Blue and Grey || Taejin

Chapter 30

Taehyung walked through the streets, clutching his coat close to preserve as much warmth as possible. His lips felt numb from the cold and his knees were threatening to knock together but he forced his limbs to carry on until they reached a very familiar neighbourhood.

It wasn't the richest part of the city, but it wasn't the poorest either. It was somewhat similar to where Taehyung lived but it felt much cleaner, less congested and definitely not infested with pickpockets and sleazy old men. It was somewhere Taehyung had often dreamt to live in- a quiet, clean neighbourhood, nothing too grand. Only if...

He shooed those thoughts as he approached the grey apartment complex. He greeted the guard who bowed in response and let him inside. The neighbourhood cat brushed past him as he walked up the stairs to the second landing. By muscle memory, he found himself in front apartment 238 and pressed the entry code on the keypad before entering the house.

Tae?" Jimin yelled from his bedroom.

"Who else? Taehyung shouted back as he kicked off his shoes and headed towards Jimin's room.

He found his friend sitting in front of his laptop on the bed, clearly stressed. There were creases on his forehead and his cheeks were sunken as if he hadn't eaten at all throughout the day (which was another reason why Taehyung had to frequently visit his friend as Jimin often starved hinmself until he got some worry off his shoulders).

"Do you want me to make ramen?" Taehyung asked as he lay down next to Jimin who ran an agitated hand through his hair while the other typed something furiously on the keyboard.

"Yes please, Jimin replied without averting his eyes from the screen.

Deciding that it was better not to keep his friend empty stomached any longer, Taehyung lifted himself from the bed and headed to Jimin's kitchen which Jimin himself rarely used; it was always Taehyung cooking or that Jungkook kid bringing food from his home because god forbid Jimin from going anywhere near the damn stove.

Again, Taehyung found himself drifting away as he turned on the stove to boil water of the noodles. He thought about how nice it must be to live in such a spacious place with a proper kitchen and a living room, and even a balcony. Sometimes, he felt somewhat angry at his friend that despite having everything, he would just hole up in his bedroom while the rest of his apartment would be collecting dust, but he would feel instantly guilty for conjouring such thoughts. Jimin had offered Taehyung to live with him on several occasions because it would be easier for both of them to handle the bills and honestly, Taehyung did almost consider taking up that offer but he was afraid it would affect Jimin negatively due to Taehyung's job. Jimin worked in a tailor shop which had a strong reputation and if he was seen anywhere near an escort, especially living with one... Sure, Taehyung could blame that on his overthinking but there was a bigger problem. Sometimes, from his past agencies, his clients would follow him and ask for service at a lower cost with the promise of Taehyung receiving the entire portion of the charge and his agency not knowing anything about it. But Taehyung knew better and would decline the offers but that just made the situation worse. He jumped from one agency to another for the sake of his safety and it took him two years to find the agency he was currently working at which did provide him enough security but by that time, Jimin began to date Jungkook. Therefore, Taehyung decided it was best not to live with Jimin because it would be awkward for their relationship.

Taehyung blinked in surprise when he found the ramen ready in the pot. He reprimanded himself for getting absentminded again near the fire. Serving the noodles in two bowls, Taehyung brought them to Jimin's room where the latter was lying on his back with his laptop placed on the bedside table.

"Done already?" Jimin asked as he stirred from the smell of ramen.

"Here," Taehyung handed one of the bowls to an already sitting Jimin.