The next day~
After such a blast, everyone had a hangover and slept like babies till 3 pm. Tired, headache and a dazzling memory of the night was being discussed in group chat by 5 pm.
Jk was staying over at a hotel as his father had rented away their Seoul apartment when they left.
While Taehyung was at home, sketching to let out the feelings. The suppressed feelings of longing, pain and self loathing . His phone was switched off. Cutting off from the world, he refuses to acknowledge for now.
In the group chat:
Jin: Wth, where is Tae? No responses? 🤨
Suga: Well he didn't drink maniacally like us. So, he doesn't have anything to discuss with us....like headaches and nausea 😐
J-hope: He must be enjoying his Grandma's dishes for his graduation today. Ah, I have never been so jealous 😓
Rm: Guys, we have to plan for somewhere today. Cuz, Mr Jeon is leaving in like what, one week. 🙄
Jk: I mean, I am. But...it's not like we gotta hit somewhere on some daily streak😅
Jimin: Tell you what, boyz. How about we raid at Tae's house? Hot tasty homecooked dinner. And halmoni always cooks a lot. What's better than that? Deal? 🤩🤩
Jin: Nothing sounds better. And you... dumb bunny. Wth you mean by you are leaving in a week? You gotta stay a month, atleast boy. 🔪🔪
Jk: That's not how you convince a person, old man. You gotta change your communication help book 😖
Jin: Well, I believe that if you understand my point properly like this. This is my effective communication 💅
J-hope: Hell nah 😂
Jin: The fuck you mean by hell nah, horse face?!! 😡
Rm: Alright calm down, calm down everyone. So it's done. Everyone...at Tae's at 8 pm. And as Tae hasn't responded until now....we take his permission as a Yes by default. By rule no 368 of our friendship book.
Jk: I mean.... can't I skip it?
Suga: I mean....bitch you got no choice
Jk: 🫡🫡
J-hope: And this is what kids, we call communication 😁
Jin: YOUUUUUUU
TIMESKIP~
Tae had finally closed his sketchbook once the sunlight swept away. He smiled sadly at his sketch of a beautiful forest sunset.
The sketch portrayed his feelings. The sunlight of his emotions being partially blocked by trees canopy of his self supression . Creating shadow shapes...like his own void in heart on the ground.
Then he switched on his phone. His brows furrowing at the constant notification tings. He opened the group chat. And read it all.
'Everyone here? Fuck, I should have kept the phone on. Even...he would be here. What do I do?????!!! Calm down...let's get it.'
Tae thought and rushed downstairs to his Grandmother preparing dinner.
He said "Halmoni, my friends are coming over for dinner. Can you cook extra, please?"
He bit his lips and eyes turning doe with a pleading look. A habit of his since his childhood, that had many times caught Jk staring lovingly.
His grandmother chuckled and said..
"Ofcourse, my son. I will. It's very rare nowadays for kids to want homemade food in a gathering of friends. I will cook all of yours favourite, as you all like since forever"
Tae smiled thanking her and walked upstairs. Ready to prep himself mentally and change his clothes.
At 8 pm~
The first one to reach was Jimin. Tae smiled and hugged Jimin while Jimin complained and scolded Tae for not responding to texts.
Jimin smiled and greeted grandmother, placing a little gift. Impressing grandma, as always. While grandmother chuckled and hugged him lovingly.
Soon, one by one everyone entered and was received by Taehyung at door. And then greeted with a warm hug by his grandmother. They all brought little home gifts as a grateful gesture.
At last, Jk rang the doorbell. And Tae opened. Their eyes met and Tae looked away and muttered....
"You can take your shoes off here and come inside."
Jk nodded nonchalantly and did as told so. He entered and smiled at Tae's grandmother whom he met after years. He placed his gift on the table where others were kept.
Tae's grandmother hugged him warmly and joking about how big he got and muscle ripped unlike before. Everyone laughed and then sat on dinner table.
After a relishing and tasty dinner, everyone sat in living room with a hot chocolate and cozy blankets watching TV.
Talking, joking around and giggling. The whole time Jk was staring at Tae secretly. Observing his each smile, the way his eyes lightened up and silver hair falling so perfectly, unknowingly.
While sometimes Tae would peak at Jk, noticing his tiny changes too.
"Wait, let me go grab more cushions for you all."
Tae said and stood up, walking upstairs.
"I will just go to the bathroom."
Jk said while eyeing Tae's retreating figur and walked out of living room.
Others engrossed back in talks and TV show.
In Tae's bedroom~
Tae was pulling out more cushions from his cupboard when he noticed Jk entering with a blank face.
Tae gasped softly and said....
"D-do you need anything?"
Jk didn't answer back, rather began inspecting and looking around Tae's room.
"Nothing changed much, huh?"
Jk muttered
Tae stood quietly not knowing how to react and clenched his sleeves unknowingly.
Jk's brows furrowed when he noticed a sketchbook kept quite strangely away from the desk before the bed window. He found it unusual as Tae always liked to keep his sketchbooks at one place since forever due to his perfect obsession.
He walked towards it and Tae instantly rushed in a second. He grabbed the sketchbook tucking it behind his back in hands and said somewhat nervously....
"W-what do you want from here?"
Jk was now definitely doubtful at sudden nervous reaction from Tae. He walked closer and closer until Tae's back hit the wall.
"Give me it."
Jk said curtly and Tae's eyes widened.
He didn't reply but remained in his defensive position.
Jk pressed his arms beside Tae and leaned in and whispered in Tae's ear....
"What is it you are hiding so desperately huh? Something about your some other lover boy?"
Tae shivered at the sensation of Jk's breath on his skin and shut his eyes.
But slowly and sneakily Jk made his way to Tae's back and swiftly snatched the sketchbook away in a blink.
Tae gasped in horror and said desperately....
"N-no no no...give it back please Jungkook "
Jk raised his brows and turned around.
He opened it instantly, too eager to be slow. And his eyes widened....
He turned over each page, and per page gave his heart a clench.
The sketchbook was full of his countless sketches. Sketches of his teenage version to his current version.
Each sketch had a date. And they dated back from the day they broke up to last day.
Taehyung had been drawing Jungkook since the day they broke up till now. Trying to feel a sense of closeness to Jungkook through sketches.
He drew the Jungkook he fell in love with to the Jungkook he broke up with, to the Jungkook he met yesterday.
Jungkook gripped the sketchbook tight as his hand trembled. Each sketch had some streaks or marks of tears. Indicating that Tae probably cried each time while drawing him.
He has been missing Jungkook since the time they broke up. Yet didn't dare to contact him, to atleast let him know. Or voiced out his pain...his insecurities. Nothing.
"W-why?! Why, Taehyung? You have been drawing me on paper since we stopped seeing each other. And yet...you didn't tell me in these years.
Yet you sat away.... silently yesterday. As if you don't care."
Jk said with a heaved up voice. His emotions penting up.
Tae still didn't say a word but just looked down as tears pooled up in his eyes.
Jk clenched his jaw and held Tae's shoulder pulling him closer.
"Why, Taehyung? I asked you something. Fucking answer me. You...you are fucking killing me now. Neither letting me hate you...nor love you. "
Jk said with a frustrated tone and shook Tae.
Tae whimpered slightly and almost whispered back...
"I-I was scared, Jungkook. "
Jk replied angrily yet emotionally turbulated....
"Scared?! Scared of what? Scared of loving me? Scared of trying for us?"
"N-no, Jungkook. No. Scared that...I might fuck up again. That I might not be good enough for you again. That I might end us up being much worse.
That you might hate me.
I was scared, Jungkook. I just..... *sniffle .....I just kept shut thinking it would only go downhill at that rate Even if we got together. It's not you, Jungkook. Hell you were perfect. But...I was too late and blinded by my own twisted emotions to see you truly."
Tae said out loud, penting out his emotions for the first time in years.
He sobbed as tears trickled down his cheeks and he continued....
"I know Jungkook, that after what happened. This sketchbook....is really selfish of me.
I am sorry.... I am so sorry.
I was the worst and still seems to be the worst for you.
I am so sorry that still after all of this. I selfishly still love-"
Tae was cut off as Jk suddenly pressed Tae's waist closer and captured his lips.
Jk kissed deeply, desperately and tightened his hold on Tae's waist. He ensured to steal away all the air from Tae's mouth and left him breathless.
Finally as he broke the kiss, they both panted. Tae stared at Jk with wide eyes and clenched his hoodie.
"I love you too, Tae. I don't care worse or good. I want you. I want you to be mine.
I want to talk to you about whatever you feel. I want to be the one other than your heart to know your emotions. I wanna know each thing, baby.
Cuz, Tae. It's either you...or no one else."
Jk said with his tear shining eyes and hiked Tae up by his thighs to hug him tight.
To envelope him tight enough to let him the know the sincerity and depth of his spoken words.
Tae sighed as his shaky breaths calmed down. He buried his face in Jungkook's chest, feeling home again.
"Will you be mine again, Tae?"
Jk whispered and Tae replied
I was and will be always yours, kookie.
Jk's breath hitched at the familiar nickname he heard after such a long time.
They kissed again, softer and gentler this time. Feeling each other's presence truly now.
"I love you, koo."
Tae whispered sincerely and Jk smiled.
"I love you more, my love... forever"
Jk whispered back