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“I’ll be right back, darling.”
Taehyung nods, sending the man a complacent smile. His name is Park Hyungsik, an actor that Taehyung is fairly sure has already worked with Bogum before. This small link, that could pass as a coincidence to some, isn’t lost on Taehyung. Maybe if the press caught sight of them together Bogum would see it and- who is he fooling?
Taehyung counts to ten inside his head, measuring his breathing and taking a look around. The wound Bogum had left is still fresh inside his chest. He feels almost lightheaded at the memories that resurface.
Not wanting to stand by himself, Taehyung moves to the bar poised in the ballroom, an oval shape that encases a currently unoccupied bartender. The man leans over the counter when Taehyung approaches to take a seat on the leather stool.
“A gin and tonic, please,” Taehyung says, crossing his legs.
The bartender nods and turns to procure his drink.
Taehyung lets his eyes sweep around the ballroom, taking in the elegant men in suits that cling to their dates and make small talk with each other. None of this makes sense to him anymore.
He should have stayed home today, he thinks, the unbridled loneliness of not having Bogum by his side is still too much to bear. He can’t do this, he can’t see other people and pretend everything is okay when it’s not.
Taehyung gulps, forcing the knot in his throat down. He forces a small smile the bartender’s way when the other inches his drink towards him.
“Thank you,” he says, hoping the sudden redness of his eyes isn’t too visible.
He brings the glass up to his mouth and takes a sip.
“I’ll have one too, please,” someone says from Taehyung’s right, a male. He doesn’t care, so he doesn’t lift his eyes, instead praying that whomever it is will leave him alone.
Taehyung can feel the person beside him watching his profile and tries not to squirm. They must notice it because the feeling suddenly stops.
Keeping his gaze resolutely down at his own drink, Taehyung licks his lips and wills time to go by faster.
The bartender approaches the counter again to offer the newly made drink to the person still standing beside Taehyung. He hears a murmured thanks before wondering how much longer Hyungsik will take. He kind of wants to go home.
“I-I’m sorry but I’m fairly certain you’re Kim Taehyung,” the man beside him speaks out.
Taehyung finally bothers to glance at him, surprised to find that new, rising idol who’s the face of the campaign they’re currently attending. There are panels with his image, dressed in the brand’s new underwear collection, all around the ballroom. Taehyung thought he sported too much of a baby face for the add, but in real life he fills a tuxedo all right.
“Oh,” he makes, putting on a quick smile, “yes, that’s me.”
Taehyung reverts his gaze back to his drink. He doesn’t even like gin and tonic.
“I’m Jeon Jeongguk,” the man, Jeongguk, says, extending his hand politely.
Taehyung feels like he should tell Jeongguk that he’s not really in the mood for talking but he doesn’t want to be an ass either. He offers his own hand, which Jeongguk shakes earnestly, eyes fixed on his face.
Taehyung doesn’t usually get shy but he flicks his eyes away and takes another sip of his drink when Jeongguk finally lets go of his hand.
“Would you mind if I sat here?” Jeongguk points to the stool right beside Taehyung’s.
Taehyung should say yes – or just stand up and say he had to go to the toilet and never return – but Jeongguk looks so nervous that he decides to comply. The boy is new in the industry, probably never had this much attention thrusted upon him. It must be his first time attending an event of this magnitude and he must feel anxious.
So he only shrugs and utters a small of course not.
Jeongguk sits beside him and fiddles nervously with the stem of his glass, apparently looking for something to say.
“Uh,” he begins eloquently, gaining Taehyung’s short attention, “are you here with someone?”
Taehyung raises a single eyebrow at the boldness. It’s not that he doesn’t think Jeongguk handsome. It’s just that, a) he doesn’t feel like having sex with a stranger now; b) he’s partially certain the idol is only offering because he must think Taehyung is an easy lay - from what he must’ve gathered from the press; c) he doesn’t want to make headlines again and garner more haters – he's sure rising superstars come along with tumultuous fanbases of crazed teenage girls that can spew admittedly very hurtful words in the internet.
In the end he just settles with: “yes, I am,” and makes to stand up.
Jeongguk’s eyes widen, a gasp escaping him before he holds onto Taehyung’s wrist, still poised over the counter for support.
“I-I’m so sorry, that’s not what I meant at all, I-I wasn’t propositioning you, I saw you with your date. I just needed something to say, I’m such an idiot, please,” he rants, “don’t go.”
Taehyung licks his lips, giving in and sitting back down on the stool. He peers over the crowd’s heads to get a glimpse of Hyungsik but doesn’t seem to spot the other man.
“I’m sorry,” Jeongguk continues. Taehyung notices he hasn’t touched his drink. “It’s just,” he pauses, seemingly short of breath when he raises his eyes to study Taehyung’s face, “you’re incredibly beautiful.”
Taehyung watches him for a second, allowing a tiny smile to tug at his lips. Jeongguk looked at him with a child-like wonder whereas everyone else only did so with lust or envy when complimenting his beauty.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Taehyung says, swirling his drink and taking one more sip. “I bet there are other, more beautiful people in this room that would love to spend the night with you.”
“I think you’re mistaken,” Jeongguk shoots him an all-winning, gallant grin.
Taehyung chuckles, a bit charmed. He appreciates the effort and everything and maybe any other day he would retribute the flirting, but he just cannot-
“I’m sorry,” he begins, Jeongguk cocking his head, “I’m just really not-” he gulps, “not up for anything right now. I just came out of a difficult relationship.”
Jeongguk blinks, nodding his head. “Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. Though, your ex has to very stupid to leave you.”
Taehyung grimaces, swallowing with difficulty and trying not to let it show how much he’s still hurting. Bogum wasn’t stupid. Bogum was wonderful, Taehyung was the one who had to make a mess out of everything.
“Sorry,” Jeongguk says, pulling a face. “It’s not my-”
“You didn’t touch your drink,” Taehyung points out, eager to avoid the topic of his latest relationship.
“Oh,” Jeongguk glances at his glass as though he’s just now noticed it, shooting Taehyung a sheepish grin that makes him look like a bunny, “I avoid drinking when I can. I’m a nasty drunk.”
Taehyung is about to praise his self-control when a woman in a golden dress comes to tap Jeongguk’s shoulder. She giggles and says something to him. Jeongguk looks like a deer caught in the headlights, but nods and poses for the selfie the woman extends her phone to take.
Taehyung takes another sip of his drink and looks away, not wanting to interrupt the boy on his more fruitful adventures. Soon enough the woman says her goodbyes, shooting Taehyung a quick look over her shoulder before departing.
Jeongguk clears his throat, face as red as a tomato. Taehyung isn’t even going to ask.
“Why aren’t you out there mingling with the crowd?” Taehyung asks, tilting his head in the direction of the guests, all young and pretty like Jeongguk, “They look anxious to meet you. You shouldn’t waste your youth away like that.”
Jeongguk gulps. “I’m not really into that kind of stuff.”
“Oh?” Taehyung grins, “is it? So you prefer to stay and talk to me,” he teases, not expecting Jeongguk to earnestly nod.
“As I said,” Jeongguk reiterates, “you’re the most beautiful person here. And so far you’ve been great company.”
Taehyung can’t help laughing. But the boy is insistent, Taehyung will give him that.
“You flatter me,” he says, glancing at the other.
“I’m serious, though,” Jeongguk says with newfound confidence, “I’d love to get to know you better.” He tenses when Taehyung hides his face behind his glass bashfully. “I-I mean, sorry if I’m being too forward. Oh my god, I understand that you’re still not- ready for anything new.”
Taehyung spies Hyungsik coming in his direction, a couple feet away from them. He gives Jeongguk a tiny smirk.
“That’s very lovely, Jeongguk, thank you. I believe my date is returning though, so-”
“Can I have your number?” Jeongguk asks, eyes darting over Taehyung’s shoulder as he senses Hyungsik approaching.
Taehyung chuckles. “Maybe you’ll have other, younger models to waste your time with in the future.”
Jeongguk blinks, taking Taehyung’s words in. His face dissolves into a wolfish grin not long after. “I don’t think so, no. But why don’t you give me your number and let us see for ourselves?”
Taehyung analyzes him for a second, coming to a quick decision. “Very well,” he says, extending his hand to the phone Jeongguk offers.
He thinks about typing in a random number but decides to give the boy a chance. Taehyung gives him his phone back once done, watching as Jeongguk looks lovingly down at the screen and fills in the blank space for the contact name. Taehyung wonders what he’d written but before he can ask a hand rests boldly on his shoulder from behind.
“Hey,” it’s Hyungsik, a smile that’s supposed to look welcoming aimed at Jeongguk. Taehyung can see the way his eyes flash though, probably having caught them exchanging numbers. He doesn’t give a fuck, it’s not as though they’re in a relationship. He most likely only invited Taehyung to be his date because he either pitied him or wanted an easy fuck.
“Hi,” Jeongguk nods, pocketing his phone all too confidently. Under this light, he looks completely in his element, standing up and shaking the hand that Hyungsik extends. “Park Hyungsik, right?” he squints, to which Hyungsik cocks his head slightly.
“Yes,” Hyungsik says, a bit icily, “and I suppose you are Jeon Jeongguk.”
Jeongguk nods his head. They eye each other for a while longer, smiles rigidly in place.
“Well,” Hyungsik says, poising his other hand on Taehyung’s free shoulder, “hope Taehyung wasn’t boring you too much.”
Taehyung frowns, wanting to shake the other hands’ off.
“Not at all,” Jeongguk is quick to say, “in fact I think I was the one tormenting him.”
Hyungsik laughs. Taehyung lays one hand on top of the other’s to get his attention. “I think I want to go home,” he says lowly.
“But so soon?” Hyungsik asks, not at all discreet. Jeongguk watches them attentively. “I was going to introduce you to a couple friends of mine, darling,” Hyungsik continues.
Taehyung shakes his head, leaving his unfinished drink on the counter as he makes to stand up. “I don’t really feel all too well.”
Hyungsik looks like he wants to protest, but Jeongguk speaks up.
“I can accompany you out, if you’d like. Get you in a cab or drive you-”
“There’s no need, kid,” Hyungsik is quick to pipe in with a condescending smile.
Taehyung notices the way Jeongguk frowns, lips tugging unhappily at the kid brushing off.
“I’ll walk you out, darling,” Hyungsik offers, winding an arm around Taehyung’s waist. “Jeongguk,” he turns to flash the idol a small smile, “it was a pleasure meeting you.”
“Likewise,” Jeongguk says, turning to appraise Taehyung, “I hope I’ll see you again soon, Taehyung. It was lovely meeting you tonight.”
“Yeah, you too,” Taehyung says, giving him a curt nod and a smile. Jeongguk was still much too innocent to how bad this world actually was and Taehyung wished him luck wherever he went. Possibilities that they would see each other again were slim but he thought the idol’s hopefulness was endearing.
Hyungsik pulls him to his side and they head away from the bar. He can still sense Jeongguk observing him and looks over his shoulder at the other, who is leaning against the counter and watching him intently. He grows smaller as they walk away but something about his eyes sticks to Taehyung in an unforgettable way.