Invisible Affection | Taejin

29. Welcome to the Roller Coaster

A/N: This chapter is a bit shorter than my usual length, as I'm currently battling a head cold, which has been making it hard for me to concentrate. Still, I wanted to give something as I try not to spend the day sleeping. As always, errors are part of the experience; if I didn't make them, people might think I'm a pro, and we can't allow that. ❤️

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Some months later

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Taehyung silenced the incoming call on his phone by pressing the 'Can I call you later?' button, a quick decision to avoid distractions while serving customers. He slipped the phone back into his pocket, refocusing on the customer standing before him, a middle-aged woman with a warm smile who was ordering her usual. Taehyung felt slightly annoyed at the relentless buzzing in his pocket. He was already pushing through the struggle of a hectic shift, working overtime, dealing with a flow of customers that showed no signs of slowing down.

After ten long hours, he finally clocked out, releasing a heavy sigh. As he walked out of the café, the chill in the air hit him, making him pull his coat tighter around himself. He fished his phone out of his pocket, and his heart sank at seeing the numerous missed calls and messages piled up. Without hesitating, he tapped on Jin's contact to return the calls.

The initial call rang, only to be sent straight to voicemail, and he felt a flutter of anxiety in his stomach. He tried again, listening to the ringing in his ear until it faded into another voicemail.

"I was at work. Sorry, I missed your calls. I ended up working overtime because it was busy today. You're probably sleeping, so let's talk tomorrow," he typed out quickly, trying to keep his tone light despite the rising tension he felt within.

He chose not to explore the many messages Jin had sent him, only catching brief snippets of the texts while he typed his reply. An unsettling feeling washed over him as he felt his boyfriend's frustration coming through the screen.

He shoved his phone into his pocket and buried his hands deep in his coat, longing for the warmth of home. The chill in the air nipped at his cheeks as he trudged toward the apartment he shared with Jungkook. With every step, he envisioned the calming heat of a hot shower and the gentle comfort of his bed, drawing him nearer to a well-deserved relaxation.

Upon arriving at the apartment, he noticed an extra pair of shoes neatly placed by the front door, a clear indication of who had dropped by unexpectedly. A faint smile tugged at his lips, but it quickly faded as he removed his coat and hung it in the closet, gathering his thoughts before entering the bedroom.

As he stepped into the room, as he suspected, Jin was lying on the bed, but the sight of his boyfriend sound asleep caught him off guard.

As he carefully tiptoed further into the room, he surveyed the surroundings. The closet door stood ajar, and his clothes had been carelessly shifted around, hinting at Jin's anxious need to find something. Papers and books lay scattered across the desk; some were flipped open as if they had been quickly rifled through. The usually orderly storage bins in the corner were in disarray, their contents carelessly mixed together.

With a soft, weary sigh, Taehyung ran his fingers through his messy hair. He placed his phone on his desk and carefully tiptoed to the bathroom, where he washed his hands, used the toilet, and then washed them again. Finally, he undressed, allowing the cool air to caress his skin. As he stepped into the shower, he hoped the warm water would help melt away his stress and give him the strength he needed for the conversation that awaited him.

After exiting the shower and following his usual routine of moisturizing his skin and towel-drying his damp hair, Taehyung slid on a pair of comfortable black shorts. He returned to the bedroom, and his gaze fell upon Seokjin, who sat cross-legged in the middle of the bed, his phone in his hands.