Chapter Text
Taehyung had never experienced falling in love with a co-star until he was cast opposite Jungkook.
All his carefully maintained professional boundaries faded away when he was faced with the intensely private, but friendly and warm actor… who also happened to be a taken man.
He barely remembered the table read where he’d first been introduced to the cast and crew. But he vividly recalled Jungkook; the yellow of his button down tucked into blue jeans, and dark brown hair swept across his forehead, and the deepness of the round eyes framed by thick, long lashes. Jungkook had greeted everyone with practiced ease, immediately changing the atmosphere of the room as he entered, and then he’d made Taehyung’s heart stutter as he came directly to him.
Taehyung had been cast late in the role, and they hadn’t had a chemistry test or even read together. If things didn’t go well, Taehyung would be the one to be replaced, so he had more than enough incentive to ensure they didn’t get off on the wrong foot. The fact that he was a huge fan of Jungkook didn’t help his nerves, and he was mortifyingly starstruck and stumbled over his words.
But Jungkook hadn’t laughed at him or made him feel uncomfortable. He’d simply introduced himself as if it wasn’t obvious Taehyung knew who he was, eased the tension with his friendly demeanour, and told Taehyung he admired his work. It was flattering and thrilling to discover it wasn’t empty praise when Jungkook followed it up with compliments about his minor roles in his earlier work.
Those professional boundaries stood no chance before Jungkook and his talent, the reputation of his on-set manners and kindness, and the new discovery that he was a genuine passionate and good person. His stubborn, romantic heart was doomed from the first meeting.
The pre-production period passed quickly, and filming began. The movie, tentatively titled Wildest Dreams, was a modern day love story, though it was nothing groundbreaking in the romantic-dramedy genre.
The main couple were college roommates who’d lost touch and reconnected a decade later, both having lived their lives through various rises and falls. Jungkook’s character vacations in the town where Taehyung’s character worked in a bar after his break-up with a cheating ex. Cue the sparks flying with typical Hollywood cheese and sentiment. But it could become a comforting classic, and Taehyung was hopeful. They had a talented cast, and the director had assembled - at least by professional reputation - good crew and producers.
Due to their conflicting schedules of both Jungkook and Taehyung, who were filming for television (Taehyung had a minor recurring role on a police drama filmed weekly, whereas Jungkook was finishing filming the first season of a high-budget epic fantasy book adaption for a major network, slated to be the next big thing), their schedules were tight and disjointed.
They filmed separately in the beginning, as much as they could and when Jungkook’s schedule cleared up, they were all moved to Atlanta for the next three to four months for shooting at the studio.
It was there that the end truly began for Taehyung. .
*
It was not difficult to gauge the difference in the status and stardom between him and Jungkook when Taehyung was informed he’d be sharing a house with other co-stars, and Jungkook had been rented his own house. It wasn’t that big of a deal to Taehyung, he didn’t mind sharing, and he wasn’t about to argue that Jungkook wasn’t being favoured. Especially not after he’d learned from Yuna, one of the stylists he was close with, that it was a stipulation in Jungkook’s contracts in every film he does - he lives alone. The issue was that the rest of the cast had made it clear they didn’t respect him.
Which was why it was a surprise when at the end of their first week in Atlanta, Jungkook overheard him on the phone with his best friend, Jimin, complaining about wanting to unwind with a video game but how reluctant he was to do so with his roommates presence. Jungkook had interrupted the call and promptly invited him over to his house to game that night.
The surprise came from their previous lack of interaction outside of work and work events. He didn’t know Jungkook at all off-set, though not for lack of trying; he was very good at diverting questions, deflecting, and answering without actually saying anything. So discovering that Jungkook’s video game collection - one he’d proudly informed Taehyung was his own from home - overlapped greatly with his, had been a happy moment. They shared a common, personal interest, and it became the foundation for building a closer acquaintance and friendship.
It became routine for them to meet several times a week to unwind. The hours they spent gaming and eating were Taehyung’s favourite time of day. He started to see more sides of Jungkook beyond the professional and polite mask he wore at work. He was excitable and passionate while playing, and a bit of a sore loser. He enjoyed cooking and experimenting with food. With all that Taehyung learned about him, he became greedy to know more and more.
On set, filming went smoothly. Playing opposite someone as talented and professional as Jungkook made things easier. It was true that the lead actors set the tone for the production; their behaviour was followed. Drama begot drama, and Taehyung had experienced that a lot. But with Jungkook as the lead, the set was relatively peaceful, barring the director being an ass at times, and the usual, unavoidable gossip.
The amount of time he and Jungkook together increased on set, just like it did in private - and it didn’t go unnoticed. Taehyung wasn’t sure if Jungkook was unaware, or if he simply didn’t care about people talking, but whatever the truth was, Taehyung realised the whispers were always within his earshot and not Jungkook’s.
He was subject to overhearing jabs at him from jealous costars with smaller roles that he was using Jungkook’s fame, or some staff and crew that murmured about the odd hours they spent together alone and the implications of it. Then his own roommates began to feed the fire with comments about how sometimes Taehyung wouldn’t come back to their house, he’d ‘spend the night’ with Jungkook.
Taehyung was upset by the gossip, but he couldn’t help the professional admiration from turning into friendship and care, and to a real - not celebrity- crush, where he just wanted to be around Jungkook all the time.
The week Jungkook was away, he endured the tension and snide remarks made more openly on set, and focused on himself and his acting. He felt a little foolish putting in so much effort and even acting off camera, but he was desperate to prove to everyone - especially Jungkook - that he deserved to be there, and that their comments and doubts wouldn’t drag him down.
When Jungkook returned he looked drawn and tired. It wasn’t like him, and Taehyung was concerned, but when they greeted each other, a little of the light came back into Jungkook’s eyes and it made Taehyung feel irrationally pleased.
“I watched the dailies,” he told Taehyung. “It’s looking good. Your scene with Isabelle was fantastic. I loved the subtle emotional shifts in your expressions, it really landed.”
Taehyung’s heart lifted at the praise, especially because Isabelle had been dismissive and mocking about his performance, calling him an amateur behind his back - but within earshot - and compared him to a high school theatre kid.
Taehyung thanked him shyly, and asked how he was.
“It was just a long week,” Jungkook replied with a small smile. “I’m glad to be back though.”
Taehyung was glad he was too.
It was fascinating how much Jungkook’s mere presence affected the set. His charisma, his work, the aura he emitted - it was admirable, and his example was one Taehyung wanted to follow. He wanted to be like Jungkook one day.
Things were a little better for him too. The whispers quietened down, but back at the house, he was met with cold sneers and mocking silence. At least until he left the room and then unkind laughter followed him. It wasn’t nice to be disliked for no real reason.
But perhaps because they’d grown to be somewhat friends, or maybe the rest of the cast and crew didn’t hide it as well as they once had, but within days Jungkook confronted Taehyung about the bullying.
Taehyung assured him he could handle it. And he could, he just didn’t like it, and now that Jungkook had returned, things were easier again. But more than anything, it felt good to be cared about.
Maybe that was when the lines blurred to the point of erasure for Taehyung’s silly heart and mind. He read too much into the care Jungkook showed him, seeing more in it than there truly was. People could care without there being ulterior motives. They could care for the sake of it because that was simply who they were. Jungkook was kind, and Taehyung should have known better.
He mixed up his role on screen and his role in real life. He didn’t realise just how much until one night after filming a steamy scene with Jungkook, he went over to his house with some snacks to try and ease the tension and awkwardness that came from doing those kinds of scenes. Jungkook was surprised when he opened the door, he was on the phone. He held up one hand after inviting him inside, asking him to be quiet and wait.
“It’s just a co-star with snacks,” he said to whoever was on the phone. “Mm yeah, it was a long day.”
A pause, Jungkook smiled at Taehyung and mouthed to go to the living room. His own smile was tight with a sinking feel in his stomach. Jungkook laughed quietly, everything about him seemed soft.
“Yeah, I’ll call you before I sleep, Gyu,” he said. “Love you too.”
That was the night Taehyung found out Jungkook wasn’t just taken.
He was engaged.
In bed, he remembered his mothers’ warnings:
Don’t fall in love with your costars, and never fall in love with someone who doesn’t love you back.
He should have listened.
*
Filming Wildest Dreams wasn’t the longest shoot, but it wasn’t quick either. It took three months, but there were breaks to accommodate Jungkook’s schedule. Most of Taehyung’s scenes were with him, or solo. So he had more time off than he liked, and it was time he spent alone. Which meant overthinking had space to intrude.
Fortunately, he had a true best friend, a soul mate, to whom he could whine and pour out his heart. Taehyung opted for privacy before calling Jimin, and went into town for a picnic lunch at a large park. Under the shade of a large tree, he video-called his friend.
“Hey superstar!” Was Jimin’s enthusiastic greeting.
Taehyung smiled and rolled his eyes. “Hey Min.”
They chatted idly as he ate. Jimin told him about how things were back home; their neighbours, a couple in their thirties, were back fighting and screaming and slamming doors at all hours. The cat from two floors up had decided to take up residence on their balcony, probably because Jimin kept giving him treats and cuddles all the time.
“It’s not my fault he loves me more than his stinky owner!”
The landlord still hadn’t fixed their leaky shower head or the tap in the kitchen, so Jimin had asked a colleague at work to come and fix it.
“Wait… Did you ask Yoongi?” Taehyung inquired suspiciously, seeing the way Jimin had averted his eyes. “Is that - oh, you did it, Min! You talked to your crush.”
Jimin groaned, shy and embarrassed. “I stuttered so bad!” Taehyung watched as he dramatically fell back and collapsed on his bed, the camera angle now looking down at him. “It was mortifying. He looked at me with this almost blank expression, but I swear I could see his eyes laughing at me.”
Taehyung chuckled, amused by Jimin’s theatrics. He’d seen Yoongi once when he’d met Jimin at work, and there was no way the man would laugh at Jimin meanly - he looked at him with too much longing and adoration for that. He’d probably thought Jimin was adorable, which would be true. Jimin had no idea how Yoongi looked at him, but no amount of persuasion worked to convince him it wasn’t all in Taehyung’s ‘romantic little head.’
Taehyung’s heart ached painfully; Jimin’s crush was reciprocated, while his would never be.
Jimin must have seen his expression dim.
“How about you, Tae?” He asked carefully. “How are you feeling?”
Taehyung gave him a weak smile.
“I’m fine. I just have a few more scenes, all of them intimate in one way or another. I’ll get through them, somehow.”
“Intimate like kissing?”
“No,” Taehyung sighed. “Well, just one I think. Intimate like - couple things.”
“Ah,” Jimin said, understanding. “That non-sexual intimacy. The moments where you fall in love for real. Your kryptonite.”
“Thanks, Min,” Taehyung grumbled.
“Sorry baby.”
“It’s so hard because it feels real,” Taehyung whispered.
“It’s not, Tae. You just want it to be real, and he’s a great actor. I know it’s confusing. Your brain doesn’t know it’s only pretend. It’s just feeling.”
Taehyung felt his throat close up. “I want to be upset he never made it clear or obvious he was taken - but he never flirted or led me on or anything,” he said with a pout. “He’s just kind - to everyone, and I fell for that. I don’t know who wouldn’t. I can’t blame him for being private either. He has firm boundaries.”
“All the good ones are taken,” Jimin grimaced, rolling onto his side.
Taehyung agreed. “Not Yoongi, though,” he said, trying to lighten the mood. “Yet,” he winked.
Jimin blushed and exclaimed, “don’t jinx it!”
*
The wrap party was held at Jungkook’s house. He told Taehyung sometimes he felt guilty for having a place to himself, so he held the party and paid the expenses for it as a repayment and gratitude. Taehyung tried not to melt and then cry at how perfect he was, and how firmly out of reach.
It was a large gathering, turning loud with drunken antics and laughter pretty quickly. Aside from the make up and wardrobe departments, Jungkook was the only one he was close to, so Taehyung spent most of the party sticking by him, and in doing so, spoke with a lot of people - like the producers and the director, in a more relaxed setting.
He knew it was important for his career to be on good terms with them. So he mingled. He was surprised when one of the producers told him they had an upcoming project they thought he’d be a good fit for. Taehyung wasn’t sure he’d ever get the call - this had happened before - but he handed over his number and his manager's email all the same.
As the party continued, and pizza was ordered, Taehyung grew weary and escaped to the upstairs balcony for solitude and a moment to breathe. He leaned on the railing and looked out over the distant view of the lit up city under the night sky. He raised his gaze to the moon and stars.
I hope he remembers me, Taehyung thought bittersweetly, even in just his wildest dreams.
“Taehyung?”
Taehyung was definitely ashamed of the squeal that escaped his mouth. Jungkook snorted a laugh behind his hand.
He was a bit flushed from the alcohol. His white button down was a little skewed, and had come untucked. His hair was reminiscent of sex hair, though it had just been tousled by his hands, and his smile was bright and eye-crunching.
Taehyung wanted to die. His heart was gone for this effortlessly beautiful person.
He quickly turned away, his heart hammering away in his chest, and his throat tight with all the things he could never say out loud, but we’re screaming away inside of him.
“You scared me,” he muttered, feigning annoyance.
“Hey, I was out here first.”
“You were?”
“I’m not much of a party person,” Jungkook admitted.
“Neither am I.”
“Gyu is,” Jungkook continued. “He drags me out to parties so I have some practice managing myself, but I’d rather stay home watching movies, or reading, or gaming.”
“Or all of it,” Taehyung grinned.
“Yes,” Jungkook agreed with a grin. He let out a sigh, but he was smiling still. “I’m going to miss you, Tae.”
Taehyung’s heart stuttered.
“I don’t often meet people I feel like are real friends on set.”
The stutters stopped, and his heart fell. Friends. Right. He really needed to remember that.
“Me either. I mean, I haven’t been on as many sets as you, but this industry…” he trailed off.
“Yeah, there are a lot of bad eggs,” Jungkook responded.
“Bad eggs?” Targeting held back a laugh. “Who even says that anymore? Are you 60?”
He was so cute, oh god, he really was.
Jungkook was flustered. “What? People say that!” He defended himself.
“I bet you say whoops-daisy, and drive like an old blind lady,” Taehyung teased.
Jungkook had moved closer to him and elbowed his elbow on the rail. “I can assure you, I definitely do not drive like an old blind lady.”
There was something in the way he said it that had Taehyung glancing at his face. Jungkok was looking at him with a smirk that had him weak at the knees.
“Really?” Taehyung swallowed down his hopes. It was just talking.
Jungkook pulled out his phone. “Look at my baby.”
Taehyung wanted to cry again, because of course he had a motorbike.
“Looks… really fast,” Taehyung commented weakly.
“She is. Gyu hates it, but I love her. I don’t care about a big house or fancy car, but a bike? That freedom? That’s something I can’t give up.”
Taehyung exhaled shakily. “You’re pretty amazing,” he said after a second.
Jungkook looked surprised.
“Just - I’m glad to have met you,” Taehyung said honestly, even if it hurt. Even if he wished he’d met him before this ‘Gyu’ ever had.
Jungkook’s expression softened, and he looked almost shy. Taehyung looked away, for his own sanity and the safety of his heart. Otherwise he might just give into the urge to kiss him.
“Thanks Tae,” Jungkook said quietly, “I think you are too. A few months seems too long before we’ll see each other again.”
“I hate press tours,” Taehyung sighed grumpily.
“Me too,” Jungkook agreed. “One of the worst parts of the job.”
“I don’t know, I think networking with studio executives is pretty awful.”
Jungkook groaned. “I hate the execs. I really do.”
They shared a smile before silence fell. Taehyung looked up at the sky and lost himself in the stars for a moment.
“We’ll keep in touch, right?” Jungkook asked.
Taehyung nodded and gave him a small smile.
“Sure,” he lied.
*
There were days when Taehyung was so busy he didn’t think about Jungkook at all. When they were back in LA, Jungkook asked if he wanted to hang out. He invited him over to his house; Gyu was cooking, and apparently he was a great cook. Taehyung declined with a heavy heart and the excuse that his friend's grandparent had died and he needed to be there for them.
Jimin told him he was an idiot, and Taehyung felt terrible. Jungkook sounded so disappointed. But what else was he supposed to do? Smile at the man he couldn’t help but loathe? Pretend he didn’t have longing written all over his face when he looked at Jungkook? Like his heart wasn’t breaking in their presence? He might have been stupid in love, but he still had enough self-respect not to hurt himself like that.
Two months passed, and Jungkook seemed to understand that Taehyung was never going to accept spending time with him, and he wasn’t really going to answer any texts. It wasn’t like he was constantly messaging either, it was just the occasional messages, like Taehyung sent to the friends he wasn’t as close to as Jimin. General ones, like ‘how are you’ or ‘hey I saw this thing I remember you said you like, we can check it out if you’re free.’
Even Jimin agreed there was nothing in the messages to read into, and Taehyung had to accept his hopes, however pointless they’d always been, were wasted on a man like Jungkook - loyalty was just so damn attractive it was even harder to pretend he wasn’t everything Taehyung had ever dreamed about.
But then, they received word about the press tour.
Jungkook’s movies - because he was a household name, globally - were big. This one was no different, despite it being more of a low-stakes rom-com with a little dash of drama. Not usually something that would warrant a global tour but that was what they got, because of Jungkook. Not that anyone said it out loud, but they all knew it.
Sometimes Taehyung wondered if he ever felt the pressure of it, if he ever felt the weight was too much sometimes. It wasn’t easy being famous, but there were levels of fame, and each level had their own set of expectations.
He wanted to ask. To make sure he was okay, to seek advice and comfort for himself when he felt overwhelmed - and to be someone Jungkook could come to as well. But that wasn’t his place. So he shoved his wants away and packed.
*
Taehyung expected the polite, cold distance Jungkook put between them. There was none of the open warmth there had been during filming. A wall had been erected, one of his own making. He’d expected it.
He just hadn’t expected how much it would hurt seeing Jungkook smile at him, with tightness in his features, and his eyes - oh those eyes that Taehyung had admired - looking at him with wariness and hurt.
Taehyung got back to his hotel room and leaned against the door with his fist over his heart, eyes scrunched closed.
He had done it to himself. He couldn’t complain - not that anyone around him would care to hear it. He was spending the next two months doing promotions nationally and overseas, flying into a new country sometimes three times a week, with a group of people who he didn’t really know or like, and the only person who he’d found genuine friendship with, he’d pushed away.
Taehyung knew they had a role to play in front of the camera. So he acted his heart out. He and Jungkook were the best of friends. Jungkook was acting too.
Every night, Taehyung returned to his room and he was exhausted. He was just so tired. With all the travel, and the mental and emotional fatigue, it wasn’t a surprise that he got sick. But it was a surprise just how ill he became. He hid it well enough for two days. But on the third, he was struggling.
When they got back to the hotel after a long day of press, he felt dizzy. He stayed quiet when the others talked about going out for a drink and dinner, and then silently walked away to the elevator.
He closed his eyes and leaned on the wall of it, not realising he’d been followed.
“Are you okay?”
Taehyung didn’t have the energy to be shocked at Jungkook’s appearance.
“Where’s my manager?” He mumbled out. His head was spinning.
“Tae?”
He squeezed his eyes closed. He didn’t feel good. His stomach clenched painfully and white spots appeared in his vision.
“Oh - shit, Tae, you’re burning up!”
“I’m gonna be sick,” Taehyung mumbled, right before he vomited on the floor and passed out.
*
Taehyung woke up, bleary and hot. He blinked, eyes heavy and smacked his lips. He was thirsty.
“Tae?”
“Jungkook?” He mumbled, not knowing where the voice was coming from.
“Hey.” Jungkook appeared beside him.
“What happened?” He asked.
“You had a really high fever. You passed out. Do you want some water?”
Taehyung nodded, but it hurt his throbbing head and he winced. Jungkook helped him to drink. The water was so refreshing.
“I’ll go get the doctor,” Jungkook said. “Careful not to move much. You have an IV in.”
Taehyung hummed and closed his eyes.
“I’ll be back,” Jungkook said, and then he was gone.
It took a few hours for Taehyung to feel really awake. He had vague recollections of the doctor, and Jungkook, and his manager talking to him, but he was so out of it he didn’t really register anything.
But the medicine started to work and he felt better - which allowed the guilt to kick in too. He apologised to his manager and Jungkook, and the producers who had checked on his condition because they had more schedules to get through. The doctor ordered him to spend at least 24 hours resting, but he couldn’t. He needed to do press. The staff agreed, but it was Jungkook that put his foot down - and they didn’t really want to upset him, despite disagreeing.
When everyone except Jungkook left the room, Taehyung watched as he sighed.
“I don’t like using my pull like that, but sometimes…” he shook his head. “They forget we’re people too. You need rest, Tae.”
“Thank you,” Taehyung said quietly.
There was silence, and he swallowed thickly, and took some water. He could feel Jungkook watching him, and it was probably just because he was sick and weak, but he wanted to cry. He hadn’t treated Jungkook with equal kindness, and yet he was still here, taking care of him, protecting him.
Taehyung hated himself a little bit. Or a lot. It didn’t matter.
“You should go,” he whispered hoarsely.
Jungkook’s eyes widened. “What? You’re sick - ”
“You shouldn’t bother,” Taehyung sniffed, turning his face away. “I didn’t - I don’t deserve your kindness.”
Jungkook sighed. There was silence for a long moment, and then he spoke.
“It’s not about deserve,” Jungkook said in a quiet voice, sitting down on the bed beside him. “I don’t deserve this, you don’t deserve that. If everything was about what people deserved, I think the world would be a lot more awful than it already is.”
Taehyung couldn’t help but turn back to look at him. Jungkook gave him a small smile. “I want to be here, so I am, and that’s all there is to it.”
Taehyung exhaled shakily. There were so many things he wanted to say. So many. But everything in him wanted to confess the thought he loved the man in front of him. But he couldn’t.
“I’m tired,” he settled on. “I’ll sleep now.”
He turned and cuddled into the bed, feeling too warm under the blanket but hoping that Jungkook would get the hint and leave him alone for a while.
“Okay,” Jungkook said after a moment. “I need to talk to my manager, so I’ll be back later.”
It was stupid and selfish, but the thought of Jungkook taking care of him and being there when he woke up - it hurt him, but at the same time, he wanted it desperately.
“Okay,” Taehyung whispered.
*
Promotions ended with the distance between them lessened, but the walls were still there. Taehyung wouldn’t allow himself to get too close, and he could see Jungkook was frustrated by it. He could understand; they’d gotten along so well during filming.
It was after the last red carpet was over that things really fell apart because the infamous Gyu was waiting for Jungkook at the hotel, and the way Jungkook’s face lit up at the sight of him was enough to break Taehyung’s heart.
He called Jimin from his room.
Jimin answered the call to Taehyung almost hyperventilating. His panic was loud in Taehyung’s ear.
“I can’t do it anymore,” Taehyung sobbed. “Jimin, it hurts so much.”
“Oh, Tae bear,”Jimin sighed mournfully on the phone. “Baby, I wish I was there with you. I’m here.”
“His fiancé is here,” he whimpered. “They look happy.”
“They’re in love,” Jimin murmured.
“Why did I have to fall for him, Min?” Taehyung cried. “And Jungkook is - everything he does makes me fall harder, but I can’t - I can’t. It hurts so much to keep distancing myself; I can see how confused and hurt he is by it. It’s so hard.”
“I wish I had something to say that would help you, Tae baby.”
Taehyung wished that too. But there wasn’t anything that would help. He heard the maids trolley outside, and some muffled voices, and sniffed and got up from where he’d collapsed into the floor by the door.
“Why couldn’t I fall for someone who would love me back?” Taehyung voiced out quietly, vulnerability on full display.
“I love you,” Jimin said.
Taehyung smiled through his tears. “I love you too,” he answered “but you’re not going to marry me one day, Min.”
Jimin chuckled. “No, but I’ll be with you until we’re grey and old, Tae.”
Taehyung sniffed and wiped his cheeks with the back of his arm.
“I want to come home.”
“Two more days, Tae,” Jimin reminded him gently. “You just need to keep it together for two more days.”
Taehyung let out a shuddering sigh and sat down heavily on the edge of the bed.
He fell back and rolled onto his side. “Two more days,” he sniffled.
*
Taehyung was quiet and subdued for those last two days. He could tell the people around him were concerned, but he only said he was ready to go home.
Jungkook had departed with Gyu early due to other schedules. He didn’t even say goodbye, except for a text after he’d already left. Their flight had been in the middle of the night. Taehyung wasn’t sure if he was relieved or upset, but it was better that Jungkook wasn’t around. It was one less person to act in front of - and acting in front of Jungkook was far harder than it should’ve been.
He went home and Jimin greeted him with comfort, warmth, and everything he needed. But he couldn’t wallow, he had work. He didn’t have a padded bank account where he could take months or years off between projects on purpose. The reviews of the film with Jungkook had been far better than he’d imagined, and that had bolstered his reputation and status as an actor.
Jungkook sent him a text of a review calling him a ‘revelation’ and a ‘break-through’ with his congratulations and ‘they can finally see what I always knew!’ and Taehyung had teared up.
Being busy was good; he had less time to think. So when a script came to him of another romance film - a more tragic story than the last, he laughed ironically. The part they wanted him for was a man in an unrequited love. The main characters didn’t end up together at the end of the movie, which Taehyung knew would mark this film as a point of difference in an industry that sold happy endings and idyllic dreams.
It was a good script, in all. So he signed on for the project, especially after learning from his manager that the director was a woman who’d made her name in recent years for her emotionally driven, intelligent films. He was excited, despite knowing how hard it would be to film.
She met him, and he was chuffed and shy to learn that she was the one that had pushed for him for the role. She’s seen his performance opposite Jungkook, and then gone back and seen what else he’d done.
Taehyung felt the pressure of her expectations, but he was excited for the challenge. He knew this could be a huge opportunity for him, and when he learned he would be starring with two cinema legends - even more established than Jungkook - his excitement mixed with terror.
Jimin was ecstatic for him, and they went out to celebrate his casting. They were two drinks in when he was approached by someone at the bar.
“Hey.”
Taehyung gave Jimin a look before flashing a pleasant smile. He’d been recognised a lot more lately. He really didn’t want to lose this bar; he and Jimin had been coming here since forever. But if he was constantly approached, and could never relax, what was the point?
“Hello,” he greeted, and then he really looked at the man.
Who was extremely handsome.
“… um. So?”
Jimin elbowed Taehyung, who startled and coughed.
“Sorry? What?” He asked dumbly.
Jimin snorted. “His name is Taehyung,” he said, putting a hand on Tae’s shoulder. “And this is Hyungsik, Tae.”
Taehyung flushed red with embarrassment. “Hi,” he said, clearing his throat.
Hyungsik smiled, amused. “Hi.”
“I’m going to go. Over there,” Jimin told him, pointing to an empty stool at the bar. “Enjoy!” He sang.
Taehyung rolled his eyes and tried to collect himself.
“Hi,” he said again, looking at Hyungsik. “I’m Taehyung.”
Hyungsik smiled widely. He sat down in the stool vacated by Jimin. “So, Taehyung was it?”
*
Taehyung woke to the smell of eggs and bacon. He blinked tiredly, feeling pleasantly sore in his legs and lower back. He smiled softly, and sat up, looking around the bedroom he hadn’t really seen much of the night before. It was clean, so spotting his underwear on the floor was easy. He picked them up and slipped them on, and grabbed a t-shirt from the armchair by the door. It smelled worn but clean.
He left the bedroom and walked out to the kitchen. Hyungsik turned around when he heard him.
“Good morning,” he greeted with a grin.
Taehyung smiled back, feeling a little shy. “Morning.”
“I made you breakfast.”
Hyungsik showed him the pan, and Taehyung walked up to him, and hesitantly placed a kiss on his shoulder. He was relieved when he got one back on his temple.
“Thanks,” Taehyung murmured.
Hyungsik hummed. “Well, I’m just trying to convince you that it’s definitely worthwhile seeing me again. I can make a good breakfast.”
Taehyung couldn’t hold back his smile. “I haven’t even eaten it yet.” The toast popped out of the toaster and he went to collect it. “But I guess… I’ll consider it.”
“Good. Because I want to see you again, Taehyung,” Hyungsik said, the levity dropping a little from his voice so Taehyung knew he meant it. It made his heart ache and race. “I had a great time.”
“Me too,” Taehyung answered quietly, helping him plate the food.
“But?”
He looked at him in surprise.
“You can always sense a but coming,” Hyungsik said lightly.
He took the plates from Taehyung and put them on the table. They sat down across from each other. Taehyung gave him a tight smile and dug into the food to stall a bit.
“It’s. Um.”
“There’s someone else on your mind?” Hyungsik asked.
Taehyung slowly nodded. It was weird how comfortable he felt with someone he’d only just met, but at the bar, they’d talked for hours, not even really drinking. Just talking and laughing. About everything. Personal things that usually don’t come up until you’ve been dating someone for a while. But with Hyungsik, it all felt so easy and natural, like they’d known each other for years already.
Which is why Taehyung went home with him, and for just a while, he forgot about Jungkook.
“I - ” he looked away. “They’re engaged. It’s… yeah.”
“Unrequited?”
There wasn’t any judgment in his tone or expression, so Taehyung nodded.
“Do they know?” Hyungsik asked with a frown.
Taehyung gave him a weak chuckle. “It’s worse because they don’t, and they didn’t lead me on or anything.”
“That is worse,” he agreed. “Well I guess that means I’ve got my work cut out for me.”
Taehyung frowned. “What do you mean?”
Hyungsik shrugged. “I like you, Taehyung. I want to get to know you more, I want to see what else there is to like about you, and I want you to like me too.”
“But I’m - ”
“I’m not asking you to stop feeling for them. Just, be open to new possibilities. You never know what might happen.”
Taehyung looked at him, a little dubious, a little curious. “You’re… confident, aren’t you?”
“Confident?” Hyungsik laughed. “Maybe I just know I’d always regret not doing everything I could to see if this might be something more. I know something good when I see it, and I know you feel the same attraction to me, or you wouldn’t have come home with me. I’m just willing to take the risk of being hurt, that’s all.”
Flustered, Taehyung ate in silence for a moment. He glanced at Hyungsik, who was smiling gently, but his eyes were teasing a little. Taehyung looked away and tried to hide his smile. It was nice, after feeling unwanted for so long, to be so openly desired. He couldn’t deny that it was damn attractive that Hyungsik was so clear about his intentions. He didn’t seem like he was playing a game, or interested in playing one at all. Maybe this would be good for him.
“No pressure?” Taehyung asked him.
Hyungsik shook his head, smiling a little wider now, anticipation and happiness on his face. “No pressure. Let’s just date, and see how it goes.”
Taehyung bit his lip.
“I’m not interested if this isn’t going to be exclusive,” he replied hesitantly. “I’m not interested in being just an option.”
“I’m a one man at a time kind of guy,” Hyungsik answered.
Taehyung looked at him for a moment.
“Then… okay. Let’s date.”