Sugar Rush

13

The air was cold as he reached the top of the mountain. It wasn't really hard to do that, he had done this a hundred times. But this time, his mind was filled with all kinds of thoughts that were weighing him down. There was also anxiety in his heart about the meeting. Namjoon was right. Taehyung was saving himself from heartbreak more than saving Jungkook. Whenever a person promised to be a part of their relationship, Taehyung's expectations started to increase as well. He didn't tell anyone but his heart broke as well. He didn't want to tell Jungkook because his poor Kookie was already upset.

He sighed and sat on the rock enjoying the view. It wasn't much but it was enough to calm his nerves down. When he closed his eyes, he could picture Jungkook's face from the night they fought. The shouting was still clear in his mind. Jungkook words were like piercing daggers and he just wanted to-

"So you wanted to meet me? Here?" Taehyung opened his eyes and looked back. Hoseok stood there huffing lightly, enjoying the view as well, "The look here is so pretty!"

Taehyung hummed. He made some space for Hoseok, "Sit." He said as he patted the space beside him. Hoseok sat beside him and sighed. "I wanted to meet here so that no one will know if I kill you and dig up a grave here."

Hoseok looked at Taehyung with wide eyes for a few seconds and then began to laugh loudly, "Man, you are so funny. Now I know why Jungkook loves you."

Taehyung rolled his eyes. He pulled something out of his pocket and passed it to Hoseok, "You left this at my house."

Hoseok took the chain and smiled endearingly, "Ah, thank you. This means a lot to me, so thank you very much."

Taehyung nodded. He was about to say something when his phone rang. He sighed as he saw the caller ID. "Excuse me." He went a bit far from Hoseok as he picked the call.

After a few minutes, he came back and sat beside Hoseok again. Hoseok smiled at him, "Conflict with your father?"

"Huh?" Taehyung looked at Hoseok with a surprised gaze.

"Sorry." Hoseok smiled nervously, "You were sort of shouting and I overheard it."

Taehyung sighed, "He wants me to take over our family business and I don't like it. I want to follow my passion. I want to open my own art gallery."

Hoseok chuckled, "Right. It must be nice to have the luxury to follow your passion."

Taehyung, "What do you mean?"

Hoseok looked at the sky, "Sometimes, people can't chase their dreams, passion just because they want to. There are many factors that affect their decisions. Like money, parents, responsibilities."

Taehyung followed his gaze, "Sounds like you didn't want to be a lawyer."

Hoseok nodded, "Law wasn't my first love. But now that I can play with the law and loopholes, it sure is fun."

Taehyung snickered, "Wow. What was your first love?"

Hoseok smiled sadly, "Dance. I wanted to open my own dance studio."

Taehyung looked at Hoseok, "Then, what changed your decision?"

Hoseok looked at Taehyung and smiled, "Responsibilities. My father's responsibilities as a loyal worker. They wanted a lawyer and I had the potential. So I had to give up on my dreams." He looked, "But my employer is kind enough to let me pursue it now. I don't have my own studio, but sometimes I rent out my friend's studio and dance for hours. Jin hyung doesn't call me at that time."

Taehyung gasped, "You do both these things now?"

Hoseok chuckled, "Yeah. But I think if you would inherit the business, then you won't have as much as I do."

Taehyung nodded, "Yeah..."

Hoseok patted his back, "You can come to a middle point."

"Middle point?" Taehyung's eyes went wide with expectations.

Hoseok nodded, "Yeah. Say, you tell your father that you would intern in the company for six to eight months and if you still don't like working in the company then he'll let you open your art studio."

Taehyung hummed, "But what if I like working at the company? Then what?"

Hoseok laughed, "Then you can draw in your spare time. Or to relax when you get overwhelmed."

Taehyung nodded. "I'll think about it. Maybe he would understand me if I come to a middle point."

Hoseok stood up, "Well, it was nice meeting you. I should take a leave or I'll be late to work."

Taehyung stopped him with his wrist and stood up, "Hoseok-shi, if you just want to satisfy your curiosity on threesome sex then please leave Kookie alone. We have seen enough people who have ghosted us after... that. I have seen him broken too many times and I can't bear it now. He has really started to like you."

Hoseok turned back and stepped closer to Taehyung, "Taehyung-shi, I promise you that I am genuinely interested in both of you. I am just taking the time to understand how this will work. And don't worry about Kookie. I like him too much to make him sad." He patted Taehyung's head before turning to leave Taehyung alone on the top of the mountain.

~

The night was quiet. The silence was aerie and it was eating Seokjin up too much. He knew something wasn't right. There should be some link that he missed and the mayor vanished. He looked out of the window on the streets below. It was summer and people were strolling in the cool breeze that blew in the evening. There was a knock on the door and then a man came in. His face was glowing and it looked like he wasn't more than twenty years old. His large doe eyes and button nose was shining under the moonlight.

"I have good news and bad news," Minchan said after bowing.

Seokjin nodded, "Go on."

Minchan continued, "Good news is that the gold that was smuggled is in the land you are after."

Seokjin smiled with a glint in his eyes, "Perfect. The bad news?"

Minchan gulped, "I saw someone with Munsu."

Seokjin turned back, "Don't play games. Give me the name."

Minchan nodded nervously, "Kim-" He stopped himself, "Mew Suppasit."

Seokjin clenched his jaw and closed his eyes as he was trying to control his anger. "Get out." He said in a low voice. Minchan bowed and left the office without saying anything. He opened his eyes and groaned, "Fucking brat!" He plopped on the couch holding his head in his hands. No one knew what he had sacrificed to be where he was. No one understood what he had lost to be on the top of the ladder.