hope || kim.t.h + jung.h.s

six

Hoseok awoke to an empty bed, but a warm smell—to his head clear, but his eyes stinging. The smell was welcoming and sweet, drifting into the empty room in which Hoseok awoke from his slumber. The aroma swirled around and filled the room, drawing Hoseok's small, sleepy body out of the bed in which was still warm from their bodies, representing a short period of time each boy had woken up around. However, instead of focusing on the other boy, Hoseok could only bask in the glorious, rare smell of something delightful. He pondered at all that could be creating this beautiful smell–a smell that could pull Hoseok along a path to euphoria–curious as to what it could be. He wondered what the smell was, questioning the scent itself and why it smelled like that. In all honesty, Hoseok had not smelt something this warm and sweet in a long time.

He started slowly walking down the hallway and into the kitchen to try and trace this smell that piqued his interest, closing his eyes and using only his nose. He was curious. Hoseok felt interested. However, Hoseok didn't feel anything emotionally. His head was blank like a fresh new sheet of paper, or the two extra pages in the back of every book. He felt a strange essence of emptiness in himself, like he was drained of all emotions after one nap. However, Hoseok was an empty vessel of nothing anyways, incapable of feeling any emotion other than sadness. The only thing he felt right now was nothing–plus a slight curiosity.

As he tried to search for the origin of the beautiful scent, something caught Hoseok's empty eyes. There, standing at the Kurig, was the tall, beautiful boy in which Hoseok adored, standing in sweatpants and a black tshirt; the two must've slept until the next morning. Either way, Taehyung was making caramel hot chocolate, Hoseok's favorite. "Good morning, Hoseok. You slept a long time." he claimed, drawing out long. He didn't turn to look at the boy and only focused on the coffee machine, brewing with precision. He sounded wide awake and delighted; happy like usual. Hoseok only let out a slight laugh. "I was tired, I always am nowadays." he replied. His voice was monotone and plain. It was like one you'd expect to hear in a dramatic black and white film. Hoseok walked over without thought and sat at the kitchen table, waiting patiently for Taehyung to bring over the drink. "I've noticed." Taehyung replied quietly grabbing the two cups. His slim fingers wrapped around the glass in a way that Hoseok saw as smooth and graceful, making him anxious for some strange reason. Taehyung walked slowly over to the table holding the cups through the handles, smiling slightly as he moved. "Your mother said the caramel was your favorite." he said as he carefully and delicately sat down Hoseok's mug. Hoseok smiled a fake smile and nodded slowly as he watched Taehyung sit down. "She isn't wrong." he weakly laughed out, watching Hoseok gulp down his drink. Hoseok watched the way his throat moved as he swallowed each gulp and shivered. It was enchantingly attractive–enchanting like the sleek movement of a cheetah, and attractive like the mysterious coat of a panther. Hoseok felt drawn in by Taehyung's beauty in a way beyond comprehension. He felt like a spell was being cast upon him, putting him in a trance or enchantment he was unable to control. It was like a raging stock-car.

Hoseok's hot chocolate remained untouched and undisturbed as he watched Taehyung elegantly stare at the television in the family room from the kitchen. Hoseok didn't turn to see what he was so intently watching, and only dreamily stared at the taller, broad shouldered boy with blank eyes and a straight face. "You know, I never really understood the point of hot chocolate. It's not even fully chocolate. Not to mention, you can't even drink it when it's hot." Taehyung suddenly blurted, speaking in a fun manner but with a gentle voice. He sounded like a child, a pure child with no understanding of the real world. It was a beautiful sound to Hoseok. His deep voice was music to Hoseok's ears–in both English and Korean. He watched intently as Taehyung chuckled at his own little statement, waiting for Hoseok to say something in response. However, Hoseok only let out a suppressed laugh as he processed Taehyung's announcement. "I never really understood it either; I just drink it to relax." he replied quietly, too tired to act completely happy. His voice was dull and empty, but full of admiration for the other boy–somewhat like his mind and emotions. Hoseok always felt a feeling of dullness and nothingness when he awoke, like his sadness had been refreshed only to reappear again. It was this feeling that suddenly attracted Taehyung's attention. Taehyung seemed to let his emotions change upon hearing Hoseok's voice, making it clear he noticed something strange. He adverted his attention from the television in the other room to the look on Hoseok's face, noticing a blank stare and an empty expression. Hoseok noticed a concerned look on Taehyung's face as Taehyung analyzed his. "Are you okay, Hoseok?" Taehyung asked, leaning slightly across the table. He pushed his mug to the side and tried to move himself a bit closer to Hoseok without laying on the table, wanting to hear his answer. Hoseok, however, only leaned back into his chair and nodded his head with synthetic neutralness. "I'm perfectly fine, Tae." he told him, plastering on a fake smile. Taehyung smiled too, but something in his eyes showed he had a hunch something wasn't perfectly fine.

As much Hoseok absolutely loved Taehyung's blessing presence, he didn't want him at the house much longer. He started to grow uncomfortable with his angelic appearance. Despite this, Hoseok weakly tried to look as happy as he could, but not putting much effort into his act. Taehyung let it slip, though, and did everything in his power not to ask the smaller boy with him what was wrong. Taehyung stared at Hoseok with a slight frustration that was clearly visible. It was obvious–the more Hoseok seemed dull and distant, the more frustrated Taehyung would get. It was the kind of frustration you would show after failing a job: like Taehyung had failed at a job he's supposed to do. The task at hand, however, isn't easy to figure out, unlike his emotions. Taehyung looked genuinely mad at himself as he analyzed Hoseok's behavior. Hoseok was off in another world, trying to look happy, yet he still looked empty no matter how wide he smiled. Something about that angered Taehyung.

After the two took a good thirty minutes to finish their hot chocolate, Hoseok trudged back to his room with Taehyung following suit. Hoseok had a bugging feeling–one that attached to him all day since Taehyung had stepped into his bedroom. Hoseok couldn't help but let his damaged mind wander into rather...dark thoughts trying to discover this bug.

He's not here to hang out. He knows something. he suddenly thought, sadly. Hoseok's mind raced with similar thoughts as he walked into his room snail-like, observing Taehyung's behavior. The sculpture of a man stared analytically at Hoseok as he patiently waited to walk into the room, studying him like he was trying to understand how he worked. Hoseok only stared back, trying to figure out what he was paying such full attention to.  Hoseok sauntered over to his bed, growing curious. "Taehyung, why are you here?" he suddenly asked, sitting onto his mattress. Hoseok's expression was dark. He stared at Taehyung with demanding eyes and a cold look on his face, but Hoseok also seemed scared and untrusting. Taehyung hesitated and suspiciously avoided eye contact. He was guilty of something–no doubt.

"Hoseok, I know somethings. Somethings you should know, too."