Chapter Text
Taehyung decides to teach Seokjin how to pick apples after breakfast on their last day in Geochang.
"It's not our last day," says Seokjin. They're in charge of doing the dishes, Taehyung humming as he rinses the soap off. "We still have tomorrow."
Technically, they don't have tomorrow. They're leaving early in the morning. But Seokjin wants to laze around before they go on the road. It was cold on the way back home yesterday. Seokjin'd rather stay indoors, all cosy, and watch day time television with Taehyung's grandma.
"We're leaving tomorrow," Taehyung says. Before, Seokjin wouldn't have been able to catch the quiver in Taehyung's voice. Now, Seokjin is aware of the bits and odds that make Taehyung whole. The way he stops humming after he realises he'll not be here, in his childhood home, tomorrow, can only mean he's reluctant to leave.
For a second, Seokjin regrets bringing Taehyung here. The feeling is gone as quickly as it came, but it still makes Seokjin feel a bit guilty. Selfishness is only for spoiled little brats, his own grandmother used to say. But is it such a terrible thing, to not want to be alone?
A couple of months ago, it didn't matter to Seokjin if he went on this trip on his own, but now the idea of going away without Taehyung is terrifying.
"It's not even that hard, hyung," Taehyung says. "And it's winter, so there won't be any apples to pick. We'll only have to prune some trees."
"Okay," replies Seokjin. Only because he knows Taehyung would go with or without him, and the idea of being alone with his thoughts is making Seokjin anxious.
Seokjin watches Taehyung's bare hands as he grabs a ripe looking apple from a tree. Taehyung's long beautiful fingers, Seokjin wonders if he ever played the piano. Though he didn't see a piano in his grandparents house.
"You have to be gentle with the tree, hyung. These apples are all sick, so we have to take them all out."
Seokjin doesn't know what Taehyung means by that. He had no idea apples could get sick, but he takes this as the peculiar way Taehyung has of speaking his mind. He concentrates on grabbing a different apple from the same tree and repeating Taehyung's actions.
"Grab the branch with one hand and the apple with your other hand, like this." They're standing so close to each other Seokjin can smell the scent of Taehyung's shampoo. He wonders if his hair smells like this, too, since they've been using the same products for a couple of days. He focuses on Taehyung's hands again, afraid of doing something crazy like reach out and touch him; as gently as Taehyung is telling him to touch the apple tree. "And then twist the apple in one direction, be careful not to break the branch."
Taehyung's commanding voice is soothing. Seokjin obliges without complaining even if it's not as easy as Taehyung makes it out to be.
Seokjin feels Taehyung's gaze on him, and he feels nervous somehow. He doesn't want to disappoint. He wants to do a good job, but it's hard to do so when you have someone staring intently at you.
When he finally manages to pick the apple, Taehyung claps and congratulates him as if Seokjin had done something extraordinary.
"You did it, hyung," Taehyung says, his face all bright and smiley. "Now put it on the basket and pick the next one. It gets easier after this."
They resume their work. Taehyung sings some trot and Seokjin takes some pictures. Of the sick apples, as Taehyung called them, of the farm, the bare apple trees, the high blue sky. Of Taehyung's elegant fingers, Taehyung singing at the top of his lung, Taehyung laughing at one of Seokjin's ahjussi jokes.
Later, when they're done with the sick apples, Taehyung teaches Seokjin how to prune the trees.
"Basically, hyung, you get your tree a haircut, to get rid of the bad split ends, something like that." Taehyung explains.
Seokjin thinks there was no way he'd have been able to understand what Taehyung meant before, but now he makes sense, somehow. So they set to work again. Seokjin follows Taehyung's motions instead of asking him questions that he knows would be hard for him to answer.
Taehyung's mum comes looking for them after a while. It's time for lunch, she says. As they head back to the house, Seokjin takes one last picture: of Taehyung linking arms with his mum as they walk.
They stay indoors, after lunch. Seokjin shares a blanket with Taehyung as they sit in front of the television to watch cartoons.
Taehyung sings the opening themes excitedly, and Seokjin watches him, trying not to spit out the cookies he's chewing as he chuckles. His heart feels full.
Night time comes fast. Seokjin wakes up confused, not knowing exactly when he fell asleep. He's sitting in a weird position, his back leaning against the couch. Taehyung is still sleeping next to him, curled up in a ball. The light from the television reflecting on his face makes him look ethereal, as if he were part of a dream. He's making tiny noises in his sleep, and he looks so young and vulnerable it makes Seokjin's heart ache.
After what feels like an eternity, Seokjin stops staring shamelessly at Taehyung and wakes him up.
Seokjin realises there's no one around, and that the noise that woke him up come from Taehyung's family, out in the yard.
It's cold when they step outside. Seokjin trailing after Taehyung, who still looks half asleep. Taehyung's father is grilling meat, his siblings are playing with the dog as his mum and grandma sit on the pyung sang.
"It's a farewell party," Taehyung's mum explains. Seokjin's stomach grumbles at the smell of meat. "I'm sorry we don't have very much."
"No, please. This is too much," Seokjin says, a bit flustered. He's never had someone throwing him a farewell party, before. Well, he's never gone anywhere. But the fact that someone went through all the trouble; it makes Seokjin feel loved and grateful. No wonder Taehyung is such a warm person, he grew up surrounded by so much love. "Thank you."
Taehyung's father pours some makgeolli for Seokjin as he sits up straight, awkwardly. "This is the best thing to go with the meat," he tells him, making it impossible for Seokjin to refuse drinking. He's keeping it low tonight, though. They have to be up early in the morning, and Seokjin's hangovers have worsen as time passed. He doesn't want to hit the road feeling as if he were dying.
It's a beautiful winter night, despite the cold weather. The full moon is high in the sky and the stars are visible. Seokin connects a few constellations as he listen to Taehyung's family's cheery banter.
"Hyung, come sing with me," Taehyung yells. His cheeks are pink and his bowl is empty, which means he's probably a bit drunk already. He's put on some trot song Seokjin can't recognise and he's swaying his body from side to side. Taehyung's grandma pushes Seokjin out of the pyung sang and he stands next to Taehyung on the grass, feeling incredibly awkward as he tries to follow Taehyung's dance moves.
But the elders sing along, and even Taehyung's siblings join them as they all dance and sing. Seokjin forgets himself for a bit and enjoys the moment. He takes the disposable camera from his pocket and takes a few shots, to capture this moment forever.
After a few more songs the party ends. Taehyung and Seokjin are excused from cleaning duties, despite Seokjin's attempts to help clean up the mess.
"Go get some sleep," Taehyung's mum tells him as she takes the dishes from Seokjin's hands. "And please take Taehyungie to bed, I think he drank a bit too much."
Taehyung flashes him a big smile when Seokjin finds him, sitting in front of the dog's house. "Hyung, I'm happy," he says, giggling a little. He sends Seokjin a flying kiss and then mutters a shy 'thank you'.
It's their last night in Taehyung's childhood bedroom.
"Good night, Taehyung-ah," Seokjin whispers.
Taehyung's sleeping body feels warm next to him.
They set off very early in the morning, the next day. The entire family is out there to say goodbye even though it's freezing. Seokjin expected tears, but they're all smiling, even Taehyung, who looks like an excited puppy. Not even a hint of a hangover. It must be good being young.
"Please take good care of him," Taehyung's mum tells Seokjin as she hugs him tight.
"Of course," Seokjin says. "We'll keep in touch, as long as there's Wi-Fi."
"Thank you," she says, and she kisses Seokjin's cheek. Making him all shy and baffled.
"Let's go, hyung," Taehyung grabs Seokjin by the arm as he waves goodbye to his family.
Inside the car, it's just the two of them together again.