Pastel Palette ㅡ Taekook

eighty-one.

“You... you lied to me?” Taehyung asks in a hushed voiceㅡ everything he’s ever hoped for now crashing down all at once.

He looks so betrayed and crushed making Yoongi divert his attention to anything but him. He doesn’t say a word and Taehyung grows too frustrated as time started to pass by.

He needs answersㅡ what Yoongi said isn’t enough. He needs more. He wants to understand why. He’s desperate to know why.

“They were in danger, hyung! How could you be so cruel?!” Taehyung decides to speak up once more, the hurt in his voice still present.

He notices how Yoongi still didn’t move an inch from where he was already standing. He got up the moment Taehyung asked him about Jeongguk's message, clearly doing his best to avoid the topic and not dwell into it any further, but Taehyung was persistent enough to dig for answers.

“Whatever I did, Tae, I did it to protect you,” Yoongi says in a stern voice making Taehyung scoff in disbelief.

“How was that supposed to protect me when you knew that someone else was in desperate need of help?” Now it’s Taehyung’s turn to stand up from where he’s sitting so that he can take a better look of Yoongi’s expression.

“You won’t understand. You always choose not to,” Yoongi retorts. Taehyung is too far from being convinced.

“Then make me understand! Please, just... I beg you, Yoongi...” He closes his eyes and as he does so, tears instantly come flooding in.

“Taehyung-ah... You should’ve seen yourself the moment Jeongguk left you. You were so broken, so fucking vulnerable. You wouldn’t eat, wouldn’t laugh, and you would slip into headspace more than twice a week. You tortured yourself by taking all the blame. You made yourself believe that you were the one at fault for Storm’s disappearance, but we all knew it wasn’t true.”

“You’re not careless, Tae, but no matter how many times we told you that whatever happened wasn’t because of you, you never listened. Not even once,” Yoongi starts explaining, looking sadly at his best friend.

“It hurts to see you fall apart with my own eyes, Tae. Hurts to see you cry over a man who left you without a word. I was so angry at him for leaving you despite how he promised that he never will, so I decided to hurt him back.”

Taehyung shakes his head after hearing the last sentence. He starts to back away from Yoongi until the back of his knees hit the couch and he sits down in shock.

“How can you be so selfish?” He asks, his vision now blurry from all the tears that are yet to fall.

“Can you really blame me, Tae? We were best friends even before all this shit happened, and I fucking swore to myself to not let anyone hurt you.”

“Then why did you?”

Yoongi is at loss for words. He tries reaching out to Taehyung but he stops midway when he sees the latter flinch. It stings Yoongi’s heart.

“I know I betrayed you but I did all of this because I love you. And after you returned to being yourself, I decided to think that it was all worth it. I thought you'd be able to reciprocate my feelings and maybe give me a chance but you never saw me as something more than just a best friend. I thrived to become the best for you, but now all the things I did for you will be thrown out the window once more because he’s back...” Yoongi continues pouring his heart out, a sad smile now sporting his face.

“I made it clear how important you are to me, Yoongi. I assured the moment Jimin told us that he’s back. I just can’t believe this...”

“I know, Tae. I know that you love me and I’m very happy that you never pushed me away despite knowing that I am in love with you. But do you know what I’m feeling right now, Tae?” Taehyung doesn’t say anything. Instead, he waits for Yoongi to continue talking.

“Yes, you love me, but that love you have for me will never be strong enough for you to choose me.”

- 🎨 -

taehyung.

iMessage

Today at 23:12

Gukkie?

Hey, tae
Why arent u asleep yet?

Can I come over?

What happened?
It's too dangerous for you to travel back here

I just really need to talk to someone
I feel so... Lost...

Hey
How about you start telling me what happened?
I'm here to listen, tae
But I can't let you drive back here. We can talk personally in the morning if you'd like
I'll be the one to come over. I might even bring Storm with me.
How does that sound?

Thank you, gukkie :(

Now care telling me what happened?

It's yoongi...

Hm? What about him?
Oh wait
Fuck dont tell me you broke up?

What?
Oh...
Yeah...
We broke up...

Oh, tae i'm so sorry

No you don't have anything to be sorry for
We just didnt work out... I guess?
And I kinda found out he had been lying to me all along

Did he cheat?

NO!
God no
It's complicated but I'll make sure to tell you in person

No pressure, tae
Just tell me when you're ready
But for now, you really need to rest
You've been too exhausted since you were out with Storm the whole day
Sleep.

That's the problem
I cant

Then I'll stay up with you til you fall asleep

Gukkie?

Yes, tae?

Can you call me?
And idk maybe sing me to sleep?
Please?
You used to do that when I cant fall asleep
Can you sing my favorite song?
Oh I forgot you dont remember >.<

...
I do, tae.
Queen's Love of my Life...
Right?

How did you...
Guk...

Answer the phone.

[read 23:18]

- 🎨 -

["You remember?"]

"Of course, I do, Tae."

["What else do you remember?"]

"I remember waking up next to you on our bed. I remember all your kisses and the warmth of your hugs. I remember the sound of your voice when you laugh. The shape of your mouth when you smile; the way we look at each other when we're talking. And above anything else...

I remember loving you, Kim Taehyung."