TAEKOOK | HOPE

• 20 dreamboat

Just—bear with my sorry ass!
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☣

If Jeongguk were an objective observer, he'd have to admit that it is a good kiss, improved further by the fact that Taehyung and Seoyun clearly have good chemistry. As it is, Jeongguk is the farthest thing from objective in this particular scenario, and watching it unfold onscreen is akin to watching one of his nightmares come to life. All he can think about is Taehyung falling into that giant bed of his with Seoyun, kissing her more, his hands sliding under her dress -

Mercifully, the episode ends immediately after the kiss, and the buzzing in Jeongguk's ears slowly gives way to the conversation surrounding him. Seokjin and Hoseok are still chattering about what a dreamboat Taehyung is, but when Jeongguk looks up, Jimin is watching him closely, frowning. Jeongguk shrugs helplessly.

"Guys," Jimin says sharply. Seokjin and Hoseok stop talking, glancing at Jimin and then over to Jeongguk, who blushes and sinks back further into the couch. They seem perplexed for a moment, but then they glance back and forth between the TV screen and Jeongguk, and something seems to click into place.

"Oh," Hoseok says, eyes round. "Shit."

"Sorry, Guk," Seokjin says abashedly.

"Don't apologize," Jeongguk shakes his head, embarrassed. "It's just - he's sleeping with her. So."

"Whatever," Seokjin says immediately, waving a dismissive hand. "I'm sure she's no match for our Jeonggukie."

Jeongguk can't tell if Seokjin deliberately just implied that he was good in bed, but he doesn't push it. "Thanks, hyung."

"Can I ask you a question?" Hoseok says seriously, leaning forward. Jeongguk nods. "Is Tae really as good of a kisser as he looks?"

Seokjin elbows him, but Jeongguk just snorts. The whole situation is so absurd he can't help but laugh at it. "Better," he admits, and the three of them erupt in cackles.

After that, Jeongguk starts sleeping with people. Not like, rampantly, but more frequently and casually than he ever has in his life. Mostly women, occasionally men, although he usually ends up comparing them too much to Taehyung and not enjoying it. It's not really his style, and it's never quite the same as it had been with Taehyung, but it makes him feel moderately less pathetic when he thinks about Taehyung with Seoyun, or whatever other gorgeous celebrities he's found in LA.

Maybe if he sleeps with enough people, he'll forget how it had felt when Taehyung touched him.

***

Taehyung comes back to Korea for two weeks at the end of December. He spends most of it in Daegu with his family, but he comes to Seoul a few days after Christmas with plans to stay through his birthday and New Year's.

The first glimpse Jeongguk gets of him in 9 months is over Jimin's shoulder, standing outside his door with a scarf wrapped snugly around his neck and his cheeks still pink from the harsh cold outside. His hair is a little lighter than it had been the last time they saw him, and his skin is tanner than Jeongguk has ever seen it, presumably from all that time in the California sun. Jeongguk has Taehyung built up to a pretty high standard in his head, but his beauty in real life never ceases to take his breath away.