Out Of The Woods (TaeJin)

16 - Monday, 23rd December

Monday, 23rd December

"You should ask them, maybe?", Seokjin said as he placed the tray before Hoseok.

Hoseok picked a limp French fry and twirled it. "They said they already filled one slot. They'll announce the other one after the holidays. I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up."

"We'll wait. Another audition is probably right around the corner.", he said as Jungkook got him a milkshake and spared Hoseok a tiny smile and turned to look at Jin.

"Jin. Did you check your mails?", he said dragging a third chair and joining the other two at their table.

Seokjin shook his head and pulled out his phone. His eyes moved like he was reading a short message and then he gasped. "They can't do that."

When Hoseok raised his eyebrows, Jungkook supplied, "They preponed the deadline. We've a lot pending." Then, to Seokjin he said, "I am sorry. With all the midterms, I wasn't of much help the last two weeks."

And, Seokjin trembled thinking of the last few weeks. Almost two months ago, his life was focused on work and trying to get better, to live better.

One month ago – his memories still included that determination he once felt, images of him working through the night before he fell into a fitful sleep.

But the last few weeks – he churned his head to pull out images of him giving his best for this project, but it only had pictures of him laughing at the park, plunging into restricted swimming pools in winter, risking it all and kissing in the deserted thin lane of the crowded market, sloppy kisses on the rusty stairs of his fire escape, and blurred videos of the most beautiful boy squirming in pleasure under him, of his innocent eyes turning to lust, and the music of his moans.

It was all Kim Taehyung.

"We don't have enough time.", Seokjin croaked. "I've to work overtime for Christmas and my rent's still due."

Jungkook rubbed his thumb over his hand, "We'll make it."

"No, no, no. I chalked out the plan, Kook and we are already running behind. And, this – what am I doing? I wanted this all my life. I wanted this and now I've a chance and I am ruining it over – ", he couldn't get himself to complete it. Because what was he really ruining it over? A teenage crush? Insatiable Lust? Eternal Love? Absolute stupidity?

His head began to throb and for the first time in his multiple experiences of facing fears, Seokjin couldn't breathe. Like he lost the grip on the last thread he was holding onto. Like he was dying.

A lot of the next moments were blurred. Most of them involved the same boy with the boxy smile, with his hair carelessly falling on his eyes, his warm fingers intertwined with his own cold ones and Seokjin felt like he was drowning breathlessly in those moments.

When he finally regained his senses, he was in what looked like a college dorm room.

Jungkook was sitting next to him, like a mourner at a death bed.

"Put a smile on that face, Kook and explain why I am not dying in my own bed?", Seokjin said as he sat up taking in the dainty room.

Hoseok entered, "Our lift is broken and however light your body is we voted against trying to carry you to our apartment."

Seokjin knew that Jungkook was capable of lifting him up easily. So, why were they lying about something so basic?

Jungkook nervously tapped his foot. Hoseok waited for him to believe what he said but, "Hob-ah, you can't lie."

Both his saviors (which they labeled themselves as from that day on), exchanged a quick look and Hoseok spilled, "Taehyung was there. He refused to leave because you know, the state that you were in. But you kept asking us to take us away from him, so we left him there and took a taxi to Kook's dorm."

With that, Seokjin remembered why he lost his mind in the first place, so he fell silent till Kook poked him.

"I will quit the job at the café or take an extended leave with loss of pay. I need to concentrate on the project.", he finally said firmly. "Hob-ah, I know this is going to be very difficult for us – "

"Kim Seokjin, when I quit my job or fired whatever, to do what I love, you let me. Now, I'll be here for you. Stop talking and get to work. I am tired of being poor.", Hoseok said throwing an orange into the other's lap.

And, Kim Seokjin decided to do just that.

...

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