Dares and Heartbreaks: TaeJoo & KangGook

Chapter 5

Flashback

How it Started?

They had been in their sophomore year when Kang Gook had enjoyed the company of his friends more. Tae Joo had tried to fit in for the lack of friends, but he just couldn't. He did not appreciate their jokes at all. It did not help that Lee Jun was always staring at him, reasons unknown. He had enjoyed the short time Kang Gook spared for him.

He remembered the exact day it had started. He was lying in his bed playing on his phone bored out of his mind when he heard noises from the other side of the door and keys jingling on the doorknob.

He sat up.

Kang Gook came in with his friend on his tail ecstatically discussing something, voices loud and their steps wobbly.

"Taaaaaeeeee Jooooooo I'm back" Kang Gook screamed on top of his voice throwing himself on top of Tae Joo.

"Can you please quiet down its almost 9 pm" He softly pleaded.

The group of visitors started laughing.

Tae Joo pulled Kang Gook from where he was laying and immediately, he scrunched his nose.

"No No No, Gookkah come here" He said as he pulled Gook close to him to confirm his suspicions. Kang Gook hated alcohol but why was he smelling like he had drowned in a bottle of soju.

Kang Gook started giggling facing Tae Joo who was disappointed at the sight before him.

"Theeey gave me waaater to...(hiccup) to drink JooJoo" He explained words slurry, "But why do I feel funny Joo" He finished feeling small from Tae Joo's intense gaze.

Tae Joo got up from his bed and got a bottled water from their mini fridge.

"Here drink this" He said handing Kang Gook the water but the latter shied away from water and shook his head. That's how he had gotten drunk.

"No Gookkah its just water I promise" He guided the bottle to Kang Gook's lips and he took a few gulps.

"Go ahead and sleep" Tae Joo took off his shoes and socks and tucked him in his bed.

When he was sure his friend was comfy, he turned to the spectators in the room.

"let this be the last time that this happens" they all looked at him with serious faces but Pil Hyun said. "Look at baby JooJoo talking" and they all burst out laughing.

"JooJoo is a baby" this time it was Seung Ho's giggly voice. This only fuelled Tae Joo's anger.

"GET OUT! Leave with you drunken asses" He screamed at them, hand pointing to the door, "Right NOW!" the boys shuffled their way out of the room.

He is brought out of his anger bubble when he saw Kang Gook getting up from the bed, sluggishly looking for his shoes.

"where are you going Gookkah?" Tae Joo was tired.

"You said to leave our drunken asses" He said voice low and unconfident.

He went to him. "Hey, it's our room remember. We share this room. You're not going anywhere. Go ahead and sleep"

Kang Gook burst out crying. "Joo Joo I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. Pil Hyun made a bet to see who finishes the water in the bottle first. I didn't know it wasn't water until I finished drinking it" He finished clinging to Tae Joo tears running down his cheeks.

"it's ok, Gookkah, Its ok so go ahead and sleep, hopefully tomorrow you'll be okay" He comforted and put him back in bed.

"Don't go anywhere Tae Joo" Kang Gook whispered as he got comfortable in Tae Joo's bed.

"I'll be right here when you wake up tomorrow, right next to you"

The following morning had started with Kang Gook puking his lungs out. Tae Joo had woken up to find him hangover medicine.

He passed the medicine to him and Kang Gook cleaned himself up. He came in their room apologising for having done that. He promised it would not happen again.

The following day Kang Gook's friends had come to Tae Joo apologising one after the after.

The following weeks had been Kang Gook coming back excited, telling Tae Joo the bets that he won and what they had made him do. It had been harmless at first. Just a couple of bets and dares to make their college life exciting.

However, things had started to change. They were not spending time together anymore. His schoolwork was always last a minute thing. It made him happy though so, Tae Joo let it go. He accepted that it made Kang Gook happy. It was going to get better.

Man, if only he knew...