Before You Go • VHOPE [On Hold]

Chapter 10: Awkward

I really am alive.

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"I forgot to ask for you number the other day," Taehyung grinned awkwardly and brushed his hair.

Hoseok sighed, his lips almost creeping up into a smile. However, in his dad's presence, he felt awkward.

"I see Hoseok has made a new friend." His father smiled politely, trying to liven up the air.

"I'm Kim Taehyung, nice to meet you, Sir." He bowed and smiled.

Hoseok was kinda pouting before he rushed down the stairs and grabbed Taehyung's hand, leading him upstairs.

Taehyung was a little taken aback when Hoseok pushed him inside, stepped in himself, and locked the door.

"Why did we rush upstairs?" Taehyung asked curiously, eyeing Hoseok's back faced to him.

Hoseok slammed the door in despair, "I ran towards the wrong way."

"What?" Taehyung laughed, "So actually we were supposed to run out of the house?"

"Yes," Hoseok groaned. "I just wanted to evade dad as soon as possible."

"Why?"

"I must be a sore sight.. that's why I want to stay away as much as possible."

"Huuuuh?" Taehyung sang in a whisper, striding forward and his hands suddenly around Hoseok's waist, tickling him. "If you say thatㅡ"

"Wh-what are you doing?" Hoseok chuckled out, shrugging and fiddling trying to break away from the tickling. He didn't realize when his annoyance turned to laughter.

Taehyung laughed too. And then stopped his tickling, letting Hoseok recover as he was panting and giggling. Taehyung slowly turned him around.

Hoseok was still immersed in his recovery, face red while he chuckled at Taehyung. And Taehyung only had a calm sweet smile on his face as he looked back at Hoseok. Taehyung's hands still softly holding onto his waist and the distance between their bodies very small.

Hoseok's grin slowly faded as he transitioned back to reality and focused onto Taehyung's intentful face, staring into his eyes. In no time, butterflies started fluttering in his stomach, and he could hear the beat of his heart. Anxiety drowning him, but maybe, he anticipated something.

"Is this okay?" Taehyung whispered softly, gazing at Hoseok's already red face.

Hoseok felt as if his heart would burst out any moment, embarrassment filling him up with an uncomfortable heat. How do I answer that?!

Taehyung gulped slightly and leaned in very slowly, tilting his head a little as his eyes stared down at his lips. Hoseok felt the breathe hit his lips, and that made his heart pound faster.

He didn't push back, as a result, Taehyung's lips slowly met his. Taehyung closed his eyes as he kissed him delicately, and Hoseok shut his eyes too, completely baffled regarding his actions, emotions, wants, desires and feelings. It all felt so dangerous.

Taehyung pulled back after the kiss, his eyes glancing at Hoseok who shyly averted his eyes.

"I- I'm not gay.." Hoseok stuttered nervously.

Taehyung sighed and pulled him more closer, their torsos crashing and face too close. "Neither am I.."

"But, I... I think I've started to have feelings for you.." Taehyung whispered out in his breath, his voice sounding certain.

"Taehyung-"

"I'm sorry." Taehyung quickly pulled back his hands and slowly stepped at a safe distance, "I- I know you don't feel the same, I'm sorry for making you feel awkward.. I-"

Hoseok pressed his lips together, not knowing how to answer back. The truth was, after all the rush he felt, he just wasn't quite sure anymore.

"I can try.. to be your friend, I guess.."

Taehyung's eyes lit up at that, Hoseok noticed the cute emerging grin on his face and that kind of embarrassed him.

"You agree to be my friend!" Taehyung grinned cutely and cheered in awe.

Hoseok pouted shyly, "Yeah.."

Hoseok however internally frowned at himself as he recalled his inner voice. Did I just think he's cute?!

"Should we go out somewhere? A cafe perhaps?" Taehyung asked enthusiastically.

Hoseok scrunched his nose up, "I don't like caffeine.."

Taehyung rolled his eyes and laughed, "Okay, noted. Jung Hoseok doesn't like boys and he doesn't like caffeine."

"Are you teasing me?" Hoseok squinted his eyes.

"Definitely not!" Taehyung smiled.

After a bit of a silly argument, they finally decided and ended up going to the cafe anyway. Both sitting opposite each other, sipping onto their own respective frappés.

"Come to think of it," Hoseok started softly, "I don't know much about you."

Taehyung gaped with overdramatic surprise, "Is Jung Hoseok finally interested in me?"

Hoseok chuckled before pointing his straw at Taehyung and squinting mischievously, "I just want to learn if I'm safe with this perverted stalker of mine and where does he come from."

"Ooh," Taehyung smirked and raised his brows, sipping his drink, "You're surely safe in my hands, baby." He let out jokingly, yet in a very flirty way.

"Stop." Hoseok laughed. "Seriously, though. Who are you?"

Taehyung straightened his face and gazed at Hoseok, eyes filled with seriousness as he slowly leaned in. Hoseok instinctively leaned in too, so as to hear what Taehyung was going to open up about.

Taehyung whispered slowly, "Your future lover."

Hoseok's face flushed as he quickly pulled his head back with a jerk, eyes glaring at Taehyung while embarrassment poured onto him. What's wrong with this guy.. he keeps flirting with me.

Taehyung winked, though his own cheeks were blushing from the shyness of going out of his way to be bold.

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A/N: August is here! Let me just pretend I didn't disappear suddenly.. I'm so sorry! I've been a bit too busy with life..
Anyway, inspiration hit me after watching a terrible anime a few days back and then a terrible movie just yesterday, so I have decided to rewrite my drafts from here on because I learnt a thing or two about story-telling from observing terrible stuff (not to mention I noticed how horrendous my drafts might be.. 👀). So yeah, we're back to square one but fret not, I'm motivated so, looking forward to working hard!

- Sam ♡