Archive of Our Own

It’s the fall. Jeongguk is sitting in a quiet café around the corner from his dorm, contemplating- no, boggling his brain for ideas. Come on, brain, is that the best you can do? Today, Jeongguk had finally had his first photography lecture- the one he had been dreaming about since he was a little kid on the Busan beachside.

It was everything he had expected and more- except he didn’t expect himself to be so utterly halted by the prospect of a first assignment. Professor Bang, who was a renowned photographer in Korea, had simply said: “Take pictures for the world to see.” When several questions arose from the curious first year students at Prof. Bang’s vague proposal, he had sighed, then wrote ‘scope: photograph people outdoors’ on the board.

Professor Bang is eccentric for sure, but Jeongguk guesses that’s what makes him stand out from the crowd of portrait photographers.

It doesn’t help, however, that Jeongguk is an inexperienced 18 year old, barely settled in at college, exploring too many courses at once and already rushing to decide on a major for his second year.

To be fair, Jimin hyung had advised him exactly not to do that… Maybe he should demand that he helps. Jeongguk then looks around the café to check if anyone is watching him, which of course no one is, since why would anyone pay attention to a stranger? Still, feeling a little nervous, Jeongguk packs his stuff, grabs his matcha latte off the table, then as he walks out of the café, calls his Jimin hyung.

After three rings, Jimin answers the phone completely out of breath, likely from kissing his boyfriend. “Is Yoongi hyung with you?”

Reluctantly, Jimin replies, “Y-yeah. Anyways dumbass, what did you call me for?”

Reminded of his situation again, Jeongguk drops his playful smile and says sourly, “Hyung, I don’t know what to do. Professor Bang, you know the sorta weird one, set us our first assignment, and-”

“Oh, that’s right, gukie, you had your first photography lecture today! How did it go?”

“Even better than Ihad dreamed. But, like I was saying before you rudely interrupted-”

“Hey, I was actually asking a polite question!”

“Like I was saying,” repeats Jeongguk, pouting, “hyung please help. I have no idea what I should do for my first assignment. He said to take pictures of people outdoors… hyuungggggg, do you know how wide that scope is? I’m completely lost!”

“Yikes, you’re making me glad I never took that course,” says Jimin. There's a suggestive cough on Jimin’s end, probably by Yoongi hyung, indicating that he wants to get back to eating Jimin’s face again. “Uh,” grunts Jimin. “Can I get back to you, Ggukie?”

Jeongguk rolls his eyes again. Jimin and Yoongi hyungs’ relationship is disgustingly romantic and it makes Jeongguk laugh and wish he had something similar. “Okay, hyung. don’t do anything I wouldn't do.”

After he ends the call, Jeongguk stands there outside the café, kind of staring into space, before he snaps his thoughts back together and heads for the dorms.

……

At 11 o’clock at night, Jeongguk got into bed with his eyes glued to his phone, waiting for Jimin hyung to call. He had scoured the internet all day for ideas, but all the ones he found were useless. Either he wasn’t sure he could pull it off, or he thought they were too generic. ‘Maybe i’m asking for too much.’

But thankfully, a couple minutes later, the very belated call from Jimin hyung finally came. Jeongguk answered the call right away, and shouted into the phone, “JiminIE HYUNG! DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG I’VE WAITED FOR YOU? WHAT WERE YOU DOING ALL DAY? SUCKING YOONGI HYUNG’S FACE OFF INTO OBLIVION??”

“Ehem,” said Jimin, clearing his throat. “Actually, Jeongguk, contrary to popular belief, we don’t do that very often. Plus i’ll have you know I was trying to recruit a special someone for your project, because…hehe. I don’t know if you remember but, you begged me to?”

“HYUUUUNG!” whined Jeongguk, but he couldn’t say anything back because Jimin was right. “O-okay, so what have you got?”

Jimin cleared his throat, and said, “for you, Jeongguk, my favourite first year at Halla arts college, I have scouted someone truly unbelievable.”

“Enough of the suspense, who is it?”

“It’s my best friend, Taehyung!”

“Kim Taehyung?”

“Yes, the one whose modelling gigs I always talk about! Are you excited?”

“Oh, well, thank you so much, hyung. Are you sure he wanted to do it? Or did you force him to…” Jeongguk trailed off, half teasing.

“Hey, come on, who do you take me for? Tae’s a film major, so he likes to stick his nose in photography majors’ assignments whenever he gets the chance to. Rest assured, he’s fully interested in you.”

“In me?”

“Oops. came out wrong. in your project,” Jimin corrected himself, grinning through the phone a little suspiciously.

“R-right.” Jeongguk blushed. “Thanks again, hyung. What will we do with Mr Supermodel though?”

“See, that’s where it gets super exciting,” Jimin said. “By my genius, I've organised an adventure day for us all! It will just be flailing around in the cosmos field, standing under the trees, and whatnot, but it will be the perfect chance for you to take some pictures for your assignment!”

Jeongguk’s breath hitched at the idea. “Hyung, that sounds so amazing, I love you to death!” Jeongguk said, his eyes twinkling from just imagining it. “One more thing- who’s going?”

“Okay,well, I did take it upon myself to bring a few more people into this…”

“Hyung, I don’t even mind!”

Pause. “So, it’s the seven of us, sound good?”

……

At last, it is the weekend. Jeongguk’s long awaited saturday has come. Being the first Saturday in November, he's sure there would be lots of people out today admiring the fall colours. And today he would be one of them, along with the six other people in his company.

Jeongguk had charged his camera and double checked it was working last night, so everything would be perfect and ready to go in the morning. He's so excited, both to meet Taehyung (who he’d sneakily followed on instagram and gaped at his beauty), and to finally take some actual tangible photos for his assignment. It's all thanks to Jimin hyung that he’s come out of his art block. Even as kids in Busan, Jimin had always helped Jeongguk get out of ruts.

‘I should buy him a meal soon,’ Jeongguk thinks, smiling at how lucky he was to have such a friend.

Jeongguk is dressed to impress today, but doesn't want to look like he tried too hard: baby boy just wants to be on par with the subject of his photography, aka the model Taehyung. He's clad in black skinny jeans to match his black hair, a grey hoodie and his prized denim jacket, sporting a big canon camera hung around his neck, falling by his chest.

He takes the bus to the cosmos field, laying his head on the windowsill and his earbuds playing soft rock as the midday sun melted his skin into a golden glow. It's November, after all, nearing winter more than autumn. A little chilly even with his hoodie and jacket, but Jeongguk likes the cold. It reminds him there's always something warmer, something cosier he could find. Not like the summer, where he could usually never escape the sweltering heat.

When Jeongguk arrives, as soon as his feet stepped off the bus and onto the roadside, taking his earbuds out one by one, the vibrant display of cosmos flowers in all bright colours from violet purples to fuschia pinks greet his eyes. It's breathtaking. Literally, too, because the wind had started blowing past him, rustling his carefully set hair apart into wild curls, and tickling his nose. He takes a deep breath against the harsh air.

“Jeongguk!” he hears Jimin hyung call his name. Jeongguk looks to the left and found a group of young men, around his age or older, huddled up in the wooden shelter a few meters away from him.

“Hi!” Jeongguk shouts out, waving. “I’m Jeongguk,” he adds with a huge grin.

They all smile back, and Jimin introduces the five other boys one by one- Yoongi, Jimin’s boyfriend, as Jeongguk already knows; Taehyung, Jeongguk’s collaborator for today (who looks exquisite, by the way); Namjoon, who like Taehyung also likes being nosy at first years; Seokjin, Namjoon’s best friend; and Hobi, the guy who Joon has a crush on, and shyly asked if he’d like to come too.

“Let’s have some fun, shall we?”

As the boys start walking to the footpath in the middle of the cosmos field that stretched for miles, Taehyung approaches Jeongguk first, being the friendly person he is known for. “Hi, I’m Kim Taehyung. Nice to meet you, Jeongguk.”

Jeongguk unknowingly lights up, smiling from ear to ear at this. He makes eye contact, and has to stop himself from losing it completely at the sight of Taehyung’s soulful eyes whose chestnut hue reminds Jeongguk of the autumn leaves. “Hi. I've heard a lot about you from Jimin hyung. you model, right?”

“Yeah, haha, it’s a bit embarrassing to hear it like that. just on the side, you know, to pay for college,” Taehyung explains, also smiling. “I heard this is your first photography assignment, is that right?”

“Yep,” Jeongguk nods. “And you’re going to be in my photos. I'm so honoured.”

“No way,” Taehyung says, chuckling. God, Jeongguk thinks, his laughter was the stuff of gods. “If anything, I should be thanking you that I get to be in your photos. Heard you’re very talented.”

“Ha, has Jimin hyung been saying that? Not true, I just take a lot of photos. Have been taking them a long time, too, since I was a tiny kid.”

“For real? That sounds like fun,” Taehyung comments. “So, do you have any ideas for today?”

Jeongguk hesitates for a bit. "Actually, I was kind of stuck, that’s why Jimin hyung arranged this. He said I could just be here, have fun with all his friends, and it would feel like taking photos is only natural in the moment. Not worry about getting the perfect composition or lighting.”

“Jimin’s so smart,” Taehyung says. “He basically set us up.”

Jeongguk blushes, not knowing whether this is flirting on Taehyung’s part or just him being overly friendly. Jimin had warned him about that, saying it was one of the reasons why Taehyung was so popular at Halla. Because he makes everyone feel loved, or at least special. "Y-yeah. you could say that.”

“And about what you said,” Taehyung continues, unfazed, at which Jeongguk is a bit embarrassed for overthinking. “It's like Karl Lagerfield said. “What I like about photographs is that they capture a moment that’s gone forever, impossible to reproduce.” Right?”

Jeongguk, taken aback, says, “How do you know that quote? It’s basically my life motto. We’re like, meant to be!”

Hot flush took over Jeongguk’s face. He didn’t mean to say that. He now feels like a clown. no, a whole circus.

Taehyung laughs. “I’d be surprised if there was anyone in photography who didn’t know it, Jeongguk.”

“R-right? you’re probably right.”

“But i wouldn’t dispute it, you know,” says Taehyung.

“Sorry?”

“The thing you said? About us being meant to be. I think we have a lot in common.”

Again, not what Jeongguk means. He doesn’t want to be random platonic soulmates with Taehyung. No, Jeongguk is sure he had fallen pretty much deeper in love than he ever had in his life, just from this short encounter.

The sunlight is hitting one side of Taehyung’s face as they walk through the footpath, cosmos blooming on both sides of them. His brown hair glows under the early afternoon rays, and sunlight makes his eyes twinkle with mischief and curiosity. Ethereal, Jeongguk admires. What he doesn’t realise was that Taehyung is stealing soft glances Jeongguk’s way, thinking the exact same thing, being in awe at his everything.

Through the field, there is a spot where lots of people were taking photos. Jeongguk likes the location, but doesn’t want to wait in line for a single snap of the camera, so he whispers to Taehyung, “hey, can you come with me?”

Taehyung follows, Jeongguk stopping a few strides away. “I was thinking,” Jeongguk says eagerly, “we could take it here.”

The spot Jeongguk chose is a place from where to the left side, you could see people taking shots at the crowded photoshoot location. “It's perfect,” Taehyung says earnestly.

“Captures the contrast, right? A little farther away from the action, still enough to catch a glimpse of it yet also in our quiet little place, more intimate, more…”

“Romantic?”

Taehyung needs to stop these inferences, otherwise Jeongguk will implode into a red hot blushing ball.

“Exactly,” Jeongguk manages to get out, trying to seem nonchalant. “Now, please stand and pose wherever you want.”

Taehyung nods. He then turns around, much to Jeongguk’s confusion, but then half turns back round towards Jeongguk, so it looks like Taehyung is looking back towards something he missed.

After that, he also does the classic flower field poses like reaching for a flower, and with Jeongguk’s help, manages to look like he is lying in an eternal field of cosmos flowers. “Here,” Jeongguk says as he puts his camera to one side and offers Taehyung a hand to stand back up.

“Thanks,” Taehyung says, grabbing Jeongguk’s hand. The moment they touched is electric, and it feels so strangely immoral for the both of them that they almost jolt away from each other.

“Ha, must have been static,” says Jeongguk, desperate to not seem desperate.

Taehyung agrees. “Static… from the flowers.” Could you even get static from flowers? Taehyung sighs inwardly, mentally slapping himself for being so gawky and graceless around Jeongguk. They’d only known each other for half an hour yet Taehyung already feels completely drawn in, and for what? What had Jeongguk even done that was so fascinating? But all throughout the day, he’d caught himself staring at Jeongguk. Get a grip, Taehyung.

For the next hour, Taehyung and Jeongguk walk around the field together, taking pictures of each other and sometimes distant shots of the other boys running amongst themselves, from whom the duo had separated themselves unknowingly by being so afraid to get one step further from each other. It's confusing, and impossible too, because how does magnetic attraction exist? But Jeongguk does feel such a force, and so does Taehyung.

At the end of the day, Jeongguk takes a big gulp and musters the courage to ask for Taehyung’s number, so nervous when Taehyung hands him his phone back that his phone almost slipped through his sweaty hands. Normally he's shy, but asking for Tae is like an unintentional, almost instinctive, feeling.

On the way home, he takes an uber with Jimin and tries to seem unfazed when Jimin bothers him with questions about Taehyung, their day together, mentioning how suspicious it was that they’d spent the entire day stuck to the other like glue, when the other boys were out having fun and running around. “You sure you guys aren’t, like, in love with each other?”

“Shut up, Jimin hyung. I’m not even gay,” Jeongguk says.

“Yeah, you’re bi.”

Jeongguk has to fight off a boyish grin against the last rays of the late afternoon sun falling through the window of the car, because he can't explain it- he just couldn’t take his eyes, nor mind, off of Taehyung.

And Jeongguk tirelessly bothers Jimin about it for weeks afterward, ranting, "Tae hyung is the most photogenic person I've ever seen! He's an angel! He's angelic. He's mixed, Korean and Heaven! How did it feel when he fell from heaven…"

……

A month later, Jeongguk's in the same café around the corner from his dorm. Only, this time, he wasn't stuck on his photography assignment. This time, he was waiting for Kim Taehyung.

Jeongguk smiled just from thinking about him. Taehyung makes him happy, even if they'll never be anything more than friends. Jeongguk's sure Taehyung is too good for him, even whines to Jimin hyung about how "out of his league" Tae is. Even though Taehyung's gay so it's not completely out of the question, Jeongguk could never compete. It's a well known fact Taehyung has multiple 'suitors', to borrow Jimin hyung's expression. After all, Kim Taehyung's everything any guy and girl dreams of- a charming man who majors in film, is kind to everyone but a little mysterious and to add even more persona, he models for high-society photographers. Not including Jeongguk, of course. He's just a plain ol' college student.)

Ironically, the very person who snapped Jeongguk out of his daydream about the older was Taehyung himself. "Hey, Ggukie," he greets. "Did you wait long?"

Jeongguk's a little flustered at his sudden arrival, but collects himself. "Hi, Tae hyung. No, I just got here. Do you want to order?"

They talk about college and life as they sit, Jeongguk with his steaming chai latte and Taehyung with a sweet hot chocolate. When the topic of love is on the horizon, they both abruptly turn the conversation on its head so it goes in another direction. It would have been so easy if they just talked about it- about love and their feelings. For a month they'd been harbouring feverish crushes on each other, thinking they were unrequited but not knowing half the truth.

Inevitably, though, the topic of romance emerges again and again, finally to the point they can't naturally avoid talking about it.

"So," says Jeongguk. "Tae hyung.Has someone recently caught your eye?"

"No,"replieds Taehyung, abruptly. Then, he stalls. "Well, it's a little complicated."

"Aha, so there is someone?"

"Didn't say that, Ggukie."

"Doesn't matter. I'll just pester Jiminie hyung about it. or maybe even Joon hyung, since you guys seem to be so close. or just maybe, Seokjin hyung," teases Jeongguk.

"Did i ever tell you,” Taehyung suddenly begins. “That I used to have a big fat crush on Seokjin hyung?”

Jeongguk feels the tinge of jealousy catching up to him already. Why's Taehyung telling him this? “G-go on.”

“So, it was nearing the end of first year. I had been considering film as my major. I was tiny, young, impressionable.And then out of nowhere, Seokjin hyung was assigned to be my mentor. He took me to cafés, taught me everything he knew, made me fall in love with film. But as you know, he was chasing after a girl back then. I even got roped in to help hyung with his grand plan to ask her out.”

“And… this girl you’re talking about… she’s the infamous Jua?”

“Indeed, that’s her. Alas, no one knows where she is now.”

“Doesn’t she even miss him?”

“Doesn’t seem like it," remarks Taehyung. "She’s been gone for a year. Kinda left Seokjin hyung heartbroken when she vanished last year.”

“...So Tae hyung, you’re over seokjin hyung?”

“Oh, Jeonggukie. that’s long past me. and what about you?”

Jeongguk flushes. “oh, me?”

Taehyung smiles and nods through the nervousness he feels at the prospect Jeongguk might actually mention someone.

“Well,” Jeongguk says. He hesitates. “No,” he manages to say. “No.”

……

“YOU’RE BOTH CLUELESS!” screams Jimin, walking into Tae’s studio apartment on the first saturday in December.

Taehyung sighs. “What, Jimin?”

“JUST CLUELESS! fucking CLUELESS. I don’t understand how human beings can be so oblivious.”

“Jimin, who are you talking about? Did you and Yoongi hyung fight again?”

“No. See, THIS is what I mean. How are you two like this? Both of you?” Jimin says, exasperated. “And before you even ask, I’m talking about Jeongguk.”

Taehyung blinks. “What about him?”

Jimin groans, flailing his arms around. “I hate to be dramatic, but, you’re not fooling anyone. You have feelings for him, right?”

Jimin's right, there was no fooling him. “Oh, is it that obvious?”

“Obvious? Please. You have I WANNA FUCK GGUK plastered all over your forehead.”

“That obvious, huh? I should be more discreet from now on.”

Jimin stands, mouth agape. “Taehyung, are you serious?When I liked Yoongi hyung, I told him straight away! What do you mean, be more discreet? You wanna date Jeongguk right? Well, is anything going to come of being discreet?”

“N-nooo, I guess not-”

“I rest my case,” Jimin says. “Trust me, Taehyung, Jeongguk is head over heels for you too, love.”

And then Jimin tells the same repertoire to his cute little Jeongguk, wishing something would happen. "You can’t just sit around pining for each other! Actions before thoughts!”

Jeongguk is mortified by what Jimin is suggesting- pull off a grand gesture, sing Taehyung a serenade, write him a song, or goddamn it, at least a poem!

But the last idea, most of all, was the icing on the cake.

“So, Jeongguk, Taehyung’s birthday is in only a few weeks,” started Jimin. “How about we plan a surprise party for him? It’s his 22nd, we want to make it special. And at the party, you can naturally ask him out on a date! Go down on one knee and he’ll for sure say yes.”

“Oh, Jimin hyung, go to hell.”

Jeongguk has said that, but it is a very sweet idea. Jimin has a knack for moving gestures- it was how Yoongi hyung confessed to him and since then he became obsessed with them. And thanks to Jimin, Jeongguk now kind of wants to pull it off and make his 22nd the most memorable night for Taehyung hyung.

'Okay,’ Jeongguk decides. 'We’ll plan everything, from venues to candles, songs to balloons…’

So the next few weeks are a busy disaster for Jeongguk, who spends every waking minute pouring his crushing heart and soul into the decorations, trying to naturally ask Tae hyung about his favourite colours, animals, balloon types, cake flavours, people to be around, list of potential gifts and even ideal first date ideas. And, on the night of december 29th, as he finalises everything for the next day, Jeongguk breaks into the widest and proudest boy grin.

……

It’s the morning of December 30th- 8am yet barely bright enough for Jeongguk to make out what’s around his room.

Late sunrises are one of the many things he adores about going into fall and winter- it means sleeping in feels more natural. Unfortunately, late sunrises and short daylight hours come hand in hand, and today, Jeongguk needs more of those- daylight hours- than any other to make their plan for Taehyung’s surprise birthday celebration work.

His eyes are still thick with sleep, but he rushes to the bathroom to get ready. Normally, he’d grunt and groan, complaining about how the sun wasn’t even up yet. But, waking up to his own alarm clock that he set last night (and double and triple checked it was working) feels good today.

After a quick shower, with a towel around his shoulders, he spots the birthday cake he and the boys had custom made for Taehyung. It makes him smile endlessly, just imagining the grin on Taehyung’s face when he receives it- all seven colours of the cake to represent the seven boys.

Letting his hair air-dry, he calls Jimin, who picks up almost instantaneously, gingerly declaring that all the balloons and bouquets had arrived perfectly. Heaven is in their favour today.

“Where are we meeting?” Jeongguk asks.

“Aha, I’m glad you asked, Ggukie,” replies Jimin. “So Namjoon hyung managed to recruit Tae’s mom, and they agreed that she’ll surprise him and keep him out of our way until exactly 7pm today, celebrating his birthday. But we need to make sure that when he comes home, he’s in for an even bigger bombshell.”

Jeongguk nods along, happily imagining the scenario where just like in the movies, they hide behind the sofa and pop out the moment the front door opens. “Sounds good. When does he leave his apartment?”

“2pm! By the way, I’m inviting us to his apartment right now for an early morning Christmas movie marathon! So we can be huddled up at his place and work out the logistics early on!” Jimin’s excitement is clear-cut, obvious even through the phone.

“Am I coming?”

“Of course, silly. We’re all gonna want you there so you can kiss Tae under the mistletoe.”

……

“Welcome, Guk,” Taehyung says warmly as they enter his apartment, paying special attention to Jeongguk and Jeongguk only, much to the other guys’ discontent. “Your sweater looks really cosy.”

Don’t blush, Jeongguk, Don’t. “Oh, thank you, hyung. You can borrow it, if you’d like.”

At this, Taehyung chuckles, much to Jeongguk’s embarrassment. “Mhm. Next Christmas, maybe.”

Then they watch what seems like the same movie four boring times, cuz now they’re almost 6 hours into the marathon, the floor is messy as hell with the smeared chocolate and unpopped popcorn kernels, and none of them can even remember a single character’s name.

Unbeknownst to Taehyung, of course, the boys are exchanging glances, waiting impatiently for Tae’s mother to surprise him. And within a few minutes, she keeps up her end of the bargain. Jeongguk’s heart melts to see his crush grin like a kid all over again at the voice of his mother. When Tae apologises to the rest of the group with an especially long look towards Jeongguk and leaves hurriedly, they’re all feeling the same sense of festive euphoria.

They get to decorating almost as soon as Tae leaves, when they’re 100% sure that he won’t come back for a missing set of keys, or a wallet, or even his coat. It doesn’t take long but to Jeongguk, it’s kind of prolonged torture because of the amount of mistletoe the guys actually bought in anticipation of his confession-to-come.

“Please, hyungs, shut up! Do you know how embarrassing this will all be when we all inevitably find out it’s not reciprocal?”

They all collectively groan at this. “Ggukie, he’s so into you,” Jimin says reassuringly. “I’ve told you like a million times how much he’s into you.”

“God, you’re so clueless,” Hobi remarks, but he’s hardly the one to talk, since he seems entirely oblivious to Namjoon’s quiet but intense crush on him, and the others all give him a look accordingly. “What? He is.”

With a sigh at this, Jeongguk asks them all. “Can we all agree, all six of us, to leave this up to me? Please, please? If I chicken out” -and Jeongguk definitely shouldn’t, judging by the looks they’re giving him as he says this- “then promise never to mention this again.”

After a pregnant pause that indicates their adoring frustration at the youngest, they all agree on this. That’s one thing, at least.

And thank god, because from there, they really can’t agree on a single thing, not even whether to place the pink balloon to the left or right of the purple one. At the end of some silly arguments, they decide to obey Seokjin’s command on everything, including moving the pink balloon to the right, much to the disgruntlement of Jimin, who “really wanted to alphabetise the colours!”

Even when they’re all fighting over petty things, Jeongguk’s glad he brought his trusty camera, because he loves taking shots of people when they’re interacting and living life as they always do. It’s his passion, he thinks, a new found one. They get mad at Jeongguk taking time out from the heated debates to take pictures, but he knows that at the end of the day, they’ll love looking back at how ridiculous they were being in the photographs.

Finally, after what seems like a forever without Taehyung in Taehyung’s apartment, it’s nearing 7pm. They all hush down, even Seokjin and Yoongi, who were fighting over the placement of the cake in centimeters just a few seconds before. Yoongi lets out a hmph (just like Jimin; lovers take after each other after all) as he lets Seokjin have his way like planned, then they turn off all the lights and huddle together behind the sofa just like they saw in the movie they saw this morning. Which one of the four? Probably all of them.

When the clock hits 7pm, they become even more hushed, focused on any kind of sound coming from the door’s way, and reprimanding each other for making any other noise. Jeongguk’s- to say the least- sweating from nervousness, the party popper in his hand almost slipping to the floor because of his clammy hands. He prays this will all go well- and he doesn’t need any more prayers, because they’re all being answered- the exact moment the front door opens with a mechanical bleep, the six of them behind the sofa jump up, popping the poppers and shouting, “Surprise!”

Taehyung, looking even more beautiful than before with his hair dusted in snow, looks dumbfounded. He struggles to say a word, but no need to worry, because Namjoon comes to the rescue.

“I hope you had an amazing time with your mom,” he begins. “We wanted to plan something special for your 22nd, Tete. You don’t hate us, right?”

“Hate you?” Taehyung cries out, running to the boys for a group hug, then through the muffles: “I love you guys so much for doing this for me! I can’t believe it. What did I do to deserve this all?”

Jimin and Jeongguk exchange a look, and Jeongguk’s about to say something, but then Taehyung starts to cry- like properly cry, and now… the timing’s quite badly missed. They all gather round to listen and console Taehyung, finding the newly 22-year-old adorable. Thankfully, when he stops sniffling, wiping his eyes with the tissues Hobi handed to him, he declares: “Time to celebrate!”

Two hours, another movie and at least six covert instances of eye contact later, they’re lazing around in the living room of Tae’s apartment, trying to choose between Frozen 1 and 2. Jeongguk loves either equally and doesn’t mind, so he decides he’ll get up and get more snacks instead, while the rest of them are occupied.

He mumbles something to Hobi about getting some more chips and chocolate, quietly nudges Taehyung’s shoulder much to his confusion, then walks towards the kitchen at the other end of the hallway, inconveniently too long of a distance from the living room.

What Jeongguk doesn’t realise is that Taehyung actually follows his suit into the kitchen after patting Jimin’s head to signal his departure.

“Oh, hi?” says Jeongguk, surprised at the older’s sudden appearance by the fridge. “Did you want something, Tae hyung?”

“O-Oh, no,” Tae replies, stuttering but trying not to blush. Maybe he’d misunderstood? “You- you nudged me, Ggukie.”

“You mean, that nudge?” Jeongguk says, already regretting his life choices. “Oh- hyung, I’m sorry! I didn’t think you’d actually follow me.” Pause. “I’m glad you did, though.”

“Oh?” says Taehyung, one eyebrow raised. “And why is that?”

It’s Jeongguk’s turn to stutter and blush. Looking down, he begins, “H-Hyung, I need to tell you something.”

Taehyung's eyes soften at the younger's reddening cheeks, tilting his head down to meet Jeongguk's gaze. "Guk-ah, what is it?"

"Tae hyung, I don't know how to tell you this, but… I've been wanting to for a while," Jeongguk says tentatively. "And, you see, the point of today was that… I'd confess to you." Jeongguk's face flares up at this, and Tae's starts burning too.

"O-Oh?" is all Taehyung can manage, almost swallowing his tongue. This had to be a dream of some sort, because this is exactly what he was daydreaming about the entire day, even when he was out with his mom. It had started snowing and all Taehyung wished for at the first snow was for Jeongguk.

"Yes, and I'm sorry if I'm making this awkward between us, uh, please feel free to not talk to me or whatever, I'll understand, but I hope it doesn't change anything in the long run. I really like you, Taehyung hyung, and I wish we can at least stay friends-"

"No!" Jeongguk is cut off by a panicking Taehyung, who hates himself for the fact that he's making Jeongguk feel bad right now.

Guk's brave smile falls completely at this, as he tries to process what just happened between them- did he just get flat out rejected?

Taehyung slaps himself mentally for making the situation worse, realising what he's said. "No, no, Gguk-ah, that's not what I meant!" he hurriedly says. "Please, don't cry," he says towards the younger, who's now trembling. "I-I like you a lot too, Ggukie. That's what i meant…"

Jeongguk wipes a tear just about to escape from his right eye at the polite rejection, only to find that what he's hearing isn't rejection at all- rather it's the opposite.

"I-I've kind of a little crush on you ever since Jimin showed me pictures of you, actually," Taehyung expands. "And meeting you, hanging out with you in that cosmos field, it made me wonder… what we could become."

The tears pooled in Jeongguk's eyes become stars as he hears this. "Really?"

Taehyung nods with a gulp. "And if I'm being even more honest, I thought about you today. I don't know if you saw, but it was the first snow today, and… I wished for you."

"Hyung…"

"So, this is a wish come true. Guk-ah, will you be mine?"

Jeongguk nods frantically, approaching Taehyung with hooded eyes. "I never thought you'd feel the same way…"

Taehyung gazes at the younger with anticipation, his eyes drifting to his pink parted lips. They look especially tempting as Jeongguk licks his lips wantonly. "Guk," he says, closing his eyes when he's promptly met with Jeongguk softly pressing his lips to Tae's.

Tae's breath hitches and he lets out an involuntary moan as Jeongguk's warm tongue explores his, reenacting the very moment he fantasised about so many times. Those times, he just ached, wishing his feelings were reciprocated, but now… now he knew. And that made it infinitely better.

"Gguk-ah," Taehyung sighs out, "More."

Meanwhile in the living room, Jimin’s won the case this time to go for the original Frozen movie. He smirks as he turns round to boast to Jeongguk, but immediately becomes perplexed that he’s gone. “Guys, where’s Jeongguk?” he questions, making the rest of them look around.

“Don’t worry, he went to get some snacks for us, I think,” Hobi says nonchalantly, remembering the youngest’s words from some minutes ago.

“Hasn’t it been a while, though? Maybe-” Jimin cuts off, noticing that Taehyung is nowhere to be seen either and recalling the pats his best friend had given him. He smirks as soon as he realises, announcing his hypothesis. “Guys, look at who else is gone too…”

When the rest of them also register what’s going on, they all get overexcited.

“I thought JK had chickened out!” Namjoon whispers, his eyebrows moving animatedly.

“Me too! I was hoping there would be a next time,” Yoongi agrees, his eyes now gleaming with delight. Matchmaking was his favourite hobby- it’s how he met Jimin after all, falling for him while trying to play Cupid.

Jimin stands up, asking, “Do we go and find them? Or would we be disrupting?”

At this, as if timed, two distinct moans come from the direction of the kitchen. He looks around to see if the others have also heard the sound and it appears that they have, if the mixture of expressions- from pure shock to utter joy- are anything to go by. This makes Jimin grin even harder. “Oh, I think it’s time we disrupted,” he says, snickering.

The five of them tiptoe towards the kitchen, the lewd noises becoming louder as they got close. Finally, by the door, Jimin spots the two in one corner next to the sink, Jeongguk’s back towards them and Taehyung on the counter with his legs around the younger’s waist.

Jimin feels a sense of pride washing over him, as well as happiness for Jeongguk and Taehyung, who seem to have finally gotten their shit together. Thinking about the countless times Jeongguk had whined to Jimin about how ‘out of his league’ Taehyung was, a breathy and exhilarated laugh leaves his mouth. He wonders how past Jeongguk would have reacted if he knew he’d be locking lips with the ‘unattainable’ love of his life before the year ended.

The sound is enough to catch Taehyung’s attention, who instantly pulls away sheepishly. Before Jeongguk can question him though, he hears Hobi’s voice,“get a room, you two!”

While Taehyung at least has the decency to blush, the youngest is already biting out a retort, “we’re already in one, dumbass,”

Nevertheless, he grabs the brunette’s hand and leads him out of the kitchen, deciding to ignore the hollers and shouts to “use protection!” coming from the rest of his friends.

……

As soon as they enter Taehyung's bedroom, Jeongguk's lips are back on his, and the kiss is much more frantic this time. The only sounds in the air are their heavy breathing and the occasional moan whenever one of their sets of teeth graze over and tug the other’s lips. Jeongguk is the first to pull away, so that he can pull his shirt off. Taehyung impulsively follows suit, and falls back onto the bed, bringing the other with him.

Amidst the rushed kisses they’re sharing, Taehyung feels a hand creeping under his trousers and underwear, and he involuntarily bucks up as Jeongguk wraps a hand around him. He can’t do much to prevent the eager keening noises escaping his mouth, instead choosing to run his fingers along the defined muscles on his arms.

As Jeongguk’s wrist movements speed up, he thumbs at the elder’s slit, earning another gasp from him.

“Feels good Ggukie, your fingers are amazing,”

“Yeah, you want them in you? Want me to finger you nice and open?”

“Please!” Taehyung pleads, almost shouting in desperation

"Ok, I’ve got you baby. Do you have lube?" Jeongguk asks while mouthing at Tae's neck.

"In the drawer next to you,"

Jeongguk kisses him one more time on the lips before moving off the bed and opening the drawer.

"Which flavour?"

"...What?"

"Which flavour do you want? There's peach, strawberry, banana, oh ice cream -"

"Babe c'mon, does that really matter?"

"Cherry, watermelon-"

"Jeongguk! I don't give a shit, just hurry up please!" Jeongguk grins at the pure desire that is evident in Tae's voice, before grabbing the nearest bottle (which just so happens to be strawberry) and a condom that he pockets for later. Meanwhile, the elder has removed his trousers and underwear and is lying down on the bed, legs spread wide open. His cock standing proudly, red and leaking, leaves Jeongguk's mouth watering.

"Fuck, you look so pretty baby, nice and wet for me hm?" Taehyung whines at the sudden outburst of praise, hole clenching in anticipation. He can't wait for much longer and by the look on his face, neither can Jeongguk. He opens the cap of the bottle and hurriedly coats his fingers with lube. As he scrambles back onto the bed, closer to Tae, he pauses, "you'll tell me if I hurt you or make you uncomfortable right?"

Taehyung's eyes soften and he answers, "of course, but I trust you'll take care of me. Now please put your fingers in me, I've been lying here for like 2 min- oh," he gasps at the end of his sentence as Jeongguk slowly pushes a digit into him, knuckle deep. He waits for the elder to adjust before beginning to thrust carefully into him. It isn't long before he's whining, begging for another finger.

"Please, more, I can take it, oh shit-"

"Fuck, yeah ok, whatever you want baby,"

Jeongguk, head spinning at the sight in front of him, doesn't hesitate to push another finger into the tight heat. As he begins to speed up his hand movements, he looks again at Taehyung, properly looks. He takes in the other's sweaty face and inviting, red lips, which are parted in an o-shape.Taehyung looks absolutely beautiful, and Jeongguk realises once again how lucky he is to be the only one who can see his lover like this, hear his delicious moans and groans. As a wave of possessiveness washes over Jeongguk, he cannot help himself as he bends over to initiate a messy kiss. Despite being caught up in the pleasure he is receiving from the younger, Taehyung eagerly reciprocates, tangling his hands into his black locks. When Jeongguk manages to hit his sweet spot, Taehyung moans the younger's name particularly loud and tightens the grip he has on his hair.

"You're so loud Tae, god, are you trying to make the others hear you? Hear how much of a slut you are, already so wrecked just from my fingers?" As soon as the sentence slips out of his mouth, Jeongguk's eyes widen and he quickly goes to apologise for using such degrading language, but to his surprise, Taehyung moans even louder, hips bucking against his fingers.

"Yes, I'm your slut, only yours!"

Jeongguk adds another finger, frantically scissoring and thrusting into Tae's prostate, the need to make his lover come undone increasing tenfold after hearing his words. Before he can fulfill this, however, Taehyung reluctantly reaches between his legs to halt the younger's actions. "A-ah Ggukie no more fingers please, I'm ready,"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, please fuck me! Want your cock, wanted it for so long, please," the elder's words go straight to Jeongguk's dick, and he pulls his fingers out while cursing under his breath. Taehyung whines, hole clenching at the sudden emptiness. The feeling does not last long however, as the younger hastily yanks his trousers off, throwing them to the side after removing the condom packet, while wrapping a hand around his cock. He grunts in relief, his cock finally receiving some friction after being neglected for so long. After a few strokes, Jeongguk opens the packet, rolling the latex onto his length.

"You're so hard guk," Taehyung comments, eyes widening and he feels his own dick twitch at the size. Would it even fit inside him?

Jeongguk smirks at the look on the elder's face, "Yeah? It's all because of you hyung. You're so gorgeous, so sexy, how do you even exist?"

"Babe," Taehyung cuts him off with a giggle, "you're rambling again"

"Just trying to appreciate you the way you deserve," he replies as if it's the most casual thing in the world, as if he hasn't caused a hoard of butterflies to erupt in the other's stomach. He moves back to the elder's entrance, pressing his tip against it. Taehyung gasps quietly, chest buzzing with anticipation.

"Wait Tae, are you absolutely sure about this? I'm not sure I prepped you en-"

Taehyung promptly answers his question by pushing towards the other, onto his cock. Jeongguk yells out at the sensation of his length being enveloped in a warm heat, hands flying to grab his lover's back which has arched off the bed. Taehyung whimpers in a mixture of pleasure and pain, and Jeongguk rubs his back soothingly while peppering his face in kisses, paying a little bit more attention to his cute freckles and moles, in an attempt to distract the other from the pain.

"Do you want me to pull out?" Jeongguk murmurs after a while, worry clearly etched on his face. Despite having his cock balls deep inside of him, Taehyung's heart melts a little at the sweetness and sincerity from his boyfriend.

"N-no, you can move now," he replies, and as if to further reassure his lover, he begins to move slowly against him.."ngh, o-oh… feels nice"

Jeongguk couldn't agree more. Taehyung feels so warm and wet and tight around him, and he wonders if he will be able to last for long. He rocks into his boyfriend slowly, but with overflowing passion punctuating each thrust. Soon enough however, the pace just isn't enough for Taehyung, and he voices this. When he receives no response, he turns Jeongguk's head slowly to lock their eyes.

"Harder! Ah, Jeongguk!" he glares, hips bucking to punctuate every word.

"As you wish, slut," Jeongguk replies, eyes darkening. As if a switch were flipped inside of him, he doesn't hesitate to start rocking his cock into Taehyung rougher and faster than before, setting a brutal and merciless pace

"J-Jeongguk-ah,," Taehyung whimpers, teeth clenched as Jeongguk bucks his hips against him. "P-please, Ggukie, ah---"

"You feel so fucking good around me, hyung," Jeongguk grunts through closed eyes. He grasps onto Taehyung harder, leveraging himself by his hips as he thrusts into the older. "So, so good," continues Jeongguk, words slurring as his lips go down to meet Tae's. Their tongues press against each other, matching the force with which Jeongguk is fucking Taehyung. Jeongguk hisses when Tae bites at his lips, accidental or not, and involuntarily pushes into him harder at the slight pain.

"Ahh, I’m sorry, guk," Taehyung hisses in between pants, his breathing becoming harsher and as Jeongguk grasps at his hips and pulls him even closer, he lets out a gasp.

Pleased at the sounds that are falling from his boyfriend, he leans down to kiss the older again, only to find that Tae’s practically worn out, his mouth unable to match Jeongguk’s. All he can do is whisper the younger's name, eyes closed and delirious.

"...Yes, hyung?" Jeongguk responds, his breath unsteady and getting quicker and quicker with each thrust.

"Slap me," Taehyung moans out, shifting in the bed every time Jeongguk slides into him.

Jeongguk’s taken aback but doesn't stop- he wonders if he ever could, Taehyung feels unreasonably good. "Pardon?" he manages to ask between each hitched breath.

"My ass.. slap it," continues Taehyung, as if he's just stated the most obvious and natural fact. "Please, guk."

"I didn't know you liked being spanked, hyung," he teases the brunette, his eyes never opening.

"Well, now you do," Taehyung whines out, "now quick already, before I come."

Jeongguk hesitates for only a second before doing what he was asked. But it’s half hearted out of nervousness, practically just gently laying his hand on it. Yet Taehyung doesn't even have to complain because Jeongguk soon realises his mistake and hits him a bit harder, his thrusts getting a bit sloppy at the obscene moaning mess that he turned Taehyung into.

"Don’t… don't hold back," Taehyung groans, barely able to catch a single breath to say a few words, "I’ll tell you if you hurt me, i promise, guk."

Still nervous but reassured by this, Jeongguk turns Taehyung sideways for a more convenient position and then proceeds to properly spank his ass, inevitably making Taehyung gasp with pleasure. "G-guk-ah, I’m close…" and the rest of Tae’s words disappear as his eyes roll back when Jeongguk starts sucking at his neck. And now Jeongguk is all over Tae’s body, from head to toe, warmly embracing him up top and making him moan and scream below.

As he drives his cock unrestrained into Taehyung's gaping hole, Jeongguk lets his hands run all over his lover, stopping at his soft, curly hair to run his fingers through. The contrast would have ripped a laugh from both of them if they weren’t so turned on by it. He was whispering sweet nothings into Taehyung’s ears now, enjoying the way Tae’s eyes-shut smile got wider with every word. "When we met, I just knew I’d end up with you," Jeongguk says softly, "and now you're all mine hyung."

Then he bucks his hips against Taehyung’s reddened asscheeks, in what feels like is going to be one of his last thrusts. Jeongguk’s cock is throbbing now, ready to come with just a few more tight squeezes.

"I'm yours," Tae concurs, trembling. His eyes lock shut now, scrunching his face up, and his pulse is racing, absolutely going wild at the moment Jeongguk hits his prostate.
"I'm yours, fuck, Jeongguk, I--"

"Hold it out, hyung, a little longer," Jeongguk grunts out as he thrusts into the older, getting carelessly sloppy and uncontrolled, yet each time marking Tae’s prostate and making him cry out, desperate for a release.

He can feel the tightening around his cock as Tae arches his back, and Jeongguk’s thoughts become incoherent and frenzied as he finally spills his load deep inside his lover.

"Hyung, oh god, I love you so fucking much a-ahh-" Jeongguk groans out feverishly, burying his face into the crook of the elder's neck. At this abrupt confession, Taehyung comes untouched, with Jeongguk's name on his lips. His hips spasm uncontrollably a few times before coming to a stop. Despite the post-sex haziness in his mind, he becomes aware of the younger pulling out to dispose of the condom, and then the gentle touch of a damp cloth wiping away at his stomach. He hums in appreciation, feeling a warm body next to him, close enough that their arms touch.

They’re both crazed, red hot from the sex, and they should be hyperaware of where their bodies still press, but instead they're just content and euphoric, utterly lost in their own minds, waiting for their breathing to steady down.

Despite the panting and exhaustion, Tae manages to reply. Out of breath and faintly because he's in such a daze, he murmurs. "I love you too, Jeongguk.”