Invisible Affection | Taejin

33. You'll never change

Taehyung wasn't exactly feeling up to going out. He'd been drained all day, emotionally more than anything, and all he really wanted was to stay in bed and let the world carry on without him. But he also knew that telling Seokjin he didn't want to go would probably lead to a misunderstanding, something he was determined to avoid. Things had been going well between them lately, and he didn't want to risk disrupting the fragile sense of peace they had built.

It was their last weekend together before summer break, and Taehyung wanted it to end on a good note. That mattered to him more than his own discomfort. Knowing Seokjin would be gone for most of the summer, he was already dreading the weeks ahead. That looming absence sat heavily on his chest, and maybe that's why, even with everything in him wanting to stay home, he was still choosing to go out. He didn't want to miss even a moment of the time they had left.

Lately, they had been spending most nights together, whether at Jin's place or his own. And that time, though quiet and sometimes unspoken, had been meaningful. He could feel the closeness between them growing—slowly, but steadily. They were beginning to understand each other on a different level, and that made the time they shared feel all the more valuable.

When his phone buzzed on the nightstand, he didn't even need to check to know it was Seokjin. He picked it up and read the message, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. He quickly typed out a reply, then stared at the screen for a second longer before setting it down.

That message, that gentle nudge from Jin—was the motivation he needed to push the covers off and finally get out of bed. He made his way to the shower, determined to shake off how he had been feeling.

It had been a while since he'd spent time with Jin's friends, especially where Jungkook and Yoongi would also be present. He had been avoiding that dynamic ever since the last time things went sideways. The tension from that night still lingered in the back of his mind, and the idea of facing anything similar to it didn't exactly excite him. But since he was doing it for Jin, it felt like something he could tolerate doing.

*****

Taehyung was more than just surprised when he stepped through the front door of Yoongi's house; he felt completely blindsided. The noise hit him first: music thumping through the walls, laughter, and conversations buzzing from every direction. Then came the crowd. People were everywhere—some familiar, most not. This wasn't a small gathering; it was a party.

He paused in the doorway, uncertain, just as Seokjin appeared out of the crowd like a spotlight cutting through haze.

"I was wondering how long it would take you to get here," Jin said with a smile as he wrapped his arms around Taehyung's neck and pulled him in for a kiss. It was brief and soft, unmistakably laced with the scent of liquor.

Taehyung caught the taste instantly, his brows subtly lifting. As they pulled apart, he studied Jin's face, flushed cheeks, sparkling eyes, and how he swayed just slightly with the beat of the music. He was tipsy, maybe more than that.

"I didn't know this was a party," Taehyung said carefully, eyes sweeping the packed room behind Jin. "I thought you said it was just with your friends."

"It is with my friends," Jin replied with a grin, clearly unconcerned as he gestured around. "Since everyone's going away for summer, Yoongi decided to go big. Nice send-off and all."

Taehyung's eyes dropped to Jin's cropped, clingy outfit, showing a teasing glimpse of his midriff. His reaction was immediate and impossible to hide. "Seokjin... what are you wearing?"

Jin smirked playfully, just as a server passed by with a tray of shots. He snagged two and handed one to Taehyung. "Something festive. Come on, take a shot with me."