Taekook Au Everyone thinks the reason Jeongguk is always so hard on Taehyung is that he is just annoyed of him, that the team would be much better without him. But one day when he wakes up in a world where the other man isn't part of their group, nothing feels right anymore.

-Jeon Jeongguk -24 years old -Main vocalist of probably the biggest boy band in the world -Known to be a perfectionist -Also a crackhead -And very sensitive -A lot is going on behind his usual smile -People call him the golden maknae because he's the best in everything he does

-Kim Taehyung -26 years old -Is known as one of the most unique people around -As far as Jeongguk remembers, he is supposed to be part of their band -He is supposed to be his hyung -The members should know him -Will he be sad if the one he meets is nothing like the one he knows?

-Park Jimin -So kind and protective -Great vocalist and dancer -He is the closest friend they both have among the members -Sometimes he feels stuck between the dramas they both make -He doesn't want to pick sides -But it gets hard not to when it keeps going on over and over

-Min yoongi -Rapper -He is usually dealing with his own issues -He stopped trying to fix things between the youngest members -They should deal with it themselves -It's not bad to fight sometimes anyway -But he gets really pissed when their drama affects their job

-Kim Namjoon -The leader -It's his job to make sure the conflicts in the team ends -But this one doesn't seem like it wants to end -Namjoon still needs to get involved -The agency counts on him to fix it but it's not like he's a god -He can't always be there to stop them

-Jung Hoseok -Rapper -He is always the one who talks to them slowly when things get out of hand -He actually manages to get them to stay in okay terms with each other sometimes -But he has his own issues too -He can't always baby sit them

-Kim Seokjin -Vocalist -The oldest member -He usually just lightens up the mood with a joke and tries to get them to loosen up -But sometimes he actually thinks of just leaving -He's not one to like living in this much tension

-Inspired by some stupid comments I had to roll my eyes for only to think 'Wait, that's actually a cook Au idea'! -Keep in mind that it's fiction -Canon compliant and some fantasy -Angst -Some comedy -Some fluff -Definitely please don't interact if you're not an adult

-If there comes any sensitive stuff, I'll let you know before it so you can skip it -If you get confused, that's good, it'll all make sense later -There also will be plot twists -I might include some polls on some parts. Please answer to them carefully.

-Please allow the characters to make mistakes. It will get frustrating but they need it and I want to keep them free -Don't judge the characters based on the first look, they might be very different -Don't ghost-read. Even if you don't comment, your likes can help the story a lot

-Also if you can please try to follow the story and support it as it's going. Even if you have some days of delays. The story needs the most support and opinions while it's going -I planned the storyline, I might change it a bit later or add things based on the reactions

-In other words your comments can really help the storyline but keep in mind that I'm ultimately gonna make sure things go to the right direction -Friends to hate to love (Sort of) -I know what I'm doing -T.R.U.S.T M.E - Enjoy the ride with the characters <3

"Hyung." It's funny how he still calls him that even though all of them know it's just for the formalities! Taehyung still looks back when he hears it, knowing only one person in their band calls him that. "Why do you think we even have rehearsals?"

No one reacts, everyone knows why this question is even being asked. Taehyung narrows his eyes, looking really unimpressed but he doesn't even bother answering, he just looks away. "We need to make sure we're not making mistakes. You can't make sure if you're barely practicing."

"He'll be better at the concert Jeongguk, drop it." Namjoon warns him. "I was just pointing it out since he's the only one who is barely trying." Jeongguk says and this time Taehyung glares at him. "Don't start again." Jimin groans "I'm just breathing." Taehyung says.

"Guys, if we start this we're never going to finish the rehearsal on time." Hoseok says. "Someone didn't even start to finish a thing." Jeongguk mumbles, folding his arms. "I'm done." Taehyung just throws his hands up and starts walking away. "Where do you think you're going?"

Namjoon tries to stop him but the other man just continues walking. He only stops because Yoongi grabs his arm from his way back from the bathroom. "We're not done with the rehearsal yet." Yoongi says, glaring at the younger man. Namjoon reaches him too.

"Come on now, you're not a baby." Namjoon says. "I'm not being a baby. Tell HIM not to be a brat when I'm not even acknowledging his existence." Taehyung says. "Just finish the rehearsal and go wherever you want. We're not ready yet." Namjoon insists. Taehyung cringes his nose.

He sighs and gets back. Jeongguk doesn't say anything anymore but he is judging him with his eyes. Taehyung doesn't try harder than before. He is not like Jeongguk. Jeongguk has a shit ton of stamina. Taehyung needs to save his for the actual concert.

But Jeongguk seems to think he is just not trying enough. Every time he doesn't do a full turn or a full dance move he just tsks. Thankfully his part ends fast and he ends up leaving fast too. He prefers being in his hotel room over being here any day!

"You just had to annoy him again, didn't you?" Jimin asks. He stayed behind since he already has to share a car with their youngest member anyway. "Did I lie? THIS is why he keeps making mistakes at the concerts. His voice broke last night." Jeongguk says.

"If I don't tell him, who would? Aren't we supposed to be honest with each other?" He adds. "You've been too honest with him lately. It's not like he's making you make a mistake." "We're a team. If one of us fucks up, all of us look like fools. He should try a little harder."

"You're not making him feel any better." "I'm not trying to. If he needs to feel bad to come to his senses then be it. I'm the bad guy but I actually give a fuck about what our fans would think." He says. Jimin watches him with a sigh as Jeongguk continues rehearsing.

Taehyung gets up from his bed to open the door when someone knocks on it. Hoseok smiles and lifts the food he brought for both of them. "Look what I got." The younger man can't help but to smile too and let him walk inside. "What did you bring?" Tae asks. "Steak."

"Sweet." The younger man says and sits on the couch in his room. Hoseok sits down too and takes a bite of his vegetables. "You didn't have to do this." Taehyung says. "Don't be silly. Just eat up and forget about our little brat." "Wished he was really that little!"

"I still think he only really got interested in bulking up after your muscle kink showed up." Hoseok jokes. "Sure, he's in love with me." Taehyung jokes back. "But really. He cares, don't take everything he says by heart. He works himself to exhaustion too." Hoseok says.

"And he thinks I'm the crazy one for not doing the same." Taehyung says. "He's just..." Hoseok pauses, trying to find the right word. "A little extra." "A little?" the younger one lifts a brow. "I'm not taking his side. I'm just saying, you should both learn to talk."

"I really don't feel like even seeing him again." Taehyung says with a shrug, taking another bite of his food. "But you do have to see him. Every day. Even tomorrow at the concert." Hoseok says and the other man pauses, frowning slightly at his food.

"Don't make that face. Remember how you were stuck by hips? You were so cute back then. We were mad at you for being in your own bubble all the time. Now you can't even talk to him?" "Why are you asking me? I know I'm older but do I have to be the bigger person all the time?"

"I just know if he starts talking to you again you fight. How are you even going to have the concert tomorrow like this?" Hoseok asks. "The fans are gonna see one simple thing we do and be happy." "Because you starve them. It gets suspicious sometimes."

"We give them enough." Taehyung says. "You just said you give them anything and they're happy. This is part of the job. Fans like shit like that. They're already asking questions." "What kind of questions?" "A lot of them are pretty sure you hate each other."

His face drops a little. "They don't even know us!" He says. "But can you blame them?" The younger man frowns deeper and looks away. "Just talk to him, Taehyungie. And this time do it right." Hoseok says. "At least until we're a band, try to tolerate each other!"

Taehyung bites his lip. It sucks to acknowledge what they became. Two people who just have to tolerate each other because of a stupid job. He doesn't even feel like eating anymore. "Promise you'll fix it?" Hoseok tries again. Taehyung just shrugs, not saying anything.

Jeongguk gets back later that night and just stares up at the ceiling, feeling the silence of his room. It's too silent. It's too lonely. He is nervous about tomorrow's concert. They have been doing different ones back to back, they are all exhausted!

He feels tired but he can't even sleep! He wonders if everyone else is sleeping. A member in particular usually doesn't sleep at nights before their concerts either and Jeongguk actually has an urge to go to his room and force him to sleep or something.

He gives him and sits up, looking around the room. This is probably the price they have to pay for being the most well known band out there. An empty room. A tight diet. A packed schedule. Sleepless nights after working the whole day! Just to perform!

He grabs his phone and tries to scroll a bit. He can see the fans talking about their concert the previous night. He frowns once he reaches some from his own fans. 'He was never a good singer anyway. I wheezes when his voice broke' 'Why is he even part of their band?'

'Honestly he's just all looks and no talent' 'He is just dragging down the group. Maybe we should trend a hashtag to make him leave? It's unfair to the other boys.' Jeongguk bites his lip and finally stops, throwing his phone away on the side of his bed and sighs.

The next day he wakes up and heads to the elevator to get to his car, almost pausing when he sees Taehyung already in the elevator with some of their managers. They exchange a look and quickly look away. The tension in the closed space is so much, they both feel it.

They get to different cars and eat their breakfast right before rehearsing. The managers are telling them what to do, everyone is just walking around in a rush and Jeongguk can't help looking at Taehyung on the back from his mirror as the makeup artist works on him.

Taehyung is smiling at his phone, typing something passionately. Jeongguk has no idea who he is texting. He has a lot of friends and despite how many people backstabbed him because of his fame, he still never seems to learn! He only stops looking when Jin starts talking to him.

They change, getting ready for the stage. The have done this many times, Jeongguk lost counts of just how much! But his heart is still beating hard against his chest. He's so nervous! And once they get on the stage, it's all just mixed with adrenaline, making him feel excited too

There are a lot of people watching. It's so scary and exciting at the same time! He focuses on his voice, on his dance, on the things they planned, on keeping his smile all the time, to be on time, to have moments with the other members so this can be memorable!

He loves it and hates it at the same time. And one of the reasons this is his favorite time of the year is because once he looks back and see him, he can see the other man looking back. Not just looking, he is smiling. The kind that almost looks genuine!

During the concerts, Taehyung smiles at him in a way he used to a long time ago but stopped, in a way that Jeongguk still lets himself every fucking time on the stage. Whoever says that man can't act is insane. Just like how insane Jeongguk is for smiling back.

They have their own set moments to give fanservice. Fake love, start of Anpanman and so on and they put on their smiles when they do it and Guk knows that every single smile, every single touch is just fake, that it's what they planned for the fans. But at least he expects them.

He knows they are coming. He knows how to react! And he knows that none of them are crazy enough to add anything when technically, they can't even stand each other out of this stage. That's why his heart almost drops when he feels a sudden kiss on his nape.

It's not professional for him to let his act drop, to show his real shock. And it's impossible for the person in his mind to be the cause of it, he knows! But even before he looks back, he knows it was him. Why!? That's the only question in his mind.

Why would he go this far when it's not even necessary? When just a few more minutes and they won't even look at each other the way they should? He looks back, covering his slip with a smile. Was it the fans? Could they even catch it on cameras with how subtle it was?

But once he looks back at the crowd, he knows that there is no way they couldn't. That the answer is right in front of him in the form of thousands of people and cameras. He snorts, feeling even more bitter but his smile doesn't drop, they sing along again.

It's not the only time, even when they have to do their final net, Taehyung jumps on Jeongguk's back, showing peace signs to the camera and Jeongguk still smiles, even though all he can think of is how fake this man is. How no one can ever trust a word he says.

Even when they have to hold hands and bow, Taehyung runs between Jeongguk and Jin and smiles before holding his hands. Maybe Jeongguk is holding his hand a little too tight but he's not sure why. If it's because of his frustration over how fake this is or it's something else.

The elevator gets them off of the stage and once they walk away, Taehyung quickly lets go of Jeongguk's hand. The younger man can still feel his skin tingling, still remember how brightly he was smiling even though the next time he sees it, he's not even looking back at him.

They are backstage, taking pictures while looking at the camera. Jin suggests that they should head to a room and celebrate finishing these many concerts and everyone says yes, even Taehyung and Jeongguk. They can pretend like the other one doesn't exist anyway!

They check some fan reactions, laugh about some of the things they did, pretend like they are drinking when they know they can't have any! And even though Jeongguk is talking to everyone but him, he is painfully aware that he's there. And that he's doing the same!

"You're going to the gym?" Jimin asks in disbelief. "The concert just ended two hours ago!" "Don't push it Jeongguk-ah!" Namjoon says. "I'm fine. I sleep better after it. You guys have fun." He says and this time when he looks at Taehyung, he is looking back with folded arms.

Working out helps! Especially with him getting rid of his frustration. "Rough day?" Jeongguk looks at his side when he hears her. He didn't even notice someone else was there too. "Did I startle you?" She asks, smiling. "Just didn't see you before." Jeongguk says.

She lifts her wrist to show her bracelet from the concert. "It was amazing by the way." she says. Oh! She is a fan! He can't deny how uncomfortable it is to know he was just chilling while someone that knew him was watching him. "Thank you." He says, smiling back.

"Don't worry, I'm not a sasaeng. I wasn't stalking you or anything." "You weren't?" "Not really but I'm happy I got to see you. You're... really special!" She says. Jeongguk looks away, trying not to feel a little odd. "Not in a weird way! You just... saved someone I care about."

That catches his attention. "Did I?" "Yes, my brother. He was your fan since your debut. He told me all about you. If it wasn't for you and your music, he might have not even be here today." She says. Jeongguk just stares at her, not sure how to even react!

"I'm glad we could help in any way!" Jeongguk says and she smiles again. "I mean it, I hope you know you're helping a lot of people with what you do!" Honestly! He has no idea. Sure, he hears about them but it feels more like a dream than reality!

She reaches for her pocket and then hands Jeongguk chocolate. "I can't take this!" "It's not as useless as it looks." "I'm just not allowed to accept anything from fans." "It's just a chocolate Jeongguk, it's the least I can do. Who knows, maybe it brings you luck?" She asks.

Jeongguk stares at it. It would be rude if he says no. It's not like it's a b*mb or anything expensive anyway! "Thank you." He ends up accepting it. She shakes her head. "Thank me when it actually gives you whatever you ask for." She says and Jeongguk laughs.

"I'll keep that in mind." He lifts the chocolate and starts walking out of the gym, already being covered in sweat. He puts the chocolate in his mouth and heads toward his room, not expecting to see Taehyung walking from the opposite side. They both pause when they see each other

He looks down at the piece of paper from the chocolate, seeing a small note. 'May you find your genuine smile'. Taehyung seems to notice it too because he is looking at Jeongguk's hands. But without saying anything, he just starts walking away. Jeongguk squeezes the paper.

"Don't do that again." He says. Taehyung pauses, looking back unsurely. "What?" Jeongguk turns too, narrowing his eyes at the other man. "We didn't talk about any kisses before the concert. Don't add shit just for the fuck of it." He says. Taehyung's brows shut up.

"Hoseokie hyung said we've been starving our fans. Just wanted to give them something nice." Taehyung says, confirming it for Jeongguk. "If you want to give our fans something nice, how about you actually give them quality work?" He asks. Taehyung groans.

"Do you get off to that or something? Mind your own fucking business." It's a reaction. Jeongguk usually gets none. Call him crazy but he still counts it as something. "Stop using me for stupid things when you can actually do something better." Jeongguk says.

"Using you?" Taehyung scuffs. "You didn't just say that!" "I did!" "You call it using when you do it with other hyungs too?" "The other hyungs are actually trying in their other aspects too." Guk says. "You're a singer, act like one. Do you want to lose your job or something?"

Taehyung folds his arms. "What's it to you?" "Excuse me?" "Maybe I just want to lose my job. What the fuck is it to you?" Jeongguk feels really taken back by that. "We're in the same band. Of course it's my business too." "Not when we're not a band anymore."

The paper falls from Jeongguk's hand and none of them even notice it. "The hell are you saying?" He asks. "Just reminding you that you have no part in my life. You should thank me for this. You don't even want me in your team, if I get fired you should have a party!"

Jeongguk should not feel hurt by that, he shouldn't even care. He just stares at him. "Drop the look already. You think I don't see it? You WANT me gone. You're just mad over how many fans I actually have, feel threatened." "Is that what you think it is?"

"That's exactly what it is." "You can leave tomorrow and see if we'd lose a single fan. Who do you think you are?" Jeongguk is getting angrier and angrier. How can he even assume that? "Maybe I should." "Fucking do it. I dare you." "Don't sound too excited about it."

"Oh you have no idea how happy I am to hear this." Jeongguk says in sarcasm but it's hidden under his anger. "Why don't you just build a time machine or something and never even audition? Then you'd see how scared I'd be of the lack of difference in the band's dynamic."

He doesn't mean it, of course he doesn't! Maybe he just wants to show Taehyung how silly he sounded when he said what he said. He is just talking out of anger. They do this all the time anyway, talking on and on and never even saying sorry, not even caring.

But this is not like every other day, Jeongguk realizes it quickly when he sees the way the other man's eyes start looking glossier than usual. Taehyung bites his lip and looks away, like he is trying to hold his emotions. "Honestly... fuck you!" He says and walks away.

Jeongguk doesn't move. This almost never happens. He almost never gets a reaction, especially not like this! And he knows that he fucked up, that he shouldn't have said it. He feels like he should go after him, maybe even... say sorry? Anything? But he's still so pissed!

He doesn't know what else he might say if he goes after him. He doesn't even think Taehyung would want to see him at all tonight. Maybe they both need to cool down. It's not like they don't still have every day together. Jeongguk turns to go to his room.

But he can't walk. It's strange. A part of him feels like if he walks away, he will walk away from him forever! Even though it makes no sense. Even though he knows that's impossible and that they will see each other again the next day! Why can't he move his body?

He will see him tomorrow and the day after that and every other day that will come after it. And somehow a part of him is scared! What if he actually leaves? But he wouldn't! He loves the band and the fans too much to leave. Even if he does, Guk will still see him somehow!

Then why? Why with every step that he takes it feels like he is lifting a weight way heavier than the ones he was lifting at the gym? And why does the door of his room closing up behind him sound like someone drawing a final line to a story? What is wrong with him?

He heads to his bed, just sitting on it and reviewing what happened. He hugs himself, trying not to panic. They have had a lot of fights before but this one felt so different. This time he actually feels like something broke! He doesn't even feel it when he falls asleep.

He wakes up to his phone ringing, trying to wake him up. Jeongguk groans and realizes that he is still sitting. When did he even sleep? He turns it off and gets his stuff, getting ready. He still feels like shit about the previous day. He'll talk to him once they get back home.

He gets to the elevator and sees his managers talking but he is not in the mood to say anything. He sees the car Jimin gets in and joins him. The other man sleeps as soon as they get in. Jeongguk looks out, trying to find the car Taehyung must have used but he can't!

He can see Namjoon and Jin share one, Hoseok and Yoongi the other. did he get the car alone? He presses his lips together and waits until they get to the airport. They give their loggages and go to get the passports checked. Everyone is still there except for one!

And the strangest part is that no one else finds it strange. Jeongguk grabs his tickets and password and passes through the security, waiting for everyone to come but he's not here again. He looks at Jimin next to him. "Where is hyung?" He finally asks. "Which hyung?"

"Taehyungie hyung." Jeongguk is genuinely so confused. But not as much as Jimin looks when he hears the question. "Who?" He asks. For a moment, they just exchange a look. "Stop joking hyung. Where did Taehyungie hyung go?" Jeongguk is getting worried now.

Jimin is still staring at him. "Is it because of what I said last night?" Jeongguk asks. "What is going on here?" Jin asks as he walks to them with Hoseok. "Beats me..." Jimin says unsurely. "Jiminie hyung is teasing me. Where is Taehyungie hyung? He won't tell me."

"Who is Taehyungie hyung?" Jin looks at Hoseok. "I'm not teasing you Jeongguk, I have no idea who you're talking about." Jimin says. "I think he's one of our backup dancers? One of the new ones?" Yoongi says from far. "Stop joking around." Jeongguk is frustrated.

"What is going on? Why are you yelling?" Namjoon and one of the managers join too. "If you're messing with me to fuck with my head over what I told him last night, I'm sorry. I was gonna talk to him at home. Now can you stop? We should go on board soon. Tell him to come!"

"Jeongguk, calm down! What are you even talking about?" Hoseok says. Why is everyone looking at him like he's crazy? "Do you know a Taehyung?" Jin asks their manager. "We have a Taeyeon, I don't know a Taehyung." He says. Jeongguk is about to freak out. "Stop it!"

"Calm down." Namjoon says. "No, stop looking at me like that. I'm not crazy." Jeongguk says. "No one said you are Jeongguk. Maybe you're just confused?" Jimin asks. "Was it a guest at the hotel? Who is this Taehyung?" "He's our member, your best friend, how can you ask that?"

"Last I checked you were my best friend, unless you forgot?" Jimin chuckles, thinking that maybe Jeongguk is just messing with them. "All six members are here Jeongguk." Namjoon says. Jeongguk blinks a few times. "We're seven." He says. They exchange a concerned look.

"Hyung, I think we should give him some time. He looks like the pressure is getting to him." Namjoon tells their manager. Jeongguk feels like crying. Why are they doing this? It's so cruel! "Come on now, what do I do for you to stop? I said I'm sorry!" He says.

"I will tell him too, I swear I already wanted to tell him. Stop teasing me." He adds. The manager leans in front of him and puts his hands on Jeongguk's shoulder. "Just calm down Jeonggukie, why don't you rest on the plane." "But Tae-" "We'll find him." The manager says.

Jeongguk is not sure what to think. Is he just telling him that to get him back home? His phone suddenly starts ringing and Jeongguk reaches for it. 'Tzuyu' He sees the name on the caller ID. Why is she calling him? "Hello?" "Hey baby! Are you on board already?"

"Excuse me?" The manager is taking the other members away to talk to them. Jeongguk looks up to see what is happening but they gesture at him to just get the call. "Can you hear me?" She asks. "I can hear you. Where did you get my number?" Jeongguk asks.

She chuckles. "Very funny. You didn't call me in the morning. You said you'd do it before taking off. I was worried!" She says. Why the hell is she worried? They barely know each other! "Thanks?" He says unsurely. "Call me when you get home okay? Missed you."

"Uhuh..." Jeongguk says, not sure what else to say. He is honestly so lost. Is this a prank? If it is, he's never going to forgive them. It's so cruel! "We should get on board." Jimin walks to him to say. Jeongguk hangs up. What the hell is happening?

"Didn't you have to say goodbye?" Jimin asks. "Why the hell is Twice's Tzuyu calling me?" Jeongguk asks and Jimin looks like he just saw a ghost. "Are you read-" Hoseok is about to say something as he joins them but Jimin holds his hand to stop him. "We're coming."

Hoseok seems to understand. He walks on the line for the plane. Jeongguk looks around again. "He's still not here!" He says. Jimin licks his lip. "He went ahead of time." He says. Jeongguk looks at him. "Why?" "You said it. He was mad at you. We were just teasing."

"You were lying?" Jeongguk asks but then sighs in relief. "Gosh, you scared the shit out of me!" "Sorry..." Jimin smiles. "Let's just get home. I need to talk to him." Jeongguk says and walks to the line. Jimin looks at him and then at their other hyungs in concern.

It's not that Jeongguk didn't notice the strange expressions. He just assumed a lie is way more convenient ad believable than someone never existing! He falls asleep in the plane as they fly back to Seoul. Everyone looks so stiff as they walk out of the plane.

The bodyguards send Jeongguk to one of the cars and then the driver starts driving. "What about Jiminie hyung? We shared the last car." Jeongguk says. "He's in another car, sir." The driver says. Jeongguk just leans back, thinking of what he should tell Taehyung.

They stop at a place Jeongguk can't recognize. "Where are we?" He asks. The body guards get out and get to him. "You need to come with us sir." They say. Jeongguk gets out unsurely. That's when he sees the sign. "I'm not crazy!" That is the first thing he says.

"No one says you are sir. Manager nim told us to bring you to talk to a professional. The pressure over work must have gotten to you." The man says and it's like the world crashes down on Jeongguk. So it wasn't a lie! Jimin just said that to get him back to Seoul!

How? How is this even possible? How can someone just cease to exist? How can their best friend act like they never existed and continue living his life as if nothing happened? How can no one, absolutely no one remember him other than Jeongguk? Is he really going crazy?

He looks at the clinic and slowly walks in, trying his best not to cry. This can't be happening! This must be a lie! He knows what he said last night but he never meant it! He wasn't even the one that brought it up! They wait until the doctor finally accepts him.

Jeongguk pauses when he gets inside and sees the familiar face inside. "Jeongguk-ssi! It's really great to see you." The man says, offering the seat in front of herself. "How are you here?" Jeongguk asks, remembering seeing her at the gym.

"You know me?" The woman asks. Jeongguk licks his lip. Was he imagining it? He looks at the name on her desk. 'Lee Jieun' He has never heard it but he knows he knows her. "Who knows." Jeongguk says and sits down, looking down. She smiles at him.

"So, Jeongguk-ssi. I heard that you needed to see me. Why do you think you're here?" She asks. Jeongguk thinks for some moment. "I joked around a bit, I guess everyone took it seriously." He lies. Her brows shut up. "Is that so?" "That is so." "Hmm..." She thinks a bit.

She leans forward. "Can you tell me your full name and surname?" She asks. She continues asking about Jeongguk. His age, his family, his job, his teammates and Jeongguk answers all of them. That is until- "Who is Taehyung, Mr Jeon?" She asks.

Jeongguk knows his job, it means he knows how to act too. Even though he just wants to break down. If it was any other day, he'd tell the truth. That Taehyung was his first real friend when he joined, that he helped him get out of his shell!

He would tell her how he couldn't even take his clothes off in front of the members until Taehyung helped him. That they were so close in age and they found so much comfort in each other while both were missing home. That they were so close and inseparable until they weren't.

But he knows already that if he tells the truth, he will just be in trouble and he can never figure out what even happened! "Just a joke I made." It actually breaks his heart to even say it. "Why did you make that joke?" She asks. "I was just bored." He shrugs.

She continues asking questions but since he keeps denying everything, he knows that they can't keep him here. He gets his phone back as they drive back and the name of their band is the first thing he searches. It comes up on google and he can see six members there.

His heart is shaking but he can't even show it! How can this be happening? He can remember the other man so vividly! A world without him doesn't even exist in his head. He keeps expecting to wake up and realize it was just a really bad dream!

And that is not the only thing he realizes. His band is huge, it needs to have a wide reach but from what he searches, the band never made it good out of Korea. Even in Korea itself, a lot of people don't know them! Jeongguk can actually hear the conversation again.

'You can leave tomorrow and see if we'd lose a single fan. Who do you think you are?' He can hear his own voice! 'Maybe I should.' Jeongguk gets out of the car and heads inside. The members get up to see him but Jeongguk just heads to his room to lock it behind himself.

'Fucking do it. I dare you.' Is it possible that all of these are happening because he said it? 'Why don't you just build a time machine or something and never even audition? Then you'd see how scared I'd be of the lack of difference in the band's dynamic.' No!

He didn't mean it! He knew all of them played a part in it. He had no doubt that without Taehyung, they would never even get close to where they were. And this is the proof. They have never gotten that big without him. And Taehyung isn't even here to rub it on his face.

And the messed up part is that he wanted him to be there and do it, to rub it all over his face, to tell him that he was wrong. Because he was and he knew it even when he was saying it! Tzuyu keeps calling him but he doesn't answer, he just continues surfing on the net.

He is trying to find someone called Kim Taehyung anywhere he can but there are a lot of Kims and a lot of Taehyungs in Korea! "Jeongguk?" It's Hoseok, knocking on his door. "Come on now, we're sorry. You just freaked us out." Hoseok says. Jeongguk looks back at the door.

"Lets go and have some dinner. I'll pay." Jin says. Jeongguk hears them, he knows them and yet he feels so alone. He finally opens the door and nods. Being close to them helps, at least he hopes so! So even if he can't talk to them, maybe he can just be around them.

They dress up well, getting out to one of their favorite restaurants to eat. Everyone is talking, everyone is laughing and Guk can't stop staring at the menu, knowing what Taehyung would even order if he was here. Seeing that empty spot beside them that was never empty before.

"Are you okay Guk?" Jimin asks, noticing his silence. "Yeah." Jeongguk says. "Y'know if you-" "Not here princess, just put it in your pocket." Jeongguk's eyes suddenly shut up at the window next to them. He knows that voice! He knows it very fucking well.

"But I want to open it." A little girl says and the man leans down to look at her. "I'll have to get it from you if you open it here. It'll be dinner at home." The man says with his deep eyes and Jeongguk actually starts shaking! He's there! "H-Hyung!"

Jimin follows his eyes, not sure what he is looking at. The man smiles and kisses the little girl's cheek before lifting her up. The little girl is still whining but he starts walking away. "WAIT!" He gets up and everyone looks at him strangely/ "TAEHYUNGIE HYUNG." He runs.

He keeps bumping into other people until he reaches the exit. He looks around, trying to find the man he just saw but he can't! That is until he finds the little girl's head from the crowd. "HYUNG!" He shouts. Taehyung and the girl look at him. Jeongguk's heart beats so fast!

But then the man loos away, as if he doesn't even recognize him. "What is going on Jeongguk?" Namjoon asks as he rushes out. Jeongguk watches Taehyung walks away and it feels so familiar! It feels like the previous night, how final it felt to walk away from him.

He can't let him go! Not again! "JEONGGUK!" Namjoon shouts when Jeongguk starts running again. He runs and runs but he loses them in the crowd. He looks around, trying to find him. But he can't! He stands in the crowd, knowing that he probably lost him forever this time!

He doesn't even feel like moving anymore, he is just staring at the ground, feeling people walking around him. Someone holds his shoulder and Jeongguk finally looks back. "Jeongguk!" Jimin is panting. He must have run after him. "What happened?" He lost him! That's what happened.

Jimin frowns slightly. Jeongguk must be showing the desperation that he feels and honestly, he forgot to even try and cover it. Their other hyungs finally reach them. "What is going on?" Jin asks. "I thought you said you were joking!" Yoongi says. Jimin is still staring.

Jeongguk doesn't know what to say. He knows none of them will believe him. He knows that this time they will definitely be suspicious. That is until Jimin holds the veins behind Jeongguk's neck. "Stop messing around, you brat! You don't have to test us like that." He says.

Jeongguk suppresses the urge to look surprised at that. Their other hyungs are looking at them in confusion and even Jeongguk has a hard time wondering if he's just lying to cover for him or he actually thinks Jeongguk faked it. Either way, it's obvious what he has to do.

He smiles widely and chuckles. "I'm sorry, sorry." He says. "You gave us a heart attack!" Jimin says, not letting go. "You said you were sorry. I just did a little experiment." Jeongguk says. Jin sighs. "They probably got all of our food and threw them out by now." He says.

"Now you feel sorry for real." Jeongguk says jokingly. "I'm not the richest person in this country Jeongguk... This is not cool." Namjoon says and Jeongguk remembers. They are not the rich artists he used to know, they never got that big! "Sorry..." He means it.

"We should go back before they get rid of the food." Yoongi says and they walk back. Jeongguk looks at Jimin again but doesn't say anything. He just licks his lip and follows them, trying not to show his distraction over the person he lose again.

They get back on time and eat the rest of their food before heading back home. Namjoon and Yoongi head to work on some music while Hoseok continues dancing in his room. Jin is checking the fan reactions and Jeongguk just goes straight to Jimin's room.

Jimin was reading a book but looks up when he sees him, looking with an expression that Jeongguk can't even try to read. He's not sure what to say, he still doesn't know what happened back there. "Close the door." Jimin says. Jeongguk slowly does it and sighs.

"I never knew you were such a good liar." "Anyone can do it when they have to." Jeongguk looks back. His hyung puts his book away, looking really serious. "What is going on Jeongguk? Tell me the truth. Are you just going crazy or something?" Jimin asks.

"Of course not." Jeongguk says. "Is it the attention?" "No!" "Then what is it? This is scaring me. I don't even know if I was right to cover for you. This is not good for any of us if they send you to a mental institution but if you need it, I can't stop that!" Jimin says.

"Why did you even help me if you were gonna call me crazy now?" "I'm not calling you crazy. I'm trying to figure it out because you say you're joking but the way you were looking when I found you..." He pauses. "You were not joking Jeongguk. You know that person."

"I do." Jeongguk says. "I keep telling you. I saw him just last night." "There has never been a Taehyung in our band Jeongguk. What you're saying makes absolutely no sense!" Jimin says, feeling more pressure. "How can you not remember him? He was so important you!"

Jimin looks even more confused. "You'd even call each other soulmates. His name was Kim Taehyung. He was the same age as you are right now. We used to hand out all the time. You went to the same high school. He even recommended you to be a part of us. We are seven."

"None of it ever happened." Jimin says. "He exists. I thought I was losing my mind too but I swear, he exists. I saw him today. That's why I ran out." Jimin sighs and walks to him, putting his hand on Jeongguk's shoulder. "Jeongguk, look at me." He says softly.

"We've been pretty busy lately. Just calm down. Whoever it was, you said he exists. The dude is living his life but we're still a team. Just forget about him. Call Tzuyu, get some rest. If he is the only thing missing, then he's just one person. Let it go!" "I can't!"

"Why not?" "Because he was a part of our lives and suddenly he just isn't and the last thing I told him was that I wished he would never even debut with us." Jeongguk is frustrated. "If you didn't, then what's with all the noise? Let it go!"

"I DID want him to be a part of us. I never meant what I said. I was just mad because he thought I cared about petty things like popularity when I was just trying to push him to get better." Jeongguk says. "Look at us now, we're not complete without him."

"That bullshit now. We're a great team!" "If you think we're doing great, you should have seen us when we were all together. We were topping all charts, we even filled some of the biggest places out there with our fans." "Are you just talking about a dream?"

"No, you have to believe me. I remember every single second. I remember it all so vividly. I don't even have a girlfriend, I don't have time for that. We're flying around too much for me to even think of a long-distance relationship." Jeongguk continues, looking desperate.

"If he was that important, why the hell did you even push him away?" "I didn't push him away, HE DID." He comes out from frustration. "He was the one who just stopped talking to me, stopped even reacting, kept staying away. All I ever did was to protect him."

Jimin is taken back by how emotional Jeongguk looks, even his eyes look glossier. "I knew how good he was, I knew it and I was so pissed that sometimes he wouldn't just show his full potential. That some idiots still had the audacity to call him talentless when he wasn't."

He is breathing harder. "I didn't care about being the bad guy, I just wanted him to know where he was wrong, where he had to push harder and actually shut those people up. And maybe sometimes I was just fucking tired of how bored he was with me." Jeongguk is shaking now.

"Maybe I was just tired of how the only time he'd even look at me or touch me was to get the fans satisfied. Maybe, Maybe I was so tired of how the person that kept me in and got me out of my shell when I felt so fucking lonely to treat me like a stranger." He says.

"How was it okay for him to act like I stopped existing when it was wrong for me to try to even get anything out of him to see if he even gives a shit about me anymore?" He knows Jimin doesn't even know Taehyung but he can't stop talking. "I never got to tell him..."

He bites his lip, looking away to blink and hold his tears, looking really stiff. "Tell him what?" Jimin asks. "That I was sorry." He whispers. Jimin doesn't know what to say. Jeongguk looks like he is actually reacting to something that happened. He's really hurt!

"Would you be okay if one day you'd wake up to see one of us were gone? That the rest of the guys wouldn't even remember that person? Would you be okay if I just never knew you?" Jeongguk asks and his tear finally drops, his lip shivering. Jimin's expression changes.

"The guys would just tell you to get over it, to forget it. Would you do it?" Jeongguk asks. "I spent ten years with him. Ten years hyung. How can I just live on with my life and pretend like he never existed?" Jimin honestly has no idea what to say. He is speechless.

"Everything feels wrong. How you guys are feels wrong, me having a girlfriend I don't even know feels wrong, how our band is right now feels so wrong, seeing how happy everyone is when there is just the six of us feels so fucking wrong. I don't know whose life this even is!"

"I don't know what to do because it might seem like just one person got cut from my life but this isn't even the life I know anymore. And who knows what else is different." Jeongguk says. Jimin pulls him for a hug, feeling sad for what Jeongguk is saying.

He can't really believe him because he knows the reality but hearing the pain in Jeongguk's voice is hard. Even the thought of going through something similar is heartbreaking! "But even if you find him again... He's not going to be who you knew anymore, Jeongguk." Jimin says.

"Even if you say sorry, he won't know why you're doing it. He is now just a man that either doesn't know you or on;y knows you as a band member." Jimin adds and just like that, Jeongguk feels like his last piece of hope dies. Jimin can hear him crying now, even if it's silent.

He pulls away ad tries to wipe some of Jeongguk's tears. "I'm not going to pretend like I believe you or I know how you feel but... if that's how you feel, I'll help you get past it okay? Tell Tzuyu you need some time apart, I'll help you see how our team is these days."

He looks into his eyes, his hands still cupping Jeongguk's face. "I'll help you however I can so you can fall back into how things are but one thing I can't help you with is him. You need to forget about him yourself." Jimin says. "I can't!" His voice sounds so small.

"It must be hard but you have no other choice! There is nothing else to do. You can one day, you just have to try." That's the thing, he doesn't even want to try! He doesn't say anything, he just presses his lips together and gulps. "Why don't you go and rest? You look tired."

Tired doesn't even cut it. It was just a day but it felt like a whole year. He's exhausted. He nods and walks out of the room to get to his own. He lays on his bed and just thinks. His mind reminds him of the first few years of their debut.

Taehyung used to always sneak into Jeongguk's bed every time Jeongguk was tired or upset to just cuddle. Jeongguk pretended like he didn't like sharing his bed but he always wrapped his arms around him too. He remembers how the other man used to bite him playfully.

'Hyung stop bitting me. I'm seriously gonna die if you keep it up.' Jeongguk used to say with a chuckle. He never knew what he had until it stopped, until Taehyung never came to sleep next to him anymore. But even in their worse days, a small part of him still hoped for him.

He still thought it could happen but tonight is the first night he is sure it would never happen again. HE holds the blanket tighter on his body, trying to cover himself with it to feel an embrace. His heart almost stops when someone lays next to him and hugs him from behind.

He turns his head and realizes it's not who he thought. Jin smiles at him. "Get back a bit, I don't have much space." "Hyung!" "you looked like you needed a sleeping buddy." Jin says and Jeongguk honestly feels like crying again. He moves back and Jin moves closer to cuddle him.

"I know we were pretty busy lately but don't push yourself okay? What are we gonna do if our Maknae gets sick?" Jin asks and Jeongguk closes his eyes. It doesn't take long until he actually falls asleep with Jin brushing his hair and falling asleep too.

The next day he gets up to take a shower, find something in his closet to wear. The clothes are like how he used to dress a long time ago, before Taehyung kept bugging him about wearing too many energy and black clothes. He heads to eat something and then get down for the car.

Getting to work is easy, doing rehearsal is easy, practicing the choreography is easy but what isn't easy is doing it when he knows one of them should be there to dance and sing too but he's not there. Jimin tries to help him get the hang of it but how can he?

He has danced to all these songs differently. How can he just do it in a way it was never supposed to be? Even some of the lyrics are different and Jeongguk knows, those are the parts Taehyung had suggested, added or removed before. Now everything just sounds wrong!

"Lets get some break guys." Hoseok says, noticing how lost in everything their youngest member is. Jeongguk just goes to a corner and sits, staring at the floor. Namjoon walks to him to checks up on him but Jeongguk just shrugs at everything Namjoon says.

Namjoon finally sighs and gives up. Maybe Jeongguk really needs to see the doctor again? To tell her the truth this time? He knows this is not normal. He knows he needs help. But how can the past 10 years of his life be just part of his imagination?

He's not okay. He is not one to just fall and not get up but even if he gets up, he has no idea where to go. How can one simple difference in his life change so much? How can he even get used to this? He can't even trust himself anymore! Yoongi walks to him.

He gets Jeongguk's attention by putting his hand on his back. "Go home." "It's just eight." Jeongguk says. "I asked manager nim, he said you should leave too. Just go home and rest." He says. "I'm not tired." He doesn't want to be alone! "You look exhausted!"

Jeongguk looks at the rest of them, looking at him in concern. "Come on Guk-ah. Just go and sleep." Yoongi says. Jeongguk finally gets up to head to the changing room. He changes and waves at them before heading down. The car is turned on but the driver is not there.

Jeongguk stares at the key. He knows the truth. He is going to just go home, feel the emptiness of the house, feel crazy over how nothing makes sense. He quickly gets in the driver's seat and looks around. No one is around so he just starts driving back to get out of the parking.

He doesn't even fasten his seatbelt. The driver gets out of the bathroom and looks at the car with wide eyes. "Stop!" The driver starts running but Jeongguk is already driving away. A few others run to the car too but Jeongguk doesn't stop. He lowers the window to breathe.

A lot is going on in his mind. Where is he even going? He just wants to do something! Maybe if he goes to Taehyung's old house in Daegu...Or his parent's place? Maybe grandparents? Someone, anyone! He should be able to find at least one simple thing that is the same about him.

But even if he gets there, what is he going to do? What would he say? It's not like it would change anything! He grabs a bottle of water from his side and tries to open it with his one hand and mouth. He doesn't see the big tree in front of him and turns as soon as he does.

(Tw/ Accident, blood) The bottle is slipping from his hand and he is losing control of the car. He doesn't even know where he hits before it happens. He breathes in, feeling it stuck in his chest and he doesn't even know how he falls on the floor and passes out.

Taehyung holds onto the man in front of him harder as they drive but frowns when he sees it. "Shit. Is that a car?" Taehyung hears and doesn't even know what to say. The man pulls his motor cycle away to park and check. "Someone is there!" Wonho says as he runs.

Taehyung goes to the car, checking to see if he can smell any gas at all but he can't. It looks crushed! "I don't think he's breathing!" wonho says and Taehyung gets closer to the man on the ground. "Get away from him, call the cops." Taehyung says and sits down.

"Cops? Shouldn't we call an ambulance?" "Whatever, call someone." Taehyung says and then tries to see if the man on the ground can respond to him. His leg and arm is bleeding but his head is not except for a few minor cuts. He leans down to check the breathing on his cheek.

He can't feel it! He quickly checks the pulls. "Give me that." Taehyung says and points at a rock close by as Wonho dials the number. He holds the man's nose and starts breathing in, trying to give him rescue breath for a few seconds and then pulls back.

"Don't you have to push his chest too?" "He has pulse, you want to kill him?" Taehyung asks. "Oh hi." Wonho starts telling the person that answers the call and puts the stone there. Taehyung quickly lifts the man's legs to put him on the shock position and breathes again.

"They ask how he is?" Wonho asks. "Not breathing, not responding." Taehyung says and breathes again. Why is his chest not rising? He opens the man's mouth and tries to reach in his throat. Something is stuck! He can't get it out but it's stuck!

He gets on the man's back and holds under his chest before pulling his arms back strongly. The bottle cap suddenly falls out of the man's mouth and the man breathes in a snore. Taehyung quickly holds his nose to breathe into his mouth again, trying to get him to breathe normally

The man finally breathes better even if it's louder than before and Taehyung sighs in relief. His chest is rising and falling normally and his eyes are finally open. He checks his pulse again and closes his eyes when he realizes that it's just beating a little too fast.

"They're on their way." Wonho says. Taehyung checks on the blood on the other man's leg and leg, seeing the pieces of the broken window in them but none of them look that big or serious. "H-Hyung?" The man breathes out lowly. "Give me your shirt." Taehyung says.

"What?" Wonho asks. "Take off your shirt." Taehyung says. Wonho does it and gasps when Taehyung tears it apart. "ARE YOU CRAZY?" But Taehyung just uses the torn pieces to tie it on the parts of the man's body that needs to be tied to take a hold of the bleeding.

"Hyung!" "Shh, calm down. The ambulance is coming." Taehyung says, not looking at him. "Is he okay?" wonho asks. "He looks okay." Taehyung says as he continues. "At least look at me now." The man says and Taehyung finally looks at his face.

Jeongguk looks up. He doesn't know what is happening. Did he finally wake up from that awful dream? Was he in some sort of accident that made him see those horrible things? All he can think of is that the man he was desperately looking for is here on top of him again.

There is a moment that they just stare at each other and Jeongguk can't even read the other man's expression. But he wonders. Does he remember him too? Is he finally back to reality? But then the man looks away when they hear the sound of the ambulance car.

The medics get out to check on him and Taehyung steps back, letting them do their thing. "I almost shit myself! How were you so calm?" Wonho asks. Taehyung's eyes are still on Jeongguk, not saying anything. "Are you the one who called?" One of the medics asks.

"Yeah I did." Wonho says. "Do you know how the accident happened?" "No, we were just passing with my bike." Wonho says. The medic lifts Jeongguk to move him. "Hyung!" Jeongguk shouts. "We should go." Taehyung says and turns around. "Taehyungie hyung!" Jeongguk repeats.

He pauses once he hears his own name. "Do you know this dude?" Wonho asks in confusion. The medic waits for him to speak too. Taehyung looks back, folding his arms. "I don't think I've ever met him." He says. They put Jeongguk on the back of the car.

"How does he know your name then?" Wonho asks. "Hyung! Don't go again." Jeongguk says. "Are you sure you don't know him?" The medic asks. "I am." He says but no one seems convinced. "You need to come with us sir." "Why?" Taehyung looks taken back.

"Until he is identified and the reason behind his accident is clear, we need you to come with us." "We were just driving past here. I have to go back home to my daughter." He says. "You said you didn't know him either while he clearly knows you. I can't believe you."

Taehyung scuffs. Are they serious right now? "I need to get my bike." Wonho says. "Leave it here, you can get in the car with us." The medic says. "My daughter is home alone." Taehyung says. "The sooner you come, the sooner this will be over." The medic says.

"You can't make me come." Taehyung says. "You're lying about a person in an accident. We can't let a go when there is a chance you could be involved in this." "He hit a fucking wall, how could I be a part of this?" "The police would know that." The medic says.

"But-" "Let's just do it Taehyung. It's not like they have anything. Just call Jieun and ask her to baby sit for a bit till we come back." "I'm not supposed to ask for a baby sitter when I didn't even do anything." Taehyung says defensively. "Just give us a minute." Wonho says.

He pulls Taehyung away to talk to him. Jeongguk looks at them from far until Taehyung sighs and finally gets in the car. Wonho parks his bike safely and gets in as well. Taehyung is not looking at him. He looks annoyed! Jeongguk doesn't know why he's even coming with them.

He tries to pull the oxygen mask down. "Hyung." Jeongguk says but Taehyung still refuses to look at him. "You know who I am right?" Taehyung turns to see him with narrowed eyes. "No." It sounds so final and serious, as if he's trying to make a point. And it feels like a slap.

"Hyung, please..." Jeongguk says, his voice breaking a bit. The other man looks down when he feels Jeongguk's fingers trying to reach out for his hand. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I never should have said any of those things." Taehyung's expression changes but Guk can't read it.

He pulls his hand away and calls Jieun instead, ignoring the man on the bed. They reach the hospital and he slowly gets out, telling her to look after her for a while until they go back home. They wait in the hospital for them to give Jeongguk a full check-up.

After some time an officer gets there to ask them a few questions. They answer and then the doctor joins them to tell the officer about Jeongguk's condition. "What is going on?" Taehyung asks, folding his arms. The officer looks hesitant. "There is a problem."

"He looked fine when we got here!" Wonho says. "He's physically fine, just a few scratches that they had to patch up. The problem is that the patient doesn't seem to remember any of his personal information. He only remembers his name and.. well, you!" He looks at Taehyung.

"I don't know him." Taehyung says again, feeling frustrated. "He seems to know you. He even knew your birth date, last name, even the name of your family members and where you were born." The officer says. "You must know him then..." wonho says. "I DON'T!"

"But he seems to know you. The hospital can't keep him since he doesn't have any serious injuries but we need someone to take him in and since he only know you..." He officer looks at him as if Taehyung must understand the rest. The other man's brows shut up. "No!"

"He needs to be discharged to a friend or a family member until we identify him." The officer says. "And I'm neither. I have an eight years old daughter. I'm not taking a stranger back to my house." "I'm afraid you don't have a choice unless you know anyone else that knows him."

"These things usually shouldn't take so long. We have the car, we just have to track down the owner and take it from there." The officer says. "We can't just send him to the streets when he doesn't even have any memories and the hospital can't keep him."

"Didn't he have some wallets or phone or something?" Wonho asks. "We didn't find anything on him or in the place of the accident except for some documents for the car in the car itself and none of it was his." "You want me to take a thief to my house?" Taehyung asks.

"We can't accuse him of that until we find the truth." The officer says. "Oh god." Taehyung holds his face. Even Wonho looks unsure about the whole thing. "Do we have to pay for the hospital too?" Wonho asks. "It was an accident, it's on the hospital."

"At least we're not accused anymore." Wonhow mumbles. "Thank you officer, I'll talk to him." Taehyung doesn't want this. He really really doesn't want this. But he knows that he can't just walk away from this either. Even Wonho is trying to convince him. This sucks!

Jeongguk feels a little guilty as they get in the taxi and head to Taehyung's place. Technically, he didn't lie that much. He barely knows anything about his life here, wouldn't that equal not remembering? He just... couldn't give Taehyung time to disappear again!

Taehyung is not looking at him, he is just looking out of the window. His phone rings and he responds, talking to someone but Jeongguk is not sure who or about what. "Okay, it's okay. Just let her sleep. I'll get her tomorrow before you have to head to work." Taehyung says.

"Thanks. Night!" He says and hangs up. "Is she asleep?" Wonho asks. "Yeah." Tae mumbles. "At her place?" Wonho asks. "I'll just get her tomorrow." Taehyung says. Wonho looks at Jeongguk's confused expression. "What are you looking at?" Taehyung asks Jeongguk who is staring.

"Don't let him intimidate you. He gets like this when it's about his daughter." Wonho says with a snort. Jeongguk's eyes get wide. "His what?" "For someone who knows a lot about him, you sure don't know enough." Wonho says. "You didn't know he has a daughter?"

"Can you not?" Taehyung asks. Jeongguk is stunned. A daughter? So the little girl Jeongguk saw before was actually Taehyung's? "Seriously man, be grateful he said yes. He's so picky. He STILL doesn't let me get in his place when she's there." Wonho says.

Taehyung rolls his eyes on the front seat. "Is the mother taking care of her?" Jeongguk asks, not sure what to think. Is Taehyung married? His heart is beating fast. "Nah! She just gave birth and fucked off." "Wonho." Taehyung looks back with an annoyed glare.

"What?" "Can you stop talking about my personal life to a literal stranger?" Taehyung asks. "Fine." The other man says and sighs. It's a strange sight. Wonho is a really big and muscular guy, Jeongguk can even see some of his tattoos. But he seems intimidated by Taehyung!

Jeongguk can't blame him though. He has no idea how he is not intimidated by the other man most of time, how he keeps talking back to him even though he's older but he knows that a lot of people can find him intimidating. Others find him cute!

It's usually just the face he puts in front but getting close to him, he is nothing like people assume based on his poker face. They finally reach the place. Taehyung pays for the taxi and they get out. "Aren't you going after your bike?" Tae asks Wonho.

"She's not home tonight, I thought I'd stay." "Wonho..." "Come on." The bigger man purses his lips, holding Taehyung's hands. "Didn't you say you don't feel safe being alone with a stranger? I'll keep you safe." "I almost gaged!" Taehyung says. Wonho chuckles.

"Come on. You can't possibly tell me not to stay when he is and she isn't." Wonho says. Taehyung looks at Jeongguk and sighs. "Do whatever." He says and walks up. Guk doesn't know why but something feels odd. It's like something is right in front of his face but he doesn't see it

Jeongguk doesn't know what he expects but the house they enter is very simple. He can see a few dolls and notebooks with child looking hand writings on them but Tae picks them up as they get in. It's a relatively small place. "Are you two hungry?" Taehyung asks.

"I'm starving." Wonho says. They both look at Jeongguk. "A little." Jeongguk feels a little pressured somehow. Knowing that Taehyung doesn't know him and yet is (Forcefully) keeping him is making him feel a little odd to even ask for food.

Taehyung grabs his food. "Take outs?" Wonho asks. "It's been a while and she's not here either. We'll be fine. Not in the mood for cooking." Taehyung says and then starts ordering. He can cook? He always used to threaten him not to even step foot in the kitchen!

"You okay?" Wonho asks, looking at Jeongguk's arm. "Yes." He says. "Must have been pretty scary. Getting on an accident and then forgetting everything on top of it all." He says. "Sort of." Jeonguk says. He sits down and wonho does too.

The other man keeps talking to Jeongguk about how Taehyung didn't want to take him in but Wonho talked him into accepting since Jeongguk would have no other place to go to if he wouldn't. It's so odd! Hearing from a stranger about something like this!

Two nights ago they were having a concert, Taehyung was kissing the back of his neck and now he is just a stranger! Taehyung doesn't come back until the food comes and even then he keeps checking his phone. Jeongguk eats a few slices of the Pizza but feels full quick.

"Is there anywhere I can sleep?" He asks. He wanted to be here, to know more about Taehyung and even... do something! Get close to him, maybe? But Taehyung is still the same, looking at everywhere but him. He just had an accident. He needs to rest! "Come here." Tae gets up.

He shows Jeongguk a spare room. "Sleep here for tonight." "What about you?" JEongguk asks. "I have my own room. It's my daughters. Don't do anything weird." Taehyung says. "What can I even possibly do?" "I dunno, just saying.... G'night.." He walks away.

Jeongguk gets in the room and puts some sheets down to sleep on them. He stares at the ceiling, hoping his hyungs won't be that worried. He will have to get home soon anyway! He just wants to at least have some time with Taehyung! His heart flips at the thought.

He touches his chest and smiles. Even though things suck, a part of him is just really happy that he found him again. He has a sort of calm that he hasn't felt since he woke up and found him gone! Maybe... Just maybe some things don't suck anymore! He falls asleep.

But a few hours later, he can't help waking up to strange sounds. He blinks a few times, trying to figure out what they are. It sounds like... someone is in pain! Like two people wrestling or something. He gets up to check. It comes from Tae's room. Is he okay?

"Oh god!" He actually gets more worried. The door is half open so he just gets closer and then his heart almost stops when he sees it. He stays frozen on his spot. Not even being able to move. Wonho's back is toward the door, Taehyung is sitting on top of him.

None of them are wearing any clothes. Taehyung's face is pushed onto Wonho's shoulder, scratching his back while moving his hips. Guk needs to move. He needs to leave and pretend like his lungs are not on fire but he can't move. He takes a step back and the door makes a sound.

The sound is covered with the sound of the bed cricking but Taehyung looks up from Wonho's shoulder and Jeongguk's heart almost stops beating. It's very dark but he can see him, right? There is a heat in his hyung's eyes that Jeongguk has never seen before. It's breathtaking!

Or maybe it's Jeongguk who can't breathe! Is he going to stop? Shout? But the older man just bites onto the shell of the man he was holding and moves his hips again, throwing his head back. "Harder!" Jeongguk's hand gets fisted on the door handle. Leave! Fucking leave!

It keeps echoing in his head but he can't even bring himself to move a muscle. His body is not listening to him. "M-More. Need you." Couldn't he really see him? Is he too fucked out of his head to even notice Jeongguk RIGHT outside? Why is he... Why?

"Aren't you a little too loud tonight? Getting me here just for this even with your little guest in the other room? Such a dirty babe!" Wonho says and Taehyung's eyes fall on where Jeongguk is again, panting hard. "M-missed you! Want you." He says and then suddenly shakes.

Jeongguk's heart is so close to his throat. It almost felt like he was looking at him when he said it. He can't hold it anymore, he rushes back to his room, trying not to freak out. What the hell? What the hell? what the fucking hell? He covers his everything with a blanket.

He touches his chest, trying to just delete it all from his head. He feels like a creep for not immediately leaving but it all just happened so fast and Jeongguk was just honestly too shocked and stunned to move! This was a side of Taehyung that he had never seen before!

A side he never even let himself think about before! Taehyung having a baby... It made sense! He always wanted a family. He always wanted to have a baby of his own. But this! Jeongguk has never even dared thinking of him with another man! He never even wanted to!

The way the older man's eyes looked right before he shivered are still hunting Jeongguk's head. And a part of him is pissed. Pissed because he must have seen him, he must have known he would be hunted by that image for the rest of his life! It feels like a revenge!

It makes no sense. Not even to his own head. But it feels like it! Because no matter how much he tries to forget, he fucking can't! All he can think is if they are still at it. And a part of his skin curls at the thought. His only reason to breathe is the lack of sounds.

He doesn't get a blink of sleep that night. He just keeps trying to understand. Was he always like this? Jeongguk has never let himself think about it. He never wanted to assume. Even if there were times questions came, he always ignored it.

He keeps thinking if Taehyung himself knew. If he did, why didn't he ever tell him? If Jeongguk was just a horrible friend and bandmate for never seeing it coming. He keeps trying to find the signs in his memory. There must be a reason. There must have been a lead!

Is this even the same Taehyung he left behind? Because the one he knew was never... he would never... Right? 'Missed you.' The words come to his head again. They sounded so fucking real and a part of Jeongguk desperately wanted them to be. Wanted to be missed!

In that moment he actually wanted it to be true. But once the next part came- 'Need you!' Jeongguk wasn't sure what he was feeling anymore. He closes his eyes, trying to forget about it. But how can he? He puts the blanket away to look down at his own crotch. Mother fucker!

It's like his hard on is making fun of him and he's pissed and sick and mad. He is not gonna be that creep that walks in on his hyung and then runs away to jack off. He doesn't even know why the fuck it made him like this. It's his hyung for fuck's sake!

He ignores it and lays back down again, trying to get himself to sleep. But since he can't, he just gets up to find the shower. He finds a tower and hopes Taehyung won't bite his neck for suing it. He takes a cold shower, trying to kill his boner in the most brutal way he can.

He hisses. He already covered his scars but he needs to be careful about them. He uses the water to calm himself in every way and it helps a bit. He rolls the tower on his hips and then walks out of the shower to head to the kitchen and grab some water.

Taehyung is already up but Wonho seems to be still sleeping. "I used your shower. I hope you didn't mind." Jeongguk says and gets in, trying not to look at his eyes. "Not really. I don't mind that." Taehyung says, fixing himself some sandwich. "I mind perverts though."

Jeongguk pauses right when he grabs the glass. So he did see him! He pours some water. "You didn't seem to mind that much last night. Your boyfriend said it too, you dragged him, got too loud, didn't even stop when someone walked on you." Jeongguk says.

"So you admit you were being a pervert? Kind of hoped you were just too shocked to move." Taehyung says, sipping on his cop and holding his sandwich. Jeongguk drinks his water and finally manages to look back at him. "You still want to stay here?" Taehyung asks.

"Why wouldn't I?" Jeongguk narrows his eyes. "A gay couple, homophobia is annoying but was kind of hoping it'd turn you off." Taehyung says and it's ironic how wrong he is considering how Jeongguk had to take a shower over how turned ON he was. "Sucks for you." Guk says.

Taehyung narrows his eyes too. "If you're after money I don't have any." Taehyung says. "You always suck at guessing what's actually in my head when I do something." Jeongguk says. "Always?" Taehyung snorts. "What else could be there? Money runs everything around here."

"Why would I be after money from someone who lives in a house like this?" Jeongguk asks. "Must be disappointing that you got the wrong guy." Tae says. "What if instead of coming after you for money, I was actually after you yourself all along?" Jeongguk asks.

Taehyung holds his cop harder, even his face looking harder than before. "I'd say you're a stalker and I'd be less willing to let you anywhere near my kid." Taehyung says. "You see? So off again. Not here for your kid. I'm here for you." Jeongguk says.

He is fully aware of the double meaning behind what he is saying but he is just using it as a way to get back at Taehyung for what he did before. for painting those images in Jeongguk's head forever. "I don't even know you. This means nothing to me." Taehyung says.

He is looking up at Jeongguk but for a split second, really quick, his eyes fall down and up again, looking a little taken back by Jeongguk's appearance. "We'll see about that." Jeongguk says and then moves closer. Taehyung walks back, his back hits the counter.

He is not sure what is coming but Jeongguk can tell how stiff he is getting the closer he gets. But when he gets close enough, he just bites on the sandwich Taehyung made and pulls away. "Thanks!" He says and goes back to his room. Taehyung stares at his back before snorting.

"Sooner or later the cops will get you back to the hole you're from anyway." Taehyung says loudly and then bites onto the same sandwich. He opens his phone to find Jieun's number, telling her that he will be on his way to get his daughter soon.

Jeongguk just sits on the same spot he was supposed to sleep on and holds his chest to breathe, closing his eyes. He has no idea what he is even still doing here, why he is staying, on what he is still hoping... He just knows that he can't leave! Not when he's this close again!

He hears the door getting closed and blinks in confusion. Did Wonho just leave or something? Someone suddenly opens the door of the room Jeongguk was using and it's Wonho, looking sleepy. "Did Taehyung just eave?" He asks, scratching his head sleepily.

"I don't know." Jeongguk says. "He's not here. He probably went to get her." Wonho says with a yawn and gets out. He heads to the kitchen and looks for something to eat. "Hungry?" "I'm okay." "Did you eat or somethin'?" "Just don't feel like eating." Jeongguk shrugs.

"Suits yourself." Wonho says and grabs something to push it in his mouth and then drinks water from the pipe before heading to Taehyung's room. Jeongguk's arms are folded, feeling really awkward around the man. Especially now that he knows about him and Taehyung.

He is putting his shirt on as he walks back to Jeongguk. "I gotta go. Taehyung will kill me if I stay until she comes." Wonho says. "Is he that strict?" "You have no idea." Wonho chuckles and looks around to see if he forgot anything. "Oh and... Don't steal anything!"

"I'm not a theif!" Jeongguk looks offended. "Yeah we don't know that. For all I know you could be anything. But I'm not the one you should be worried about. If you touch anything he'll find you and sk*n you alive." He says and heads to the door. "See ya!"

That os how Jeongguk finds himself at Taehyung's home, alone! He licks his lip and then wonders what he should do. Is staying here even a good idea? He heads to the phone and dials a number, Hoping that the number is still the same. "Hello?" "Is this Park Jimin?"

"Who?" Jeongguk shuts his eyes in frustration. "sorry, wrong number!" He groans as soon as he hangs up. Maybe he should head to the company fast and tell him? It hasn't been 24 hours since he disappeared but it's getting close! If they go to the cops to find him, he's screwed!

But that will be suspicious. Who knows if Taehyung would even let him in again if he gets out... He thinks a bit and then something clicks. Jimin had to change his number a lot because of sasaengs. Maybe if he tries some of his older numbers? He tries to remember.

On his third try, he hears a familiar voice. "Hello?" "Hyung!" Jeongguk says in relief. "Jeongguk?" Jimin recognizes him. "You little shit! Where the hell did you go?" "I had an accident." "WHAT?" "Listen, I'm okay but I found him." Jeongguk says. "Huh?" "Taehyung, I found him."

"Wait go back! You had an accident?" Jimin asks. "With my driver's car. I was trying to drink water, didn't see the road, hit a wall." "Is that why he didn't come after us on time this morning?" Jimin asks. "Just, don't go to the cops. If they come don't mention me!"

"Where are you?" "I'm at his place but he only let me stay because he doesn't know who I am. If the cops come and get me, it's done. I can't see him again." "You want us to commit a fucking crime!" "Not like that! Just... tell them I'm okay and I called." Jeongguk says.

"And if they ask where you are?" "Tell them I didn't tell you. come on hyung, please! I can't see him again if you don't. You said you'd help me!" "I said I'd help you to get back to your life." "That's what I'm trying to do!" Jeongguk says. "Please... Please!"

Jimin sighs. "I'll see what I can do." "I'll come home, I promise! I just... need to be here for a bit." Jeongguk says. "You better. You're really okay right?" Jimin asks. "I am. Thanks hyungie. See you soon." And with that, he hangs up the phone.

He knows he is being unreasonable but this is not even his life! Not the one he knows! And if he wants to fit into any lives, he needs to understand this first! He looks around the house a bit, feeling curious. He smiles when he finds a picture in Tae's room with his daughter.

He hears the door opening up and quickly puts the picture back and heads out of the room. Taehyung gets back home. A part of Jeongguk is actually excited to see the little girl again but Taehyung comes in with some groceries and there is no sign of the little girl.

"What are you looking at? Make yourself useful!" Taehyung says. "Oh!" Jeongguk rushes to help him. "Wait, shit. Forgot about your arm. WONHO." He shouts the name. "He left." "What do you mean he left? He left you alone here?" Taehyung asks. "I'm gonna kill him!"

"He said you were gonna bring your daughter." Jeongguk says. "He's fucking crazy. Why would I bring her to a stranger?" Taehyung puts the groceries inside and inhales, looking tired. "Where is she then?" Jeongguk asks. Taehyung narrows his eyes at him.

"Why would you wanna know?" "I'm not gonna steal her or anything. I'm just curious." Taehyung sighs and looks down at his watch. "She's at her school." "Already?" Jeongguk asks. "She's eight not two. I should go again." "Again?" "Some of us have to work." Taehyung says.

"You have a job?" Jeongguk asks and Taehyung just looks at him. He doesn't say anything, he is just looking and Jeongguk feels stupid! "Okay, don't answer that." Taehyung grabs his phone to call someone. "I'm gonna strangle you." It must be Wonho!

"Who leaves a stranger in an empty house? Are you stupid? Are you?" Taehyung says in his phone. "Why would I bring her? Do you even know me?" Jeongguk hears Taehyung continue scolding the other man on the phone. Was he always this... impatient and angry?

"No it was your idea to keep him. I'm not gonna let him stay here alone." Taehyung says. "I have a job too. Att least you can get him to yours. No.... No I don't care. Come here, NOW." "I could just get out and walk." Jeongguk suddenly says. Taehyung frowns slightly.

"I'll call you later." Taehyung says and hangs up, looking at Jeongguk. "We're going to work for hours. You want to just spend it walking?" Taehyung asks. "It's not better than staying in your empty house anyway." Jeongguk says. Taehyung sighs. "Why are you doing this to me?"

"What?" "Why are you sticking around? You know I don't want you here. Why do you insist that you know me? Are you a stalker or something?" Taehyung asks. "I'm not insisting. I know you." "You can't possibly know me. We've never met." Taehyung says.

Jeongguk looks at the groceries on the floor. "What about this. I can tell you at least five of the items you must have bought." "What?" "I know what you like and don't like. I can guess." Jeongguk says. "That's a reach even if you knew me." Taehyung says. "Strawberries."

Taehyung scuffs. "You could never last a week without them. I bet you also got some black beans past. You basically live on Jajamyeon anyway." Jeongguk says, looking down to think. Taehyung folds his arms, taking a step back.

"So obviously there should be some noodles too. And maybe some icecream. I can even picture you pretending it's for your daughter when in reality it's for you." Jeongguk adds. "Okay stop." Taehyung says. "I have more!" "I don't care, stop!"

Jeongguk does stop. Taehyung looks really defensive and he can't even blame him. "How?" The older man asks. "If you really know me, you should know how. Where do you even know me from?" "You're not going to believe me if I tell you." Jeongguk says. "I already don't."

Jeongguk licks his lip. He wants to say it all, wants to make him remember too. He knows he can't and he knows Taehyung will just think that he's crazy if he does. But a part of him just really wants to... aknowledge it. That was his reality until three days ago anyway!

Jeongguk gulps, knowing that he doesn't have anything to lose anyway. "Around ten years ago, I auditioned in a group. I was pretty shy, barely talked to anyone then six months after me, you auditioned and you came. We ended up debuting." Jeongguk says.

He is not looking at Taehyung, he doesn't want to see it. "You helped me open up, we were pretty darn close for years, we'd talk about anything and we found mutual things. Then one day you had to act in this drama and then you barely had any time for us, for me!"

He pauses for a second. "You were always hanging out with your new actor friends, come home pretty late. We just fell out and even when I'd try to talk to you, you... wouldn't! You became so closed off, so reserved. Then we started having arguments over the smallest things."

"It became to a point that you wouldn't even look at me, we were always just snapping and arguing. Our team was on top of every chart but we were a mess. And the last time I saw you, I said something really stupid in anger and then next thing I knew, you were gone!"

He fists his palms. "It was like you were never part of us, you don't even know me anymore but I remember everything. Most of all I remember how I didn't even fucking mean it. It wasn't that I didn't want you to be one of us, I didn't want to lose you as one of us." Jeongguk says

"I know it doesn't even mean anything to you right now. I know it's too late to even say it but I don't even know what to do to make it all right. Staying here won't help but I still have this tiny little hope that you'll somehow remember or know what to do." Jeongguk adds.

He finally manages to gather enough courage to look up at the other man. He can't read Taehyung's expression but it looks a little different from his usual frown or annoyed expression. And most importantly, he is looking at Jeongguk which is a given.

"You're the only missing piece anyway, the answer must be with you!" Jeongguk says. "I don't have any answers." Taehyung says. Jeongguk presses his lips together and shrugs. "At least now you know. Go ahead. Call me crazy! But that's the only reason I know you." He looks down.

Jeongguk is waiting for it, whatever it is. To be kicked out. To be called crazy again, to even have to answer the cops or see a psychologist. "You are crazy." Taehyung says and then Jeongguk sees a set of keys shaking in front of his eyes. "Take it."

Jeongguk hesitantly takes it. "Those are the spare ones. Rest, go out, eat until I come back. We have to get you back to the hospital so they can check this later. I even have a friend who can see you. The accident must have been pretty brutal on your head." Taehyung says.

"Why are you suddenly okay with this?" Jeongguk asks. "A crazy man admitting that he's crazy and in what way is way more assuring than a neat guy saying he's not." Taehyung says. "I don't have anything for you to steal anyway. You just need a doctor."

He looks at his phone to check the time again. "I should go." He says with a nod and then gets out of the house again. Jeongguk stares at the keys. Why did he give them to him? Wonho said he is so careful. Then why did he suddenly change his mind?

He tries to sleep since he barely got any the previous night and then gets up a time closer to evening to get out and just catch some fresh air. He already misses singing! Once he goes back he turns on the TV to open a music channel and starts singing with it.

He only stops when he hears the door opening up. He goes to greet Taehyung and pauses when a little girl runs inside and just stops in shock when he sees him. "Dad! We have a weird bunny man here." The little girl says and Jeongguk is just staring at her with wide eyes.

Taehyung walks inside with a backpack and a few packages. "I told you to stop running, Sarang." Taehyung scolds her and puts everything down. "But look!" She says, pointing at Jeongguk. "I know, he's a friend. Go and change now." Taehyung says. She looks at Jeongguk curiously.

Jeongguk finally comes back to his senses and looks at Taehyung. "S-She has a pretty name!" "Some people say it's pretty convenient to call a baby love but jokes on them. My baby is adorable." Taehyung says and stretches his arms up. Jeongguk is confused! Why did he bring her?

"I was gonna let her stay with my friend but she is being a bitch who needs to get laid so I guess I have to let you be around her. I'll get your eyes out if you even look bad at her." Taehyung says casually and then looks at the groceries on the floor.

"Man! You could at least get them in the kitchen and put them in the fridge." He says and starts doing it himself. Jeongguk tries to help him. "I didn't know what to put where." Jeongguk admits. "Didn't you check when you were cook- Wait, where are your dirty dishes?"

"I sort of forgot to eat!" Jeongguk admits. In his defense, he was sleeping for most of the day! "Aish! You're hopeless." Taehyung says and starts putting the groceries away. Jeongguk smiles smugly when he sees everything he guessed before are actually there.

"The icecream is all melted. You..." Taehyung shakes his head and puts it on the fridge. He sees the smug expression on Jeongguk's face when he looks back and understands why he's looking like that. "Get that cocky face off. Anyone can buy the things you said." "Okay!"

"I'm serious." "I said okay." Jeongguk says with though they both know he can't stop smiling over it. Taehyung rolls his eyes and starts cooking some jajamyeon. "Want some help? You used to like the ones I used to cook." "I doubt that but sure." Taehyung says.

They start working and somehow it seems like they both fit into it. Jeongguk works on the past while Taehyung boils the noodles and continues changing the place of what he bought before. Sarag walks to the kitchen, looking a little warry of Jeongguk. "Dad!" He pulls Tae's shirt.

"Yes?" "Who is he?" She whispers and Jeongguk smiles. Does she think he won't hear her? Taehyung purses the corner of his lip and looks at Jeongguk. "Don't worry baby. He won't stay here for long." "I'm Jeongguk." Guk says, smiling at her. "Just call me uncle Gukkie."

"Since when you became her uncle?" Taehyung asks. "Kinda always wanted to be one. My real hyung never really got married." Jeongguk says. "Why are you here?" Sarang asks. Taehyung looks a bit nervous. "Just had an accident. Your dad saved me and took care of me, like a hero."

Taehyung looks a little taken back by that but he doesn't comment on it. "MY dad?" Sarang looks like she is not even trying to buy it. "Shush, stop acting like I'm the devil." Taehyung says. "Did you get my milk?" she asks. "There are there, go get them." Tae says.

She goes to check and whines. "You got banana. You know I like strawberry milk." She says and looks back. "I got both." Taehyung says. She looks back and smiles when she find the other one too. She opens it to eat. "When will we have food?" Sarang asks.

"One at a time. Drink that, do your homework. I'll call you when it's ready." Taehyung says. She makes a face and then heads out. Jeongguk chuckles. He has imagined Taehyung with kids in the future but this is way more adorable than anything he had thought of before.

"She's really adorable. Must have taken it from his dad's side." Jeongguk can't help but to comment. Taehyung just walks to grab one of the banana milks and then holds it toward Jeongguk. Guk looks at it for a few seconds. "She doesn't like it, it'll go bad if we don't drink."

"Why did you buy them then?" Jeongguk asks. "I didn't really look. I usually just buy stuff subconsciously but sometimes I make mistakes." Taehyung says. Jeongguk takes it and puts the stick in it to drink from it. Taehyung takes a strawberry one too. She's really his daughter!

Jeongguk finishes making the food as Taehyung sets the table and calls Sarang to join them. She comes and sits to eat. Tae keeps asking her about school and she answers. Apparently there have been some dramas between some of her friends because *gasp* one of them has a boyfriend.

"Sure she does." Taehyung says with a snort. "She said they always come to school together but I saw her yesterday. She came with her mom." Sarang says. "Maybe her mom is her boyfriend." Taehyung says, chuckling. Jeongguk has his hand on his chin, staring at him with a smile.

"What's his name?" Taehyung asks. "Jack." She says and Taehyung chuckles harder. "Jack." He repeats. "She said he is from Japan so he can't always come." She says. "Baby, you know people in Japan don't call their babies Jack, right?" Taehyung asks. "What if they do?"

The whole dinner goes by Sarang trying to convince that his 8 years old told the truth about the imaginary Jack and Taehyung just answers back in amusement. She leaves and Tae looks at Jeongguk. "Aren't you gonna eat that?" He asks. Jeongguk blinks, getting out of his thoughts.

"You didn't eat all day, you had an accident just last night." Taehyung says. "I am, I am." He says and slowly eats. Taehyung inhales deeply and starts cleaning after himself and Sarang. "Does he always tell you everything?" Jeongguk asks. "Pretty much." Tae says.

"Reminds me why I always hated elementary school. Everyone are just so pretentious." Taehyung says as he washes the dishes. Jeongguk eats another bite and thinks. "It's good that you're close though." Jeongguk says. "It's just me and her, of course we are."

"What about Wonho?" Jeongguk asks. Taehyung pauses for a moment, his back toward Jeongguk. "He's a big tattooed guy with a bike, when do you think we're gonna get married?" Taehyung asks sarcastically. That's when Jeongguk realizes the contradiction too. "But you..."

"Even gay dads have needs Jeongguk, doesn't mean who they're fucking would be the other father of their child." Taehyung says. Jeongguk thinks about it for a bit. "Doesn't he want to or?" "No one wants to get involved with a guy with a kid. Wonho doesn't even like kids."

"Oh!" Tae turns the water off and looks back. "I mean honestly, can you even imagine me leaving her alone with him?" Taehyung asks. Jeongguk barely knows Wonho but just based on what he had seen before, he wants to shout a big no.

"Is it because of his tattoos or?" Jeongguk doesn't have any right now but he used to have a full sleeve. He used to be buffer than now too so it makes him feel a bit self conscious. "I like guys like him but those things are just not 'dad quality' guys do." Tae says.

"While I'm here cooking for us, he's spending two hours at the gym. While I try to feed her healthy things he just eats shit to stay fit. When I'm worried about her being sick he is shopping or partying or getting a new tat. He's not a dad." Taehyung says.

Jeongguk licks his lip. "He's just... not even thinking how he should. His life style doesn't match." "Why are you with him then?" Jeongguk asks. "He's my type, interested in me and we both look for just sex. He's cool to hang out too, makes me remember the single life."