Doppelgänger✔️

November 11,2011

"Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday dear Tae Tae!!! Happy Birthday to you!!!"

A chorus of cheers and applause erupt as Taehyung blew out his candles on the sheet cake. His friends surprised him at his favorite bar/diner on campus for his birthday and he was touched, but admittedly embarrassed.

The small flames were extinguished and another round of applause follows, making him roll his eyes and blush.

Jia, Seokjin, Jimin, and Mae sat huddled over him, beaming with excitement and pride.

"Guys! Guys ok!" Taehyung fans at his small group of friends. They were in their usual booth and the bar was moderately slow since it was a weeknight. So the noise from their table was attracting more attention than he desires.

"Wow...22. Who would have thought our Tae Tae would see the day!" Taehyungs older sister Jia exclaims, raising her bottle and taking a long sip. Her husband Seokjin snatches the bottle from her lips. Jia whines as excess beer dribbles down her chin.

"You're done baby, no more" he chides, sliding the glass out of her reach.

"Jinnie this is something worth drinking to! This reckless thrill-seeker survived another year. All the hell he put us through..and MOM? psssht. Who knows how much she's drinking tonight." Jia slurs, reaching for her bottle feverishly.

Jimin giggles and elbows Taehyung from the inner corner of the booth.

"She's got a point." He says.

"I'm just enjoying my life. Being spontaneous. Speaking of which, you still down tomorrow?" Taehyung swipes his finger over the top of the chocolate cake and pops it into his mouth.

"Aggh Tae seriously??" Jia scolds.

"It's MY cake, Jia! Anyway...Jimin?"

"What's tomorrow?" Mae asks softly from the other side of Tae.

"Sky diving " Jimin replies, following Taehyungs example by scraping the icing off of the cake from another spot and earning a hiss of disgust from Jia.

"Sorry Noona," he says through a mouth full of chocolate frosting.

"You just don't quit, do you? First Bungee Jumping, now sky diving?? " Jia huffs.

"It's the last crazy thing I'm gonna do before I graduate, I swear. After that, I'm focusing on getting through my senior year." Taehyung says, but more so directed to Mae.

Mae was Taehyungs on again off again girlfriend since high school. Life changes and differing interests had put a strain on their relationship, it currently idling in the "off" cycle" They were still very much in eachothers lives though and often clashed over Taehyung's lust for life and Mae's contentment for simplicity.

She was never a fan for his antics, impulsivity and adrenaline addiction.

But she loved him nonetheless.

"Ok, but this is it. No more crazy scary stunts Kim Taehyung." Mae folds her arms over the table, giving him an expectant look.
Taehyung places his hand over his heart and swears.

"Mae!! Times up! Break over!" The bartender yells across to the booth. Mae sighs and stands.

"Well I gotta get back to work.." she says solemnly, Taehyung grabs her wrist.

"Hey...Call me tonight when you get off?" He asks.

Mae nods, reaching for her apron draped over the back of the booth. When she tries to walk away, she's stopped by a gentle tug at her wrist.