Trouble

I believe

"You've been practically locking yourself in for almost a week now and you don't reply to any of my texts, of course I had to come over so don't give me that what the hell are you doing here look, you know exactly why I'm here and I'm not going to argue with me don't even try", is the first thing Hoseok says once he pushed past Seokjin and into his apartment. He didn't even wait for Seokjin to ask him to come inside. Just stepped in the second Seokjin opened the door without even giving him a chance to say anything. For a moment Seokjin just stares at his friend, then he closes the door again without saying a word. Well, what even is there to say? Hoseok is kneeling on the floor to undo the knots of his shoelaces in the meantime. Apparently, he has the intention of staying for some time. Seokjin doesn't even try to throw him out or argue with him because he knows that it's pointless. Hoseok can be really stubborn when he is determined to take care of someone. And right now he is definitely determined to take care of Seokjin, whether he wants it or not. Of course, Seokjin could just say that everything is alright, that he doesn't need Hoseok here to cheer him up or whatever. But he's tried that before and it's a lie that Hoseok never buys. So instead Seokjin just watches Hoseok take off his shoes and neatly put them aside somewhere.

"Do you want a tea or something?", Seokjin offers. If they're going to have this conversation they might as well get comfortable while they're doing it. Also making a cup of tea would give Seokjin an excuse to avoid talking for just a few minutes longer. At least a moment to mentally prepare himself because he knows that Hoseok is not going to let him avoid any of his questions. Maybe he'll let Seokjin dodge the uncomfortable topics for a while, but he will not leave before he's sure that his job here is done. Hoseok looks up at Seokjin for a moment, then he shrugs.

"That depends, do you want to make some?", he asks. And Seokjin knows that he has already seen through him. Hoseok knows that Seokjin isn't just offering him tea to be a good host. But he'll allow Seokjin to take a moment to gather himself. Seokjin appreciates that.

"I guess I'd really like a cup of tea", he mutters. Hoseok flashes him a quick smile. It's reassuring. And normally that smile would calm Seokjin down. Hoseok has always made Seokjin feel at ease because he's just so easy to talk to. And he's so good at cheering others up. But right now Seokjin can't even look at his smile. Just a few weeks ago he loved Hoseok's dimples. Liked poking them and squishing his cheeks and all that. Now he can't even look at them anymore. Hoseok notices, but the smile on his face doesn't fade. It just softens a little. The dimples smooth out. Maybe Seokjin misses them. He's not sure what hurts more, seeing them or not seeing them.

"Then I guess I'd like a cup too, just don't give me any of that super bitter stuff. Or at least put in some sugar. This herb tea stuff you always serve me is terrible and makes me want to cry", Hoseok complains while he gets up from the floor. But he is still smiling. Seokjin smiles back for a second. This is what he likes about Hoseok. He is easy to talk to. He senses when you are not really ready to talk about something yet and naturally changes the topic to give you some room to think about it. And of course, Seokjin gladly goes along with the switch of topic Hoseok offered him.

"You have the taste buds of a child", he says with a slight chuckle before he walks over to the kitchen to start making tea while he continues ranting about how his terrible herbal tea is actually really good and how too much sugar is unhealthy and makes you hyperactive. And Hoseok rolls his eyes and calls Seokjin an old man. For a few minutes they just friendly bicker back and forth. Hoseok is sitting at Seokjin's small kitchen table and watching him prepare tea for both of them while he continues making jokes about how Seokjin needs to stop mothering him like that and how he always sounds like an old man when he is talking about his herb tea and all that stuff. But the second Seokjin puts down a cup in front of him and takes the seat across the table, Hoseok's expression changes. Suddenly his face becomes really serious.