Roses You Left For Me

15

"Seokjiiiinnn,"

"What do you want?" Seokjin asks, voice knowing.

"I need to borrow some more. I swear I can pay you back in like a month. I've just got a part-time job,"

"Kook, I already gave you six hundred dollars," Seokjin says. "Are you sure you're not in trouble?"

"One hundred percent,"

"Then tell me, how the fuck you managed to spend six hundred dollars in one night? I only lent you that money like a day ago,"

"Yeah, I know but I-"

"You can pay me back, yeah, I heard. I'd understand if you were paying for food or rent, but I know you don't need either of those right now. And I also know that unless you're paying for something illegal, you don't lose that amount of cash in one night,"

"Pleaseee, hyung. I can start paying for this thing when I get my first paycheck. I really, really, need this,"

"Not until you tell me what you're doing with it," Seokjin demands to know.

"I... Can't tell you that, hyung,"

"I knew it," Seokjin concludes. "Kookie's taking drugs,"

"What?!" Jeongguk shrieks but Seokjin is far from listening.

"Namjoon-ah! Jeonggukie's taking drugs! I knew I was a bad parent! God all mighty, I am so sorry, my lord. For I have failed for my son-"

"You're taking drugs?!" Namjoon screeches down the phone as Seokjin babbles to the lord about being a bad parent.

"I'm not taking fucking drugs,"

"Watch your language to your father," Seokjin suddenly snaps, cutting his conversation short with the holy to scold Jeongguk.

Jeongguk sighs heavily. "It's just- a private thing. I can't tell you what it is. Why can't you respect that?"

"Because you're keeping secrets from your mother!" Seokjin cries.

Jeongguk ends the call with a roll of his eyes, knowing there'll be hell to pay when Seokjin gets his hands on him. Jeongguk decides to quickly text Jimin, knowing that Seokjin will eventually get to him, demanding to know if the youngest is on steroids or something drastic like heroin.

Jeongguk: Jimin

Jeongguk: if seokjin-hyung calls you, don't tell him about the club

jeongguk: he thinks im taking drugs

Jimin: are you

Jeongguk: no you moron

Jimin: better be nice 2 me if you want me to watch out for your ass

Jeongguk: fine.

With barely any money in his wallet, Jeongguk only leaves one rose for Taehyung a few days later, once again, letting Hoseok look after it as the elder gives him a look.

"I don't like that look," the younger boy says as he glances suspiciously at Hoseok. The bartender looks a little taken-aback, maybe not even realizing that he's doing it.

"Sorry," Hoseok says as he continues to clean the glass. His eyes, however, linger on the singular red rose on the bar top.

"Will you give it to him?" Jeongguk asks.

Hoseok gives a singular nod. "Of course,"

"You're very off today,"

"I'm not sure what you're talking about, Sir," Hoseok says, shoulders stiff.

"Now I know something's up. You've never called me Sir, before. What's up?"

The bartender's eyes glance up to Jeongguk as he takes a shuddery breath. "I see the way you look at him," he says.

Jeongguk scoffs. "Don't tell me, you think I love him or something,"

"Not so much love. Maybe infatuation," Hoseok supplies. "You've only known Taehyung three days. Those three days I believe I can rightly say that you've done nothing but share- relations, with each other, yes?"

"That's none of your business," Jeongguk spits, suddenly defensive.

"I don't mean to upset you or pry," Hoseok continues. "I'm just worried you'll end up getting hurt. Taehyung isn't the type of man you want to fall in love with,"

"And why not?"

Hoseok opens his mouth to speak, but is cut off by Jeongguk holding his hand up. "Oh, wait. Don't tell me. Because he's a whore right? Because if that's what you're about to say then I don't want to hear it,"

Hoseok lets out a heavy sigh as he puts the singular shot glass back where it came from, clean and sparkly. "Not everything is about sex, Jeongguk. You'd be surprised to find many layers under Taehyung. It's if he's willing to share them with someone again,"

"Again?"

The bartender immediately shuts his mouth, and Jeongguk feels as though he wasn't meant to hear that, but regardless, he's eager to know more.

"What did you mean, again?"

"It's not my story to tell," Hoseok says with a small shrug before he's distracted by a customer. Jeongguk decides not to continue harassing him with questions and slips off of the barstool, leaving the rose for Hoseok to keep safe for Taehyung's next shift. He walks out of the club with a million thoughts running through his head.