The Ugly Duckling [Jinkook, Minjoon, Taegiseok]

7: Longing

Ages at the moment:

Jin and Yoongi: 17

Hoseok: 16

Namjoon: 15

Taehyung and Jimin: 14

Jungkook: 12

~~~~~

Hoseok sighed as he watched Yoongi and Taehyung talk. Taehyung had a slight blush and they were out of his hearing range. He wished he could hear what made Taehyung so shy. Was Yoongi flirting with him? That would make sense because they were supposed to like each other and get married, but Hoseok couldn't help but to feel jealous.

It had been a year since they met Taehyung, and in the past few months, he started hitting his first growth spurt. Taehyung was almost the same height as Yoongi and still growing fast. His shoulders started becoming wider, but he was still skinny and was definitely in his awkward stage.

But he had a very handsome face and a bright, unique smile, and anyone could tell he was going to be quite the looker as an adult.

Hoseok knew he had no chances with the beautiful prince Yoongi, but he had always somehow hoped that Yoongi would show interest in him.

It wasn't his place as a peasant raised personal guard to marry into royalty. Royalty was supposed to marry royalty, and that's just how things were.

Taehyung was going to be perfect for Yoongi, so Hoseok just smiled ruefully and tried to be happy for Yoongi since he would marry well and live happily.

That was everyone's dream, wasn't it? To marry the one you love and live happily?

"Why are you staring?"

Hoseok glanced at Jimin, who was sitting next to him in the garden to give the young couple some privacy.

"I'm Yoongi's guard. I'm supposed to watch over him and protect him at all times," Hoseok made an excuse. It was a pretty valid excuse, though.

Jimin frowned. "Yoongi? You can speak of him informally?"

Hoseok cursed himself in his head. He technically wasn't supposed to, but Yoongi allowed him to in secret when they were alone.

"Prince Yoongi isn't a fan of many formalities," Hoseok laughed nervously.

"If you say so," Jimin shrugged. "I guess Tae let's me address him informally, too. We are best friends, so it would be weird to call him 'your majesty'," Jimin giggled.

"Yoongi is my friend," Hoseok explained. "We've grown up together, so I guess we are like you and Prince Taehyung."

"We are very alike, aren't we?" Jimin smiled. "Both of us are non royalty who grew up as best friends with the crown prince of our kingdom. Except that you have feelings for your friend and I don't."

Hoseok froze. How did Jimin figure it out? No one knew about his crush on Yoongi! He was careful!

"What are you talking about?"

"You may not show emotion on your face, but I can see it in your eyes when you look at him," Jimin explained. "I know that look. It's the same look that Jungkook uses on Jin, and the same look that Taehyung gives to Yoongi."

Hoseok deflated.

"Taehyung really does love Yoongi, doesn't he?"

"Yes, but I don't think Yoongi likes him back."

"What do you mean?"

"Yoongi gives his eyes to you," Jimin sighed. "Don't you see him sneaking glances at you? He's going to break Taehyung's heart."