20. Lie and Dine
Takeout was what was on the menu since neither of them had an opportunity to cook before Laylin would show up. Shortly after they arrived back at the house, Jungkook ordered food off Taehyung's phone since he offered to pay for the meal. Right after Jungkook had placed the order, he heard the buzzer sound at the front gate. Taehyung moved to let Laylin in by entering the code in the security box by the door once he saw her image on the small security feed window. He then moved to open the front door as she slowly made her way up the walkway.
Taehyung noticed that she was much more timid than he had ever seen her before. She had a purse in her hands and was holding it in front of her as she clutched the life out of it. Even though the door was open, her eyes were skittering every which way to look at the shadow covered front lawn.
"Hi Laylin," said Taehyung, hoping the familiar face he currently had would give her comfort.
Laylin's eyes turned to look at him then as she gave a thin smile in return.
"Are you Taehyung's door greeter now?" teased Laylin softly, gripping her purse even tighter as she stepped inside as Taehyung stepped aside.
"I suppose so," he said with a grin, shutting the door behind her.
Laylin stood in the entryway, looking all about a place she had only seen before in snapshots off the internet or the like. Her eyes stopped their gazing about the place when they landed on Jungkook standing in the doorway to the living room. He had his hands clasped behind his back currently as the two of them locked eyes for a moment. Laylin was the one that broke the gaze first as a blush tinted her cheeks.
"Thank you for inviting me over," said Laylin as she looked down at her feet as she began to toe off her shoes.
"You don't have to take your shoes off," said Taehyung as Laylin turned to look at him oddly.
"This isn't your house, Kookie. I feel like I need to."
"He's right. You don't need to take your shoes off. Really," said Jungkook as Laylin looked back over at him.
She paused for a moment before nodding her head and keeping them on her feet. Awkwardness settled between the three of them as Taehyung shot Jungkook a look when Laylin looked away from him.; a look that clearly read 'say something, you idiot.' Jungkook cleared his throat and walked over to them.
"I'm not being a very good host. Forgive me. Please come in and make yourself comfortable."
Jungkook led Laylin and Taehyung into the living room. He gestured for them to have a seat on the couch. As soon as she sat down, Taehyung moved to sit beside her. Jungkook had to keep his irrational jealous side at bay right then. He was sure that Taehyung was just doing that to help Laylin feel more relaxed.
"I'm very confused how you two are such good friends," said Laylin. "I mean, you were in a car accident together sure, but now we're at Taehyung's house."
"Hey, it's lonely by myself," said Jungkook with a shrug of his shoulders. "Besides, Jungkook is a good dude."
He felt slightly narcissistic saying that; relieved when the gate's buzzer went off again. Jungkook moved to go out to the entryway to look at the security box by the door, only then realizing that he didn't know how to unlock the gate from this side of things. Jungkook turned to look back towards the living room to notice that Taehyung was looking at him. Laylin was still facing forward so she didn't see Taehyung drop a hand behind the couch and start signaling the security code to Jungkook with his fingers. Jungkook watched Taehyung flash him a few numbers with his fingers before punching the code into the security box. He opened the door after, taking the food from the man standing there. He then walked out into the kitchen where he began to lay takeout containers on the kitchen island. Taehyung and Laylin were soon out in the kitchen beside him.
"Do you mind if I use your restroom?" asked Laylin when she came out. "Before I eat, I'd like to wash up really quick."
"Um...sure," said Jungkook as he nodded his head towards where the downstairs bathroom was. When she disappeared, Taehyung immediately put an arm about Jungkook as he sagged.
"It's hard being you," Jungkook whispered in case Laylin could hear.
"You're doing great," whispered Taehyung back, looking at the containers of takeout food that Jungkook had bought.
"Did I buy too much?" asked Jungkook as he noticed Taehyung surveying everything.
"No, I was just purusing," he said, but before he could say anything else Laylin returned; Taehyung immediately dropping his arm from about Jungkook.
"Help yourself please," said Jungkook as he held out a plate to Laylin.
Laylin gave him a polite smile before taking the plate and beginning to load it with food. Jungkook handed a plate to Taehyung after so he could go next.
"So have you two been hanging out together all day?" asked Laylin as they all took turns loading their plates with food.
"Yes," said Taehyung. "We've actually had fun. Taehyung texted me to come over."
"You two have each other's numbers?"
"We traded them at the hospital," said Jungkook.
"And why?"
"We're ABCs is why," said Taehyung.
"What the heck does that mean? A Bit Crazy?"
Jungkook couldn't help the bark of laughter that left his mouth, flushing as he tried to compose himself and finish piling up food on his plate. Taehyung was chuckling himself at the remark. It was easy for him to see why Jungkook was so smitten by this woman.
"No," said Taehyung with a grin. "It stands for Accident Buddy..."
Taehyung paused when he was unable to come up with a 'c' that would stand for what Jungkook was to him. Accident Buddy Consultant would only work for an excuse in Taehyung's life not the other way around. Laylin looked over at Taehyung with a raised brow.
"What does the 'C' stand for then?"
"Comrade," said Jungkook for Taehyung; Laylin looking over at him as he answered. "I'm his accident buddy comrade."
"Well that's a bit redundant, no offense," said Laylin. "Don't buddy and comrade mean the same thing?"
Jungkook flushed again, but this time he was unable to hide it. He simply shrugged his shoulders.
"Do you think we should go with your suggestion then?"
Laylin was shocked by Jungkook's question back to her, but dared to nod her head in answer to her favorite idol's question. This wasn't banter she had ever expected to have with anyone other than Jungkook.
"Fine. We'll rename ourselves 'A Bit Crazy'," said Jungkook with a small grin. "After all, everyone is."
"That is definitely true," said Laylin as the three of them moved back into the other room to eat.
They ate most of the meal in silence. Laylin kept flicking her eyes between Taehyung and Jungkook as she ate. Jungkook could tell that Laylin was doing that, but stayed focused on his meal so that he didn't have to look at her. He kept having to remind himself that he was in Taehyung's body and had to try to act like it.
"I thought you didn't like spicy food," said Laylin finally breaking the silence.
Jungkook paused in his eating as he looked up to see Laylin looking his way with an arched brow. Taehyung was sitting beside her, trying to keep his face passive.
"Oh...um...most times I don't. Sometimes I do eat it though. Tonight is one of those nights," said Jungkook as he gave her a small smile.
Laylin didn't say anything as she nodded her head. Jungkook loved spicy food, and yet he sat beside her not eating any. Taehyung was the one eating all the spicy food, even though she had read in multiple interviews that he couldn't stomach it.
"Jungkook," said Laylin as she continued to eat, "Do you remember our camping trip last year?"
Taehyung took his turn panicking then as he looked briefly over at Jungkook though tried to make it appear as casual as possible.
"What about our camping trip last year?" said Taehyung who realized after that question left his mouth that it wasn't the right one.
"Nothing aside from the fact that we didn't go on one," said Laylin as Jungkook excused himself from where he was sitting, saying he was going out for seconds in the kitchen.
Something odd was going on and Laylin had no idea what it was, but it was driving her nuts. Taehyung looked over at her as he put his plate down.
"Excuse me," said Laylin as she moved to stand up.
Moving to walk out into the kitchen, she saw Jungkook standing with his back to her as he stood at the sink. She had to be insane, but even standing in this house was. She walked into the kitchen, moving to stand beside Jungkook at the sink for a moment as she turned her head to look at him. His eyes were focused on the drain as if it were the most interesting thing in the entire world.
"Jungkook," said Laylin softly. "That's you, isn't it?"
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