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~~~
"This night is like the end when I’m with you . . . If you could only say it to my heart, there would be a breeze. But I still have everlasting love which I gave to you. "
- Love is not over, 방탄소년단
~~~
A mild breeze sweeps through the outdoor beach bar and jostles the lanterns hanging from the trees. The place is seeping with people both drunk and sober alike, as expected of the most acclaimed bar in town. The lull of the ocean, a small presence in the whole of the scene, soothes Jeongguk from the loud, pulsating base coming through the bar’s speakers. Jeongguk takes a swig of his drink to ease the apprehension and feels the liquid singe through his body and settle in his stomach.
It is a typical Friday night for sophomore Jeon Jeongguk and his best friend Kim Taehyung who had snuck off to the bathroom twenty minutes ago and left Jeongguk to fend for himself.
Their friendship, founded on mutual trust and adoration, had dug its roots during Jeongguk's first year of University. Taehyung had been intrigued by the shy and introverted first year, wanting to understand the mysterious boy, and immediately tried to befriend him. Their friendship had blossomed with both boys complimenting each other, ultimately becoming two halves to a whole. Through Taehyung, Jeongguk found a home in five other boys, allowing him to grow and find his true colors. Even though they had been through rough patches here and there, they were always able to come back to each other in the end. Without them, he wouldn’t have been able to become the person he is proud to be today. Along the way, he had also managed to fall for the boy with the beautiful smile who held stars in his eyes wherever he went.
Jeongguk taps his fingers against the rough wood table and checks his watch because where the fuck was Taehyung? It was pushing 30 minutes now and although Taehyung always had a knack for making friends in the bathroom, Jeongguk was starting to get worried.
He scrambles out of his seat in means to look for him but freezes when lithe-limbed arms snake around his torso.
"Hey," a smooth female voice coos.
Jeongguk shimmies himself out of the female’s grasp and turns to face the obviously drunk stranger. Her cropped brown hair swings over her shoulder, and she immediately reaches out to grab Jeongguk who steps back deftly. Her eyes are glossed over, face drawn into a lust-filled smile.
"Come on let's dance pretty boy! And then we can talk about later," she gargles unintelligibly, proceeding to wink seductively at Jeongguk.
"Uh… I’m sorry I don't- I'm not-"
She cuts Jeongguk off and forces herself against him. Alarms sound violently in Jeongguk's head as she begins to push into him. He sways from side to side, head banging into Jeongguk as she stumbles for balance.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck, Jeongguk thinks. He needs escape this situation and fast. Although Jeongguk is normally collected, he always seems to do impulsive things under pressure. He detaches himself from the dazed out woman and mutters the first thought that comes to his head.
"I have a fiancé!"
The words are out before Jeongguk can register. She stares at Jeongguk for a few seconds, confusion clearly showing on her face.
"I don't believe you. Prove it," she counters smugly.
His brain short-circuits. Shit. Jeongguk really got himself into a mess this time. His mind briefly wanders to Taehyung and hopes he doesn't kill him for what he's about to do.
"Actually uh...he's here with me tonight. He went off to the bathroom a few minutes go but I can bring him over if that's what it will take for you to leave me alone." Jeongguk winces at his brash tone but there's no way he's dealing with this. She nods, obviously not convinced, while Jeongguk weaves his way through the crowd and breaks into a sprint to the bathroom hoping Taehyung is still there.
~~~
Thankfully, Taehyung is washing his hands in the pineapple themed restroom when Jeongguk all but runs into him.
"Someone's excited to see me," Taehyung remarks content.
"Thank gosh. Where the heck have you been? And Hyung, Please don't kill me," Jeongguk tumbles out.
"Woah slow down. I was just heading back." Taehyung takes in Jeongguk's frazzled expression and his face contorts in a frown. "What did you do now and why the fuck would I kill you?"
"This girl who was drunk out of her mind, and who knows what else, was hanging all over me. Pretty sure she was trying to take me back with her tonight too."
Taehyung nods in acknowledgement, having dealt with similar situations in the past and urges Jeongguk to continue.
"So I panicked and told her I have a fiancé." Jeongguk straightens up and looks down at the ground trying not to meet Taehyung's eyes. "She was not having it so I might have told her my fiancé was here." He wishes the floor would swallow him up right there as a light blush begins to spread from his cheeks to the tips of his ears.
" So basically, you need me to be your fake fiancé for the night, right?” Taehyung studies Jeongguk's face and almost immediately responds. "Of course Jeongguk-ah. Anything for my favorite dongsaeng."
Jeongguk rolls his eyes. "I'm your only dongsaeng, Hyung."
Taehyung reaches out suddenly and interlaces his slim, soft hands with Jeongguk's smaller, rougher ones.
"What are you doing?" Jeongguk pulls away hastily. He feels his head spin as blood rushes through his body. It's not as if they had never held hands before or showed affection, however, the context of the situation heightens the usual butterflies in Jeongguk's stomach. He feels like a fourteen year old all over again, but Taehyung always seemed to have that effect on him. Stupid Taehyung and his cute personality, Jeongguk thinks.
"We have to make it convincing. We can't just waltz out there and expect people believe we're together! It just won’t work."
Right. Jeongguk’s not quite sure he can pull this off, biting the inside of his cheek in discomfort. Sure it was easy to say a certain someone was his fiancé, but playing the part was a different story, especially when his feelings are involved.
"Don't worry Jeongguk-ah." He ruffles Jeongguk's hair earning Taehyung a huff from the other. "Besides, I'm a great actor,” Taehyung remarks confidently. “If worse comes to worst and you feel uncomfortable, just stand there and look good."
Somehow, Taehyung's tiny reassurance alleviates most of Jeongguk's fears. He reconnects their hands, still mildly embarrassed, but quickly buries the thought in preparation for the task at hand.
They've got this.
~~~
The girl is still there unfortunately, body huddled around a table with a drink perched in her hand. She eyes the pair as they approach and Taehyung turns to Jeongguk to give him a boxy smile, the one Jeongguk loves, in which Taehyung’s eyes crinkle up into crescents. He sends back a grin and mouths a small Thanks.
"This is my finance," Jeongguk declares while squeezing Taehyung’s hand. How he silently wishes the statement was true.
“Hi,” Taehyung beams. “Now if you’d please leave my fiancé alone I’d very much appreciate it.” Taehyung sizes up the girl and turns to Jeongguk. “Baby, let’s go.”
To emphasis his point, Taehyung leans in and presses a small kiss to Jeongguk’s cheek and, with their hands still connected, tugs him towards the dancefloor. Jeongguk tries to reign in his spluttering because Kim freaking Taehyung just kissed his cheek and called him baby.
Taehyung halts in his place to send Jeongguk a questioning look over his shoulder, gauging the other’s reaction. Jeongguk knows Taehyung would never do anything that would make him uncomfortable. He gulps and dips his head in acknowledgement of the unspoken questioning and to confirm his readiness for whatever Taehyung might throw at him.
“Let’s dance,” Taehyung announces rather loudly as he spins Jeongguk around to face his back. He places Jeongguk’s hands to encircle his body. Jeongguk is sure the girl is long gone now, but he’s too entranced to pull away from the inviting gestures of Taehyung.
Taehyung presses back steadily into the younger’s chest and sets a comfortable rhythm between the two. Jeongguk reciprocates the notion. His hands begin to explore the soft planes of Taehyung’s stomach through his shirt, captivated by his body. He focuses on the subtle way the eyelashes on Taehyung flutter and the sway of Taehyung’s head. Jeongguk rests his own head on Taehyung’s shoulder. He’s not quite sure what is transpiring between them, but he quietly wishes he could bottle up this moment and treasure it forever.
Taehyung leans his hips back into Jeongguk’s crotch, and his hands wander back to touch the soft skin on Jeongguk’s neck. Jeongguk bites his lip to quiet an escaping moan.
Fuck.
“Hyung…You can stop now,” Jeongguk chokes as Taehyung pushes his hips back further. “S-She’s gone.”
“Baby, follow my lead. We’re just getting started,” He whispers close into the shell of Jeongguk’s ears, grazing his piercings with his lips. “Can’t wait ‘till you love me tonight. Feel you deep inside me.”
Jeongguk gasps for air because what is happening.
“Can’t wait 'till I can scream your name and call you mine.”
Jeongguk’s mind blanks, too focused on the words spewing from Taehyung to come up with a response. They continue like that for a few moments longer, Jeongguk too struck to break away just yet. Its only when Jeongguk’s thoughts start wandering into a different place causing too much heat to rush south that he jumps back.
“Food,” Jeongguk gargles, hoping Taehyung was not the wiser just moments before. He smooths a hand through his hair and fixes his rumpled shirt.
“You got it darling,” Taehyung winks and proceeds to link their hands once more.
~~~
Ultimately, they decide on seafood, Jeongguk ever pliant under the requests of Taehyung despite his love of meat. The tread to the seafood stand is mostly quiet, save for the waves hitting the shoreline and the soft echo of feet padding on the boardwalk that seems to be magnified tenfold. The rustle of the trees overhead sends a slight chill through the air. Few others walk by the pair entranced in their own world.
Jeongguk glances over at Taehyung and absorbs the moonlight that highlights Taehyung’s face beautifully. Gorgeous, Jeongguk thinks. Jeongguk wishes he could confess to the other, but in all honesty, he is scared. Scared of disrupting what Taehyung and he had built up. Scared of rejection. Scared of what others will think even though Jeongguk knows himself that their fucked up thinking doesn’t matter. Scared that after lots halfhearted dating just to get by that he wouldn’t be sure what to do in a serious relationship.
He thoughtlessly tightens his grip on Taehyung’s hand.
"I love you baby, my fiancé," Taehyung giggles. He proceeds to sing, “I love your curves and all your edges. All your perfect imperfections.”
Of course Taehyung would quote John Legend. Jeongguk huffs amused but feels a fluttering in his heart and a sense of security wash over him. If only Taehyung knew what his words did to him. "Shut up, Hyung. You can stop pretending now."
Taehyung turns to stare at Jeongguk, face void of expression. Jeongguk’s not sure what to make of it, but by some miracle, Jeongguk doesn’t look away for a change.
~~~
The charming kiosk is vacant of customers at such a late hour since most of the town was out at bars. They order a quick meal and eat on a nearby bench overlooking the ocean. The warm food is comforting to Jeongguk's stomach, a much-needed meal after a long day. Taehyung demolishes his food as well, kicking his legs with each bite. They discard the empty wrappers and Jeongguk leans closer to Taehyung, content on just living while the world spins around them. He hears a song play in the distant buts it’s too faint to make out.
“Y’know Jeonggukie…” Jeongguk takes in Taehyung’s words carefully, not quite sure what the other will say. “What I said before is true.”
Jeongguk faces Taehyung at that. “What?”
“Jeon Jeongguk, your presence alone is enough to make my days brighter.” He smiles. It’s not his usual boxy smile, but it’s meaning alone holds something more to Jeongguk. “I just want you to know that because I feel like you don’t.” He pauses seeming to collect his thoughts. “It’s all your little actions like the way you act like a kid, the sleepless nights spent worrying and putting others before yourself, the way you dedicate yourself wholly when you find something you love, and how you make me feel like I can do anything with you by my side.” He waits, making sure to look directly into the other’s eyes. It’s intense but it teeters on the edge of adoration and something else.
Jeongguk feels tears well up in his eyes, body full of pure love and admiration for the other. Even though the people he comes across see Jeongguk as strong and sure on the outside, he holds more than what he says on the inside. Hearing those words makes him feel wanted, loved. Taehyung slips off the bench and crouches down on one knee.
And there, right before Jeongguk’s eyes, is Taehyung, wide eyes and huge smile, holding a ring pop in his hand.
“So, when’s the marriage?” Taehyung asks.
Jeongguk chokes.
“Kidding, kidding.” Taehyung clears his throat. “Jeon Jeongguk, Will you be my fake fiancé and my real boyfriend?”
“Taehyung,” Jeongguk smiles so wide to the point his cheeks hurt. “You’re such a fucking sap. Where did you even get that?” He doubles over in laughter because of how precious Taehyung is. “Of course.”
Taehyung slips the lollipop ring on Jeongguk’s finger allowing Jeongguk to engulf Taehyung into the biggest hug he can muster. Although Jeongguk isn’t the best with words, he knows Taehyung can tell how much the younger cares for him. Happiness overtakes him, and although their night has been nothing but cheesy, he feels the need to somehow reciprocate the words of Taehyung.
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”