"don't open your eyes yet," jeongguk repeated.
"at least tell me where we're going." he laughed and you could practically see him shaking his head in your mind. "are we almost there?" he hummed a yes and you sighed in relief.
"alright," he said after a few moments, "open your eyes."
you slowly opened your eyes, worried about where he'd bring you. it took a minute for you to realize where you were and your eyes widened. "this place is still open?"
"did you stop coming here?" he asked as he pulled open the door, ushering you to go in.
you nodded. "it's been years." the last time you'd stepped foot in this place you'd been with him.
you stared at the restaurant, almost identical to how it'd been years before minus a few differences in the decor.
"what're we doing here?"
jeongguk stared at the stage where someone currently strumming a guitar. "did i ever tell you i know the owner here?" you shook your head and a small smile crossed his face.
"they're a close friend of my parents. my parents are busy people and they weren't home much so they took care of me a lot growing up." he walked towards an empty table and you quickly followed after him. "they were one of the first people i told when i came back. i'm singing here tonight for them. just like that time we met."
the place filled you with memories and flashbacks to the night the two of you met and hung out here.
"why didn't you tell us you were back? you just showed up that night unannounced."
"i wanted to surprise everyone," he said, his eyes lighting up. "it completely worked."
"you're so annoying."
jeongguk ignored your comment and turned his attention to the stage. "i figured you'd want to come tonight since we used to do this all the time."
the song ended and you turned back to jeongguk as everyone else started applauding. "thanks for bringing me."
he shot you a smile before sliding out of the booth, "i'm up." he said quickly before disappearing.
you munched on the pizza in boredom as you waited for him to start.
the lights eventually dimmed and your eyes darted towards the figure standing in the center of the stage.
your phone rang loudly—earning looks from the people in the table beside you—and you quickly silenced it, shoving it in your pocket.
"hey, sorry i'm a little late." a familiar voice suddenly spike up beside you and you glanced at hoseok sliding into the both beside you as a soft, angelic voice rang through the building.
it wasn't until you heard his voice that you realized just how long it'd been since you'd heard him sing.
you'd gotten distracted by his voice and hadn't noticed the lyrics to the song. you felt your heart grow heavier as you listened to jeongguk sing about losing someone important to him. "i guess he misses his ex more than he shows," you mumbled.
hoseok's eyes darted towards you and he held back a laugh at your comment.
"you should've just became an idol, gguk," hoseok joked once jeongguk returned to the table.
"did i do well?" you smiled at the brightness on jeongguk's face and realized how nostalgic it felt to be back here.
you hummed a reply and swirled the straw in your drink, listening to the soft guitar music coming from the stage. "it was peaceful. i didn't even notice it was a sad song until i heard the lyrics."
"i've never heard that song before," hoseok leaned back in his chair.
"i wrote it at some point while i was overseas." jeongguk let out an awkward laugh.
"wow, i thought your only talent was singing," you sighed. "spare some of the talent, please."
you wanted to ask hoseok something when you noticed his eyes glued to jeongguk but your phone rang before you could speak.
jeongguk's eyes tracked you as you read the notification and checked the time. "i've got to go. i'll see you two later," you said quickly, saying goodbye to the two of them as you hurried to respond to the message.
"the song was really interesting," hoseok mumbled once jeongguk finally looked back at the table. "something you lost before you got it," hoseok muttered as he thought about the lyrics.
"are you implying something?" jeongguk smiled to hide his embarassment. he could tell you hadn't noticed but he could tell from the way hoseok was acting that he'd already figured out about the song.
"it's alright. i was there once, too." jeongguk's eyes widened when he heard him.
"you liked her before?" he asked, completely forgetting about his plan to not understand what hoseok was hinting at.
"you're so stupid," hoseok said quietly. "but yeah.they faded over the past few years, though."
hoseok held back his laughter from looking at the surprise on jeongguk's face and stood up, grabbing his jacket.
"i promised yoongi i'd help him with something tonight. i'm sure you're staying after to talk to the other so i'll leave first," he threw up a peace sign and spun around before awkwardly turning back around.
jeongguk raised an eyebrow at him when he noticed hoseok hadn't left.
"i remember watching the two of you always hanging out together a few years ago. i know you regret leaving, and i know that song was about her. but she's with someone else now so don't go around serenading her too much."
jeongguk rolled his eyes at hoseok, "i know. i just brought her here for old time's sake."
hoseok looked at him for a few more seconds before shrugging, ready to actually leave.
"hoseok," jeongguk said, hoseok barely able to hear him.
"hm?"
"do you think her and taehyung really like each other?"
uhh i have no idea what i'm doing sorry 😭
