𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 jaeyong

5: coffee at midnight

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After what seemed like hours, Jaehyun pulled into the dimly lit parking lot outside a small cluster of businesses, the only open one being a twenty four hour café.

Softly lit lettering flashed overhead, spelling out 'CAFE 7' across the top of the building.

The two had found the place on their drive down to their new apartment, stopping in for coffee to get a break from the long periods spent cooped up in the car. Jaehyun had brought Taeyong there ever since, whenever the boy needed to clear his mind.

"The usual?" A familiar employee asked Jaehyun as they trudged tiredly through the doorway.

"Yes thanks Haknyeon... maybe add an extra shot to Tae's this time though." He added, after glancing slightly to his left at his now silent companion.

Under normal circumstances, Jaehyun would have made conversation with the owner of the coffee shop - who was often seen at this hour talking to his boyfriend, the owner of the cupcake shop next door.

But upon seeing Taeyong's current state, he figured Jisung wouldn't be too upset if they didn't interact this time, so he flashed a smile towards Haknyeon and made a mental note to locate Jisung next time to catch up.

Jaehyun practically dragged Taeyong to his seat; it seemed the latter had given up on any will to live yet again. Something nagged at him in the back of his mind, but he pushed it aside.

He'll tell me when he's ready... won't he?

For doubt was beginning to blossom in the pit of Jaehyun's stomach, burrowing its roots deep, vines slowly snaking their way upwards.

At first, he was confident Taeyong would break down in a day, and he'd be able to fix everything just like that. But after a week with no cracks appearing in the wall the boy had built around his heart, Jaehyun was seriously beginning to worry.

The ever present silence he'd almost grown accustomed to hung in the air, similar to the way a pungent fragrance lingers where you desperately hope it won't.

Relief flooded through every fiber of his being as a second employee who was often on night shifts with Haknyeon arrived at their table with their coffees.

Funnily enough, his name was also Jaehyun and so the two always shared a warm, mischeivous smile when they ran into each other.

Taeyong however, didn't even smile like he normally would at the exchange of the Jaehyuns, too trapped within his own mind to register the steaming mug of coffee he held between his delicate hands.

His best friend's face fell as fast as it had lit up... and they were back to square one.

A relentless headache pounded against Taeyong's skull as he fought to keep his composure, for breaking down in coffee shops was very much frowned upon by normal people.

As far as he was concerned, he couldn't even begin to consider himself as normal. Frankly, after all the emotions raging inside his brain, the definition of normal seemed to no longer be relevant, nor useful.

I've got to be insane, to feel such things.

For while Jaehyun sat beside him, worrying for his health, Taeyong's thoughts were occupied with the latter. Just when he hoped that he could begin to ponder over something else, scenes flashed through his mind, and his heart screamed for Jaehyun.

This is wrong. I'm wrong. He doesn't deserve this.

But what if he kissed her? What if he did text her back, like he told Taeyong he would? What if they've already arranged a second date?

Upon a terrifying realisation, the boy let out a gasp, the sound echoing around the emptiness that the silence of the café provided them.

Jaehyun's head whipped towards his friend so fast, he was sure his neck would snap. But that was hardly relevant, there was obviously something bothering Taeyong that had compelled him to come to such a shocking realization .

"Tae? What's wrong? Do you need me to get you anything?" Jaehyun made sure that his voice never wavered from the calm, caramel-coated tone as he took in Taeyong's now shaking form.

I'm the worst best friend in the entire world. I'm being selfish. I'm stopping him from going out because he worries for me. I need to hide this better.

The smaller boy regained control of his breath, slowly dragging himself up out of the familiar black hole, more commonly known as a panic attack.

"Tae? Do you need me to do anything?"

And there he was, right beside him as he always had been. Jeong Jaehyun, the very definition of what an angel should be.

Stop it. Control your thoughts better.

Jeong Jaehyun, my best friend.

"Let's just drive home, I'm better now! Thanks for the coffee Jae."

And while Jaehyun beamed, Taeyong's smile only displayed on the outside, his insides churning with a heartbreak he had neither anticipated nor welcomed.

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