Petals Behind Glass | Taegi

3- A snake, am I?

The mirror displayed a foreign reflection.

Soft traits replacing the symmetrical face that had been on the other side just the night before.

Moonlight had ceased illuminating the bedroom. Gloominess sheeted a stoic body, vein laced fingers knitting patterns over smooth hands behind the glass.

"Will I ever see you again?" Yoongi asked, voice timid.

"Of course." Taehyung brought his hand to his lips. "Every night, so long as you need me."

"How?" He pulled his hand out.

Taehyung smiled, fading away. "You know my name."

Only a plain boy with dark hair and cookie pajamas was left staring back at Yoongi. He had gone to bed wanting nothing more than for night to come again.

Now, standing in front of his mirror in a tailored suit, he wanted nothing more than for Taehyung to come again.

A knock was heard at the door. "Goyan— Yoongi, are you ready?"

His mother peeked her head inside, wary. She had been walking on eggshells around her son all day, trying not to get cut by the thick tension between him and his father. "The first guest has arrived."

"Yeah, I'm ready." He struggled with his tie. "I'll be right out."

She leaned her head against the door. "You need help with that?"

Yoongi huffed. "Yeah..."

She was wearing a simple dark blue sundress, the same color as the tie she was placing around his neck.

"I thought this was a formal event," he said.

"It is, you know how fancy your dad's friends are," she joked.

"And that's what you're wearing?"

She paused in the middle of a loop to look down at her dress. "What's wrong with what I'm wearing?"

Yoongi shrugged. "I just thought since you put in so much effort to organize something special for dad you'd actually try and dress elegantly for once."

He scrunched his nose at the brown stuck to her fingertips as she secured the final knot. "You're barely presentable."

His mother forced a smile. "You and your dad are dashing enough for us all."

"The suit's too big. You used my old measurements."

"Well, we hadn't seen you in a year, goyang-i," she said, voice small.

"It's Yoongi."

"Right." She wrapped her arms around herself. "Well, um, we'll just be waiting for you outside."

Yoongi closed his eyes and sighed. "I'm sorry, mom."

She stayed silent.

"I'm sorry. I'm being a dick to you for no reason."

"It's fine, nabi."

"Yoongi."

"Right..."

They rocked back on their heels, chewing their bottom lip as they flicked their eyes away from each other.

"Well, come on," she extended her hand, "let's not keep them waiting any longer."

He held her hand with a pressed smile, both walking into the living room.

"Mikyung!" A tall woman stood from the couch to hug his mother. "Oh, it's so good to see you, it's been so long! The new house is lovely; I love what you've done to the place!"