THE SUN AND HIS STARS ✓

07.

It was dark outside.

Taehyung made sure not to make eye contact with Seokjin as he set a mattress on the floor of Seokjin's room. Seokjin offered for him to sleep on his bed, but Taehyung refused. He was already being enough of a bother by sleeping in Seokjin's apartment, and though they were friends, he didn't want to overstay his visit.

"I'm sorry," Seokjin said suddenly, and Taehyung looked up.

"For what?"

"Hoseok knows," Seokjin said. "And I don't think you wanted him to know. I'm sorry."

"It's... it's fine," Taehyung mumbled. He shut the lamp off next to him and laid down on the mattress, pulling the covers up to his waist and folding his hands behind his head. He stared at the ceiling. "He was gonna find out sooner or later. I just..."

Taehyung trailed off. He heard Seokjin shift in his bed.

"I don't think that changes how he thinks of you," Seokjin said after a moment.

Taehyung scoffed. "Of course it does..."

Seokjin only said, "Goodnight, Taehyung."

It changes everything.

"G'night, hyung."

-

It didn't change anything in Hoseok's point of view. Taehyung still met with him the next morning, smiling, as if the day before hadn't happened at all.

Taehyung is strong. Hoseok reminded himself of it whenever he saw him. He wouldn't forget.

Hoseok was sitting in Math class, bored, when an announcement blared through the speakers.

"Jung Hoseok to the office, please, Jung Hoseok to the office."

Hoseok stood up and began walking towards the door. He heard a girl mutter, "I didn't even know we had him in our class..."

Hoseok opened the door and, as he made his way to the office, bumped into Jungkook.

"Hi, hyung," Jungkook greeted. "Why're you being called to the office?"

"Don't know."

Jungkook quirked an eyebrow. "Good luck with that, then, hyung. You might wanna tell Tae hyung what happens, though, because I'm ninety-nine percent sure he's worried about you right now."

Hoseok nodded and brushed past Jungkook, continuing to the office. When he got there, they asked for his name. He answered and they handed him an envelope.

Hoseok didn't open it for the rest of the day, though. He figured he'd wait for Taehyung.

-

Taehyung knew that Hoseok wasn't in trouble when he got called to the office. Still, it sent him into a bit of a panic.

"Don't worry about it," Jimin told him as they walked together to their hangout. "I bet he's fine."

When they entered, Hoseok was already there.

"Hyung!" Taehyung said. "You got here early, wow. What were you called to the office for?"

Hoseok held up a white envelope.

"What's in it?" Taehyung asked.

"Haven't opened it," Hoseok mumbled. "Was waiting for you."

Taehyung smiled at that. Hoseok was waiting for him. That meant things hadn't changed for the worse.

"Well," Taehyung said, trying not to sound to cheery, "Let's open it and find out what's inside!"

The other boys crowded around the both of them as Hoseok tore the envelope open and unfolded the paper inside. As he read it, his facial expression changed.