Fire On Fire [TK]

(22) Nothing else matters

"So close, no matter how far
It couldn't be much more from the heart,
Forever trusting who we are
And nothing else matters"

❀

— Jk —

There were highs and there were lows. And sometimes the lows seemed to stretch on infinitely. They had trickled down every last drop of their blood and sweat into this album, from the rundown studios and dorms of Gangnam to the salty air of Los Angeles. Not even once, not even for a second, did they stop to catch their breath, and yet when Dark and Wild finally released in the heat of August, it was all amiss. The album sales were subpar, the public reception meagre, criticisms severe, and with every day that went by, looking at the stats, their hopes of a success dwindled like a matchstick on a wintery night. But even in the crashing waves of defeat, they leaned on each other, lending their arms for support, trying to make it to the shore somehow. After a whole week of pulling their hair out in resentment, Namjoon had announced they were to be going out tonight and having fun.... or, the more understandable scenario... getting drunk.

The humid September breeze carried the aroma of the landscape, from the rain-quenched soil to the orange-hued foliage. It reflected in the woodland-heart of the doe-eyed boy sitting at the table next to his hyungs, watching them lose their sobriety with every glass of liquor they swallowed.

The restaurant was relatively empty; a small group of old men sat in one corner, busy talking about retirement or whatever old men talked about, and their own group of seven sat in another corner, raucous laughter stemming from their table. The recent frustration had poured into the glasses of clear fruity soju, and Jeongguk was pissed he wasn't allowed to have any of it.

"I cannot allow you drink until next year," Jin had crossed his arms when Jeongguk raised his hand for a glass. "Not with a clear conscience."

Clear conscience, Jeongguk scoffed, rolling his eyes. His hyung's 'clear conscience went' for a walk when he sneaked out of the dorm to get flowers for his girl.

The hypocrisy.

And who bought flowers for someone anyway? Ridiculous.

He had sneaked in a few sips from Jin's glass while he was not paying attention.

Those few sips eventually turned into a glass of his own when everyone around him was drunk enough to not pay any attention.

Hoseok was sporting a fresh blush over his cheeks, Yoongi was grinning, a sure sign there was alcohol in his system, Jimin, even with all the dramatic displays of mimcry he partaked in from time to time, always glanced at Yoongi for approval. Jeongguk did not pay much attention to it. Jimin was an annoying older brother, though he had come to care of the boy like his own but it gave him endless joy to watch him squirm from time to time. Jeongguk was petty, he knew. Namjoon had begun cracking bad jokes, and Jin to nobody's surprise, cracked even worse ones.

"You know Jeongguka—" Taehyung lifted his finger, bringing Jeongguk's attention back to him. He was donned in black capris, a black tee, and a chequered overshirt, with a backward baseball hat with his fine brown hair poking out from the sides, and somehow looked exceedingly stunning in it. He paused with his finger raised, staring at the bowl of kimchi in front of him.

Jeongguk waited for whatever he was about to say having learnt the patience to let the elder speak uninterrupted, lest he got nervous, but seeing the lost expression he nudged him after a few seconds.

"Hm, yea?" Taehyung asked turning to face the maknae. "Do you need something Jeongguka?"

Jeongguk sighed. Taehyung should've been the one to get banned from drinking. What a lightweight, he rolled his eyes.