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“Please be my boyfriend.”
Yoongi could only blink, mouth agape, as the sudden confession hung in the air. The usually laughter-filled, bustling coffee shop was now silent, only the soft whirring of coffee machines and a sweet tune playing from the speakers were playing.
“W-Wait, there must be some kind of mistake!” Yoongi piped up; cheeks tinted a soft pink hue.
“Aren’t you Min Yoongi?” The blonde asked.
“Y-Yeah, but…”
“Then I’m right,” the man leaned forward, making Yoongi jerk back in response. “Be my boyfriend, Yoongi.”
Yoongi stared into the man’s eyes, clearly blue because of colored lenses but still oh-so mesmerizing. If the blonde didn’t have a reputation, maybe he’d give him a chance in a heartbeat. However, the man in question is a gang leader—the ferocious, the feared “tiger,” Kim Taehyung. Yoongi was undoubtedly nervous, but Taehyung’s conviction was definite. His expression was stern, eyes unwavering, filled with determination. In his hands were some magnolia flowers—Yoongi noticed that they’re plucked from somewhere. If he didn’t know who Taehyung was, maybe he would find it endearing.
“I… I’m sorry,” Yoongi glanced up at Taehyung, whose expression shifted. The barista was terrified. He knew that if he defied him, he’d be in serious trouble. He resorted to probably the best—and worst—plan he could think of.
“Will you… give me some time to get to know you?”
Taehyung’s terrifying expression faded, the stern look replacing it. He silently nods, sitting down on the barstool. Yoongi was confused.
“Well? Ask me anything,” Taehyung said with a demanding voice.
“Ah, n-no! I meant…” Yoongi looked away, his hands shaking. “L-let’s take it slow, please? I don’t know you… so I’d like to get to know you slowly.”
“Do you mean I have to court you?” Taehyung asked with an eyebrow raised.
“S-Sort of…?”
Suddenly, it was silent again. The air suddenly grew even tenser, and Yoongi feared for his life. Did he say something wrong? He didn’t know what to do. He hugged the tray in his hands to stop himself from shaking so much. He hears the stool drag across the floor, making him look up at the gang leader. The man’s face was unreadable, flowers still in his hands. He slowly made his way closer towards Yoongi, who couldn’t do anything. His legs wouldn’t move. He was scared.
Taehyung raised his hand, and Yoongi expected him to hit the frailer man, as did the spectators in the room. Yoongi closes his eyes, bracing for impact when he feels the gentlest pat on his head. He slowly opened his eyes, surprised to see Taehyung, the most violent man in Daegu, smiling fondly at him.
“I’ll be back tomorrow, then,” Taehyung leaves the flowers in the pocket of Yoongi’s apron before turning around to go. He stops dead in his tracks, looking back at the barista. “I’m sorry for scaring you.”
“A-Ah, yeah…” Taehyung smiled once more before leaving. Even after he had left, the room was silent. Namjoon, Yoongi’s co-worker and best friend, slowly approached the still barista.
“Yoongi, are you oka—” His words were cut off when the man in question suddenly stumbled, knees growing weak. Namjoon had just caught him in the nick of time. “H-Hey, what’s wrong?”
Yoongi didn’t respond, too busy processing what had just happened. Taehyung smiled at him. Taehyung, the Tiger, the most feared man in Daegu, smiled at him, gave him flowers, and was courting him.
“What the fuck just happened!?” Yoongi asked, his chapped lips quivering from the experience.
—DAY ONE—
True to his word, Taehyung came back the next day. Once again, the coffee shop was silenced as he entered. He had a scowl on his face, which people knew was a sign that, of course, he was annoyed. Taehyung looked around for the dark-haired barista, huffing in frustration when he saw no sign of him. He struts towards the cashier, grabbing the first employee he saw by the collar. Jung Hoseok was written on his name tag.
Hoseok yelped, hands sweating, eyes instinctively closing as he braced for a punch or any sort of attack.
“Hey, carrot head,” Taehyung growled lowly at the orange-haired employee. “Where’s Yoongi?”
“H-He isn’t here yet!” Hoseok answered with fear in his voice, shaking his head. “H-His shift starts in 30 minutes!”
“Hey, I asked you where he is so I could go to him. So, fucking tell me, or I’ll rip your head off.”
Namjoon soon emerged from the backroom, worried about the shouting he had heard. He narrows his eyes when he sees Hoseok struggling in Taehyung’s grasp. He clicked his tongue, breathing in and out in an attempt to not provoke the gang leader any further with his annoyance.
“We don’t know where Yoongi lives,” Namjoon lied, approaching the two. “Please let Hoseok go.”
Taehyung eyed the tall man with glasses. He let go of Hoseok’s collar with a grunt, pushing him in the process. The orange-haired man stumbles, falling on his behind. His whole body shook in fear. The sudden ringing broke the tense silence of the shop bell, a sign that someone had entered the shop. Taehyung, still with a scowl, faced the entrance. His eyes softened at the sight of the man he admired, hair disheveled; body draped in all black—a black sweater that was far too big for him, his hands barely visible, black jeans, and a pair of black sneakers. Yoongi had earphones on and was unaware of Taehyung’s presence, but the delinquent didn’t mind for now. He was content watching him from afar, admiring how amazing, how small, and how beautiful Yoongi looked.
Yoongi took off his earbuds, startled when he was met with silence. He looked around, concerned until he caught Taehyung.
That explains it , he thought, as he approached Namjoon and Hoseok, who eyes his movements.
“S-Stop staring, it’s bizarre…” Yoongi muttered when he was near the two workers but was glancing up at Taehyung, who had a soft smile on his face.
“I came back like I said I would,” Taehyung said, leaning towards Yoongi. The barista instinctively backs up, nervous.
“Yeah, uh, I’ll just change…” Yoongi said as he rubbed the nape of his neck. When he disappeared into the backroom, Taehyung’s mood drastically changed.
“What the fuck are you all staring at?” He yelled, annoyed that he felt all the customers’ eyes looking. Weirdly, though, he wasn’t concerned that they were staring at him. He was more annoyed at the fact that some of them might be staring at Yoongi.
“T-Taehyung, please don’t yell!” Yoongi exclaimed, rushing out of the back, his uniform and apron messily put on. Taehyung faced Yoongi with a deadpan expression, annoyed, but trying not to show it.
“Why not? They were staring,” Taehyung clicked his tongue.
“It’s rude! And… and I don’t like it when you yell, okay?” Yoongi looked away, his voice smaller in the last part of his sentence. “You’re… part of a gang, after all. Of course, people will stare at you.”
“I’m more pissed that people might be eyeing you than them being scared of me, y’ know.”
Yoongi was surprised. He still didn’t know how serious Taehyung was, but that was enough to make him feel flustered.
For the duration of Yoongi’s shift, Taehyung was there, as if he were guarding the barista. It weirded him out at first, but he slowly got used to how Taehyung was just there, observing him. Three hours into his shift, Yoongi approached Taehyung, who had just been writing something in a piece of napkin. The barista placed a cup of hot chocolate, finally gaining the blonde’s attention. Taehyung covered the napkin as he looked up at Yoongi, who was startled at the sudden defensiveness.
“Oh, uh… I just wanted to give you hot chocolate,” Yoongi explained sheepishly. “I-I didn’t mean to pry or anything.”
“No, I just got surprised,” Taehyung smiled, uncovering the napkin. Yoongi looked down after he was sure that Taehyung was giving him permission, surprised that what was on the napkin weren’t words, but a drawing. It was a sketch of Yoongi. The dark-haired man glanced at Taehyung, who was obviously avoiding eye contact. His cheeks were slowly turning crimson and he bit his lip. Yoongi found it adorable. “I didn’t want you to see it yet, but I felt weird acting shady in front of you…”
Yoongi chuckled, ignoring the twisting feeling in his stomach. He carefully picked up the napkin, an unwavering smile plastered on his face.
“Thank you,” Yoongi grinned. “And for the flowers yesterday… thank you for that, too. But promise me that you won’t pick from parks or anything, okay?”
Taehyung nodded, holding out his pinky towards Yoongi. The barista was taken aback by the rather childish action but indulged him by wrapping his pinky on the blonde’s. Taehyung’s face burned a crimson red, making Yoongi laugh. He wondered why he was so terrified of the guy when he looked like a little kid.
“...Thank you for the hot chocolate,” Taehyung muttered, pulling his hand away to pick the mug up. “I don’t really drink coffee, so… thanks.”
Yoongi straightened his back, feeling all sorts of things because he had just seen a side to Taehyung that he never thought he’d see. With a smile plastered on his face, Yoongi walked back to the counter, the atmosphere in the coffee shop noticeably lighter.
—DAY FIVE—
Yoongi placed the cup of hot chocolate on Taehyung’s table, earning a smile from the blonde. Taehyung has been a constant figure inside the coffee shop. The regulars and staff gradually got used to his presence, mostly because he wasn’t as menacing as the first time. He follows Yoongi’s requests and hasn’t been vulgar nor violent towards the others.
“Maybe he really is serious, y’ know?” Yoongi told Namjoon, who gave him a look of uncertainty. The taller barista thought of it as ludicrous and that maybe Yoongi was just being lied to.
“Yoongi, he’s a gang leader . He’s the Tiger of Daegu,” Namjoon sighed exasperatedly, though his voice filled with concern. “I think you’re forgetting that he put people in the hospital last week.”
Yoongi knit his eyebrows together, clearly confused. He was appreciating Taehyung’s efforts and he wanted to somehow give him a chance, but he knew his best friend was right. Taehyung was still a delinquent—he was still someone who doesn’t abide by the law.
“But, y’ know, oddly enough, he might be violent, but he has never hurt anyone outside of gang fights,” Hoseok piped up as he got out of the backroom. “He never steals or anything, either. He’s just feared because of his short temper and capabilities.”
“Whose side are you on? His?” Namjoon glared with his teeth gritted together.
“Wh-What? No! I was just saying…” The orange-haired man sighed, brewing himself a cup of coffee.
Yoongi watched as Taehyung sketched on the notebook that he had given him—the notebook that Taehyung had been cherishing so much, as though it was a gift. It was more because they were running low on napkins to give him, but Yoongi didn’t mind the grin he saw when he told Taehyung that it was a gift. Namjoon sighed.
“You want to go to him, right? There’s nothing to do. Go ahead,” Namjoon tried to say as nonchalantly as he could as he walked away, taking a sip from Hoseok’s coffee. With his friends bickering in the background, Yoongi approached Taehyung slowly.
“Hey, mind if I sit with you?” Yoongi rubbed the nape of his neck, embarrassed. Taehyung looked up, his face turning beet red.
“S-Sorry, yeah! Of course!” Taehyung closed the notebook, tucking the pencil in-between the pages as Yoongi sat across from him.
“So, Taehyung… I want to get to know you,” Yoongi smiled softly. “Tell me about yourself.”
The blonde blinked a few times, surprised by the sudden initiative that his love interest showed. He cleared his throat to reset himself, still racking his brain for anything that would sell him to Yoongi.
“Ah, well… I was born on the 30th of December—”
“Oh, that makes you a Capricorn!” Yoongi excitedly interjected. Usually, Taehyung would get annoyed that someone interrupted him, but with Yoongi… he felt as if everything was okay. He nodded, a smile on his face.
Though the number of customers increased, Namjoon and Hoseok didn’t have the heart to interrupt the two. As Yoongi’s best friend, Namjoon was still skeptical and very protective, but he figured that if Taehyung could make Yoongi laugh and smile like he had been doing, then he’ll let it pass.
In the five days that Taehyung was around, he’d bring Yoongi to the bus stop and wait until the bus had departed before he walked home. It was a routine that he never thought he’d be doing, but then again, he really wanted to win Yoongi’s heart. As the delinquent walked home, he recalls every moment he had spent with the barista that had caught his eye. As he smiled to himself, recalling all the expressions he had seen thus far, he bumps into his best friend—and right-hand man—Park Jimin.
“Oh, Tae! We’ve been looking for yo—” Jimin cut his own words off as he observed his superior. “Why are you dressed like that? You never wear clothes like that.”
Taehyung looked down on his feet, eyes traveling up his legs and arms. It was true—Taehyung was used to darker clothing, the stereotypical gangster look as an act of protest against his family. But every time he visited Yoongi, he wore ripped skinny jeans, his cleanest sneakers, and his most expensive shirts and sweaters. His hair, usually unkempt, would always be styled neatly.
“Where’d you go? Did your old man force you to visit again?” Jimin huffed, crossing his arms. Taehyung chuckled, shaking his head.
“I visited Yoongi,” he answered simply, as though it was the most natural thing in the world. To him, that might be the case. Yoongi was the only constant, normal thing in his life. Expectations haunted Taehyung everywhere he went, but with the person he fell in love with, he didn’t have to act like a tough leader, or an obedient son all the time. He could let loose and show sides to himself that he kept locked away.
“Yoongi?” Jimin muttered to himself, eyebrows furrowing as he tries to remember if the other mentioned him at any point. He pursed his lips when he realized who he was talking about. “That barista? I don’t get your obsession with him, Taehyung. And frankly, I don’t support it.”
Taehyung glared at Jimin. “I don’t need you to understand or to give your blessing. I’m courting Yoongi, whether you like it or not.”
“At least tell me why you’re choosing someone so… normal,” Jimin tapped his foot, arms still crossed. He was staring daggers at the taller male.
Taehyung thought about Yoongi. He thought about the little pout he loved to see whenever he got complimented, the exasperated look on his face whenever Namjoon tamped the coffee down too much, and his smile. God, to Taehyung, Yoongi’s smile was the best thing in the world. He loved it no matter what kind of smile Yoongi showed, but Taehyung’s favorite is when his gummy smile is in full display as he laughs. To Taehyung, that smile is powerful enough to light up the world.
He thought about how he first met Yoongi. It was five years ago. He had been in a bad fight with his brother. Taehyung ran away, his body aching, littered by bruises. He settled down in the park near the coffee shop, laying down on the grass as he caressed his swollen cheek and cursed how he and his brother got into a fight in the first place. It was common between him and Seokjin to have physical bouts, but this was the worst one he had experienced. 18-year-old Taehyung had a worse temper than 23-year-old him, and people knew that. People were smart enough to avoid him, all except one.
“Stupid hyung,” Taehyung hissed, remembering the smug look on Seokjin’s face when he knew he won.
“Are you okay?” A tiny voice asked. Taehyung, surprised, jerked away from the source of the voice. He expected some stupid kid that didn’t know better, but when he turned to glare at the person who dared to approach him, he was met by a pair of wide eyes—the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen. It seemed as though it sparkled with curiosity and worry.
“S-Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you…” The smaller boy whispered, his hand falling back on his lap. He glanced up at Taehyung, biting his lip as he pointed to his cheek. “You’re hurt…”
Taehyung narrowed his eyes. Why was he talking to him? Didn’t he know who he was?
The boy rummaged through his knapsack, pulling out a cold bottle of chocolate milk. It looked as if it were recently purchased. The boy held it out for Taehyung to take.
“...What?” Taehyung questioned with an intimidating tone.
The boy pointed to his own cheek. “Um, it’s cold, so you can use it so that the bruising goes down a little.”
“I don’t need your help,” Taehyung clicked his tongue, facing away from the boy.
“...Okay. I’ll leave it here in case you at least want a drink,” the boy placed the drink near Taehyung before he stood up, dusting his pants off. The boy bowed and started to walk away.
“You,” Taehyung called out to the stranger. When the boy faced him again, he turned his head, his eyebrows furrowed. “What’s your name?”
“Yoongi,” the boy answered almost immediately.
“Why do you care, Yoongi? Don’t you know who I am?” Taehyung said, plucking blades of grass from the ground.
“No, I don’t,” Yoongi responded matter-of-factly. He was silent for a few seconds before his face broke into a smile. “No matter who you are, it isn’t like you don’t deserve to be cared for.”
With that, Yoongi turned his heel and left Taehyung stunned, the chocolate drink being the only reminder of their encounter.
Taehyung sighed, shaking his head. There was no way he could tell Jimin that without being psychoanalyzed. He couldn’t forget about Yoongi. Aside from his friends and family, nobody else showed him any care, too terrified to even bother. Despite being talked to rudely by someone who looked like a lot of trouble, Yoongi still helped him.
“I just want him, Jimin. I really think he’s the one for me.”
—DAY TWENTY—
Yoongi had grown accustomed to wearing his earbuds going to work, always listening to the morning radio during the commute. He only took them off as soon as he got inside the cafe so he’d be greeted by the familiar, ambient sounds of the shop. It was definitely a surprise to hear Taehyung yelling at someone (and that person, shockingly, was shouting back) so early in the morning. Taehyung was too busy arguing that he hadn’t even noticed Yoongi sauntering up to the counter, confusion clear on his face.
“What’s going on?” Yoongi asked Hoseok in a hushed whisper. The orange-haired man shrugged, glancing at the still arguing two.
“Taehyung came in, he was in a good mood, but then the guy with blue hair came in and… well… they started fighting,” Hoseok scratched his head as he explained what he could. He frowned as some customers were too scared to do anything. “Hyung, can you do something about it? It’s too early for this, and people are terrified.”
Yoongi nodded slowly, grabbing his apron from the backroom and putting it on before he made his way to Taehyung. He lightly tapped on the blonde’s shoulder, hoping that it didn’t anger him further. Taehyung turned around, almost ready to fight the person who was brave enough to disturb him. His features softened as soon as he saw Yoongi staring up at him, his apron on top of his casual clothes instead of his uniform. The delinquent smiled, his balled-up fists relaxing and shoulders slumping at the sight of Yoongi in a soft, pastel sweater and white pants.
“Good morning, Taehyung,” Yoongi greeted shyly, smiling when Taehyung was no longer showing any aggression. “Have you had your hot chocolate yet?”
Taehyung’s smile grew wider as he shook his head. Yoongi hummed in response, telling him to sit down while the barista gets him his drink. He then turned his attention to the man bickering with Taehyung earlier. Yoongi eyed him from head to toe. He was sporting a black beanie, a black shirt, and a pair of black pants.
“Um, would you like something to drink?” Yoongi asked the man. Jimin raised an eyebrow, questioning why he was being considerate when he was just making a ruckus minutes before.
“Don’t bother with him, Yoongi,” Taehyung said, scowling at Jimin. The blue-haired man held up his middle finger in response. Yoongi nodded but decided to make Jimin some hot chocolate as well.
He returned to the counter as soon as Namjoon entered from the backdoor that led to the storage and garbage. Yoongi greeted his best friend, who in turn gave him a hug. Taehyung watched the whole interaction, jealousy bubbling in the pit of his stomach. He wanted to touch Yoongi, hold hands with him, hug him tight, and never let go.
“What’s with that pout on your stupid face?” Jimin asked, crossing his legs as he sat down. Taehyung turned to him, his eyebrows furrowed.
“Fuck you, get out of here. Nobody needs you here,” Taehyung said through gritted teeth.
“Well, news flash, dipshit. I don’t care,” Jimin retorted with a venomous tone. “Why are you trying so hard to get rid of me?”
“Because you’re going to say something stupid or do something stupid to Yoongi.”
“Since when did you care what’s said to people?” Jimin questioned, his forehead creasing. Taehyung turned away, watching Yoongi work. The barista worked with a smile on his face. Taehyung was sure that he was captivating every customer present.
The thing is, to Taehyung, he didn’t care what was said about him. He didn’t care that people were terrified of him. In fact, that was the ideal situation. Being feared meant that he could protect Yoongi with his own two hands. He didn’t care how people talked about him, he only cared about whether or not it would reach his beloved’s ears. He only cared about what Yoongi thought of him.
Yoongi made his way to Taehyung’s usual table with a tray of hot chocolate and cookies. He wasn’t used to the other chair being occupied by someone else. He wasn’t used to bringing two cups of hot chocolate to that table. He didn’t know why he was so bothered by it. Still, Yoongi set down the goodies on the table with a smile on his face. After he left the table, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Namjoon was the first to notice the change in Yoongi’s mood. He didn’t bother asking him about it, because he knew his best friend well enough to know that his response will be “I’m fine”. It took him a few minutes to realize how Yoongi looked forlorn as he watched Taehyung interact with the blue-haired guy.
“Hyung,” Namjoon called out to his friend who was busying himself by grinding coffee beans. Yoongi turned to him and gave him a small smile. The taller male sighed and gave him a pat on the head. “Why don’t you take a break? Go talk to him.”
Yoongi looked down, sighing. “Why do I feel weird?”
Namjoon had a clear idea of why, but he knew that he shouldn’t tell Yoongi. It wasn’t like he’ll believe it, anyway. Namjoon knew his friend had to figure things out on his own.
“Only you can answer that, hyung,” Namjoon smiled, pushing Yoongi out of the counter. “Go, talk to them.”
Yoongi pouted, but he followed what Namjoon said and approached Taehyung’s table. He noticed that the two were bickering again, but much quieter than their squabble earlier. Jimin was the first one to notice the barista.
“Oh,” Jimin muttered, straightening his back as he stared at Yoongi with disdain. Taehyung followed Jimin’s line of sight, smiling brightly when he saw that it was his favorite person.
“Um, I hope I’m not disturbing you—”
“You’re not!” Taehyung interrupted. Jimin was in disbelief. If his friend were a dog, his tail would be wagging furiously and his ears would be perked up.
Taehyung pulled a chair from an empty table, setting it beside him but away from Jimin. Yoongi thanked him shyly as he took a seat. He felt Jimin’s gaze still on him, so he turned his attention to the blue-haired man.
“I don’t think I caught your name,” Yoongi said with a smile. Jimin was irked. He didn’t like how nice Yoongi was.
“Jimin. Park Jimin,” Jimin answered, the tone of his voice sharp. Yoongi nodded, muttering a nice to meet you . Taehyung sighed, hitting Jimin’s arm when he noticed how down the barista looked. “Fucker, what?!”
“Don’t be rude to Yoongi, asshole,” Taehyung snarled.
“Screw you,” Jimin scoffed, turning back to Yoongi. “But fine, I’ll be nice since you did give me hot chocolate.”
Taehyung sniggered, whispering kid to Jimin. They started insulting each other again, but now Yoongi knew that it was just their dynamic. He didn’t have to intervene. He tried to stop laughing, but couldn’t contain it. His giggles attracted Taehyung’s attention, whose eyes were sparkling and soft as he smiled. He loved seeing a happy Yoongi. Jimin watched the two interact, still confused about what was so good about the barista. He wasn’t used to Taehyung acting this way. He was terrified that his best friend was changing himself just because of a boy. He was terrified that his best friend was going to get hurt.
“I don’t get it,” Jimin piped up, staring hard at Yoongi. “Why does he like you so much?
Yoongi froze. He was questioning that, too. He didn’t know what attracted an infamous gang leader to him. He didn’t know why someone so charismatic chose to court him. Yoongi shrugged, laughing almost humorlessly.
“I don’t know either,” he answered, looking down at his hands as he tried not to think hard about it.
Taehyung turned to Jimin and then back to Yoongi. He smiled even wider.
“What’s not to love about him?” Taehyung said cheekily. Yoongi looked up, his cheeks turning red. “He makes amazing hot chocolate, he has a nice voice, he’s kind, he’s...”
Taehyung stared into Yoongi’s eyes as he trailed off. He brushed the stray strands of hair on the barista’s forehead.
“When he smiles, his eyes turn into crescents. When he talks about something he loves, his eyes sparkle and shine brighter than the stars in the sky. His laugh is the most beautiful sound in the world.”
Yoongi turned away, his face and ears red from what he just heard. He cleared his throat, trying to calm himself down. He wasn’t one to feel embarrassed or overwhelmed by compliments, but somehow, it was different.
Oh , Yoongi thought to himself. Oh, it’s different because it’s Taehyung.
He turned to look back at Taehyung who was still looking at him like he was the most beautiful and most precious thing in the world. Yoongi always doubted Taehyung’s intentions. He didn’t understand what was so special about him that made Taehyung like him. He didn’t understand how someone vulgar and violent could be so gentle and considerate around him. Yoongi never thought to consider that Taehyung just liked him because he was himself. He never stopped to think that maybe he had something that the man could see, that he didn’t.
Jimin’s eyes widened as he saw the same look Taehyung gave Yoongi from the barista himself—eyes full of love and adoration. Maybe the man didn’t realize it himself, but he had already fallen in love with his suitor. Jimin knew he lost. He wanted to find a reason to hate Yoongi, to make Taehyung hate the man he claimed to love. But the more he looked at them, the more he realized it wasn’t up to him, that he didn’t have the power to do so.
So he stood up, chair dragging across the floor. Yoongi and Taehyung turned their heads towards Jimin.
“I can’t do it,” Jimin sighed, rubbing the nape of his neck. He gave the pair a pained smile. “All I can do is hope you ruin things yourselves.”
Taehyung frowned and opened his mouth to retort, but was stopped by Jimin raising his hand. The blue-haired man turned to Yoongi.
“I hope you realize what I did,” his expression darkened. “And then you crash and burn.”
While Jimin didn’t hate Yoongi, he hated how Taehyung had changed. People were talking about how the gang leader’s reputation wasn’t the same anymore. He wasn’t the Taehyung he knew anymore and it was all because of the barista. Jimin left without saying goodbye or sparing the two a single glance.
The walk to the bus stop was silent. Yoongi thought about Jimin’s words throughout the day. He wasn’t stupid, he knew what the man meant. He also knew what he was feeling. But just because he knew, didn’t mean he was uncertain. Taehyung was just quietly watching Yoongi bite his lip, deep in thought. He wished Jimin didn’t come to the coffee shop. He didn’t want to trouble Yoongi further, but he also silently thanked his friend because he managed to say the things he always wanted to say.
Taehyung tapped Yoongi’s hand when he started biting his nails. The shorter male pulled his hand away and faced Taehyung. He gave him a tight smile.
“What are you thinking about?” Taehyung asked, voice soft as if he was going to hurt Yoongi if it were any louder.
“Nothing,” Yoongi answered, sighing in defeat when Taehyung pressed him. “A lot of things. I don’t really know what to tell you.”
“You don’t have to tell me anything,” Taehyung responded, grabbing Yoongi’s hand when he was about to bite his nails again. He held onto it tight. “Just let me stay with you.”
Yoongi stared at their intertwined fingers. It felt right to have his hand enveloped in the blonde’s. He smiled, thanking Taehyung for not pushing the subject further. They sat in comfortable silence until the bus arrived. Both of them didn’t want to let go.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Taehyung brought Yoongi’s hand to his lips, letting go after the quick kiss. Yoongi nodded, too flustered to say anything. He boarded the bus, choosing to sit by the window. He waved his hand and watched Taehyung’s figure become smaller and smaller as the bus drove away.
Taehyung looked at the palm of his hand. He balled it into a fist as if to preserve the warmth he felt from Yoongi’s hand. He smiled, pocketing his hands before walking back home.
--
“What did you want to talk about, hyung?” Jungkook’s voice rang through the speakers of Yoongi’s laptop. On the screen was Jungkook—Yoongi and Namjoon’s friend who resided in the States. He was thankful that the boy was willing to talk to him, even though it was 2 am where he was.
“Do you remember the boy I was talking to you about?” Jungkook nodded. “What if… What if I like him?”
“Then you like him. What’s wrong with that?” Jungkook raised an eyebrow. “What? Is he, like, a serial killer?”
“No!” Yoongi bit his lip, sighing. “It’s not like that. I’m just… scared.”
“Of what?
“I don’t know, things changing? I like where we are now. I’m scared that once I tell him I feel the same way, things will change between us. I don’t want things to change…”
Jungkook groaned, leaning back on his chair. “Hyung, things will have to change if you two will commit to this. Don’t you trust him?”
“I do! It’s—It’s me that I don’t trust,” Yoongi crossed his arms together. “I see how he looks at me, I hear what he thinks of me, and I don’t think I can be the same to him.”
“So?” Jungkook said flatly.
“What do you mean, “so”? I—”
“Hyung, you’re overthinking this,” Jungkook interjected. “You don’t see how you look at him, nor do you notice how to you talk about him. You don’t notice how you smile when you tell me that he bought you flowers, or that he drew you a picture. You don’t notice these things, but he does. I’m sure he knows.”
Yoongi fell silent. He was still scared. Entering a relationship meant that there’s a chance it’ll end, too. He didn’t like thinking so pessimistically, but he couldn’t help but think that starting something meant that there would be an end to it, too.
“Hyung, look at me,” Yoongi looked back at the monitor, Jungkook’s face stern. “I know why you’re so afraid of going into this, I get it, but things change, things end. Some things don’t, and that’s fucking fantastic, but you’re just going to have to live with how things work. I’m your friend but I could be gone the next day, too. It’s not just in relationships, hyung.”
The thought of Jungkook leaving made Yoongi’s skin crawl. It already hurt that the boy had to move to a different country for college, but the thought of losing him completely made his stomach churn.
“You’re not going anywhere, right?” Yoongi asked, his voice so small that it could be mistaken for a kid’s.
Jungkook smiled. “You trust me, right?” Yoongi nodded. “Then trust me when I say I’ll always be your friend. Trust that guy like how you trust me, Namjoon-hyung and Hoseok-hyung.”
—DAY TWENTY-ONE—
Yoongi was determined to tell Taehyung how he felt. No matter how scared he was, he wanted to tell Taehyung that he was in love with him. Negative thoughts surged through his head the whole time, but he tried desperately to push them away. He tried to act as normal as he could, giving Taehyung his hot chocolate, making conversation… but it seemed as though he couldn’t hide things from the blonde.
“Yoongi, are you okay?” Taehyung asked, pressing the back of his hand on Yoongi’s forehead to check if he was sick.
“I’m fine,” Yoongi smiled, removing Taehyung’s hand from his forehead and holding onto it. He was shaking. Taehyung tried to not notice it, but he couldn’t help but feel worried. “Taehyung, can you hear me out later? After my shift?”
The man nodded, a smile appearing on his face. “Of course.”
Time seemed to go too fast for Yoongi. He didn’t know if he was ready enough, but if he cowered out now, he might never be able to say it. As soon as his shift ended, he entered the backroom to change out of his uniform, taking as much time as he could to gather his thoughts and nerves.
“Hyung, Taehyung’s been waiting out there for 20 minutes now, what are you doing?” Hoseok asked as soon as he entered the room. He saw Yoongi sat on the bench, slouching and deep in thought. “Hyung?”
Yoongi hummed, looking up at his co-worker.
“Are you okay?” Another hum. Hoseok scratched his head, concerned by the uncharacteristic silence Yoongi was giving him. He just watched as Yoongi grabbed his belongings and mutter a soft farewell before leaving.
Taehyung checked his watch for the nth time, wondering where Yoongi was before he noticed the man in question finally step out of the staff only area. He stood up from his seat, smiling. He noticed how tense Yoongi looked. Before he could ask anything, Yoongi beckoned him outside of the shop.
They walked in silence again, just like the night before. This time, Yoongi’s steps were fast. It took everything in Taehyung to not grab him and ask what was wrong. He knew that pushing it would be bad. So, he waited. He waited for Yoongi to say anything. They arrived at the bus stop. From the time, they would have to wait for fifteen more minutes because Yoongi already missed his regular bus. Taehyung itched to know what was in Yoongi’s mind. He couldn’t hold it in any longer.
“Did I do something wrong?” Taehyung asked, his eyes downcast. Yoongi snapped out of his stupor and turned to face Taehyung.
“What?”
“It’s just that… you’ve been acting weird the whole day,” Taehyung explained. “Did I do something wrong? Did I… Did I hurt you?”
Yoongi’s breath hitched when he saw the pang of hurt and guilt in Taehyung’s eyes. His overthinking and fears were hurting the person he didn’t want to hurt the most.
“No! God, Taehyung, no!” Yoongi exclaimed, grabbing the other’s hands. “I-It’s not like that…”
Taehyung waited for Yoongi to continue, seeing the nerves and anxiety cloud his eyes.
“Taehyung, I’m scared,” Yoongi muttered. Before Taehyung could say anything, he continued. “Not of you! I-I’m never scared of you. In fact, I feel the safest when I’m with you.”
He leaned down, his forehead touching Taehyung’s hands. Tears were threatening to fall from his eyes. If he looked at Taehyung, he knew he’d start crying.
“I-I’m scared of what I’m feeling, of what I’m thinking. I’m scared that when things change, it’ll just break us apart. I wish I didn’t feel this way, but at the same time, I do, because you deserve to feel the same comfort I get from you.”
Yoongi looked back up. Taehyung’s eyes were gentle and expectant.
“Taehyung, I…” The tears he had been holding back glistened in his eyes. “I…”
Taehyung shushed him, pulling him in for a hug. Yoongi sniffled, still trying to talk, but his emotions were getting the best of him.
“T-Taehyung… I’m…”
“I know, Yoongi,” Taehyung whispered, rubbing comforting circles on Yoongi’s back. “I know, you don’t have to say anything.”
“B-But… I’m scared…” Yoongi buried his face on the crook of Taehyung’s neck, tears staining the other’s shirt. “I don’t want to hurt you… I don’t want to lose you…”
Taehyung chuckled. “You’re not going to hurt me. You can never hurt me, Yoongi.”
He broke the embrace, tilting Yoongi’s tear-stained face to look up at him.
“I know what you’re trying to say, Yoongi. It’s okay. We’re okay,” he cupped Yoongi’s face in his hands, dragging his thumbs across his cheeks to wipe away the tears. “I’ll wait. I’ve waited longer, so I can wait until you’re sure. I can wait until you’re no longer scared.”
Taehyung hugged Yoongi again, this time closing his eyes to savor the moment. “I can wait for as long as you want me to.”
And he wasn’t lying. He’d wait for Yoongi for an eternity if he had to. Now that he knew what the other thought of him, waiting didn’t sound bad. If it meant he’ll have Yoongi at the end, he didn’t mind the wait.
“I love you. I’ll wait for the day you say it without tears in your eyes. I’ll wait for the day you say it while we drink hot chocolate and coffee.”
Taehyung can wait—because he was Yoongi’s the moment he left the bottle of chocolate milk. He was Yoongi’s for a very long time.
--
"Namjoon? Why are you calling me?" Namjoon was silent for a while. He watched Yoongi cry into Taehyung's shirt. He had heard everything.
"Ah, well, I never told you, but your brother always goes to the coffee shop," Namjoon chuckled when Seokjin gasped.
"Why? He doesn't like coffee," the younger of the two could imagine the other's scowl. "Throw him out next time. He punched me last week for teasing him. Can you imagine punching your own brother!?"
"But you do that to him, too," Namjoon sighed. "I swear, your family is weird."
Namjoon smiled as Taehyung wiped away Yoongi's tears, showing him the tear stains on his shirt. They were laughing now, Yoongi's cheeks red from embarrassment. He was apologizing profusely.
"I don't think I can do that, boss," Namjoon said, turning away and walking home. "Yoongi-hyung's been the happiest since Taehyung went to the shop."
"Yoongi?" Seokjin hummed. "Darn, my brother beat me to it. I was gonna ask Yoongi out."
"Too bad you're dating me, then," Namjoon scoffed.
"What makes you think I can't date you while dating Yoongi? Ever heard of a poly? You'd like that," Seokjin laughed. "Thanks for taking care of the shop while I'm gone, Joonie. Take care of my brother for me."
"I don't think I have to do that. Hyung's doing plenty by just existing." Namjoon chuckled.
"That's true. Taehyung's been pretty tame for a while now. Who would've thought it's because of a barista... I can't believe the Tiger of Daegu is tamed," the other man joked, laughing after. "He found a keeper."
Namjoon smiled. "He found his keeper."