Taehyung was always greeted with adorable words every time he met Jungkook, 'babe', ;darling' or even 'my love'. He was accustomed to Jungkook's affection to such an extent that he did not concentrate on the emphasis on the word 'love' in Jungkook's statements toward him. His preconceived notions were proved incorrect when Jungkook opened the front door of the Kim residence and his face displayed a scowl.

"The fuck do you want now." Taehyung was not sure if this was a statement or a question.

Soobin walked up from behind tae and smiled at his older brother.

"He came to drop me off." Soobin said.

"Why? Aren't you old enough to walk home alone?" Jungkook directed his anger towards soobin.

"Hey, I wanted to talk to you too. Don't get mad at him for nothing." Taehyung piped in.

"I'm not interested in talking to you. What part of we're over do you not understand?" Jungkook rolled his eyes. Taehyung bit the inside of his cheek to stop the tears.

"I'm here to talk about Soobin not us." Tae cleared. Jungkook's demeanor flattered for a moment but he recovered soon, maintaining his stiff posture to suppress his weakness.

"There's something you nee-"

"Get out Taehyung. My brother and I will talk of course, we don't need an unnecessary third party." Jungkook pulled Soobin inside the house.

"Jungkook can you please keep aside our issues for a moment." Taehyung closed his eyes and exhaled. "Stop making this about us when I'm not even initiating anything."

"Right, I'm the problem. Again. Not like you're using my brother to get close to me. Sure." Jungkook's sarcasm pinched at Taehyung's heart.

"Kook-"

"Don't Taehyung. I'm not in the right mind to talk to anybody right now. And you should know that you'll be the last person I'd approach."

"I wasn't even-"

"You're making it difficult for me Taehyung!" Jungkook exclaimed taking a step towards Taehyung. "I can't look at you right now because it hurts so damn much. Even if you're not here to talk about us, your presense brings back everything! Everything Taehyung!"

Taehyung involuntarily took a step back.

"So it's a request Taehyung, please leave.." jungkook's voice took a 360 degree turn when he spoke into a soft desperate whisper.

Taehyung sighed.

He caught Soobin's saddened eyes before he turned around to leave.

How could this happen? How is this the truth of their relationship now? And why?

Taehyung wanted to contemplate more on these thoughts but his phone disturbed him. It was his dad. He was calling Taehyung to his office immediately. Taehyung didn't bother thinking about it too much because he already had a lot on his mind. He took the bus to his dad's office. Once outside the huge building Taehyung called his father to come and pick him up. Goongmin hugged his son tightly which made him relax a bit. Again, he did not think too much about it.

He walked in silently following his father. Goongmin's shoulders were tense. However they did not catch Taehyung's eyes. What caught his eyes was his older sister's presence.

"Noona!" Taehyung squealed. Eunji tackled him into a bone crashing hug, squealing as well.

"Dumpling, it's so good to finally see you.." eunji's voice was heavy. Had she been crying?

"Same here.." the siblings swayed side to side, not wanting to let go off each other.

"Kids, we got to go." Their father broke the hug with his words.

Taehyung suddenly realised that something was wrong. The air around them was too thick to breathe.

"Go where?" He asked skeptically.

"The meeting room." Goongmin said then looked at his daughter.

"Mom and her husband are here. To discuss about the custody." Eunji said squeezing Tae's shoulder. "They want a settlement, apparently Daniel can't deal with these court dates anymore."

"Then that's mom's fault. Why are we called here?" Taehyung asked his father.

"You'll get your answers when you go there tae." Goongmin said rubbing his temple. He was frustrated. Angry with his wife, not his kids of course.

The absurdity of the situation was catching up to all the three of them. The siblings were given a promise to never be brought into a situation where they stand in the court or in front of a judge outside the court. This promise was made by goongmin himself and that's what's bothering them. Even though they aren't in the exact mentioned circumstance, it does feel similar.

Howbeit they carried on. Eunji held Tae's hand firmly when they entered the meeting room. Tae already felt like crying.

"Eunji, Taehyung." Yumi stood up from her seat smiling. Daniel sat with a stoic expression discussing something in a hushed whisper with his lawyer.

Their father's lawyer greeted them and asked them to take a seat. Yumi sat with a faltered smile, her children didn't even look in her direction.

"Shall we begin Mr.Kim." yumi's lawyer addressed goongmin. He gave a slight nod.

Their father's lawyer, Jang Donggun, turned towards them but he was not looking at both of them. He was looking at Taehyung.

"Taehyung," he said. Tae tried his best to not let his mother see him shiver. "Your father must have told you why you're here am I correct?"

"Yes." Taehyung patted himself on his back for not stuttering.

"Good. Then I'll come to the point. Taehyung, you know we're here to settle the custody case."

Taehyung nodded this time.

"Since eunji is twenty-one she's a legal adult and she has decided to stay with your father which has been accepted. You h-"

"I want to stay with papa too." Taehyung rushed out words before the lawyer could even finish.

From the periphery of his vision he could see his mother widen her eyes, Daniel looking at her and their lawyer adjusting his tie.

"Tae." Goongmin warned his son.

"I'm sorry. Please continue." Taehyung said timidly. Donggun looked at goongmin then cleared his throat before starting to speak again.

"Taehyung, you are not a legal adult yet." Taehyung's heart dropped to the pit of his stomach. "You're only seventeen. And that's why, until you turn eighteen your custody has been divided between your parents. Your mother has full rights to meet you or even spend time with you when she wants. You can even live with her if you want."

"I don't." Taehyung preplexed. "She's hates me!"

"Taehyungie," yumi jumped into the conversation. "I don't hate you baby. I could never. Why would you say that?"

"You hate me, you even told this to papa in school. I don't understand why you're lying right now?"

"Taehyung your mother reacted wrongly that day, I agree." Daniel said rather calmly. "But think about it. That was not exactly an acceptable way to come out to your parents."

Eunji squeezed Tae's hand under the table.

"I- I don't like this. I don't want to live with mom." Taehyung said to his father.

"You don't have to." Goongmin said. He was only looking at his dear son. His eyes red, brimmed with angry tears.

"Mr.Kim, are you trying to brainwash Mrs.Kang's son right in front of me?" Yumi's lawyer interrupted.

Goongmin glared at Choi Giwha but didn't say anything further. He had been warned by his lawyer a few hours ago. Any wrong move or word from his mouth could result in him losing his kids forever.

Taehyung stood up sporadically. He was angry and hurt and extremely exhausted. Today was not the day he needed this extra family drama. It was already going worse and all he wanted was to throw himself on his bed and cry into his pillow as loudly as he could.

"I don't want to be a part of this." He said, looking straight at his mother.

Taehyung left the meeting room in the next second not even looking back when eunji called. He ran out, anywhere he could possibly go to forget about what his mother just said. He felt his throat clogging. His tears already slipping down his cheeks. He didn't want to cry. Not here. Not right now. It's barely afternoon, the day hasn't even ended.

He ran through the hallway past his dad's cabin towards the elevator. His frantic moment was broken by him stumbling into someone.

"Taehyung.." jaebum's surprised voice danced in his ears. He groaned.

"No way. I can't deal with you. Not today." Taehyung began hyperventilating. "Just go, leave me alone for god's sake!"

Jaebum stared at him.

"What do you even want huh? Why are you here? Are you following me because I didn't talk to you in school!" Taehyung ran his fingers through his hair. His anger reaching the peak where he did not know what he was blabbering.

In his frantic state he forgot that this was jaebum's father's building and he could come here anytime anyday. The thought crossed his mind but he left it at the back to not let the embarrassment get to him.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to overburden you." Jaebum said. Taehyung narrowed his eyes at him.

Did jaebum really just apologize to him for nothing?

"Do you, um, maybe want to grab an ice cream?" Jaebum asked cautiously.

Ice cream.. yeah.. that could help him cool down and think.

Taehyung nods his head once. They start walking towards what he assumes would be the cafeteria. He doesn't miss how jaebum's keeping a safe one arm distance by walking ahead of him. Taehyung drifts back to his mother's thoughts, following jaebum like a lost puppy.

"Sit here, I'll be back in a minute." Jaebum broke Taehyung out of his trance.

Tae looked around him then. He was on the rooftop (or what he assumes is a rooftop). It's a beautiful garden with cute little flowers and even cactus. Taehyung has always loved potted cactus, well, succulent plants. He admired each one's color. So beautiful. He remembered about the succulent stall they were planning for the first day of their annual festival. He should take some inspiration from here, on how to decorate the stall and color combinations.

Taehyung took out his phone and turned on his camera. He took a few pictures and smiled.

"Hey, I've got you vanilla and strawberry is that-" jaebum stopped mid sentence when he noticed Taehyung smiling.

Taehyung sighed. Kept his phone back into his pocket and stepped towards jaebum. He took the cup of ice cream from jaebum's hand and dived into it while walking towards the white bench. Jaebum didn't know whether he should follow tae or not so he just stood there, awkwardly.

"Sit." Taehyung said shortly. Jaebum complied.

"I'm sorry, for yelling at you earlier." Taehyung took another bite of his ice cream still not looking at jaebum.

"That's okay. I understand you're not um.."

"I'm a mess aren't I?" Taehyung scoffed at himself pushing the ice cream away.

"No that's not what I meant."

"Why did you kiss me jaebum?" Now Taehyung turned to look at him, catching him off guard

"I-"

"Why did I let you kiss me? Why didn't I stop you and why... Why do I feel so confused...?"

"Confused about what Taehyung?"

"I say I love Jungkook but I find comfort in you."

"I'm sorry for confusing you." Jaebum whispered.

"I love Jungkook. I really really love Jungkook. But then, then why do I regret hurting you?" Taehyung was talking to himself more than he was talking to jaebum.

"I don't know how to answer that.."

"You like jaebum." Someone else said. Taehyung and jaebum turned around in their seats to be met by Park Jinyoung.

"Jinnie don't." Jaebum's voice was alarmed. His body stiff and alert.

"Calm down, I won't say anything hurtful or do anything harmful."

Taehyung sighed in relief. At least he can get some kind of a break.

"Taehyung, I'm not trying to confuse you but just think about it. You didn't hesitate for even a second when you turned your back to Jimin. But now when it's come to jaebum, you've hesitated several times already. Even hurt the most important person in your life."

Taehyung nodded unconsciously.

"Tell me one thing, do you really love Jungkook or are you just afraid of hurting him as well?"

Taehyung's eyes widened. Some sort of twisted realisation struck him.

The whole purpose of his relationship with Jungkook was a mere experiment. It had always been 'no strings attached' right? The very base of their relationship was confusing then how could they be firm with their feelings? Was it really love for Jungkook or lust?

Is it really love for Taehyung or just.. lust?

Happy New year 💕💕💕💕💕💕
I hope everyone is safe and healthy! I'm good too, so yeah your updates are on the way! Thank you so so much for being patient with me and understanding me. Love you all 💗🤗

(P.s. Skz fanfic coming soon ;) can you guess the ship?)