Before You Go • VHOPE [On Hold]

Chapter 3: Smile

When there's no hope,

There's no harm in giving things a try.

Because I've got nothing greater to lose eventually..

Than my life.

───※ ·❆· ※───

Hoseok put his plate down on the table, grabbing attention of Taehyung who was eating by himself, lost in thought.

Taehyung's eyes lit up and a smile crept onto his lips, "You're here to eat with me?!" He said excitedly, his eyes sparkling.

Hoseok clicked his tongue, sitting down, "You're at my table.."

"Ah! I'm so happy! This is the best day!" Taehyung cried out, shutting his ears as he intentionally squealed to shut out Hoseok's disagreement.

Hoseok chuckled in wry, "You're so annoying.." He mumbled, his eyes glaring at him and his lips with a taunting smirk.

Taehyung had a smug look on his face and he grinned, "But you're still here."

"I agree to disagree."

Taehyung laughed at that. Hoseok just shifted his attention back to eating his lunch.

"Are you free after school?"

"No."

"Come on!"

"No."

Taehyung pouted.

After their lunch break, classes resumed and the rest of the day went by just as normally as it would at any other time.

The last bell rang, signalling the end of the school day. Everyone packed their bags and started leaving, Hoseok did the same, only more slowly. After he was done, he slinged it over his shoulders and walked out.

As he reached the school gate and stepped out, he didn't notice someone was leaning back against the border wall there. Not until that person surprised the hell out of him, "Hoseok!"

Hoseok flinched, stunted as he turned to see the sudden caller with his eyes widened. Upon catching a glimpse, he frowned.

"Come with me!"

"No," Hoseok's frown got more deeper.

"I'll be kidnapping you for a while, come with me!"

"L-Leave me alone.." He murmured as Taehyung gripped his arm, dragging him, "H-Hey!"

"Just a little while, okay?" Taehyung smiled at him, and Hoseok who was simply unable to break free, unwillingly gave in and followed him.

───※ ·❆· ※───

"Where are we going?" He asked, a little confused to see they were heading towards his neighbourhood.

"The beach!"

"Wh-whaㅡ?" Hoseok's hands felt sweaty as cold shivers run down his spine, drowned in discomfort. He didn't know how to flee this situation, after coming this far, and his reasoning wasn't sounding logical enough in his mind in order to step back.

And before he knew it, they had already reached the sea shore.

Taehyung dropped his bag on the sand, quickly taking his shoes and socks off, curling his pants up too before he ran to step into the water. He turned around and waved both of his hands energetically in the air, grinning widely at Hoseok. 

"Come on in!" He called out.

The words seemed to feel off and rang in his ears. His heart raced as he stared at the sea waves, the sound of the waves clashing brought only more horror to his imagination. Suddenly he could feel the salt again, the breathlessness taking over. His eyes widened and he was sweating profoundly, breathing quickly.

Taehyung's grin died a bit to see the darkening expression of Hoseok. He quickly ran out of the water and reached him, "Are you feeling okay?"

Hoseok nodded reluctantly, shaking a bit in his panic attack.

Taehyung seemed flustered and confused but he lead Hoseok back, "Come with me" He took him away from the sea shore and asked him to sit down on the bench.

"Are you afraid of the waves?" Taehyung asked, still concerned as he held onto his shoulder.

"Something like that.."

Taehyung squinted his eyes but quickly ran back to his stuff and came back with it, he put his bag beside Hoseok and took his bottle out.

"Here, drink some water."

Hoseok looked at his hand and then back up at him, his expression doubtful.

"It's not poisoned..." Taehyung pouted. "Here, see?" He said and absent-mindedly drank from it. Then extended it to him. "Take it!"

Hoseok really did have a dry throat and he felt thirsty which worsened his discomfort and anxiety, so he went ahead and took the bottle from him.

He sipped from the bottle and sighed. Returning it back to Taehyung, only to notice an embarrassed look creeping onto his face.

"What happened?" Hoseok asked.

"It- It was an indirect kiss!" Taehyung mumbled shyly, not meeting his eye as he recapped the bottle and put it inside his bag, taking a seat beside him silently.

Hoseok looked at his expression and snorted, slightly amused to see this new kind of behaviour, "You're so weird.."

"Ah! I take things like this pretty seriously, you know?" Taehyung pouted.

"Then why would you drink from that in the first place?"

"Th-that was becauseㅡ It didn't hit my mind!"

"Liar," Hoseok chuckled.

"No! I'm not lying!"

"Your face gives you away. You're just a perverted stalker," Hoseok teased, "And now a kidnapper too".

Taehyung gasped, "You're so mean! And I'm none of that!" His reaction was too genuine and expressive. The fact that he was truly active in his excitement and was buying his words, made Hoseok somewhat amused.

Because he grinned.

Taehyung paused at that, his lips parting in awe.

"What's with that look?" Hoseok squinted his eyes, though his grin now gone.

"You just smiled!" He beamed as if he had just found the greatest treasure of all.