lost my way || t.k ✓

chapter 4: don't you leave me alone

Only for you, pretty. Only for you, pretty. Pretty. Pretty. Pretty. Prettyprettyprettypretty-

Taehyung hastily slaps Jeongguk's arm and hopes the darkness covers his blush. "Stop," he groans but feels his heart turning so so soft. "Was this what you had in mind when you said you'd teach me how to accept compliments?"

"No. To be honest, I forgot I'd even said that. Just wanted to compliment you, that's all." Jeongguk shrugs. "You're worth every single compliment and more, Tae."

Taehyung bashfully looks away from the charming boy as he finds himself unable to bear his gaze, fighting down the blush on his cheeks. God, saying goodbye was harder than he thought. Jeongguk driving him crazy wasn't making this any easier either. "Stop that, it's not fair! Who are you and where's the nice, shy, quiet Jeongguk I met earlier-"

An unexpected snap of the shutter catches his attention. Taehyung's eyes widen in surprise and flicker back to Jeongguk, catching him lowering his camera slowly.

"Sorry," Jeongguk said, biting his lip. He places the lens cap back on, eyes still on Taehyung. "Couldn't help it." Then he smiles, bright and genuine. "You looked too pretty."

"You- Oh my God," Taehyung splutters, his flustered self reaching its breaking point. "Are you flirting with me, Jeon Jeongguk?"

Jeongguk pauses before he throws his head back and laughs. Taehyung melts, thinks he could never be tired of that sound and wants to hear it again and again and again. "I have been for the whole day, Kim Taehyung, thanks for noticing."

He's so pretty, he's so pretty, he's so pret- Wait. What?

Taehyung could only gape at Jeongguk, eyes fluttering wildly as every single thought he's ever had escapes his mind until it's nothing but a muted buzz. Jeongguk had been flirting? With him? For the whole day, and he hadn't realised? He wondered how his heart was still beating.

"Taehyung," Jeongguk says, licking his lips nervously. A flush had started to make its way up his neck once more, visible to Taehyung even in the growing dimness. "I've been sending heart eyes to you all day. Have you- did you really not notice?"

"Oh my God...I am...such an idiot." Maybe Taehyung really was that oblivious, too busy sending out his own heart eyes that he completely missed the ones being directed to him. "Are you serious?"

"Yes." Jeongguk scratches the back of his neck, a habit Taehyung now knew in familiarity as one borne from Jeongguk's feelings of being flustered. "Okay, look. I- I don't know what I'm saying right now. Sorry, I'm making this awkward. Fuck. I didn't mean to say any of this but it just came out and now I can't stop. I just thought you were cute and pretty and beautiful and gorgeous. And I do still think that, because you are, but now I know you're cute and pretty and beautiful and gorgeous and considerate and funny and bubbly and so fucking radiant. And- okay, uh. Shit. Sorry, I'm not used to saying pretty words out loud, especially to even prettier boys. And I don't want to say goodbye yet. I'm surprised you even agreed to hang out with me, you seem way out of my league. And, okay, you're not saying anything. So I'm just gonna... I'm just going to shut up now." Jeongguk clamps his mouth shut.