Taehyung, just like any other day, wakes up to an empty bed. He doesn't bother checking the other side anymore, because he might as well get used to being left alone cold and unwanted.

He gets out of the bed, gently rubbing his swelled up eyes.

Before he could even find his way outside their bedroom, he lets out a deep breath, nimble fingers tracing over the band that remains still on his ring finger.

'As long as I'm wearing this ring, all will be well,' he reminds himself, biting back a sob.

Stop it, Taehyung. Stop being weak.

He skips his usual morning routine, carefully walking his way towards the living room. It's awfully quiet today; he hears nothing from any corner of the house.

He's about to order Siri to call his brother, but as if on cue, his phone rings, 'Jinnie hyung calling…'

Taehyung hovers his thumb to where he knew was the 'Accept' button, hands a bit shaky as he puts his phone near his left ear.

"Good morning, honey bear!" Seokjin's gentle voice greets him on the other line. It's impossible for him not to smile, then.

"Good morning to you, too, hyungie. What's up?" Taehyung asks, his free hand roaming around to find the armrest of their couch. Once he does, he sits on it gently.

"Would you like to accompany me in the flower shop today?" His ears perk at that, grin slowly spreading on his face.

"I would love to, hyung!" His voice sounds a little over enthusiastic but he doesn't care. The breathless chuckle he hears is enough to know that his brother doesn't, either.

"I'll pick you up in a while. I hope Jeongguk didn't forget to make you breakfast this time." His grin falters.

Taehyung would know if Jeongguk had made him breakfast because the younger would usually leave him a voice message on his phone once he's off to work.

He'd greet Taehyung good morning before reminding him to eat his breakfast which was already prepared on top of the bedside table.

"He didn't forget, hyung."

He did, Taehyung wanted to say but the lie rolled off his tongue faster than the truth.

"Well, make sure to shower after you're done eating, okay? I'll pick you up, in like, 20," Seokjin adds on and Taehyung just hums in acknowledgement.

The phone call ends there, leaving Taehyung with nothing but a bitter taste in his mouth. It's so easy to lie these days.

His stomach rumbles, making him sigh. As much as he wants to tell his brother to buy him breakfast on the way, he can't and he won't.

Even if his movements are calculated and slow, Taehyung manages to take a shower before deciding to wait for his brother's arrival so that the latter can help him in picking out his outfit.

As much as he doesn't want to be bothersome, he can't do anything about it right now.

It was usually Jeongguk who prepares everything for him, but then he stopped doing things for Taehyung all at once.

Maybe it's his way of telling Taehyung that he's had enough. Maybe Jeongguk got tired of doing even the littlest of things for him. Maybe he… He…

He snaps out of his daze when he hears the sound of keys jiggling outside. It must be Seokjin. His mouth instantly morphs into a smile when his brother calls out for him.

"Hyungie, I'm here!" He acknowledges the older, then their bedroom door clicks open not so long after.

"Oh, honey. Why aren't you dried up yet? You can catch a cold," Seokjin continues to fuss and baby him, ruffling and drying his hair with his fluffy towel. Taehyung lets him dote on him, knowing how his brother likes to treat him like he's still a baby.

Once Taehyung is all dressed up, Seokjin takes him by the hand and leads him out of the house and into his car. He then goes back to make sure that everything is locked and secured before they head off to his workplace.

Taehyung tries so hard not to fidget too much in his seat. He picks on the skin of his fingers, beads of sweat starting to trickle down his face. He's feeling clammy but he chooses to ignore that because it's then overpowered by his stomach growling in hunger.

"I should've told Seokjin the truth," He says to himself, regret and guilt dripping down from his dried up throat. He closes his eyes as he decides to focus on his breathing which became more erratic with every second that passes by.

When Seokjin announces their arrival, he wastes no time in removing his seatbelt. Seokjin panics and scrambles out of the car to rush to the other side before Taehyung can even open his own door.

Taehyung immediately steps out, almost tripping and tumbling face first but thank God Seokjin was quick enough to reach for him and catch him. He receives a handful of lectures from Seokjin on how not to scare him like that again and to always be careful when he's outdoors.

As soon as they enter the shop, he is greeted by the over enthusiastic Hoseok but when Seokjin told him what had happened, Hoseok was also quick to croon over him, checking if he's hurt somewhere, which he's really notㅡ his hyungs just tend to exaggerate.

One person, though, remains silent amidst the /unnecessary/ chaos.

"Where's Yoongi hyung?" Taehyung can't help but ask.

"Oh, he just went out, Tae. Probably grabbing his morning coffee. You know how grumpy he gets when he doesn't take his daily dose of caffeine," Hoseok answers, snickering afterwards. Taehyung chuckles at that.

"You should sit down, Tae. I can't help but notice how pale you are today," Hoseok adds, raising his concern. Taehyung just waves him off with a smile, assuring the older that he's fine and that he should tone down his worry.

Taehyung feels bad for lying for the second time around.

When he makes himself comfortable at the same spot he was at yesterday, he fishes out his phone along with his earphones to listen to his favorite podcast.

However, before he can even plug the accessory in his device, something warm is being nudged his way.

"Huh?" He can't help but let it slip in confusion.

"I went out to buy myself breakfast but I overestimated my appetite. I bought a lot, now my tummy's full and complaining. You can have these instead. It's chocolate croissant and a," he coughs awkwardly, "cup of hot chocolate," he finishes with a mumble.

Yoongi.

Taehyung can't decide whether it's the drink that's warm or not, but he feels like he could melt any time now.

A grin slips as he expresses how grateful he is for the food. When Yoongi's gone, he takes a bite of his croissant, humming to himself as he savors the treat.

When Taehyung's stomach is satisfied and full, he continues to listen to his favorite podcast and just like the other day, Yoongi approaches him again, a new variant of flower in tow.

He makes him feel the flower, and when he's done, he asks for its name.

"Dahlias," Yoongi answers.

"What do they symbolize this time?" He asks again, trying to satisfy his curiosity.

"Dignity."

They stay silent for a while but then Taehyung feels Yoongi's fingers thread through his hair, tucking a stray one behind his ear.

Yoongi's fingers felt warmㅡ something he's been craving since he woke up cold and alone in his and Jeongguk's bed.

Yoongi retracts his hands from his hair, then he traces the bags under his eyes. Taehyung almost whimpers.

"You know, you have pretty eyes. Don't ruin them by crying for someone who doesn't find them as pretty as I do."

Taehyung is taken aback, heart stuttering in his chest. His eyes start to water but Yoongi wipes it away before a single tear could even fall.

"Yoongi hyung… " before he can even continue, Yoongi hushes him as his fingers trail down Taehyung's cheek.

"Why is your light slowly dimming, little one?" It was so soft, Taehyung barely caught it slip past his lips.

"Want to see you glow again."

Taehyung is definitely at loss of words. He can feel and /hear/ his heartbeat reverberating inside his chest. He gets so easily flustered that he doesn't know what to do after.

Thankfully, though, Yoongi took his silence (and the blush on his face) as a sign to end their conversation as it is, leaving Taehyung alone but not before pressing a soft kiss on his hair.

What the younger doesn't know is that Yoongi is just lurking around his corner in the shop, a small smile playing on his lips when he sees Taehyung fanning his face.

The conversation he had with Yoongi stays with him for the rest of the day.

ㅡ♡ㅡ

Seokjin drives him home, and as he waits for his husband to arrive from work, he curls himself on the couch, feeling so small and vulnerable in this big and cruel world.

Jeongguk, as always, arrives late. He didn't notice Taehyung all curled up on the couch at first, but when he does, he approaches his sleepy husband, greeting him with a feather light kiss on the forehead.

He murmurs something about ordering food for dinner since he's too tired to cook, and when they sit down to eat together, they exchange some words; Taehyung asking Jeongguk about his day and vice versa.

Everything has become nothing but a routine in their married life. Taehyung might as well get used to it.

Once they finish eating, Jeongguk excuses himself to take a cold shower, but not before carrying Taehyung to bed.

Taehyung keeps on playing with his ring, the conversation he had with Yoongi still replaying in his mind.

When Jeongguk occupies the space beside him, he immediately reaches out to cradle his husband's face.

"Gukkie?" He starts softly.

"What is it, baby?"

"I want to ask you something," Taehyung presses on, fingers ghosting over the tip of his nose. The younger nuzzles his hands, urging him to continue.

"It's just… does it look like I've lost my glow?"

"Tae, I-what?" His hand freezes midair.

"Ah, never mind. It's just something Yoongi hyung said to me while I was in the shop this morning," Taehyung reasons out, deciding not to push the topic any further.

Jeongguk doesn't say anything, though. They keep quiet, but the silence was becoming too much to Taehyung and he definitely hates it. He hates how dull everything has become. He doesn't even know what or who to blame anymore.

"Gukkie?" He whispers, lips trembling in fear.

"Hm?"

"I love you."

A pause.

Taehyung counts the seconds that pass by before Jeongguk could even reply.

"I love you, too."

Five seconds. It took Jeongguk five seconds before he could even say those words right back  at him.

It shakes Taehyung to the core because Jeongguk never pauses.

ㅡ♡ㅡ

Taehyung doesn't sleep that night.

He waits for Jeongguk to fall asleep first, and when he hears the younger's soft snores, he takes his husband's hands in his. He intertwines their fingers together, pulling them close to his chest.

He then brings them up close to his mouth, pressing gentle kisses on every knuckle 'til he reaches Jeongguk's ring finger.

He peppers it with small kisses, lips searching for the cold surface of their weddingㅡ

It's empty.

Tears fall down one by one, but he still doesn't let go of the hands that once caressed every part of his body.

Instead, he clutches on it as tightly as he could, nosing on them, kissing, leaning in to the touch. He does anything he could just to muffle his sobs.

'As long as I'm wearing this ring, all will be well,' he reminds himself for the second time that day.

Taehyung loves Jeongguk so much, it hurts.