TAEKOOK | HOPE

• 22 oops

Oops what!?
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When Jeongguk thinks about Hawaii, he thinks about Taehyung. Taehyung, golden skinned and bare faced, standing on top of a mountain under a pale pastel sky and asking Jeongguk if he wanted to live there with him. He can feel the rush in his chest as if it were yesterday.

They'd been together for less than a year then, and it had all still been so new and exciting, even the sneaking around. He remembers the night he got stuck sleeping on the couch, how Taehyung had crept out of his bed and gone down on him right there in the middle of the living room. How Hoseok had stumbled in in search of water and asked what Taehyung was doing out here, how wrecked his voice had sounded when he responded that he couldn't sleep. How Jeongguk had fucked him into the couch the moment they were alone again.

So yeah, it's safe to say his memories of Hawaii are bittersweet.

But they're going, this summer, just the seven of them and no cameras this time (except for Jeongguk's). Jeongguk is excited for sure, it'll be nice to get away and he loved Hawaii, but he would be lying if he said he wasn't a little nervous too. The shift between him and Taehyung had felt so palpable over the holidays, but now that they're apart again, he's staring to wonder if he'd read too much into it. They've gone back to their regular texting patterns with no acknowledgement of anything that had happened, and Jeongguk supposes that's maybe because to Taehyung, it hadn't been anything out of the ordinary. Just the usual: Taehyung being Taehyung, and Jeongguk not being able to handle it.

"I respectfully disagree," Jimin says when he brings it up. They're in the dance studio together, just the two of them this time since Hoseok is getting ready to release his second mixtape and hadn't been able to make it.

Jeongguk had confided in Jimin about his feelings, although he'd kept the details about the almost-kiss and what triggered it to himself. Something about the adrenaline high of a workout always makes him a little more forthcoming, especially when he's been dancing.

"What do you mean?"

"I don't think you made it up," Jimin elaborates, taking a sip of his water. He's sitting on the floor with his back against the mirror, legs sprawled out in a V. "I was watching you guys, he was being touchy." He pauses, considering. "I mean, Tae's always touchy, but it's different with you, more affectionate, maybe? And I mean, you - you kind of... lean into it, I guess."

Jeongguk sighs.

"Sorry," Jimin says, frowning.

"It's fucking confusing."

"I know," Jimin nods sympathetically. "Tae is a pain sometimes."

"Has he talked to you about it at all?" Jeongguk asks, hoping he doesn't sound too desperate.

Jimin lifts an eyebrow at him. "Do you really think I would tell you if he had?"

Jeongguk pouts. "Stop being such a good friend."

"Trust me, you two make it difficult sometimes," Jimin retorts.

Jeongguk flicks some of his water at him, and Jimin splutters indignantly.