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Chapter Text

There stood Taehyung, with his fitted white suit, one specifically chosen by his fiance or  - soon to be husband. By soon, he means in a few minutes, he’ll walk through the dark wooden doors of the chapel and on the velvety carpet. At the end of it, he would stand with his beloved, smiling, reaching out a hand and finally would forever call him his. 

Imagining the moment made him giggle, a dreamy smile on his face but the fact that his legs feel stuck or the way his heart is thumping in his eardrums defies it. 

Nervous was an understatement, he knows this was a happy day but he cannot seem to stop fidgeting and playing with the boutonniere on his chest. Poor flower is in the midst of losing all its petals. The morning sun seemed to burn his back and his thoughts were just a little bit louder. So, he takes a deep breath and shakes off the nerves. 

Taehyung imagines the bouquets inside, his family looking at him with joyful chatter as he finally reaches a vital point in his life. Or, the reception after filled with chocolates, dances and the much awaited wine. The splendor and grandeur of everything all in one day for love, for commitment. 

When his mother taps on his shoulder and loops their arms together, he breaks out of his trance and feels the excitement bubbling in his body. “You ready?” She asks, a small grin on her face as the creaking of the large oakwood before them signals the opening of the wedding. 

“Been ready all my life,” 

Taehyung thinks, looking back into everything, this is where it all went downhill.  If it were up to him to this day, he wishes he never walked down the aisle. 

Once he stepped in, there was a delay in the music but Taehyung ignores this. He decides that maybe the musicians weren’t able to catch the timing, but something about it was off. It was as if there were a  few moments of hesitation before the live band looked at each other and played. 

As he continues to walk, putting on the best smile he could muster, he looks at the audience with eyes that sparkle. At first it seemed fine, the music was playing his favorite song - that he dreamed would be played at his wedding, he didn’t seem like he’d trip on the carpet nor did he have stains on his pure suit. 

It was until half way through the procession, he glances at his guests and actually observes. Sees how their faces would form anxious smiles and worried peeps before avoiding eye contact with him. Was he not presentable? 

The question lingered in his head as he continued to walk and halfway across the hall, he stops and realized. The guests were not cheering, it was dead silent within the ceremony. Taehyung couldn’t hear any of his friends or maybe his little sister cheering him on as he parades himself in front of everyone. 

Maybe it was out of respect that they were silent, but the piercing tension across the room was enough to make him want to disappear, evaporate - anything. He shouldn’t feel this way, really. Not today, not on his wedding day. 

It was when his  mother tightens the grip on his arm, a small sob escaping her lips that got Taehyung alarmed. He turns his gaze and meets the altar, adorned with such white and colorful flowers. 

Taehyung looks at the end of the aisle, first at the officiating priest, looking at him with sad eyes and glances to the right - his fiance is nowhere to be seen. There was no one standing at the end waiting for him, and Taehyung stays there, frozen. 

He takes meek steps towards the altar, eyes blown wide. His mother grips at Taehyung’s arm, but he softly grabs her hand and gives it a gentle squeeze. Taehyung doesn’t know what the fuck he should do. Should he wait here? Should he apologize to their guests? 

Should he chase after his runaway groom? 

The situation was definitively splayed out of him, it was explainable if the dots were connected. Conflicted guests, sorry glances, tension you could cut, an absent groom, pity. Taehyung knows what happened, he doesn’t need to ask. Sure as hell, he needs to find out what he should do first. 

At the end, he doesn’t follow anything his mind is telling him to do. He just comes into consciousness, mind aware, once he turns to face the waiting guests and asks in a small voice, “Where… where is he?” 

There’s conflict in his eyes that can’t seem to simmer down, and Taehyung simply decides to stare back into the crowd whose faces he can no longer distinguish. A familiar tug at the hand is what grounds him, and he turns to face his best friend, standing there at the end of the aisle with him. 

“Jeongguk,” 

Jeongguk looks at him with concern, inching his hand closer to Taehyung’s to hold and pull him close to a tight embrace. “Jeongguk, where is he?” He speaks, voice muffled when he buries himself on the curve of his best friend’s neck. 

“I’m so sorry, we… we tried to look for him and your father was about to go out and tell you but the door opened. We didn’t know what to do. I’m so sorry, Tae. You don’t deserve any of that.” 

Taehyung stops Jeongguk with balled fists against the other’s suit, creating creases on his black coat. It feels like himself in someway, he just wants to curl up, make the ground eat him whole and make sure no one remembers any of this. 

“Where is he?” He asks, one last time. 

“He didn’t come,” It was barely a whisper but it doesn’t pass through Taehyung’s ears. It enrages him more that he knows what happened, and it made sense of the past even more and he’s stood there with a heap of heavy realizations on his head. He knows that his husband left him right in front of the altar, but what makes his heart twinge in agony is the fact that Jeongguk just said that it was indeed true. 

And it’s something that he has to face right now. 

“Taehyung? Tae, let’s get you out of here, yeah?” Jeongguk tries to speak to Taehyung, but now the ringing in his ears are louder than the other’s voice. He’s been acting on impulse ever since the revelation, his mind seems like it’s swimming. 

Or how his brain could only provide him saving grace from the truth by blurring his thoughts, tries to misunderstand everything and even has the audacity to act dumb just to prevent Taehyung’s feelings from exploding. 

But, he’s better than that. Taehyung wants, no, he knows he can handle this. So, he turns towards the crowd. 

“I’m sorry,” He starts, voice hoarse with a slight crack. Although he knows he can do this, he’s not sure if he can do it without crying. He continues. “I’m sorry you had to come here and be faced with this situation. For our dear guests, t-there’s nothing to be sorry for, please don’t look at me that way.” 

Inhaling, he gathers more of his strength while his eyes are straining from trying to blink and risk tears. Speak straight, he tells himself now is not the time to cry. 

“I will try to compensate, you’ll still get our little gifts and...if you want to, you may still go to the reception.” Taehyung gives a tight knitted smile. “This day went downhill, but that doesn’t mean we can’t make it better. Thank you.”  

Once he finished, he faces the door on his right looking straight at it with no intention of glancing any other way. He slots perfectly into the door and slams it behind himself, the bang echoing through the rest of the chapel. 

The door leads back to the chapel’s small garden, where the photoshoot presumably will be after the wedding. You know, the bridesmaid, best man, the happily wedded couple in the middle with smiles that could tear their faces off. Something Taehyung has yet to experience and it just further aggravates him. 

There’s another bang of the door but it's soft, hushed in a manner that it softly clicks close. His ears are met with the sounds of scurrying and sloshy footsteps stepping on the post-morning dew. 

“I know it's you,” Taehyung speaks, voice opposite from the clear and concise one moments ago. “I don’t want to talk about it.” 

Jeongguk perks up, detaching his hovering hand on Taehyung’s shoulder and pulls it behind his frame. He shifts the weight between the left and right of his feet, before clearing his voice.

“Do you want me to take you home? I mean, yeah… I came here to ask that.” 

The ride home was quiet, and deafening as so. Taehyung simply stared at the passing cars and buildings until the neighborhood became familiar to him. He tries to shut off his consciousness by occasionally shutting his eyes shut or zoning out. 

Jeongguk, on the other hand, drives without a word. Granted, he also didn’t know what to do in this situation. After Taehyung’s small speech of apology, the guests were quiet which quickly turned into murmurs and soon, full out gossip. It’s a way of living, apparently.

Most are confused, with doubts of taking advantage of the situation and going to the reception to get the benefits of going through a wedding. Or the free champagne, others tried to reason out or straight up hate Taehyung’s fiance, a lot pitied the ghosted groom. 

It was all talk, and Jeongguk was the only one to follow Taehyung out the door. His parents were busy trying to grip the situation at hand. But, he leaves the room to go to his best friend, who believed in fairy tales - in true love, and is going through painstaking heartbreak. 

So here they are. 

On a drive home, now miles away from the wedding venue as if nothing happened. Taehyung doesn’t come home newly-wedded, he comes home single and with no idea how it happened. 

“Stop thinking about it.” Taehyung cuts Jeongguk’s train of thought, yet continues to blankly stare at the car window. “I know you are, but please…” 

Jeongguk pats the Taehyung’s hand placed on his lap before muttering a soft okay , and stopping the car in front of the apartment. Both take a step out, and Jeongguk silently guides Taehyung up to his beloved abode. 

It stays like that in the elevator, Jeongguk swears he could hear a little more decibels from how quiet the two are but he keeps a straight face and inches closer to Taehyung, looping his arm around his waist and tugging the other back into a tight hug. One that leaves Taehyung’s head on Jeongguk’s shoulder. 

Taehyung doesn’t cry but grips on to him, so tightly that Jeongguk might have joked about it killing him. Might have. 

When the elevator dings, they pull apart and Taehyung goes to his apartment, but not without looking back at Jeongguk, a look on his face. “I...don’t want to talk for now. I’ll be in contact when I’m ready. Just leave me alone. For now.”

“I know it sounds rude, I’m sorry but….” Taehyung groans, hand shaking on the door handle and it feels like his voice wants to break out on him. Everything seems like it wants to break down on him. 

“Tae, it’s okay. Call me if you want to talk, alright?” Jeongguk’s face isn’t judgeful, there’s no remorse. He simply nods and waits for Taehyung to be comfortable enough to talk about what happened. “But, if I don’t hear from you in a week expect me to come barging in.” He jokes, lighthearted. 

Behind the door, Taehyung musters up something similar to a snort before shutting it close. At least, there was something that made him smile after even if it's a mere second.

He doesn’t know how long it's been and Taehyung notices how he cannot handle being alone. As soon as Jeongguk left him in his apartment that day, it hasn’t been a whole hour when he calls him up asking for his company.  

There’s no doubt that he needed silence, but Jeongguk is patient with him it's actually unbelievable but Taehyung doesn’t have the time to acknowledge that. Not when he’s been leaning on the other’s shoulder and crying into his gray sweatshirt dusk till dawn. 

And at present, the routine continues. Jeongguk knocks at the door in the morning to find Taehyung snuggled - well more like nested in his bed, bottle of wine by the side, a few scrunched up sheets and well, stains he doesn’t want to question. So, he pokes his shoulder and tries to stir Taehyung awake. 

“Taehyungieee,” he drawls out, shaking the other slightly. “Let’s fix your bed up, come on.” 

He takes a small moment to digest the condition of the room and well, to put it simply it's a mess. It was as if a storm hit and threw Taehyung, who Jeongguk thinks tried to get into bed after downing alcohol, haphazardly into it. 

It’s a long process, really and Taehyung isn’t really one to wake up easily as he sits on the bed and falls back within the next few seconds with a whine on his lips. “No.” He mutters. 

“The sun is killing me.” 

Out of frustration, Jeongguk draws the blinds coaxing the nice warmth of the morning sun to land directly on Taehyung’s face and the sleepyhead manages to give him a glare along with a few you little brat and fuck you to add. Meanwhile, the demon who so treacherously opened his window blinds has the nerve to give him a damn smile. 

“I’m not gonna force you to talk to me,” Jeongguk turns his back and sits on a corner of the bed he deems clean. “You can do that anytime you’re ready, let me just help you clean up and you can go back to bed. It looks like a snake could crawl up here anywhere.” 

There’s a pillow thrown on his face and he faces an ever so pouting Taehyung, a blanket over his head but the sharp gaze remains on his face - threatening Jeongguk maybe. All fails though when Jeongguk makes out the bags under his bloodshot eyes. 

“Or… you can take a bath while I clean up your room, deal?” Jeongguk suggests, scratching the back of his ear because no matter how much he tries, his understanding as well as his attempts to make better of it isn’t going anywhere. But, he’s trying and it's better than nothing. 

“There’s nothing to clean, the apartment is half empty as it is.” Taehyung tells him, examining the expanse of his room then drifting towards the open door to the living room. It’s the truth, half of the shelves are empty, the closet, and the drawers but it still makes up the mess Jeongguk badly wants to clean. 

Back then, Taehyung and his fiance would literally share half and half. Other side is his, other side theirs to not trudge into dangerous waters when their stuff gets mixed up. And well, Taehyung learns, when he got home that day, his fiance’s stuff were gone from their apartment. Everything from his shoes, watches, clothes and even his toiletries - fuck him for stealing his favorite shampoo.

It was a big slap to him, he bid goodbye in a way Taehyung would not have imagined. 

Jeongguk sighs and is left with no choice, he pulls the blankets off Taehyung, leaving the other yelping and clawing at the sheets. And, Jeongguk does what he does best. He slots his arms under Taehyung’s armpits and carries him like that to the bathroom door. 

“Please?” He pleads, although Taehyung’s already at the entrance of the bathroom and is left with no other choice. 

Everything passes by quickly and as soon as Taehyung is done, he steps out fresh and as if his room went through room service in a hotel. The door was slightly open and he pokes his head out to see Jeongguk on the sofa. 

Feeling the lingering stare at the back of his head, Jeongguk turns back and meets Taehyung’s spying figure. Lifting up the small grocery plastic, he smiles as Taehyung’s eyes light up at the sight of strawberry ice cream. 

Safe to stay two tubs of the ice cream was enough to satiate Taehyung - for a while. When he puts down the spoon, and suddenly releases pent up frustration by hitting the pillow and well, burying his face into it.  “I still can’t believe it.” He says, voice muffled by the pillow. 

“I know what happened, I fucking know its as clear the fucking sun outside but I don’t want to believe it. Am I living a nightmare?”  He faces Jeongguk. “Wake me up.” 

This is the most Taehyung has talked between the past few days and the younger, clueless at his sudden outburst speaks. “It’s not…” 

“Fuck.” He exhales, fingers threading through his permed hair. “I’ve been physically ghosted, on my fucking wedding. Can you believe that? Up until now, I thought we were okay, it was so wrong of me to ignore the red flags. I just… wanted to get married. He-”

As if Taehyung was like a balloon, blown up to the extent of growing bigger and bigger to the point where he just pops with hot air. Yeah, that would be a good simile to explain what was happening in front of him right now. 

Jeongguk leaves it all to Taehyung: how he pulls him for a hug, hides his sobbing face on the other’s (very much defined) chest and keeping him there. There’s a shudder that goes through his body, sounds of his crying bouncing off the walls until he’s subdued to tamer hiccups by Jeongguk rubbing his back. 

“I don’t mean to pry and you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to, but…red flags?” Jeongguk talks softly, easing the rest of the cries off his best friend and it didn’t feel intruding to him at all. A little part of Taehyung is finally happy he could let this out, especially after the heap of truths he was forced to acknowledge two days before. 

“There was something going on between you two?.” 

“Something?” Taehyung scoffs, slowly untangling himself from Jeongguk’s arms. “It’s more like nothing was going on between me and him.” 

A pause stops the both of them from speaking, and it seems like Taehyung was taking a second to collect his thoughts. He knows he can trust Jeongguk, he always had from his first heartbreak to his greatest one right now, he’s always been there. 

There was not a thing to hide from him, now that he’s asked. He sure as hell can keep secrets but Kim Taehyung knows himself that he cannot lie. 

“It was okay at first - I thought it was okay, maybe we were just busy with wedding plans and you know how many days of work will be at stake. Maybe he was just stressed. Those were my first thoughts.” He tucks his knees in before he was intruded by a pillow handed by Jeongguk which he squeezes. 

“Distant. That would sum it up. He would ignore me, our conversation started to become sparse. I’d text him every night and he leaves me on read most of the time. I know it sounds shallow but then he just straight up acted like I didn’t exist and he was hesitant to talk about the wedding. I don’t… I don’t have a single idea where the sudden one-eighty came from.”

Taehyung stops himself, letting his lungs catch up with the fast-paced way he was rambling about before all this. Licking his lips, he attempts to hold himself together. 

“What hurts most is that I don’t know what the fuck went wrong. When we got engaged he was so happy and suddenly a few months before the wedding, it gradually turned into this. It was so little that I didn’t notice or maybe I didn’t want to notice.” 

Needless to say, Jeongguk was left dumbfounded because he had no idea. No clue whatsoever this was happening even prior to the wedding. And Taehyung had kept it all to himself. 

“I didn’t know this… Taehyung, why didn’t you tell any of us?” 

“I was scared to know I wasn’t being loved anymore, but it already happened. After the wedding I thought we’d fall right back but,” He laughs bitterly at himself. “There wasn’t even a wedding.” 

The conversation ends neither on a good or bad note. It just ends and Taehyung finds himself being huddled up by his best friend and the television now running in front of them. 

Thing is though, whenever Taehyung would try to escape the clutches of the other’s arm, Jeongguk just gives him a stern look and that’s there to it. Until one point he breaks free to grab his melted ice cream only to jump back and find comfort from the younger.  

It’s past midnight now and Taehyung is dozing off on the couch while Jeongguk finishes the dishes for him. They really spent the last four hours? Wait,no, six hours? Jeongguk has no idea. He has to compute how many hours it takes to complete three anime series on Netflix. 

Poking Taehyung awake again, vast difference from the one this morning, he opens his eyelids to be met by a waving Jeongguk. “Hyungie, I’ll go now.” He whispers. 

“Wait, let me see you off.” Tugging at Jeongguk’s arm for support he hoists himself to stand up, and terribly does so when he almost falls face first. “Blood hasn’t reached my brain yet, hold on.”

“Go to bed, there’s no need. I can show myself out.” 

“It’s the least I can do after you put up with my ass.” Taehyung shuts up Jeongguk’s response with his hand and waddles to the door. Jeongguk watches his back in amusement and follows right after. 

“You know the door is literally five steps away, you really didn’t ha-” And again, Jeongguk is shushed by the sleepyhead whose face is puffier and rounder from sleep. “Bye, Taehyungie.” 

Taehyung softens up at the nickname and gives a pat on Jeongguk’s shoulder. “Thanks Jeongguk, you’re really like family to me.”

His best friend smiles and sends a small salute at Taehyung. “Call me when you need me.” 

“Always.” 

Taehyung doesn’t have a choice but to pack up all the wedding stuff and send out a message to everyone who attended the wedding. Besides the fact that it was a ruined ceremony, the payment was no joke. 

Imagine spending almost a million won on a wedding that never was, stood up not on a blind date but on your damn wedding and yeah, Taehyung decides, he has the validity to feel downright pure rage. 

Well, rage on the part that he has to shoulder the expenses himself after the wedding, and even though a whole five days has passed he still needs to do damage control while organizing his outstanding balance. 

The part where he got stood up? It’s a silent battle in his mind. It’s better to let his anger out first as there’s no other way to vent. And Taehyung, doesn’t exactly want to waddle in his sadness at the moment. No, not when all his money is used for spending than earning right at the present. 

Pride is another thing and Taehyung curses at human emotions, on how they’re so complicated that he can’t even understand himself. But, right now he’s staring at his phone contemplating if he should contact his family - and his (ex) fiance’s. 

Although the complexity of feelings racks through his head, Taehyung chooses it's not the time to be prideful. Mainly because he realizes there’s nothing to be proud of either, not at himself, not at this time. 

He sighs and finally types at the phone longing for his attention. He sends out a message to his relatives - and his ex fiance’s to apologize for that day. Once he presses send to his family and others (mainly families on the guest list), Taehyung quickly tosses his phone and deems it untouchable for the next few hours or so. 

He packs his suit, the extra invitations and sends out the last few payments for the wedding, which he failed to pay before the wedding and well, during. Seeing the number in his account going down on his laptop screen wasn’t at all satisfying. 

Everytime it would lessen, he swears his face would contort in inhumane ways. 

It's when his phone pings continuously that he finally tears his sight away from his decreasing balance. There were around forty or fifty messages on his screen and as he takes a deep inhale, he slides his phone open. 

Apparently, no one has heard from his fiance ever since that day, and previous texts didn’t seem to hint the family about the sudden escapade either. It means he took everything and left… alone. 

Past aside, he drops the phone and ignores the texts. Taehyung decides this has been the most productive day and since he can’t take seeing his stuff in the apartment feeling half-empty, he wants to fill it in with stuff he owns. 

Unbearable, that’s the word or rather, that’s what Taehyung feels whenever he looks at the once full shelves now gone. It was like a constant reminder of the gaping hole in his chest. Memories of what used to be will just hurt him more, so he mutes them. 

Starting off with the big ass glass cabinet, most probably from Ikea, whose right side was downright a void. There was nothing there except a few bits of dust waiting to be wiped off. 

Taehyung stares at it, lifting his fingers to form a circle in front of his eyes before he’s hit with the idea of finally putting his passion paintings in place. The small canvases would fit perfectly. So, he starts. 

He gathers up the stacked canvases and paints in a box from his room and starts to do his work. He finishes displaying them, hangs up a few larger ones, re-arranges his clothes, game consoles, fills in his drawers of only him, him, and him. 

It’s when he finally opens his bedside drawer, he finds two tickets to Jeju Island. For a split second, he’s dumbfounded before he suddenly realizes that oh, right weddings do include honeymoons. And that completely flew over his head.

But even though, Taehyung groans because how could he forget about the honeymoon. Just How. 

Groaning more at the sudden turn of events, once again, he picks up the phone he vowed to ignore. Though the vow’s broken as he asks Naver for the airline’s number and contacts customer service. Of course, they just had to pay for the pricey honeymoon too. 

“Hello, This is Korean Air customer service. How may I help you?” 

“Uh yeah,” Taehyung shifts the weight from his right foot. “I would like to inquire if I could cancel a flight?” 

“Yes, please hold on a second, sir.” The person on the phone pauses for a while before continuing, making Taehyung even more anxious. When money is on the line, he can’t be really excited about it. “May I have your name and flight number? There is a protocol we must follow. Thank you.” 

Squinting at the ticket, he mutters the information needed and waits for the person on the line to talk back. 

“Yes, Mr. Kim cancelling the flight would be possible,” Taehyung gives out a breath of relief. “Although, this ticket is nonrefundable considering it has been booked earlier in the year, meaning you will have to pay for a cancellation fee which is ten percent of the ticket price.” 

He wants the world to hit him with lightning because he’s certain that would be less painful for his pocket. 

Clarifying a few more things, he ends the phone call stupefied. His hands find its way back to his phone and he absentmindedly searches for a number. A few rings was all it takes before there’s a definite answer. 

 “Jeongguk?” He starts on the phone.  

“Who else would it be?” 

Taehyung doesn’t stall, he immediately explains the problem to Jeongguk. He needs a second opinion now, especially since he doesn’t want to lose more money. Add the fact that he has no energy to return to work either. 

“You mean, the tickets can’t be refunded? That sucks. Hold on, can I come over? I don’t think we should talk about this through call.”

He nods before realizing Jeongguk can’t actually see him. “Yeah, yeah. I’ll be waiting” There’s a pregnant pause on the call before he talks once more. “Thanks, again.”

“Don’t mention it,” The other replies before ending the call. 

Less than thirty minutes has passed when there’s a knock on his door, and Taehyung is starting to think Jeongguk has engines on his feet. Well, he does have a car but that’s not the point. He expected him to come a few hours later considering he is also a full time working adult. 

When he opens the door, Jeongguk is leaning on the wall, chicken galbi in hand and Taehyung shakes his head in disbelief. “Seems like you have a lot of time in your hands.” 

Jeongguk welcomes himself in with a shrug, immediately putting down the food on the table. “Being a freelance interior designer has its perks,” He smiles. 

“I’m all ears,” He continues, plopping himself down the couch as if it were his own home. He didn’t even bother to take off his shoes and Taehyung swats his feet away from it, leaving him chuckling. 

The two start discussing what could Taehyung possibly do with the tickets without damaging his very much hurt wallet. Obviously, he cannot refund them and well...cancelling the flight would be such a waste.

And Taehyung can’t exactly see the tickets since it’s under his name. Because of that he also can’t give it away to others. 

Jeongguk burns holes in the table as he thinks for a possible solution, or a nice way out of it. Spending more is out of the picture, the flight would go to waste as well. 

“If you can’t give it to others, it’s a little sad you can’t enjoy Jeju,” He says, touching his chin out of habit. “You told me you paid for the hotel already, right?” 

“That too…” Taehyung stays silent for a moment. “The best option would be someone accompanying me since the tickets are under my name.” 

“Your name only? Isn’t the ticket also named after Jihyun?” Jeongguk asks. 

“N-no,” Taehyung blinks. “Fuck, I think he planned this from the start. Flights to Jeju are few this time of the year because its almost winter so they allowed me to purchase two seats and he said… that its for safekeeping...but” 

And just like that, Taehyung is panicking and back to his fragile state from days ago. There’s panic and uncertainty suffocating him right now, and Jeongguk sees every moment of it before holding his hand and gently whispering. “Taehyung, relax,” 

With quivering lips, he nods and closes his eyes to keep his composure. “Yeah, let’s think about this rationally? Right.” 

They spend the next few going over Taehyung’s options, laying out the pros and the cons or if he’s willing to let the flight money go to waste, along with the honeymoon money being thrown out of the window. 

He’s pretty decided he really doesn’t want his money to be for nothing. 

Jeongguk asks how much the ticket costs and there’s a ping on his head, swears that a light bulb might have appeared above him. Taking out his wallet, he hands Taehyung the same exact amount for one ticket, a huge grin on his face - one that scrunches his eyes into cute happy lines. 

“How ‘bout we have a boys night out? Just us two.” 

Clearly Taehyung is well, paralyzed because one: why does his best friend carry that amount of cash around and two, that was some quick decision making and it might have given him some sort of whiplash. “Are you sure? I, Jeongguk, you don’t have to do this.” 

“Come on, how long is it anyways?” And he knows the face his best friend is making, it means he’s absolutely set on going with him. 

“Two weeks.” 

It was now Jeongguk’s turn to get whiplashed, usually honeymoons last a few days to a week, but two? His eyes got a whole lot rounder and before he could put a filter on his mouth he blurts it out. “Woah, who plans a honeymoon that long? You two planned to fuck that long?” 

“Okay, first shut up. Second, it was his compiled work leaves so he said we should opt for two weeks since he’d be well, free.” Taehyung hastily explains, heat rising up to his cheeks. “Bastard,” Jeongguk snickers. “I don’t mind spending two weeks with you, we’ve been best friends since college. Your dorm was my favorite crash place, won’t be any different.” 

Taehyung can’t stop the corners of his mouth turning up, or the way he practically feels his cheeks rising. Though, it's been hectic, it's been awhile since he felt this. That he could be happy for the time being, it's a small miniscule of a moment but it counts. 

“Wow, the best man Jeon Jeongguk is indeed the best man.” 

Gimpo Airport at nine in the morning with his best friend Jeongguk was something Taehyung from a week ago would’ve never imagined. He’s been spacing off most of the time, scrolling through some articles while Jeongguk is set straight on his laptop. 

“You told me being a freelance interior designer has its perks? Why are you working?” Taehyung whines at him, and it’s more unbelievable since Jeongguk looks so absorbed in his work but then you see the I LOVE JEJU shirt and the straw hat on his head. 

He’s the true image of a tourist. 

“Didn’t say I wouldn’t,” Jeongguk chuckles. “I’m just rescheduling the meetings with my clients since I won’t be available for two weeks. If you see me working on designs though, don’t talk to me.” There’s a bite to his words but Taehyung knows it's playful. 

Falling short from conversation was never a bother from the two, the silence between is peaceful. It isn’t awkward nor suffocating. And, falling back into conversation would be as easy as breathing for them. 

“We’ve been a little busy with our lives, and I haven’t really realized that you’ve grown a lot.” Taehyung tells his best friend who is now looking at him fondly. “Can’t say the same for your eyes though,” He laughs. 

That’s when Jeongguk presses enter and snaps his laptop shut, a mischievous stance now visible. “Please, my eyes have grown too!” He defends himself, squinting at Taehyung with a smirk on his face. 

“Grown rounder, you bet.” Taehyung jokes back, but there’s no lie in it. First time he and Jeongguk met, he was in his second year of college and Jeongguk on his first. He couldn’t believe someone had eyes as round as his. It’s amazing how it’s still the same. “Your eyes scream innocent but I know you’re not.” 

“I’m an angel.” His best friend puts a hand over his chest, feigning what Taehyung believes to be a sign of holiness. “Amen.” 

“Don’t you mean a devil of a little brother? Or perhaps, a fallen angel who fools people?” He answers back, pointing an accusing finger at Jeongguk. Their bickering, and maybe corny jokes to most, bring him back to their college years. 

Back when he was twenty and the only thing he’d be crying about is the thesis he’s cramming that’s due in more or less three hours. Or the times Jeongguk and him get wasted together, may it be a club or in their own dorm. Their small cafe outings whether it was for hot chocolate or gaming. 

“I’m not!” He answers back, raising his hands up. 

“Says the one who asked to drink every single night starting the day he turned nineteen,” He raises an eyebrow and senses his aura of victory when Jeongguk sputters in front of him. 

“Okay, true. But, I’m twenty-five now and I’d still ask you for a drink every night if I could.” 

Safe to say the bantering continued, and their voices got louder, the laughs became more frequent and Taehyung forgot about everything for a second. It was so simple back then when they were younger and so complicated now. Though, an old lady interrupts the conversation and they’re respectful enough to tone it down a little.

“Why haven’t you gotten in a relationship?” Taehyung asks, suddenly. For some reason it came to mind. “I mean since college, I never saw you hangout with someone...romantically?” 

It’s true, Taehyung never saw someone who his best friend has taken interest in. There may have been a few one night stands with some others, but that’s it. They remain one night stands. Jeongguk never introduced him to someone either. 

“I’m untouchable, baby.” He keeps a smug  face before bursting into giggles when he sees Taehyung’s oh so amazing straight face. “Okay, okay. You don’t exactly look for romance when you're bombarded with requirements.  And the hangouts with you and my other friends were enough to keep me from not going crazy.” 

Taehyung’s best friend hums in thought, tapping his chin before continuing to answer his question. 

 “I guess I was too busy? Finishing up college, getting into a firm and all, getting money to loosen my schedule. Freelance interior designer.” Jeongguk wiggles his eyebrows. “Paid off in the end.” 

And Taehyung does remember that too. Aside from the usual drunken nights, Jeongguk would be slouched in his study table trying to finish an essay and what Taehyung thinks is a floor plan of sorts. It’s been a few years since that. 

“You’ve always wanted a nice career since college.” 

“That’s nothing compared to your dreams. You were a hopeless romantic, a lifelong commitment is basically fulfilling your ultimate wish.” Jeongguk says before he could think, and sometimes he really wants to shut his mouth. 

Especially now when Taehyung nods quickly and his line of sight passes by Jeongguk before he stares off elsewhere. Knowing that by now, he hasn’t reached that dream, nor does he know if he’ll ever reach it. 

“Shit, Taehyung. I’m so sorry.” An apology isn’t enough to take what he said back, but he puts his hand on the other’s shoulder and squeezes it gently. 

Taehyung turns to look back at him and he wears the same exact face on the day of his wedding. Something that lines along sad, regret and most of all - worn out. 

“No, it’s okay. There’s no use in running away from it forever, you know?”

Hushing the both of them, an announcement blares through the speaker that their flight would be boarding now. Without looking back, Jeongguk grabs Taehyung’s hand and leads the way.

Jeongguk’s jaw drops the moment they arrive at their hotel room - or rather, the big two floored house complete with a pool and jacuzzi. Now he understands why Taehyung didn’t want to spend more money. The rental of this place must’ve cost a fortune. 

He enters the building and well, it was a Mediterrenaan House overlooking Jeju’s seas. It was a beauty and he swears if his house was like this he would never leave. Jeongguk scans the place further and whistles at the interior. “Wow, you picked a nice house than a hotel.” 

“My suggestion, ‘s more private,” Taehyung shrugs, dragging his suitcase down the tiled floors and leaving it there. Immediately, he lies down on the sofa and stretches. 

“So we’re left alone in the house or are there caretakers?” Jeongguk asks, lifting Taehyung’s feet off the other side and sits down. The other huffs and places his legs on his best friend’s lap, smiling in victory. 

“Ah, there are a few...shit.” Taehyung stops. “Shit, I totally forgot about that. Why have I been forgetting everything lately. What the fuck?!” 

Jeongguk immediately shifts and holds Taehyung, grounding him back from his panic. “Calm down, it’s okay, I’m here. You’ve been through a lot of stress the past few days. That's normal.” 

“No, Gguk, its - you know how Jeju is famous for honeymoons and well, they have these people who help bring up the romantic atmosphere. The games and all that?” Taehyung says, nipping on his lower lip before looking at Jeongguk with worried eyes. 

“Uh, Yeah?” Jeongguk questions, confused before there are blaring alarms on his mind, his eyes turning the roundest he has ever seen since college. It really doesn’t take a second glance to tell how red his cheeks are now. “Don’t tell me,” 

“The house’s honeymoon package comes with that.” 

“Oh god, do we have to you know…? We could always ask them not to?”

The conversation is interrupted when someone knocks at the door, and without fair warning opens it. A person a tad bit smaller than them enters the room with a tight knitted smile. 

Taehyung swears he gives off the I just murdered my husband now all his fortune is mine vibes. He just does by the way this man moves, gracefully swaying his hip per each step and stopping in front of the two plopped on the sofa. And that damn sassy smirk on his face. 

"I'm Park Jimin and I'll be your attendant for the stay. I have two others with me, Min Yoongi and Kim Seokjin but they're currently tending to the other honeymoon villas. It's nice to meet both of you." He bows, probably out of procedure by the way his body stiffens as if he doesn't want to. 

"Kim Taehyung and Lee Jihyun? Am I correct or who took after the other's last name? Or, you prefer to be called as such?" The attendant speaks with no breaks whatsoever and he honestly sounds like he's rapping. Taehyung stands up straight, hitting his best friend's chin using his elbow by the way he maneuvers upward to face Jimin. 

Abruptly turning back, he spurts out an apology. "Shit, sorry, Jeongguk." And says something he cannot take back. 

"Jeongguk?" 

The two stay silent, especially the younger who's stuck in the chair looking up at Jimin with pleas of please don't ask, please don't ask, please don't ask—

"The couple who booked this Honeymoon Villa were Kim Taehyung and Lee Jihyun. Are you not them?" 

"I'm Kim Taehyung, I showed my ID at the front desk, here," He rushes off to get his small satchel and snatches out his wallet which contains his identification card. Surely, his name was Kim Taehyung indeed. 

"Then where's Mr. Lee?" Jeongguk is suspecting Jimin is skinning him alive by the way his eyes coldly narrows at him. The image of a happy honeymoon staff catapults out of his head, instead he's faced with a glare. 

Being his best friend for seven years, Jeongguk is sure as hell Taehyung can't lie for shit. He just might sputter and expose the both of them. So, he's honestly so surprised that he managed to keep what was going on with him and Jihyun in the past few months— but he can't venture through that thought when Jimin is trying to pulverize him with his eyes alone. 

"It's my fault." Jeongguk covers up. "I was booking for the villa while sending out emails to my clients, probably typed in his name instead of mine." He smoothly says, glancing at Taehyung to play along. 

Afraid of messing up the cover story, Taehyung nods in approval and waits for Jimin to fall for it. 

There's really no indication that he took the story well, Jimin just claps his hands together aura suddenly changing as he gives them a more genuine looking smile. "Right, let me start with the briefing!" 

The two secretly sighed in relief. 

Jimin reiterates the basics, one you'd hear in the hotel. Since it's a house, they're free to call food service or cook on their own. Buffets will be available in the common rooms, situated outside the villa every night. Roof decks are also available. Other standard operating procedures, escape plans in case of emergency and all that. 

"It's pretty easy to understand," Jimin nods at them. "But what makes our villa special is the honeymoon special, which are activities for the newly wedded couples. As stated in the website, a week would be given for the couple to roam around, another would be for the activities prepared by us. I'd further elaborate on the activities at the start of it so no spoilers!" Jimin chimes, cheeks a rosy blush as he smiles at the two. 

Essentially, they get the gist of it but Jimin was speaking as if he'd memorized them off a handbook and rapped it one by one. It was a rush that it went through their ear and out the other so they simply hum in agreement to whatever he just said. 

"Which week would you like first?" Jimin smiles. 

"I think we should be fine with being free for a while." Jeongguk hurriedly says, and winces at himself. He really needs a filter from time to time. 

Jimin purses his lips and bows again, a sign that he'll take his leave. But, when his head reaches below where he could clearly see the two's hands, he inspects them. There were no wedding rings. 

Standing up, he looks at them again, eyes switching back to when they first had the name mishap. It was cold. "Rings?" 

"Huh, " they answer in unison before noticing that they are actually, obviously ringless. Both of them. 

"You don't have wedding rings." Jimin monotonously answers back that Taehyung feels goosebumps on his skin. What was up with their staff? 

"Oh! That," Jeongguk lets out a wheeze. "My husband often loses his stuff so we decided to keep it in his case." Spinning around to get Taehyung's case beside the sofa, he taps the plastic. 

"You know, not to lose it on flight!" He finishes reasoning. 

The attendant keeps the cold look on his face a few seconds, sight switching back and forth the two. "Press the red button located by the front door, kitchen and bedroom if you need anything. Congratulations, Newly Weds!" With that, he heads out.

They secure that Jimin won't be coming back in the next few minutes. And once they're sure, he won't be barging in at this time, Taehyung could see how appalled his best friend is. 

"I just got married and I didn't even know." 

Taehyung shushes him. "Only for two weeks, promise and I'm sorry, we just kinda panicked…" 

"Is there any harm in telling them?" He asks, and it was a true question. Is there harm that he isn't actually here with his husband but with his best friend instead? 

"This villa is sorta famous for its honeymoon. and it would be weird to tell them we're not married, and the reason why… I'm not married," Taehyung scratches the back of his neck, as his head is casted down. 

And that's where Jeongguk gets it. 

"I mean, we've already made up a story. We just have to continue it!" He cheers, taking the other's hand far away from the back of his neck and squeezes softly. 

"Yeah," And he holds his hand back. 

"But we missed a thing, we didn't get to ask if we could cancel the honeymoon week… cause the games I heard off are kinda… erotic, " Jeongguk states before he's found himself turning red from how his cheeks burn. 

"Should we call Jimin back?" He continues with a suggestion. 

"Oh God no, he was intimidating. I think he almost caught up with us." 

Jeongguk agrees and flashbacks of Jimin's glare makes him shiver involuntarily. His sudden shift in personality was something he'd be scared off too, probably. 

"We could check the website," Letting go of his hand, Taehyung grabs the phone left alone at the table and he types in the honeymoon villa. He squints for a second before going to the FAQs section and recites: "The couple may decline from the honeymoon activities and solely avail the villa." 

"There's no specific one if you get to cancel after you've paid the villa…" His best friend points out. "I'm guessing we could still cancel though, if they have that sort of option. Let's just tell them before the next week starts, yeah?" 

"Yup. That'll do." 

"We need to do something about the rings  though, gotta act the part." Taking his backpack off the chair, Jeongguk searches through it and places down a box of his jewelry. Opening it, there's an array of necklaces, bracelets, rings but mostly earrings. 

He picks out two slim pieces of plain silver, and hands one to Taehyung. Along with that, he slides down the silver on his ring finger, urging his best friend to do the same. 

"Props." 

The little unpacking went nicely and decided to search around the house. Of course, there's a private pool, and not far from it is the jacuzzi. The backyard is pretty big, there's also the kitchen in the center connecting to the living room and bathroom. For a big house, upstairs contained only one master bedroom and one bathroom. The small furniture set makes up for the space though. 

Taehyung guesses it's because it's meant to be a honeymoon suite. One fitted for a couple. What caught his eyes would be the large canopy bed littered with roses, and things get awkward when he turns on the light. 

There's a knob to adjust how bright it goes and what dawned upon him was that the brightness setting was nowhere near bright at all. It had a scheme of dark sultry purple and he knows exactly why it's like that. 

It was a little lewd, Taehyung ponders. 

Jeongguk walks up behind him soon after, investigating the room and by the amount of times he's turned red today, this is an understatement. Smoke out of his head from his burning cheeks would be accurate. 

 “Oh wow, it's very...romantic.” But he can't seem to hide the little squeak in his voice. 

"It's okay, right? We'd still sleep in the same bed?" He asks, because there was no trouble between them sleeping beside each other. It was natural in the past, when they slump back in bed after class, not noticing the other who'd also be there himself on the bed. 

Until, today that is. 

"I don't think so… We haven't shared a bed since college and well the situation may be a bit awkward right now, isn't it?" Jeongguk confesses

 "You have a point but," Here comes Kim Taehyung's infamous pout. "Where would you sleep? You're paying half here too, I don't want you on a couch."

"A sleeping place is a sleeping place if you sleep like a stone, also known as me. I'll be fine, the couch downstairs would be good."

"There's a big enough couch here." Taehyung fights back, patting the couch situated a few feet away from the canopy. 

"Good enough bed!" 

"What if the attendant walks in on us?" 

"Hmm," Jeongguk strokes his chin in thought before giving out a grin. "Nah, he can invade the living room but I'm sure he's not allowed to walk into the bedroom." 

Taehyung mutters something along the lines of if you say so because he knows there's no use once Jeongguk's decided. But really, he's doing him a large favor by being here so he doesn't want him on a sofa. It's the least he could do. 

The first day ends like that, both knocked out in their respective sleeping places. Must've been the travel fatigue or the fact they had to lie and it took a toll on them. Needless to say, both were snoring so soundly.

It goes like this for the first few days, they just lounge around because the house basically has everything. Nice WiFi? Check. Big flat screen television? Check. Netflix subscription? Check. Air conditioner and heater? Check and check. 

Though, granted there may be enough distraction, Taehyung spaces out most of the time. He doesn't want to think about the wedding, or his ex-fiance. His mind is simply blank, he just doesn't want to dwell on it. 

Besides that, Taehyung has grown accustomed to the Playstation system and has played Overwatch occasionally with Jeongguk. Or, re-watching the first few seasons of My Hero Academia. 

Well one thing Taehyung notices which he couldn't in their youth… Jeongguk is obsessed — no, dedicated to his work. He's always beside Taehyung, either watching or playing with him but most of the time outside of that he's back on Gmail and his clients. Taehyung could also peek at Jeongguk's designs while he holds the stylus at full force trying to squeeze out creative juices. 

"You still working?" Taehyung asks, resting his head on his chin over the kitchen counter where his best friend is now stationed. 

"Yeah, so after this I could go straight to meetings and get me my money." Jeongguk pretends he has cash to throw off before giggling and focusing back on his work. 

So far, Jimin had left the two alone and the other two attendants — who Taehyung cannot recall, haven't shown themselves either. They're safe, for the meantime. 

Giving him space to do his work, he retreats back to the living room and browses through the television. He loses track of time, and the episode number when there's a tap on his shoulder and he leans back to find a smiling Jeongguk. 

"We're in Jeju." His best friend tells him, and if that isn't obvious. 

"Obviously," 

"We're in Jeju and we decide to lounge in," Jeongguk deadpans, and there's no denying. A lot of things can be done in Jeju and they choose to be  shut-ins. "It's a little absurd."

"Your point is…?" Taehyung trails off, remembering something in his bag. But, he waves it off and listens to Jeongguk. 

"Let's head out!" 

"Your work?" 

"Finished it, so let's go!" Jeongguk cheers, and Taehyung is reminded of how cheerful and charming the other is. It makes him think how no one had a relationship with him — that's more absurd than staying at the villa when in Jeju. 

Snapping his thoughts, Taehyung reads the clock at the side and discovers it's half past two. They could go home a little late, they're adults now. 

"I'll get ready," He says, and Jeongguk returns a smile to him. 

A simple navy green shirt and pants was Taehyung's fashion today, and Jeongguk has other plans. His face might look cute but the brooding black outfit and stompers say otherwise.

"Keys?"

"Gotcha," Jeongguk hums and looks at the door behind them preparing for them to leave, when he glances at his hand and looks at Taehyung. 

"Rings?" 

"Gotta play the part, gotcha," Taehyung assures and lifts his ring finger up, the shiny metal reflecting the afternoon sun's rays. 

On their way out the small village, a familiar uniform makes them stiff. Blue, with ironed pants and a black vest. The two pray it's not Jimin, they'll talk to him when they're ready. 

Though, the attendant turns around and gives them a blank look,and the two let out breaths they've been holding. For some odd reason, the attendant was smaller than them as well, maybe the same height as Jimin. 

And before they could ignore him enough to walk past him, Jeongguk gulps when he makes eye contact. So much for ignoring. 

"Pleasure to meet you," He says, hand pointing out the name card pinned to his chest. "Min Yoongi, I'm an attendant."

Taehyung follows the movement of Yoongi's eyes which lead back to his and Jeongguk's hand and he knows what he's looking for. It's the same as what Jimin did. 

Once Yoongi confirms that the two are wearing rings, he smiles at them. Small, but it's another big change in personality and the two start to wonder if that's an employee trademark or requirement. 

Either way, Jeongguk being the polite boy he is, answers back. "Jeon Jeongguk," he looks at Taehyung, "My husband Kim Taehyung."

The elder would give him points at how smooth Jeongguk's cover up is going. It's not real, definitely not believable if you look at a closer look between the two but enough to keep the image of being a couple. 

"Ah I see. You're off to go about, where?" 

"Actually," Taehyung speaks up, he can't leave Jeongguk to do all the talking. He needs to help make their cover up believable, Jimin was pretty forward with his suspicions, with Yoongi they do not know. "We don't know where we're headed," 

"I got the perfect thing for you." He lifts his finger, very animatedly and pulls out a piece of paper out his pocket, handing it to them. The paper stays in his hands for a while, the two exchanging looks before Jeongguk shrugs and takes it. 

"Congrats, Newly Weds!" The next thing, Yoongi walks out on them. 

Jeongguk scans the piece of paper with printed texts. For such a high quality establishment, he didn't expect a print out of copy and pasted 10 Most Popular Places to Visit in Jeju Island by TripAdvisor. 

Taehyung peaks at his side, but not enough to read the paper. "It looks like it was copy pasted." 

"It doesn't look copy pasted, it is copy pasted," He laughs, because he really can't believe that just happened. But the paper is proof enough that it did. 

His best friend doesn't seem to take it lightly, when he turns around and finds Taehyung's lips into an automatic pout. A thing he does when upset or uncomfortable. 

"Do we really have to do all of that?" Taehyung grabs the piece of paper and skims through it, lower lip jutting out the more he reads. 

"Actually, no, we don't have to do it but," Jeongguk puts a hand over his chest, and acts hurt throwing out a few wheezes and cries of pain. "How can you say that to your fake husband, come on," He grins. 

"Might help take  your mind off that piece of shit, Jihyun."

And this is a first. Ever since the wedding, Jeongguk wasn't vocal about his hindrance to Jihyun. Now, hearing it with his ears seems unreal but he hears it loud and clear. 

Walking out hand in hand to the bus station, Jeongguk hums happily. Though he takes a small step back to turn to Taehyung, face gentle.

"If it feels uncomfortable though, tell me." 

Taehyung nods at him, corners of his lips lifting upward. 

"Roger that," 

The first thing on the list was Teddy Bear Island, and well, Jeongguk sort of predicted that. Being on top of the list for almost every travel blog, it wasn’t much of a surprise.

But the moment Taehyung’s eyes landed on the large inflatable bear by the entrance, he could see the smile that spreads across his face. His heart may have warmed up from seeing his best friend loosen up even if it’s just an inch from how tense he actually is.

Progress is progress. And being able to move on takes time, and he’ll be there to help him.

“Gguk, it’s so big I want to squish it. Oh god, I’m gonna squish it.” Taehyung blabbers, eyes still focused on the bear. 

“I’m sure we’re not even allowed to touch it.” He answers back with a grin, snaking his arm around Taehyung’s and tugs him towards the ticket booth.

“There’s more bears inside. Let’s go, Hubby.” It slips out so easily on his tongue, and Taehyung's eyes are blown wide before he erupts into laughter, snorting at Jeongguk.

“Really? Hubby?”

“Hey! I’m just playing my part, let’s go!” 

And he doesn’t really need to tug Taehyung along any further when it’s him that’s starting to pull Jeongguk into different directions the moment they stepped in the museum itself.

An array of Teddy Bears greet them, and by array he means a hoard of different colored bears: Care Bears, polar bears, grizzly bears, all big and tall and some are small. It isn’t long when Taehyung is staring into a pair of white bears inside a small jar.

A makeshift snow globe. And all Taehyung wants to do is grab onto it and shake until the snow falls on the heads of the peaceful bears. He stares at it for a few seconds before realizing he was holding no one’s hand.

By that he means his hand is empty. There is no Jeongguk beside him. He instinctively curls his fingers into a ball before searching around, trying to ignore the panic trying to claw on his neck.

How long has he been staring at the snow globe that he hadn’t noticed Jeongguk go missing? 

“Tae!”

Taehyung twists his head to the right to find Jeongguk holding a huge white teddy bear between his arms. And, Taehyung looks at the bear’s eyes, blown wide and round and he stares at Jeongguk with the same damn expression on his face and he crinkles his nose.

“Sorry, I realized I didn’t get you a gift for the...uhm… event, the wedding I mean,” Jeongguk stammers for a moment, and the other could see how he carefully chooses his words.

“It’s okay to say it?”

“The wedding? Well, uhm, okay. This is a gift.” He deadpans and Taehyung holds his laughter this time looking at a distressed Jeongguk. “Yeah, I realized I didn’t actually get you anything for it back then.”

“Wow you’re my best man and you didn’t even get me a gift? I’m disappointed, Gguk.” 

Taehyung walks forward, grabbing the bear from Jeongguk’s arms and burying his face in it, hiding the relief. He doesn’t know why he should feel the need to hide inside the plushie’s protection, but he does and Jeongguk doesn’t say a thing.

The only thing the stuffed toy covered was the relief mirrored in Jeongguk’s face.

Somehow, Jeongguk was capable of pulling Taehyung out of the museum and leave the place. Yeah, he was whining all the while about wanting to go back but–

“I’ll buy you food. All on me,” He sighs, hands crossed at the exit. “Promise, Tae.”

And it worked better than he thought because Taehyung is already halfway outside, tilting his head as if asking his best friend if they’re going or not.

Jeongguk only shakes his head.

The crepe in Taehyung’s hand was warm, it was chocolate and strawberry and he almost consumed it all in one bite. Yes, he’s disappointed that it’s not physically possible but hey, he tries. 

While trying to eat it, he was struggling with holding the bear plushie along with him because of the size. Oh, this thing is huge and Taehyung is very much struggling and when he hears a chuckle to the right, he immediately sends a glare in Jeongguk’s direction. 

“I’m starting to believe you’re really the devil,” He keeps his gaze on him, chocolate syrup at the side of his lips. “You bought him so that I suffer and won’t eat.” 

“What if I did? It’s working, isn’t it?” This. Taehyung absolutely adores his best friend for this. His ability to just go on with Taehyung’s antics without complaining or being confused and yeah, Jeongguk gets him a whole lot. 

Like a whole lot. 

“I’m gonna name him Goo, or Koo?” He blurts out, finally finishing up the treacherous task of finishing the crepe. Humming a little in satisfaction, he licks the remaining chocolate off his lips and lifts the bear back into his arms. 

“Why are you naming it after me?” 

“Really narcissistic of you, hubby , you’re not the only Koo in the world. Okay, yeah, maybe I am,” Taehyung lets out a laugh, nudging his friend with the plushie. “I can’t think of anybody else.” 

Jeongguk was about to say something when a stall of very much delicious Sundae greets him. “Oh fuck, I’ve been craving those.” With that, Jeongguk is walking towards the lady to buy from. It was Taehyung’s turn to shake his head. 

But it’s also where their food escapade begins. 

Well, learning that the food stalls were all in one street, was some sort of golden treasure in the map and Jeongguk is more than happy to hop around the street because it's his vacation. Vacations always include one thing. 

Food. 

Though, he keeps his promise and pays whatever Taehyung wants to eat. May it be salty, sweet, both, maybe a few orders of boba tea enough to leave them wanting water from how sweet or maybe some more of the tteokbokki which, unfortunately was too spicy for Taehyung. 

They found themselves in a convenience store, looking for the beautiful relief of water. 

“Tae, that’s not water,” Jeongguk tries to grab Taehyung’s arm from the alcohol section but the other fights back by harshly pulling away. “Tae, water is not wine.” 

Taehyung doesn’t listen, just continues to look through the choices. For a convenience store, they did have a nice selection of drinks - alcoholic drinks. Simply imagining the wine meeting his throat and leaving a very very nice aftertaste in his tongue was good enough reason to ditch the water, and go for the wine. 

Yes, totally what a responsible adult would do. 

“Taehyung, no,” Jeongguk says, but he doesn’t stop him. Doesn’t stop him when Taehyung goes to the counter and pays, only to raise a palm at the cashier and paces back , only to bring yet another bottle of wine. 

Once he gets the payment for the second bottle, he playfully hits Jeongguk’s shoulder as he passes by him. “Taehyung, yes.” 

After Taehyung heads out, his best friend follows suit and suggests they should take a break. If the sudden tightness of his belt wasn’t a good enough sign, and the other agrees, sitting outside the store, sun turning pink in front of them.

Jeongguk takes out the paper in his pocket and hands it to Taehyung, still cuddling Goo? Koo? In his arms. He never really did hear the final name. “Do we have a solid plan? I mean, I came knowing nothing.” He jokes but really wishes he could shut up sometimes by the way Taehyung d visibly deflates. An apology was on the tip of his tongue when his best friend speaks up. 

“Actually,” Taehyung says, voice small. “I had a list of things I wanted to do with Jihyun, that is,” He looks away. 

"If it's something you want, I don't mind. if it reminds of that jerk then we could follow whatever Yoongi gave us?" Jeongguk says almost immediately, as if assuring Taehyung right away. That anything was okay, it was alright. 

Taehyung gulps before looking at the print out and internally winces, or so he thinks when he sees Jeongguk’s amused expression by the way his face contorts in displeasure. "Yeah, I don't really feel like it," 

"So do you want to do your list?" Jeongguk asks, hand lifting up to run his hand through his hair in an attempt to fix it. Taehyung notes how the glint of the silver on his index finger reflects the now pink sky, glinting against the shine of his vision. 

Taehyung thinks. 

"It's… Wouldn't it be too awkward for you, it's a bit…" Taehyung hesitates, grabbing unto Koo (he decided with Koo), squishing him. "Couple-y." 

“Tae,” He talks, voice unreadable. “I’m a fake husband at your service.” Jeongguk’s finishes, hand flat to his chest as he bows; imitating a butler. Well, Taehyung wants to hit him with the wine bottle. 

“Are you sure? It’s okay?”

“Hyung, it’s fine. Hundred percent. It’s not real at all, you know? I’m fake for a reason.”

Taehyung nods, though not really acknowledging what the younger one said. “It’s back in the villa, the list.” His lips jut out in a pout. “We won’t be able to do it today if we get it,”

“There’s nothing stopping tomorrow,” Jeongguk isn’t looking at his best friend anymore, distracted by the sunset in front of him, hues of orange and red painting the sky. It will rise again tomorrow, and there’s no pause to that. “We can walk around for now, try to lower our full stomachs before dinner.”

That’s how they find themselves at the boardwalk, on the way to the lighthouse that has caught their attention. As expected, it was a towering thing and Taehyung was fucking excited because he has never seen a lighthouse before. Something Jeongguk didn’t know within their years of friendship.

“Wait, you really haven’t seen one,” It sounded more like a statement of disbelief. “For real?”

“We live in Seoul, the Han River doesn’t have a lighthouse.”

“Yeah, but what about in Daegu? Childhood home?”

“I’ve seen more farms and traditional houses than lighthouses, Gguk. My home wasn’t really near the sea either.”

“But–“

Taehyung shuts him up with a finger pressed on Jeongguk’s lips, a threat that if he asks about his weird obsession with seeing lighthouses, he would dare to shove the finger down his throat. In a friendly way, Taehyung follows up in his brain.

“Hush, you talk too much, let me enjoy my lighthouse. You know what would Koo and the wine like? Ramyeon, Gguk, Ramyeon.” He blinks Jeongguk’s head with the plushie and the other just stares back. “Get the clue, Jeon. Buy me Ramyeon!”

“Ramyeon doesn’t even go well with wine,” He simply answers, lip tittering into a small smirk of mischief.

“I’m old and having a crisis.”

“That’s doesn’t make sense,”

“Ramyeon.”

With that, Jeongguk is off jogging towards another store in search of Ramyeon per his requests. Taehyung looks at his running figure, stares hard into it until he can no longer see him from his point of view. 

Sighing, he puts down the wine and hugs the stuffed toy, looking over the edge of the lighthouse. There were rocks resting peacefully below, splashes of water blessing Taehyung’s ears. The wind was nice too, soft, as if caressing his skin to the now dark bay. 

And the lights turn on, and it’s quiet. Too quiet.

It was as if the light sent blaring signals to his brain, and the silence was too deafening that he could hear the ringing in his ears. And Taehyung hates this so much, hates that when the world goes silent, his thoughts manage to scream at him. . 

It continues to grow and grow until it consumes, but he tries to stop it. Tells his brain to shut the fuck up and let him have a moment of peace without second guessing where he went wrong. 

Did he say something? Did he do something that would upset Jihyun? No, but maybe he did come off as too strong or maybe he just wasn't up for Taehyung anymore? Maybe he was tired, realized how burdensome keeping a relationship is. Realized how fucking unlovable he is because who the fuck goes missing on their wedding day? 

Taehyung's heart stings in his chest, wanting to jump out and throw itself into the sea. 

He was over this. Got it done with. But his brain seems to like praying tricks on him. Okay now, gone the next and he just wants to hit his head and shut all thoughts. 

Taehyung doesn't notice he's now on his knees, tears dripping as he angrily sobs towards the sea. Koo and the bottles of wine long forgotten by his side, as he tries to catch his ragged breathing. And more so, he doesn't realize the man dropping the pack of noodles to run towards him and without any hint of hesitance, pulls him close. 

"Tae, hey, does something hurt? Are you okay? Wait, that's a dumb question— but still, did something happen. Talk to me, please?" 

Jeongguk. Of course it had to be him, so he turns around and finds himself leaning towards his best friend's chest, another wave of sobs racking through his body. 

"I don't understand," Taehyung wheezes out of him, lungs squeezing by the labor of talking. Jeongguk’s clothes doesn't help in breathing either but he continues to rasp out. "It came to my head, I was okay, I don't know. It was— quiet t-then I remember…" 

Taehyung's body relaxes into his, but the way his voice falters pinches at Jeongguk’s heart. There's something about it, something about that small detail that bothers him, so he hugs him tighter. Pulls Taehyung in his arms and keeps him warm as he can in the winter breeze of November. 

Yeah, they may look dumb, both kneeling on the boardwalk of a lighthouse like some kind of dramaric historical drama but Jeongguk doesn't care. Not when people are giving them weird glances, not when his knees digging into raw wood are burning. No, he doesn't care for either of that when he sees his best friend breaking in front of him. 

And if he has to hold him tight to keep him together, you bet he fucking will. 

"It hurts," 

"Be surprised if it didn't," Jeongguk jokes, a hushed chuckle on his lips as Taehyung's shoulders sag and weakly punches at the other's chest, mumbling a Fuck You . There's no denying the subtle laugh in his voice, though. 

But Jeongguk quickly follows up. "But I'm serious, Tae. It's okay to hurt, I'll be here for you when you need me."

They stay like that for a moment before Jeongguk gently guides Taehyung's face from his chest. Carefully moving his hands towards his shoulder to balance him. "Can you stand?" 

Nodding, he tries to work himself up before falling down on the harsh wooden floors again, wincing in pain as he peeks into his knee. There stood an angry gash of red, droplets of blood slipping out from the torn skin. He didn't take notice of it before, but now the pain is starting to work itself up and Taehyung swears he hates himself more. 

On the other hand, Jeongguk observes the cut and stands, helping Taehyung's hand into one of the railings. "It doesn't seem deep, but… can you hold on to the railing for me?" He asks, but Taehyung thinks it's more of a command and well, he feels shittier. 

Absent-mindedly, he follows his best friend, mind blanking out on him now that he doesn't process Jeongguk kneeling, his back facing Taehyung. And he stares. 

"Come on, you think I won't be able to carry you?" 

So, Taehyung holds on without complaints, loops his arms around Jeongguk’s head when he tells him to carry Koo like this. Jeongguk, with his god given strength, manages to carry Taehyung along with the Ramyeon and Wine. 

Walking back to Villa, or, Jeongguk walking and carrying Taehyung back to the Villa was silent as well. And he didn't want a repeat of what happened in the lighthouse, so he forces himself to the sound of his best friend's footsteps. 

Which sounded terribly as if he was struggling 

"I'm sorry," Taehyung says meekly, mouth near Jeongguk’s right ear that he shudders because of his voice. 

"There's really nothing to be sorry about, hyung." 

Taehyung ponders for a moment that he's saying it just for the sake of it, but when he turns and is met with Jeongguk’s face, completely void of madness, pity, or impatience. Instead he just reads an expression free from all of that. Dare he say, pure . 

Jeongguk doesn't say another word because he knows it's the truth. 

They arrive at the villa a little past ten in the evening, with Jeongguk dropping Taehyung down the entrance and asking him to lean on the door for a while. The moment the door is opened, he rushes in and grabs a medical kit from one of the cabinets (he listened to some things Jimin said, okay) and quickly sweeps Taehyung off his feet and places him on the sofa.

“Gguk, it’s fine–“

“No, it’s not,” He answers sharply, and Taehyung holds his lips back as he lets his best friend do as he pleases. “I’ll put a bandage, you relax while I get the wine and Ramyeon ready, okay?”

Hissing when he feels him dab on the wound, he grabs his hand on the sofa but hums a reply back nonetheless. And well, Jeongguk is done taping the gauze in and without another sound, rushes back to the front door, grabbing the wine and Ramyeon.

Of course, throwing Koo at Taehyung in the process to keep him company while he’s in the kitchen cooking. Which isn’t really needed as when he turns his back, he gets a full view of his friend going around the tables, preparing wine and peeking at every cabinet for a pot to cook on.

And yeah, maybe against his better judgement, wine does go with Ramyeon. Jeongguk decides on that when he tastes the soup and takes a gulp of wine. He’s tired, maybe, but yeah he’d have this combo again.

“Weird, but tasty,” He notes, taking another generous amount of noodles in his mouth. Taehyung isn’t doing any better when Jeongguk faces him, face puffy from eating (and crying) and he laughs.

Laughs not because Taehyung looks ridiculous with bunched up cheeks, or the bags between his eyes are  prominent or because his lips jut out more. No, he doesn’t look ridiculous at all. Jeongguk thinks he looks cute, very cute to be precise.

“Stop laughing!” Taehyung gurgles, having a hard time deciding if he should tell Jeongguk off or eat the noodles in his mouth.

“No! It’s because you look cute, swear,”

And Taehyung huffs out, downing another glass of wine. It’s his third, fourth – actually, he isn’t counting and doesn’t want to. Just need to feel right and that’s when he’ll stop.

“It’s cause,” A hiccup. “You’re making excuses,” Another hiccup. “To laugh at my face.” By the way he speaks, pronunciation more on the slurring side because of the way the alcohol is weighing down his tongue. Jeongguk laughs more.

“Stop!”

“No.”

“Fucking hell, Jeongguk,”

“I mean it! You look cute.”

“No one ever fucking means anything true,” Taehyung slurs, and Jeongguk still has a bit of sobriety in him to keep the comeback to himself this time. Because he’s well acquainted with this situation.

Ever since Jihyun’s disappearance, at least.

"We were okay." Taehyung states. "The day before the wedding, he acted okay. After weeks and weeks of feeling distant he felt like he was close to me again. What a fucking lie. Next morning, who would've thought that he wasn't going to be there, and when I came home with all his stuff gone. And I don't fucking know why, Gguk." 

He makes an exasperated expression, his hand flailing around helplessly in lack of coordination while trying to communicate his drunken mind. 

"Was it too naive of me? But, what I don't fucking get is that he left alone. He hasn't contacted his family, or I don't know maybe they're covering him up like some shitty romance drama. Fuck. I don't even know if he still wants to talk to me. How can people just disappear like that when you thought you'd be with them for the rest of your life! How?! Just fucking… " 

His voice lowers, to the point Jeongguk thinks it's enough for him to break. And it does, like waterfalls his tears start staining the round of his cheeks once more. 

Taehyung was hurt, and he could see that. So much that if he squints at his chest maybe he could see a few tons, heavy on his heart because damn, does his chest feel so much like fucking sinking right now. 

"Were the two years together nothing to him?" 

And Jeongguk is upset because he can't give an answer. 

Crying all the more, Taehyung decides to finish another glass of wine without hesitance. Jeongguk can't really blame him for getting smashed drunk. But when he is begging for a set of beer after he finishes a bottle of wine, he had to draw the line.

His best friend denies him of that relief, as Jeongguk sternly refuses. In contrast to Taehyung, he's way more conscious of everything now. After his meltdown, he decided that taking care of him was better than getting drunk with him. 

Not knowing how it happened, Taehyung managed to calm down and create the miracle of washing up and brushing his teeth (courtesy of Jeongguk’s effort) and finds himself on the bed. The dim purple lights soothe the incoming headache somehow, along with the cold gust of wind tickling his face. 

"Jeongguk?" 

"Mhm here, you go sleep, Tae." He raises an arm, figure visible on the coach meters away from the bed where he's crouched into a ball. And Taehyung frowns. 

"Stay here," 

"I am here?" 

"Not like that, stupid. Beside me. In bed." 

Needless to say, Jeongguk was shocked like getting into bed in Taehyung was some sort of scandal. Sure, the lights were kinda lustful and kinky or some shit but it's still a mere color at the end of the day. 

"Tae—" 

"Fuck the lighting. I want cuddle," 

Staggering on his way to the bed, simply wanting to fall asleep, he couldn't do so. Not with Taehyung's glare pulling him in every step as if it contained some kind of gravitational pull. Well, he really doesn't need that because deep down he knows he can't deny once Taehyung asks for something. 

It's the inherent characteristic for him to be charismatic. 

Finally, Jeongguk takes his place on the bed but the frown in Taehyung's face only deepens when he sees how tense his best friend is. He's literally laying down there like a log: feet straight and together with hands on flat on sides. Taehyung chucks a pillow at Jeongguk’s face. 

"Relax, ish only me," An arm loops around Jeongguk’s waist and he feels a weight on his legs, in which he thinks is Taehyung's thigh. "No need to be so stiff, Gguk."

A rock is a more likely comparison, because even with the pillow to his face and Taehyung's limbs on top of him. Jeon Jeongguk doesn't move an inch. 

He doesn't know why he's like this, maybe because of the aesthetic of the room which is truthfully a little too dark and well, horny for his taste. Sleeping beside Taehyung has never been a problem before and he's questioning why it is a big matter now. Too many times they've done this and it never repelled Jeongguk the way it's doing at this very minute. 

It's when Taehyung's soft snores tickle his neck, he melts into the bed and finally gives himself a moment to soften his muscles. It might be the sound of the ocean through the window or his best friend's embrace that lulls him to sleep. 

Jeongguk doesn't have time to think before his mind falls into unconsciousness. 

Surprisingly, he wakes up to Taehyung still cuddling him. Not his chest or waist, no, he was cuddling his legs. And well, he's stunned how Taehyung was able to turn around like this in the middle of the night without him noticing. He slept better than he thought. 

He stays like that until Taehyung slightly moves, a groan on his lips as he strains to open his eyes. And when the light creeps unto his lids, he's face to face with Jeongguk’s face. Contrary to his expectations where Taehyung would act disgusted, he instead shrieks and falls off the bed. Ass first. 

"Good morning to you too," Hearing Jeongguk’s mocking tone was no help to his sorry ass. Quite literally. 

"Morning," He grumbles back and lifts himself up unto the silky sheets. 

"Sleep well?" 

"Yeah, yeah, except for the fact I woke up almost kissing your feet." Taehyung scratches at his stomach, and looks at him. Same puffy face from last night. "It was better than most nights." He admits quietly. 

And Jeongguk sits there, something tugging at the back of his mind. Things synonymous to university, dorm, late night projects and Taehyung. "Do you…" Jeongguk trails off, unsure if it's alright to ask, but continues anyway. He has to know. 

"Do you still wake up in the middle of the night? You used to when, well, you know… when you were stressed with the deadlines or some shit," 

"I guess nothing has changed much about me," He answers with a chuckle. "I woke up last night, yes. But I think I was too sleepy to notice which part of the bed I went back to  and ended up smooching your feet." 

"Kinky," 

Next thing he knows, he's being tackled down by Taehyung on the bed, his thighs beside Jeongguk’s waist as he tries to hit him with his most feared weapon: his pillows. Jeongguk does have the strength to turn the tables and make Taehyung fall back first on the bed but he lets him do whatever. 

"I'm gonna hit your lips to shut you up! Nothing is kinky about your foot, Jeon Jeongguk! " He shouts at him, and Jeongguk only vibrates from laughter. "Your remarks are very well made, if only I could shut you up then maybe I'll win for once." Taehyung whines, now seated on Jeongguk’s stomach while consistently throwing pillows over his friend's face. 

"Maybe you could shut me up," 

"Huh? You've always been like this for a long time now you're giving me a chance to answer back at you sarcastical—" 

"Yeah, with a kiss, hubby."

"What the fuck." Taehyung makes sure to try and actually suffocate Jeongguk this time by pressing both the blanket and the pillow on his face. The other calls it quits by racing both his hands up in defeat. 

Taehyung hums in victory, that is until Jeongguk grabs his hips, and effortlessly lifts him off. And continues to throw his best friend on the side of the bed, a triumphant grin etched on his face. 

He was about to call a foul because Jeongguk had used his muscles on him. Sure Taehyung has muscles too and yes, he goes to the gym to try and maintain his weight but Jeongguk is something else. The way his biceps pop off or maybe how he feels completely solid underneath clothing and he is….greatly bothered by the fact that carrying him was nothing. 

Wanting revenge, he was about to jump on him again when the doorbell rings. Jeongguk mumbles that he'll get it and head on down to the front door, and is greeted with the one and only — Park Jimin. 

Although still a little sluggish from sleep, Taehyung tags along Jeongguk, peeking his head at the door to meet the attendant. 

"Good morning! I'll be up and about to change your sheets. God, I haven't come around in days and I'm sure it's a mess in there." He laughs, crouching down to lift up a new set of bedsheets and blankets. 

Jeongguk? Jeongguk simply stares back at him. 

"Why would you change sheets? I mean, we're clean people…" 

Jimin's eyes narrow back at him, and just like that the glare from the first day is back and the atmosphere turns to ice. Jeongguk swears he feels goosebumps at the back of his neck. 

"The question is, why would I not change the sheets." Jimin flatly answers back, lips tight and it hits Jeongguk all at once. And boy, was it impactful by the way he releases his breath and how blood suddenly rises to his cheeks. 

For Taehyung, he catches the conversation but the blush behind Jeongguk’s neck was enough indication of what Jimin could have implied. This was embarrassing, too embarrassing because never in his life has thought about sleeping with Jeongguk.

Now, there's a man claiming that they might've done it and he really can't grasp the idea of him and his best friend together. 

"I don't think you'll need a change of sheets." He says, observing Jeongguk and turning his attention to Taehyung stuck at the living room, feet planted behind the sofa. "I'll be on my way, newly weds. " 

Both wait for Jimin to close the door and leave, and when he does the sheer panic in Jeongguk’s figure comes. "Oh fuck, he totally knows. Is this illegal that we're in a honeymoon suit and you're not even my husband?" 

"Not really…?"

"Oh god, he's pretty fucking intimidating." He lets out a breath and leans on the wall. Apparently, Jimin is intimidating enough to actually make his legs feel like jelly. "But,we need to focus on other things. Your list." 

"Fuck," Taehyung groans, lifting up a hand to cover the rising color of his cheeks. "It's kinda embarrassing." 

"But it's your list," Jeongguk counters, shifting his weight back to both his feet to walk towards his best friend and sit right across him. "I really won't mind."

"Fine, but… don't judge." Huffing as he turns around, Taehyung disappears as he goes upstairs. Only to return a couple seconds later, holding a yellow note on his hand. He folds into a tiny horizontal piece, earning a tilt of the head from Jeongguk. 

Just as he tries to question, Taehyung practically shoves the paper on his face and Jeongguk takes second to read the first option scribbled down in red ink. 

"Huh, a love festival," He reads it out with a hushed voice, frankly nodding after. "Wait, don't you have a hangover?" 

"Depends, are you trying to change the subject?" 

"What? Tae, no, of course not. You were kinda shitfaced last night so…" Jeongguk motions his hands towards Taehyung's head, imitating  what he thinks is a headache and there's a small laugh escaping his lips. 

"A lil, but it isn't stopping me. Is it stopping you? I told you—" 

"We've been over this. I agreed to it, hubby."

"You're getting awfully attached to that nickname." 

"Just playing my part," He flashes Taehyung a smile and drags him back upstairs to get themselves ready. And Taehyung really can't hide his excitement when he starts a full explanation on what happens during Jeju's renowned Love Festival. 

What he gets from Taehyung's cute rambling, tumbling over his words from joy sometimes, is that the Love Festival is a really big event on Jeju's bayside. Everything possibly romantic is there: roses, tarot readings on love life, relationship advisors, sweet sweet wine and chocolates and they even offer those cliche steak dinners. 

There's also an arc, which catches Jeongguk’s attention. It's apparently a superstition of sorts, when a couple goes through the arc, they're bonded by the universe forever. Taehyung's eyes practically glitter when he mentions it, but waves it off quickly and excuses himself for the bathroom. 

Next few minutes, they didn't really come to an agreement. It's when Taehyung walks out suited in a full pink gear, a whole mirror of Jeongguk’s pink outfit as well that they realize the choice they made. What more could be more romantic than the soft and graceful color of baby pink? That's right, nothing else. 

Doing their checks on the lights and the house keys, they head on out. Until, a person passing by spikes up a conversation with them. 

"Leaving?" 

Jeongguk turns around and takes a good look at the man, reminding himself to control his jaw from falling because how is a person this handsome. It's like he walked straight out from a drama and Taehyung is equally as shocked as he is. The only difference was he couldn't control his jaw from dropping. 

"Uhm, yes." Taehyung mumbles. "We were just about to leave," 

The man takes a bow and Jeongguk is a little startled but bows back anyway, his best friend scurrying to do the same. 

"Oh please, I'm Kim Seokjin. An attendant, if you need anything you can ring me up. Like the other two! I won't keep you long now," He says patting on their shoulders, causing them to compress, leaving the Jeongguk’s arm on Taehyung's waist to keep his feet sturdy. 

The attendant, Kim Seokjin, goes on his way and they're still pretty much shell-shocked. 

"Did you see…" He whispers at Taehyung's ear. 

"Yeah, he seems brighter than the other two."

"Makes him more scary."

That's how they end up in the love festival in a stupor still unsure if the guy that magically appeared in front of them was truly human. It was unacceptable, really, because how can a person look so goddamn good looking. 

But, the sound of the violin makes its way through their ears and Taehyung is left to find the sound, with Jeongguk behind him. There's a soft smile to his face as he trails behind his best friend. As they pass by, a couple walks in front of them and he catches a glimpse of their hands. 

Holding. Hand Holding. He suddenly had this uncontrollable urge to hold Taehyung's hand and he does. Jeongguk jogs up to Taehyung who's now indulging himself in the melodic sounds of the violin, humming in such a honey dripping voice. Standing there, he takes a good look at Taehyung, and squeezes the palm of his hand. 

In the back of his head, someone once said in a movie or book — Jeongguk can't recall. But he knows the words by heart. Happiness looks good on you. And it looks perfect on Taehyung. Absolutely fucking stunning. 

"You're staring, was I singing that bad?" Taehyung jokes, still keeping his face light and he's glowing. But, Jeongguk is the best at his remarks, so he goes the total opposite of what his mind is actually saying. 

"Yeah," 

"You absolute bastard," He acts, letting go of Jeongguk’s hand and putting an over dramatic look of resentment on his face, clutching his chest. It doesn’t stop him from holding the other’s hand back and tugging him to walk along the bayside. 

They kept walking, it was still morning and it felt a little cold as the sea brought wind to the shores. Taehyung takes the time to look at the stall, eyes lingering long enough for Jeongguk to notice. 

But, Taehyung doesn’t stop at any shop or whatever booth, his eyes do stay for a second too long. He continues to take small steps across the bay, face nonchalant but the other could see how he frames his back. Muscles are popping out the thick fabric and his shoulders are a little too uptight.

Stopping at his steps, Jeongguk feels the atmosphere get more heavy by the moment. Not the type of negative feelings, more on the feeling of uncertainty and… awkwardness. He feels a little betrayed.

“Tae,” He calls him out, Taehyung too busy eyeing the stalls to realize he’s a few steps before Jeongguk. Despite being stiff, he turns around and raises his eyebrows in question. 

“Gguk?”

“You’re not… you don’t have to feel awkward around me. I can see it, I already told you it’s fine.” Going straight to the point wasn’t his intention, but his mind was nagging at him to get to it. Because the Taehyung he knew wasn’t like this.

“I’m not,” There’s a pause, a hint of hesitation dancing on his lips and he walks back to Jeongguk. “I’m sorry, it still feels like I’m dragging you into this.”

“You’re not. I’ll tell you again that you’re not, and I’ll tell you how many times as I can.” And what he didn’t expect was for Taehyung to wheeze at him, slapping his shoulder as he bends over, laughing.

“Thanks, who knew you grew cool enough to say amazing words.” He smiles at Jeongguk and offers him his hand. “Ready?” 

“And who would’ve thought you’d feel less awkward in a second, was that all an act?” Jeongguk knows it’s not by the way Taehyung’s eyes still fill itself with doubt. He can see it. “I’m definitely ready, let’s get this husband role play started.”

Without another word, Jeongguk practically drags Taehyung to the stalls he’s been staring at. The nearest one was a love advisor, who quotes I can tell the very future of your relationship. The younger thinks it’s a nice marketing strategy, not to hurt the fun of it. No, especially when Taehyung eagerly sits down and nags for him to do the same.

Taehyung goes out of the booth disappointed. Claiming the woman’s claim was too vague and it really didn’t fit him. And well, he never really knows what’ll fit him so he huffs and skips to the next booth. They hop on the next, and the next one, anything Taehyung lays his eyes on and Jeongguk agrees with every single one.

Though most of them were mediocre readings (as per Jeongguk) and Taehyung is getting tired of hearing that he’ll have a fruitful life with his loved one someday he still continues. Promising it’ll be the last reading for today, he pushes his best friend to join him.

“You haven’t done a reading with me today. It was all me.” Taehyung whines, crossing his arms at an unfazed Jeongguk. 

“Because it’s your love life they’re predicting, not mine.” He frankly answers, trying to dismantle the other’s crossed arms. 

“That’s why you should join, because they’ll predict both of us. Aren’t you my husband?”

“Your fake husband,” Jeongguk reminds him but Taehyung isn’t really bothered by that sentiment. Instead, he stomps his foot and keeps his ground.

“Precisely. I just like hearing them predict the love lives and you said so, you’re a fake husband. It wouldn’t hurt and you said these aren’t accurate. Come on, just this once, please!” He pleads, and it’s true. Jeongguk isn’t gonna lose anything, so he cockily enters the booth showing off the ring in his hand. 

On the other hand, Taehyung is impressed by the amount of acting he musters up to keep up the act. Though they soon get greeted by an old woman who is seemingly displeased with Jeongguk’s antics.

“You seem to be having fun,” She rasps, voice hardened by age. “Sit. Your names?”

“Jeon Jeongguk and Kim Taehyung.” He immediately answers, leg bouncing in excitement as she holds on to the glass ball and the deck of cards in front of her. But, she stops and takes a good look on the two instead. 

“I’m not going to do a tarot reading,” The grandmother explains. “Though a card reminds me of you two. Have you heard about the Lovers card?”

They both shake their heads.

“For you, the lovers card in reverse.” A finger gets pointed out at Taehyung. “It’s time to move on, my child. Your energy, you have struggled to let a person know what you feel and have grown apart. Taehyung, but none of that is your fault. All you need is...to stop blaming yourself.” 

Taehyung stays silent as the woman shifts her gaze to his unknowing best friend. 

“And you, the lovers card. I think you are pure, Jeongguk. The only thing I need to say is that I hope you become conscious at the right time, at the right place, with the right person.” She bows at him and closes her eyes as if in solemn prayer. 

“Soul Twins. It’s when two souls are too alike, so much connected by love that they merge. It’s a love built on purity of intention and,” Taking a breath, she looks at Taehyung. “Without fear.”

Jeongguk blinks in confusion as he exits the place, and Taehyung is the same. Both stand there for a second to try and digest what the old woman said. 

“It isn’t as vague as the others but it's still vague.” He blurts out, line of sight trained on the floor behind him. His shoes suddenly are more interesting than the rest going all around him.

“I honestly feel attacked.” Answering back while clearing his throat, he holds on to the pockets of his pink coat and scrunches it in the process. Hands suddenly clammy from sweat. “I saw strawberries a while ago…”

His best friend knew it was a sign of help to drop the topic, so he motions his head to side, gesturing Taehyung to walk alongside him. “Do you think… they’ll give us strawberries for free if we tell them we’re newly married?”

Well, Taehyung was about to tell him off saying they’ve done their good bit of pretending at the villa but his best friend has other plans. He walks up to the seller with chocolate covered strawberries and animatedly points at his ring then points at Taehyung. 

He thinks the seller is a loser when he happily gives a pack of chocolate strawberries for free, waving them off and congratulating both of them. Maybe even whispering something along the lines of ah, young love. 

“Absolutely unbelievable.” Taehyung deadpans, though not stopping himself from grabbing another bite of the strawberry as he’s sat on one of the benches. Jeongguk managed to fool another vendor and eventually led to a pair of smoky hot chocolate. 

Now, here they are enjoying their perfectly free snacks in the park. It’s gotten a lot quiet now, the festival dying down along with the dipping sunlight. Most musicians have called it a day, and sellers were packing up but the two seated remained.

“We should do what corny couples do,” Jeongguk suggests, a playful smile on his face as he lifts a strawberry inches before Taehyung’s lips. He was about to comply and open his mouth, things take a turn because Jeongguk fucking miscalculates his movement.

That’s how he ended up staining Taehyung’s lips with chocolates. And he’s frozen, looking at the other’s face. They’re both completely silent for a moment until Taehyung is on his feet chasing his demon of a best friend down the street. 

Chocolate still on his face, of course.

A string of curses fall from his mouth until he’s out of breath from trying to chase Jeongguk. Taehyung was a fit man but not as half as bulky as the other, and he raises his arms up in surrender. 

“Giving up that fast?” Jeongguk mocks him, but pulls out a handkerchief and hands it to him. 

“I’m old.”

“You’re twenty seven.”

“I’m old.” Taehyung wheezes out, balling his hand into a fist and hitting his friend. The familiar feel of his chest grazing his hand. “And all our running led to the arc.” 

He takes a step back and turns his head towards the huge arc, towering over the sea. It was majestic, made from old stone with moss surrounding it. A few flowers and it’s vines grow at its base. Jeongguk audibly gasps. 

“Jeju is really something else,” he says, voice in a whisper as if not wanting to disrupt the beauty of the moment. As if the feeling of calm will break if he speaks a little higher. “Do you want to walk through it?”

Taehyung shakes his head and takes Jeongguk’s handkerchief. Wiping his face, he answers in an equally silent tone but it felt more weary, as if it was carrying something. “No, it doesn’t feel right. Not when I don’t know if Jihyun is going to return or not. Not when I still don’t get why it happened.”

Jeongguk bites at his lip, but simply focuses on the ground. There’s something invisible weighing him down this time, grounding his feet to the ground as his best friend continues to give his full attention at the scene before him. 

“Let’s go.”

Dinner in the villa wasn't a bad idea after all, the two intimidating attendants couldn't be seen anywhere and Jeongguk enjoys his soft tofu a lot. As said, nothing beats a hungry stomach than spicy Korean dishes. Though, Taehyung isn't really good with handling the spice. Yeah, nowhere near good as he orders another glass of cola, lips turning into an angry red. 

When he takes another spoon of the mouth exploding chicken with spice, Jeongguk hits it with his own spoon causing the food to fall back into the plate. 

"Hey!" Taehyung seethes, trying to get the chicken back but Jeongguk simply deflects his movements with his chopsticks. 

"You're basically suffering and red. Let me eat the spicy ones," His best friend tells him, voice straight without strain as he pushes the chicken that's less aggressive in potentially burning Taehyung's mouth further. 

"I haven't done anything but eat." Taehyung mutters under his breath, taking another of one of the side dishes. It wasn't his intention to make Jeongguk hear it, it was more of a self realization but the other hides his grin. 

"More cheeks to squish for me." This time, he isn't so sure if Jeongguk wanted him to hear that. By the way the words were said, wrist covering the expanse of his mouth as if mumbling to himself. But, Jeongguk meets his eyes, and in an instant give Taehyung's cheek a small pinch. 

Well, Taehyung doesn't mutter another word for the rest of the dinner. That is, until the younger brought up something he hoped he didn't notice. 

"We're not done with the list, aren't we?" Jeongguk asks, still maintaining his voice small but sharp. He knows it's a gentle nudge to make him tell the truth, because as Taehyung would like he really really can't lie for shit, not even if his life depends on it. Trying as much as he can to not feel pressured, he can't ignore the sudden shift in Jeongguk’s aura. 

"H-How'd you know? God, stop being scary." His shoulders sag as he releases a sigh, avoiding to look at the man across him and the other drops the act, a frown marring his face. 

"Sorry… didn't mean to. You had the list folded and I saw more things written down, but I told you I'm up for anything, and you could trust me. We've known each other for years, Tae. Seriously, with my whole chest I'm always here for you." Jeongguk speaks fast, leaning forward to reach over his best friend's hand, thumb caressing him in slow circular movements. 

Taehyung knows this from the back of his head. Knows Jeongguk is there, his ride or die and it's more than years of college and being roommates . If there's someone there till the end it would be his best friend. From the day they met, their first drink, their graduations, getting their first jobs and all of that. He was there when he entered his life and up until now, he has stayed. 

"Are you really sure you're up for it?" He asks, voice a bit shaky. 

"I'm here, aren't I? I don't want to stop something you want to do because we're friends, I also don't want you to just mope around, Tae. I know… I know people face these things differently but I don't like seeing you destroy yourself over something that wasn't your fault at all."

"Okay." Taehyung stops Jeongguk from continuing on, removing his hand from his best friend, only to adjust and hold it more firmly. "Okay, but there's kissing on it and just to make it clear, I am not kissing you." He jokes and Jeongguk snorts. 

"Do what makes you happy," It was supposed to be a bite back, sarcasm but something explodes at Taehyung's cheeks. Because Jeongguk is right, he should do what makes him happy. The only concern he has, that happiness doesn't come easily. 

But, he's going to try.

"So, what's next on the list?" 

"Dancing." He hums, relishing in the warmth of Jeongguk’s hand that surges through his body once the other lights up at the mention of dancing. "But not the dancing you're used to, Gguk."

"Excuse you, I am a great dancer."

"But they don't exactly teach you to waltz in a street dance troupe, no?" 

"Experience is experience," Jeongguk playfully argues back. They make their way back to villa, the other still so insistent that he could in fact, slow dance and maybe steps in pop songs are actually helpful in doing so. Taehyung nods, acting as if he isn't interested until a voice catches both of their ears. 

Usually, they're not one to eavesdrop but something about the way they're speaking piqued their ears. Until, the familiarity of the voice finally settles in and a soft sound of understanding comes from both of them. It was Jimin. 

“They don’t have the couple vibes.” His voice echoes through the small porch, probably an area for employees seeing as there aren’t other people around. Taehyung and Jeongguk were a few steps away from them, but with pillars covering them they were more than out of sight of the three that were comfortably sitting. But both have the leverage, enough for them to peek at the attendants.

“I agree, not at all. It feels like they’ve known each other but...as friends.” Another voice piped in, Yoongi this time as he crosses his arm and nods in no particular direction, as if recalling the day he met them in the hallway.

“We may be jumping into conclusions.” The man from this morning suggests, and it spikes some sort of anxiety in Jeongguk because they all look like some kind of clique ready to fight.

“Wait, no, hear me out, Seokjin. The first time I came in, they looked so scared and had a name mishap. Honeymoon weds are usually so shameless.” Taehyung silently winces.

“Right, right so shameless that we even have protocol and procedures to follow when we accidentally walk in on them fucking.” Yoongi adds in, now standing up and expressing his frustration over… fucking honeymoon couples, and how Taehyung and Jeongguk did not give them any sort of aroused energy.

Yeah, they understand it is a honeymoon suite, but hearing it before their very ears is somewhat… No, Taehyung doesn’t even want to venture on it. He tugs at his best friend’s arm, begging to get out but the other doesn’t budge.

“Oh remember the couple who couldn’t hold it in and did by the front door. I wanted to bleach my eyes out!” Jimin cries, imitating throwing bleach into his eyes as if it was burning. If Taehyung were in his place, he'd want that too, please.

“One ordered room service and well, they were fucking in the kitchen–” 

“That’s not the point here!” Seokjin lashes out on both of them, Jimin and Yoongi falling silent. And the two eavesdropping had to hold their gasps. Jeongguk was right, the handsome one was the scariest. “Okay, back to the topic. They just seem unbelievable.” 

“Maybe it was arranged?”

“No, they look comfortable enough to pass as friends. Tension maybe, do you think they don’t fuck? Kinda impossible because honeymoon couples and we’re a honeymoon suite known for,” Yoongi makes a circle with his fingers and inserts another one in. 

“We should step it up with the games once the second week comes.” Jimin says, tone filled with determination. “They said they didn’t need a change of sheets too!”

Jeongguk decides he’s heard enough, dragging Taehyung along with him to make it back to their house as stealthy as possible. Once they know they’re safe in the comfort of the bedroom, he locks the door and is dazed out.

Did he really just hear all of that?

“I can’t believe they have protocols for that?! And, and that was so embarrassing to hear, is honeymoon really all about the sex?” Taehyung explodes, cheeks glaring red from the attendants conversation because he literally cannot fathom and put it into words. All he knows is that he’s embarrassed and incredibly so.

“My husband appeal is not working.” Jeongguk blurts out, looking at Taehyung with genuinely panicked eyes.

“That’s literally the only thing you’ve heard from the whole conversation?” His eyes are wide, disbelief prominent as his best friend obviously has soaked up only one piece of information and not in the least shying away from the mentions of shameless couples. 

And Jeongguk and Taehyung not being one of them.

“It’s not working,” Jeongguk repeats himself.

“It’s because you’re a fake husband. You said so yourself. We just panicked on the first day, and we don’t even know if they would actually kick us out if we’re not a couple, but we already started...” Taehyung was about to go on about how they should just act like it in front of them and he shouldn’t push himself in a position as such but the sudden fire in Jeongguk’s eyes stop him.

“I need to step up my game.” 

“Jeongguk, No.”

“Jeongguk, Yes. We might get found out, Taehyung. It doesn’t have to be necessary the way they want it but I’ll show them we are husbands!” Judging by the way he’s standing, chest puffed out and the competitiveness spiking from him, he sighs. There’s no pulling Jeongguk out of that headspace until he wins against the attendants and pleasing himself by making them believe they are married.

Few things he remembers of the college him and him of today that just don’t disappear. How eager Jeongguk is in proving himself along with others, and he does see it as sort of endearing. So, Taehyung agrees anyway.

“But your list is more important,” Jeongguk finally comes down from the sudden wave of persistence, gaze now training on Taehyung whose cheeks manage to tone down from the mortification of what he just heard. The roundness of his face now subdued to a more pink hue. “We could deal with them later.” 

Jeongguk thanks God for his small obsession with speakers, because he’s brought a small one enough to carry along the bay walk illuminated with lanterns. Surprisingly, the sea is a lot calmer tonight, barely any large waves splashing against the old wood of the deck. 

It was a cozy circular deck hanging off the water, and he decided it’s the perfect place to dance along. Bonus is that no one is really passing by, everything is still and perfect. Not really putting much thought if it was romantic or not, but hoping to come off as peaceful. For Taehyung. 

Placing the speaker by the side and swiftly connecting to the phone, he plays the first song that comes on his playlist and stands up dancing to it. It was Any Song by Zico and Taehyungs gives him a lopsided smile as Jeongguk dances along the steps.

“Really?” Taehyung asks, walking in a slow pace towards his dancing best friend who didn’t stop even when Taehyung got close. Instead, Jeongguk goes behind him and hooks his arms underneath forcing the older to dance according to what he wants, following the rhythm of the song.

“This wasn’t what you had in mind?” Chuckling close to his ear, Taehyung feels a chill run down his spine. But, he chooses to ignore it as he lets Jeongguk take over his body, hands alternately going up and down as he’s seen on many videos. Even going as far as tapping Taehyung’s cheek to the beat as another chorus rolls in.

Songs do end, of course and when another one plays, Taehyung twists himself around and gives Jeongguk a knowing look and tilts his head towards the speaker. “Sway. Michael Bublé. Nice taste.” 

The other merely offers his hands to Taehyung, signing that this time he’s free to be handled and turned into a dance partner. “Oh, I’ll teach you how to waltz pretty, hubby.”

Placing a hand on his best friend’s shoulder while he takes the empty hand to entangle their fingers together. He motions Jeongguk to put his free hand on his waist and so he does while Taehyung takes a step to the right, starting them off.

There was no finesse whatsoever, no actual fancy waltzing and it makes Jeongguk giggle knowing they’re just swaying left and right while the song continues to play in the background. They take synchronized steps and when brave enough, he attempts to twirl Taehyung, just to add to the feel.

And when he does, it goes relatively well aside from the fact that he bumps straight into Jeongguk’s chest and looks up at him in shock. Both end up laughing for a moment, before fitting back and surrendering to the music. Taehyung’s head now situated between the crook of Jeongguk’s neck, familiar scent of laundered clothes, the same he had all these years. 

Pulling him closer by the arm wrapped around his waist, Taehyung is now nuzzling into the other’s chest quite comfortably. Low soothing voice giving in to purr along the song that will soon come to its end. Closing his eyes and savoring the moment, he felt serene. Nothing to disturb his thoughts, nothing to haunt him. It was peaceful.

Life really does come to bite him in the ass soon enough. They’re already back in the villa, as Jeongguk had suggested after the song finished and was replaced by some anime OST. Though, he did suggest they could also dance along to it, but his best friend was right, it’s been a long day.

So, here he is at the bathtub with water hot enough to subtly burn at his skin. Taehyung knew it was so stupid of him to think he has a moment of peace. Because like before, they come and go. And at present, the thoughts pushed back to his head had now resurfaced enough to give him a headache.

It was dumb, really, but he acknowledges that the only thing he’d been doing is distracting himself. He’s trying a lot to conquer the fear in his system whenever he goes back and thinks he got left behind by people who said they’d stayed forever. By people who used to be happy with him, happy because of him to suddenly leave and break him in the process.

Taehyung thinks that it must be really getting to him, the walls are suddenly spinning and he’s seeing double as he rests his head back on the tub, looking at the ceiling. Holding onto the side, he attempts to get up but it feels as if he’s being sucked into the water. He can barely register if he actually moved.

Huh, this might be what it feels to drown in yourself, yet he strangely feels light as a feather. There’s a small numb pain growing at the back of his head threatening to take over his body.

And once it settles deep within the etches of himself, the world turns dark.