Work Text:
"Aigo, he's zoned out again!"
Jungkook was taken out of his thoughts by Hobi.
The guy sat on the opposite side of the table in front of him. He seemed to have just gone out of the shower. Following just behind him was Namjoon who took the seat next to Hobi. These two have been his tour guides, hosts, brothers, and parents for the past two weeks. His stay in the hostel has brought him closer to its owners.
Namjoon sat his stray on the table and Jungkook observed the change in his breakfast menu.
"Hyung," he started and about to point out but the guy beat him to it.
"Uh-uh," Namjoon said raising a finger. "Don't judge me. I'm on all veggies starting today."
"Whatever came to his mind when he woke up this morning, I have no idea," Hobi said beside him munching his Chipotle sandwich.
Jungkook looked at them. He knows the two have been best friends since high school but he couldn't get the thought out of his head.
"Are you guys sure you never fell for each other?" he asked again for the nth time.
"Do you have any new questions?" Hobi asked back who seemed to have gotten tired of the question even if he never really answered it.
"At some point, I guess," Namjoon said stabbing the vegetable salad on his plate with a fork.
Finally, Jungkook thought.
"Oh really?" Hobi was surprised to which Namjoon nooded as he eat his salad. "Then why I didn't know about this?" Hobi asked, this time facing Namjoon.
"I wasn't sure."
"How did you figure out you were sure?" It was Jungkook and his curiosity.
"I didn't," Namjoon answered and Jungkook heard a hint of confusion in his voice. "But I gotta admit," he continued. "I'm grateful I didn't."
"Because you made a best friend out of me?"
"Yeah."
Hobi sipped his iced coffee, shook his head then spoke, "ahhhh, why does this hurt a little?" But he eventually laughed as if it was the funniest thing to say. Although he must admit, if this was a confession a few years ago, he might have been totally broken. But as their friendship go on, he has learned how to accept that Namjoon would never return his feelings. It started out as friendship and it will end at that. Nothing more, nothing less. Sad but true and he has mastered the art of not really caring whether his love is unrequited or not. After all, they're best friends and forever they will be.
"Bummer," Jungkook sighed in disappointment. He could feel there's something more than friendship in Hobi but the older guy seemed to have no idea about it and Jungkook had been hoping he could help enlighten him.
How do we know if it's love or not?
"Why are you being sentimental?" Hobi asked and Jungkook realized he'd thought out loud again.
He sighed again then started playing with his glass of Banana milkshake on the table.
"You'll figure it out," Namjoon answered and Hobi nodded in agreement.
The same answer as his father's and sooner or later, he'll finally give up wondering because he started feeling impatient getting the same answers. You'll know. Yeah, he'll know when it comes whenever it will be.
The warmth of the early morning sun touched his bare skin. His mother had been adamant of this travel, worried that he'll burn his skin from the tropical sun. He snickered. He kind of misses home, especially after his brother announced his arrival from abroad and delivered the news of him staying in the country for good to practice his masters degree instead of living far from them. What a good son, he thought.
His brother had been the best. Always on top of the class, had only been into trouble once, and the nicest person to ever exist. Meanwhile, he, the youngest had always been a headache to his parents. And even if they seemed to have understood and accepted his rebel side, he couldn't stop feeling guilty, but for the life of him, he couldn't stop being him as well.
He saw a perfect wave and started paddling on his surfboard. During his first week, he had to pay for a surfing coach to help him on the water but now that he had learned the sport, he finally stopped paying and enjoyed the freedom he feels whenever he rides the waves.
The wave was great, it's the biggest wave he had seen since his arrival and he felt excited about it. He was balancing himself on the board when the wave crashed on him throwing him out of the board. He felt himself rolled in the water but he relaxed himself. He waited until the surface calmed down then slowly climbed himself up from the bottom by grabbing the rope that's tied on his board. He felt a twitch on his left leg, the leg that got injured a few days earlier. With the pain in his leg and Namjoon and Hobi's voices in his head scolding him, he decided to call it a day. He'll probably have to spend the rest of the day reading one of Namjoon's books or help Hobi with the resto.
Arriving on shore he felt the pain even more which made him hissed in pain.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, thanks," he responded without even looking who the other person was.
"Okay," he heard the other person say then walked past him.
In the resto, he and Hobi were behind the counter when Namjoon strode in from the back door.
"We have a new arrival who I think we will love," he winked at them.
"Sounds interesting. Tell us," Hobi said with a grin on his face.
"A prince charming!"
"More handsome than I am?" Jungkook teased and Hobi had to laugh.
Namjoon nodded slowly, smiling.
Over lunch, Jungkook remembered the new guest whom they haven't met. He asked, "Joonie Hyung, does this mean I have to vacate this?" he asked Namjoon, gesturing to the seat beside him.
"Maybe," Hobi answered.
"Or maybe not," Namjoon answered. "I think he prefers to be alone."
"You had the same impression when I first came here," Jungkook said as a matter of factly.
"Then, first impressions don't last," Namjoon agreed.
"But you're still weird with that vacant seat next to you," Hobi commented.
"It's a habit," Jungkook explained.
"An obsession," Hobi joked.
"But you still like me anyway."
"Yeah, we do."
"So?"
"We'll just have an extra chair somewhere when he joins us."
"Great idea!" Namjoon who agreed.
"I love you too," Jungkook smiled mischievously at Hobi.
The habit of leaving a seat beside him started when his brother who normally fills the seat had moved out to another country to study. Initially, it was because of his brother but as the years passed and they spent more and more time far from each other, he realized he cannot have his brother forever. His brother, who's five years older than him will eventually have his own life, marry, have kids and eventually, they'll grow old separately. Once he decided he cannot have him twenty-four by seven forever, his reasons changed. He decided to leave a seat to his left for that one person who will be with him forever... if there's such a thing.. and a person other than his brother or his parents.
The following morning, Jungkook woke up to a hangover. His head was spinning when he stood up from the bed. Nonetheless, he walked out of his Kubo intending to go to the main house where Hobi and Namjoon lives. He was walking the narrow path when he saw someone in the garden. He was playing with the stray dogs that the two have adopted. Jungkook stopped, with a hand on his nape his brows furrowed- he tried to clear his vision to look at the other guy to no success. His laugh filled in his ears and for some unknown reasons, Jungkook felt his heart skipped a beat. Must be the hangover.
He found his friends cooking in their small kitchen. Without a word, Namjoon handed him a glass of fresh Buko juice.
"And if that doesn't help, you can take Aspirin later after lunch," Namjoon said.
Lunch?
He looked at the clock on the wall.
"Eleven thirty," he whispered. Thankful that his vision is now clearer.
"We'll have Sinigang and Kare-kare today," Hobi announced, boasting the Filipino recipe he learned from a friend during drinks the night before.
Jungkook walked closer to the stove where Hobi was busy preparing lunch.
"Resto closed today?" He asked, curious why the older guy decided to cook instead of them having lunch in the resto like they'd normally do.
"Nahh, Andy's back and I'm feeling excited to have our prince charming today," he replied with genuine excitement.
"Ahh, her leave has ended?"
"Yep, she found a nanny for her baby," Hobi answered cheerfully. "Although, I would have preferred if she'd just bring him over. I can look after him."
"Hyung, the baby's only a few months old," Jungkook reminded him.
"I can practice holding a baby like this," Hobi said bringing his hands to his chest as if holding an invisible baby then started swinging them side to side. "No?" He asked when Jungkook only shook his head.
Namjoon was arranging the plates on the dinning table when Jungkook came out of the kitchen.
He teased, "Hobi Hyung wants to have a baby, I guess."
"He's getting old," Namjoon said smiling.
"How bout you, Hyung?" he asked pulling a chair then sat on it.
"Hmmm..." Namjoon thought for a moment, "someday."
Jungkook repeated the last word as if to remind himself.
"Hello," a voice came in from the front door.
Namjoon finished setting up the table and headed to greet the visitor.
"Kook, meet Taehyung," he said as he brought the other guy over with his arms on the guy's shoulders.
"Hi," Jungkook smiled extending his hand.
"Hi," Taehyung responded taking his hand. He looked at Jungkook as if trying to remember something.
Jungkook who seemed to have read his mind laughed, "I don't think we've met before. Unless you're referring to earlier."
"Earlier?" Namjoon said, escorting Taehyung to the seat beside Jungkook.
Jungkook stared at Taehyung as he took the seat next to his. The vacant seat he didn't intend to give up but what could he do? He didn't want to be rude to the other guy, most especially to Namjoon. He can just be a matured twenty-year-old who can let go of his childish obsession of leaving a vacant seat beside him for his soulmate.
"Earlier?" Hobi repeated the question as he stepped out of the kitchen to the dinning area with the bowl of Sinigang in his hands.
"Ah, I think I saw him on my way here," Jungkook answered truthfully, wondering how in the world did he say that when it was obvious that Taehyung didn't see him.
The lunch was delicious. It was the first time that Jungkook have tasted Sinigang and Kare-kare. Hobi have learned how to cook these dishes from his local friends and he seemed to have enjoyed and loved them for he'd always ask them for the recipes.
During lunch, he'd learned more about Taehyung. Just like his brother, he studied abroad and have decided to come back home to spend more time with his family. The vacation was a graduation gift from his grandparents.
Jungkook's thoughts streamed like waterfall as he observed the guy to his side.
Good-looking, smart, very charming, and a sweet guy who loves his famiily very much. His smile is such a delight. To Jungkook who was surrounded with boys his age who can turn into assholes when they feel like it, Taehyung is refreshing... just as how Hobi and Namjoon are. So why is he checking some kind of list? It's not as if he did the same checking with Hobi and Namjoon.
Just why? He started scolding himself and Namjoon must have noticed.
While they were doing the dishes and Hobi was emerged talking and laughing more with Taehyung in the living room, Namjoon asked him if he was okay.
"It's alright, Hyung," Jungkook said when Namjoon apologized about the seat.
"I've forgotten for a moment there. Or maybe I was too excited to have him over," the older guy continued to apologize.
"I promise, I'm fine. I was just..." then he trailed off, not wanting to expose himself.
"So," Hobi said while they were seated in their usual table. "has our baby Kook finally found the filler of the empty seat?"
"Don't. He might cry," Namjoon teased.
Jungkook ran his fingers into his wet hair. He was soaking wet from his usual morning routine. "Can't tell," he confessed. It's not that he found the right person to fill that empty space in his life. Again, it can be someone else or his brother. And he's willing to let go of that old habit. He's not going to let a stupid, childish obsession get in the way when he's turning twenty-one in a month.
"But you like him," Hobi said.
"Like everyone else."
"No, at least not like us," Hobi said pointing a finger to Namjoon then to himself.
This confused Jungkook.
"Romantically," Namjoon filled him in, "erotically, perhaps?"
"Hyung!" Jungkook's eyes popped and the other two couldn't help but laugh at his innocent, cute reaction.
"Okay dirty thoughts aside, do you like him?" Namjoon asked trying to hold his laughter.
"Cause we can see it in your eyes," Hobi added, the images of Jungkook looking at Taehyung with adoring eyes everytime they're together or even when he just stares at the other from afar.
"I'm obvious like that?" Jungkook wondered.
There was another laughter from the older boys and a chorus of yes.
"How should I know if this is just a mere crushing or what?" He asked in between sighs.
"Chill, you'll figure it," Hobi said and for the first time, the words sounded comforting to him.
"Right. It's just the fourth day," he agreed. But already, Taehyung had been leaving him breathless, anxious, elated, and confused at the same time.
"Enjoy the feeling while it's there. While you're here," Namjoon said thoughtfully. "Once you go back home, you might not see each other again and you'll regret jumping into different conclusions rather than savoring each moment."
Jungkook and Hobi was taken aback by this thought, "Oi, Kim Namjoon!"
Jungkook walked over and hug the other guy. Namjoon flinched and tried to push him away when he realized Jungkook was still in his wet clothes, but the boy didn't let him win. He tighten his arms around Namjoon's shoulders making Hobi laugh even louder.