Destination Wedding

60

Taehyung sank into a cozy booth in the hotel's bistro, waiting for his eomma with whom he'd agreed to dine. Jimin sat at a hightop nearby, casually eating his lunch while secretly being on the lookout for Mrs. Kim. The elder was ready to pounce in his best friend's defense at any sign of upset.

Taehyung assured him that he didn't require a bodyguard, but Jimin politely told him to shut up.

Instead of mentally preparing for a difficult conversation with his eomma, Taehyung's mind was flooded with emotions around his morning with Jeongguk and everything that led up to it. He held in his hands the crumpled piece of paper from the tattoo parlor, covered in Jeongguk's heart drawings. He quietly retrieved it from the trash because he wanted to keep it. Looking it over, he was simultaneously calmed and overwhelmed. He felt like they commemorated something so special with their tattoos, and he knew that whatever happened between them, the markings etched on their skin would never feel out of place.

He then thought back to when it all began. The night of the bonfire felt like ages ago.

"I hate to say too much. Let me just say that if you don't want this to go any further, it won't. But if you are open to exploring these feelings while we have this time together, then I'm here for it. You're worth it, Taehyung."

Taehyung was dumbstruck at how exponentially his feelings for Jeongguk had grown since that night. Amidst a myriad reasons, Jeongguk was giving Taehyung severe pause about returning to LA for the duration, causing Taehyung to argue with himself about the seemingly irrational pace of their relationship.

It hasn't even been a week.
Perhaps this is infatuation.

Maybe.
But it feels like more than that.

It feels like I've known him forever.

Because you have, you idiot!

But we spent so many years apart.
How can I feel so strongly?

Because you two haven't changed.
Not really. We go over this again and again!
You loved him back then, you know.
You just never admitted it out loud.

I was a teenager,
And love is a strong word.

Sure, it is. So what?
You loved him then and you still...

"Taehyung?"

Taehyung's eomma interrupted his whirring thoughts and he felt the urge to harden in defensiveness at the apparition of his mother.

"Eomma."

"May I sit?" Taehyung nodded and gestured for her to take a seat across from him. "You look deep in thought, adeul."

Taehyung smiled sadly and nodded, unable to meet her gaze. An uncomfortable mix of emotions were gathering in his chest. Anger, shame, hurt, and exasperation. He had a beautiful morning and he suddenly regretted agreeing to this because his day took a downturn in a matter of moments. A brief silence passed before Mrs. Kim cleared her throat.

"Thank you for meeting me. You didn't have to and I'm grateful." Taehyung could only swallow and nod. He already felt pressure building behind his eyes.

I really should've prepared for this.

"I wanted to tell you I'm sorry, Taehyung-ah. For everything. Do you want to say something first, or should I continue?"