It's 11 pm already. Tae is still sitting by the window, looking at the city lights, thinking about lots of things.
It's been a whole year after they broke up. Tae still remembers the day. It was raining outside, and he was sitting right here, just like today.
It was Goff who proposed to him when Tae was on a family trip to Tokyo at the end of the year. Before Tae came out to be a queer, his stepfather and his family quite liked him.
They used to travel overseas every year. It was also a travel like that. When he came back, Jimin had already left with his his family. So he didn't get a chance to tell him about Goff. Later, Goff came to South Korea time to t8me for meeting Tae. That's what he told him. But little did Tae knew, he actually kept visiting South Korea for his fiancee.
Today, when Jungkook kissed him in front of the whole college, Jimin felt pretty betrayed. But later, Tae explained things to him and said it's all acting.
Jimin already joined their own company as an intern, so he was quite in a hurry. That's why Tae told him the moral of the story.
But while summarizing, everything regarding the past started coming straight to his head. And he was still thinking about it.
Goff was really a nice guy, just a bit touchy, and he had a rule: No Kissing. He said it was their family rule, not to kiss the lover before marriage.
Whereas, Tae was a conservative person. Though they dated for a year, Tae never let him touch in an intimate way. And.... Kissing was not an option.
So, their relationship seemed like a pure affection and love to Tae. Until the day Goff finally spoke out. Tae closed his eyes, recalling those words again.
FLASHBACK
Goff: Tell me why won't I cheat on you, huh? Why the heck am I even keeping you?
Tae was shocked.
Goff: You neither let me touch you, nor you satisfy my needs.
Tae was so hurt hearing those words from someone who once said, "Love is so precious, Taehyung! We should always take it seriously." But he didn't let him guess his pain.
Tae: I never said you can't kiss me. It was you starting the rules. But earlier.... You were f**king kissing that b*tch. How could you.
Goff grabbed his wrist to make him hiss in pain.
Goff: Don't you f**king try to call her names, she's my fiancee.
Tae: (stunned) Fiancee? You never told me before.
Goff: Coz you were still a little bit interesting back then. But now, I'm bored of you, man! You don't give me butterflies anymore. Let's do one thing. We....
Tae: We're over, Goff!
Tae spoke out. Yes, he loved him, but not too much to lose his self-respect, at least not in front of his boyfriend's so-called fiancee. Without giving him a chance to talk back, Tae threw the ring, an anniversary present from Goff, that he was wearing, away and rushed out of the party.
When he came to this party with his brother, he was really in a good mood. He didn't even think in his wildest dream that he'll have to go back like this, crying mess, heartbroken, after catching his bf cheating him with a hot chick whom he claimed to be his fiancee.
That night, he drank for the second time in his life, and he got himself totally wasted in the living room the next morning.
At first, Namjoon tried to tease him. But feeling his down to earth vibe, he was quite shocked. He never saw his little brother so low.
Later, when he asked Tae about it, he asked Namjoon instead, "Was love always this painful?"
Namjoon looked at his baby brother, who was in tears, about to burst out of the uncertain amount of pain and understood everything.
That day, Tae rested his head on his brother's lap after a long time. After that day, he never asked a single question about it.
Maybe he knew it might hurt his brother like hell again. Tae snapped out of his thought hearing the loud ringtone in this calm night. The caller ID was unknown. Tae picked it up hesitantly.
Tae: Hello! Who is speaking?
??: Why the hell are you zoning out at this dread of night? Still thinking about that ass*hole? Hey, how didn't I notice it before, man? VULNERABLE suits you more than VENOMOUS.
Taehyung looked around being surprised.
Tae: How do you know, Jungkookah??? You scared me! Wait, from where are you talking to me?
JK: Open your balcony door.
Tae: Huh???
Jungkook hung on immediately.
Tae's POV: What the hell he's talking about? He's not here in front of my house, is he? No, no, no! Tae! It's just a prank. Yes, it has to be. Why would he even come here? It doesn't make sense.
Tae turned around hearing the sound on his balcony door. It was a bit dark outside as there was no moonlight. So, Tae couldn't say if someone really was there. The sound was like the beats of drum.... duk-duk-dum-duk-duk-dum-
Tae furrowed his eyes and slightly opened the door.
Tae: It's really you, Jungkookah? How did you come here?
JK: I climbed up (chuckled)
Tae: You can't be serious!
JK: Well, I'm hella serious. You thought I lied, didn't you?
Jungkook entered the room and Taehyung followed him.
Tae: Isn't it normal to think like that? After all, why would someone break into his rival's house in the middle of the night?
JK: It's not the middle of the night, Tae! It's only 11. And I thought we're already friends, aren't we? Or you want us to be something else?
Smirked Jungkook, jumping into Taehyung's blanket. Tae sat on the bed and frowned.
Tae: Shut up, idiot! We're just getting along, not friends yet. And what the hell are you playing right now, huh?
Jungkook wrapped himself with the blanket and looked at Tae with his black doe sparkling eyes.
JK: Can we do it again?
Tae: Excuse me?
Tae: He must be out of his mind. What does he take me for? A toy to play with? And you bl**dy Kim Taehyung!! Why on earth you're getting butterflies for such a shameless proposal? Just f*** that shut up!!
Tae jumped up from the bed. His face started to heat up suddenly. He glared at Jungkook who was looking like a baby wrapped inside the blanket. Seeing him glaring, he pouted sadly.
JK: Why?? Last time when we did it, we were SWORN ENEMIES. Still you didn't push me away. How did you become so cold?
Tae's POV: Cold?? Man, you're literally asking someone to make out in the middle of the night, you pervert!!! How dare you call me cold!!! Ah, just look at him, whining like a baby. He can't be serious, is he?
Tae: What the f*** you're playing right now, Jungkookah? There is no way we're doing it again.
JK: Please, please, please! I don't have any other friend closer to our house. Please let me sleep here. You want me to sleep on the street, Hyung?
Tae: Hyung, my foot! Don't you dare, you..... wait! What did you say?
JK: I said, let me sleep here tonight.
Turning about, Tae covered his face and rushed to the washroom. He could hear Jungkook saying, "Was it a no?? Please Tae, let me stay!"
Tae locked the washroom and fall down on his knees, blushing mess.
Tae's POV: Jungkook!!! I will definitely kill you one day. Ah... God!!! What the hell was I thinking? Oh, Kim Taehyung! You shameless idiot! Are you nuts? Why the hell did you expect him to kiss you? Wait, hell, no! When did I expected. I didn't expect anything. Stop accusing your innocence, will you? You're someone who had a long tome relationship and still didn't let him touch you.
Tae went in front of the basin, splashed the water over his face and immediately regretted as the water made him shiver in cold.
Tae's POV: God knows where I threw away my genius brain. Yes, I must have lost it somewhere. Or else, why would I keep thinking ridiculously weird staffs?Yah, Kim Taehyung! Come to your sense. Why are you questioning your own innocence? You didn't expect anything from him, no! How can you expect something from your rival, well, ex rival. We're getting along really well now. But that's not the point, point is....
JK: Tae can you please come out for a second?
Jungkook's hesitant voice pulled him up from his messed up thoughts. He calmed himself and spoke up.
Tae: What do you want now?
JK: You.... you kept the microwave on your wardrobe?
Tae: Yah, why?
JK: I...
Tae's POV: Holy crap. How did I forget he's scared of microwave?
Taehyung pulled the door and came out. He found Jungkook standing just inches away from the washroom.
Tae: Hyung got this as a present from a client this afternoon. But we already have one in the kitchen so he gave it to me so that I can use it to warm fridge food while staying home alone. Look, it's the smallest size. You don't have to be afraid. I just unpacked it, didn't use at all.