The Change Within

⑪I Don't Have An Answer

 
It was bad.

After the incident a week ago, Taehyung spared no effort to avoid Jeongguk.

When Hoseok went to check on him that night, Taehyung never opened the door, and he refused to talk about it with anyone the next day.

Taehyung didn’t know if he was scared of him, or pissed at him, or disappointed. He actually believed he could get close to Jeongguk and be his friend. How stupid could he be? Clearly, Jeongguk wanted nothing to do with him. Why would he keep trying then?

Jeongguk made a failed attempt to talk to him three days after the event. He approached him when Taehyung was cooking and basically trapped him since he couldn’t just take off and leave his food burn or overcook.

“Not that you need to know, but I’m not an alcoholic.” Jeongguk perceived how Taehyung flinched the moment he heard his voice and ducked his head, no words leaving his mouth. “It’s just—”

“I don’t care, just leave me alone.”

“Fine,” Jeongguk sighed. He respected his wish and walked away, a weird feeling of guilt nestling against his heart. Guilt? That’s new.

After that, they didn’t say another word to each other since Taehyung kept his distance and Jeongguk didn’t make an effort to talk to him again.

Taehyung was planning to continue with the whole distance thing, but Yoongi forced his way into his room a week later and banged the door closed.

“What the hell?” Taehyung exclaimed.

“Shut it and sit down.”

Taehyung scowled at him but obeyed, folding his arms over his chest and looking away from him.

“This has to stop, okay? You guys live together, and Hoseok and I are in the middle of whatever is going on.”

“He was ready to beat me up!”

“Why the hell did you call him an alcoholic, man? I told you not to piss him off that day, didn’t I?”

Taehyung just gazed at him, mute, keeping his scowl. “But I—”

“Didn’t I?”

“That doesn’t justify—”

“Didn’t I?” Yoongi growled, clearly frustrated.

“Yes, okay? You did.”

“Look.” A quivery sigh leaked out of Yoongi's mouth as he sat next to him. “Jeongguk has some issues. That’s no secret. If you want to help him as you say, just listen to me, okay? Listen when I tell you not to piss him off. Listen when I tell you to leave him alone. It’s that simple. Can you do that?”

“But Yoon, if I know what’s wrong with him, I’ll be able to help him like you.”

“Alright, this is the last time I tell you I can’t say anything, okay? I’m done having this conversation with you every day. Learn when to give up. Because I’m not gonna talk about it, and the same goes for Hoseok.”

“You’re mean, you know that?”

Yoongi’s stern face eased with a faint smile at his deep pout and whiny tone. “I know, but there’s really nothing I can say about it. Remember, though. If you want to help him, don’t provoke him. Accept him.”

“What does that mean?”

“You can figure this out.” Yoongi patted his shoulder before he rose to his feet and gradually disappeared from his eyesight.

🥀

Cozied up on a chair on the balcony with a thick, cottony blanket draped over his body, Jeongguk nipped at his beer as he savored the calming silence, his eyes gleaming under the moonlight.