LOST STARS

Chapter 24.

As Yoongi drove back to his house, his better half, the perfect match (as his mother had mentioned), he couldn't help but notice how warm Aehyun's run-down house was. There was barely anything there, not much for furniture, not even rooms—but that place still felt much more homely than his expensive house with Victorian kitchenware, an Italian marble floor, and silk curtains. It was still just a house.

He knew he shouldn't draw parallels but he couldn't help it. The house was in perfect order; in fact, that was an obsession of sorts with Jinho. They sat at opposite ends of the long, beautifully carved wooden dining table and had several house helps around.

On paper, it had everything. The picture was complete, but there was never anything further away from reality. They had it all, but still felt the void.

On the other hand, Taehyung didn't have anything, but he looked so content in the life he had built with Jungkook.

There was a whole storm brewing inside Yoongi and Taehyung was unaware. His pivot, his priority, and his focus weren't Yoongi anymore. However, there was another storm brewing somewhere else too. Taehyung didn't manage to catch that one either. Or did Jungkook hide it too well?

Every day, Yoongi started coming to their home during tea time (evening) and Jungkook liked it. Because Taehyung would also take an hour off and come home earlier than usual. Three of them would sit and chat. No one communicated the same as anyone else in the room. But all laughed at things the same.

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The next day was a holiday. All schools, colleges, government offices, and major markets were closed for the day as it was a commemorative holiday for South Korea. Taehyung didn't understand much, as he never heard his father or any estate staff get this holiday. He was more interested in asking Yoongi for a favour as Yoongi explained to him.

"Will you come with us tomorrow then? For a sightseeing day?" Taehyung gestured and asked Yoongi. It did not take Yoongi even a moment before he said yes.

After fixing up a time for the next morning, Yoongi left their house. It was yet another fun-filled evening, which had become the norm in this small, cozy home of Taehyung and Jungkook. Taehyung was just wrapping up the chores, clearing the kitchen, and preparing for sleep time.

Jungkook was not shadowing him, surprisingly. He stood in front of the mirror, wearing Taehyung's pants and shirt. The buttons were all crossed in the wrong eye holes and he was trying to tuck the shirt into the pants.

Taehyung was going towards the other end of the house when he crossed Jungkook. This immediately made the younger boy a little self-conscious, so Taehyung thought it was best to pretend to ignore it. The smile that came on his lips as he turned his head and continued walking was filled with endearment and fondness.

Taehyung found it cute that Jungkook was comfortable trying on his clothes. But what he missed noticing was that Jungkook was not trying to look like him. Jungkook was trying to look like Yoongi. He chose the brown khakis from Taehyung's small collection and a plain cotton white shirt. He was trying to dress in the way Yoongi did. He was trying to feel if his waist also looked as delicate as Yoongi's in those tucked-in clothes.

As Taehyung returned to the kitchen, Jungkook turned, and his little tongue came out as he face-palmed himself. He didn't know it, but he blushed. He didn't know it, but he was embarrassed. Jungkook didn't know it, but he was smiling, a smile that was pursed, thus creating small dimples near his lips.