Before You Go • VHOPE [On Hold]

Chapter 4: Change

Life is overrated.

But we find the most comfort in what we can already see.

Unlike death which lingers like a thin thread connecting to life.

Even after that thread is severed,

You never know what is on the other side.

At least not while you're alive.

And once you do see that other side, you realize,

You can never come back to life.

───※ ·❆· ※───

Hoseok didn't know why. But he had stopped pushing Taehyung away. He didn't exactly want to be with him either, but rather, he was too tired.

He just let it be. Because Taehyung wasn't giving up.

Why wasn't he giving up already? That bothered him.

"Hey, Hoseok, let's go to the beach again." Taehyung caught upto him as they walked out of school.

"Even if you saw me totally hyperventilating the other day?" Hoseok squinted his eyes.

Taehyung snickered, "I think it has something to do with the water.. but we'll stay metres away from it, I promise you." He smiled as he spoke.

Hoseok bit his tongue. Don't smile so genuinely like that as if you're happy with me. Why are you still here with me promising over a stupid thing?

Taehyung didn't wait for a particular answer as he grasped onto his arm and excitedly lead the way, making Hoseok curse along.

───※ ·❆· ※───

As Taehyung promised, they sat metres away from water, on the bench. Just staring back at the sea.

Hoseok questioned himself for not retaliating against Taehyung. He didn't agree to it, but he didn't say no either. Maybe, he felt slightly conflicted.

"You okay?" Taehyung asked.

"I guess."

"You guess?"

"Just.. never ask me that, okay?" Hoseok snapped.

Taehyung was a little surprised, but he nodded, awkwardly. He turned to face the sea again, silent.

Hoseok kinda felt frustrated, he groaned, "Why? Why do you even come to me? You barely know me and I treated you like shit. So why?"

Taehyung blinked but smirked, "I guess I like the way you fake everything."

Hoseok's eyes widened. That was an answer Hoseok wasn't expecting.

"Wh-what are you talking about?"

"You always seem like you're wearing a mask. Except with me, right now, when you're just.. mean like always." He laughed, "I don't know? I find you interesting."

"Huh?"

Taehyung huffed, "It's just.. I appreciate you being real with me that is. You're not kind, you're not polite, but I think that's why I want to know you. Want to know why... you're like this."