Jeongguk pressed play on the recorded message he had gotten as he laid in bed.

"Hey bub, I'm sorry I couldn't take your call earlier. I had a meeting with one of my professors. I know you're probably sleeping right now. I miss hearing your voice, I know you must too. And I wanted you to go to school with a smile on your face. I hope we can call tomorrow– or well today for you." There was a pause after Taehyung's short laugh. "I swear I'll make it up to you. Things have been hectic and not seeing you is making it all the worse. Oh, my train is here. I have to go. I'll talk to you later, Gguk. I miss you. A lot. Love you to the moon and back."

He replayed it a couple more times. The first time he'd heard this, he had run around his room clutching his phone to his chest, giggling and laughing. Yoongi threw his pillow at him to make him stop squealing.

Now... now everything's changed.

Jeongguk didn't know why he was listening to it right now. It's been a while since he's thought of Taehyung, but the man suddenly crossed his mind and he just couldn't help himself. It's gotten better though. He doesn't cry anymore when it happens. He'd definitely moved on, but he still couldn't help but think of what could've been.

It was currently around 5 am. In just another hour, he'd have to be out of bed to get ready to go to work. Oh how he hated when he woke up before his alarm rang. Not only that, his stupid brain had made him revisit old memories which only added to the misery.

Jeongguk didn't particularly enjoy taking walks down memory lane as every turn he took there was always a picture of him. He didn't realize how much that boy had taken up his life then. Still, even though each and every one of those moments is just painful to think of, he wouldn't give them up for the world. No matter how hard his brain would try to, his heart wouldn't let go. They were just too precious to him.

Jeongguk shook his head and rolled in his bed, leaving his phone to sit on his pillow. He shut his eyes and tried to force himself to go back to sleep. He didn't need to be thinking of this right now, it didn't matter anymore.

He tried for about 10 minutes but rolled right back to his phone. Jeongguk picked it up with a determination he's never felt before. He opened the chat again and pressed on a few buttons before he found himself on the final one.

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Jeongguk tried, he really did, but he just couldn't. He didn't know what was holding him back. A hope that he would return? Pft, that's disappeared a long while ago. These messages held no value to him.

He still couldn't. Of course he couldn't. He hasn't been able to for the past 7 years.

7 years. 7 whole damn years and Jeongguk still can't delete that stupid conversation and that one contact off his phone. He can't throw out that stupid book that was basically the reason he fell in love with that cute little boy and made Jeongguk the emotional mess he is today. He just can't.

A true failure in all aspects, he would say.

He kept thinking about where everything went wrong for the next hour, and before he knew it, the alarm was going off. Jeongguk groaned and got out of bed. Another day of suffering in this godforsaken world.

Don't get him wrong, Jeongguk didn't really hate his work. He enjoyed his co-workers and the company he worked for,  his salary was also decent. What irked him is the director also known as his boss. An old aged lady who acts like she knows everything and anything and anybody that's not her are dumb idiots who know nothing.

She piles work on top of work for Jeongguk. If he even dared to complain, she'd go off on a tangent about how in her prime days she'd be able to do triple the amount of tasks. Jeongguk had never once heard her thank him or anyone in her team for anything, not even a praise. She was just stone-cold.

Jeongguk should've known something was up when his pay was so high for just an assistant.

Everyone knew the only reason she even had such a position was due to her being the CEO's cousin, but she acted as if she had to climb her way up from nothing. That's probably the one negative about his company, Lee's. Everyone who held any high position was in some sort of relation to the CEO. So even if workers ever wanted to complain on their higher authorities, it was nearly impossible even with the union and committees. They could just say goodbye to their job instead.

Jeongguk wore a white button up covered with small black polka dots tucked nicely into his tan pants. He spared a glance at the blazer perched up on the hanger but immediately dropped the idea. It was hot enough with his full-sleeve shirt, and his wonderful boss for some reason still felt so cold on the hot summer days and refused to turn on the air conditioning in her office. Who knows how long Jeongguk will have to stand in there and listen to another one of her useless rants?

He put on his watch, applied some face lotion and raked some gel through his hair to have it part the way he liked. Deodorant and just a light spritz of his favourite perfume, and he was ready to leave. He grabbed his work satchel, phone and keys, and Jeongguk was out the door.

He took the elevator down to the underground parking. There she was, his baby. Honestly, the only motivation in Jeongguk's life at the moment.

He jogged over to his sleek black Hyundai Genesis and got in. Jeongguk still had a few more instalments to pay out before he could completely call it his. He turned on the radio to a station he usually listens to and began to drive off to work.

It was about a 30 minute drive if he was lucky enough to get through traffic. Today was not one of those day. Jeongguk parked his car and ran to the entrance he'd usually avoid, but seeing that he was probably already late, it was the fastest way to get up.

Jeongguk opened the door and was greeted to the few employees walking around. A couple of them nodded to him and he politely nodded back, but he couldn't even register who was greeting him as his attention was all taken by the man on the large banner hanging from the ceiling. The sole reason why he avoided this path.

He didn't understand why they had to keep that there for so long. Sure, he was their most successful model, probably one of the most successful models in the world, and not to mention the face of their company, but the man lived in a whole other country and wasn't even active at the moment! Why keep his banners here?

Jeongguk remembers the first time he saw this walking into the company. He didn't expect it, for a second, he thought he was hallucinating. It'd been a while since Jeongguk had even thought about him then, so it really caught him off guard. The first thought he had was how handsome he'd grown, lucky bastard. The next was how good he looked next to the other female model with her elbow perched up on him.

He will never in a million years admit that he was jealous, but, he was jealous. Jeongguk knew very well that they probably had barely even met before that one day at the photo shoot, but he still couldn't help but feel that pang of pain for the split-second, 18-year old Jeongguk returned once again. He absolutely despised that part in him, he would rip it out and burn it if he could. That naive and foolish part who thought love would last forever.

Jeongguk snapped himself out of his thoughts as he remembered that he'd now be another minute later than he would've been. He quickly scanned his card and got inside. He sped walked to the elevators that opened right as he went. He got in with a couple other people, giving friendly smiles to them. He reached over and pressed his floor, also pressing the levels his co-workers needed to go to as they said them out.

Jeongguk finally let out the breath he was holding in. He checked his watch. Okay, not too bad. Maybe she'll let it slide today. He patted his forehead with the edge of his sleeve then rolled up the sleeves.

Jeongguk reached his floor first. He would've usually gave a head bow to them but he didn't have time for that. He quickly ran out and went to his boss' team's office where one of his two desks are.

"Good-morning," Jinyoung greeted him, eyes glued to his computer as he typed away.

"Morning, morning, morning," Jeongguk said quickly to everyone, not even giving them a chance to speak as he placed his satchel on his chair and running out. He quickly checked his desk in front of the director's office and saw that there was nothing on there.

The blinders covered the glass, Jeongguk wouldn't know if she had arrived or not. He straightened out his shirt, unrolled his sleeves, and knocked on the door lightly twice. He waited for the "come in", although he was praying he wouldn't hear it, but to his dismay, he did.

He opened the door and walked in. Mrs. Lee's eyes were occupied with whatever document in hand. Jeongguk stood in front of her, waiting for the much awaited speech of being late and because he was late she missed her morning cup of coffee that she couldn't have any later as it would ruin her entire "healthy" diet schedule.

"Here, review this then send it," she spoke sharply, but that was her normal tone, grabbing another folder on her desk and raising it to him, all while still keeping her head down. Jeongguk blinked, kind of glitching.

Jeongguk took the folder carefully. He waited for any other request but to his luck, that was it. She waved her hand to signal he could leave and Jeongguk mentally yelled hooray! He walked out of her room, careful not to make any sounds that will trigger her.

As soon as he closed the door, he let out a breath of relief.  Jeongguk walked back to his common desk where the rest of the team was.

"You're back quick," Chaeyoung, who's spot was right beside him, noted. She swirled around in her chair, hands in her black bob-cut hair trying her best to put it into a ponytail. "I swear she was in there."

Jeongguk nodded. "She is." He pulled out his chair and moved his satchel to a spot under his desk then took a seat. "But she just gave me this folder and let me off."

Jeongguk could see Eunwoo's eye's widen through the little gap from their computer screens. "No way," Eunwoo said, shocked.

Jeongguk shrugged and adjusted himself in his seat. He rolled back his sleeves and opened up the folder. Jeongguk let out a gasp once he began flipping through all the papers.

"What, did she actually give you a termination notice? I knew it, no way she let you off," Jin, who sat to his left, asked trying to get a peak. The other 6 in the room also became interested, pausing their work to look at Jeongguk.

Jeongguk shook his head slowly, then a smile started forming at his lips.

"A promotion?" asked Jisoo.

"I think this might be even better," Jeongguk said, still a little shocked. He looked up at everyone, not wanting to keep the suspense for any longer. "Director Lee is retiring," Jeongguk said in a hushed tone.

Everyone's jaws dropped. Some shut their mouths with their hand to control themselves, trying to pretend as if they hadn't just heard the most amazing news in their entire career.

"Are you serious?" Eric asked a little too loud. He realized and quieted down. "Are you serious?" He asked again but in a whisper. He was probably the one who got the most amount of shit from her after Jeongguk.

Jeongguk nodded. "These paperworks and documents, it's all about that. And by the looks of it, it's going to happen soon."

"I wonder why she hasn't announced it yet. It's an early retirement too," Yoona whispered out, placing her chin on her hand.

"It doesn't matter. What matters is we'll be free from Ice Queen in a matter of days!" Jin whispered back, doing his best not to grin too wide. He turned to Jeongguk. "Go, go, work. The sooner the better."

Jeongguk chuckled but also thought the same. He rolled his chair back a little and went back to the first document.

Chaeyoung pushed her chair to the side so that it hit Jeongguk. "Help me tie my hair," she whined.

"No can do, Ms. Son. I've got important work to do," Jeongguk replied, smiling down at the papers.

She scoffed. "Ask me for help after this and you'll see," she replied, rolling back to her desk. They heard a short laugh from the other side, catching Chaeyoung's attention. "What's funny?"

Jisoo rolled her eyes. "Just date already."

Jeongguk choked on his spit as he began to laugh. Chaeyoung groaned. "You are insane."

"Yeah yeah, if you two would stop flirting so openly–"

"Oh yeah? Well then what you do you say about you and Jin?" Chaeyoung.

"Hey that was uncalled for," Jin came in. "There is nothing going on between us. You know, this is not an appropriate discussion for the workp–"

"Wow, changing the subject I see, Chaeyoung-sshi," Jisoo continued.

Jinyoung sighed. "Both of you stop. No wonder everyone looks down at our department and stuck with a director like her. No one takes us seriously around here and I see why."

The two ladies shut up and just looked at Jinyoung then each other. They tried to keep their mad faces, but they couldn't help but crack a smile at each other before continuing to do their work.

Jeongguk smiled and shook his head. This was his life at work, and with Director Lee leaving, he was sure it would get a lot more better.

•—•—•

Jeongguk hit enter and cracked his knuckles. He finished off all of Mrs. Lee's paperwork just in time for their lunch break.

"Who wants to go to the sushi bar?" Yoona invited everyone. A few of them were quick to accept but the rest, including Jeongguk, decided to stay at the company and get something from the cafeteria. Jeongguk wasn't particularly feeling sushi today.

He took out his phone to check the company website to see what was on the menu today. When he opened up his browser, Jeongguk couldn't help but catch the news recommendation section.

Considering how much he searched him up, it wasn't a surprise he'd be recommended to it even thought it was written in english. He was a little surprised as it's just been a while since he's seen him on the news. Jeongguk chewed on his lip, contemplating with himself before finally pressing on it.

He looked at the picture first. It was of him walking down the streets, clearly taken by paparazzi. Jeongguk copied the article's title and went to his translating app.

Model Taehyung Kim Returns from Hiatus to Announce Hideout

Jeongguk furrowed his brows as he read that again. Hideout? What the heck is this article about? Jeongguk groaned, he knew it was an error in translations.

"Everything all right there?" Eunwoo asked.

"Eunwoo-ah, what does uh– r-reti-retirement mean?"

Eunwoo thought about it for a second. "Are Director Lee's papers in english? It means retirement."

Jeongguk nodded, now becoming ever more confused. "Thanks," he muttered. He went back to the article and scrolled through to see if there were any more pictures or words he could recognize. He then paused, one because he had no clue what it said and two, why should he care? Jeongguk doesn't care. No, not one bit.

He closed the tab and put his phone down harshly. He shouldn't of even clicked on it or paid attention to it.

7 years Jeongguk, 7 years. You need to forget that he even exists! This is not good for you!

That's what Jeongguk has been saying to himself for the past few years or so. In the end, it never did happen. Jeongguk doesn't think he could or ever will be able to forget the sparks of happiness in his life that was Kim Taehyung.

It was just so good. Too good. Of course the world couldn't let him have it so easy, and so, their breakup became inevitable. Jeongguk was shattered for the first couple years, getting emotional at any little thing, but now he just feels like a void of nothingness.

Time's healed his broken heart, but it's definitely left a scar.

—•
we startin off with a bAnger!
Okay hi hello it's me hi
Yes this continuation will be slightly angsty but not to worry, if you know me, you know i love me some good fluff so this will be very fluffy and cute, but just.... not yet

I hope everyone enjoys this, Ive been planning it out since like forever!! and I'm so excited to write everything out, it's literally all I've been thinking about this week

Leave any questions (I might answer if it doesn't spoil anything) or maybe even any thoughts on what might've happened between the two here if you want!

Bye<333