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𓆩⚝𓆪
“You won’t believe who I met last night in the supermarket,” Jungkook’s sister grinned during their family dinner, “Si-wan. He is back in town.”
It took one glance for Taehyung to understand who that man was to Jungkook. One glance to see the emotions swirling in those eyes. The emotions he never once saw in them for him. The emotions he shouldn’t expect to see in those eyes for him anyway but a heart wants what it wants.
It took one name to slice through the impassive facade of normalcy.
“I see,” Jungkook said, taking a sip of his wine to swallow the bile in his mouth.
He didn’t say more than that. Taehyung didn’t ask who Si-wan was. He really didn’t have to. He knew.
Si-wan was Jungkook’s ‘the one who got away.’
Since that dinner at Jungkook’s parent’s place, Jungkook has been more distant than ever. Taehyung knew what he was getting into when he married Jungkook, his boss. Their marriage was a sham. A facade that would keep the man’s family off of his back. Silence their worries and nagging about Jungkook living his life all alone for the rest of his life.
‘A business deal, Taehyung,’ the man had said, ‘you’re free to leave any time you want, and I am free to call it off whenever I feel like. I’ll pay you for this act of ours. Don’t worry. It’s just another job if you’d prefer to call it that.’
Jungkook kept his promise. Every month, Taehyung’s bank account statement is proof of that. It has been six months since their wedding and Taehyung thinks it’s about to come to an end.
𓆩⚝𓆪
Si-wan comes to visit Jungkook in the office a few days later. As they get to talking, Jungkook calls Taehyung on the phone to inform him to not let anyone in the office till Si-wan stays. The man leaves almost an hour later with a small smile directed at Taehyung.
Taehyung doesn’t ask anything when Jungkook calls him into his office to brief a meeting. He doesn’t ask anything when they take Jungkook’s car back to the man’s apartment. He doesn’t ask anything when Jungkook gets ready that evening and leaves after informing him, he’ll be home late.
The two of them mostly share dinner with the television streaming a random movie they decide on that night. Tonight, Taehyung eats on his own and goes to bed alone.
Jungkook comes back late and gets in the bed as quietly as he can manage. Taehyung feels the mattress dip as the man lies down. Hears the sigh Jungkook lets out before turning off the night lamp.
Sleep doesn’t come easily for Taehyung that night. Not until it’s late enough that exhaustion is pulling at him and finally his eyelids close.
𓆩⚝𓆪
It becomes a somewhat routine. Si-wan would show up every Friday and that night Jungkook would go out for dinner. Taehyung takes notice of it happening for almost seven weeks before the routine faces its first obstacle.
Jungkook catches cold. The man can barely get off the bed without someone’s help.
Si-wan comes to their apartment for the first time that day.
Taehyung opens the door to see the worried expression of the man and with a small nod of acknowledgement of Taehyung, Si-wan is off towards the bedroom to see Jungkook. Taehyung stands at the doorframe and watches the man fret over Jungkook. Tell him how, as a doctor, he knows how to look after a patient when Jungkook tries to say he is fine.
Taehyung steps aside silently to let Si-wan take over. He sits and watches the man look after Jungkook as if he never left. As if all those years never existed. As if they never separated to begin with.
“You can rest the night,” Si-wan says with a small smile directed at Taehyung from his perch near Jungkook’s head, “I’ll be right here. Don’t worry.”
Taehyung looks at Jungkook’s sleeping face and back at the man. He thinks Jungkook told Si-wan about their arrangements. It’s clear he has. It also makes sense if they are really trying to mend their rocky past. Whatever it is, Taehyung has no rights to invade and he knows that.
With a small nod, Taehyung leaves the room to go to the guestroom for the night.
𓆩⚝𓆪
The next morning, he wakes up to Jungkook in the living room, having his usual black coffee, while Si-wan sits beside him. He is talking animatedly about something and Jungkook is listening with — Taehyung pauses on his track — a gentle smile on his face.
Taehyung hasn’t ever seen Jungkook smile like that. Not for anything. Not for anyone.
A knot comes loose in Taehyung’s chest as he glances between Jungkook and Si-wan. The smile on Jungkook’s face starts to reflect on his own. Taehyung swallows the tightness in his throat and walks up to the kitchen to get his morning tea.
“Good morning, Taehyung,” Si-wan calls after him from where he is sitting on the couch, “did you sleep well?”
Taehyung grips the cup in his hold. Suddenly it feels like he is the outsider who took a shelter in their house. His eyes jump from Si-wan to Jungkook who is not even looking at him. He is sipping his coffee with his eyes glued to the mug.
Taehyung forces a smile on his lips and nods, “yes,” he takes a bowl of oats and starts to walk back to the guestroom, “I did.”
“You can have your breakfast here,” Si-wan gestures at the couch, “come on, Taehyung,” his smile is wide now, “this is your apartment, too.”
Taehyung cracks a small smile at Si-wan before shaking his head, “no. Thanks. I need to leave for my work.”
He doesn’t wait another second to hear anything else Si-wan might have to say.
𓆩⚝𓆪
Jungkook comes home drunk one night. Taehyung has never seen the man drunk and it makes him freeze. Jungkook stumbles inside with the bottle of whiskey grasped in his one hand. He combs his already messy hair off of his eyes with his other hand and then he looks at Taehyung.
“You’re still here,” Jungkook whispers in a rough voice, “fuck, why are you still here?”
Taehyung’s heart sinks to his stomach, “sir…”
Jungkook snorts, wipes at his mouth with the back of his hand, “fuck, I can’t believe you’re still here.”
He drags himself down the steps to the living room, almost tripping once in the process. Taehyung flinches and reaches for him but Jungkook supports himself against the wall. He tips the bottle to his mouth and chugs from it.
“Sir, I don’t think you should drink more,” Taehyung reaches for the bottle, trying to take it away from Jungkook, “sir—”
Jungkook takes a hold of his wrist and pulls him closer. For Taehyung to slam against him. Their chests touch as they breathe onto each other’s faces.
Taehyung tries to straighten and Jungkook wraps his arm around his waist to keep him closer.
“Why’re you still here?” Jungkook whispers, “why…”
“Tell me to leave and I will,” Taehyung’s eyes blur, “you’ve to tell me to leave because I am desperate that way.”
Jungkook’s eyes are red-rimmed, “Taehyung…”
Taehyung rests his hands on Jungkook’s waist, fingers curling around the belt Jungkook wore, “yes…?”
“I love him.” Jungkook whispers.
Taehyung’s heart stutters and shatters into the smallest of pieces. Tiny shreds of it are scattered around them for Taehyung to gather once Jungkook leaves him to it. His breath hitches in his chest as soon as Jungkook says it.
Oh, how Taehyung would do anything to hear that from Jungkook. How he dreamt of Jungkook saying it to him someday, but here they are. In reality. Where Jungkook is in love with someone else.
Taehyung forces himself to blink back the moisture in his eyes and smile at Jungkook, “I know.”
Jungkook’s eyes search his for confirmation, and when he gets it, a lone tear rolls down his cheek. Taehyung is quick to wipe it away.
“Hey,” he shakes his head, “life gave you a second chance. Why’re you crying?”
Jungkook’s unfocused eyes roll back and he closes them, leaning against the wall, “I love him. I…” he stutters, “fu—fuck. Why does it feel so…how do I tell him…”
Taehyung gently takes a hold of Jungkook and starts to guide him towards his bedroom, “you’ll find a way,” he looks at Jungkook before gently lying him down on his bed, making sure he lies on his side, “love always finds a way.”
Jungkook glances at him when Taehyung pries the bottle off of his grip, “I love him…”
Taehyung nods, “I know.”
He straightens after pulling the blanket over Jungkook’s sleeping form. For quite a few minutes, he just watches Jungkook sleep before he heaves a sigh and leaves the bedroom.
𓆩⚝𓆪
Jungkook wakes up with a massive headache. He winces as soon as he tries to sit up. He curses when he looks at the other side of the bed to see it’s empty. With a sigh, he looks at the closed bedroom door.
After chugging down the entire glass of water that was kept on his bedside table, Jungkook gets out of the bed. With another look at the empty bed, he leaves the room.
The apartment is quiet. Quieter than normal. He waddles up to the living room to see there’s no one there either. Jungkook is about to call for Taehyung when he hears his phone ring in the bedroom.
He turns to go and pick it up.
It’s Namjoon.
Jungkook picks it up while rubbing his forehead.
“Hey,” he pinches the bridge of his nose, “what’s up? It’s not really the right time—”
“Tae resigned,” Namjoon sounds confused, “the mail came last night. I just checked. I don’t know what’s wrong.”
Jungkook straightens. The words wash over him like cold water. The fog of alcohol finally lifting as the words start to sink in. He looks around the room with quick glances before turning as fast as he can on his feet.
“Did he give a reason?” Jungkook tries not to stumble as he makes his way towards the guestroom, “did he call? Did you call him?”
“He gave no reason at all,” Namjoon lists, “I called. His phone is switched off.”
Jungkook pushes the door of the guestroom open and the uneasy feeling only grows in his stomach when he finds it empty.
“I’ll call you later,” he snaps, “keep looking for him, okay? He’s not home.”
“Oh, uhm,” Namjoon sounds alert, “yeah, on it.”
Jungkook cuts the call and rushes to the washroom to see it’s empty too. He comes back into the room with a curse. A sudden thought makes him almost run to the bedroom they shared. He goes to the closet to see that Taehyung hasn’t taken a single thing from the collection of clothes and accessories Jungkook bought for him after their wedding.
Jungkook walks back to the bedroom and sits on the bed with a headache slowly building. He is about to call up Jimin, Taehyung’s best friend, when his eyes shift to the bedside table. Where he left the empty glass.
An envelope rests there.
Jungkook picks up the envelope and opens it. He empties it on his open palm. Taehyung’s wedding ring falls out of it, and Jungkook’s fingers flex before curling around it. He looks at the folded paper and, with dread pooling in his stomach, he pulls it out.
Taehyung’s neat handwriting greets him as soon as Jungkook opens the letter. With a deep breath, Jungkook starts to read.
“I’m writing this after I put you to bed, sir. Sorry if I sound like I am invading. I just wanted to say something that might help you decide the dilemma you’re clearly going through. Not everyone gets a second chance at love, sir,” the letter reads, “you did. Don’t let him go. Living a loveless life is the biggest curse, sir, believe it or not. I know. Also, you’ve always loved him. So, why not just give him this chance? You’re still waiting for him, sir, it’s so clear. If he is hesitating because of me, then, put that worry to rest too. I’ll help. We never registered our marriage, so there won’t be a divorce procedure. The circle I come from is vastly different from yours. We don’t have to cross paths ever again. But, if we ever do, I hope I get to see you genuinely happy. That’s all I wish for you to be. Happy, because you deserve it, sir. So, if down the road, our paths ever cross, I hope you recognize me. I also hope you greet me with a genuine smile because I really wonder how it feels to be on the receiving end of that smile for once. I won’t take much of your time. I needed this push to finally get out of our comfortably familiar arrangement. Thanks for the final push. Have a great life ahead, sir. Thank you for everything you did for me — Kim Taehyung.”
Jungkook reads it over and over again. He is not sure exactly how long he sits on the bed with the letter in his clutch. Then the bedroom door is creaking open and someone is walking in.
They are reaching out to place a hand on his shoulder. Jungkook blinks, looking at his side to see Yoongi. His best friend.
“I called so many times,” Yoongi is saying, “since morning. You weren’t picking up. You didn’t pick up Namjoon’s phone either. So…” he glances at the paper clutched in Jungkook’s hold, “what’s wrong?”
Jungkook realizes the room is dark. It’s probably evening outside. He looks down at the letter and holds it out for Yoongi to take. Yoongi sits down beside him to read and Jungkook looks at the darkness outside through the window.
“What…” Yoongi blinks, “ohh…”
Jungkook lets out a breathy chuckle, “he freed me from our arrangement. Now I can be with anyone I want.”
“Just as you wanted,” Yoongi reads the letter again, “Taehyung granted your wish. You were hesitating to ask him to leave, knowing he has nowhere to return to. He made it easy for you.”
Jungkook says nothing. Yoongi places the paper back on the bed and looks ahead at the open window, too.
“So, now…” he licks his lip, “you’re free.”
Jungkook swallows, “yeah. I am free.” he gets up to walk over to the window, “hyung, can you tell Namjoon to stop looking for him?”
Yoongi stands up too, “you’re giving up?”
“No,” Jungkook closes his eyes, “I am letting him go. There’s no need for me to find him. Is there?”
Yoongi gives a small shake of his head, “no. There isn’t.”
Jungkook hums, “I’d like to be alone for now.”
Yoongi looks at Jungkook’s back for a moment and with a murmured ‘good night,’ he leaves the apartment.
𓆩⚝𓆪
Yoongi gets back to his place and rings the bell. The door opens to those cautious eyes.
Yoongi gives a small smile, “I think he accepted your decision.”
Taehyung’s throat bobs, and he returns Yoongi’s smile, “I see.” He looks away, “thanks for letting me stay here for a few days, hyung.”
“Stay as long as you want, Tae,” Yoongi sighs, “you’re always welcome here.”
Yoongi closes the door after him.
𓆩⚝𓆪