Taehyung arrived at the bar ten minutes before nine. He parked quickly and ran towards the entrance, but as he reached the door, two figures stepped out slowly.

"Jeongguk" Taehyung muttered, his heart sinking as he ran to them.

Hoseok had an arm around Jeongguk, whose head was lowered. Hoseok saw Taehyung approach and sighed in relief.

"I'm so glad you're here" Hoseok let out. "He's a bit drunk. I was about to call him a taxi but now that you're here..."

Taehyung nodded, wrapping an arm around Jeongguk and taking him into his embrace. "Baby, hey"

"Mmmm," Jeongguk muttered. He raised his head to look at Taehyung. "Oh! Look who's finally here. My so-called boyfriend" his words were slow and slurred.

"My love" Taehyung whispered. "I'm sorry"

"Fuck you"

Taehyung glanced at Hoseok, who shot him an apologetic look. "Take care of him"

"I'm sorry I couldn't make it. I was stuck with some work. Didn't realize how late it was—only saw the time when I finished and it was almost 8.30 p.m. already."

"I know you're busy. Jeongguk understands too," Hoseok muttered. "But..."

"But what?"

Hoseok shook his head. "Never mind. I think you guys need to talk some things out"

Taehyung felt his heart ache at that. Had he done something wrong? Was it his work? Was Jeongguk so disappointed at him for not making it to their hangout that evening?

"Is he okay?" Taehyung asked.

"Yeah. Just had two glasses of whiskey"

"He's a lightweight" Taehyung looked at the man who clung to his side. "My baby"

"I'll be going then. Let's meet again soon, okay?"

"I promise I will make it next time. Work is just unpredictable, you know?"

"I understand, but make sure you make it next time. And please text back in the group chat."

Taehyung smiled. "I will"

"See you, then"

"Shall I give you a lift?"

"Nah, I'm going the other way, anyway. I booked a taxi. Get going with Jeongguk, now"

"Alright," Taehyung bid goodbye to Hoseok and guided Jeongguk to the car slowly. Jeongguk didn't resist, letting Taehyung help him into the passenger seat before buckling him in. Taehyung climbed into the driver's seat, casting a glance at Jeongguk, who stared ahead, eyes half-lidded.

The engine roared to life as Taehyung drove through the busy streets, city lights blurring past.

"Did you have something to eat?" Taehyung asked Jeongguk.

"No"

"Let's grab dinner, then"

"I'm not hungry"

"Baby"

"Don't baby me"

"I'm sorry" Taehyung whispered, momentarily glancing at Jeongguk who continued to stare blankly ahead.

"Did you have lunch?" Jeongguk muttered after some time.

"I did. Let's have something yummy for dinner?"

"I just want to go home. I'm sleepy" Jeongguk muttered.

"I will stop and get some takeout then. What would you like?"

"I would like you to come to a place at a time when I tell you to"

Taehyung sighed. "To eat, my love"

"Let's just have some ramen at home"

"Alright" Taehyung smiled. "I really am sorry. I will try my best to not be late next time. You know I don't do it purposefully"

Jeongguk sighed, running his hands through his hair. He looked much sober now. "I know. You don't need to apologize to me, Tae. I know you have a lot of work"

"Yeah but I still am sorry. I might not have been able to help it but it was still wrong of me not to turn up there in time. So I'm sorry"

Jeongguk bit his lip, contemplating. "I am mad at you"

Taehyung nodded. "I deserve it"

Jeongguk shook his head. "You shouldn't. You're working hard to provide for us. And I'm always grateful for you"

"You're my boyfriend. It's an honour and a privilege to provide for you, my darling"

"Tae..."

"I'm still sorry"

"I accept your apology"

"Let me make it up to you. How can I?"

Jeongguk gulped, still staring ahead. Taehyung could sense that something was still bothering Jeongguk. Jeongguk had always been the type to keep things inside. He would rather die inside and let things out, sometimes.

"Talk to me" Taehyung whispered. "What's on your mind?" He placed his hand over Jeongguk's, squeezing his soft hand.

Jeongguk shook his head. "Let's just go home and cuddle"

"Baby, tell me what's bothering you"

Jeongguk was contemplating again. He shrugged. "I'm just annoyed, I guess"

"Because I didn't come on time?"

Jeongguk shrugged again and it took him a moment to answer Taehyung. "Yeah. But you already apologized so..."

Taehyung hummed. "I will make it to the next one, I promise"

"Okay," Jeongguk nodded. "I'm hungry. Shall we get something to eat?"

-

Jeongguk didn't want to eat. But he was hungry. Alcohol made him sleepy, but if he went to sleep with an empty stomach, he would wake up in the middle of the night. Therefore, he sat with Taehyung at the kitchen island, eating the Chinese takeout Taehyung had bought on the way home.

Jeongguk spoke to Taehyung about his day, like he always did, at dinner. He told Taehyung about the things Hoseok had told him, except for the parts about Jeongguk and Taehyung's relationship.

Jeongguk didn't want to ruin the mood. Everything was fine with them at the moment.

However, he couldn't help the way his heart felt heavy. As if there was a wound at his heart. A dull ache that didn't seem to go away.

And just like every other day, Taehyung didn't go into details about what he had been occupied with throughout the day. Not even what made him so late. Just-

"There was some urgent work. I had to get it done at that time. I couldn't postpone it"

Taehyung felt so... distant from him.

Maybe it was how Taehyung didn't give the relationship as much attention as before. He was so preoccupied. Busy. With his work.

His work took up most of his time. And when he was done with work, he barely had any time for Jeongguk.

He did take care of Jeongguk. Inside the house, he did. But Jeongguk wanted to go out of the house with him. Have fun. Like normal couples do. Like people his age does. Jeongguk was only 23. Taehyung was 25. They were still so young. Jeongguk wanted to have fun when he could.

He wanted to go on dates, hang out with their friends, and grab drinks with them. He wanted to do all these things with Taehyung. It didn't need to be anything grand, nor often.

But in the last 3 months, Jeongguk doubted Taehyung had gone out of the house very often. On some weeks, he only went out of the house to pick Jeongguk up from work. And it hurt Jeongguk that they hadn't been on a date in 3 whole months. And it wasn't for Jeongguk's lack of trying to plan dates and Taehyung just had to show up. But no.

It sometimes felt like Taehyung wasn't giving this relationship much attention. He gave Jeongguk attention, sure. But not the relationship. Does that make sense?

"Take a shower before bed. You hate not showering before bed" Taehyung's voice came as he put away the empty food containers

"Don't wanna" Jeongguk whined. "Sleepy"

"Come on, baby" Taehyung muttered. "Be a good boy, now"

Jeongguk's stomach fluttered at that. "Don't turn me on, now"

Taehyung smirked at that. "Get in the shower"

"Join me"

Taehyung smiled. "What for?"

"Bathe me" Jeongguk whispered. "Want you to take care of me"

Taehyung licked his lips, a smirk playing at his lips.

"And fuck me well"

"Don't I always fuck you well?"

Jeongguk smiled. "Of course. But I have forgotten how well"

Taehyung chuckled. "Really? It has barely been 24 hours"

"That's so long ago!"

"Will your ass be okay?"

"Good thing I don't have anything planned tomorrow"

Taehyung shook his head, laughing. "Strip and wait for me in the bathroom"

"Why don't you strip me?" Jeongguk flashed a sultry smile as he got up, swaying his hips.

"You're going to regret saying that." Taehyung growled, stepping toward him. But before he could reach him, Jeongguk darted away.

"Catch me if you can!"

"You won't like what happens when I do."

-

It was past midnight when Taehyung tucked Jeongguk into their bed, after a lengthy and rough session of sex in the bathroom. Jeongguk was already asleep, breathing evenly.

Taehyung had made sure to shower Jeongguk well. He liked taking care of Jeongguk. Jeongguk was perfectly submissive when he wanted to be. Taehyung loved it.

Taehyung pressed a kiss onto Jeongguk's forehead and sat down on the bed next to the slumbering younger. He opened his laptop, placing it on his lap.

He entered the dark web. He checked his website, finding it functioning smoothly. There were 11.4k users online, and 1,874 transactions had occurred that day. The day's profit was $21,892.56. Taehyung felt a sense of relief—despite the few hours of downtime, things were running smoothly.

He checked his phone. Dongsik had sent a few messages, which he had probably missed when he was in the bathroom with Jeongguk.

He was asking about how the hangout went and with a smile, Taehyung replied to his messages. They were friends, even though they barely knew anything about each other.

"There were no issues after I fixed things, right?" Taehyung texted him.

He was waiting for a text back when-

"What are you doing?"

Taehyung's eyes widened in alarm. He turned his head to see Jeongguk looking at him.

"Oh I um..." Taehyung gulped. Realizing he still had his laptop turned on, the website displayed on the screen, he quickly pushed the device shut.

Jeongguk furrowed his eyebrows together. His eyes shifted to the laptop and then the phone in Taehyung's hand.

"Work again?" Jeongguk asked.

"Yeah" Taehyung gulped. "I wanted to check something before I went to bed"

Jeongguk sighed. He looked disappointed and annoyed. Taehyung was about to put his phone away when the phone dinged with a text notification.

"Who are you texting?" Jeongguk asked.

"Dongsik" Taehyung answered. He looked at the screen but-

"So late at night? Why is he texting you at this time?"

Taehyung was trying to read the text, which looked long. He felt a pang of anxiety on his chest. He wondered if there was an issue on the website again.

"Taehyung–"

"Can you please stay silent?" Taehyung snapped. He hopped off the bed with his laptop and phone in hand. "I have something to do..." he muttered, reading the text from Dongsik.

"Tae" Jeongguk's voice came again.

Taehyung quickly read the text, where Dongsik was asking him to check the security walls of the website again.

"I have some work. I'll be right back" Taehyung muttered.

"What work? Who's making you work in the middle of the night?!" Jeongguk was seated on the bed, watching Taehyung with furrowed eyebrows.

Taehyung's mind was racing and anxiety brewed in his chest. He started texting Dongsik, asking if there was an issue he spotted.

"Taehyung, what are you hiding from me?"

Taehyung's head snapped up. "I'm not hiding anything" Taehyung's voice came out sharp, more than he intended to.

Jeongguk recoiled slightly, hurt.

But before Taehyung could take in the hurt in Jeongguk's eyes, his phone pinged again. Without looking at Jeongguk, Taehyung rushed out of the bedroom, heading to his study.

🧊

Angsty, I know. Dw, I will be updating soon!What do you think about Tae's behaviour and Koo's feelings?