TWO FOR ONE.

二十七

Inevitably, the call happened to be from Jeongguk inquiring into Jimin and Taehyung's next session which, somehow, Hoseok had completely forgotten about. He hadn't completed his notes on their character and behaviour yet but that wasn't because he didn't care, god no; it was because he was looking at a mirror reflection when he saw them. It was a feeling he'd rather not carry with him in the comfort of his safe haven.

He had made his way to the house, now knocking on the door to see Jeongguk was a relieved face.

"Hyung, I need your help." He released with a deep frown, eyes darting to and fro, eager for relief.

"Jeongguk-ah, try to calm down first," he prescribed as he helped him with short breathing exercises to help him relax into whatever situation arose. "Right- now tell me, what's going on?"

Jeongguk gulped and nodded his head rather rapidly. "It's Jimin. He's locked himself in his room and refuses to come out. All I can hear is him smashing and throwing things."

"Right," Hoseok asserted as he moved to take his shoes off and shove on slippers and enter the home. "Where's Taehyung in all of this?"

Jeongguk looked away from his hyung, closing the door behind him and began to fiddle with his fingers as soon as he completed the action.

"He- he's-"

"Jeongguk! Where the fuck is my fucking drink, huh?! I want my fucking grape soju now!" A familiar yet unknown voice demanded.

Hoseok turned to face the direction of the voice to see the raging, stone-hard face of Taehyung. He slightly flinched as he made eye contact with the foreign side of his new patient. Almost as if his cold stare was never present, the boy leaped towards Hoseok, wrapping his arms around his neck with a huge smile gracing his face.

"Seokie!" He exclaimed with a sweet, endearing tone.

"Hi- uh, hi Taehyung."

"Seokie, I wanted to see you but this," Taehyung uttered venomously as he glared at Jeongguk. "Idiot wanted to be an old fart and tell me I was on a time out. I'm not five you punk."

Hoseok could only look over at Jeongguk who was completely red in the face. Jeongguk wasn't sure if Taehyung truly meant anything he said, so he tried to not take it to heart, but the very mention of Taehyung's recent and sudden behaviour caused him the most severe embarrassment he'd ever known.

"Sorry for asking, but Taehyung — how old are you?"

"18... Maybe I'm 25. Wait! No, I'm 17. Now you answer me- wanna get drunk with me or be an old bore like Jeongguk?"

Hoseok's eyes darted back and forth between Jeongguk and Taehyung. Jeongguk's eyes were a transparent gloss that magnified his chocolate eyes, meanwhile, Taehyung was on the precipice of adulthood yet still clutching the bounds of youth and utter petulance. He wasn't sure if he could be of aid to the both of them simultaneously, but one thing he did know was that their mental capacities were in decline, from his professional opinion.

So Hoseok stood there, blank in the face while the loud thuds of Jimin's rampage filled the empty silence.

"Why don't I drink with you, Taehyung?" A voice Hoseok was happy to hear sounded.

"Seokjin hyung! Let's go then, we should play drinking games too," Taehyung scurried over to Seokjin and dragged him away to the garden. "First one to burp has to cook the meat!" The overexcited man expressed as his voice subtlety faded into the background as he descended further into the garden.

As the glass sliding door closed behind them, Jeongguk noticeably released a deep breath he had been holding back as tears began to flow down his heated cheeks.