The Change Within

㉞Did You Mean It?

🎊 Surprise? 🎊

🍾🥂

After thanking Hoseok for driving him home, Jeongguk entered the house and threw his bag on the couch as he rushed to Taehyung's room. "Tae?"

The said boy flinched at the call of his name and fumbled to sit straighter in his bed. He sniffled and rubbed his face, wiping any remains of his tears. "Why are you here?"

"I was worried. Can I come in?"

"Um, yeah."

The younger slid the door open and neared him as he examined him with a soft, sad view. He took his seat next to him and cupped his cheeks, lifting his head to confirm his suspicion. "Why were you crying?"

Taehyung gripped his wrists and pushed his hands down, spikes of something heavy, awful pricking his chest at the memory of Jeongguk and Johan being a breath away from kissing. "Why do you even care?" he murmured in a fragile tone, his gaze hazy, unfocused.

Lines of sadness etched on the younger's forehead as his confusion swelled, leaving him in a complete maze. "What's going on, Tae? Did I do something wrong?"

"Yes, you did. You made promises you can't keep. You promised."

A flash of disquiet struck Jeongguk as he recalled his dream, and his mouth opened and closed without words coming out at first. "W-what?"

"You promised to stay," Taehyung uttered, holding back the tears burning his eyes.

"Did... Did you r-remember?"

"Yes."

"Oh God," Jeongguk breathed out as he turned his back to him and clutched his chest, feeling an overwhelming storm of embarrassment swallow him whole.

"You feel so guilty you can't even look at me?"

Jeongguk's brows pulled together in a puzzled frown, and he turned his head in his direction, tilting it to the side a tad as he blinked. "I feel a lot of things, but I don't think guilt is one of them."

"Seriously? You don't even feel a tiny bit guilty?" Taehyung snarled as a huffy scowl swept over his traits, bitterness gleaming in his eyes.

"Why would I feel guilty?"

"Because you kissed Johan!"

"What? I didn't kiss him," Jeongguk exclaimed in shock at the absurd statement.

"He kissed you, big difference."

"He didn't kiss me and I didn't kiss him, I—Wait. How do you know about this?"

"I saw you," he mumbled, a deep pout forming on his lips as he avoided eye contact. "He was so close to you, ready to kiss you, but I couldn't watch it anymore and left."

"You should have continued watching because I pushed him away, Tae."

Big teary eyes were raised then and locked with his, searching for the same honesty his tone contained. "You did?"

"Yes." The corner of Jeongguk's mouth quirked as he held his hand and caressed it with his thumb. "I wouldn't go back to him after the way he treated me. To be honest, I didn't give you a direct answer when you had asked me if I still like him because I wanted to see your reaction."

"Yah!" Taehyung gave his shoulder a rough shove, but his peeved expression switched to a smiley one when a few suave chuckles reached his ears.

"Sorry?"

"You don't sound so sure."

"Fine, I'm sorry, really. I should have told you I would never go back to him. But it felt a tiny bit good to know you were jealous."