CONTAINS FLUFF
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The end of the boy's second week of work rolled around almost as slowly as Yoongi walked, the brunet padding quietly before me with his clothed hand threaded with Jimin's. He had finished the major filming for his music video and now relied on Jungkook and BigHit's editing team for the perfection that would be the final results. Deciding against staying cooped up in the house for the weekend, and not seeing each other for hours at a time five to six days a week, Jimin and Taehyung had proposed that we all head out to the Secret Garden in Seoul that Saturday. Immediately, I'd accepted the proposal, wanting to spend the day with my boyfriends and get them outside and out of a workplace for the first time in what felt like forever.
I walked between Jungkook and Taehyung, the freshly dyed brunet's poised like bodyguards at my sides. Taehyung walked to my left, clutching a short leash with Yeontan padding at his hip. Jungkook was at my right hip, his hand absently flexing in my grasp as he peered out at the lush foliage that grew alongside the stone pathway. He clutched his camera against his chest, strap around his neck, as he gazed about for perfect moments to capture. Yoongi and Jimin walked hand-in-hand a few feet in front of us with Nari at the blonde's feet. Both boy's gazes were locked ahead on the path as they walked in silence, their eyes sparkling happily above their masks.
No one that walked around us seemed to recognize the members, offering me a sense of relief as we continued to trek about the garden. For the first time in a while, I felt completely at peace. My heart thudded happily against my ribs, hands warm as they laced with Jungkook and Taehyung's, making me feel safe in the placidness of the garden. While my eyes scanned the shrubbery and lake that the pathway circled, my mind wandered elsewhere.
I couldn't help but think of how I wouldn't have been there at that moment if I had never met the four men I walked with now. If Yoongi hadn't offered me help at the bus stop all those years ago, if Jimin hadn't saved me from the two drunken bastards in the alley, if Taehyung hadn't become so protective and caring over me, if Jungkook hadn't wanted to learn to trust again... I would've most likely been in a hospital bed instead of out in the lively garden.
Or much, much worse.
A slight tug at my hand shook me from my thoughts, gaze snapping up to meet Taehyung's as he peered down at me from behind his white mask. "You're kind of quiet, angel," the brunet murmured, his eyes crinkling in a soft smile. "You alright?"
I took a second to answer, my eyes never leaving Taehyung's as we continued our walk towards the center of the garden. "I'm okay," I replied, putting on a smile to reassure him. Taehyung watched me a moment longer before offering my hand a squeeze, turning his head to the left side of the path. I let my eyes travel down the curve of the brunet's jaw, down his neck, and across his broad chest. My heart swelled simply at the sight of him, cheeks burning beneath my mask as my eyes flicked back to the path ahead.
"Hyung, I'm hungry," Jimin complained, turning to Yoongi. The older glanced at him out of the corner of his eye, offering a smirk of acknowledgment before swiveling his head back to face us.
"Anyone else want food?"
All three of us nodded, Yeontan offering a sniffle as he stared up at the others with wide, glossy eyes. Jimin spotted a few food carts located on the other side of the garden, and after what felt like another hour, we stepped out onto the sidewalk swarming with people. Jungkook and Taehyung wanted to stay behind to take pictures, leaving Jimin, Yoongi, Nari, and I to search for a cart that would satisfy each of our rumbling stomachs.
While Yoongi and Jimin ordered for the rest of us, I clutched Nari's leash in my hand, wandering back towards the garden to gaze out at the polished, wooden structures. I spotted Jungkook and Taehyung a couple hundred yards down the path, the older's hand placed steadily on the maknae's shoulder as he snapped a photo of them with his cell, their masks hiding the bright smiles I knew they wore beneath. Seeing the two of them together reminded me that I had something for Taehyung; I spotted the gift bag stowed away in my closet in the back of my mind, a delicate pair of butterflies lying inside a velvet box. I knew there were other ways to express my love and gratitude for the four men, but I couldn't find enough strength in myself to bother. I always wondered in the back of my head if coming on too strong would make everything collapse around me.
"Angel." Jimin's voice startled me from my thoughts; I turned around to find him standing a few feet behind me, his mask pulled down under his chin as his mouth hung agape, striving for fresh air. "What're you doing? I thought you ran off."
"Sorry," I flushed. "I didn't think I wandered that far."
Jimin simply shook his head, padding forward to fold me in his embrace and press a kiss against my head. I felt tingles rush up my spine beneath his touch, my eyes fluttering closed as I cuddled close to his chest, his fingers working absently at the back of my coat. Having his arms wrapped around me made me feel safe and wanted, a small smile painted on my face as my hands hooked behind his waist to hold him close.
After a few minutes, Yoongi came back to call the others over, our orders being prepared in a matter of minutes for us to enjoy. The entire day was filled with laughter and everyone's faces were painted with smiles that made everything seem so much better than it actually was. Even though we each smiled, each blushed and giggled in the other's presence, there was something unsettling deep down. In the back of my head, I knew none of us were completely happy, but at that moment, I couldn't have been bothered to care less.
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While Jimin and Jungkook set up for yet another of our routine movie nights, Yoongi in the kitchen making dinner for the five of us, I led Taehyung upstairs to my bedroom. I ordered the brunet to sit at my bedside. A mischievous smirk adorned his chiseled face and I couldn't help but laugh at what I imagined ran through his head. Burrowing in the back of my closet, Nari panting at my hip, I found the gift bag that contained sets of jewelry for both Taehyung and Yoongi, pulling my head out with a black, velvet box clutched in my small hands.
"Are you proposing, angel?" Taehyung chuckled. "If you are, you'll have to give me a minute to work up a few tears."
I watched humorously as Taehyung began fanning his face, his cheeks becoming slightly flushed as he blinked rapidly up at the ceiling. His eyes grew glossy and I snorted, walking up to him and settling myself comfortably on his lap. Arms slowly circling my waist, he looked down at me as a single tear slipped down his cheek, a smile plastered on his face to reassure me that he was okay. My hand reached up to wipe away the tear away with the pad of my thumb.
"Quit messing around, Tae," I chuckled, clutching the box tightly in my grasp. For some reason, I felt panicky, the back of my neck dampened with sweat as I peered up at the brunet nervously. I wasn't proposing, no matter how much I wanted to spend the rest of my life with those four men, but simply offering him a piece of silver jewelry had my heart beating madly in my chest.
"So, if you're not proposing, what's in the box then?" Taehyung poked at the velvet box, the jewelry inside rattling with a quiet, hollow echo. I offered him it wordlessly, unsure of what to say. With a raised brow, Taehyung opened it, his eyes widening a fraction as he fingered the lilac, butterfly earrings that were hooked in their styrofoam holder. "Earrings?"
"I- Y-You don't like it, do you?" I stuttered, making to take the box from his hands. Before I could wrap my fingers around it, Taehyung placed it between his legs, grasping my wrists and tugging them behind his neck. I obliged, lacing my hands together against his nape before his lips pressed delicately against mine. Savoring the way he tasted, I kissed him back slowly, letting my fingers run through his curly, now-black hair.
"I love it, angel," he murmured against my lips, gently cupping the side of my face.
Blushing, I let my gaze flick down to my lap, simpering to myself as my cheeks and ears burned red. Taehyung grabbed at the box, examining the tiny earrings with a small grin adorning his face.
"I'll wear them to work next week, okay?" he smiled, pressing a kiss against my forehead. I nodded, leaning forward to nuzzle in the crook of his neck. Basking in his warm embrace, I felt my whole body turn fluid, a dozy smirk alighting my face. "How 'bout we head downstairs for the movie?" Taehyung mumbled, his lips trailing down my neck. "We're keeping the others waiting."
The brunet placed the earrings behind him on my bed, hooking his arms under my rear as he walked us downstairs. I clung to him like a child, pressing teasing kisses against the underside of his jaw until he stepped out into the flickering light of the television. Nari and Yeontan pranced about the living room, hopping up on the couch to claim their spots before Jimin, Jungkook, and Yoongi wandered out with bowls of steaming food clutched in their hands.
"Ah, you're here," Yoongi intoned, "Dinner's on the stove if you guys are hungry."
Taehyung and I uttered a quick thank you before he dropped me to the floor, the both of us preparing a hot bowl for ourselves before settling down among the others. I swathed myself in blankets and pillows, Jungkook to my right, Taehyung on my left, providing me warmth and comfort as Yoongi made to turn on yet another movie. With my head rested on Jungkook's shoulder, I slowly began to zone out, a lazy smile plastered on my face as my stomach swarmed with butterflies.
Jungkook's hand gently rubbed my inner thigh, my face buried away in his hoodie as I tried to silence my ecstatic heart rate. Deep down, I couldn't contain my joy, finding myself staring up at the others with a heart-filled gaze until they nudged me back to reality with grins lighting up their faces. I couldn't help but think that I was incredibly love-struck, my expression nothing but that which resembled a dumb puppy staring, starry-eyed, at their owner. If it wasn't for these four men, I wouldn't have been able to experience happiness at its finest; everything I felt was filled with gratitude for the life I now currently lived.
Almost an hour later, Taehyung was curled up in my lap, my head rested against Jungkook's chest with his arm around my backside. I fiddled with the butterfly ring I'd given him, the metal still clasped around his ring finger like a wedding band. Looking up at him, I offered him a kiss against his neck, the maknae turning to trail his lips down the side of my face.
"I love you," I mumbled, growing listless in the growing night. Jungkook simpered quietly, his arm tightening around my side.
"Not as much as I love you."
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Regular Wednesday update. :) Thank you all for the kind comments and messages sent Monday, the day I returned home. I'm glad you all liked the previous chapter and happen to enjoy this one as well. I'm feeling slightly better than when I left roughly three weeks ago, although with school and several birthdays coming up, including my own, I'm pretty swamped with personal affairs. Rest assured, I'll be updating regularly for the next few weeks until I run out of pre-written chapters for you all. Until then... <3