[TaeKai/KaiSoo/2min] Human

Four

Taemin quickly shot off Minho, eyes wide as he stared at Jongin. Minho turned as well, following his gaze, eyes landing on the frozen Jongin. Somehow he felt like he had made things worse. Maybe he was too quick to jump at the opportunity. But Taemin had said so himself, he was a free man. Minho tried reason with himself, but he couldn't stop the guilt from gnawing at his heart.

"Jongin.." Taemin tried to compose himself, "what are you doing here..?"

"I- I just-"

"Jongin.." Taemin's eyes slid over to Kyungsoo when he spoke and his eyes hardened, and any emotion he had, he locked away.

"Taemin, it's not what you think." Jongin tried to salvage the situation, but Kyungsoo stepped forward stubbornly, despite Jongin trying to hold him back.

"Stop this, Taemin." Kyungsoo stepped closer, "Can't you see you're hurting him?"

Taemin gritted his teeth, knuckles turning white as he tried to fight off his anger.

"Who are you to tell me that?" He spoke, trying keep his emotions in check, "What do you know about hurting, Kyungsoo? If you think that's painful, then you have no idea what pain truly is.

 Tell me, have you ever stayed home, worried sick waiting for your fiance to come back? Have you ever experienced telling someone you love them, just to be brushed off? Have you ever been left behind on your fucking anniversary so that the man you loved could go and fuck someone else?"

The pain was evident in Taemin's eyes, tears forming quickly, and Jongin tried to reach out, tried to hold him.

"Don't you fucking dare touch me, Kim Jongin." Taemin slapped his hands away, tears starting to fall down his cheeks, "Don't you fucking dare."

"I thought I meant something to you. But ever since Kyungsoo came back, it's like I'm nothing. You gave us up. You gave me up. Just like that. Because why not, right? You have Kyungsoo."

Kyungsoo had grown silent, casting his eyes down, shoulders heavy with guilt. He was not prepared to actually hear Taemin's pain. And the fact that he had helped cause that pain... The guilt was eating him up. He couldn't find the words, he couldn't defend himself or Jongin.

"You know that's not true." Jongin hated how his voice cracked as he reached out, desperation lacing into his voice, "You mean everything to me."

Taemin scoffed, "It's not? I mean everything to you? Bullshit. You come home at three in the morning, smelling like sex! For fuck's sake, you don't even bother covering up those hickeys! You keep cancelling on me, you keep forgetting. Is that how much I mean to you, huh? Is that how you show you care? Well you sure as hell do a shitty job!"

Minho, on the other hand, could not decide if he should interrupt or not. Clearly, this was a personal matter. But he's Taemin's friend, regardless of their past. But Minho had a feeling that they needed this. In the end, he decided to step in only if the need arises.

Taemin's tears kept flowing and Jongin wanted nothing more than to wipe it away.

"What did I do wrong? Wasn't I enough? What more did you want, Jongin?"

"No, no, you are perfect, Taemin."

This time, there was no protest when Jongin reached out and cupped his face, thumbs brushing away the tears ever so gently. "You are perfect."

Taemin hated this. He hated being so weak against Jongin. He hated how just a simple touch from Jongin made him want to submit, to run back into his arms. Taemin started to pull back, wanting to untangle himself from Jongin before he might stupidly forgive him. But Jongin couldn't- didn't want to let go. 

"Let me go." Taemin protested, trying to pull away from Jongin as the other tightly held him against his chest.

Minho made a move to stand, but a firm hand on his shoulder stopped him. Turning, he saw Jonghyun and Key behind. Key shook his head, mouthing to Minho a 'let them be' before turning to look at the events unfolding.

"Let me go!" Taemin sobbed, fists pounding against Jongin's chest, "Let me go...please..."

Jongin only held him tighter. "No, never."

Taemin's fists slowly unfurled, fingers hooking on to Jongin's shirt tightly, "I hate you, I hate you so much."

He hated himself so much. Jongin's grip on him had weakened, but Taemin found himself holding on to Jongin, a sobbing mess against his chest. Jongin cried with him, his arms wounding up to hold him delicately closer.

"I hate you."

"I know."

Jongin hated himself, too.