AFTERMATH

six.

taehyung.

jeongguk was sat on the floor playing with the two younger kids, neither him or taehyung had spoken to each other since their argument that night. after they argued, taehyung stared blank-faced at him before telling him to leave and sleep downstairs as he changed and went to sleep. he'd had enough of dealing with jeongguk's nonsense for the night.

the two hadn't exchanged looks since that night, jeongguk leaving for work and taehyung going downstairs once he knew the other had left. it left soobin completely clueless as he watched how his parents interacted after witnessing them about to fuck on the countertop of the kitchen the night before.

around a week passed by without much interaction between either of jeongguk or taehyung — soobin watching from afar as he surveyed the situations each time, and it was always taehyung who shut jeongguk down. all of their conversations were short — barely even classed as conversations;

"taehyung can you-"
"no."

"can i have the-"
"nope."

"i'll get the door-"
"i got it."

"need me to feed-"
"already on it"

"want help cleaning the bath-"
"soobin will do it."

jeongguk could barely get a word in and taehyung liked it that way. he didn't like how jeongguk so easily controlled him throughout the whole relationship and when they split ways, he needed to have this control now for his own sake of mind. jeongguk had made the rules for far too long, it was taehyung's turn now.

jeongguk stood up from the floor and walked into the kitchen, leaning against the doorframe as he watched taehyung cook. he felt like he had to say something, but he didn't know what. what can he say that will make taehyung feel any better about him? answer: absolutely nothing.

well, there would be something, but how on earth could he prove himself worthy of taehyung's love again? jeongguk walked over to taehyung, keeping fair distance away so he didn't make taehyung uncomfortable. "what are you cooking?"

taehyung glanced back at him, sighing to himself. "mandoo, with the kimchi my mother gave to me the other day." jeongguk nodded, stepped a little closer.

"i always loved your mandoo. you know how to cook them perfectly." taehyung felt his lips turn up at that, he looked back at jeongguk. "want to learn how to make it?"

"really?" taehyung hesitated, but he nodded. he thought back to the conversation him and soobin had a few nights prior.

it mainly consisted of soobin scolding him and taehyung staring sheepishly at his hands as he sat on the bed. he knew soobin was right, he shouldn't keep a barrier up if him and jeongguk were going to be staying in the same house until soobin's child was born, and if they're going to be supporting soobin, they should be supporting each other too.

— — —

jeongguk chuckled at taehyung as they attempted to make a cake for soobin's girlfriend, she was coming around for dinner that night and taehyung was mumbling about how he wanted to bake a cake for her — jeongguk heard his muttering and offered to help him out.

now, the two were dropping flour and eggs on the countertop. taehyung let out a small giggle as he stared at jeongguk and his flour-covered state. "you look like a snowman." taehyung laughed out.

"a sexy one though, right?" jeongguk struck poses as a joke, taehyung laughing softly.

"sure, whatever floats your boat ggukie." he smiled, shaking his head as he went back to baking the cake. he can't deny that the only reason he's distracted is because of jeongguk. he's usually amazing when baking cakes, barely makes a mess and is usually so simple. however, with jeongguk here, he can't help but get distracted by jeongguk.

jeongguk smiled at the nickname. it's been a while since he's heard that. he leant forward and watched taehyung make the rest of the cake in peace as jeongguk decided to stay back so he didn't disrupt him.

taehyung finally finished the baking and set the cake into the oven. he wiped his hands together before looking around the kitchen then at jeongguk.

"you're cleaning this, by the way." jeongguk's mouth dropped.

"what the fuck, you made the mess too!"

"you're the one with flour all over you!"

"you poured it on me!"

taehyung stuttered then grabbed a handful of flour and threw it onto jeongguk. the male stood in shock, taken aback by taehyung's actions as he struggled to find the words to respond. then he laughed softly and threw a handful of flour onto taehyung in return.

they both laughed and joked around with the food throwing before jeongguk decided they needed to start cleaning when it looked like a snowstorm erupted in the kitchen. they cleaned up and relaxed on the sofa to wait for soobin to return with his girlfriend.

it was the first time in years that jeongguk and taehyung both truly got along without any bickering, and they both enjoyed it. they just wished it would stay that way.

— — —
i finally managed to push this chapter out omg i'm sorry guys 😫 i just left high school so now i have the summer (except august bc i'm going abroad) to get back into writing before college hits 🤭

ty for waiting patiently guys ik people have been asking for this to be updated for god knows how long. thanks for waiting around <3

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