LOVE YOU TO DEATH | TAEKOOK

23. I'll Be Back Someday

*content warning for language, substance misuse, mature content*
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TMZ: Shot in the Dark is premiering soon and buzz is growing. Speaking of things that are growing, Kim Taehyung has been spotted every night this week at a different gay club in West Hollywood, often with different men. No word on whether they are partners, friends, or just more notches in Taehyung's bedpost.

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"Hey, Soo," Taehyung put a hand on Soomin's shoulder and kissed her cheek before he sat down across from her as he arrived for lunch.

She had forced him to choose the restaurant, citing that she wouldn't know and wasn't very hungry in the first place.

After one look at her, he could see that she had meant that she wasn't very hungry in general, not just today. She appeared to be half of the very petite size she had been before. He narrowed his eyes, noticing her ribs protruding through her chest.

"Oh, hey honey," she smiled thinly, putting a hand to his cheek, "How are you, kiddo?"

Taehyung chuckled in amused disbelief, "Same as last time we talked," he remarked, "What about you?"

She shrugged, "Ditto," she put up a hand before letting in fall back into her lap.

"Any news?"

Taehyung chewed on the inside of his cheek, looking into her deep brown eyes with gentle regret, "If there were, you'd be my first call," he shook his head.

Soomin looked down, slightly pink, "I know, I just couldn't help it," she retracted, tone sheepish.

Taehyung surveyed the menu of the restaurant he had chosen, trying to decipher what was a vegetable and what was a garnish.

"Lili likes this place," he hummed absentmindedly.

Soomin nodded, "I saw her yesterday," she mentioned, a blank expression on her face, "She came with me to go through his house."

Taehyung's eyebrows popped up.

"I would've gone with you," he said, trying not to sound offended.

Truthfully, he wasn't offended at all. It was more that he would have done anything for a chance to go back into Jungkook's house. It made him warm with embarrassment to know that his first move, if given the chance, would be to lay in Jungkook's bed and see if his pillow still smelled the same.

Soomin chuckled, "I know you would have, but it's not on you. You need to move on with your life too," she granted, looking at him with careful affection.

Taehyung raised an eyebrow, "I'm not really moving on," he resisted, discomfort clawing at him.

Soomin raised an eyebrow right back at him, mirroring his challenge.

"Tae, it's okay to move on. I'm on Twitter, y'know? I know you're with other people," she laughed in spite of herself, almost like it hurt.

It never failed to surprise Taehyung how even the tiniest similarities between Soomin and Jungkook could still light his heart on fire.

He shook his head, "It's not like that," he corrected, a warning note in his voice.

Soomin was dubious, "So it's not like a new guy every month? I talk to Lili, she says the same thing."

"It's not that simple," Taehyung flatly denied, holding up a palm and shaking it.

She made a slight hum, of pain but also acknowledgment, "It's okay if it is. Things are so complicated for Jungkookie, it's not a crime to need simplicity in your life," she generously gave him every allowance.