This Seokjin:

With This Taehyung:

8. His Terms and a Jealous Folk

"Are you ready to go back to work tomorrow?"

Seokjin asked. Him and Taehyung went out that day as a part of their routine where they will have a day of the week spent roaming around the city, or outside of it, just making memories. Taehyung suggested it, and Seokjin agreed. It has been a long time since he got to go on a trip or even just enjoy Seoul as it is having a great discovery that a new coffee shop just opened at their street months ago. He has been so occupied by a lot of things to even notice.

"Yeah, I think I can handle it." Taehyung replied, "Hope that my muscle memory will do the job for me."

Seokjin smiled. Taehyung observed him while they walked side by side. Taehyung doesn't even know where they are exactly, they just walked around with a coffee in their hands. It's snowing in Seoul already, but Taehyung can't feel the cold whenever Seokjin is with him.

They are taking everything slow, but it is enough for Taehyung to get by. Since the day he admitted that he likes Seokjin, everything went smoothly. Staying at their home for two months gave him the chance to know Seokjin more. The first week is rough, the older is avoiding him, but Taehyung kept persevering. Small talks, little gifts, and a timid smile was all he did until all the tension between them slowly went away.

Aside from his small hardships, Taehyung also noticed that indeed, Seokjin gradually changed. One day, he went home to find all Seokjin's clothes all over their room, his once neutral closet became a burst of color. Even though he kept his old ones, the evident number of pastels surely won't be missed. Seokjin also started eating more. He doesn't mind. In fact, he likes the sight of it. His round cheeks when he stuffs his mouth full, his pleased humming whenever he took a bite of his favorite food, Tae took notes on that.

As he spent more and more days with Seokjin, he comes to another of his many realization.

"You know, I no longer want to regain my memories, hyung."

Seokjin cocked his head and looked at Taehyung with a confused expression. "Huh? Why?"

"I like us like this." He answered dragging his feet to the snow while he walked, putting his free hand on the front pockets of his worn jacket as he sips the hot coffee before he continued talking. "We're okay. Peaceful. I like that. these past few days, I don't see you cry anymore, and the sadness in your eyes are slowly disappearing. Looking at you everyday and seeing that makes me feel good because I know I am doing well at my goal of making you happy."

Seokjin avoided his gaze and walked forward without saying anything in response on Taehyung's statement. Taehyung expected it. He knows that Jin needs more time to heal and he is there to wait for him. and by waiting, he means that he literally waits for Seokjin to open up his heart to him, while also doing everything he can to keep Jimin away from Seokjin.

Even if Jimin is his best friend, he doesn't want him to be around Seokjin especially now that he knows that he feels something for Jin. Something as strong as love.

He stopped walking when Seokjin did. They are on the park. The skies are already dark, and the lamps started to be lit one by one.

He gazed at Seokjin's back.

Thinking about it, Taehyung doesn't know what goes on inside Seokjin's mind. Just like right now, he has been observing his face for traces of his thoughts, but he can't see anything. Whenever he looked at him, his face is blank like he is wearing a mask. He seemed so serious that if Taehyung would see him, he will not approach Seokjin because he is colder than the snow hitting the ground.

"Hyung ..."

Seokjin turned around and faced him. Wearing his trench coat and looking so dashingly handsome even in the zero-degree weather, Taehyung, for a millisecond asked himself why didn't Seokjin tried his luck being an actor? He would make the others eat his dust once everyone sees his face and when he smiles, oh god, no one can resist him.

Those sharp eyes that has the ability to make you squirm in place when he looked serious, but they will also be the very same orbs that will make you feel warm like a fuzzy hug with the kindness that radiates in it. And those lips, holy shit those lips –

"Tae?" Seokjin called for his attention, "Hey, I thought you are asking me something."

Shaking his head to wake himself up, Taehyung awkwardly faked a chuckle and rubbed his nape before blurting out the first question he has in mind.

"Can I kiss you?"

After hearing himself, Taehyung quickly covered his mouth and his face immediately reddened.

"No, No, t-that's not what I mean, I-I ... Oh my goodness, what the fuck, Kim Taehyung!" he cursed himself.

Seokjin just shook his head, "Sorry, no. I won't allow it."

The embarrassment made him want to be eaten by the ground but hearing Seokjin say no made his shoulders slump. He lowkey expected him to say yes, but who is he to demand, he is the one trying to win Seokjin's heart. He has no right to feel disappointed.

For Seokjin, he was surely taken aback at the question, but can he blame himself for being extra careful, the past decade, all the joys that he felt with Taehyung is immediately replaced with pain. He will hope that it will be his "one of these days" where he believed Taehyung is feeling the same for him, but Taehyung will prove otherwise by being an asshole, so he learned his lesson.

"I can't trust you yet, and if you only want to make peace with me to get inside my pants, then stop." He eyed Taehyung. "I won't give you the satisfaction, Taehyung."

He sighed walking closer to Taehyung making him feel smaller under the elder's gaze.

"If your hole is itching, get a gigolo or something that will satisfy your needs. I am not available for you." He muttered a curse under his breath. "I am so offended, fuck!"

He walked past Taehyung bumping their shoulders. Taehyung almost fell to the ground. He turned around looking at Seokjin's retreating figure. He saw the older walking fast and threw his coffee to the trash can harshly as he passed by it. He felt terrified remembering how Jin's eyes held the fires of his anger and distrust on him.

Snapping out of his thoughts, Taehyung quickly ran after Seokjin grabbing him by the arm, but the older just shrugs him away like he is not existing.

"Hyung, I am sorry, I didn't mean it that way. Trust me, I ... I just found your lips so attractive."

Seokjin stopped walking and face Taehyung.

"You are just horny."

"I am not!" he even stomped his feet.

"Taehyung, I gave you a chance for a reason, I want this to work. I want to give us one last shot, I am not here to fuck, or get fucked. If I only want that, I should've gone to someone else already, or I will beg you to do me." He gritted his teeth. "For fuck's sake, please give me an ounce of respect."

"I am giving you that hyung, I am just telling you how I find you attractive. Something that I failed to do back then!" he heaved, "Why can't you believe me?!"

"You are asking me that?" Seokjin asked. "You're really asking me that when you don't even give me a reason to trust you in the first place. Work for my trust, Taehyung. YOU will adjust to my terms, and those terms include no touching, no kissing, nor even a hug or holding hands."

Seokjin saw the baffled expression on Taehyung's face. "You can't do it? Then leave. I can live without you, Taehyung. It will be hard, but I can surely do that. I will forget everything that happened between –"

"I can do it." His voice full of determination. "I will prove to you that what I feel for you is genuine. Fuck that old Taehyung. This is the new me, and I will make you fall harder than what my previous self did."

Seokjin turned his back at him again. He can never face Taehyung for so long. He is so conflicted every time. He is in the middle of loving and hating him. he is going crazy. He knows in his heart of hearts he still loves him, but once he opened his mouth, no trace of it comes out. He knows it is because he is so tired of everything, and after ten years finally, he is finally feeling like giving up and it is now up to Taehyung to fight for their relationship if what he said is really true.

Seokjin has come to the point where he is just letting things happen. If Taehyung leaves, he will cry, yes, but he already accepted it. Nothing will surprise him anymore. In his mind, this too shall pass. One day, Tae will leave him, treat him like how he treated him before and these confessions, Tae liking him, looking at hm with fond eyes will be a distant memory. Like a mirage, dancing wildly in the fog, everything will be taken away from him in a snap. Maybe tomorrow, a week, a month, or a year. He will be lucky if he will still be with Taehyung after a year from now, but he doubts. He just doubts everything. He can't trust anyone except himself and Jungkook.

"I can't trust you or your words, Taehyung. Even your actions baffle me. To be honest, I don't really know where we are going with this."

Taehyung understands. He perfectly understood why. So, he vowed to himself, he will make Seokjin feel. If he can't show it through his actions, or let him believe his words, then he will make sure Seokjin will feel the genuineness of his heart.

==

The next day, he went to the office and he was greeted by unfamiliar faces. He smiles at the awkwardly. He knows that the company briefed them about his condition. He was guided to his office and he was greeted by his secretary. And if he can remember his name is Moon Seoyeon, he is quite younger than him for two years and was said to have been working in the company for over three years now.

"Hi, Mr. Kim. Welcome back." He bowed and smiled at Taehyung.

Seoyeon helped him adjust on his first day, teaching him the ropes of his job as the branch manager of their company. He got the hung of it immediately thanks to his secretary.

"Even with your condition, you are still the best asset of this company, Sir." He said with a gentle voice.

"Thank you." He smiled at Seoyeon.

"Do you want me to prepare you regular, Sir?"

Taehyung arched his brow. "Regular what?"

Seoyeon chuckled. "You have a regular set of lunch everyday from the restaurant in the next street. Do you want me to order for you?"

He searched his pockets for his wallet and Seoyeon just giggled at him.

"Sir, the company will handle the fees." He said and held Taehyung's wrist. Taehyung immediately pulled his hand away at the contact like he touched something that burned his skin. He heard Seoyeon sighed. "I will bring your meal in ten minutes, wait for me, Sir."

"T-thank you."

Taehyung just sat on hi chair and he pulled his phone out to call Seokjin. it rang twice before he picked up the call.

"Hi, hyung."

He heard him cleared his throat before speaking, "Hi, Tae. Why did you call?"

"Are you having your lunch now?" he asked.

"Not yet. Our break will be in ten minutes."

Taehyung looked at his watch. He still has an hour and fifteen minutes left.

"Wait for me, I will go there. Let's have lunch together."

"You sure?" Seokjin sounded so unsure.

He chuckled. "Yes, hyung. Don't bother buying anything. I will bring food for the both of us."

"Uhm ..." Seokjin seemed to be hesitant, "I have packed lunch, Tae. Someone left it in my table a while ago. It's from Jimin. We can share, it's a lot."

Taehyung's aura darkened, just in time when Seoyeon came back. He was fast. Taehyung saw him have two sets of food. He motioned Seoyeon to come near him. The secretary beamed at him, he looked at the bag and saw that it as steak. He nodded his head and gave Seoyeon a thumbs up.

"Throw that stupid lunch box away. I am coming there. Wait for me. You will eat the food I bring."

He quickly stood up grabbing the bag of food with him. He is about to open the door and leave when Seoyeon spoke, "Sir, where are you going? We are supposed to eat. The other food is mine."

Taehyung looked back and forth at Seoyeon and the food.

"I am going out. I will order food for you, sorry. I just have somewhere else to be." He said apologetically. Seoyeon frowned. "I will be back before break ends!"

While running towards the elevator, he placed an order for Seoyeon.

In no time, he is on his car driving fast towards Seokjin's company. It's only a ten-minute drive. Once he walked out of the car, he walked to the guard to ask where Seokjin's area is. The guard told him where and when he spotted Seokjin he quickly went into a bad mood.

He is eating the cursed food Jimin brought.

He walked towards him and tapped Seokjin's shoulder.

"I told you, don't eat that."

Seokjin just continued munching. "Why? You want me to lose weight again? I told you, I play by my own terms. Shut up. I want to eat, let me eat."

Taehyung sighed and massaged his temples. He spotted an empty chair and pulled it towards him so he can sit beside Seokjin.

"It's not like that. I just want you to eat with me." He said gently. He needs to change strategies, dominating Seokjin seemed to be useless. Seokjin defies him with his authority. "Please?"

Seokjin rolled his eyes and shoved the last piece of meat in his mouth before opening the bag that Taehyung brought with him. "Hm, since you brought steak, I will eat with you."

Taehyung smiled. "Starting today, I will always eat with you, or you can also come to my office when you feel like it. I want to spend lunch with you." Then he eyed the empty lunch box, "I don't want you to eat tasteless food like that."

Seokjin scoffed.

"At least Jimin put all his efforts in making them." Seokjin defended. "And it's not tasteless. It's pretty good."

It was Taehyung's turn to snicker. "I cook a lot better than him, Jin-hyung."

"But you never prepared me lunch." He said, "While Jimin always drops by here to deliver this at an exact time every day. Different meals, plus dessert and drinks." He chuckled and grabbed the smoothie beside him. "I like your friend. He is nice."

I like your friend.

Jin hyung likes Jimin.

NO FUCKING WAY!

"Then get ready for tomorrow. I will tell Jimin to stop giving you these. I will feed you twice as much. And you will eat with me in my office. I will go here this very same time and we go to my office and we will eat there, and I will drive you back here."

Seokjin smirked and placed the food in the table. Preparing for his and Taehyung's meal. "You got me in the twice as much, not gonna lie. But let's see if you can wake up earlier than me."

"Oh, I will. I will even drive you to your office and wait for you to come back home."

Seokjin took a slice and brought it to his mouth.

"Acting like a boyfriend, huh?"

Taehyung winked. "We both know I am more than that, but yeah, I am your boyfriend, and I am not acting. I'm just making sure I take care of what's mine."

Despite his heart thumping, Seokjin rolled his eyes and punched Taehyung's arm. "I'm not yours. Nor anyone's."

"Whatever you say, hyung."

They ate while they bicker. The atmosphere around them is light and happy, a first since they started to give it a try. Once finished, Taehyung stood up.

"I need to go back." He said while pouting. Seokjin shook his head pretending to be annoyed. "Wait for me, okay? Don't go home alone or ride someone else, 'kay?"

Seokjin chuckled. "I never rode someone else, Tae. I prefer you riding me."

Taehyung blushed.

"You are so unfair. You have the right to tease, but I don't."

Seokjin winked at him, "I play my own rules, darling."

Taehyung's heart did a back flip at the endearment. Fuck the terms, he thought and kissed Seokjin's cheeks.

"Sorry, can't help it! Bye, remember I will be here later!"

When Taehyung left, he let himself smile.

One day, if I'm sure about us, I will let myself bask in this joy. He thought and threw the trash away. He is excited for later, but Taehyung doesn't need to know that at all. 

A/n: some of you almost got the plot figured out, but I won't tell who hihi. Love ya! Tell me what y'all think :)