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“Don’t you think you’ve had enough for today?” The bartender’s voice rang in Taehynug’s ears as he downed his nth shot of the night.
He shook his head. “‘m sad and lo-” Taehyung hiccuped, “lonely. My love life? Nonexistent,” he sighed and looked up at the man. “Oh shit, you’re very pretty. Wanna go out?”
The bartender snorted. “You’re very much cute yourself, but I’m taken.”
“See?” Taehyung groaned in defeat. “I need shots. And your partner hit a jackpot with you, you’re handsome and you seem cool, uh-”
“Jimin,” he smiled. “And yeah, they keep telling me the same,” Jimin chuckled. “What’s your name, by the way? Since you already know mine and that I am about to listen to your not so well going love story.”
“Taehyung,” he mumbled and placed his face in both his palms, with his elbows resting on the bar counter. “I’m starting to feel dizzy.”
Jimin put an empty glass in front of Taehyung, filling it with water, and took out a lemon he then cut and squeezed. “Drink this, it’ll make you feel better,” he told him, and Taehyung complied, grimacing at the slight sourness of the drink. “So tell me, Taehyung. How such a face as your own is unable to find himself a date?” The bartender arched an eyebrow at him.
“That’s the problem, I have dates every other day, but,” he sighed and another hiccup followed, “they all suck.”
Jimin chuckled. “Are they really that bad? Where do you find them?”
“No-no, it’s not that they’re like the worst dates ever,” Taehyung shook his head and realized it was a bad idea, taking a deep breath before continuing. “It’s just that, they’re not what I’m looking for, I guess?” He shrugged his shoulders.
“I see,” the bartender hummed. “What are you looking for then?”
A frown formed on Taehyung’s face, wrinkling the skin between his eyebrows. “Small, cute, fun to be around,” he stroked his chin, thinking more, “with fluffy cheeks. Fluffy cheeks are a must and a gummy smile! Yes, definitely. Also, it’s hot when he’s smart and can cook. I can’t cook all too well myself so it’s definitely a bonus for me. And just someone who’s always there for me, holding my hand when I’m feeling down or instead of arguing, and not forcing me to talk when I don’t feel like it, ” a blush crept onto Taehyung’s cheeks as he seemed to have something on his mind. Or someone.
“It seems to me like you’re describing someone in particular. Do you, perhaps, already have that type of person in your life?”
Taehyung nodded and a silly grin spread across his face. “He’s the cutest, smartest, most amazing person everrrrr.”
“So?” Jimin raised his eyebrows at him. “Why not ask him out?”
“Because we’re best friends,” Taehyung explained and smiled slyly after, looking Jimin in the eyes. “Speaking of best friends, do you want to be mine and, maybe, pour me another shot?”
“Nice try,” the bartender giggled and shook his head, “but no,” his words made Taehyung pout. “And, you could just try asking out your best friend? Speaking from personal experience of currently dating two of my own — it’s nice.”
“Date my best friend,” Taehyung muttered under his nose and grimaced. “Ew, that’s gross.”
Dear my best friend, I wish I had the courage to tell you.
Jimin didn’t seem to believe the words that had felt from the man’s mouth. “Whatever you say, big boy.”
“I miss Yoongi hyung,” Taehyung suddenly mumbled, taking his phone out as if he had already forgotten that he was speaking to the bartender. But the latter didn’t seem offended even a bit and only smiled at his attempts to dial a number.
“Here, let me help,” Jimin took his phone. “Want me to get you a taxi?”
Taehyung shook his head. “No, text hyung to pick me up,” he muttered as he pressed his forehead to the bar counter, closing his eyes. “Mhhhmhh, I’ll rest here just for a second..No, ten seconds.”
“Which one of these “hyungs” is his contact?” The bartender furrowed his eyebrows as he scrolled through Taehyung’s contacts, but no response followed. “Guess I’ll have to make a lucky guess.”
ᵔᴥᵔ
Taehyung woke up in a bed that he immediately realized wasn’t his because his own sheets weren’t as soft, and he was sure that he wasn’t the one who put on the pajama set he was wearing. But after having breathed a whiff of familiar fragrance, the little bit of worry that had previously started forming — completely vanished and comfort took over his whole body as he understood right away that it was Yoongi’s bedroom.
Most of what happened last night, after his yet another boring and failed date, was quite a blur in Taehyung’s mind because he was tired, and drunk . However, he did not forget about his savior. Thanks to the bartender, his hangover didn’t seem to be as horrible as what he had expected it to be in the morning. His head hurt, but he didn’t feel like someone who had just been brought back from the dead.
Long live lemon juice and bartender Jimin — Taehyung for sure needed to befriend the guy.
But also — Yoongi. Yoongi, who practically carried Taehyung out of the bar at ass o’clock. Yoongi, who surely took his makeup off for him, because he knew just how much Taehyung hated to sleep with it on since he broke out easily. Yoongi, who helped him change into the set of pajamas that Taehyung kept at his place. Yoongi, who tucked him into bed—the same bed that the older hated to share with anybody else, the one that smelled like vanilla and tangerines—not forgetting to make sure the younger wasn’t cold under the covers. Yoongi, who put aspirin and a glass of water on the nightstand, with a little ‘drink me to feel better:)’ note next to it.
The corners of Taehyung’s lips quirked up in a gentle smile as he thought about how the older man has always taken such good care of him. Yoongi never asked for anything in return, but was always happy when the other would pay him back with just as much love and affection, even if he would often shy away and deny it.
No doubt — there was no one better than his best friend. No one could ever come close to his Yoongi hyung.
You could just try asking out your best friend.
“Taehyung-ah?” A honey voice interrupted his thoughts as the older gently knocked on the door before opening it. His head peeked into the room, a grin taking over his face when he saw that Taehyung was already awake. The younger stared back with a sleepy smile on his face that was silently greeting his hyung. “Slept well?”
“I guess so. I don’t even remember falling asleep,” Taehyung stretched his body and patted the empty space next to him, opening one side of the covers. “Come cuddle?”
The older shook his head softly. “You need to eat something after your night of wonders,” he teased.
“Stop,” Taehyung groaned and got fully under the covers to hide just how embarrassed he was. “Did I say something weird?” He peeked when he felt the bed move and saw the older already sitting on the edge.
“Nothing you wouldn’t say when you’re sober,” Yoongi smiled and proceeded to grip the cover in order to take it off the younger, whose body covered in goosebumps the second the cold air of the room met with his skin. “Get up and go brush your teeth, I made you fluffy pancakes.”
Taehyung wanted to groan and get back under the warm cover, but his curious eyes found Yoongi’s fond ones instead. “With an extra amount of strawberry jam?”
“Of course! Who do you take me for, Taehyung? An amateur?” Yoongi asked almost offended but the younger knew that he was only teasing.
“But the bed is so comfy,” he whined and rolled over onto his stomach, face buried into the pillow that smelled like Yoongi and Taehyung could never get enough of that sweet smell that felt like home to him. He breathed in the scent once more and looked back up at the older, letting the corners of his lips quirk up in a sly smile. “How about some breakfast in bed?”
After tapping Taehyung’s butt lightly, Yoongi got up and shook his head. “Last time I gave in — you ended up owing me new covers, so don’t even dream about it.”
Taehyung sighed in defeat and took all he had in him to lift himself up and get off the bed. “Okay, meanie, let’s go to the kitchen and leave this poor bed cold and lonely.”
His hyung only playfully rolled his eyes at him and followed to the bathroom to show where the younger’s toothbrush was (not that it was necessary, since Taehyung already knew where everything was as he spent one too many nights and days in his apartment) before he left to wait for Taehyung in the kitchen.
ᵔᴥᵔ
“You know, I think that my pajamas smell like you,” Taehyung pointed out first thing when he walked into the kitchen and Yoongi’s eyes widened, and a burning blush started creeping onto his face, as if the younger had caught him doing something he wasn’t supposed to.
The older cleared his throat. “You slept in my bed so maybe that’s why? Sorry, I didn’t have the time to change the sheets last night because you got into bed the second we stepped into the room. It was already a task to have you cooperate with me to change your clothes, but I’ll wash it when-“
“I like it,” Taehyung finally interrupted his rambling.
Yoongi blinked at him. “What?”
“I like that it smells like you,” the younger smiled. “I’ve always liked your scent, it tends to calm me down.”
“Oh,” a blush painted the older’s cheeks crimson red and he turned away for Taehyung not to notice, busying himself with their breakfast. “So, pancakes?” Yoongi turned around half a minute later with a sheepish smile lingering on his face, and a plate of puffy pancakes that had strawberry jam dripping off them on all sides. Yoongi made sure to put just enough of it for it to avert the other’s gaze from his still burning face.
But, of course, Taehyung had noticed how the color of his hyung’s face rapidly changed and how shy he had gotten. He was always able to see every little detail about the older, not letting a single one slip unnoticed before his eyes. It’s just that he decided not to tease Yoongi about it, and simply admired the effect of his words on the older in silence. His cheeks scrunched up as he reached out to grab the plate. “Thought you’d never ask.”
Dear my best friend, do you wear the clothes I leave at your place when you’re missing me?
ᵔᴥᵔ
The next weekend, when Taehyung was finally free from work and ready to relax after a whole week of sorting useless papers, he decided to go back to the bar where he had met Jimin. He didn’t get the chance to ask for his number, so he hoped to see the bartender again. His phone rang and, too busy getting it out of his pocket, he almost fell walking into the said bar. He bumped into two strangers, one of whom caught him and prevented the fall.
“Shit, sorry!” He apologized and his eyes traveled up as he flashed an apologetic smile.
“S’ okay, don’t worry about it,” the man smiled back, and Taehyung swore that he looked like a bunny when his teeth peeked out.
“Jimin-ah, we’ll come pick you up after your shift!” He heard the other shout before he turned to them with a smile on his face. So were these two by any chance the two best friends and boyfriends the bartender told him about? “He caught me like that when we first met, too. I was late for a dance practice and could barely see where I was going. But lucky me,” he grinned, “our Jungkookie is strong and his reflexes are quick.”
“Lucky you,” Taehyung let out a chuckle and the bunny-like boy, Jungkook it seemed, blushed.
“Hoseokie hyung, we’ll be late,” he circled his hand around the other’s wrist and after flashing Taehyung another smile and with slight bows of their heads — they left.
Jimin didn’t notice him right away, only furrowed his eyebrows when he seemed to have heard a familiar voice order a drink. His eyes went up to where the voice came from and, instantly, a smile took over his face. “Lover boy, is that you?”
“Lover boy, really?” Taehyung chuckled.
The bartender shrugged. “Seemed just fitting.”
“Are the names of your partners by any chance Jungkook and Hoseok?” He asked as he took a seat and leaned onto the counter.
“Huh?” Jimin looked at him confused. “How do you-“
“What if I told you I saw them in a vision and the universe also told me that you and I are supposed to become the bestest of friends and have a strong bond until we’re old and barely able to move?” Taehyung wiggled his eyebrows. “Will you accept such an answer?”
The bartender snorted at him. “Depends. Will I still look hot even when my skin is wrinkled?”
“Ten out of ten,” Taehyung chuckled at how Jimin seemed to be content with his reply. “I think I ran into them on my way here, heard one of them call your name.”
“Oh,” the bartender laughed and Taehyung followed, “cause you really had me thinking I had a future teller before my eyes.”
“You never know, I might be.”
“Sure,” Jimin rolled his eyes. “So tell me, what brings you here again? Another failed date?”
Taehyung shook his head. “Not at all. I was serious when I said I’d like us to be friends. You seem like someone I could get along with.”
And the bartender clicked his tongue. “You sure it’s not just the free drinks?”
“I could get free drinks if we become friends?” Taehyung gasped. “Another reason to become besties.”
Jimin let a chuckle slip out of his mouth as he poured him a drink. “On the house.”
“Oh?” Taehyung’s eyebrows shoot up. “I was just kidding-“
“Don’t worry,” the bartender smiled. “I won’t get in trouble. So, how’s it going with your honey hyung?”
Taehyung almost choked on the beverage he was about to take a sip of. “How did you-“
“A vision,” Jimin was the one to wiggle his eyebrows.
And Taehyung remembered that he was the one who called Yoongi for him the night he got drunk. “In that case you must know that nothing changed we’re still best friends.”
“Did you even consider asking him out?” The bartender cocked a brow at him.
Taehyung sighed. “We’re friends. Have been for yea-“
“Excuses,” Jimin cut him off.
“What?”
“It seems to me like you keep looking for excuses,” he put his arms on the counter and leaned in a little. “Tell me, do you trust your hyung?”
Taehyung frowned at the question. “Of course I do.”
“Then tell him you have feelings for him.”
I don’t, he wanted to say, but remained silent. Who was he trying to fool? It was obvious that Jimin saw right through him. Taehyung had admitted to himself that he was in love with Yoongi last year, when the feelings in his chest were too much for him to continue denying them being more than just platonic.
But while Yoongi was everything Taehyung could ever dream of — he was also everything he couldn’t have.
Jimin cleared his throat and straightened up, noticing the look on Taehyung’s face and the silence that followed his words. “Sorry if I overstepped. I don’t know you well enough to be making assumptions like that.”
“You’re right though,” Taehyung admitted. “I do have feelings for him. And yes, I keep searching for excuses not to tell him about how I feel.”
“Can I ask you something?” Jimin decided to be careful this time, and continued when the other nodded. “Are you afraid to ruin your friendship?”
“No,” Taehyung right away answered. “I know even if I confessed and it turned out being one sided — he would never let our relationship change, would never try to avoid me and,” he chuckled, “would probably cuss me out if I ever tried avoiding him myself, unless I would need some personal space.”
Jimin nodded as he bit his lower lip. “I see. So you're scared to find out whether your feelings are actually one sided or not.”
The bartender's words stung because they were true. Yoongi loving him back was all Taehyung ever wished for. It was silly, but not knowing for sure was exactly what kept Taehyung hopeful. It was something he held onto— the thought of the mere possibility for the other to love him back.
Because what if he came clean about how he felt and suddenly a single ‘no’ would come crashing like a tide, ruining everything he had within?
“Yeah,” Taehyung whispered barely hearable and his eyes shot up at Jimin when he heard the latter laugh.
“You’re actually so oblivious, oh god!”
“What?” Taehyung’s confused expression made the bartender groan.
“You’ve really never noticed the way he looks at you?” Jimin asked and Taehyung’s face answered it for him. “He was here for barely five minutes and I could already tell that he had it bad for you.”
And Taehyung really really wished for Jimin to be right.
“You were practically asleep, drunk mumbling and drooling all over this very counter,” he pointed with his index finger and Taehyung cringed at the embarrassing image that popped in his head, “and I might sound super corny and cliche, but he still looked at you as if you were the one who hung the stars in the sky and the one who lit the moon up every night,” he stated. “No one looks at their best friend like that, not unless they’re in love with them. Trust me, I’d know.”
That same evening Taehyung came back home and fell asleep with Jimin’s words not once leaving his mind.
Dear my best friend, do flowers bloom in your chest, as they do in my own, every time we’re together?
ᵔᴥᵔ
On Sunday morning the cold autumn sun shone through the window—because, goddammit, Taehyung had forgotten to close the blinds—and woke him up from his peaceful dream. His eyes crinkled up against the bright light as he tried opening them. The man stretched his body with a groan and his hand roamed around the sides of his bed, blindly searching for his phone to check the time. When he had finally opened his eyes he saw that it was far past midday and that he had a missed call from Yoongi. So he quickly dialed his hyung’s number.
His breath hitched with every beep as he was anticipating to hear Yoongi’s voice a little too much. Taehyung missed hearing it, acting as if they hadn’t talked in days, if not weeks. When, in reality, it’s barely been ten hours.
“Tae-yah?” Yoongi answered and the sound of him saying Taehyung’s name warmed the younger’s heart.
“Hey hyung,” he answered with a low sleepy voice. “Sorry, I was sleeping.”
“Are you coming over?”
“Why,” Taehyung grinned to himself, “miss me already?”
“Maybe,” Yoongi paused, “ you give yourself too much credit ,” and the younger could tell that he was smiling just by the tone of his voice.
He bit down another grin. “Fine, since you want to see me that much , I have no choice but to come over.”
“Buy some tangerines on your way here,” the older said before hanging up.
It was their thing — spending Sundays together while eating their favorite foods and talking about everything and nothing. Watching their favorite variety shows or stupid movies that had them laughing so loud that the neighbors had to knock on the walls, making them realize that they were making too much noise.
Everything they did was so casual, so simple , and yet all of it still felt special. To Taehyung, at least.
Because Yoongi had the talent to make the most basic things in Taehyung’s life matter. Because Yoongi’s presence itself was the only thing that mattered to him.
Because where Yoongi went — happiness followed.
ᵔᴥᵔ
Taehyung came over and their Sunday was going by as it usually did: filled with laughter and peace. Until Yoongi became aware of the younger’s eyes that weren’t focusing on the show the two were watching, eyes that were boring into his figure like they’d never seen him before. But even so, he didn’t comment on it, just shifted in his seat and kept his own eyes on the TV or, well, tried to .
During the whole time that Taehyung spent staring at Yoongi — the latter hadn’t once dared to meet his gaze. It wasn’t something unusual, because the older was never the best at keeping eye contact. And Taehyung found it cute how a slight shade of pink would appear on his cheeks when he’d accidentally make eye contact with somebody. Tonight, however, he wanted to see whether Jimin was right. Maybe, he no longer needed to be afraid.
“Hyung,” he called and shifted a little closer, making the older take his eyes off his own hands where he had been fixing his gaze for the past ten minutes, “why won’t you look at me?”
“Am I supposed to follow your steps and stare?” Yoongi asked, and the younger thought he would actually look at him then, but his hyung’s eyes went back to watching the screen. “Didn’t they teach you that staring was rude?”
“So, you noticed.”
“You weren’t exactly hiding it,” he shrugged.
Taehyung bit his lower lip. “Hyung, please, look at me,” he pleaded.
“Why do you want me to do it?” The older’s eyes finally stared back at him.
And despite the frown on the older’s face — there was that something in his eyes that Taehyung could clearly see now. That was what Jimin had told him about. The little light in those brown eyes that was reserved for him, that only twinkled when they’d land on the younger.
“I wanted to see whether a friend of mine was right about the way you look at me,” Taehyung explained, but still confused the other.
“What’s so special about the way I do it?” Yoongi’s brows furrowed.
“Apparently, when your eyes land on me — it’s as if you saw the one who hung all the stars in the sky,” the younger chuckled and the older almost choked on thin air.
Thick silence followed Taehyung’s words so it was only fair he would be the one to break it. “Would you go on a date with me, if I asked you to?”
Yoongi gulped. “W-why would you?”
“Ask you out?” The younger asked and received a nod in response. “Why not?” He shrugged.
“Was it Jin or Namjoon?” Yoongi suddenly asked. “Who told you?”
It was Taehyung’s time to frown. “What do you mean?”
“Who told you?” The older breathed out again and Taehyung could see his eyes getting glossy.
“Hyung, do you feel for me?” He dared to ask, but the older one was like a broken record— repeating the same thing.
“Who told you?” He almost choked on his words and the younger wondered: had he also been afraid?
“Please, don’t cry.” Taehyung shifted as close as he could and took Yoongi’s hand in his own, guiding it to his chest, pressing his palm flat on it. “Can’t you feel it, hyung?” He asked, making the older gasp for air when the realization hit him. “I feel for you, too.”
ᵔᴥᵔ
“Wow,” was the first thing to leave Yoongi’s mouth when he opened the door for Taehyung, who couldn’t help but laugh. “Sorry, it’s just- You’re so pretty.”
“Am I really?” The younger chuckled and bit his lower lip to stop a grin from spreading across his face.
“Yeah… very,” Yoongi breathed out and it’s not like he hasn’t ever told Taehyung he was pretty—he has. Far too many times. But this was different. This hit different since it wasn’t him saying that as the younger’s hyung or best friend — it was him saying it as his date. “It can be intimidating. Your prettiness, I mean.”
The younger approached him as a chuckle fell off his lips. “Don’t be silly, hyung,” he said and a wide boxy smile took over his face, the same smile that, if you believe Yoongi’s words, made his cheeks look as soft as a fresh loaf of bread. “And, by the way, you look very pretty today, Yoongi hyung. You always look so pretty.”
Yoongi’s face felt like it was on fire. “I do?” He asked shyly.
“Yeah,” Taehyung nodded as his mouth crinkled in a fond smile. “The prettiest,” he whispered as he reached out to run his fingers through Yoongi’s hair. “Especially when you blush like this.”
I’m not blushing, the older wanted to say, but he realized that he’d be lying to the both of them.
Taehyung could only coo at Yoongi. “Since when are you this shy? I mean, it’s cute and you’ve always been a little bit shy around me when I’d tease you, but it was never to this extent.”
“Well,” Yoongi bit the corner of his cheek, “you’ve never called me pretty right before taking me out on a date before... so”
Taehyung chuckled and his eyes crinkled. “Okay, you got me there. I’ll do it often now, so you better get used to it.”
“To you taking me out or calling me pretty?”
“How about both?” The younger asked with the biggest grin across his face.
“I could do that,” Yoongi replied and let a gummy smile take over his face. “But you’ll have to get used to me blushing more than usual then.”
Taehyung chuckled and held out his hand for Yoongi to take. “Ready to go?”
“Yeah,” he nodded and looked down, slowly reaching out his own, a little unsure.
Taehyung smiled at him. “ God , you’re so fucking cute, I could kiss you right now,” he took Yoongi’s hand in his, finally intertwining their fingers.
“What’s stopping you then?”
“I’m afraid that if I do — your face will look so red someone will start calling for help. ‘He’s about to explode, somebody help this poor man!’” Taehyung yelled dramatically and Yoongi rolled his eyes at him.
He tried shoving the younger to untangle their hands, but failed — miserably so . And, with a pout, he was about to turn his head away from Taehyung, but the latter didn’t let him with the way his free hand traveled up to cup his hyung’s face.
Taehyung pressed a quick kiss to the corner of Yoongi’s lips, making the older’s eyes shoot wide open and the almost faded blush on his cheeks bloom with a new shade of red.
Yeah, Taehyung could get used to it.
Dear my best friend, thank you for loving me back.