Before You Go • VHOPE [On Hold]

Chapter 9: Unnoticed

For the first time, I who have been drowning in this void with no sense of timeㅡ I see light and I feel warmth.

Something that is slowly yet hastily dragging me down, only to crash back to life.

I finally feel alive.

───※ ·❆· ※───

In this world where Hoseok was helplessly watching himself disappear, where he felt unnoticed, someone still fought their way just so they could be seen by him.

He was finally noticed, even in his pain, even in his broken self, he was still desired.

He sobbed, drenching himself in his melancholy emotions. But he was finally feeling life coming back to him.

While Taehyung hugged him, he could be a little less afraid of death. And that relieved him, he just couldn't stop his tears.

"Wh-why are you crying?" Taehyung mumbled softly, a little taken aback. But his eyes softened to see Hoseok's face, he pressed his lips and held him closer again, knowing that he must need it, for whatever he had been going through all this while.

"It's okay," Taehyung caressed his hand over Hoseok's head while his soft words tried to comfort him, "I want to be here for you and hold you so you can smile without being afraid of anything."

───※ ·❆· ※───

"Let me walk you back home," Taehyung said after Hoseok had stopped crying.

"No, it's fine.." Hoseok muttered, but his hostility had completely disappeared. 

"Come on, let's go," Taehyung sang out and pulled Hoseok along.

The other guy protested, however, now, he let his guard off a little and stopped pushing Taehyung away or insulting him.

Something had changed, and a part of him felt softer for Taehyung, who even though wasn't aware of his situation, still spent his time and energy to be with Hoseok and hold him close.

Hoseok led the way voluntarily after he pleaded for letting himself be freed from Taehyung's drag.

"No way, you live here?!" Taehyung squealed.

"Yes," Hoseok had expected the surprised reaction considering he was already aware for long since Taehyung dragged him to the beachㅡ that he didn't live far away from him.

"Your place is so close to mine! You never told me, I-"

"Go home." Hoseok sighed and turned around to leave when Taehyung grabbed his hand. He turned back to see an awkward grin on his face.

"Wo-would you mind hanging out with me over this weekend?" Taehyung stammered, fearing a glare from Hoseok.

Hoseok didn't say anything at first, but neither did he throw a cold death glare. He just averted his eyes to his feet, eyeing the ground a little as he reluctantly and shyly nodded, mumbling, "O-Okay.."

Taehyung wasn't reacting or anything, so Hoseok wondered what happened. He glanced up, only to find Taehyung smiling hugely, definitely happy at his response.

"Now go home.." Hoseok said with a poker face. Taehyung waited in his spot intently, before pressing his lips into a silly smile and nodding to himself. Seemed like he was having a mischievous thought to himself.

"I'll see you later then." Taehyung said thoughtfully with a smile and waved before he left.

Hoseok felt a bit nostalgic to see Taehyung leaving already. But he tried to shrug the lukewarm feeling off and proceeded to his room.

───※ ·❆· ※───

Saturday went by. Hoseok had just realized the day prior that they didn't exchange any numbers. Oh what a simp, Taehyung, he must have forgot in his excitement.

But if he had asked, would I have given it?

Ever since that party ended, Hoseok's mind was repeatedly invaded with the memory of the kiss. It flustered him so much and he couldn't figure out the rush in his body or the overthinking pattern. All he could remember was Taehyung's gaze, his lips touching his own, the soft feeling of it, and the smirk on his face.

He should have been angered, because that was his first kiss. But, for some reason, he saw no reason to be infuriated.

Taehyung probably didn't know it was his first, and it was just a prank and it doesn't mean anything. But, somewhere in his heart, the possibility that maybe it meant nothing was kind of eating away at him. Though he had no reasonㅡ to think that way.

"Hoseok! Someone's here to meet you!" His dad called from downstairs.

Yoongi? Hoseok wasn't expecting it, but maybe this time he felt he should apologize for ignoring earlier. And, Yoongi was probably here because of the threat he made to Hoseok if he didnt reply back. And Hoseok didn't reply back because his conviction was to be alone but when the thought entered his mind this time, he justㅡ wanted to stop being alone. He wanted to apologize and talk nicely through his remaining days.

Hoseok made his way downstairs, however his lips parted in shock when he saw the unexpected guest. It wasn't Yoongi.

He had no reason to have his heart pacing faster, or feeling a very tiny bit  joyed at the sight. Absolutely no reason at all.

And yet, his reason was standing there at the doorway, his eyes glancing up kindly at Hoseok and an excited grin on his face.

Kim Taehyung was the reason of all that he was feeling.

Hoseok had no reason at all, and yet, Taehyung was all the reason to feel alive.

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A/N: I'm posting today because I feel alive too!! 😭 My final results came out today, and.. I'm one of the school toppers, with 96.4%!!!! I've finally survived and graduated highschool!! 👀 This is one of the best highlights of my life, totally unexpected and yet extremely joyful. I'm completely like Hoseok here because I relate so much and also kept crying and blabbering. 😳❤

- Sam♡