Roses You Left For Me

28

Three years ago

"Doll," Taehyung speaks up impatiently as he attempts to pull away. Chul whines out and playfully bites at Taehyung's neck, mimicking a shark. "Doll, I really gotta go. I can't get fired, I promised Eomma I'd pay her back,"

"You still haven't told her about this, have you?"

"About how we met? Of course not, are you insane? She'd have a fucking heart attack. She thinks I'm a receptionist," Taehyung chuckles.

"Do you really have to go?" Chul asks, fluttering his eyelashes.

"Yes, baby, I really have to go. I'll be back as soon as I can, okay? We can take a long bath and watch something,"

"I hate that job,"

"Doll," Taehyung says as he pulls back from Chul. "That's how you met me, so don't go cursing on the thing that brought us together,"

"Yeah, but still. You got all those other guys ogling you,"

"But only one can touch me," Taehyung says as he leans forward and kisses Chul full on the lips, smiling into the kiss before he pulls away and stands up from the couch.

"Why not just quit? Baby, I could give you everything you ever want,"

"Oh my god, we're not doing this again. I have to leave,"

"We're having this conversation. Stop running from it," Chul insists as he stands, a hand gripping Taehyung's wrist.

"What if I don't wanna talk?"

"You haven't got a choice,"

"Oh? Funny that I thought I was your equal. My job shouldn't define me, and you should be feeling pretty lucky that I even let you in that close,"

"Lucky that I'm dating a whore?"

"Don't you dare call me that," Taehyung spits. "We are not doing this now. I need to get to work,"

"You let me fuck you. Who's to say you don't do the same for every man in that damn place?!"

"You don't ever fucking believe me! I let you in and all you're doing is tearing down the place. I can't keep fucking doing this! That job gives me independence. I love working there, and I won't just quit because you tell me too!"

A slap.

Sharp to the touch. The noise echoing throughout the space around them. Taehyung is frozen, eyes wide and lips parted.

"Shit. Taehyung, I-"

"Get out," Taehyung says quietly.

"Tae, I didn't-"

"Get. Out."

Chul reaches out, but Taehyung is quick to slap his hand away. "Get out, Chul! Get the fuck out!"

And he doesn't put up a fight. He just slumps past Taehyung and slams the door. No fight. No want. No undying love to prove he really wants to stay with Taehyung.

The slam runs through Taehyung's body as he falls to his knees and cries.