The babysitter - Taekook

TWELVE

It was monday evening, Jeongguk has just put Chansol to bed and is now on his way down to the kitchen where Taehyung is waiting for him.

It's the third week now that he works for the elder and he can even say that he has settled in very well.

He and Taehyung would talk every evening, while eating lunch together. And although Taehyung's still very tired during dinner, they talked more than last week.

It's like last sunday broke a wall between them. They are able to talk to each other more freely, they even laugh together.

And Jeongguk has to admit that he loves Taehyung's laugh.

He knows that the other's still very heartbroken, he can see it in his eyes and in the moments where Taehyung would just stare into nothingness, smiling sadly.

Because of that Jeongguk is very happy when he hears Taehyung's laughter, even when it's just for a few seconds.

Jeongguk has learned quite fast what he can say in Taehyung's presence and what he shouldn't say. In this way he can avoid misunderstandings or another outburst.

Still in his thoughts, he hasn't realized that he already reached the kitchen until he heard something falling down.

"Ouch!!"

Jeongguk flinches because of the sudden scream.

He turns his head, just to see Taehyung hopping around, holding onto his left foot.

"This dumb spoon just fell on my little toe. It hurts.", Taehyung whines.

Jeongguk tries hard to hold back his laughter but Taehyung seems to notice.

"Yah, don't laugh. That hurts like hell.", he complains, rubbing his injured toe.

"Poor Taehyung." Jeongguk says exaggeratedly.

"Come, sit down. I'll set the table.", he continues, more serious now since he knows how much something like that can hurt.

Taehyung does as he was told and sits down. Within a few minutes, Jeongguk has set the table and they both start to eat.

"Mmh that's really delicious.", Taehyung praises, making Jeongguk smile shyly, "Where did you learn to cook?"

"Actually, my brother taught me the most. He started cooking as he still was really little and one day, I guess i was about eight, I wanted to try too."

Jeongguk chuckles at this memory, "Our parents were at work, so we were alone. We wanted to make spaghetti and I somehow managed to burn the noodles."

Taehyung smiles, clearly amused. "How do you burn noodles? Isn't it just water and ... noodles?"

Jeongguk nods, still laughing. "Yes but it was too hard for me. And afterwards I wanted to learn it at all cost, just that something like that wouldn't happen again. It was so embarrassing to me, you know? The worst was my brother. That brat laughed at me so hard that day. He still brings it up at every family dinner."

"Well as funny as it is, you learned to cook because of it.. just look at me, 23 and not able to warm up a pizza. I mean, how shall I know how long this thing has to stay in the oven?"

Jeongguk snorts. "And someone like you is laughing at me because I burned noodles?", Jeongguk speaks, looking at the other accusingly.

"Well, I don't burn things, I rather tend to take them out too early.", Taehyung defends himself.

"Obviously, you wouldn't have burned the noodles then.", Jeongguk adds, still chuckling a little.

"Yup, I would have probably taken them out as they were still too hard."

"Now you're able to cook and it tastes really good.", Taehyung says then, looking at Jeongguk.

"Thank you", the younger murmurs, lowering his head to hide his blush.

But little does he know that Taehyung saw it and is now smiling at the other's cuteness.

No more words are exchanged after that, they finish their meals in a comfortable silence.

They wash the dishes together like they do everyday, a small smile being constantly on Taehyung's face.

Jeongguk notices right away, being really happy about it.

"I like seeing you smile.", Jeongguk says before he can really think about it. Taehyung turns to the younger, looking a bit confused.

"Well," Jeongguk starts, "since it's not easy for you, I'm happy seeing you smile." And right after he said those words Jeongguk knows that he said something completely wrong.

Taehyung tenses, looking at Jeongguk with this blank stare again that the younger dislikes so much.

Jeongguk tries to figure out what was so bad about what he just said but he doesn't know.

In his opinion, he said nothing wrong but Taehyung seems to think otherwise.

"You know that this is none of your business.", the elder snaps, anger evident in his eyes.

"You're nothing more than my housekeeper, alright? And like I've already told you, you have no right to just interfere in my life. You do your job and let me live my life!", Taehyung shouts angrily.

Jeongguk nods weakly. "Of course, I'm sorry. I just wanted to make you feel comfortable around me, I wanted to let you know that you could talk to me. I'd always listen to you, I understand you.", he says, head hung low.

"Understand me?" Taehyung laughs humorlessly. "You are telling me that YOU understand ME? You, who has a perfect life and everything seems to work well for you. Listen, you know nothing - absolutely nothing - about me, so stop acting like you know how I feel."

Jeongguk's head snaps up, staring back at the other, obviously hurt and even a bit angry.

"Okay. I know nothing about you but don't forget that you know nothing about me as well. You don't know what my life is like but believe me, I've been through all of this what you're going through.

And all I wanted to do is to help you. To stop you from doing things that you might regret later. I know that you're a nice person, I like you. But alright, I'll keep my mouth shut and do my job as your housekeeper.", Jeongguk speaks, tears glistening in his eyes.

He turns around, running upstairs. He throws himself on his bed, letting his tears flow freely.

He just wanted to help. He thought that they got along well that they could be friends but Taehyung made it obvious that he's nothing more than his employee.

He only had good intentions, Taehyung didn't need to be that mean. But if he wants it that way Jeongguk won't bother him.

He really wanted to help the other but now, where it is pretty clear that the elder doesn't want any help it's probably the best to stop trying.

He wipes his tears with his sleeve but new ones came running down soon after.

And so, he cried himself to sleep.