"What if you and Jimin be together? Won't that be the best thing to ever happen." Seokjin giggled. Taehyung rolled his eyes at Seokjin. It was Tuesday afternoon, just a regular day at Seokjin's bakery, one week after Jimin and Jungkook did the cake test and ever since that day, Seokjin did not stop bugging Taehyung to "take Jimin away from Jungkook".

"It was only eight days after he's told you to fuck off, what are you doing? Are you deaf?"

"Taehyung, you heard Jimin. If you love someone give it your all. This is me, not letting go of Jungkook." Seokjin rebutted displaying a tray of muffins for the new costumers that are now slowly filling up the room.

"You understand that there is a boundary to what you can do, right? Jungkook doesn't love you. He said so himself. You can't ruin a beautiful relationship just because you wanted to get back with your ex who doesn't want to do anything with you." To be frank, Taehyung wanted to smack Seokjin in the head for being a stubborn bitch, sometimes he even thinks he is already obsessed.

"Love comes with a price, Taehyung. If I will hurt Jimin just to get Jungkook back, then so be it. at least I did everything I can. All is fair in love and war, Tae." Taehyung made a face. Seokjin is definitely missing the plot in here.

"I don't know. You may be right. Me, I just want to have fun. I'm bored. You are not a good tour guide. You always mess up." Was all Taehyung said. Seokjin is stubborn, telling him what to do and what not to do will only fall on deaf ears. He doesn't want to waste his energy on that.

"Have you ever been in love?"

"hmm, no."

"That is why you don't know what I feel."

"I may never know what that feels like, but I know that I should keep my hands to myself when my ex reprimands me and tells me to stay away."

"We are not having this conversation again, Taehyung. you don't know a thing about loving someone, so shut up."

"I don't need someone to complete me. I can live perfectly on my own. Fucking is easy, loving is harder. The constant need to please, and care for someone is too much for me, I can't see myself doing that."

"But you agreed to go along with my plans. So, just help me, will you?"

A costumer came to order a box of donuts, cutting their conversation off. Taehyung mentally shook his head. he better think of something else as a payment for this deal of theirs because clearly he is getting the shorter end of the stick. After giving the old lady her orders, Taehyung looked back at Seokjin who is already wiping the countertops behind them. "I already agreed weeks ago, so yes. Just don't push me to be with Jimin."

"Is he not your type? I can see he is just like me. Gorgeous body, plump lips, fat ass, small waist. He's your type." Seokjin kept coaxing him, but Taehyung just frowned.

"No thanks. I like yours better."

"You haven't fucked him yet."

"And I don't plan to."

Seokjin frowned.

Taehyung kissed him.

"One frown, one kiss."

"Perv."

"I am not. Just horny. Two different things."

Seokjin rolled his eyes and Taehyung just chuckled at him amused at the reaction he got. It's easy to fluster Seokjin. maybe that will be the payment he will secretly get from this ordeal

==

After visiting Seokjin's bakery, Taehyung decided that it's time to unwind and get his favorite coffee at the café in the corner of the street near his apartment. In his short stay in Korea, this place had been his haven. Since he lives alone, this is where he spends most of his time looking at people go on about their day and listen to students chatter all afternoon.

Taehyung is busy scrolling through his phone looking and reading at the latest news trying to keep up at what he'd missed when a high-pitched voice spoke near his table.

"I haven't seen you in weeks! You came home, but you never showed yourself to us. what keeps my dear cousin busy, huh?"

It was Min Xiara, his cousin. Yoongi's twin sister and Namjoon's long-term girlfriend – or rather soon to be fiancé remembering Namjoon wanted to ask the woman to be his fiancé by the end of the year. She quickly sat beside Taehyung and bugged him to no ends.

"Did you met a girl, fall in love and want to marry?"

"Xiara-noona, it's not like that. It yours and Namjoon-hyung's story not mine. You know that I am not ready for relationships."

"Tae, you are getting older every day, you need someone to be with you. We don't want you to be alone."

He knew she means well but seeing himself be tied down to someone is not appealing for him. Taehyung dreads being in a relationship. He doesn't know what to do.

Being in a relationship requires a lot. You need to be present at every single thin your partner does, give them attention and unyielding affection. To understand them when things doesn't go the way you plan and be there for them for the rest of his life.

Taehyung doesn't know how to do that.

He doesn't know how to love.

Taehyung's entire life, he spent it with no one but himself. His parents were there physically, but they felt so far away from Taehyung. As a child he craved the attention and the praises of his parents, but it seemed like whatever he does, they only seemed to care and finally see him when he does well and makes them "proud". Proud in the sense that they can brag about him with their business associates, telling everyone how they had the "perfect child".

He questioned himself back then, if he was indeed a "perfect child", then why is his parents not there every Christmas eve? Why is every New Year spent with the maids, instead of his parents? He remembered crying every year because he felt so alone and lonely, until he realized that there is no use begging for them to be there for him when they themselves don't make an effort to be with him.

Since then it was instilled in his mind, if his own parents can't love him – a child they made, a very part of themselves – then there is no use in wanting someone to give the attention he craved for. And most of all, he doesn't want someone to dedicate their hearts and their life to him, when he can't even appreciate it.

How do you expect someone who has not known love to give love to someone else?

That is just absurd, and they will just end up hating each other.

Taehyung doesn't want that.

He looked at Xiara and said, "Don't worry, okay? Relax. If one day I decide to find a husband or a wife, you will be the first one to know."

Namjoon just chuckled and rubbed his girlfriend's back. They catch up for a while, Namjoon and Xiara telling Taehyung about the recent project that they are working on. Namjoon is a well-known rapper, a celebrity and sometimes he also produces songs for other artists. Meanwhile, Xiara is a registered dentist and just like Namjoon she is also in the entertainment industry. Looking at them, Taehyung is in awe that they can juggle all those things and still have time for each other.

Taehyung mentally shrugged. Guessing that maybe they can work it out unlike his parents. Xiara and Namjoon are people that Taehyung can confidently say that are full of love. Everywhere they go, they radiate warmth and comfort to everyone around them. Taehyung had knows Xiara and Yoongi all throughout his life and he can confidently say that they are the only people that he can trust and be vulnerable with.

"Fine." Xiara rolled her eyes and sat in front of Taehyung, Namjoon sitting beside her. Taehyung did not failed to note how Namjoon always stick by Xiara's side and how his cousin just let's her boyfriend be. They radiate calmness when they are together. completely opposite to what Xiara is like when not with Namjoon. Her chaotic nature being subdued and balanced by Namjoon's ever patient attitude.

"it's been a good while since you came back. How come we haven't seen you around? what are you doing on your free time?" Namjoon asked with genuine curiosity.

"Nothing, just entertaining myself." Taehyung's lips curved to a smile remembering Seokjin and his little antics. It refreshed him meeting a man like that. Never in his life someone so determined that you can see fire in their eyes whenever they talk about their goal and the lengths, they are willing to reach just to get what they want.

Taehyung admired Seokjin for that.

"And what do you mean by that?" Xiara asked.

"Well, there's this guy –"

Taehyung saw Xiara's eyes sparked, slightly taking in a deep breath before squealing, "My dear Taehyungie is in love?"

Taehyung and Namjoon laughed at how adorable she is.

"No, Xiara. I am not. I just told you earlier." Taehyung shook his head grinning, "As I was saying, there is this guy and he ... is twisted." Trying to stop himself from smiling, Taehyung put his finger close to his mouth to play with his lips in an attempt to swipe his lips and hide his smirk but failed, endeared when Seokjin's face flashed in his mind.

"Twisted? Like batshit crazy or just twisted in an adorable way?"

Namjoon's voice pulled Taehyung out of trance and he nodded his head.

"Yes, he's both. He's not crazy, but he is not the typical type either. He is fierce and he knows what he wants. And I enjoy seeing him be like that. Although I wish he stop running after a past lover who already moved on, I can't help myself but understand him somehow. But aside from that, he's got nice body and sex with him is great."

"Eww, that's TMI, Taehyung. TMI!" Xiara exclaimed and scrunched her nose making an expression close to disgust, she even fake puked before exploding in fits of giggles. "so you spend the entire time having sex?"

"No. I'm with him and I spend my time on his bakery. Sometimes, we go out and he tours me around. Although I already know all the places he brings me, I'm having fun playing ignorant around him."

"You really love spending time with him, don't you?" Namjoon asked.

"Yes. I love making him pissed." Taehyung giggled.

Xiara widened here eyes and covered her mouth with her palm acting like she is shocked, "Namjoon! This is how we started! Right? Right? Oh my god! Taehyung he is your soulmate!!"

"Honey, that's too early to tell." Namjoon wrapped her arms around Xiara to calm her down.

"But –"

"Shhh," Namjoon gently shushed her and she zipped her mouth making both men laugh.

"I'm not in love with him, okay? I just love his company because I never get bored. His life is like a real-life drama. I never thought those things exists in real life."

"What exactly is that?"

"It's not my story to tell so sorry I'm not giving you details."

==

"Koo, sweetheart, why are you frowning?" Jimin asked Jungkook when he noticed that his fiancé is staring at his phone like he wanted to throw it to the nearest window. They are both in bed resting after a long day of work. Jimin went to a photoshoot while Jungkook went out to fix the papers he needed for their next business venture.

"It's nothing, Min." Jungkook sighed. "I'm just frustrated, baby. Why do you have to work all the time? The wedding will be sooner than we think, and we are not yet even halfway to everything we need. All we have accomplished are the cake and the venue. Other than that, we're still stuck."

Jimin touched Jungkook's forehead aiming to soften his expression. He did not failed, and he made Jungkook smile at that. With an apologetic smile, Jimin said, "Sweetheart, I want to be with you. You know that. Every step of the way I want to be there with you, but I have a contract and I cannot deny them for now. One whole busy month, but after that, I'm yours. All yours my love."

"Yes, all mine." Jungkook breathed, "I can't wait for you to get out of that shitty agency and work with me. How nice would that be if I get to work with my husband?"

Jimin giggled resting his head on Jungkook's chest. "That would be nice, but I am afrid we won't be working productively when we're around each other."

"That is why I will make our lunch break so extensive that we can fool around a bit," Jungkook joked. Jimin's body shook with laughter biting on Jungkook's chest in an attempt to stop him from speaking any further.

"Work is work." Jimin said with finality in his voice making Jungkook frown. "We have our home, we can always entangle with each other here."

Jungkook sighed and sniffed Jimin's hair while hugging him closer. He cannot thanks the gods enough for bringing Jimin in his life, every day when he wakes up with Jimin by his side, he cannot help, but almost tear up with the thought that he was given salvation and another chance to find love again and he promised himself he will never let Jimin go. not any circumstances can change what he feels. Nothing. No one. Jimin already has his heart and there is no way he can ever take it back. He doesn't want to take them back. Jimin can consume him, and he won't even complain.

Jimin loves Jungkook, he really does, that is why the things that Jin is doing with him scares him. he wants to tell Jimin the truth. He wants Jimin to know everything. Jungkook values transparency in their relationship and Jimin's friendship with Jin is something Jungkook cannot simply allow especially when Jin is trying his best to win him back.

"Sweetheart, about my ex –"

Jimin frowned and looked directly at Jungkook with a pout.

"Koo, I told you, I don't want to hear it."

"Buut why? Mimi, I want to be honest with you, you're my future husband you deserve to know everything there is to know about me."

"Koo, my love, can we not do it now? I don't want to hear how hurt you were when you were still together," With that, Jimin's voice broke. Jungkook's gaze softened, and his lips touched Jimin's forehead. "I remember you crying so hard before when you told me how he always rejects your proposal the way y-you cried, I wanted to forget that. I don't want to remember that. It hurts me, Koo. I can't believe someone can hurt a person like you. I don't want you to relieve those memories again when we talk about him. I don't want to know him, so I can spare myself from hating him. I don't want to. Not now."

"But we really need to talk about him, Minnie. This is important, please."

"Do I know him?"

"Yes." Jungkook nodded gulping at the fear that Jimin might resent him if he ever knows who that ex-boyfriend of his was.

"Is he one of your friends?"

"Yes," Jungkook took a deep breath.

"Don't tell me his name for now, sweetheart, but tell me what is it that you want to tell me."

"He wants me back, sweetheart."

Jungkook felt Jimin stiffened and held his breath. Jungkook hated that his fiancé's eyes were filled with worry and uncertainty just because of a sentence. Had he not fulfilled his job at erasing those doubts?

Before he can even reassure Jimin, Jungkook heard the words that made his heart shatter, "D-do you have second thoughts about pursuing the wedding? I can give you time."

"What are you saying? Park Jimin, look at me." Jungkook commanded and Jimin cannot even look at him straight in the eye. "I told you, I love you. You. Not him. not anymore. not again. Don't think that just because I told you this, I will already leave you. You are what I need, you are my love. Nothing will change that."

"I'm afraid." Jimin squeaked. "He's been with you for years. What if you realize you still want him?"

Jungkook is thankful that Jimin is opening up to him with his uncertainties, this way he knows how to comfort him and how to ease his pain. It was a long time coming, but it was all worth the wait.

"Sweetheart, listen. I am an idiot if I let you go. you are perfect for me. My perfect baby. Trust me and my love please."

Jimin nodded and hugged Jungkook close. "If I catch him flirting with you, I will pull all his hair out."

Jungkook chuckled, "Do that, sweetheart. I won't stop you."

a/n: it blooms