LOST STARS

Chapter 10

In the silence, Taehyung got off the horse with ease. He put out his hand and curled his fingers in a silent call. Yoongi hesitated, then took the hand that was offered. As he slid off the horse's back, he could feel the other person's pulse against his palm.

They stood next to each other on the empty road, with the horse behind them loosely tied to a tree. Without saying a word, Taehyung looked quickly at the ground to see what was there. As he bent down to get a small saw that was hidden in the bushes, the moon cast long shadows on him.

By pulling on Yoongi's sleeve, Aehyun led him to the middle of the road. The professor's feet stomped on the gravel, and his mind was racing to keep up with what was going on. As Taehyung got closer to the nearest lamppost, the sound of metal grating against the wood broke the silence.

"Aehyun, what are you doing?" Yoongi's voice got louder, and it was tinged with shock and fear. "This can get you caught. This is wrong."

The words faded into the night, not being heard or paid attention to. Taehyung's arms moved purposefully. The steady beat of destruction was sure and steady. Sawdust flew to the ground, showing how determined he was.

Yoongi's throat got tight. The saw kept cutting until the lamp post shook. Taehyung stopped mid-way and looked at Yoongi with his eyes. As he took a slow step back, he counted to himself. One, two—each step a steady beat of excitement. On the tenth step, the post shook very badly.

"Stand here," Taehyung gestured to Yoongi in a calm but definite way, which was very different from the shaking that showed the lamp post was about to fall.

Yoongi's eyes got bigger as he thought about what he saw. It was crazy, an unsafe test of fate. Still, Aehyun pulled him forward, and their bodies lined up as if they were going to stand trial together.

"Move, Aehyun!" His words were short and to the point. He tried to pull Taehyung and himself to safety by pulling on their arms. Taehyung stood firm, like a force that couldn't be moved. The lamp post above groaned, which matched Yoongi's growing fear. Yoongi's heart beat fast and furiously in his ears, like a crazy timer counting down to the impact. His instincts screamed, a last, desperate attempt to stay unharmed. Survival Instincts, as some would say.

He quickly twisted his wrist away from Taehyung's grip and jumped to the side, his muscles tensing and relaxed at the same time. Where his feet had been, dust erupted.

As the lamp post fell, it was silent, like the knife blade whispering in the wind. For Taehyung, the fact that it hit the ground just feet away showed that calculation was more important than luck, and even more important was someone to trust his calculations.

Taehyung didn't move. He knew the exact distance because there was a part of him that had done this a ton of times. His father and friends had all been pawns in this game of loyalty before. Some people had always been there with him. Others had faltered, retreating into the shadows of doubt.

That made Taehyung's heart twitch. Yoongi had stood in an empty place and without the trust he was looking for. It made him feel distrusted—heartbroken, maybe.

Then Yoongi turned around, his eyes wide behind his glasses. Feelings of relief filled his face, and and a smile appeared. It was a smile with no judgment—a smile that seemed to stitch Taehyung's disappointments together. When Taehyung saw it—true and broadest ever—the pain in his heart went away. His shoulders relaxed as he watched the range of emotions on Yoongi's face. It was the first time he realized he had been holding his breath.

As Yoongi moved closer, his steps were slow and deliberate. He tried to say "Aehyun," but he couldn't because he was out of words. Instead, he kept looking at Taehyung, and the two of them were talking to each other in silence.

The trust test was forgotten; it was like Taehyung was never disappointed. Taehyung's smile was the same as Yoongi's. They quietly walked with the horse's leash in hand towards the small lake the town had. The moonlight danced beautifully on its surface as the lake breathed. Settling on the porch, going towards the centre of the lake, they sat there legs hanging from where they sat. As they sat, their shoulders kept bumping against each other.

The whole world was silent around them. Yoongi sat there in his pajamas, and Taehyung wondered if he was feeling cold. As they swayed to inaudible music, Taehyung's eyes rested on the engagement ring on Yoongi's hand. "That's the ring given to her, right?"Taehyung gestured to ask.

Yoongi nodded in agreement, "Can I see it?" came next from Taehyung.

Yoongi removed the ring from his finger and placed it on Taehyung's palm. Taehyung looked at it for a few seconds and then hurled it with a swing into the lake. Yoongi started to say something but his gaze softened and words died on his lips.

Taehyung looked around calmly and picked up a twig. He tied it to Yoongi's finger, and he went on to say, "Is this enough to make you mine?"

Yoongi pursed his lips and gave a smile full of fondness and endearment to Taehyung, as it was clear that Taehyung wasn't asking seriously.

At that moment, everything felt enough. Taehyung's eyes dropped to Yoongi's lips and he froze. Yoongi should not have mirrored it. Yoongi should have also frozen. Yoongi should not have leaned in, but he did. He did all that and now his lips were pressed against Taehyung, the other not hesitating for a second before kissing back.

It was hardly a few seconds, but enough to turn their world upside down. How much—that was a question they would only know in days to come.

Yoongi was the first one to open his eyes and part away. It was a strange moment; he was feeling awkward enough to say anything. But he forgot, that when Taehyung was around, nothing could be sad or awkward for long. Taehyung pretended to gush and blink his lashes vigorously.

Clutching his chest with both hands, he fell on his back, both legs in the air. It was comedic. It was supposed to be comedic. And Yoongi was supposed to laugh the way he did. The way Taehyung loved to see Yoongi laugh.

AN:- Guys are you enjoying reading the book???please do share your opinion...