sunsets and roses | t.k.

chapter fourteen

"I hope you don't mind, I hope you don't mind that I put down in words

How wonderful life is while you're in the world"

𐇵 ~ 🌣 ~ 𐇵

"Finished."

Taehyung set his comb down on the bathroom counter, looking at himself through the mirror. The dress shirt he had on was new, sleeves rolled to his elbows, the collar pressed and the wrinkles ironed out. He had it tucked into a pair of black slacks, looking like he was going to a business meeting. Thankfully he wasn't. He was self-employed. His reason for dressing up was far more important than something like that.

He had yet another date with Jungkook planned, and this time it was a formal one.

An Italian restaurant right in the heart of the city caught Taehyung's eye one day while he was shopping for groceries. It reminded him of all the movies he's seen when couples went on posh first dates. From the outside it looked one hundred percent high class, and when he looked it up, he saw it was a reservation only place. Taehyung saw it as the perfect way to treat the boy who had been swamped with final semester assignments and tests. In all honesty, he never knew how he balanced it all.

When he told Jungkook about the idea one afternoon in the flower shop, he looked so excited and started jumping around. That was a memory Taehyung would always keep with him. It was what pushed him to make it the best date they've ever been on.

The redhead had called the restaurant an hour prior to reserve them a table. It was going to be a late dinner since Jungkook had to clean up the bakery before he went home, but he didn't mind. It gave him more time to fret about his outfit.

"Like that's a good thing." he scoffed to himself, picking up his comb and running it through his hair again. The gel he put in did a good job of holding most of it in place, only a few strands falling over his forehead. It looked good. Taehyung smiled. He liked this formal version of himself.

He shut off the light in the bathroom and walked out, checking the clock. The taxi was going to be over soon. Yet another stop he pulled out for his date. Riding the bus was too casual for a wondrous night like this.

Taehyung put on his dress shoes and jacket. He went through the door to the shop, climbing down the stairs. All he had on him was his phone, his wallet, and a half full pack of smokes. Plus a little surprise for the college student.

The sleek yellow car with the checkered print pulled up to the front of the shop as soon as he was at the front. He got in quickly, telling the woman driving Jungkook's address. The ride wasn't too long yet it gave the redhead enough time to go over his outfit and what he'd say. He was rather nervous, though much less so than the first time he met the boy. He truly has gotten better.

How many picture perfect days could one town's outskirts have, was what he kept thinking the longer he looked out the window. He never noticed before how dream-like this place was. The mornings were cheery, the afternoons were sunny, the evenings warm and had the greatest views of sunsets, and the nights were calm and slow. The freak weather storms couldn't subdue its charm.

Unintentionally, Taehyung's mind wandered to that rainy night, that night when his relationship with Jungkook was tested. How he had been so afraid to let him in. How in the end, he realized he was at fault for not. There was the tiniest frown on his face as he mulled over the fuzzy memories.

It didn't matter anymore. He was getting better. Sure, he still had panic attacks once in a while. He'd have short nightmares in the middle of the night, and his smoking issue was the same as it had always been, but he was trying. Alcohol wasn't even an option anymore. He had been so close to turning back to it, even when a drop hadn't met his tongue in months.