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"The weather at our destination is showing clear skies and hot temperatures. We want to take this time to thank you again for flying Jeju Air with us, and we'll be landing in approximately twenty minutes."
Taehyung lets out a deep breath, his eyes slowly fluttering shut as he feels the plane dip a little lower in the sky, the land visible outside of the small window again. His fingers can't help but grip the armrests tightly, his stomach in knots as they begin their descent.
He's always hated flying, always preferred to drive and be in control himself. But to get to Jeju, there weren't a lot of options, and the ferry was fully booked for weeks in advance. It is, afterall, summer vacation. Just what did he expect coming down here at one of the most busy parts of the year?
The plane ride hasn't been all bad, though, despite the screaming children all around him. The guy sitting in the seat next to him had offered him a piece of chewing gum for his ears when they first took off and didn't mind when Taehyung accidentally gripped his hand during the entirety of take off.
And honestly, once they were in the air, it was no big deal. Taehyung was fine .
"You good?" the guy next to him asks, his tone slightly amused. Taehyung wants to glare, but they hit a bit of turbulence and he makes a squawk of fear.
That's when Taehyung notices the guy holding his hand out, palm facing up, offering him a lifeline.
Taehyung takes it, gripping his hand tightly as he closes his eyes and prays for the landing to be done quickly and smoothly.
Twenty minutes later, when they land, Taehyung removes his hand from the kind (cute) stranger's with a quiet thank you. The other just smiles and takes his carry on bag on his way off the plane.
That should have been the end of their meeting, and the start of the first vacation Taehyung has had in years, but fate has other plans.
Taehyung spends his first day checking into his room (decent) at the hotel, showering to get rid of the last of the plane aura from his body, and then decides to head down to the beach. Dressed in swim shorts and a tropical print shirt that he bought at the hotel gift shop, he can't help but grin at the sight of the sea before him, breathing in the fresh air. It's the first vacation he's had in so long, and it feels so good not to be chained to his email, to his phone, running errands for his very persistent boss back in Seoul.
This is exactly what he needed.
"Heads up!" someone shouts, and Taehyung turns to see what's happening, only for a soccer ball to slam right into his face, knocking him back onto his ass in the sand. "Oh shit, oh fuck—"
Maybe this isn't exactly what he needed.
"Are you okay?" Taehyung nods, wincing as he opens his eyes, hands coming up to cup his sore nose. His eyes widen, though, when he takes in the sight of the guy from the plane earlier that had let him hold his hand. "Oh, hey."
"Hi?" Taehyung answers, glaring slightly as tears well up in his eyes.
"Sorry about that," the guy chuckles sheepishly, helping Taehyung back up to his feet and holding his arms to keep him steady. "We're playing foot volleyball and the ball just kinda got away from us."
Taehyung pulls his hands back, groaning when he sees blood on his fingers.
"Shit, hang on," the guy says and Taehyung watches in horror as he takes his shirt off of his back and uses it to gently dab away the blood from his nose. His face goes up in flames, turning bright red as he averts his gaze from how wonderfully sculpted the man's body is. "There, all better. You got a name?"
"Kim Taehyung," he answers hesitantly, gently taking the shirt when the guy motions for him to. It smells nice — like something natural and musky but also light and gentle. Kind of like freshly washed linens.
"Taehyung," the guy says then smiles. "I'm Jeon Jeongguk. Nice to officially meet you."
"Yo, JK! Is he good?" someone calls from the net area, waving their arms over their head.
Taehyung hands the ball back to Jeongguk and nods. "Well, thanks, for uh, the shirt? I'll let you get back to your game."
"Sure, sorry again!" Jeongguk says, hands clasping in front of him as he bows politely. "Um, you know, if you wanna join, you're welcome to."
Taehyung glances at the other guys at the net and then shakes his head. "Sorry, sports aren't really my thing. Thanks for the offer, though."
Jeongguk just smiles and nods, tucking the ball against his hip, under one of his arms. "Well, maybe I'll see you around again, then."
Taehyung hopes not. He's certain that he's been more embarrassed in front of this cute stranger than he is willing to admit. He doesn't want anything else to happen like this on the trip. He's going to spend the rest of his week soaking up the sun, relaxing, and reading the novel he bought months ago and has been meaning to finish.
So as Jeongguk goes back to his game, Taehyung finds himself a nice, quiet spot to lay out his towel and get to reading.
The third time they run into each other, Taehyung is starting to think the other is following him.
"Hey, weird running into you again," Jeongguk says, smiling as he passes by him to sit down at the counter of the brunch restaurant they're both at. Jeongguk leaves one spot between them as he sits down. "How's your face?"
Taehyung is wearing a breathe right strip to keep his swollen nose from whistling every time he breathes out.
"Just peachy," he answers, popping a bite of the waffle and fruit in front of him into his mouth.
"Did you come to Jeju alone?" Jeongguk asks, eyes focused on the menu in front of him, deciding what to order. When the waiter comes by, he decides to say that he'll get whatever Taehyung is having and an iced americano. "I haven't seen you with anyone."
Taehyung narrows his eyes slightly, raising an eyebrow. "You following me or something?" he says jokingly, but Jeongguk just goes red in the face and immediately starts denying. "Relax, I was kidding. Sort of. It is strange that I keep running into you."
"Small island," Jeongguk says with a light laugh. "I'm here by myself. Sort of, anyway. Some of my friends are here, but they're on their anniversary, so they're doing their own thing."
"Ah," Taehyung replies, even though he didn't ask. "I'm alone. Finally got some time off of work and just wanted to get away from the city."
Jeongguk nods. "I can get that. You from Seoul? You have the dialect."
Taehyung flushes. "Yeah, what about you?"
"I'm from Busan, but I've been living in Seoul for about a year and a half now," Jeongguk answers just as his food is placed in front of him. He thanks the waiter and smiles, digging in. "Just got a job in marketing. It's soul sucking, honestly."
"I work in HR, couldn't agree more," Taehyung tells him, lifting his mimosa glass up to cheers Jeongguk before taking a sip.
They spend their brunch talking together, making easy and light conversation. Jeongguk says he came because he intends to do some hiking, while Taehyung prefers to relax and barely move his body, if he can get away with it.
By the time the lunch rush is starting in, Taehyung is paying his bill and saying his goodbyes.
“It’s unlikely we’ll see each other again,” he says, reaching over to shake his hand. “It was nice meeting you, Jeongguk-ssi. Enjoy the rest of your vacation.”
Jeongguk smiles, gently squeezing Taehyung’s hand. “You too, Taehyung-ssi.”
As they part as unlikely friends, Taehyung finds himself smiling as he heads for his rental car, ready to go enjoy his time at the beach, relaxing in the sun.
Despite their very different ideas of vacation, Taehyung and Jeongguk do run into each other again.
At a gift shop while they each try to find something for their friends back home and their hands end up brushing as they reached for the same magnet. At a tiki bar that Jeongguk’s friends joined him at and yelled for Taehyung to join them. And again at a gas station, when Jeongguk pulled up to refill the tank and spotted Taehyung doing the same.
Without really meaning to, Taehyung and Jeongguk start to expect to see the other nearly every day of their vacation.
And a few days later, Taehyung is moving his stuff from the stool at the counter so that Jeongguk can join him for breakfast.
Which turns into Taehyung arriving only to find Jeongguk already has a table for two for them.
“Have a good hike this morning?” Taehyung asks as he settles into the seat across the table from Jeongguk. “You’re all sweaty.”
Jeongguk laughs, glancing down at himself. “Yeah, we hiked to see the sunrise,” he explains, waving a waiter over so they can order. “It was incredible. I took some pictures!”
Taehyung can’t help but smile fondly as Jeongguk shows him all the pictures from his hike earlier in the morning. He’s not sure when he started to look forward to running into him, but he can’t help but feel a little giddy that they’re at a table together.
That Jeongguk waited for a table so they could talk more easily instead of at the busy counter.
“What’re your plans for the day?” Jeongguk asks when he finishes, leveling Taehyung with a kind gaze.
Taehyung pulls out the book he’d brought with him, which sadly, he’s barely managed to make a dent in during this week despite his goal of wanting to finish it.
“Thinking about going to read in a park,” he answers, taking a bite of his French toast covered in strawberries and bananas. “I really wanted to finish this book this week… but it’s taking me forever to get through.”
Jeongguk takes the book to look at it, reading the summary on the back. “Is it good?”
“It’s okay,” Taehyung replies. “A little predictable for a mystery.”
“Maybe you’re having a hard time reading it because it’s not engaging you,” Jeongguk suggests, handing the book back over.
“It was a gift from my friend, so I feel bad not finishing it,” Taehyung sighs, setting it back down. “But I think you’re right. Plus, you have been very distracting.”
Jeongguk just offers a wolfish grin. “Who? Me?”
Taehyung laughs, tossing a blueberry at him. “I see you everywhere! It’s like we’re vacationing together at this point.”
“Well, why not?” Jeongguk suggests, tilting his head slightly. “Come to dinner with me later. We can get drinks and shit talk our jobs back home. It’ll be fun.”
Taehyung tries to hide his smile, but it shows through, anyway. “Alright,” he agrees. “But only because you mentioned drinks.”
Jeongguk laughs, going back to eating his breakfast as they make their first actual plans together.
Taehyung finds himself ignoring the book for the rest of the day, too excited about going out with Jeongguk later to care for reading.
When Taehyung arrives at the bar they agreed to meet at for dinner, he checks over his appearance one last time before heading in. With his dark locks curled and pushed back from his face, dressed in jeans and a white shirt, he thinks he looks pretty cute.
Not that he’s trying to impress Jeongguk. They’re just two solo vacationers that have sort of become friends.
Taehyung finds Jeongguk at a table, waving him over with a grin that makes Taehyung’s heart race a little bit. So he’s noticed that his new friend just so happens to be very cute and very much his type.
Big deal. Nothing is going to happen, anyway.
“I wasn’t sure what you would want to drink so I just ordered a few beers to start,” Jeongguk tells him, having to yell slightly over the music. Apparently, it’s trivia night at the bar. “Oh, and I signed us up for trivia.”
“What?” Taehyung laughs, accepting the beer from Jeongguk. “I don’t know any trivia!”
“Me either,” he grins and it makes Taehyung snort. “But first prize is your tab free. I say it doesn’t hurt to try.”
Taehyung shakes his head, strangely endeared by this man and how he never shies away from a challenge. Taehyung is more of the type to avoid it if he’s not good at it, not wanting to be embarrassed.
But he decides to humor Jeongguk, taking the score sheet for the trivia game.
Several drinks and shots and many wrong answers later, Taehyung is wheezing as Jeongguk writes down something very obviously wrong on their trivia sheet, holding it up proudly.
It’s no surprise that they don’t win trivia, and they do have to pay their hefty bar tab.
“I had fun tonight,” Taehyung says as they both head out of the bar together, heading for the direction of their hotels. “Probably the best day of vacation so far.”
Jeongguk smiles, their hands brushing accidentally as they walk. “Same,” he says. “You know, maybe we should just spend the rest of vacation hanging out.”
“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” Taehyung teases with a laugh, tripping over his own feet and nearly falling. Jeongguk snorts and catches him from face planting.
“Well, I am asking, aren’t I?” he counters and it makes Taehyung’s cheeks flush. “Maybe we could hang out in Seoul, too, you know. If you wanted.”
Taehyung doesn’t mind that Jeongguk keeps a gentle hold of his arm as they keep walking, so he won’t trip and fall again.
“I’m not as fun in Seoul,” he admits shyly. “I’m usually too tired after work to do anything. I rarely go out. I cancel most of my plans with friends to stay in bed instead…”
Jeongguk settles him with a warm gaze. “That’s okay, I’m a big fan of canceled plans so I can just change into my pajamas and watch Netflix in.”
Taehyung smiles. “Okay,” he decides. “Let’s hang out in Seoul together, then. Maybe we can even have a night in hang out.”
“Sounds perfect.”
Jeongguk helps Taehyung back to his hotel, bidding him a good night and even exchanging phone numbers so they don’t forget later. And maybe it was just his imagination, or all the beers talking, but Taehyung felt like Jeongguk hadn’t wanted to let him go and say goodnight.
By another twist of fate, Taehyung doesn’t see Jeongguk again during his vacation. He contemplates texting him to ask to hang out, but then he catches sight of his book and changes his mind.
He spends the entire afternoon by the water, reading his book with the sound of waves hitting the shore. It’s not too hot out today, so the beach isn’t as populated as it was during the rest of his vacation. It’s quiet, peaceful, the sky a nice overcast gray.
Taehyung reads all day, finally getting into the book as he starts to get more into the mystery within its pages. It’s not until evening when he’s finally putting it down, only one chapter left, that he thinks about Jeongguk again.
It starts to rain heavily outside, so Taehyung decides to stay in, ordering from room service and star fishing on his bed so he can finish this book before he leaves tomorrow.
Taehyung does finish his book, feeling a surge of pride at having completed the goals he set for himself. And he packs it thoughtfully back into his suitcase in the morning.
As he checks out of his hotel and takes a taxi to the airport, Taehyung decides to do one final thing.
To: Jeongguk
this is tae!!
just wanted to say that I’m heading home today
thanks for a great vacation, I had more fun than I thought I would lol
let me know if ur ever down to have a chill night in back in Seoul. i know a place that deliver French toast almost as good as our brunch cafe here
Taehyung pockets his phone and smiles, watching the scenery fly by.
When he arrives at the airport, he checks in, checks his bag and heads for security, finally pulling his phone out. And the messages he finds from Jeongguk makes him smile, his heart fluttering.
From: Jeongguk
Well
how does tonight in Seoul sound?
To: Jeongguk
You going home today too??? Lol should have known
Anyway let’s do it
From: Jeongguk
It’s a date.
Taehyung flushes, nearly dropping his phone as he stares at the message waiting for him. It’s a date .
Clutching his phone to his chest and grinning like a fool, Taehyung practically skips all the way to the plane. And while the nerves usually set in right about now, he finds himself too excited to mind as he boards the plane, searching for his seat.
And when he finds it, his eyes widen as Jeon Jeongguk sits in the spot beside him, grinning.
“No way,” Taehyung laughs, settling into the seat next to him. “What are the odds?”
“It’s a small island, hyung,” Jeongguk laughs, his smile warm. “But it’s good, because I would have been a little jealous if you had to hold someone else’s hand during take off.”
Taehyung playfully swats at Jeongguk, who just laughs again before catching one of his hands.
“So what do you say?” Jeongguk asks.
“About what?” Taehyung asks, tilting his head slightly.
“Will you go on that date with me?”
Taehyung’s cheeks flush and he smiles shyly, looking down at their clasped together hands. Slowly, he intertwines their fingers together, holding on tight.
“Yes,” he agrees. “It’s a date.”