Retrouvaille

Reunion

retrouvaille

(n.) the joy of finding someone again after a long separation; rediscovery.

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The 26th of January is here. It comes back... Again and again and again.

Every year Taehyung and Jeongguk meet near Namsan tower for dinner.

They've been friends for 15 years. Best buddies, partners in crime. One lives in Busan, working in his father-in-law's construction company, the other is a lawyer in New York.

Two different worlds but they still hang out.

Every year. On the same day, Taehyung comes to Seoul to see his best friend. It's a tradition that started 7 years ago. They made a promise. They can't break it.

And now here they are, finally having dinner after a full year.

"How's Ji-ah?" Jeongguk asks, slicing his steak sloppily. He's still the same. Good ol' Gukkie.

"She went to Hawaii with her sister," Taehyung murmurs, playing with his salad. "How's Yeri?"

"Her best friend is getting married. They're having a bachelorette party as we speak."

Taehyung grunts, recalling his own bachelor party.

"Why are you making weird noises?" Jeongguk asks, devouring the juicy piece of meat. "Did you remember your own party?"

Taehyung nods, eyes fixed on Jeongguk's dark doe irises.

His eyes. Taehyung can never forget them. Even though it's been a full year since he last saw him. Jeongguk is still the same. Maybe he is the one who has changed after all.

"You don't like your salad?"

"No it's good," Taehyung comments, finally unpinning his gaze form Jeongguk's face.

"Did you remember the shit that Wooshik pulled off at your party?"

Taehyung can't forget. "Of course... He thought it'd be funny to book me a room in that hotel and call a stripper.

"Thank god she didn't come," Jeongguk stares at him. At the expensive suit and the neat haircut. Taehyung wasn't always like this.."

Once he walked around is oversized T-shirts and beret. His hair was caramel blonde, tousled, and he wore glasses. Jeongguk liked him a little more back then.

Now, his feelings have changed. This friendship sometimes makes him sick. Only because he misses him too much.

And Taehyung... Well, Jeongguk only hopes that the feeling is mutual.

Because if it's not. His heart will break. But it's okay... He's been used to it by now. Every year it's the same question. The same fear.

Are we still friends?

Or have we become strangers in the night...?

Taehyung pulls Jeongguk into the same room the latter found him crying 7 years ago on his bachelor party.

He'd just told the stripper to go. He never told anyone. He paid her to say that she never came over.