'Til We Meet Again | Taekook AU

Chapter 27

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"Why are you here? What do you want?"

There was anger in those words, but also a hidden layer of fear.

Jungkook wouldn't have been able to pick up the panicked state Taehyung was in, if he hadn't been leaning to his side.

Taehyung's jaws clamped down and Jungkook swore he heard the clashing of teeth. There was a light bounce to his legs under the table, and his knees brushed against Jungkook's bare leg. Suddenly he was glad he had worn shorts today, for if he hadn't, he wouldn't have thought Taehyung was affected by the presence of the two strangers.

His acting was precise and control, portraying an annoyed customer who was here to enjoy his coffee and not out to meet these strangers. But underneath, he was a worried man, and Jungkook couldn't understand why.

Why was he upset upon seeing these two?

"That's not the way you greet friends, Taehyung-ah." One of the guys chided him, his tone playful and a perpetual smile sat on his lips. The other one had a serious face, and was sulking, as if he too didn't want to be part of this bizarre meeting, but had been dragged along by the other.

"You must be Jungkook, right?"

"Huh?" Jungkook stared at him. How did he know his name?

"Taehyung told me about you." He said in way of answering the question on Jungkook's face. "I'm Hoseok, Jung Hoseok. But you can call me Hobi hyung." If possible, the smile on his face brightened and Jungkook felt blinded by how pure it was.

"Uh...hi, Hobi hyung?" Jungkook shook Hobi's hand.

"And this is Min Yoongi, Taehyung and mine-" Hobi stopped mid-sentence and caught the other's glare.

"Mutual friend." Yoongi said in a quiet voice. "I'm a friend of Taehyung's."

Taehyung was silent all throughout the exchange.

The tension between the three of them was thick and even Hobi's bright smile couldn't hide it. Jungkook didn't know what else to say, and leaned back in his chair.

Hobi took Jungkook's action as an invitation to pull two chairs from the side table and he and Yoongi sat down beside Taehyung.

Taehyung still hadn't said a word. The silence was making Jungkook worry. If Taehyung feared these two, why wasn't he speaking up? Why was he allowing the two guys to seat so close to them? What was going on? Jungkook wondered, not for the first time.

"So-" Hobi's voice mirrored his smile, sunny and excited. "What did you guys order?"

"Excuse me." Taehyung muttered, not meeting Jungkook's eyes and got up. "I'm leaving."

"What? Wait." Hobi made to grab Taehyung's hand, but Taehyung backed up, just out of reach.

"Call me when you reach home." Taehyung said to Jungkook, and without another word, walked out of the café.

He didn't even return the wave, when the owner bide him goodbye.

"Uh...I think I should also-"

"No. You're staying here." Hobi said and some of the brightness dropped from his smile.

The change worried Jungkook more than his words. Where these people dangerous? Were they planning to hurt him...or Taehyung? Is that why he left?

Somehow, it didn't seem believable even to Jungkook's mind. Taehyung wouldn't leave him like that in face of danger...right?