They get back to Taehyung's apartment late, both of them exhausted from the long day they had at the beach.

Jeongguk carries Taehyung's bag to his room, leaving it at the foot of the bed.

"It's late," Taehyung says walking into the bedroom after him.

"Yeah," Jeongguk sighs, turning to face him. "I didn't think we'd get back so late."

Taehyung nods, smiling softly as he wraps his arms around Jeongguk's neck. His arms finding themselves around his waist as he looks at him.

"What?" He asks when Taehyung doesn't say anything.

"Nothing," Taehyung says as he kisses Jeongguk, smiling when he kisses him back. Taehyung still wasn't ready to pop this little bubble they've been in all day, he figured reality could wait until the morning. He pulls away from the kiss after a moment. "I'm gonna go shower."

"Okay," Jeongguk nods.

"You should come with me," Taehyung says, almost laughing at the look on Jeongguk's face after the invitation.

"Are you sure?" He asks, as attentive as always.

"Mhm," Taehyung hums. "What? You don't want to?"

"No, I mean, I want to," Jeongguk laughs breathlessly, his face heating up slightly. "I just want to be sure you want to."

"Why not?" Taehyung shrugs. "We're just specs in the universe, right?"

Jeongguk nods as Taehyung leans in and kisses him. He has an anxious feeling in his stomach as he deepens the kiss, Taehyung's hands traveling down his chest. "Color?"

Taehyung chuckles softly, against his lips. "Green, you?"

    "Green," Jeongguk says, breaking the kiss as Taehyung pulls his shirt over his head.

Taehyung nods when Jeongguk hesitates to do the same to him. It's odd feeling to not be so in his head at the moment. But he's been doing things unlike himself all day, so he doesn't question it. He just closes his eyes as Jeongguk kisses his neck, allowing himself to feel everything.

Jeongguk's hands travel down to the front of his jeans, undoing the buttons a bit cautiously—as if he's waiting for Taehyung to tell him to stop.

Taehyung finds it oddly endearing that he's so hesitant—careful with his movements.

    "I'm okay," Taehyung reassures him, running his fingers through his hair to try and make him relax. "I promise."

Jeongguk nods, kissing Taehyung's shoulder—trailing down his chest and stomach until he's kneeling in front of him. He pulls his jeans down slowly, the rough material sliding against the the softness of Taehyung's thighs until it pools around his feet.

Taehyung balances himself on Jeongguk's shoulders as he steps out of his jeans, leaving him in nothing but his underwear.

Jeongguk looks up at him from where he kneels, searching his eyes for permission to continue.

Taehyung nods, smiling softly at him. He was ready for this, he wanted this.

Jeongguk kisses his stomach as his fingers dip below the elastic band of his underwear. He pulls them down just as hesitantly as he did the previous articles of clothing, looking up at Taehyung through his lashes.

Taehyung's breath hitches slightly but he doesn't stop him, stepping out of his underwear and leaving himself completely exposed in front of Jeongguk.

Jeongguk kisses his hipbone, leaving one last kiss at the bottom of his stomach before standing. "Okay?"

    "I'm okay," Taehyung nods, kissing Jeongguk again in an attempt to distract himself from the way his heart is hammering against his rib cage.

Jeongguk hums into the kiss, tracing small patterns into Taehyung sides with his fingertips. He breaks the kiss first, removing his own jeans after stepping out of his shoes and removing his socks—stripping down until he is in the same bare state as Taehyung.

Taehyung smiles as he takes his hand, leading him to his bathroom. He starts the shower before turning back to him, hugging him as they wait for it to heat up.

    "Would you be upset if I told you how proud I am of you right now?" Jeongguk asks as he hugs him back, closing his eyes as Taehyung's fingers run through his hair.

    "No," He laughs. "I don't think you can do anything to upset me right now."

    "I'm really proud of you," Jeongguk says, his voice dropping just above a whisper.

Taehyung pulls away from the hug enough to look at Jeongguk. He meets his eyes and he genuinely believes him. "Thank you."

They stay in the shower far longer than they normally would, sharing gentle touches and warm kisses until the water eventually runs cold.

They towel off and go straight to bed, not bothering to get dressed. They lie facing each other, saying nothing but expression everything in the silence of the room as they look at one another.

Taehyung finds himself forcing himself to stay awake, not wanting the day to come to an end. He didn't want to wake up to another average day after today...he wanted to wake up and go on spontaneous day trips everyday.

He wanted to be with Jeongguk everyday.

Eventually, he succumbs to his exhaustion—drifting off into a dreamless sleep with thoughts of Jeongguk running rapid through his mind.

—

Jeongguk wakes up the next morning alone in Taehyung's bed, the comforter thrown over his body. He lifts his head when he sees the spot next to him empty.

    "Tae?" He calls, his voice thick with sleep. He grunts as he pushes himself into a sitting position, stretching his arms in front of him before getting out of the bed.

He pulls his sweats on, grabbing his shirt from the ground before leaving the room. He hears the sound of the tv followed by the sound of a woman's voice coming through a phone.

He finds Taehyung sitting on the couch looking at the tv, his phone in one hand and the remote in the other—his eyes glued to the tv screen.

    "Call me back, Taehyung, I'm with your dad. We'd love to see you...he misses you. We wouldn't have won this case if you testified against us, we owe you for this win. Let me know when you're free so we can see you. We love you...okay bye."

Jeongguk pulls his shirt over his head as he walks further into the living room. His eyes focusing on the tv before he realizes what's going on.

    "Tae," He says walking over to him and sitting beside him. "Are you okay?"

Taehyung doesn't answer, his eyes not leaving the tv as the news reporter announces that Kim Yunchul has been released from prison.

Jeongguk pries the remote out of his hand, turning the tv off just as the footage rolls of Taehyung's mother walking out of the courthouse with his father. The silence that fills the living room is almost suffocating.

    "Tae," Jeongguk says again, trying to put his arm around Taehyung.

He pulls away, his breath trembling as tears fill his eyes. He stares at the blank tv screen, trying to erase the images of his father walking free from his mind.

Jeongguk opens his mouth to speak just as there's a banging on the door, followed by the sound of Taeyeon's voice.

    "Open the door!" She says, knocking furiously at the door.

Jeongguk looks at Taehyung but he doesn't move, he keeps his eyes trained on the tv. "Do you want me to~?"

    "Open the door, Taehyung!" Taeyeon screams again.

Jeongguk stands to get the door, not wanting Taehyung to get a complaint from his neighbors. Taeyeon storms in as soon as the door opens, Jeongguk putting his arm out to keep her from approaching Taehyung.

    "You have to stop," Jeongguk says pushing her away slightly.

    "Is this what you wanted?" She asks looking at Taehyung with pain and fury behind her eyes. "Are you happy now, huh? Are you!?"

Taehyung looks up at her with tears in his eyes, not saying a word as she screams at him.

    "I hope you're fucking happy, because this is your fault!" Taeyeon cries. "I hope you're proud of yourself, Taehyung, you finally made mommy happy—after all these years. Now the three of you can go on living like a happy family living a normal life running that stupid coffee shop!"

    "Stop, Taeyeon, please," Jeongguk says stepping between her and Taehyung as she continues to try and approach him.

    "You're sick, Taehyung, you're twisted. Only a twisted individual would allow this to happen," Taeyeon continues, tears falling down her face. "Don't ever call us or speak to us again, do you hear me? Don't!"

    "Okay," Jeongguk says ushering her to the door. "Can you just go, please?"

Taeyeon walks out of the apartment, stopping short and facing Jeongguk. "You're just as twisted as him if you stay with him, I hope you know that."

    "Leave please," Jeongguk says, waiting for her to leave before shutting the door. He turns back to find Taehyung not on the couch anymore. "Tae?"

He goes to his room, finding him in the bathroom kneeling in front of the toilet as vomit spews out his mouth. He coughs, tears clinging to his lashes as he retches.

Jeongguk kneels beside him, placing a hand on his back to comfort him.

    "No," He says pushing him away. "Go, Jeongguk."

    "What?" Jeongguk asks in confusion.

    "Just go, leave me alone!" Taehyung shouts, turning away from Jeongguk as he continues to cry. "I just want to be alone, please."

    "I don't think I should leave you alone right now, Taehyung," Jeongguk says looking at him. "Come on, talk to me, Tae~"

    "I don't want to talk to you," Taehyung sobs, sitting back against the walk and covering his face with his hands. "Please just leave me alone. I want to be alone."

Jeongguk feels his throat tighten at the sound of Taehyung's broken sobs.

    "Get out, Jeongguk!"

    "O-Okay, I'm going."

Jeongguk scrambles to his feet, leaving the bathroom just as Taehyung slams the door shut. He feels hesitant to leave, but he doesn't want to push Taehyung any further over the edge by staying.

So he grabs his things and he leaves the apartment.

Making sure to text Taehyung saying that he could call him the minute he needed or wanted him.