Destination Wedding

61

Taehyung took a deep breath to regain his composure. His eomma had excused herself to rest before the wedding rehearsal after thanking him profusely for accepting her apology. Despite the residual distance felt between them, Mrs. Kim felt like she could put her best foot forward now.

Jimin glanced worriedly from the bar at his best friend now sitting alone, pensive and still from the waist up, with legs bouncing nervously under the table.

Taehyung met his glance and nodded towards the door with furrowed brows. I need air.

Jimin nodded in understanding before turning to the bartender to order Taehyung a plate of fries to go. Taehyung hadn't touched his lunch.

Taehyung took long and hurried paces toward his bungalow, keeping his head down to hide the bubbling emotions he suppressed during lunch. As he neared he suddenly bumped into a sleepy Yoongi who emerged from his bungalow for food. Yoongi caught the apologetic younger in his arms and became alarmed at the sight of his watery eyes.

"Taehyung-ah, I'm sorry! I wasn't watching where I was going. What's happened?" Taehyung shook his head in embarrassment as tears leaked from the corners of his eyes.

"Fuck, Tae," he oddly comforted, rubbing the younger's shoulder. "Where's Jimin-ah? Or Jeongguk? Fuck. Who do I need to beat?" The elder was flailing, feeling underqualified to comfort Taehyung but he knew he hated to see this sweetheart cry. He closed his eyes and huffed quietly, putting out telepathic signals to summon the other maknae.

"Nobody," Taehyung chuckled with a watery voice. "Chim will be here in like, ten seconds. I'm sorry, hyung."

Yoongi sighed. "No, don't do that. You're okay. It's okay. Sit down, yeah?" Yoongi led Taehyung to a large hammock nestled beneath the palm trees outside of their bungalows. Not long after, Jimin jogged up with a carry out box in hand, already pouting at the state of his best friend.

"Can you get Jeonggukie, hyung?" Jimin quietly asked Yoongi, who nodded and ran towards their bungalow. Jimin plopped next to Taehyung and popped open the box of French fries.

"What's this?" Taehyung sniffled. "I just had lunch."

"Ordering lunch and not eating it doesn't count," quipped Jimin, who stuffed a couple of fries in his friend's mouth. Moments later, Jimin eyed a jaw-clenched Jeongguk starting towards them with fire in his eyes. Yoongi had told him he was needed outside as he found Taehyung distressed and tearful.

Jeongguk had growled under his breath in defense of his baby, slamming his laptop shut and standing abruptly. "Who do I need to beat?"

Yoongi shrugged, defeated. "That's what I said."

"Goddamn. Angry Jeongguk is fucking hot. My pants are tight," whispered Jimin.

"What?!" Taehyung garbled through a mouth full of fries before following his gaze to a hulking Jeongguk, coming their way. Taehyung swallowed his food and sat up a bit, feet finding the ground and steadying the hammock. He watched Jeongguk's fierce expression soften to loving worry has the younger took in his red-rimmed eyes and tear-stained cheeks. The younger held out his hand, which Taehyung took before being pulled into Jeongguk's protective embrace. Taehyung smiled into his shoulder after noticing Jeongguk cradled him with his left arm, keeping his right hand on his left hip rather than putting pressure on his fresh tattoo.

Jeongguk pulled back to observe Taehyung's deflated expression. "What happened, baby?"

They both looked over Taehyung's shoulder upon hearing Jimin groan. He had rolled on his front towards the hammock's center after Taehyung was abruptly pulled up, disrupting their even weight distribution.