The Hidden Treasure

~21~

Namjoon stared at Taehyung for a moment, unsure of how to respond. It was true that he'd had a fairly strong crush on Hyejin in highschool. No other girls could catch his attention because his heart was already taken by one particular girl in red sneakers. However, he had quietly locked those feelings away since the day she left him behind, and it wasn't until she came into his path again that those feelings were beating against the locked door, begging to be set free. Every time he saw her now the lock on the door loosened just a little.

But he wasn't sure how to go about freeing his heart and allowing it to actually care for or even dare to love someone. It was also true that she had matured into a beautiful young woman and he found her just as attractive now as he did back in highschool. Maybe more so now. He wasn't sure if there was really any difference. He really wanted to get to know her more before he threw open the door to the prison he held his feelings in. It wouldn't be good to let them loose too soon, especially since he didn't know how she felt about him exactly.

He looked back to Taehyung and sighed. "It's complicated."

"No, 'it's complicated' is a Facebook relationship status. It's obvious you like her."

"Then why did you ask?" Namjoon sighed and leaned his head back against the chair.

"I wanted to hear the answer from your own mouth. I don't want to form my opinion completely on behaviors I could be misperceiving."

"Sometimes your intelligence astounds me, Tae, it really does." Namjoon stared at the younger man and grinned. "I'll tell you what, I'll let you in on a tiny little secret." Namjoon dropped his feet from the desk and sat up, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees. He dropped his voice to a low whisper, his eyes never leaving Jungkook's sleeping face. "I liked her in highschool." He smiled and sat back, watching as Taehyung processed the information he was just given.

"How much?" Taehyung eyed him from the side and waited for his answer.

"Mm, I would say a lot?" Namjoon giggled and leaned back in his chair again.

"Are those feelings gone?" Taehyung felt like he sounded like some investigator somewhere. He almost wanted to punch himself for continuing to ask such questions of his friend.

"I'm keeping them reserved for now. Look Tae, I don't even know how she thinks of me. For all I know, she just remembers me as the boy who always beat her in school. Nothing more than an old friend. You know what I mean?" He sighed in frustration.

"Yeah. I understand." Taehyung shifted his shoulder slightly, it being a bit stiff from Jungkook's heavy head. "You're secret is safe with me." He winked at Namjoon and then looked around trying to figure out the best way to get out of his spot without letting Jungkook's head smack into the floor.

"Want some help with that kid?" Namjoon stood and came over to gently tug Jungkook's head over to his own shoulder. Jungkook groaned slightly and then snuggled into Namjoon's neck, making the leader very uncomfortable and kind of creeped out. "What kind of thoughts or dreams does this kid have," he muttered, making Taehyung giggle slightly.

"I don't know, but he sure is loving your neck," giggled Tae as Jungkook nuzzled and sniffed Namjoon's neck. Taehyung couldn't get enough of watching Namjoon squirm and cringe, but he thought he should be a good friend and rescue his leader. Taehyung reached down and pulled a still sleeping Jungkook up to his feet. The younger man wobbled a bit, but allowed Taehyung to guide him out of the room and in the direction of his own sleeping place.

* * *

Megan sat on the couch in the small living room. She was pouting slightly and stared angrily at her suitcase.