Holiday!¡

Chapter 6 - the ring

It was back in the 11th grade, that taehyung had finally come to terms with his sexuality, and though it was rather early, had begun exploring his sensuality. Grindr, tinder, instagram, shady gay clubs he was told of in freaky text conversations, was what taehyung was indulging his adolescent self into. He had some of the most weird, GOOD as well as terrible sexual encounters during this hormonal phase. The terrible ones taught him to take better care of himself and keep himself less vulnerable, and the good ones made him realise the beauty of his sexuality. The strength it gave him, what it made of him, what bliss on earth was! He experienced the passion that he could express as an artist later when he agreed to work in his father's company.
But one of these encounters, not even a physical one, had changed something within him. This encounter had left him with more understanding of himself than any other had. It had enabled him to feel truly loved, in a way he had never even hoped for. The encounter had lasted 6 months before the other party had ghosted him. It had begun with a typical 'hi' on Grindr and had ended with 'what am i supposed to do without you?' which was left conveniently on read, forever. Neither had seen either's face, they had choosen not to, due to their age gap and the circumstances of the other. But just words, were enough to have made a change in taetae's adolescent heart. They would talk about anything and everything, giving each other descriptions of their days, with one ranting about high school and homework and the other about the terribly suppressive Korean work culture. They had never met, but on occasion had sent each other gifts by dropping them off in convenient locations. The only reason for simply not meeting up was their age gap and again, the others 'circumstances', that at times even Taehyung didn't understand, but he craved for this stranger's attention too much to even care. Where with others he'd have to make a great effort, with this stranger things were just effortlessly. At times he did worry that he was just another creepy old guy on the internet, but the way he understood and reflected how taehyung felt made him hold on to this. Whatever this was.

On one occasion, when taehyung had had a particularly bad breakdown, the stranger had helped him through it, and as a token of gratitude, a sliver ring, with a heart engraved on it had been left at a convenient spot...

A few days later, he had been left on read, left confused, but with his heart as strong and young as ever, had moved on.

But it wasn't untill he noticed Jungkook, that he began feeling the same way as he did for the stranger, again. And lying beneath the black satin cloth, wrapped delicately, was a sliver ring, with a heart engraved upon it.