupid like, 'You're pathetic, you're pretty bad for a captain, I see you didn't fall this time,' and honestly it doesn't bother me at all 'cause it's pretty dumb sounding," he laughed before continuing, "but it's not just me he's bitter to, it's the whole team. They're all as sick of him as I am, but no one dares stand up to him because they know they won't win. He's too cocky to let his guard down."
Nodding, a guilt wretched feeling formed inside the pit of Hoseok's stomach, as it only bubbled up more with anxieties and self blame as to how could he possibly let himself fall?
"God, that's awful, I'm sorry," the brunet shot him an apologetic look, to which Yoongi just shrugged off, "has the coach noticed, or done anything?"
Yoongi shook his head, "No, because Chul's clever and only says his stupid sh*t when he's far away from the coach, like in the locker rooms or after games and practices."
"Do you know why he does it?"
Hunching his shoulders, Yoongi had his attention towards the ground and spoke softly, "No idea, probably just 'cause he thinks he's better than everyone else or too self absorbed."
"Must be annoying to deal with," Hoseok grumbled.
"Eh."
Hoseok looked up, quirking an eyebrow, "What do you mean 'eh,' don't you get tired of this?"
"I mean, yeah but I've gotten used to it by now. And I can tell that he doesn't even mean what he says most of the time, just does it to tick me off on purpose. I'm just mostly annoyed that he does it to the whole team, since it's makes others really insecure about their tactics. I hate people like that, who put down others just to bring themselves up, its so f*cked up."
After a few moments of silence, Hoseok spoke up.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, voice barely audible.
Making eye contact with the younger, he was met with those pretty, honeycomb and choclatey brown eyes, yet that spark of joy that was usually in them in them was replaced with obvious guilt, sadness, and regret.
"Why are you sorry?" Yoongi asked softly, voice filled with genuineness.
"Because," Hoseok paused, glaring at the floor, "I'm stupid for liking someone who's a piece of sh*t to you guys. It's not fair, and what's even worse is that as hard as I'm trying to get over him, I can't."
A rush of pity stabbed Yoongi in the chest, as the brunet before him was totally and completely defeated, broken, and had visibly given up. His head of fluffy brown hair lay sprawled against the small wooden table, as muffled noises began to sound from him.
Is he crying?
"Hoseok," Yoongi spoke softly, nudging at the younger's shoulder.
His head slowly lifted up from the table in a timid manner, but as he did, the red, puffy and tear-stained eyes and slightly pink cheeks were met with Yoongi.
Yoongi had never seen him cry before.
He was always laughing, smiling, telling jokes or prancing around as the most carefree and happiest person in the world.
Not once has Hoseok ever showcased his broken, vulnerable, beaten up side to the public. And Yoongi couldn't help wonder why he always hid it.
It broke his heart.
As if someone crumpled it up and stomped all over it, ripping and tearing it to shreds with nothing remaining but the simple scraps of it.
And what hurt even more, was that Hoseok wasn't crying over himself, or his own self pity.
These tears flooded down his smooth and pimple free cheeks because he was hurting for other people. He blamed himself for falling for someone has heartless and ruthless as Chul, but it wasn't even the younger's fault.
How was he supposed to know? Chul never showed this side during class, just the charismatic persona that everyone else fell for just as much.
And Yoongi only hated himself for it, because even he had blamed and thought Hoseok was stupid for falling.
He was livid.
Livid at himself for being so dumb as to think it was Hoseok's fault, for simply not even knowing about this hidden side of Lee Chul. It was one of Yoongi's biggest regrets.
"Let's head outside, yeah?" Yoongi offered, cautiously resting his hand on top of the younger's shoulder, leading him out the door and soft cries were the only thing to be heard.
As soon as the pair settled on a bench outside, Yoongi promptly wrapped the younger in a warm and comforting hug, not really thinking about his actions at that very moment.
And yes, Yoongi wasn't the biggest fan of hugs or physical contact, but he wasn't the devil. If a friend was crying, he was surely not going to just stand there and do nothing. He had to put his own self aside and put others, or Hoseok, first.
They just stayed like that, with Yoongi hugging Hoseok protectively from the cruelty of this awful world that they lived in, not daring anyone to lay a finger on the innocent and pure boy in his arms.
With Hoseok's head hidden in the crook of Yoongi's neck, and the elder's hand combing gently through his curly locks of hair, the two softly rocked back and forth just soaking in the presence of one another.
Still embracing the younger, Yoongi decided to speak up softly, his calm voice a combination of honey, milk, and sugar.
"Hoseok, listen to me, okay?" He began gently, and as soon as he felt the brunet's head nod under his chin, Yoongi smiled to himself and continued, "Its not your fault, you didn't know about what that sh*thead's actually like, how could you? You're a new student who's not even from the state, you were scared and nervous, and no one even told you about him. In fact, it's my fault if anything. And I'm sorry if I was ever rude to you about it, I was stupid and wrong for that. Just know that you're the literally the most caring, selfless, and thoughtful person I've ever met. I know, we all know, that you would never have the intentions to hurt someone. And if you like Chul, then so what? It's not your fault, you don't have to stop liking him for us. The only reason I told you is because," Yoongi's breath hitched at the reality that suddenly dawned upon him, but soon disregarded those thoughts and continued, "I care about you."
And as soon as those last four words left Yoongi's soft lips, an abundance of emotions came rushing towards Hoseok all at once. Happiness, relief, solace, and contentment all reached every part of his body and mind that oh so craved those last comforting words, from the boy whom he thought hated him.
Not finding the right words in the bittersweet moment, Hoseok just further melted into the hug, wrapping his arms firmly around the elder's waist. Glancing up, only to find Yoongi looking down right at him with those beautiful dark brown eyes that Hoseok found simply captivating, the two only continued looking at each other, not really caring about anything else in that very moment.
All their surroundings were only blurred visions, the outside noise was muffled in their ears, and time had come to a complete stop.
It was just them, basking in the sweet moment, enjoying one other's company after being deprived from each other for so long, without even knowing it.
That this whole time, they simply just needed each other.
🍓just remembered how single I am
(;'༎ຶٹ༎ຶ')
🍼hope you enjoyed!! ♡︎♡︎♡︎
🍓editor/assistant: jiminie_cricket_