Rental [yoonmin]

46.

Jungkook sat on a booth staring at his untouched pancakes. He felt as if everyone was looking at him even though no one was.

Who went to eat by themselves anyways? Did they think he was a loner? Because he very much was. Did they think he was waiting for a date? Because he really wasn't.

He felt a strong sensation to look outside the window. When he did he saw Taehyung. He had a cigarette in between his perfect pink lips and Jungkook gulped.

He got up from the booth and laid the amount of money for his bill and walked out. Taehyung turned to his left when he heard the bell ring.

Jungkook kept walking away without facing him. Taehyung quickly threw his new cigarette on the ground and proceeded to follow him behind.

He walked to a bench and sat down. Taehyung stood in front of him. Jungkook had his eyes fixed on the ground not looking up.

Taehyung finally sat down without saying a word and without being told to. Jungkook was used to telling Taehyung to do things for him and when he did by himself it made Jungkook feel some type of way.

"Why aren't you with your new boyfriend?" He asked randomly.

Jungkook found the courage to look up and shrug, "I didn't know you smoked cigarettes."

"I don't. I was just trying them out. They're disgusting."

Jungkook remained silent and Taehyung was very curious about his relationship with Hoseok. He hadn't spoken to both of
his best friends for a while now.

Hoseok had tried to message him but he didn't respond. Jimin was too much in his world to even acknowledge what was going on.

It's not like Taehyung was going to confront him about Yoongi. Because they were never a thing. How ridiculous would it be to argue over a person that was never yours to begin with?

"Are you okay?" Jungkook asked.

Taehyung's eyes filled with tears instantly. "No," he breathed.

"I'm sorry..." Jungkook mumbled feeling himself get emotional.

"You know, you're the first one to ask me that in months. I know my job is to make others happy and make them smile, but that doesn't necessarily mean that I'm okay all the time. It's exhausting to pretend to be happy when you're not. None of my rentals ever asked me if I was okay or if something was wrong. I always did that for them and I guess I expected the same treatment. That's where I went wrong. You're the only one that ever did care. Thank you for that. I mean it."

"I've always cared."

Taehyung remained silent locking eyes with Jungkook. They weren't speaking but their eyes were speaking themselves.

"Hoseok really likes you," Taehyung said after minutes of silence.

"I know. He confessed to me a few weeks ago."

Taehyung swallowed hard as a sharp pain spread through his chest. "So, I'm guessing he told you I'm his best friend."

He knew this for a fact because Hoseok would never keep it from Jungkook. He was always very open and extremely honest. And he knew that Hoseok truly did like Jungkook.

It just hurt too much to picture Jungkook with him.

Why?

"He did. I told him I wouldn't make him pick between us. That's too cruel. I wouldn't do that."

Taehyung observed the way Jungkook's lips opened and closed. He finally noticed Jungkook's little birthmarks. The one under his lip, the one on his nose, the one on his chin, and the three on his cheek.

He never realized how beautiful Jungkook truly was. He never paid attention to the small details like how perfect his voice was and the way he enunciated certain words.

Or how much of a sweet and selfless person he was.

What he didn't know was that Jungkook struggled to show his emotions. And so Taehyung always thought he was a brat because of his lack of experience. Until now of course.

"I'm sorry for ever calling you a brat and a kid." He apologized.

Jungkook turned a light pink, "It's...it's okay."

"It's not. I always treated you badly."

"Well, I know it's because of the way I was. I was always so impulsive and constantly demanding you to do things. I can see why it was annoying. I just don't know how to act around you."

"Why not? I'm just another person."

Jungkook shook his head no, "No, to me you're not just another person, Taehyung. You're my favorite of them all."

"Even after I was an asshole?"

"You were nice sometimes." Jungkook admitted.

"So...so do you like him?" He asked changing the topic.

Jungkook thought about this for a second, "I do."

Taehyung bit his lower lip and nodded, "Okay."

"But, it won't work out. Not after knowing he's your best friend."

"I won't stand on the way."

Jungkook laughed, "It's so funny that you say this. You're always in the way. Unintentionally, but you're there all the time. You live in the back of mind and I think of you every minute. Impossible to ever start a relationship with someone."

Taehyung appreciated the image of Jungkook laughing. He had cute bunny teeth that he never praised.

"I miss you." He bluntly said.

Jungkook's eyes widen as he froze. Taehyung waited for a response that he never got.

"Did you hear me?"

"Depends," Jungkook mumbled.

"What?"

"If you're being serious or if this is just an impulse thing to say because of the moment. If it's the second one then no. I didn't hear you."

"Well, maybe it is impulse to say it so bluntly but it's not because of the moment. I've been missing you since the day you stopped renting my services. My pride always gets in the way what's why I never told you. And since I'm talking about my feelings I'm going apologize for that night. I feel extremely guilty and shitty for what I said. I did not mean it. I was angry and shouldn't have said that."

"About time. Your apology is almost six months late. There's finally a band-aid over my cut." He smiled.

"I'm sorry..." Taehyung whispered.

"It's okay. There's nothing that you would do that I wouldn't forgive."

Taehyung's heart skipped a beat, "Are you going to ignore my confession about missing you?"

Jungkook blinked quickly and felt himself get nervous, "Do you actually miss me or do you miss what I did for you?"

At first, Taehyung did think he missed Jungkook only for the things he did for him. As time progressed he realized it wasn't that. It was Jungkook's voice, Jungkook's eyes, Jungkook's messy eating, Jungkook's spontaneous actions, and Jungkook in general.

"I miss you."

Jungkook didn't want to be a crybaby, but this is all he ever wanted to hear. He wanted to pinch himself because it seemed like a dream.

Except this was a dream and it was reality. And Taehyung was sitting beside him confessing this to him.

Jungkook's eyes were brimming with tears. He never got the closure he needed with Taehyung and maybe that's why he had been holding on this whole time.

But, Taehyung saying those three words revived his inner soul. He felt so much joy and ecstasy it was hard to contain.

"God, I've missed you too." He eagerly said.

Taehyung wrapped his hand around his neck and pulled him in for a hug. Jungkook closed his eyes savoring the moment.

Someone must've sent him to heaven.