Secret Love - A Taekook ff (English version)

Secret love -part 48

December 2018:

The air was chilly as they left the car, foot stepping on the red carpet. Cameras were flashing blinding him.

It oddly reminded him to that nightmare he had last night.

The one where he is in the middle of the stage alone, cameras, phones flashing everywhere, people all around who scream something towards him that he can't understand, all he knows is, that he's alone, almost naked, only a flimsy see-through shirt hanging from his shoulders, no pants. In his dream, his instincts told him to escape, so he tried, but his feet seemed to stuck on the floor, unmovable. And then, the phones started to close in on him from all sides, closer, closer, almost squishing him in between. That's when he screamed and startled awake in sweat.

Jungkook was right by his side, sleepily, asking what happened, so he told him, Jungkook listened carefully with a cute frown over his sleepy eyes. He didn't say much afterwards, just kissed his cheek and pulled him close, lying down with him, arms wrapped around his middle

"I protect you, hyung."

Taehyung felt like crying, there were so many emotions bottling up in him again, fears that threatened to combust on the surface. But he felt safe in Jungkook's strong arms, against his broad naked chest that he loved so much.

His face nuzzled into the other's body, inhaling the calming scent of his lover, holding him tight.

It was no wonder that the camera flashes triggered last nights' fears and made his pulse quicken.

It was not only that he wasn't at home, here in Hongkong, where everything felt familiar yet overwhelmingly foreign, it was also his own mental state that was under so much pressure that everything felt like it's able to crawl under his skin.

As they finally entered the big hall of the award show, he inhaled deeply. Yesterday they were here already for prerecording and practice, nothing out of place, but he felt more nervous as usual. Greeting other idols, they made their way to their seats, Jungkook right next to him, refusing to sit apart. When they sat down, Taehyung took the others hand and pulled him closer. Needing him.

Jungkook looked at him in concern, a second away of combing his fingers through the others red hair, but he held himself back.

"You okay?", he squeezed their linked hands instead, tempted to lift it and kiss the back of Tae's hand.

"Yeah...just...I don't know. Nervous. Vulnerable."

"I'm here."

Taehyung flashed him a thankful little smile squeezing his hand back "I know."

An hour later, they were in the changing room, dressing up for their performance. Jungkook was warming up his voice, so did Jimin; Jin was in thoughts about the choreography that he faintly executed while the staff was fixing his hair.