Pastel Palette ㅡ Taekook

seventy-four.

Their reunion went a little like this:

As Jeongguk arrived at the location Jimin had sent beforehand, a pair of warm arms welcomed him. He stumbled backwards but he was still quick enough to regain his balance despite the addition of weight against him.

He couldn't deny the fact that he almost pushed the man away because of the sudden contact, but the moment the said man started sobbing on his shoulder, he didn't have any other choice but to pat him /awkwardly/ on his back. He then assumed it was Jimin.

"Jeonggukkie, you're finally here..." The man whispered, hot breath fanning his neck. Jeongguk malfunctioned for a moment, not really sure on how to react and what to do just to comfort the man that's all over him.

"I know you're shocked right now but please, just hug me back. I missed you so much," he added which made Jeongguk let out a breath of relief for a moment. Slowly (but hesitantly), he wrapped his arms around the man's waist, careful not to suffocate him since his face had been buried on the crook of his neck for quite some time now.

He got too caught up in the moment that he actually forgot that they were in public. Upon realization, his eyes snapped upwards, and he immediately scanned the entire room only to find out that it's empty. That's weird.

"Hyung? Why is this shop empty?" He couldn't stop himself from asking. Jimin (well he finally decided to put a name on him) stopped crying to answer his question.

"Closed the shop for you," Jimin mumbled, his hold on Jeongguk never faltering.

"This is yours?" He pulled away for a moment and Jeongguk can now see his face clearly. He was puffy all over, and his eyes were already too red from crying.

"You really don't remember, do you, Gukkie?" Jimin gave him a sad smile which made Jeongguk feel even guiltier than before.

"Hyung, I'm sorry," was the only thing that came out of his mouth as he rest his hand against Jimin's cheek. The older leaned towards his touch, his own hand reaching out to keep Jeongguk's in place.

"Don't apologize, Gukkie. That's why we're here. We're going to catch up about a lot of things. And if you don't mind, I invited Namjoon over," Jimin added which made Jeongguk froze in place. If he was nervous about meeting Jimin, he was beyond anxious now that Jimin mentioned another unfamiliar name.

Jimin must've noticed his distress so he made sure to squeeze Jeongguk's shoulder in assurance.

"I'm here, Gukkie. You don't have to worry because I will surely fill you up about everything," Jimin assured him, taking his hand and leading him to sit somewhere that gave Jeongguk a good view of the front door.

They talked and talked, and Jimin would constantly stand up to make the two of them coffee or take a slice of cheesecake from the fridge behind the counter.

("Does the owner know how you're taking so much food from his shop?"

"Well, he won't know if you won't tell."

"Jimin, that's basically stealing. There are also CCTVs all over."

"I personally know the owner and I've worked here my whole life. Another thing, it's Jimin HYUNG to you, you brat.")

Jeongguk and Jimin were talking about their life during high school when the bell on the door rings, signaling that someone just stepped inside the shop. Jimin was about to say that the shop's closed for the day, but he stopped when he realized who it was.

Jeongguk, curious as to why Jimin didn't move an inch, looked up towards the direction where he was looking at. He then saw two tall men- one of them clinging tight towards the other. The one being clung on to had this small smile on his face which still accentuated his dimple, and the one that had been clinging to him had broad shoulders and (very fine) face features but if Jeongguk would look at him closely, he can tell that he had been crying.

"Jeonggukkie?" The one whose face was puffy finally broke the silence as he whispered his name.

"Gukkie, meet Namjoon and Seokjin. They were the ones whom I told you about. They were the ones that helped you in raising Storm," Jimin whispered to him. Jeongguk didn't move at first, still staring at the 'married couple' (that's what Jimin said) in front of him. A surge of familiarity suddenly hit him and before he could even control his actions, he ran up his way towards the two and engulfed them into a very tight hug.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry I couldn't remember you but I'm very grateful. The past me was so lucky to have met the two of you," he said to them, trying so hard to not let his voice waver even just a bit.

"You don't have to  say sorry, bud. And please, don't address yourself as the 'past.' You're still you, buddy. We know so," the one with dimples, whom believed is Namjoon, said to him. His husband that was beside him remained quiet, only staring at Jeongguk like he's afraid that he might disappear to thin air once more.

Just as he was about to pull away from the hug, Seokjin moved forward and pulled him back in his embrace, now leaving Namjoon staring fondly behind them.

"I thought- I thought we lost you for good. I was so fucking mad at you for leaving us but- but now we know the reason and we- we finally have you back," Seokjin managed to say admidst sobs. Jeongguk's heart clenched at his words. Fuck, how selfish of him to let these people suffer just because of his own stupidity.

"I'm sorry I've hurt you all so much. I know this is too much to process, but I really want to make it all up to you. I know there are still a lot of things that I have to remember, but I will try. I'll try for you," Jeongguk assured him, arms tightening his hold around Seokjin.

"We'll help you," Namjoon said to him, his hand gripping Jeongguk's shoulder.

After all of that, they managed to sit down and talk things through, with Jimin still getting up from his seat from time to time to get them tea and food. The room was filled with Seokjin's sobs for half an hour but then everything became calmer when his eyes started to get droopy and decided to listen to what they were talking rather than to butt in and cry some more.

They were in the middle of a conersation that concerned the backstory of Namjoon and Jeongguk's friendship when the bell on the door rang yet again.

It was Jeongguk's turn to look up and see who entered the shop, but as soon as he met the eyes of the man that had been the content of the photo albums his son had been carrying for the past seven months, it's as if all the air had been knocked out of his lungs.

Kim Taehyung, the man who was once the sole purpose of his existence, stood so beautifully before him, eyes bright and lively.

He looked more gorgeous in person and Jeongguk couldn't help but to stand up and extend his arms just to reach the star that's just inches away from him.

He stopped on his tracks, however, when a short man stood beside Kim Taehyung, his hands wrapped around the latter's waist possessively.

Later on, he knew that it was Min Yoongi- Taehyung's boyfriend.