Lovely | BTS ✓

14

Their lunch is eaten in silence. Taehyung is beginning to have a bad feeling. That sense that he is a stranger - someone unwelcome - in this home is only intensifying, especially with the way August refuses to make eye contact with him as the two eat across from each other.

Part of Taehyung wants to apologize; the two had mended whatever weird rift had formed between them because of the earlier incident, but it seems to have returned just as quickly as it left - and maybe it's even worse now.

But he doesn't know what he would be apologizing for. He didn't do anything; he didn't think the question was offensive or a sensitive topic.

He only asked about the noises.

"What do you hear?" August interrupts Taehyung's thoughts, and he glances up to see August staring at him, the same intense stare as earlier when he snapped.

"What?" Taehyung asks, caught off guard by the eyes very similar to Amelia's boring into him - as if August is staring directly into his mind.

"You heard me," he says, his voice low as his fingers drum against the table.

Taehyung clears his throat, goosebumps on his skin as he straightens in his chair. "Just some thumps here and there."

August narrows his eyes. "You haven't seen anything? Or heard any voices?"

Taehyung frowns. "No, not at all. Just a few thumping sounds which I figured were mice or something in the walls."

August's stare warms, the blizzard leaving his stormy eyes as he relaxes in his chair. "Oh. Okay."

Taehyung licks his lips, not sure how to even begin deciphering his behavior.

He stands, grabbing his plate. "I'll do the dishes."

"I'm going to lie down in my room," August says, also standing. "I need to rest for a while, if you'll excuse me."

Taehyung nods, not looking at August as he leaves the dining room.

Taehyung takes their dirty plates and moves into the kitchen, his hands shaking as he can still feel the ice in August's eyes staring straight into his soul.