Staegma ✧ taejin

35

Seokjin was the last person to remain in the cafe as usual, stacking ingredients in the refridgerator and locking up doors. He had dismissed all his workers already, knowing that they have a big day ahead tomorrow, and the days after that — that was how they work. Open everyday.

He neatly arranged all the aprons by the staff room, before double-checking the sweets that were left unsold for today. Once everything was clear, he turned off the lights, grabbed his coat, and set off back to his shared apartment with a rising musician, Min Yoongi.

Huffing slightly, he closed the door with all his might, and impatiently locked up the back door of the cafe.

Now he can finally rest. He can finally have enough time to think things over. He didn't understand the letter. Everything was going on at once in his mind right now.

The business that was getting better. The ingredients. The idea of sleep. The letter. Taehyung.

The last one had been neglected by Seokjin for months. Seokjin knew he shouldn't hurt the guy. He was precious, and shouldn't be treated the way he was treated right now. But he was doing it. He did it. He hurt him, he knew that. But Seokjin had a business to run, and it's not easy.

However, the whole thing about it was beginning to come back again, through the letter.

But whatever the intention was, it was better for Jin to stop this. Whatever this is. He had a weird, unexplained feeling towards Taehyung since he thought about it when he talked to Yoongi, which wasn't fear. It was a damn emotion. It was as if he was looking at the Earth from outside Yoongi's window, seeing that artistic boy sit on it while watching the other planets rotate with interest.

He thought it would go away soon.

Now that he thought about it, it didn't. But he was walking on a tightrope, the tightrope that questioned whether his feelings were sure or not. Falling on either side — either NO or YES — would be his downfall. It would be their downfall.

If he did like him, or whatever feeling this was, they weren't allowed to be together, anyway.

If he didn't, it would have been a big slap on the face.

Practically speaking, Seokjin wasn't getting any younger. His mother had called him last night and jokingly asked if he already had a girlfriend. . .

(Seokjin cringed at that time, and Yoongi, who just came back from meeting with his 'friend,' Hoseok, looked annoyed at him. Seokjin told his mom that love wasn't important, he needed the money.)

It was either he would give the game back to Jimin, completed with a letter or something, or he would. . . play. . . the game again.

This was too fucking messed up.

"You seem to be in deep thought," a deep voice interrupted his thinking.

It was Taehyung.

But he looked awful. His eyes were red-rimmed, and he was holding on to the left side of his stomach. He was trying to control his irregular breathing. . .

What was he doing here? Is this even safe?

"Taehyung, are you okay?"

"No. . . No, I gave the wrong letter. . ."

"Yeah, uh, I realized that."

This wasn't the best place to talk.

Seokjin sighed, gently pulling his wrist. "Come with me. This time, don't refuse if I give you food."