A Dream Apart|TK

22. that way

"baby?"

taehyung used to cringe by the nickname whenever minjae used it, but now, since a few days had passed, taehyung got used to hearing it. "hm?" he just responded.

"you're so quiet lately, let's do something fun." minjae said, smiling.

taehyung looked at him. they were sitting on a bench in the park nearby. looking at minjae, taehyung couldn't deny that the alpha in front of him was extremely handsome and had an attractive smile.

but nothing more on him attracted taehyung. hanging out with minjae just felt like hanging out with a good friend, not with your boyfriend. taehyung felt no emotions when they leave and is rather glad that their meetings end.

there is not even one similarity to his alpha within kim minjae. no denial, minjae is a really nice guy— or so he seems— but he's not... taehyung's alpha.

or what if he is? what if they are each other's mates— because minjae has the same dreams, doesn't he? maybe they are each other's fated mates, but the persons in their dreams weren't actually them. though taehyung swears that he in real life and he in the dreams are identical with looks and behavior.

it's minjae who doesn't act like his alpha.

"you're spacing out again," taehyung almost forgot the presence next to him and flinched lightly hearing his voice.

"i'm sorry, just have a lot in mind."

minjae gave the omega a worried look, "you can talk to me about it if you want to."

taehyung smiled softly and sighed. "you don't act like in our dreams?"

minjae tensed, but overplayed it with a fake smile. "i know what you're thinking, but it's really me— it's really you, my omega. it's just... i'm still sometimes a little overwhelmed with all of this and i think we just need to get to know each other in real life better. you'll see that i'm not much different from our dreams."

minjae took taehyung's hands in his. "it's too early to know each other fully."

he smiled and taehyung smiled back, there was an uncomfortable feeling settling in the pit of his stomach. "i'm sorry, i'm just a little scared that i'm making wrong decisions—

"it's okay, i understand." minjae said, his soothing voice calming taehyung down a little. "you won't regret it."

taehyung hummed, still unsure. but maybe minjae is right and they just need more time until they notice the similarities.

*DiNg dOnG*

jeongguk stood in front of the kim's house, waiting for taehyung to open up, being surprised when jimin did though.

"hey, alpha," the omega said unimpressed, but jeongguk looked behind him. "can you call tae, please?"

jimin huffed, jeongguk could tell the omega was mad at him. "he isn't home, out with minjae."

jeongguk felt a tug on his heart and sighed. "he's really trying to—

"yes he is trying to be with minjae! jeongguk you're his mate, how can you so easily watch him getting lied to by another alpha? you have to tell him the truth."

"he will hate me for keeping it from him—

"no, he'll be more than happy that it's you! deep down he knows that all these things that happened since you arrived are no coincidences. hell, it's so fucking obvious by now." jimin seriously was frustrated.

he didn't understand how taehyung could believe minjae even though everything says he's lying, but he also couldn't understand why jeongguk isn't just telling the truth already.

"it's not... that easy," the alpha looked to the tips of his shoes, noticing a stain on the side. he should clean it later that day.

"why? what's not easy about—

"taehyung doesn't love me," jeongguk said, causing his own heart to crush inside of him. it hurts to say it out loud. "he doesn't love jeongguk yet, he loves his dream jeongguk."

jimin stared at him. "okay, i get it, but you are the dream jeongguk. you're jeon jeongguk, alpha here and alpha in my best friend's dreams. you're the same person— you just have a face, which he doesn't..." jeongguk stared at him surprised.

"i shouldn't have said it, that sounded weird, though" jimin chuckled. "but you get what i mean. the only difference is... that taehyung doesn't know how his alpha looks. but you are the same person by heart."

it was all so complicated. jeongguk should've just told taehyung the truth the moment they saw each other, but once he realized taehyung doesn't recognize him, he started to overthink wether the omega would actually ever fall in love with him, when it's not due to the dreams.

"are you going to tell him?"

"is he happy with minjae?"

"do you always answer questions with other questions?"

jeongguk chuckled and so did jimin, before he answered. "no, i don't think he is. he tries to constantly convince himself that it has to be minjae, but deep down, it's obvious that he's not happy at all."

jeongguk sighed again, feeling a little relieved.

"all he wants... is to be with his alpha, you know? his actual alpha."

"i... i know. i think i'm gonna tell him soon..."

jimin smiled. "you have to."

jeongguk thought a little. "you are his best friend, so... does he talk about me? anything?"

jimin tried to hold his laughter at first, but bursted out laughing quiet loudly. "of course he does. jeongguk is so handsome, he's so caring, i trust him— stuff like that."

jeongguk smiled. "so he does like me?"

"of course, idiot. but not that way yet."

and exactly that's why jeongguk doesn't tell him. it's not that way yet.