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—Hyung, I like you. —It was so sudden for Seokjin but he didn't allow himself to sink into the daze that this had caused him. He wouldn't read much into this. After all, Taehyung could be so random. He could have said unpredictable but not for him, at least he believed that.
Seokjin laughed. It was his soft laugh. —I know, Voo. I know you like me the most. I know I'm your favorite hyung just like you're my precious dongsaeng, —he smiled, passed his arm through Taehyung's back giving a small hug and lower his hand more until he could give a playful and soft slap in his butt—. Remember hyung loves you a lot, okay? —And with that he left, following the other members to the practice room.
Taehyung only sighed and started walking the same way.
....
—Hyung, I like you. —Seokjin turned his sight from his computer screen and smiled to Taehyung. A simple smile before paying his attention back to the screen. They both were playing but this time Taehyung was watching Seokjin first. He wasn't watching the game or watching how Seokjin was playing, he was admiring him. Like always.
....
—Hyung, I like you. —He silently volunteer himself to help Seokjin wipe out the sweat he had on his face and neck after that performance. But more than volunteer, he just come near him and started doing it before Seokjin could even take a towel himself.
Seokjin smiled excited. His breathing was ragged, he felt a little tired, but the emotions every concert made him feel were always positive, he could even forget the tiredness. He was still feeling the euphoria generated by that last performance.
—I did amazing, didn't I? I know you like hyung because he's always a flawless performer —he laughed.
Taehyung knew Seokjin was being his joking and playful self but he let him be. He loved when Seokjin was being complimented. He loved every time he could compliment him. But he loved more when his hyung complimented himself.
—Yes, hyung, you're right. You were wonderful as always, —Taehyung gave him his cute boxy smile. After that he gave the towel to Seokjin and left since the staff were calling for him.
....
—Hyung, I like you. —He said it in front of the members because he felt like doing it. He could listen them laughing but he didn't take any offense. Taehyung knew those laughs were common in close friends, even some of those laughs were from endearment. Probably Jiminie's. The laughs were accompanied by whistles and some sort of howls. He was sure those came from his Hoseok hyung. He found it funny.
Seokjin, however, had his ears red. —Ah, Taehyungie, you weren't lying when you said you liked my ears, uh? —He said in a playful tone, trying to hide his ears that were red, more than a tomato—. Stop watching me, stop giving me attention. —He warned and pointed with his finger to the other members that, in his eyes, kept making fun of him. He still was being playful though. He went to sit in the couch and took his plate with food to start eating before they started recording again.
The members laughed a little more and Taehyung also went to sit, next to Jimin who smiled at him and gave a little squeeze in his thigh.
....
—Do you know why Taehyung keeps saying he likes me? —Seokjin asked casually, checking his phone as if he was resting importance to the topic.
The three rappers turned to see each other and they stirred in their seats.
—I don't know, maybe because he likes you? —Yoongi answered in an obvious tone and gave a little but mocking laugh. Namjoon and Hoseok saw Yoongi with intention to warn him in case he said more than what they all should say but they knew he was careful. They shouldn't be worried about it.
—I know —Jin said still in his casual tone—, what I don't know is why he has been saying it every time he has the chance. Sometimes it feels like it is almost every day. —He locked his phone, finally putting his eyes on his dongsaengs. In the background they could hear the laughs of the maknae line having fun with something random, they could tell.
—You know how Tae is, hyung —Namjoon answered—. He says or does things whenever he feels like doing it. Sometimes there's no explanation, he does unique things in his unique ways. It is part of his essence and one of the many reasons why he has won us over from the beginning.
The other three members agreed with their leader. Yoongi was more subtle with his agreement but all of them could notice.
Hoseok gave an amused smile before speaking, —you should ask him, hyung. Maybe he will tell you the reason and it will be better to know from him than just talk with us, trying to deduce it.
—Maybe I should ask Jiminie... —Jin noticed he said it out loud when he hear the collective exclamation from the three rappers. It was a "Hyung!" but in that moment he felt as the youngest being scolded by his three older brothers—. Okay, I understood. I'll ask Tae... one day, aish don't be like that.
They stopped talking when they saw the maknaes coming to where they were.
—Hyung, look at this. —Jungkook got closer to Seokjin with a wide smile, followed by Jimin and Taehyung.
—Hyung, don't listen to him he's trying to trick you —Jimin warned him.
And with that, Seokjin finished being part of the random games with the three youngest in their group. While the rappers observed them and laugh at them and with them.
....
Seokjin was trying to be brave and ask Taehyung directly the reason of his constant I like yous. However, the days kept passing, he still heard "Hyung, I like you" from time to time but he still didn't know the reason behind it.
....
—Hyung, I love you.
Jin froze hearing that sentence.
—Uh? —He turned over to see Taehyung but he avoid his gaze—. Shouldn't you have said "I like you"? —He laughed but this time it was a nervous laugh.
Taehyung scratched the back of his neck, just as nervous as his Hyung. He sighed, hanging on his sudden bravery.
—Actually, all those times were supposed to be I love yous instead.
—W-why? —Seokjin dared to ask.
—Because it is true.
—Why the I like you? —Jin asked after a short silence where he was trying to find his voice.
—The first time, I couldn't say I love you. I got scared so I said an I like you. I took the risk because I didn't know... —He paused for an instant. His gaze was on the floor but he raised it to look at Seokjin who was still avoiding his eyes—. I wasn't sure how you would take it.
Seokjin opened his mouth trying to say something but he couldn't find the words. Taehyung was being honest and he couldn't say anything at all. He looked up, at least he owed him a conversation where he wasn't avoiding anything, including his gaze.
—But I was sure my feelings were not unrequited, —he continued and noted Jin's surprise in his eyes—. I notice, hyung. I notice in your eyes but I can notice something else.
—What? —he asked, nervous to hear the answer.
—Fear.
Seokjin felt his breath caught in his throat.
—I don't know what do you fear. Maybe fear of what can happen with ourselves. Fear of what people could think if they find out. Fear of losing our careers, our loved ones? Fear to feel so loved by someone, to the point it would feel like a dream and suddenly you wake up. Fear that this wouldn't work and would damage our friendship. There are too many things I can think about to answer my question. I think about all that, too. I'm afraid of those things too but I love you so much, that I learned I should take the risk. I should let myself to experience what could be the best thing that ever happened to me in my life. And learn. Learn of this experience, learn from you and myself because that's what life is about, don't you think? —he smiled, watching Seokjin with those beautiful eyes so full of love. Love he was ready to give.
Seokjin felt amazed to hear Taehyung's words. All that surely hit home. However, he needed to hear something else before he could act on this.
—Why did you decide to say I love you today? —his voice was soft, still recovering from all the emotions he felt with the whole conversation.
—Because every time I told you an I like you, even if you tried to avoid the true meaning, the true situation, I noticed the fear was fading little by little. I know is still there, less than before but still present. Today, however, I felt confident and I risk it, —the bravery he had before was starting to fall apart, making him talk faster every time—. Maybe this wasn't the time to bring this out. I'm sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable, hyung. I should have think more about it. I'm truly... —he couldn't hear the constant "Tae" emitted by Seokjin trying to silence him.
—Taehyung! —he exclaimed, making Taehyung stop his talking—. Stop, please and let me talk —Jin saw he had Tae's whole attention—. You said it yourself. It's all true and you had to say it out loud for me being able to accept it. You're right, your feelings are not one-sided. I love you, okay? I always had. But as you said, I feared and tried to avoid my feelings instead. I'm the one who should be sorry because I let you go through all this burden, I was acting obliviously and you still kept trying. I should have been more sincere not just with you but also with me. I acted cowardly, you, however, were brave...
—Don't say that —Tae interrupted him—. I believe this is how it was supposed to be, all what you feel is valid and remember we learn and grow up from situations and mistakes. Sometimes it lead us to unfortunate results, sometimes to really beautiful consequences.
—Then let this be a beautiful consequence —he said softly, raising his hand until he reached Taehyung's cheek and he caressed him so gently and tenderly.
Both of them got closer to each other, it was an automatic movement as if they were two magnet's being attracted to each other. They melted into a sweet, slow kiss. They wanted to feel each other for a long time, trying to extend that moment so hard. If only oxygen wasn't vital for them, how beautiful it would be.
—Thank you, Tae. Thank you for not giving up on me, thank you for being brave for the both of us. I promise I'll make it right from now on. You said you wanted to learn from me and yourself, I also want to learn from you.
—Hyung...
—Just let me.
—Hyung, I love you.
—Taehyung, I love you too.