The morning came way too quick, and Jeongguk could feel the anxiety gnawing at him. He checked his phone, scrolling through the old chats with V from the night before. Something inside him screamed to ditch the trip, but he knew there was no way out of it.

Before he could think too much, Shezam’s fingers slid between his, snapping him back to reality. Jeongguk quickly stuffed his phone in his pocket, feeling weirdly guilty.

"Babe, we’re gonna have a killer time. You ready?" Shezam was all excited, like a kid on Christmas morning.

"Uh, yeah. Ready," Jeongguk muttered, though his voice didn’t match the words. He grabbed his bag, the weight of the day pressing down on him.

They stepped outside, and Jeongguk paused, kneeling to give Bam a quick pat. "Don’t give Mrs. Stillon too much trouble, okay? Be good."

Bam barked, his tail wagging, but Jeongguk’s mind was elsewhere. He wished he could bring Bam along, but that wasn’t happening.

Shezam was already tossing their bags into the trunk, practically bouncing with energy as he hopped into the driver’s seat. Jeongguk took one last look at Bam’s reflection in the side mirror before sliding into the passenger seat.

The morning sun lit up everything, making the world look all shiny and new, but Jeongguk’s mind was tangled up in thoughts of V. Should he send a quick text, just to—

Shezam’s hand landed on his thigh, pulling him back to the present. Jeongguk looked over to see Shezam grinning at him, one hand on the wheel, the other resting casually on Jeongguk’s leg.

"Hey, no zoning out on me," Shezam teased, squeezing Jeongguk’s thigh. "We’re here, together. Got a whole week, no distractions. You with me?"

"Yeah, yeah, I’m with you," Jeongguk replied, forcing a smile. But his mind was still a mess, caught between wanting to be there for Shezam and feeling the pull of V.

"Forget about everything else, okay? Just us, no work, no nothing. We’re gonna have a blast." Shezam insisted, his voice full of excitement.

Jeongguk nodded, looking out the window. The sun was shining, the world looked perfect, but inside, he felt anything but. Even with Shezam’s hand on his thigh, his thoughts kept drifting back to V, those unsendmessages gnawing at him. He wanted to be present, to enjoy the trip, but no matter how hard he tried, his mind was somewhere else entirely.

As they hit the road, Shezam was all smiles, talking a mile a minute about the vintage area they were headed to. He was stoked, practically bouncing in his seat, while Jeongguk just nodded along, trying to keep up.

"You’re gonna love it, babe. No signal, just us. It’s gonna be like… an actual break from everything," Shezam said, his eyes flicking over to Jeongguk with a grin.

Jeongguk forced a smile. "Yeah, sounds… peaceful."

Shezam didn’t seem to notice the hesitation. He was too busy going on about the places they’d explore, the food they’d try, and all the stuff they could do without any interruptions.

But Jeongguk’s thoughts kept drifting back to his phone, buried deep in his pocket. He could almost feel it buzzing, like V might be messaging him right now, wondering why he’d gone quiet. The urge to check was eating at him, but he knew he couldn’t. Not with Shezam sitting right next to him, all excited about this trip.

"You okay?" Shezam asked suddenly, giving Jeongguk’s thigh another squeeze.

"Yeah, just thinking," Jeongguk mumbled, staring out the window at the passing scenery.

Shezam chuckled. "Thinking too much, gguk. Just relax, will ya? We’re gonna have an awesome time."

Jeongguk nodded, but his mind was still tangled. The idea of spending a whole week without texting V was starting to freak him out. He didn’t even know why he cared so much, but it was there, gnawing at him.

Suddenly, Shezam leaned over, brushing his lips against Jeongguk’s ear. "You know, I’m really looking forward to some alone time with you," he whispered, his voice low and teasing.

Jeongguk tensed up, his breath hitching as Shezam’s hand started wandering. "Yeah?: he managed to say, trying to sound more into it than he actually was.

"Mhm," Shezam hummed, his hand moving higher up Jeongguk’s thigh. "Just us, no distractions."

Jeongguk swallowed hard, trying to push all thoughts of V out of his head. But it was hard—too hard. The guilt was twisting in his gut, and no matter how much he wanted to be here with Shezam, a part of him was already counting down the days until he could get back and check his messages.

"Babe, you with me?" Shezam’s voice was a little more serious now, like he could sense something was off.

"Yeah," Jeongguk said quickly, snapping back to the present. “I’m with you.”

"Good." Shezam said, leaning in to plant a soft kiss on Jeongguk’s neck. "Cause this week? It’s just about us."

Jeongguk nodded again, but as the car rolled on, the weight of the upcoming week pressed down on him. He wanted to be all in, to make this week about him and Shezam, but the truth was, a part of him was already somewhere else—somewhere with V, wondering what could’ve been if things were different.

Soon, Jeongguk slumped back in his seat as Shezam pulled the car up to the roadside stall. The sun was setting, painting the sky in those soft golden hues that usually calmed him down. But not today. As soon as Shezam stepped out to grab some tea, Jeongguk whipped out his phone, hoping for even the tiniest bar of signal.

"Come on, come on..." he muttered, refreshing the screen like his life depended on it. But all he got was a fat zero for signal. "Fuck!" He ran a hand through his hair, frustration bubbling up.

Before he could spiral, Shezam strolled back, two cups in hand and that easygoing smile plastered on his face. Jeongguk quickly shoved his phone away like a guilty teenager caught texting past curfew.

"Here," Shezam said, passing him a cup. "Thought we could use a break. The drive's been long, huh?"

"Yeah, thanks," Jeongguk replied, forcing a smile and trying to keep his voice steady.

They both slid back into their seats, and Shezam started rambling about all the plans he had for their week away. He was talking about some hiking trails, cozying up by the fire, the whole romantic getaway vibe. Jeongguk nodded along, but his mind was elsewhere—way elsewhere.

"Can you believe it? A whole week, just us!" Shezam was saying, practically buzzing with excitement.

Jeongguk just sipped his tea, nodding like he was paying attention, but really, all he could think about was V. It was like his brain was stuck on repeat, every other thought circling back to him.

Shezam noticed the distance, giving Jeongguk a little nudge. "You alright, babe? You’re kinda zoning out on me."

Jeongguk blinked, snapping back to the present. "Huh? Oh, yeah. Just, uh, thinking about all the hiking. You know me and the outdoors…"

Shezam chuckled, reaching over to pat his thigh. "Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you have a good time. We’re gonna make some memories, promise."

Jeongguk nodded, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes. His thoughts were still with V, and no amount of tea or sweet talk from Shezam could pull him out of it. He was here with his boyfriend, supposed to be enjoying a trip, but his head was miles away, tangled up with someone who wasn’t even there.

Shezam kept talking, painting pictures of their week together with every word, but Jeongguk couldn’t shake the feeling gnawing at him. It was going to be a long week, and all he could think was how badly he wanted to text V, to feel that connection again.

Shezam, still oblivious, squeezed his hand, his voice soft and full of promise. "Ready for this?"

Jeongguk forced another smile, squeezing back. "Yeah, let’s do it."

But inside, he was already counting the days, wishing this week would fly by faster than ever.

Jeongguk let out a tired sigh as they finally pulled up to their holiday spot, the night settling in around them like a thick blanket. The place was remote, surrounded by dense forest that made the last stretch of the drive feel like a lifetime. The cold wind hit them as soon as they stepped out of the car, cutting through their jackets and making them shiver.

“]"Man, it’s freezing," Jeongguk muttered, rubbing his arms as he grabbed his bag from the trunk.

"Worth it, though," Shezam grinned, slinging his own bag over his shoulder. "This is going to be perfect. Just us, no one around to bother us."

Jeongguk forced a smile, nodding as they made their way to the cabin. He could barely feel his fingers from the cold, but it wasn’t just the temperature that was making him uncomfortable. His mind kept wandering back to V, to their last conversation, to the message he was dying to send.

They reached the cabin and checked in, getting their keys from the front desk. The place was nice enough—rustic, cozy, the kind of spot that was probably great for couples looking to get away from it all. But as they headed to their room, all Jeongguk could think about was how badly he wanted to check his phone.

Once inside, Jeongguk tossed his bag on the bed and started to change into something more comfortable. He was halfway through pulling on a hoodie when Shezam walked in the room, towel slung on his shoulders, ready to take a shower.

"You mind if I go first?" Shezam asked, grabbing face wash bar and heading back into the bathroom.

"Nah, go ahead," Jeongguk replied, trying to sound casual. As soon as Shezam disappeared, Jeongguk quickly grabbed his phone, heading out into the hall to see if he could find a Wi-Fi signal.

Jeongguk's exhaustion evaporated, replaced by a sudden urge to check his phone. He needed to talk to V, just a quick message, something to remind him that he wasn’t completely cut off from the world.

He slipped out of the room and headed straight to the front desk, where a friendly-looking lady was sitting. "Hey, uh, do you guys have Wi-Fi?"

She smiled and handed him a slip of paper with the password. "Here you go, enjoy your stay!"

"Thanks," Jeongguk muttered, already turning on his heel and practically running back back to the room. He punched in the setting as soon as he was inside.

"Please, please, please," he muttered under his breath, praying for some kind of connection. Finally, he found a weak signal and hurriedly typed in the Wi-Fi password. Relief washed over him as he saw the little Wi-Fi symbol pop up.

Just as he was about to open his chat with V, the bathroom door creaked open, and Shezam stepped out, still in his towel, eyeing Jeongguk with a raised brow.

"What’re you doing out here?" Shezam asked, his tone light but with an edge to it.

Jeongguk pocketed his phone, trying to act nonchalant. "Just, uh, checking something. You know, making sure everything’s good back home."

"Seriously? We're supposed to be on a getaway, and you're glued to that thing?" He walked over, yanking the phone out of Jeongguk's hand before he could protest, then flopped onto the couch.

"We’re supposed to be getting away from all that, remember?"

Before Jeongguk could protest, Shezam’s hands were on him, pulling him into a rough kiss. He felt Shezam’s fingers curl around the waistband of his sweatpants, tugging him closer as he deepened the kiss.

"Focus on me," Shezam whispered against his lips, his hand sliding down to Jeongguk’s crotch, squeezing just enough to make Jeongguk gasp. "Just you and me. No distractions."

Shezam was on him, his hand pressing down on Jeongguk’s crotch through his clothes, rubbing slow circles that sent a jolt of heat straight through him. "Babe, I’ve been thinking about this all day." Shezam whispered, his lips brushing against Jeongguk’s ear.

The another male, Jeongguk could feel his body reacting, but his mind was still miles away, stuck on V, stuck on what he wanted to say.

Shezam’s breath was hot against Jeongguk’s neck as he started whispering dirty promises, his hand squeezing Jeongguk’s clothed crotch harder now, making him gasp. "I’m gonna make you feel so good, babe. Gonna make you forget about everything else."

"Come on, babe," Shezam murmured, his voice low and tempting. “You know you want this. Let’s make this night count.”

Jeongguk forced himself to nod, trying to push thoughts of V out of his mind. "Yeah... Yeah, okay."

But even as Shezam’s hand moved faster, squeezing and rubbing in all the right places, Jeongguk couldn’t shake the feeling of something missing. He tried to focus, tried to be present, but all he could think about was how much he wished he could sneak away, just for a moment, to send that message to V.

"You with me?" Shezam asked, his other hand now sliding up Jeongguk’s chest, his breath hot against Jeongguk’s neck.

Jeongguk swallowed hard, nodding again, though it felt like a lie. "Yeah, I’m here."

"Good," Shezam grinned, pushing Jeongguk down onto the bed, climbing on top of him. "Let’s make this trip unforgettable, yeah?"

"Hey," Shezam’s voice pulled him back, a bit of irritation lacing his tone. "You’re zoning out again. What’s up with you?"

"Sorry, just tired," Jeongguk lied, forcing a smile. :Long drive and all."

"Mm, well, let me help you relax," Shezam purred, his hand slipping under Jeongguk’s hoodie, fingers tracing patterns on his skin. "You need to let go, babe. This week is all about us."

Jeongguk nodded, trying to relax as Shezam’s hand moved lower, but all he could think about was how much he wished he could be texting V instead.

"Let’s start by getting rid of these," Shezam tugged at Jeongguk’s sweatpants, grinning as he began to slide them down. "I’ve got plans for us tonight, and they don’t involve any clothes."

Jeongguk swallowed hard, nodding as he tried to push thoughts of V out of his mind. "Yeah, okay. Let’s do this."

Jeongguk tried to match his enthusiasm but as Shezam’s hands roamed over his body, all Jeongguk could think about was how much he wished he could be anywhere else, doing anything else.

All he wanted was to send that one message, to connect with V, even if just for a moment. But he was stuck here, with Shezam, and there was no getting out of it now.

Taehyung couldn’t shake the nagging feeling all day. His phone was practically glued to his hand whenever he wasn't in the air. No new messages from Jk. Not a single one. It gnawed at him, the silence.

He checked his phone for the umpteenth time during lunch. The screen was as empty as it was the last ten times. Erin, sitting across from him, noticed his distant expression.

Taehyung poked at his food with his fork, half-listening to Erin talk about her plans for the weekend. His phone was still in his hand, resting on the table, screen up. It had become a reflex to check it every few minutes, hoping for that message that wasn’t coming.

"You sure you're okay?" Erin's voice broke through his thoughts, sounding more concerned this time. "You’re quieter than usual, and that’s saying something."

Taehyung forced a laugh, waving her off. "I’m fine, just... I dunno, out of it today."

"Yeah, no kidding." Erin leaned in, narrowing her eyes at him.
"You keep checking your phone like you're expecting someone. Hot date or something?"

He shook his head, a little too quickly. "Nah, just waiting on a text from a friend."

Erin raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it but didn’t push. "Must be some friend to get you this distracted. You’ve barely touched your food."

Taehyung shrugged, trying to play it cool. "It’s nothing, just a guy I’ve been chatting with online. No big deal."

Erin grinned, leaning back in her chair. "Oh, I see how it is. You’ve got it bad, huh? Is he cute?"

Taehyung felt his cheeks heat up, and he groaned inwardly. "We’ve never met in person. Just talking, that’s all."

"Uh-huh, just talking." Erin gave him a knowing look. "I bet you’re dying to check your phone right now."

Taehyung smirked, but it was half-hearted. "Maybe a little. It’s weird, though. A month ago, I wouldn’t have cared about waiting for a text."

"Well, people change, Tae. Maybe this guy’s just got something about him that’s got you hooked." Erin shrugged, sipping her drink. "Nothing wrong with that."

Taehyung sighed, finally picking up his phone again, his thumb hovering over the screen. Still nothing. "Yeah, but it’s kind of driving me nuts. He hasn’t messaged me all day. Like, not one word."

Erin looked sympathetic, but she chuckled. "I’ve been there. It sucks, but don’t let it get to you too much. If he’s worth it, he’ll get back to you."

"Yeah, I guess." Taehyung put his phone down, trying to focus on the conversation with Erin, but his mind kept wandering back to Jeongguk. He knew he shouldn’t care this much, but he did. And that was the part that scared him.

As Erin droned on about some random topic, Taehyung's thoughts drifted back to Jk.

Why was he so hung up on this guy? Just a dude from an online account, nothing more. But that didn’t stop him from wanting to hear from him, to see that notification light up his screen.

He picked at his food, barely listening to Erin. His phone buzzed—just an email. He sighed, shoving it back in his pocket, frustrated at himself for caring this much.

Taehyung didn’t have an answer for why Jk was on his mind 24/7, but that didn’t change the fact that he was. And it was driving him crazy.

His mind was elsewhere, replaying every conversation with Jk, every smile that text from him brought. It was ridiculous. A month ago, he wouldn’t have cared about a missed message. But now, everything seemed to revolve around that one person.

Taehyung stepped into the shower, letting the hot water cascade over him, but even that couldn't wash away the thoughts swirling in his mind. His fingers traced patterns on the wet tiles as he leaned against the wall, eyes closed. He knew about the trip, knew it was just a week, but it still gnawed at him.

"Why am I even trippin’ like this?" he mumbled to himself, running a hand through his damp hair.

"It's just a week... not like he's gonna disappear or something." But deep down, he couldn't shake the feeling. The whole day, his mind had been on one thing—no, one person.

He sighed, tilting his head back under the water. "This is stupid. It shouldn't bother me this much."

But it did.

He’d checked his phone so many times that day, hoping for a message, anything. But nothing. Every time he saw the blank screen, it was like a little stab of disappointment. He could still feel the weight of his phone in his hand, the screen too dark, too silent.

"Come on, Tae, chill out," he whispered, trying to talk some sense into himself. "It's not like he's ghosting you or something... he’s just busy." But that didn’t help much. The familiar ping he’d been waiting for, it was all he could think about.

He stepped out of the shower, wrapping a towel around his waist. The mirror was fogged up, just like his thoughts. "Why’s this even messing with my head so much?" he questioned his reflection, wiping a hand across the glass. "A month ago, none of this mattered. Now I’m here, waiting on a message like some lovesick fool."

As he padded out of the bedroom, the TV in his room played some random movie he wasn’t even watching. His food sat untouched on the table. He picked up his phone again, staring at the screen, willing it to light up. But it stayed stubbornly blank.

He threw himself onto the couch, phone in hand, and sighed deeply. "Just one message... that’s all I want," he muttered, staring at the ceiling. "Is that too much to ask?"

But even as he tried to distract himself with the movie, his thoughts kept drifting back to that damn phone, hoping, waiting. And the food? Might as well have been cardboard for all he could taste. Nothing seemed right without that familiar ping.

He lives in my head now, Taehyung thought bitterly. Rent-free, no eviction notice, just sitting there, messing with my brain.

Why do I want him all to myself? he thought. Why can’t I just let it go, even for a week?

But deep down, he knew the answer. He didn’t want to let it go because Jk had become something more, something he wasn’t ready to admit yet. And the worst part? He wasn’t sure he ever would be.

Finally, with a resigned sigh, Taehyung grabbed his phone one last time. He opened the chat with Jk, typed out a quick message—something simple, just to let him know he was thinking about him—and hit send before he could second-guess himself.

[@Vantae30_u]
Hope u're having a good time.

Just wanted to say hi. :)

He tossed the phone aside, burying his face in the pillow. It was out of his hands now, and whatever happened next was up to Jk. All he could do was wait—and try not to drive himself crazy in the process.

But deep down, he knew he’d be lying there, waiting for that familiar buzz, hoping against hope that Jk would reply. And maybe, just maybe, it would be enough to make this restless night a little bit easier to bear.

(a/n:- finally a long chapter...taehyung is so adorbale thinking abt his Jk😭)