Speeding Into Trouble || Taekook

21

After leaving the hospital, Jeongguk led Taehyung to a small, tucked-away restaurant that most people wouldn’t notice unless they were looking for it.

The place wasn’t fancy, but it had an undeniable warmth to it—the kind that made you feel at home even if it was your first time stepping inside.

Jeongguk pulled out a chair for Taehyung without thinking, sliding into his own seat afterward with a self-satisfied grin.

“My eomma lives for this place,” he said, glancing around like he’d just revealed some secret treasure.

“She swears their food could fix any bad day, so I figured you could use some of that magic.”

Taehyung hummed, looking around as well. The soft golden glow of the hanging lights, the quiet chatter of a few customers, and the faint scent of sizzling spices filling the air—it felt nice. Cozy, even.

It was unfamiliar, though. He had never been to a place like this before—small, a little cramped, with mismatched chairs and handwritten menus taped to the walls.

Taehyung had grown up in luxury, dining in high-end restaurants where waiters in pressed suits refilled his water before he even realized his glass was half-empty.

Here, there were no white tablecloths, no extravagant chandeliers, no discreet piano music playing in the background.

And yet… he didn’t mind it.

“Well, I’m already tasting something amazing,” Taehyung said smoothly, his eyes flicking to Jeongguk with a smirk.

Jeongguk blinked, caught off guard for a second before huffing out a laugh. "Kim Taehyung, you menace," he muttered, shaking his head.

But the words lacked any real bite.

If someone had told him just a month ago that he’d be sitting across from Kim Taehyung like this—laughing, teasing, talking—he would’ve laughed in their face.

Back then, all they did was fight. Their arguments had been loud, heated, and brutal, fueled by mutual stubbornness and what Jeongguk had assumed was pure hatred.

But now?

Now, they were here. Sitting together. Sharing a meal. And it felt right.

The thought was strange, and Jeongguk quickly pushed it aside, turning his attention to Taehyung—who, he noticed, kept glancing around, his posture unusually stiff.

“Tae,” Jeongguk started, brows furrowing. “Are you expecting the paparazzi, or…?”

Taehyung waved a hand dismissively. "No, it's not that—"

Jeongguk’s expression shifted instantly, his voice dropping to something quieter. "Oh… I get it." He leaned back, eyes narrowing. "You don’t wanna be seen with me."

The moment the words left his mouth, Taehyung snapped his head up, eyes wide.

“What—No!” he practically yelled, making a couple of heads turn. He leaned in, lowering his voice.

“Jeongguk, that’s not it at all! I just… I didn’t tell anyone at home where I was going. I’m being cautious, that’s all!”

Truthfully, Jeongguk had guessed it right. It was still risky being seen with him. Taehyung knew it.

People whispered about Jeon Jeongguk, some with admiration, some with disdain. His name carried weight—the wrong kind of weight in certain circles.

If anyone from Taehyung’s world saw them together, there would be questions, consequences.