Destination Wedding

58

After another exhilarating motorcycle ride, Taehyung and Jeongguk snuggled into a booth at the little diner near the tattoo parlor. Jeongguk requested a pot of coffee for the pair to split; he was definitely hooked on Hawaiian beans. They shared plates of katsu chicken and an encore of the banana pancakes (too delicious to pass up after trying them once) but instead of swapping plates, they found themselves cutting food for and intimately feeding each other.

"Oh! Now are you newlyweds?" The owner popped up out of nowhere to check on the boys, who looked at each other in confusion before looking back up at her. She just giggled fondly. "By the looks of you, I thought you may have decided to marry since I saw you last. Glad to see you back!" She flitted away to top off the coffee of other patrons, satisfied that the pairs' stuffed cheeks and quiet mouths signified they were enjoying their meals.

"She's funny," commented Jeongguk. "Stop putting off so much big husband energy."

Taehyung chuckled. "Says you," he retorted, gesturing towards Jeongguk who had his arm wrapped around the elder snuggly enough to palm his chest.

"What can I say? I don't like space."

Taehyung hummed and rested back in the younger's embrace as he breathed shallowly against the satisfying fullness of his stomach. He briefly appreciated how content he felt in Jeongguk's hold before checking the time on his phone and pushing it away marginally. He had unanswered texts to attend to.

"What are you thinking about, Tae?" Jeongguk questioned between sips of coffee.

Taehyung nodded towards the coffee mug in Jeongguk's hand before he was offered a careful sip. He didn't love coffee but Jeongguk's ratios of milk and sugar were perfection. "I was just thinking about how my eomma wants to meet with me."

Jeongguk hummed, setting his mug down before feeding Taehyung a bite of pancake. "That's right. What predicated that text?"

Taehyung swallowed his bite before sighing and resting his eyes, head dropped on the firm arm around his shoulders. "Dinner."

"Do you want to talk about it, hyung?" Jeongguk offered.

"Don't you think you've wasted enough of your vacation therapizing me?" Taehyung chided.

"It's not a waste. And you've been therapizing me too," Jeongguk replied softly.

"Oh yeah?" Taehyung lolled his head to peer up at the younger questioningly. "How's that?"

Jeongguk smiled and kissed his forehead. "Let's just say my love language is physical touch. But you already knew that, hmm?" Jeongguk lilted. "Your affection makes me feel so good." The younger wiggled his muscular frame in childish glee to emphasize the warmth he felt at the hands of the elder, and not just sexually. They were both physically affectionate in their everyday exchanges, and Taehyung grinned in understanding.

"Talk to me now, hyungie."

Taehyung smiled and kissed the younger's easily accessible neck before breathing deeply and attempting to recount yesterday evening's dinner fiasco. "As you know, my mother called a family dinner, but when we got there, the table was larger than necessary. Jin-hyung questioned her and she casually dropped in that she ran into the Parks and invited them. But, Jimin didn't say anything to me about dinner, so I was on guard."

"Understandably so." Jeongguk commented, showing that he was listening intently. "He would've spoken with you if he was involved."

"Yeah. So I was relieved when I only saw Jimin's folks, but then Bogum showed up."

"Shit," cursed Jeongguk.

"Mmhmm. And my mother took the opportunity to reminisce over a trip he and I took to Jeju. By then, Jimin showed up. I think Joon-hyung texted him and urged him to come. And... and I could see it in Chim's eyes. He suspected the whole dinner was planned just as I did. My mother's trip down memory lane was short-lived as Jimin randomly mentioned that Bogum met Seojoon around the same time we went to Jeju, and then enlightened his parents about the rest."

"They didn't know?" Jeongguk asked, wide-eyed.

"Judging by their reaction, no. They were really upset and words were said. My appa got fed up and excused himself and me from the table. I'll let Jimin tell you about everything that happened after, but as I understand, the high points were my mother getting an earful from Mrs. Park and Namjoon punching Bogum.

Somebody had to do it, thought Jeongguk. "God, Tae," he murmured. "No wonder you were so upset. Hate that you were put in that position."

"It just broke my heart a little, how my eomma orchestrated things. I'm realizing now that her actions stemmed from her own issues, but it still sucked." Taehyung pinched his eyes shut to warn off building tears. "I'm sure that what she's done has caused a rift with my father and Jin-hyung too."

"And now she wants to apologize?" Jeongguk coaxed.

"That's what she says."

"How do you feel about meeting her?"

"I feel exhausted over the topic of Bogum and I despair to get into it with her, to be honest. But, I don't want conflict in my family. I just want things to be alright between us all, so I feel compelled to talk with her and make peace for everyone."

Jeongguk hummed knowingly. Everyone else always comes before you, don't they?

"Maybe she needs to understand what's important to you. Not financial security but emotional security. You're contented with following your passions and surrounding yourself with good people, good friends..." Jeongguk trailed off.

And you, considered Taehyung. "I'm sure you're right. We've never had a frank discussion about what fulfills me and gives me purpose."

"She's probably waiting for your text, you know. It read pretty desperate to me," observed Jeongguk.

"How do you know I haven't responded, huh?" Taehyung teased, opting to lighten the mood.

"Because you're still processing it now, Taehyungie. You're so thoughtful and you sort things out before you act," Jeongguk stated with an obvious tone.

You know me better than I can even make sense of, Taehyung thought, smiling to himself. "Okay. I'll agree to meet with her. Maybe before the rehearsal tonight?"

"That sounds good, hyung." Jeongguk reassured. "How can I help?"

"Maybe just be nearby, so I can cry on your shirt if necessary." Taehyung chuckled.

"I'd give you all my shirts."

"But then you'd be shirtless. Wait, that sounds pretty ideal, actually." Taehyung smirked.

"Tae." Jeongguk blushed.

"What? Don't sneak up on me with a body like that after so many years. What do you want me to do?" The pair laughed as their check was dropped. Taehyung checked the time again and realized it was almost time for Jeongguk's appointment.

"You're due at the parlor soon, Jeongguk-ah. You sure you want to do this?"

"Sure as ever. Shall we?"

"We shall."