Love is half

6

Taehyung has disappeared like the merry golds in his balcony.

The winter grows colder, and Jungkook's hands are dry and red. It's the warm water of the tap that swims around his palm as he cleans the dishes, lips slightly turned downward, keeping him somehow san. The soap bubbles wiggles between his fingers, stuck between his nails which has gotten pretty long that he is sure he would have to go to the manicure soon and get them painted with transparent nail polish, just to keep them shiny enough to sparkle under the lights.

Beside him, the short male is quiet, thinking too loudly and Jungkook doesn't understand the small glances he is throwing at him. Their plates clashes against each other, three more bowls and they will hopefully close the store soon.

"You do know you can talk to me about anything, right?" Yoongi purposely washes the dishes loudly. Jungkook thinks the water he is using on his side is too hot, but his hyung isn't bothered by it. The kiwis hung rich and heavy on the tree in his balcony, their curved flesh is shaded with swampy green and brown, earthy- two days later and they would be too ripe. Jungkook wonders if he should use warm water to clean them after picking it. He has to prepare some for Jimin since he has heard the older loves Kiwis a lot.

"Of course hyung, why would you mention it?" He asks softly, he really appreciates him caring for his thoughts though Jungkook isn't the one who openly, proudly talks about his feelings. He has done that before, he regretted, now- he learnt not to.

Some gooey pink frosting clinging on corner of Yoongi's cheeks that he is not aware of. The little girl, Jungkook's favorite customer who wasn't tall enough to reach the tip jar on the counter has grown a lot, not only she can reach the tip jar and but also sometimes she shakes her tiny hands with Jungkook's larger one. His heart always squeeze's sweetly at the sight.

Jungkook is sure Yoongi got that frosting on his cheeks when he was secretly passing the girl a free doughnut even though Jungkook would never mind that.

"Because" Yoongi turns to him, face scrunching a little when Jungkook gently wipes the frosting off with his thumb and wipes his finger on the dish washing sponge, "You have been restless, and the boy, it's about him isn't it?"

The soap and the too warm water wasn't bothering Jungkook until now. Now he is too aware of everything. The mess in his own mind, the watchful eyes of Yoongi, the wetness of his shirt that he got from accidentally dropping a cup earlier- The absence of Taehyung in his life for more than a week. The empty chair, no matcha lattes- no Mercedes Benz parked around the parking lot. Jungkook sucks a breath. He wonders if it was his ghost whole time, or imagination, or him playing another cruel joke on him.

It's not him, " A pause, " It's me. " Jungkook chuckles dryly.

Yoongi looks up, and there is a confusion that he isn't trying to hide.

"I am done with the dishes, go home hyung and sleep, you worked hard. " He says simply and wipes his hands off.

There are sticky vanilla noel lotion at the back of his hands, and a frown between his brows. Their store is closed and Yoongi's car is in full speed that Jungkook is afraid police will chase them soon. They exchanges a small goodnight and