Really, Baby (I Will Be Just Fine)

10

They end up eating near the playground, the idle sound of children giggling and shoes trudging back and forth in sand filling the background as Taehyung tells him about boring lectures in his music theory class and how no one actually understands half the things they’re learning. Hoseok notices that Taehyung has a habit of smoothing his bangs down whenever there’s a pause of silence. He thinks he does this out of nervousness, but Hoseok has only really known Taehyung for about an hour, so he can’t put a story to his face just yet.

At one point, Hoseok finds himself ranting about the diluted coffee served in the cafe just outside of the library - Taehyung knows exactly which one - and how the much needed caffeine does nothing for him and his wallet around finals time. Taehyung would rest his chin in his palm and listen attentively, small smile on his face as he nodded along while Hoseok described the horrors from sophomore year when he’d fallen asleep halfway through lab and ended up passing the class with a B anyway.

Hoseok likes the way Taehyung listens to him, all open ears and gentle eyes that Hoseok finds himself talking nonsense just for the excuse of watching Taehyung watch him.

And Taehyung, unlike Jimin, doesn’t smirk at him mockingly when Hoseok tells him he ordered the truffle burger, just as Taehyung had suggested. Instead Taehyung smiles like a thousand suns and knocks what’s left of their burgers together.

“Cheers,” Taehyung says, and their knees bump under the picnic table like fragile cups made from the thinnest glass. “To a great meal and a beautiful lunch break.”