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Jungkook doesn't look too happy, Taehyung thought.
"Hyung! This is awesome! Thank you so much!" Jimin was saying, his small hands holding the customized CD that Hobi had given him as present.
It was a beautiful gift, and it made Taehyung feel guilty.
Maybe his idea of giving BTS merchandise to Jungkook was a bad one. Before he revealed his gift, everybody had thought it would be something unique and pretty, because that was Taehyung's style of giving gifts, but Taehyung had proved them wrong. He had walked to Jungkook and handed him the bag.
After looking inside Jungkook had burst out laughing.
Taehyung noticed he had laughed, but the mirth didn't reach his eyes quickly enough. There was a trace of disappointment. And now, after looking at Jimin's gift, Taehyung's heart felt guilty at not doing his best for his gift to Jungkook.
Had Jungkook, like the others, expected more from him?
Of course he knew this manito was just for the RUN episode, and nothing serious. But even so, Hobi had put in a lot of efforts to give Jimin his gift and it had been unique - the most unique of all gifts.
He knew Jimin would cry later in bed after the shooting was done. His beaming face, smile and disbelief were a sign of how surprised and truly happy he was with his gift. Hobi had outdone himself.
Maybe Taehyung should have done the same.
After all it had been a long time since he bought Jungkook a gift and it was aired for the fans to see. Thinking of this depressed him further, and Taehyung's frown grew.
In front of him, everybody was getting up and showing off their gifts and Jungkook was twirling the fans with Taehyung's face on them, and looking a bit absent-minded.
He got up and went to lift his bag of gifts from Jimin.
Just like Hobi, Jimin too had made an effort while choosing a gift for Taehyung. It was meaningful and he now knew why Jimin had asked him about his new song title.
Jimin had wanted to give him something that was related to the song he was working on. Taehyung had been inspired by a movie and had penned down the lyrics keeping the essence of this movie in mind. When Jimin first heard it, he praised it so much so that Taehyung went red with embarrassment.
Jimin even went as far as to listen the song every night, because he loved it that much.
And now that Taehyung had chosen a title of the song, Jimin had got him two adorable bear figurines. It was the perfect gift for his song. It made Taehyung's heart leap in excitement. He couldn't wait to show thier fans and to his members the finished product and it's MV
"Hyung -" someone said and Taehyung looked up to see Jungkook. His thoughts about the song were pushed to the side, as the guilt from earlier entered his heart again.
He had a smile on his face and it lessened the guilt in Taehyung's heart.
Still, he wanted to make it better and make the guilt go away.
"Jungkook-ah I'm sorry."
"What -" before Jungkook could say anything, Taehyung hugged him and stayed like that for a few seconds.
"Sorry. I should have brought you something else. I should have brought you something nice."
"Ah-hyung... it's okay. Your gift is great! I like it!" Jungkook assured him, but Taehyung wasn't convinced.
In the end he let Jungkook step out of his hug and watched as the maknae went searching for one of his fans that Yoongi had taken.
Did he really like the gift?
A small part of him wanted to believe but then he saw Jimin thanking Hobi again and again and the excitement in his voice made Taehyung wish, Jungkook could be the same.
He wanted Jungkook to look just as excited over his gift.
Unfortunately, bad timing and lack of options had forced Taehyung to make a quick decision to buy BTS merchandise for Jungkook, and now he felt like an idiot.
"Taehyung?"
Someone was calling him, but Taehyung still stared after Jungkook as he walked past the gates and into the lobby of their hotel.
"Taehyungie?" Jimin's face filled his vision.
"Ah Jimin, what are you doing?"
"I was calling you for so long. What happened?" Jimin asked. His eyes still held smiles, but he didn't speak about his gift to Taehyung. He was waiting for Taehyung to speak his mind.
"Tell me. What is it?"
"Uh... I don't think Jungkook liked my gift for him."
Jimin chuckled. "What? No. Of course he liked it! Anything you give him Taehyung, he'll treasure it."
"You think so...he likes it?" Taehyung asked, wanting to seek comfort in Jimin's words.
"Yes." Jimin nodded and beckoned to him. "C'mon inside. It's cold in here." Jimin said and walked towards the lobby.
Taehyung didn't feel anything except guilt, though the heaviness that came with that feeling dampened a bit after what Jimin said. But still...his gift should have been worthwhile and not just merchandise.
He was never one to give BTS merchandise before. When he bought it, his only thought was that the members do resort to such options when there was a time limit, and this once he decided to go along with them. And now, it had backfired on him.
Taehyung, lost in thought and walking to their hotel almost bumped into someone.
"Oh! I'm sorry -" Taehyung bowed his head and when he looked up, he saw Jungkook staring at him.
There was a look on his face that Taehyung couldn't interpret. But it disappeared the next second and a smile pulled at his lips.
"V hyung! I was coming to get you. It's cold out here."
Same words, Taehyung thought and frowned. Had Jimin sent him to get Taehyung? It was most likely, since Jungkook was repeating what Jimin said minutes ago before going into the hotel.
Jungkook reached out to take hold of his hand and Taehyung took a step back.
"Hyung?"
"Uh... I think I forgot something at the table. I'll be right back." Taehyung said.
"What? V hyung wait -"
Taehyung ignored his next words. He didn't wait for Jungkook and turned his back to him, running in the direction of the clearing where they had just finished shooting their run episode.
Before he reached there, he texted Seijin to come outside.
There was no way to get rid of that small cloud of guilt hovering over his heart. He kept thinking, if only his gift had been a bit better...a bit of himself...a bit of what he thought of Jungkook, something that would make Jungkook happy - there was only one answer to his what ifs.
He needed to go shopping, and he needed to go now.
"Taehyung? What is it?" Seijin's approaching figure, made Taehyung alert and he looked behind him, worried Jungkook had followed.
But there was noone beside Seijin and him.
"Good."
"What?"
"I... I-I need to go shopping."
"Huh? Now?" Seijin glanced at his wrist with the watch and back at Taehyung, raising an eyebrow at him. "It's too late Taehyung. We can go tomorrow, if you want to buy some souvenir."
"No." Taehyung shook his head and grabbed Seijin's arm. "Please... it's urgent."
Seijin stared at him and then sighed. "This is about the gift, isn't it?"
"H-How did you know?" Taehyung was caught off guard. His manager had guessed it right at the first try.
"Your face said it all." Seijin said. "You regretted giving Jungkook the BTS merchandise."
"Yes." Taehyung looked at his hands and bit his lip, sighing in frustration.
"I'm not the kind to give someone BTS merchandise as gift. But Jin hyung and Suga hyung, and even Namjoonie hyung give each other such gifts, I-I thought -"
"You thought it would work out...but it didn't?"
Taehung frowned. "It's not that it didn't work out. But after what Jimin gave me as gift, and after seeing Hobi hyung's gift, I also felt like I should have given Jungkookie something better."
"You kids... really-"
"Please...please -"
"Okay. Fine...what do you have in mind?"
"Uh... I don't know."
Seijin shook his head and caught hold of Taehyung's hand, and dragged him to the nearest car. "Let's get going, you can think up a nice gift on the way."
"Thank you!" Taehyung all but yelled and gave Seijin a back hug.
"Alright... alright. Hurry up and get inside, it will be a miracle if we find anything open at this hour." Seijin was muttering.
"We will! I'm sure of it." Taehyung said, not caring about the late hour or that it was raining. Somehow the thought that he had another chance to get a nice gift for Jungkookie, brightener everything around him.
He even hummed to the tune played on radio while Seijin drove them across the town, slowly down at every possible window that had a light.
Few minutes turned to an hour, and the another hour, and Taehyung was slowly getting worried.
Was his luck so bad? Could it be that even this time he will fail at getting a decent for Jungkookie? His heart sank to his stomach.
"Oh look-"
"What is it?" Taehyung turned to see Seijin pointing to a tiny shop at the far corner of the street.
"It's open!" Taehyung squealed and was out of the car before Seijin could follow.
"Wait! Taehyung it's raining! Come back!"
"You'll catch a cold!"
Taehyung waved a hand, dismissing him.
He didn't care that he was getting wet in the rain, as long as he got something for Jungkookie.
"Hey!" He pushed open the door and greeted the old lady inside.
She stared at him in surprise. "I-I'm closing the shop."
"Oh! Please don't!" Taehyung pleaded and grabbed the lady's hand. "Please give me five minutes...just give minutes! I'll be out as soon as I get my hands on a nice gift for my -"
"It's alright." The lady made a shooing gesture. "Kids these days...wanting to impress their girls at such late hour -"
"Ah-...no, this is for my friend. I felt guilty for giving him something not worthwhile." Taehyung said from the back of a shelf, his voice muffled behind the collection of glass figurines. "So I want to try again and give him something nice."
"You friend you say -" the lady gave him a look. At that moment, Seijin stepped in, umbrella in hand.
"Taehyung!" He called.
"Yes!"
"Did you find anything?" Seijin asked.
"Not yet." Taehyung was walking from one shelf to the other, his eyes searching and searching, but not liking anything he saw.
"Maybe, you're friend will like this." The lady's voice came from behind him.
Taehyung turned to find the lady holding out a delicate figurine of roses, and not just any roses, these were in varied shades of purple and twinkled as if light danced within the petals. There were a total of seven roses, entwined at the stems and curling outwards as if facing the sun.
One rose was the darkest of purple, leaning more towards mauve, and the other six had a lighter shade and circled it, creating a tiny crown.
The beauty in that figurine took Taehyung's breathe away.
"This is...this is beautiful." He whispered.
The old lady nodded and smiled. "I thought you might like it."
"Thank you!" Taehyung said and bowed his head. "Thank you so much!"
"I'm sure he'll love it!"
"Thank you!" Taehyung kept repeating even after he finished paying for the figurine.
"Let's go." Seijin said, and he too thanked the old lady.
The entire ride back Taehyung couldn't sit still in his seat. Seijin laughed at him and patted his shoulder. "Calm down."
"I don't know -" Taehyung joined in the laugh. "I just know he's going to like this one!"
"Yes." Seijin nodded. "It's pretty, the gift."
As soon as they got near the lobby and parked near the gates, Taehyung scrambled for the door.
"Why can't I reach it?" Taehyung muttered, his hands clawing at the door. Something was stopping him.
"Taehyungie -" Seijin's lauh was more pronounced now. "You forgot the seatbelt."
"Oh-" Taehyung felt for the seatbelt and released the lock.
When he got out of the car, Seijin caught hold of his hand. "Wait."
"What happened?"
"Wear this -" Seijin gave him his leather jacket. "It will hide your wet clothes from Jungkook and you can surprise him once inside."
"Oh yes! Thank you! You're awesome!" Taehyung gave Seijin another quick hug and went inside.
But before he could reach for the elevator to take him by he floor, someone shouted.
"Taehyung!"
The voice he recognised and tensed, not turning to see the person.
"Where did you go?"
"Uh...nowhere. Uh... I was outside with out manager."
"I didn't see you. Stop lying Taehyung."
Taehyung still refused to turn. "Jimin-ah I'm not lying. You can ask our manager."
"Yes, the manager whosenjacket your wearing...because?"
"Uh -" before Taehyung could form the next lie, Jimin was at his side and he pulled at the jacket exposing his wet clothes beneath.
"Taehyung! You idiot! Why did you still go outside! I told you it was cold and now -"
"It's fine. It's not like I got drenched." Taehyung assured him or tried to.
The worry in Jimin's eyes didn't leave. And to make matters worse, another voice called to him.
"V hyung? Why did you go out in the rain?"
Taehyung sighed. There goes his chance to surprise Jungkook. He wished he had come in with Seijin and avoided all the questions.
His manager was good at dealing with Jimin.
"I... I-uh -"
"Taehyungie..." Jimin's voice didn't hold any of the earlier anger, just a hint of worry. "Do you know how late it is?"
"We were worried about you. Jungkookie woke me up, when you didn't return." Jimin said. "We were both waiting for you."
Jungkook nodded. "What was so urgent hyung? If you wanted to shop, we could have gone tomorrow."
"It's not that I wanted to shop." Taehyung licked his lips and glanced at Jimin.
His best friend had caught hold of the package in his hands. His eyes raised to Taehyung's face and then at Jungkook. Realization flickered on his face and the worry dissolved a little.
"Fine." Jimin sighed, finally figuring out Taehyung's plan. "I'm going to bed."
"You're the best Jimin-ah!" Taehyung cheered and gave him a side hug.
"Just don't act like this...like an idiot, the next time." He said and took the stairs. He didn't check back to see if Taehyung and Jungkook were following or not.
"Hyung?"
"Ah Jungkookie -" the giddiness was back inside Taehyung and he caught hold of Jungkook's hand.
He dragged the maknae back to their room and closed the door.
"Taehyungie what -"
"Shh -" Taehyung pulled him to the bed. "Sit."
Jungkook nodded and sat on the bed.
"Tada!" Taehyung pulled out the package from under his arms and waved it in front of Jungkook.
"What is it?"
"Your present!" Taehyung said, beaming and dancing from one toe to the other.
The guilt had robbed him of his usual self.
Now that he was free he couldn't help dancing around the room. The mission was a success. He had bought a nice gift for Jungkookie. He had done something special for Jungkookie and that's all that mattered to him.
"Open it."
Jungkook took the package from his hands and unwrapped the figurine. His doe-like eyes widened with surprise. "Hyung...this is really pretty." He whispered.
"I know right! I found the perfect gift for you!" Taehyung gave him a broad smile and sat down beside him on the bed.
The happiness stayed on Jungkook's face but a seriousness crept into his eyes. "But hyung...you shouldn't have done this."
"Huh? You didn't like it?" Taehyung felt his heart deflate a little.
"No. No. I loved it! But V hyung...you really didn't have to go out in the rain just to buy me something. I already said that I loved your other gift."
"B-But you didn't seem happy."
"Hyung -" Jungkook groaned. "I was just a bit surprised that you gave me BTS merchandise. That's all."
"See -" Taehyung caught hold of his words and tried to put across his point. "That's exactly my point. It's not my style, giving BTS merchandise, so I had to get something different or else I would feel guilty."
"I wanted to bring you something awesome."
"Hyung -" Jungkook spoke in a quiet voice. "You know I love you right?"
Taehyung stared at him, silenced by the sudden love confession. "Y-Yes I know that. I love you too Jungkookie, that's why I wanted to do this for you."
"Hyung, I don't need these special gifts." Jungkook put the figurine on the side and pulled Taehyung close to him, wrapping his arms around his waist. "You're already the best gift I have. Nothing can compare to that." He whispered. "You didn't have to get wet in the rain, running around the town to find a gift for me. This is enough...anything from you, is as special to me as this figurine."
"Jungkookie -"
"I was worried." Jungkook whispered then, cutting off Taehyung.
"You disappeared suddenly, and I couldn't figure out where you went. The other managers also didn't know about it. They could only tell me that our manager Seijin was with you. I couldn't do anything so I called on Jimin, and together we were trying to figure out what to do."
Taehyung didn't know they were this worried, maybe it was because of the late hour. He wasn't the type to leave without saying anything, but since this was a surprise he had to keep silent.
"Sorry -"
"Don't do that again." Jungkook said and flicked his head.
"Ow!" Taehyung rubbed at his forehead. "Why had you do that?"
"Because I got scared when I didn't see you." Jungkook muttered. "Next time just tell me where you're going istead of keeping it a surprise."
Taehyung sighed. It seems his detour at night had caused Jungkook more grief then Taehyung wanted.
"I'm sorry. I just wanted to make you happy." Taehyung whispered and pressed their foreheads together.
Jungkook smiled then. "Being with you makes me happy, Taehyungie."
"No gift can compare to you V hyung."
Taehyung felt his face go red, the younger knew just the words to make him shy.
"I know... I know. I'm the best gift this universe has given you." Taehyung said, letting the sarcasm take over his voice and let out a laugh.
But Jungkook didn't laugh. Instead he leaned in and kissed Taehyung swiftly on the lips.
"Yes."
"You're the best gift that happened to me."
*