Perfect

Tough love

"I’m stopping by the gas station. Do you need anything to eat?" Taehyung asked, turning towards his mother, who was sitting in the passenger seat while Jin was in the back. "Just get me anything," his mother replied.

"And you, Seokjin?" Taehyung stopped the car and looked at Jin. "Are you craving anything specific?" Jin shook his head. "We’ll be back," Taehyung said as he got out of the car. He opened the back door and gently grabbed Seokjin by the arm. "Let's go figure it out together," he suggested.

"I'm not hungry, Taehyung," Seokjin protested.

"You only had toast for breakfast, Seokjin. I thought we were past this phase," Taehyung said softly, holding Jin's hand. "If there's nothing you want from here, name anything else, and I'll arrange it for you." He tucked a strand of Jin's hair behind his ear.

"I'm not feeling well, Taehyung," Jin admitted.

"What's wrong?" Taehyung asked gently, bringing Seokjin closer. "I don't know. It just feels weird."

Taehyung understood that anyone with anxiety could feel uneasy while traveling. He pulled Seokjin into a comforting hug. "You're alright. We will be there soon, and if you want, we can go back too." He smiled warmly, hugging the omega tighter. "If there's anything bothering you, just tell me."

Seokjin sighed, glancing at his buzzing phone. "I'm okay. I'll take a bite of whatever you're having."

Taehyung nodded, pulling away to kiss Seokjin's forehead. "I'll be back then."

As Seokjin settled back into the car, he heard Taehyung's mother say, "It's nice to be young and in love, right?" Her eyes softened as she continued, "I was skeptical when I first heard about all the foolish things my son did to you, but after spending these few days with both of you, I see a silver lining. I hope you both hold onto that. And Seokjin, I apologize again for what Taehyung has done. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive him, even though I know that's a lot to ask."

Jin bit his lip nervously as he listened to Taehyung's mother. The sincerity in her voice as she spoke was palpable, and it made Jin's heart ache a little.

Before he could form a reply, Taehyung returned with a tray of food. "Here you go, eomma. I'll sit in the back to eat with Seokjin," he said, closing the car door behind him.

"All of this is low calorie," Taehyung whispered to Seokjin, his face lighting up with a big smile. Jin took a moment to embed the look on Taehyung's face in his memory.

Once they finished eating and their break was over, Taehyung started the car again, his hand occasionally reaching over the back to squeeze Jin's reassuringly. About an hour later, they arrived in front of his childhood home.

"Jin is sleeping," Taehyung's mother informed him softly as she opened the car door.

"I'll carry him inside. Don't wake him up. Is my room set?" he asked quietly. His mother nodded with a smile on her face.

Carefully, Taehyung lifted Seokjin into his arms, cradling him as if he were the most fragile thing in the world. He carried him inside and laid him gently under the blanket, tucking him in securely. Leaning down, he kissed Seokjin's forehead once more, lingering for a moment above the omega to take a look on his face, "so ethereal." He whispered to himself.

After tucking Seokjin in, he quietly steps out of the room and heads back outside to join his parents. The day slips away, with Seokjin sleeping through it all.

When night falls, he finally awakens, feeling confused in the unfamiliar settings. As he shakes off the remnants of sleep, he remembers his trip to Daegu.

"This must be Taehyung's room," he mutters to himself, climbing out of bed. Curious, he starts to explore the room. His eyes land on a photo book on the study table, and he can't resist picking it up. As he flips through the pages, he finds pictures of an omega and Taehyung, both appearing to be of the same age. Each photograph has a date and a note beside it.

Just as he's engrossed in a particularly touching picture, the door swings open. Taehyung stands there, "What are you doing?" he asks, his tone sharp.

Seokjin quickly picks the photo book up from the floor and places it back where he found it. "You shouldn't be going through other people's things like that," Taehyung scolds.

"I'm sorry, I just—" Seokjin begins, but Taehyung cuts him off by turning and leaving the room abruptly.

Feeling awkward and regretful, Seokjin sits back on the bed, throwing his head back in frustration. "I shouldn't have touched it," he whispers to himself, biting his lip. He doesn't know anyone here, and now it seems he's already made an enemy of Taehyung, "perhaps it was a bad idea coming here?"

He sits in silence, staring at his powered-off phone. "I can't keep it off forever," he sighs, sliding it under the pillow to hide it from view.

The room door opens, and Taehyung steps inside, closing the door softly behind him. "That was my best friend, Se-hun," he says quietly. "She passed away. I'm sorry. It's alright for you to go through it."

"I shouldn't have," Jin responds, still unable to meet Taehyung's eyes, guilt gnawing at him over the secret he's been keeping.

"Let's go outside," Taehyung suggests gently. Jin nods, "I'll be out in a few minutes."

As soon as Taehyung leaves the room, Jin breaks down, sobbing into his palms. "What can I do to fix this?" he cries. It takes him some time to collect himself, but eventually, he wipes the tears from his face and prepares to face Taehyung and his parents. Taking a deep breath, he leaves the room.

Taehyung stands up immediately after noticing Jin's tear-streaked face. "I told you I'm sorry. Why did you cry?" he asks, concern evident in his voice as he moves to hold Jin.

Jin laughs it off, noticing Taehyung's parents watching them worriedly. "It's just hay fever," he lies, forcing a smile. "Stop acting this way, Taehyung," he mutters through gritted teeth, pushing the alpha out of his way. He steps forward to greet Taehyung's father.

"It's nice to finally meet you, Seokjin-ah," Taehyung's father says.

Jin bows respectfully. "You don't have to be so formal, son. Come join us for dinner. We've been waiting for you to get up," Taehyung's father invites him.

After dinner, Jin excuses himself and steps outside. The house is small but cozy and warm, completely in contrast to the large apartment he grew up in. His parents had been well-off and provided him with a comfortable life. He often wished they were still alive so he could come home to as well and share dinner with them. Perhaps then, it wouldn't have mattered if Taehyung loved him or not.

He wanders further from Taehyung's house, oblivious to the wind's increasing fury and the thunder rumbling above. Tears stream down his cheeks, blending with the rain as he walks.

When he finally looks up, he realizes the rain has stopped falling on him. Taehyung stands beside him, holding an umbrella over their heads.

"I said I’m sorry, Seokjin," Taehyung says softly. "It’s hard for me to talk about her death. I didn’t mean to hurt you. Please don’t cry. I swear I’ll make it right—"

Before he can finish, Seokjin steps forward and presses his lips to Taehyung’s. The kiss is urgent, filled with all the raw emotion he’s been holding back for a while. Taehyung’s initial surprise quickly melts into a desperate attempt to kiss jin harder. He pulls Seokjin closer, his hands cupping the back of his neck, his fingers tangling in his hair.

The umbrella falls forgotten, and the rain begins to soak them both. Taehyung tilts his head, deepening the kiss further, their bodies pressing together.

As they finally pull away, breathless and flushed, Taehyung wipes the tears from Seokjin’s face with his fingers. "What’s wrong?" he asks.

"Nothing. I’m just feeling a bit overwhelmed," Seokjin replies, his voice trembling slightly. "Can you please hold me closer? I feel less lonely when you hold me."

Without hesitation, Taehyung envelops him in his arms, their bodies melding together as the rain continues to fall around them. They remain in each other’s hold, silent.