Before You Go • VHOPE [On Hold]

Chapter 11: Offence

Hoseok and Taehyung had started spending more time together after school. And when they returned home, more than often both of them found themselves stupidly smiling at their phone screens as they talked.

Time passed by, they got closer and Hoseok gradually became more comfortable with him. It was good to have a friend.

"Hey, you remember those people you met at the party?"

"Not precisely.."

Taehyung scoffed and chuckled, "You don't go to parties often. But yeah, they remember you."

"Really?" Hoseok's brows raised and that made Taehyung's stifled laugh erupt.

Hoseok scowled at him and threw him a distasteful glare.

"I'm sorry." Taehyung threw his hands around Hoseok's neck while he still faced forward, "Our winter break's starting from monday. Technically this was the last day of school." He mentioned thoughtfully.

Hoseok hummed in response.

"Will we see each other over the holidays?" Taehyung murmured curiously, waiting a silent while before expressing again, "I want to keep seeing you."

"Why?" Hoseok asked weakly, turning to face Taehyung. Tae smiled.

"Just because."

Hoseok was staring at his smile, and Taehyung's soft words were still lingering onto the back of his mind. He stared a little too long for his own good, as when his eyes trailed up to Tae's, he noticed how Taehyung was gazing down at his lips too.

Hoseok felt a strange warmth within himself, gushing everywhere. He gulped, feeling at unrest and his heart slightly racing.

Taehyung would have almost leaned in and placed his lips on his, had something hadn't intervened onto the moment.

A car honked it's way and as both of them turned to notice, on the road was someone Hoseok was unfamiliar with. But Taehyung seemed to know.

The windows dropped full-way and the women rested her elbow on the border. She waved.

Taehyung scoffed and whispered, "Wait a second," before he got up and rushed to her and they talked. Hoseok was perplexed at first, wondering who it is until slowly realisation hit him.

He noticed the women turning her eyes to him and smiling, waving. Hoseok blinked and waved back nervously.

She turned her attention back to Taehyung, nodding and smiling sadly before their conversation ended. She closed the window and drove away. Taehyung stiffly turned back, returning to his seat while an awkwardly irritated look rested on his face.

"Was that your mom?"

Taehyung nodded.

"She looks young."

Taehyung chuckled dryly, staring down at the sand beneath his feet. "Sure is." Hoseok noticed the impatience in his voice and he couldn't help but feel a tad bit concerned.

"I-I didn't know you had a car at home. W-what does she do?"

"It's not important. Let's get going, Hoseok." Taehyung quickly stood up to his feet and slung the bag over his shoulder.

Hoseok was dumbfounded. He was afraid he asked something too personal or offended him. He gulped, knowing he had to apologize. But the words wouldn't escape his mouth. He tried to, but Taehyung interrupted his trance, "Let's go, Hoseok."

He got up and followed Taehyung. They walked together to the intersection from where their homes were in different directions. A brief silence fell upon, both knowing it was time to part, and Hoseok, he was oddly anxious about what if he can't see him again.

"Taehyung, I'm sorry if I offended you before.." He said.

Taehyung was silent, but he pressed his lips together and stepped forward to ruffle Hoseok's hair, "Don't worry too much about me, okay? Nothing good will come out of it."

Hoseok was slightly annoyed, "I should be the one saying that." He said softly, glancing down. Now he was the one who was a bit offended.

Taehyung took another step forward, until he was standing very close to Hoseok. He cupped his face and made him look into his eyes. "I love thinking about you, even if it's part of worrying if you're okay."

Hoseok blushed. "You don't sound anything like a friend.." He whispered shyly.

Taehyung's gaze was more dark and intimidating, something about his vibe felt frightening, "Am I nothing more to you than just a friend?" He said, his voice breaking almost in a sad hopeless tone.

He took a deep sharp breath and returned to his senses, his hands letting go and distancing himself. "I'm.. I'm kidding." He chuckled as he averted his eyes, almost as if to hide any sign of the pain in them.

It took a few wordless seconds for him to break the dawning awkward silence. "Even if we don't meet— which is completely fine and I understand if you wouldn't want to be with me over the break— I'll call you, okay? I hope you'll pick up."

He looked back up to Hoseok for an answer, to which Hoseok nodded stiffly, lost in thought.

"See you, then." Taehyung smiled softly and awkwardly stepped back before turning around and walking away.

And as Hoseok saw him walking further and further away, only one sentence kept repeating in his conscience like a tape in his mind. Taehyung's hopeless words, his breaking voice, his sad expression– it wasn't stopping. Neither was the painful beating of his own heart that felt like he was drowning and drowning.

"Am I nothing more to you than just a friend?"

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A/N: Yes, you can sue me for updating late again ;; aaaa I'm writing rn.. I'll definitely get back into it this time ksjsks. 

- Sam xx