Destination Wedding

28

Jimin quietly slid the window pane over so he could eavesdrop on the two outside.

"Jimin-hyung, don't!" Jeongguk whisper-yelled.

"Hush, Jeonggukie! They'll hear! I need to know what kind of bullshit my brother spews at Tae," Jimin assured.

Outside, a furious Taehyung clad in nothing but pajama pants stormed towards Bogum. "What are you doing here?"

Taehyung was in his personal bubble, pressing a harsh finger into his chest. "What's gotten into you, Taehyung?"

"I asked you a question." Taehyung's tone was deadly. His whole body was tensed, as if ready to shift into a wild animal. His golden shoulders were flexing with taut muscles beneath, and to Bogum, he appeared unrecognizably big. Intimidating. Bogum felt himself shrinking but shook it off and took a step back.

"I'm here to talk some sense into you. Are you considering joining a biker gang? Because I really didn't see that for you." Bogum laughed nervously, but regained his critical demeanor. "Or are you really just going to fuck some rando after a few days?"

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about the guy who just answered your door half naked. I'm disappointed in you, Taehyung," stated Bogum condescendingly.

"Who?! Jeongguk?"

Bogum scoffed. "Sure."

Taehyung stared at him in disbelief. "He's not some rando. He's one of my oldest friends. You know this." He owed the elder no explanation but his cluelessness bothered Taehyung deeply.

Bogum squinted at the sky and cocked his head smugly, as if searching his memories. "Doesn't ring a bell."

Taehyung was flabbergasted. "Are you kidding me, Bogum? I've told you dozens of times about how he and Jimin and I grew up together. How we were inseparable."

Jeongguk smiled into his palm from the loveseat. He talked about me?

Outside, Bogum didn't show a hint of registry.

Taehyung shook his head in realization. "Did you ever listen to me when I was speaking? Or did you only concern yourself with things that pertained to you?"

"Why are you saying all this, Taehyung? Whether you know him or not, your head is clearly not on straight. Just look at him!"

Taehyung couldn't believe his ears. How could Bogum speak ill of someone he knew nothing about? "Really? Have you always been so judgmental? Not just of him, but of me?" Taehyung spat. "You don't think I can make decisions for myself?"

Bogum just shrugged. "Clearly not. And your mother agrees with me."

Taehyung stepped back to calm himself. "Why the fuck are you talking to my mother behind my back?"

Bogum put up his hands. "I'm not. She came to me. I guess she trusts my judgement."

"Well unfortunately for you, I don't care what she thinks. She clearly likes you still, so her judgement must be clouded."

Bogum looked offended. "And why shouldn't she like me? We were like family," he pressed.

Taehyung was reaching the end of his rope with Bogum's arrogance. "You're kidding, right? You cheated on me for God knows how long and then broke up with me. I don't think it's unreasonable to hope my own mother would be deterred by that."

Bogum showed no remorse and did not spare Taehyung an apology, not even then. "We're both just worried about you," he replied with mock-concern. Bogum didn't want to outright confess his intentions to get Taehyung back yet. He had to play his cards close to the vest, as Seojoon was due later that afternoon and the plan he made with Mrs. Kim would naturally unfold.