Destination Wedding

2

"You've gotta be fucking kidding me, hyung."

Jin cringed in his phone screen. "Aghhh, I know, baby. I am so, so sorry.  I asked Mom not to invite him but you know how close our family is with the Parks. Mom and Mrs. Park grew up together. I told her that it wasn't fair to you... that you were trying to like, heal... Mom argued that we couldn't just invite Jimin and not the rest of the family."

"Jin hyung, Jimin is my best friend and like a little brother to you. He wouldn't miss it... he's in your fucking wedding party for God's sake. But the rest of the Parks? When is the last time Mom even saw Mrs. Park? This is straight-up fucked," Taehyung whisper-yelled. He was trying his best to contain himself in the tiny changing room, hearing the sound of the saleswoman's stilettos click-clacking past.

"Honestly, I think Mom is secretly hoping you two will get back together. Bogum is so... her... type? That sounds fucked but you know what I'm trying to say. The kind of person she envisions you with for the long haul."

Taehyung groaned. "You mean a pretentious, preppy rich boy? Sure. That's great and all for Mom but he sort of broke my fucking heart after two years. I'm not the one who quit. It was him. He chose someone else behind my back and I'm over here on Pacific Standard Time still picking up the pieces. Why would he even come?!" He felt himself tearing up a little bit. He could hurl criticisms about Bogum in the heat of this moment, but Jin knew it was out of hurt. Taehyung couldn't deny that he was spellbound when they were together.

This trip was supposed to be a reuniting with his brother, his best friend, his parents. People his arms ached to hug again. Now, it was as if a dark storm cloud just rolled over the whole thing. Day after day, Taehyung woke up in smoggy LA, trying to muster self-respect and self-confidence (which used to be palpable to others when he walked into a room). Now, he feared any progress he made by distancing himself - giving himself a break from all that reminds him of him - would be swallowed in a shit storm when he saw Bogum again.

Jin began to panic a little, seeing his brother getting upset. "Baby, don't do that. Do not cry. You are honestly the best. You are a shiny little angel in this dark world, beautiful inside and out. He is obviously such a fucking idiot and I hate him for making you doubt who you are. I can see it in your eyes that you feel lost. You are so warm, open-minded, affectionate... any man would be so lucky to be yours."

The younger just scoffed. That may seem true to you, Jin-hyung, but I haven't felt like myself... like I was worthy of a relationship since the breakup.

Jin's tone gravitated towards scolding. "Don't roll your eyes at me! On top of all that, fuck! Look in the fucking mirror. Why did you get all of the classic good looks?"

Taehyung groaned again, breathing into his large palm which hid his face. "Hush hyung. You don't need to blow smoke up my ass. And please shut up... Joon doesn't call you worldwide handsome for nothing. He is definitely not a smoke-up-the-ass blower."

Jin rolled his eyes. "Did you really just say that? And I'm not blowing smoke. That's the thing - what I say is the truth."

Jin studied his brother through the phone. The pained look in his face... It didn't belong on a face like his. "Look Tae, it's going to be okay. You are not obligated to spend time with him in Hawaii. Cold-shoulder his ass. Whatever you need to do. The resort is big enough for the two of you and I'm sure you could manage to avoid each other's paths. Surely his brother will see to that."

"Yeah, Jimin probably won't let him near me. But I hate that there is animosity between them because of our breakup too. That isn't how it should be between brothers. It's just all so fucked," Taehyung breathed, pulling his shiny black curls over his eyes.

Jin regarded him through the phone again. "I get it, it's complicated.  But that is for Jimin and Bogum to sort out. Worry about yourself. And me. It's my fucking wedding." This caused Taehyung to half-smile. "Who knows... maybe in Hawaii you can find some distraction. It's a paradise after all."

"You mean like snorkeling with sea turtles?" Taehyung looked into the phone at his brother with big eyes and pouting lips. He may or may not have been filling some of his lonely nights reading travel brochures about Hawaiian sea turtles.

Jin chuckled. "Sure, yeah, sea turtles... or like, getting laid, I don't know. How long has it been?"

"Hyung please. So embarrassing. But if you must know, I haven't been with anyone since Bogum and I broke up."

"Yikes."

"Jin hyung!" Taehyung whined. "Six months isn't that long, is it?"

Jin sucked his teeth and made a face.

"Hey!" Taehyung retorted. "We can't all be engaged to our high school sweethearts and get it on the regular. Have some sympathy for fucks sake."

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry. But I'm not wrong. You need to have a little fun and take your mind off things. Clearly you're still hung up despite moving away. Or maybe you just need some quality time with your brother-mother."

"Hyung, I appreciate that you have maternal instincts toward me, but I probably wouldn't go around calling yourself that out loud."

The mood lightened and brothers laughed. Jin always knew how to cheer up his little brother. Taehyung heard a pounding at his door. "Sir? Do you need any assistance?!"

"I better go hyung. I think I have overstayed my welcome in this changing room."