The Change Within

㉟I Don't Know How To Do That

 
Freshly showered and dressed in comfy clothes, Jeongguk trod to Taehyung's room, hoping he would have finished writing so they could spend some time together.

"Hey, Tae," he called as he knocked on the door. "Yoongi told me not to bother you when I came home from work, but oh well, here I am." A subdued, awkward chuckle accompanied his last remark. "Are you done?"

Taehyung peeled his bloodshot eyes open and lifted his body to a sitting position, too worn out and enfeebled to stand up. "No, I'm not."

A frown of disappointment showed up on Jeongguk's face. "Oh, I wanted to ask you to join me for a beer, but I guess you can't, huh?"

"Yeah, I can't." He held his hands together tightly as a cry crawled up his throat, and although no sound left his mouth, tears started pouring out of his burning eyes.

The maelstrom of dreadful emotions that seized his existence from the second he read that article still flared inside him, weighing down his chest and achingly pulling his heart to the ground.

"Can I just see you for a minute then?"

Taehyung swallowed as he wiped his soaking wet cheeks, and inhaled a mouthful of air, holding it for a beat before he deflated his lungs with a shaky breath. "Later, Jeongguk."

His frail voice was an apparent sign that something was wrong, and his denial to see him only verified it. Not wanting to pressure him since he clearly didn't want to talk to him at that moment, Jeongguk decided to leave him alone. "Okay. You can come see me anytime, though. And I'm here for you, you know that, right?"

Taehyung's face twisted with another round of fresh, hot tears, and he had to palm his mouth to prevent his broken sobs from coming out.

The younger waited and waited but got no response from the boy, something that only festered his need to ram the door open and muffle him in his hug. "You're not crying, right?"

"Just leave the boy alone, Kook," Yoongi said as he exited his room.

"But he—"

"We're going to the living room, Tae. You can come out whenever you're ready." Yoongi snatched his hand and dragged him with him to the living room, paying no mind to his protest.

"But something's wrong, hyung. I want to be there for him," the younger uttered as he forcibly sat on the couch, a deep frown of worry covering his features.

"You are, and he knows it. But if he doesn't want to talk about it now, there must be a reason. Don't push situations. Just let him come to you when he's ready."

"What's wrong with Tae? He seemed fine when he came home from work," Hoseok commented, his brows furrowed in thought.

"I don't know. And I hate that I can't do anything right now." Jeongguk sighed, running a frustrated hand through his hair.

"Just forget about it for a while and tell us what's the deal with you two instead. Tae kind of freaked out when Seokjinie said you're dating," Hoseok voiced out, baffled.

"Yeah, I don't know why. I thought the feelings were mutual. It's the first time I want a relationship and he... I thought he wanted that too."

"Does he know that?"

The younger threw a narrowed glance at Yoongi. "Know what?"

"That you want a relationship."

"Well, doesn't he? I told him I like him. Isn't that the same?"

Yoongi raised a scornful brow at him, disapproval radiating from his eyes, and Hoseok snorted, shaking his head.

"Yah, did you ever have a relationship?" Yoongi questioned.