2U

Is It Still Love?

"I'm so scared. I didn't think it would happen, but I think it has."

Taehyung paced the room, his head in his hands, his face stricken. His elder brother, Namjoon looked confused and concerned.

"Tae, what happened?"

"I think I've fallen out of love with Kookie."

Namjoon stopped what he was doing and looked at Taehyung in disbelief.

"Tae, are you sure? What makes you think that?"

"You know that guy in my photography class? Well, he dropped all his books today and I was helping him pick them up and I think we sort of nearly kissed."

Namjoon sat down and ran his hand over his face "Okay, you said you 'think you sort of nearly kissed' so that really means you didn't."

"I know that! But I think I wanted to..." his voice trailed off.

"That's different. Tae, do you want to work things out with Kook?"

"He's been my everything for so long... I don't know anymore."

"Yes, you've been together since you were in your early teens and I suppose there's a chance that you've outgrown him. But, honestly, Tae? If you want my opinion... you 2 are destined for each other and I think he deserves the chance to work it out with you. It is also because I believe you 2 are destined for each other that I think if you need to let him go, you will find your way back to each other."

Tears streamed down Taehyung's face, the words hurt, but he knew Namjoon was right. They had been together, officially since they were 14, sneaking kisses for a couple of years before that when they were too young to understand their attraction to one another and admit it. This was going to be one of the hardest conversations of his life but first he needed to work out what he wanted.

"How do I make a decision?"

It hurt Namjoon to see his little brother like this. They had always been close because their parents worked long hours as they owned a restaurant in town. Namjoon had unofficially raised Taehyung even though there was only 4 years between them, doing part time work at a local coffee shop while Taehyung was at school in his mid teens. Namjoon had left school and gone to university, the same university that Taehyung was now at.

They rarely fought and if they did, it was usually because Taehyung was annoying Namjoon while he was trying to have some alone time with his boyfriend, Jin. Life was less complicated for him now that Taehyung was at university and that much older. Their parents still worked a lot but the boys did not begrudge them, since the money they earned put them both through education and Namjoon had graduated with a music degree which got him into the job he currently had at a recording studio.

"Tae, you're in pain now right? Your heart hurts?"

Taehyung nodded.

"Then you know you still love Kook. This wouldn't be a hard decision and you wouldn't be hurting if you didn't love him. Letting someone go is easy, if you don't have feelings for them."

"I don't know what it's like to be without him."

"Do you want to know?"

"I think I need to know. That's why this hurts."

"Then that is your decision."

Taehyung cried more, the droplets of salty water dripping off his face, leaving wet marks on his green top.

"I don't know if I can tell him, Joon."

Namjoon walked over to him and put a strong arm over his shoulders "You have to. If a break is what you think you need then that's what you need to tell him. He won't let you go without a fight though, you know that, right? He adores you, Tae, if you suggest a break then you must give him the chance to win you back."