Heartbreaker

Chapter 16: Sacrifices

It's a Friday night. Jungkook has just finished his set. They were at their usual table, hanging. Ellie and Fay were unavailable. So it was just the four of them. Yoongi and Taehyung were quietly observing Namjoon. He was thoroughly wiping the bar counter, forehead creased.

"He's wiped it for the fifth time in thirty minutes. It must be so clean by now." Taehyung said.

"Stressed cleaning." Yoongi commented.

"Is he alright?" Taehyung asked.

"If the love of your life is going to get married on the next day, you think you'll be alright?"

Taehyung looked at Jungkook who was busy eating nachos. "No."

"Will your brother really push through with it?" Jimin asked.

"He will. The only way for the wedding to be called off is when somebody stops it."

"Namjoon hyung will not do that. He respects his decision." Yoongi shared.

"So the bride is the only way?" Jimin said. Taehyung and Yoongi nodded. "But she doesn't mind marrying him even when she doesn't love him."

"You know, if you really love Namjoon hyung and Jin hyung, you'd marry her in his stead for their happiness." Yoongi told Taehyung.

"No!" Three pairs of eyes widened: Jimin's, Yoongi's and Taehyung's.

"I'm just kidding. Jisoo's family will not accept Taehyung as their son in law." Yoongi explained.

"Why? Because he has a bad reputation? Because he's a black sheep? Because he doesn't take school seriously?"-

"Hey!" Taehyung interrupted. "I'm now doing my best in school." He said quietly, pouting.

"...it's wrong to judge people like that!" Jungkook defended him, almost standing up from his seat. Jimin laughed, nearly falling off his chair.

"No. Because he wasn't the heir of the family business. And the marriage is a business deal."

"Oh. Okay." Jungkook leaned back again. Taehyung was looking at him, amused. Jungkook showed his thumb up at him and said, "Got you, bro."

"BRO?!" Taehyung asked disbelieving. Jimin laughed hysterically and fell off of his seat.

"If Jisoo just stayed in love with Taehyung, there wouldn't be a roadblock like this for Namjoon and Jin hyung." Yoongi uttered mindlessly as he pulled Jimin up from the floor.

"Pardon?" Jungkook asked. Only then did the three of them realize that Jungkook doesn't know about Jisoo yet. Yoongi shut his eyes and lightly slap his lips.

"We were together before. She's my ex." Taehyung answered.

"That's why you hated Seokjin hyung." Jungkook said sadly.

Jungkook cannot believe that he was knowing this just now. There must have been plenty of things he doesn't know about Taehyung. They do not know each other yet. He felt sad so he did not speak much the rest of the evening.

...

Taehyung was driving Jungkook home. It was 12:30 already. It was a dead silent ride. Jungkook was quiet. He was just looking out, always avoiding Taehyung's eyes. Taehyung thought it's because of what he learned about Jisoo. He must be mad. He didn't even expect that he will allow him to drive him home. He was a little bothered that he was silent. But Taehyung was actually mostly euphoric because of Jungkook's reaction. Because he might be jealous. Jealousy is a good thing, right? It means he feels something. He thought. He felt so ecstatic, he can't help but sing.