COLOURS ✓

TWENTY ONE

They kept quiet about it for the first two weeks.

Taehyung had said that he didn't want any rumours or gossip or anything of the sort. He was one of the most popular kids at school, after all; if it was revealed to everyone that he was finally dating someone, it could get real messy real fast.

Hoseok agreed. He wanted to do whatever was possible to make Taehyung comfortable.

Though, Hoseok himself wanted to climb to the rooftops and scream it out to the world that he and Taehyung were soulmates and that they were together. It took all of his restraint to not tell Jeongguk or Seokjin or any of his other friends, but he was doing well in keeping the secret. . . except for that one time Jeongguk was trying to pitch ideas about how to get Hoseok and Taehyung together, and Hoseok had to hold himself back from telling him the truth.

The only con of keeping it a secret was Hoseok had absolutely no idea how to date. Like, at all.

How long should he hold eye contact for? How do you kiss? Do you need to say 'I love you' as soon as you possibly can, or is there a specific moment for it? Do you share clothes?

He didn't have anyone to ask, and the internet wasn't much help at all. But Taehyung, who had also never dated, seemed to find his own way to do so.

Taehyung, Hoseok realized, loved quietly. Taehyung took photos and made paintings and wrote songs. As soon as they began dating, Hoseok saw more of Taehyung's photography and paintings. It felt like Taehyung opened himself up more by showing these things, like they were pieces of his soul. Taehyung was beautiful and precious and Hoseok sometimes felt afraid that he would taint him.

Hoseok did other things in attempts to be romantic. He would send Taehyung good morning texts, because Taehyung woke up later than Hoseok. The texts were just reminding him to take care of himself, and pointless nonsense about Hoseok's day. Hoseok didn't feel like he was doing enough, but Taehyung reassured him that what Hoseok didn't say, Taehyung could see. Hoseok wasn't sure how.

One thing Hoseok really liked was holding Taehyung's hands. Taehyung's hands were soft and pretty and they made art and music and Hoseok felt like he was floating whenever they held hands. Especially under the desk during painting, where Hoseok could stop painting for a brief second to grab Taehyung's hand underneath the table.

On their sixteenth day of dating, Hoseok was in Taehyung's dorm with him. Taehyung had told him that Yoongi was taking Jimin out on a date or something, so they could hang out without worrying about getting caught.

They were laying side by side on Taehyung's bed. Hoseok's hand found Taehyung's and they laid in silence, holding hands. Their previous conversation had just died down, so now the two of them were just relaxing and appreciating each other's presence. Taehyung turned his head to look at Hoseok.

"Seok?"

Hoseok looked back at him. "Yeah?"

"That thing you said a while ago. About my soul being colourful? Can I know what colour it is?"

Hoseok sat up on the bed, and Taehyung followed the action. As they sat, their knees touched. Hoseok stared into Taehyung's eyes. They were pretty. He tried to think.

"Lots of colours," said Hoseok. "But right now. . . you feel like blue."

Taehyung raised an eyebrow. "Blue?"

"Like the sky. Calm and reassuring. And pretty as well."

Taehyung laughed. Hoseok's heart swelled at the sound. He wanted to keep Taehyung smiling forever.

"You're starting to sound like a poet, Seok, by saying my soul is like the sky."

"I don't think a poet could describe you. I don't think anyone can put you into words."