Just Friends

Chapter 18

Taehyung awakens from noise, the stirring of Jeongguk as he pokes at the fireplace. He doesn't sit up, only opens his eyes, just enough to see him bent down in front of it.

He's dressed in different clothes. And so is Taehyung.

Because of last night.

He remembers everything, flushing at the thought of what happened between them. Literally.

He can't believe it.

He can't believe he did that with Jeongguk. His best friend. His silly, sweet, overly competitive, at times stubborn best friend.

How did this happen? How did they go from playing video games and going to theme parks together, to coming in their pajamas together, wrapped around each other on a small couch in the middle of the night?

And why was it the most amazing orgasm Taehyung's ever had?

No—not yet.

When Jeongguk turns a little, Taehyung closes his eyes again, pretending to still be asleep. They may have moved to the bed to sleep together in it last night, but he's not ready to face him. Not in the daylight. Not yet.

—><—

Some time later, Taehyung re-awakens. This time it's to Jeongguk's voice, coming from outside the front door, just a few feet away from the bed.

It sounds like he's shouting, so Taehyung gets up to check on him, keeping a blanket swirled around him to stay warm.

"I know, you don't have to shout at me. What do you want me to do? I'm stuck here until Monday!. . . .I told you, there are no trains or buses coming in or out because of the snow storm coming in," Taehyung hears Jeongguk shout over the phone upon cracking open the door.

He doesn't see Taehyung is standing there, back turned as he paces back and forth in the snow that's really starting to come down heavy now.

"Yes, I'm with Taehyung—why are you asking?. . . Look, I know I was supposed to be back, Father, but I'm not so we'll just have to reschedule it!. . . .Oh, so now I'm throwing my life away just because I—. . . .We can reschedule it, it's not a big deal!" He hears him continue to shout and Taehyung should have known by the opposing tone, by the hand clenched furiously in his hair, that he was talking to his father.

Taehyung thinks then he should give him his privacy, but just as he goes to turn around, he hears Jeongguk shout louder than before.

"Fine! Whatever!"

Taehyung glances back in time to see Jeongguk hang up his phone, shove it in his jacket pocket, and kick at the snow. "UGH! Damn it!"

He turns around then and sees Taehyung standing there, uneasy, looking at him hesitantly.

"Tae—I'm sorry, I-I didn't know you were standing there," he says, eyes softening as he walks up to him rather quickly.

Taehyung steps back into the cottage to let him, hurrying to close the door when a gust of wind threatens to blow it wide open.

"No, it's okay—I heard shouting and—are you okay?"

"Ah, just my dad," Jeongguk lets out with a resigned sigh as he follows Taehyung in, takes off his jacket and boots at the door. He's doing that thing where he's trying to play it off but Taehyung can hear how his voice is broken and weak.

He doesn't show strong emotions often, especially vulnerable ones. And Jeongguk's temper is hard to unfurl, but Taehyung's always known that once Jungkook gets truly mad, he either breaks something or his eyes tear up, and usually when he it comes to his father, it's both.