inseperable; jaeyong

seven

'happy birthday!'

all four of his friends, in unison, shouted as soon as taeyong entered the bar. they raced towards him, johnny with a drink in his hand and handing it to the birthday boy, who let out a grateful smile slip on his lips.

'25, huh?' yuta pulled the boy into a tight loving hug, something yuta was very good at.

'thank you, guys.' taeyong's face heated up. after also getting a birthday hug from ten, doyoung reached out for his best friend, before pulling him into a bear hug.

'you're closer to 30 now, so,' doyoung joked, linking arms with the boy and motioning his head to the taller male.

'happy birthday, baby.' johnny shone his comforting smile, taeyong releasing doyoung and slipping into johnny's arms.

'thank you.' taeyong dug his face into his chest, sniffing in the warm scent that johnny had, giving him a sense of security.

'let's drink until we can't breathe!' ten suggested, ordering shots at the bartender.

and there they were, a celebratory drink up for the 25 year old taeyong, who observed everything fondly, chuckling at whatever stupid shit they did as entertainment.

this was all taeyong needed, so he thought. he enjoyed his friends' company; it lifted his soul to be there for them, them for him. there was simply nothing that could really lift his mood as much as them. love grew in his heart for them.

he didn't need anything to change. he was praying for that.

'yongieee~' doyoung stumbled his way, slamming his fifth empty glass on the table, his face a light red indicating how current drunk state. 'you've barely drunken anything! come dance with us at least!'

the least he could do is shake what he had. he left out a joking sigh as he grabbed hold of doyoung hand, getting dragged to the dance floor with the others.

taeyong began to dance jokingly, the others laughing at his humorous moves. but the music soon grew into his ears as he began to loosen up a bit, moving his hips to the rhythm as he felt the music.

without hesitation, he moved towards johnny, snaking his arms around as the older's neck as their movements connected, their rhythm in sync. he felt johnny's eyes on him as he laid his forehead on his, letting the music take it wherever it desired.

'you want to go back to my place later?' johnny whispered in the younger's ear, despite the blaring music.

'my pleasure.' taeyong responded, nipping at johnny's ear seductively.

as soon as the music had mixed to a new one, taeyong took that as a sign to take a break. he slipped from the older, indicating that he was going outside for a smoke, something he would do very occasionally.

as he finally reached outside, inhaling the clear air at last, he hurried into the nearest alleyway, taking out his smokes from his back pocket and slipping a stick out along with his lighter.

'can i have a light?'

taeyong immediately shut his eyes, the voice so familiar that he didn't dare to let his eyes follow it.

taeyong, you're drunk right now. minimal tipsy. it's all in your mind.

'get out of my mind.' he cursed to himself, dropping his eyes to his feet. 'get the fuck out of my mind.'

'and you would've thought you would be happy to see me, huh?' the voice continued. it was so close, too close. almost like it was in front of him.

fuck this. confront it.

he finally lifted his eyes, his heart beating unhealthily fast-paced as his eyes connected to exactly the person he expected to see in front of him.

jaehyun.

he looked so...different...yet the exact same.

his soft cheeks now structured, but still as soft as he remembered. he was much taller than before, his shoulders broader, his eyes darker.

he looked insanely beautiful. so real like he was really there.

taeyong was urging himself not to reach out. to just touch his cheek once again. to plant a kiss on his perfectly plump lips once more.

'jaehyun.' his eyes teared up.

'taeyong.'

his voice was always deeper than his, but he grew so much. his voice was warm, like honey, so soothing taeyong could fall in a trance.

'you aren't real.'

taeyong felt foolish. he was clearly hallucinating. he wanted to believe he was really there. he wanted to reach out just once. but fear took over, pinning him against the hard cold wall.

'goodbye.'

taeyong slipped away from the figure. his eyes burnt with tears, his fists clenching as he made his way back into the club.

god, how he wished that goodbye really did mean something.

if he didn't escape, he was certain he would've broken down. broken down and cried for hours in front of...whatever the fuck that was.

he wasn't in denial. he couldn't be. jaehyun had left years ago. there was no way he was back so suddenly.

the love of his life...back so suddenly.

please taeyong.

please...just stop.

it's hurting you.