Just a Boy in love (Taekook)

Chapter 1

Jeon Jungkook is running late for a meeting. Story of his life. But this isn't just any meeting. This is a meeting with the executive committee of his law firm, and they're about to tell him the result of the vote on whether or not to make him a partner. He's been busting his ass for almost six years as an associate and is about to turn thirty.

Partner in a New York law firm by thirty. That has always been the dream. It's why he took enough AP classes in high school to finish college in three years. It's why he'd busted his ass to graduate top of his class in law school. And it's why he hasn't done anything but work and occasionally eat and sleep since moving to New York.

Now he's about to find out if his dream comes true or not, only he's late because he spilled coffee on his pants and had to duck into the menswear store down the street to buy a new pair.

There's a knot of panic in his gut that he tries to tell himself is about how he's running late and not about the outcome of the meeting.

"I'm so sorry," he apologizes, ducking into the conference room. He's only five minutes late. Just under a tenth of an hour. $120-150 of billable time for the various partners in the room.

The firm's managing partner smiles, but the expression doesn't reach his eyes. "Sit down," he says.

Jungkook sits.

"Congratulations," the head of the intellectual property group says, sliding a thick leather folder across the table.

Jungkook opens it, concentrating hard to keep his hands from trembling.

"We've all been very impressed by your work," the head of the litigation department says.

Jungkook can barely hear her over the ringing in his ears. He's made it. The dream. Partner by thirty.

"Thank you," Jungkook replies when he realizes the silence has dragged out a little too long.

The rest of the meeting is a blur. Jungkook answers questions, asks a couple when prompted. He smiles and nods so enthusiastically his face and neck hurt. He's grateful for the opportunity. He'll work harder.

It's the dream.

Suddenly he's back in his office, but it isn't his office any more. He's being moved to a new office. He's a partner now. He needs to take out a sizable loan to buy his shares—the name of a banker who usually works with the firm on these things is in the folder still clutched in his hands.

Jungkook jumps as his phone starts vibrating in his pocket. He doesn't have to look at it to know it's his mother, wanting to know the outcome of the meeting.

Suddenly, Jungkook can't breathe. He takes off his jacket and loosens his tie, but it doesn't help. He needs air.

Out on the street, Jungkook stares at the crack of sky between buildings and begs the universe for a sign. This is what he's supposed to be doing, right? So why does it feel like a box closing in on him?

Just one little sign that this is where he's supposed to be. That's all he needs.

"Jungkook?"

Jungkook whips his head around and almost passes out when he sees the man who called his name. It's been a decade, but you never forget the face of your first love, even when you've made an intentional effort to do so.

Kim Taehyung looks even better than he did when they were in high school. They'd only dated for a year, when Jungkook was a sophomore and Taehyung a senior. They'd broken up when Taehyung left the state for college. He had been Jungkook's first everything. His first crush, his first kiss, his first... well, his first.

Jungkook had been devastated when Taehyung left, but he'd gotten over it. People leave. First loves don't last.

But here he is again, Kim fucking Taehyung, right in the middle of downtown Manhattan. He's wearing casual clothes, smiling the same slightly hesitant smile Jungkook always loved.

"Jungkook?" he repeats, taking a step closer.

"Taehyung?" Jungkook blinks, but apparently he isn't hallucinating. "What are you doing here?" They're blocking the sidewalk and getting dirty looks, but he doesn't care.

"I live here," Taehyung replies. "Well, I did. Do. I'm leaving next week."

"How long have you been here?"

Taehyung nods. "Four years. I studied dance, you know?" Jungkook nods back. He had kept tabs on Taehyung until starting law school.

"I've been trying to get work," Taehyung continues, "but..." He shrugs. "I had some luck but never really broke through. I got an offer to teach back home, so... yeah. How about you?" He gestures at Jungkook. "You look good! Very sharp."

"Yeah, I uh, I'm a lawyer. I went to law school. Obviously."

"It looks like it's been working out."

Jungkook glances down at himself, at his crisp dress shirt, and tie, and the pants he spent $600 on that morning without thinking twice.

"I've actually been thinking about moving home too," he replies, shocking himself because he hasn't been thinking anything of the sort. He just made partner for fuck's sake! He's probably a couple years away from making more money than the three highest paid lawyers in his hometown combined.

"Oh wow!" Taehyung grins. "What a coincidence! Well, you should look me up if you do."

Jungkook nods. "I'd like that. Um. Can you get lunch or something? Drinks before you go?"

Taehyung grimaces. "Probably not, but let me give you my number." He pulls out his phone and blanches. "Shit, I'm so late right now. I'm really sorry." He starts backing away, then stops and steps back to Jungkook's side. "It's really good to see you," he says, patting Jungkook's shoulder awkwardly. "Look me up if you end up back home. I mean it."

"I will," Jungkook replies. Taehyung nods, backing away again. "I promise!" Taehyung waves, smiles sheepishly, and disappears into the crowd.

Jungkook swallows hard. He'd asked for a sign.

His phone vibrates. It's his mother again. She'd moved to New York not long after Jungkook, immediately after she and Jungkook's father divorced. She'd always wanted to live in New York. She'd always wanted Jungkook to be a lawyer.

Jungkook silences his phone and slips it back into his pocket.

He'd liked California. It had been warmer there. People weren't in so much of a hurry.

Taehyung had been there.

And he had asked for a sign, after all.