Jungkook doesn't see much of Taehyung for the rest of the day, spending most of his time prepping for their upcoming photoshoots.

As the day comes to an end Taehyung comes down to get him, knowing that the younger often lets time get away from him while he's working.

The brunette stands in the doorway for a moment watching Jungkook work, the younger's features hard with concentration as he counts and labels the garment bags.

Taehyung knocks on the open door to get his attention, the younger looking up a bit startled. "Hey, it's getting late."

    "Yeah, I'm wrapping things up now." Jungkook says taking the pen from behind his ear and scribbling something down.

Taehyung stands awkwardly for a moment before speaking. "Can we talk?"

    "Now?" The younger asks without looking up.

    "Please." The brunette says walking into the room and closing the door.

Jungkook looks up at the sound of the door closing. "Just let me finish this up, it'll only take a minute."

    "Sure." Taehyung says sitting down on the couch, waiting for him.

Jungkook labels the rest of the garment bags and adds them to the checklist, hesitating slightly when he goes to take a seat beside Taehyung.

    "What's up?" He says, he knows exactly what's up but he panics and that's the first thing that comes out.

    "It's about Gagi Fashion." Taehyung starts. "When you first told me about it I was kind of, no, I was totally an asshole about it."

    "I was an asshole for telling you that way." Jungkook says quickly. "Jin told me that you were the one to give Namjoon my designs in the first place. I didn't know~"

    "Only because I didn't tell you." The brunette says. "I was going to but I was just, I was afraid to. I know that sounds crazy but I was. It was so selfish and I should've came out with it the second I found out but I'm afraid of losing you, Jungkook."

    "I'm afraid of losing you too." The younger says, a feeling of relief washing over him.

    "I'm afraid of losing you but I'm even more afraid of holding you back." Taehyung says. "You have so much potential, Jungkook. I've known from the day I met you that you could be great and you can be, you will be if you go now."

    "But I'd never be happy, you make me happy, Taehyung. I love you. I love you more than designing~"

    "Don't say shit like that, Jungkook." The brunette says standing up from the couch, walking over to the window and staring out. "Designing was your passion and it always will be."

    "Passions change." Jungkook says stand and facing him.

    "You can't change your dreams based on a person, especially not me." Taehyung says, his tone snappy. "You've always wanted to be a designer, you have the potential to be great and you're telling me you'd rather stay in Seoul, for what, me? That's so immature."

    "Is it immature? To be in love with you?" The younger asks, his voice sounding hurt.

    "No. It's immature to let a relationship, that you haven't even been in for a year, dictate your future." The brunette says turning and facing him. "I would go if I were you."

    "But you aren't me. And if it's my decision to stay~"

    "You can't stay in Seoul~"

    "I'm not going." Jungkook says, already making up his mind.

    "What?" Taehyung asks in disbelief. "What do you mean you're not going?"

    "I mean I'm not going." Jungkook repeats. "How could I just leave like that? No."

    "Jungkook. Go to America." The brunette says. "Seriously, there's nothing holding you back."

    "Nothing holding me back? Tae, how could you say that?" The younger asks. "What about us? How could I leave us?"

    "There's so many more opportunities for you in America, Jungkook. There's gonna be new people, new styles, new ideas." Taehyung lists. "So much more than there is in Seoul right now."

     "What are you doing?" Jungkook asks, his voice rising slightly in disbelief. "Why are you doing this?"

    "Because, you should go to America!" The model exclaims. "What's keeping you here? You don't need me!"

    "Yes, I actually do!" The younger shouts. "What? Do you want me to leave!?"

    "Yes! I want you to leave!" Taehyung shouts. "Have I not made that clear in the last five goddamn minutes I've been talking to you!?"

Jungkook falls silent at the other's words, hurt rendering him speechless.

    "You have a job, a life in America that you can't get here and that I can't give you." The brunette continues. "You could move on and do bigger and better things, but yet, here you are. Trying to convince me that staying here is better for you when it's not! Cause all I'm going to do is end up hurting you one way or another. So yes, yes. I want you to fucking leave."

Taehyung's voice rings in the silent room after he's finished talking, tears wet Jungkook's eyes as he looks at the brunette.

    "Fine." The younger sniffles. "If you want me to go, I'll go."

Taehyung tries to keep his expression blank as the younger grabs his phone and wallet from the coffee table before facing him again.

    "I don't know why you're doing this, but I hope this is truly what you want." Jungkook says before showing himself out of the room.

As soon as the door closes Taehyung feels like all the air has been snatched from his body.

He felt...broken.

He had just lost the best thing that ever happened to him.

——

The following week in the penthouse is painful, more painful than any break either of them had gone through.

This was a different breed of hurt and pain, the kind that lingered in the silence and grew with every short conversation.

Jungkook spends most, if not all, of his time in the penthouse locked in the guess room while Taehyung is locked in his own.

They go to work separately, Jungkook either leaving way before Taehyung or way after.

Taehyung doesn't like the idea of the younger taking the bus but he knows any offer to help will be declined.

It hurts the most knowing that this wasn't the breakup part, they weren't broken up yet and they both were terrified of what that would feel like.

Jin can see how it's affecting them both from the outside, both their eyes swollen from crying but they try to hide it, they're hurting and it shows in everything they do.

This week's shoot is Jungkook's last with 2-3 and it's bittersweet for Jin.

Taehyung goes through three eye treatments before his eyes look like a regular human beings, he dresses in the clothes Jungkook picks for him, they consist of lots of royal blues, purples, and blacks.

Jungkook let's his art reflect his feelings even in this way.

Taehyung wishes each day to pass by quickly, one of these days he's going to wake up and Jungkook's going to be gone and there will be nothing he can do about it.

He tells himself that it will be worth it in a few years when Jungkook's face is all around Korea and he's winning all kinds of awards.

Jungkook wishes for the days to slow up, to let him take in every single moment he has left to just look at Taehyung if not anything else.

He tries to remember the last time he kissed Taehyung and hates himself for taking it for granted because it most likely was the last one.

He knows that Taehyung is doing the right thing by making Jungkook go, he knows that he should go and not have any regrets rather than stay and regret not taking the offer.

He was blinded by his love for Taehyung and the brunette was just trying to make him see that he was headed towards great success.

Jungkook just hoped that that success was enough to fill the hole forming where his heart should be.

He hoped to be blinded by success if not by Taehyung.

🖤🖤🖤