Staegma ✧ taejin

28

6:57 AM
Less than six and almost five hours left

After two years of running the cafe, and two unrelated jobs taken before so, Seokjin thought he could be professional enough to hide his emotion — fear.

Seokjin decided against it, the whole fear and guilt thing. This opportunity doesn't happen a lot, and now that Taehyung is here, he should apologize instead of dragging himself to self-pity.

Self-pity does nothing. It only satisfies the ego, but it doesn't change anything. And besides, Taehyung had every right to be treated well after so. So Seokjin decided to drop the act, and allow his impulsive, guilty self to form the words.

"We can talk as we're walking," Seokjin suggested. "I haven't properly greeted you. Hello, Taehyung."

Taehyung was silent as he kept up with Seokjin's footsteps. They just left the cafe now.

"I think you're here because there's a need to fix things. I have a lot of questions in my mind
about you, how you got here, how you. . . survived," (Seokjin internally tensed but did not show it) "Sorry for my wordings. Anyway, I'm just glad we have a chance to talk."

"Me too," Taehyung said plainly, kicking small pebbles as they walked near Seokjin's apartment, which was totally uncrowded.

It was weird to hear him speak. He was used to subtitles.

"Can I go first? I have a lot to say and I think it's better if you hear it soon."

"Whatever works."

"I heard you talking with Jeongguk this morning, so I was kind of aware you were here."

"Ah."

"Yes, and I made attempts to run away from it—from you—but now I'm here." Seokjin cleared his throat. "I was hiding in the kitchen earlier this morning. But then, Jeongguk came, and I realized I shouldn't get too scared simply because you're here, in this place. That and Jeongguk is important to me so I had to step out of the kitchen." They kept on walking. "He's sorry for lying to you this morning, by the way —"

"Oh, is he?" Taehyung asked, a hint of annoyance in his voice. "DON'T say anything else. I understand what you're trying to say — Jeongguk cares for you and is protecting you — I know."

"Okay."

Seokjin could literally feel Taehyung's annoyance at this point.

"Thanks for understanding, Taehyung. It really means a lot. You know how. . . understanding, and then accepting, changes things. Those two things change things. We wouldn't be okay if it weren't for you."

No response.

They both walked in silence, but Taehyung still followed Seokjin's path. The supposed virtual character was unfamiliar with where he was.

"I'm really sorry, by the way." He looked at the guy, who was walking straight ahead. "There's no excuse for what I did. I'm sorry for almost killing you and insulting you. What I did was disgusting, and you. . ."

Taehyung suddenly looked at him, with curiosity expressed on his face. Seokjin almost couldn't finish. ". . .uh, you don't deserve it. No one does. I was. . . um, fueled by my curiosity. I thought you were an actual virtual thing at first, and I was curious with how you'd react. I was curious on how you were programmed. Drawn. I don't know. I was just curious."