'Til We Meet Again | Taekook AU

Chapter 43

[Unedited]

**

What had happened? Was Taehyung angry with Jungkook?

"Taehyung? Where are you going?" Jungkook runs behind the other, his mind sifting through the events that had taken place in the previous stall. He didn't remember saying anything that would upset Taehyung. Why was he acting like this?

He looked up to see Taehyung's retreating back, he was a couple feet from the next stall.

"Hey?" Jungkook tapped Taehyung on the shoulder.

He didn't turn, ignoring Jungkook and concentrating on the stall ahead of them.

"Hey? Why are you giving me the cold shoulder?"

"What cold shoulder?" Taehyung turned to him them, confused and question in his eyes.

"Cold-" Jungkook started to say and then stopped. Maybe Taehyung wasn't familiar with the phrase - 'to give cold shoulder'.

When Taehyung continued to glare at him, Jungkook shook his head and asked him again. "Why are you ignoring me?"

"Hmph." Taehyung turned around, and watched the stall, where a painter stood beside a customer and was inspecting their handiwork.

"Taehyung?"

"Why did you say that you trust me, and that the other painter's pieces will be sold out soon enough? You didn't have to repeat my words." He said.

"But I do trust you." Jungkook replied, still trying to figure out what was the thing that had pissed off Taehyung. "And that painter's artwork was great. You liked it right? And you're a painter yourself. I thought, since you believed they would sell out-"

"I was lying." Taehyung interrupted him.

"Huh?"

"I was lying to that painter." Taehyung said, his face hard and stoic.

"What? Why would you lie?"

"Isn't that what all humans do? Don't they lie and say something else, when the case is the exact opposite? They say they're fine, when they aren't fine. They pretend they aren't angry, when they're raging inside. I was trying to do what a human would have done."

"And what was that?" Jungkook was shocked at the explanation, and tried to control his emotions. Taehyung's tone was nonchalant, as if what he had done was something normal, and basic. He hadn't thought Taehyung would believe humans to behave this way. Yes, at times they pretended as if everything was sunshine and rainbows, but it wasn't always like that...right?

"I was trying to flatter him, that's all. Humans try to flatter others, if they're interested in something the other person has. In this case, if I was a possible customer, I would praise his works, so that I could buy it at a lower rate maybe. That's what they all do."

"Wait." Jungkook raised his hand, stopping Taehyung from speaking. "Not all humans are like that. I'm not like that. Jimin isn't like that. I wouldn't try to be fake with my praises in order to get my hands on that painter's artwork."

From the corner of his eye, Jungkook saw some people give them annoyed looks. They weren't blocking the way, but they were kind of near the entry to the stall. He took a step back, and Taehyung noticed the movement, moving to the side as well.

"So you're saying, you won't try to get the painting at a lower price?" Taehyung asked.

"No."

"That's great. But I have seen people acting fake for much less. It doesn't matter if Jimin or you aren't like that. Majority of the human population go through this on a daily basis."