3000 Stars

True Therapy

Minjoon was easy to be around. At first Taehyung hesitated to break the silence, but on the third day, while they were staring at the ocean, he found himself talking, without really thinking about it.

"I knew Seokjin as V before I knew him as myself," he said softly.

Minjoon glanced at him, indicating he was listening.

"We fought a lot. He was fun to spar with, but sometimes he didn't make any sense." Taehyung leaned back, looking up at the sky. "He would come to the fight club some days and just sit on the bench, watching us and refusing to talk. It was like that for about a year before he told me and Zen about his depression."

Silence. Minjoon wasn't saying anything. Unsure of what to do, Taehyung shifted, taking a deep breath. "I was dating Dreyk at the time, and I kind of had a crush on him, so hearing that he was suffering like that really hurt me, and I didn't know what to do. I tried to give him space, or hugs, or whatever it was he needed that day, but it never changed anything. We went to the same school, but he didn't know who I was, and I was too scared to approach him. 'Course, that changed in the last year of middle school."

"What happened?" Minjoon asked.

"I had a breakdown at the fight club and ran off," Taehyung said. "I guess he followed me, at a distance or something, because when I finally stopped running he came up to me and sat with me until I stopped crying. I told him everything. He said it shouldn't matter what I loved, that he would support me..." he stopped. A tear slid down his face. "Why didn't I see that he was the one who needed the support?"

Minjoon reached out and took Taehyung's hand, squeezing it. Taehyung sniffled, scrubbing at his eyes. "He was the one suffering," Taehyung said. "But he kept saying he was alright."

"People do that a lot," Minjoon said. He didn't elaborate, and Taehyung didn't ask for elaboration. They just sat together, Minjoon holding Taehyung's hand gently, until Taehyung had regained his composure.

"I want to call Yoongi," Taehyung said.

"Yoongi?" Minjoon echoed. "The kid who hit the top ten yesterday?"

"He what?!" Taehyung cried, letting go of Minjoon's hand and leaping up.

Minjoon fished out his phone, opening FaceUpp and holding it out so Taehyung could see. Taehyung navigated to the rankings page. His mouth dropped open as he saw Yoongi's profile picture. Number five. Yoongi was number five.

"Your parents mentioned they had asked you to leave your phone," Minjoon said. "I wasn't sure you did. Do you know him?"

"Yeah," Taehyung said, still staring at the phone in shock. "He's the reason I came back."

"Is he?" Minjoon asked.

Taehyung stood still for a moment, considering it, then sighed, shrugging. "He was the catalyst, I guess. But I knew I'd be back."

"V does love to be sporadic," Minjoon teased, standing and taking his phone back. "Come on. There's probably a phone at the hotel you can use."

"I can't message him through your account?" Taehyung asked.

Minjoon shook his head, grinning. "Consider this your first assignment," he said. "If you two need to talk, you need to talk. Over the phone is a good start."

Taehyung sighed. "I don't have his number."

"Do you know a friend who does?"

"Yeeess..." Taehyung groaned, rubbing his face with both hands.

Minjoon laughed. "Take your time. I'll check in with you about it tomorrow, but that doesn't mean you have to do it by then. I just think it might help."

"Yeah," Taehyung said, turning to look out at the ocean one last time. "It might."

***

It took him until after dinner to call up the courage to use the phone in his bedroom. When he did, he locked the door, closed the curtains, and pulled the cord trying to huddle under the blankets with the receiver. Why did they use such old-fashioned models? He had to laugh to himself as he dialed Hoseok's number and curled up on the bed, praying both that it would go through and that Hoseok would hang up on him so he could postpone it as long as possible.

But being on the beach had brought back a little of the happy feeling he had glimpsed when he rejoined the arena. He wasn't lying to his parents anymore, and the release of that stress held him steady as he waited with the phone, hands shaking.

"Hello?" Hoseok said.

"Hoseok?" Taehyung asked.

"Wha-- Tae! Where the hell have you been?" Hoseok demanded. "Why'd you up and disappear?! You scared us half to death!"

Taehyung laughed. "I told my parents," he said. "I told them everything."

There was silence on the other side of the phone. Taehyung was about to ask if Hoseok was still there when his friend sighed, groaning.

"Where are you?"

"Hotel at the beach," Taehyung said, sitting up and propping himself against the headboard of the bed. "I'm seeing a different therapist this week. My parents wanted me to take a break."

"Makes sense," Hoseok said. "You looked ready to die when Dreyk and Yoongi brought you home last week."

Taehyung laughed. "Puking does do that to a person," he said.

Another pause. Then Hoseok said, "You know, you seem a lot happier than you were when we met. I like that."

"Me too," Taehyung said.

"You're not insulted?"

"Nah," Taehyung said. "I feel much more relaxed. Minjoon is cool. He... he gets it, being in the arena."

"That's good," Hoseok said.

"Yeah," Taehyung sighed.

"That can't be the only reason you called, though."

Taehyung groaned, laughing and sliding down onto the bed. "Dxmmit Hoseok, can't you let me avoid it?!"

"Nah," Hoseok said. "Hang on. I'll give you his number. You really need to talk to the poor guy."

"Is he alright?" Taehyung asked.

"Call him and see." Hoseok said.