Two days passed before the weekend finally arrived. Two whole days with neither Jeongguk nor Taehyung bringing up what transpired on their suppose-to-be date that night. 

This was starting to worry Jeongguk more than ever as he'd been observing the other more closely now. Most times, he found himself with his eyebrows furrowing and head tilting to the side in utter confusion because Taehyung was going about his day like nothing happened. Like he didn't suddenly freak out when he saw that diner. Also, Jeongguk still didn't know why he got so upset when he saw that place. 

In his recollection of memories from when Taehyung worked there, he figured nothing bad had happened. Moreover, Jeongguk was the one who picked him up from there on most nights and he was sure he'd driven Taehyung back to his apartment safely every time. The only other possibility could be that one night when he couldn't be there and Taehyung carelessly fell asleep in front of that convenience store. Did something else happen that night? Maybe a detail that Taehyung left out of the retelling of the story. Now that he was thinking about it, Jeongguk still had no idea who that man that gave him a lift back to his place was. 

Maybe Taehyung got reminded of something about that day?

Still... it surely couldn't be that right?

Because Jeongguk was just randomly guessing here. Also, this happened a long time ago and why would Taehyung suddenly have an issue with something in the past? 

This was getting more frustrating and Jeongguk knew he could just directly ask Taehyung what the matter was but he doubt he'd get an honest answer. Ugh, he wouldn't have to worry about something like this in the past. Taehyung willingly told him everything and this was good because it made him worry less but now... everything's messed up and he just didn't know what to do. Taking all this into consideration, he probably shouldn't give up right? Every relationship had its ups and downs. Things will definitely turn around for the better. Soon...

Damn it, why was it so to believe this?

Once again, Jeongguk found his eyes fixed onto Taehyung who laid in his arms as they occupied the length of the couch in the living room. It was a Saturday and he didn't have to go into the office today so they spent their day at home, simply watching TV. Oh yeah, and Jeongguk also had plans to go over to Jin's later as the older man called earlier with a strict, non-negotiable Meet me for a drink tonight. Although that was for tonight and right now, he only wanted spend time with his boyfriend.

Yes, his boyfriend who he'd been staring at for the last four minutes or so. Jeongguk initially wanted to cook something special for Taehyung today but the other refused multiple times, saying he'd settle for something simple. And so they had some plain kimchi fried rice earlier and now, with his eyes glued to the TV screen, Taehyung sucked on a pink lollipop; his pink lips looking shinier than usual, the strong-scented shampoo he used from his shower earlier- what was it again? Coconut and shea butter- wafting in the air right in front of Jeongguk's face, also his hand running over Jeongguk's arm that was tightly draped over his waist... basically everything he did seemed more interesting than whatever was on TV.

And Jeongguk continued to watch him.

Until-

"Is this your new hobby now? To stare at me?" A deep voice sounded, cutting through Jeongguk's laser focus stare on Taehyung.

Then Taehyung turned his body around a little so that his back now rested flat on the couch with Jeongguk's bigger build slightly hovering over him. His sparkling eyes gazed up at the younger man with his question still lingering in the air. 

"Ah, no-" Jeongguk rushed for an explanation, visibly flustered at being caught. "I-I'm just wondering if that fried rice was enough for you. I can make you something else if you want. There's still some time before I have to leave-"

Light chuckles left Taehyung as he smiled genuinely. "I told you, it's enough. Don't trouble yourself."

"I know but I feel like I could've made something nicer for you."

"You should know by now that I love everything you make." Taehyung smoothly said before placing the sweet end of the lollipop back into his mouth. He was really becoming more bold and comfortable with complimenting Jeongguk now (without all the stuttering and excessive blushing).

"Yeah?"

Taehyung nodded. "Even if you slap some peanut butter on toast, it'd still be the best to me."

It was the hardest thing in the world for Jeongguk to not smile right then. "Aren't we exaggerating just a little bit here?" He spoke out lowly, leaning his head down as his eyes flickered down to the very inviting pair of lips in front of him. He could practically smell the strawberries radiating off the sweet treat he sucked on. 

Jeongguk watched closely as Taehyung's lips moved again. He whispered, "I'm telling the truth though." 

A hum. "Are you really?"

The shrinking pink sphere of the lollipop left Taehyung's lips once again with a subtle 'pop'. "Jeongguk, I would build you a restaurant if I could." His eyes bored into the ones above him, well aware of Jeongguk staring at his lips right then. "But y'know, I guess that depends on where we'd be living in the future..."

When his last words filled the air, Jeongguk had to look him in the eyes in all seriousness. "What?" He breathed out, eyes narrowed at the other mentioning their future and the fact that that they might be living somewhere else.

"Isn't that what you told me? To wait for you, that you'll take me somewhere far away?"

What the-

"You still remember that?"

Taehyung smirked. "How could I forget when you took me to that cliff on your bike like in some movie scene and got all emotional that night before Jin's party."

Oh. Jeongguk's cheeks turn a light pink shade at that memory. Did he really come out like some sentimental boyfriend that night? He remembered how mad he was with his father that time- he just wanted to run away with Taehyung. Thinking about it now, it seemed a bit reckless if they actually did that back then. Funny thing was, knowing that, he was still planning to do the same thing now. 

More importantly, Jeongguk had no idea that Taehyung took his words seriously that night. This news should've brought him some relief. As Jin constantly nagged him to talk to Taehyung about this whole 'moving' thing, he'd now gotten his answer: Taehyung was on board with it. So yes, he should be feeling happy at this moment. 

But he wasn't.

The idea of moving away with the one he loves didn't seem that appealing to him anymore- not when the 'one' was turning into this completely different person. He couldn't help but feel conflicted because Taehyung was still hiding so many things from him. And Jeongguk felt it now, more than ever... he just wanted the old Taehyung back.

He's had enough of this.

Jeongguk parted his lips to finally ask... he needed to know.

"Tae-"

A hand suddenly closed over his eyes and Jeongguk froze from the surprise of that act. And before he could even react or say anything...

"Don't look at me like that..." 

Taehyung urged with a gentle tone. His hand remained firm over his boyfriend's eyes and Jeongguk's heartbeat kickstarted into an accelerated rhythm. Why did it feel like Taehyung already knew what he was going to ask him?

"Taehyung-" He called warily this time, his vision still showing nothing but blackness.

"...it feels like I'm a stranger to you, when you do that."

But it took Jeongguk this long to muster up the courage to ask him. So he wasn't going to let this chance slip away. He desperately tried again, controlling himself even with the hot breath fanning over his lips right now.

"Sweetheart, I'm worrie-"

And Taehyung kissed him. 

Rough. 

Almost like he was mad at Jeongguk for being concerned- like he wanted to shut him up. 

As history constantly repeated itself, Jeongguk found himself weak and unable to pull away from Taehyung's intoxicating touch. He felt the hand leave his eyes and reappear at the back of his neck, pulling him down abruptly so that their chests collided together.

A hasty sigh left Jeongguk at the sensational pleasure invading his body from a warm tongue rolling against his. Fuck, he could taste the strawberry lingering in Taehyung's mouth. As if that wasn't already driving him crazy, a hand slid underneath his shirt, over his chest which evidently caused his upper body to flinch backwards a bit. But he wasn't given the time to react pleasurably to what was happening right then. Taehyung didn't seem like he wanted to slow down anytime soon and Jeongguk, he...

He was starting to feel those rational thoughts diffuse into the arousing ones currently occupying his mind. How much longer would they be able to keep this up? To procrastinate talking about their problems and use sex as a distraction?

Then like something came over him, Jeongguk suddenly found the strength to pull back from their heated kiss. Quickly, he placed exactly three kisses onto his hyung below him; one on Taehyung's cheek, one on the side of his neck and one on the exposed part of his shoulder. After that, he buried his head into the side of Taehyung's neck, inhaling heavily with his eyes shut tightly. He hugged the other like there was no tomorrow and found himself not wanting to let go.

If I hold you like this forever, you wouldn't go anywhere right?

"Come with me." Jeongguk croaked out with desperation lacing his tone. "Come with me to Jin's."

He felt the vibrations on Taehyung's body from him chuckling deeply. "What? Are you afraid that I might burn down the apartment?"

Jeongguk acknowledged that joke in his mind but portrayed a serious face when he lifted his head up from the crook of Taehyung's neck. "Just come with me."

This was when Taehyung probably sensed how serious he was being because the elder's smile dropped and eyes narrowed. 

"Why?" He asked.

"I just-" Jeongguk stumbled to find the right words but actually... why did he want Taehyung to come along with him? What was the reason? He ended up staring at the man below him, not saying anything for a while. A reason...

I'm afraid you'll be gone when I get back.

A reason...

There's something you're not telling me and I don't like it.

A reason...

I don't want you being here alone because I don't-

"What is it Jeongguk?" Taehyung suddenly voiced out, pulling him out of his thoughts and then automatically, he answered,

"I don't trust you."

As soon as those words left him, Jeongguk knew he messed up. Big time. His wide eyes stared back into identical ones. No! Why the fuck did he say that, of all things?! It was over and when Taehyung made a move to slide out from underneath him, Jeongguk felt as if he was living out his worst nightmare.

"No, no- I didn't mean that!" He got up on his feet too. "I meant that-"

"You don't trust me?" Taehyung spoke out in utter disbelief, clearly not even a little bit interested in what the younger man had to say. He took a step back when Jeongguk tried to get closer to him. "Are you afraid that I might do something while you're gone?" He questioned, his breathing picking up its pace before he was panting.

This was a disaster! How could everything turn this messy? Jeongguk didn't mean to say that. Definitely not. He only meant that he didn't want Taehyung to be alone at home after the meltdown he had two nights back- fuck, then why the hell did you say you didn't trust him?!

"Hyung." Jeongguk stretched a hand out to a very upset Taehyung. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean that okay. It came out wrongly. I'm just-"

"Worried! I know!" A scoff left him as he pulled away before the other could touch him. "I know you're worried about me! You have been since the moment we met." 

Jeongguk watched in horror as another replay to what happened that night in front of the diner was unfolding right before his eyes. Only this time it was way, way worse. He'd never seen Taehyung like this before; he was rambling, pacing around, looking scared and angry at the same time. What in the world was happening to him?

"Hah," Taehyung then chuckled bitterly. "But that's what I do right? I'm weak and constantly helpless towards the people around me in my life..." He was staring off into a distance as he said this, like he was talking about something else now. 

"...and then I mess everything up in the end." 

He mumbled the last part but Jeongguk heard what he said and took a step towards him. When he was stood in front of him, Taehyung broke out of the trance he was in and looked back at the dark pair of eyes focused on him at the moment. A few seconds of silence passed with them simply staring at each other and Jeongguk felt his heart ache at the unshed tears glistening in the other's eyes.

"Tae..." He called softly.

"Just go. Go to Jin's without me. I'm staying here." 

Taehyung turned around right after that, starting to make his way down the hallway leading to their bedroom. Although he'd certainly forgotten one thing. From multiple similar incidents in the past, he failed to take note on and amend his habit of walking away whenever he didn't want to talk.

But that wasn't what he had to worry about. The thing he had to worry about...

It's who he was walking away from.

Jeongguk watched Taehyung, getting angrier and angrier by the second. What the fuck was this? Was it Jeongguk's job to constantly chase him? This was not how they settled arguments and it definitely irked Jeongguk more than anything whenever the other did this. So without another second to waste, he was already charging after the elder. He reached his hand out and grabbed Taehyung by the elbow, turning him around in one swift movement.

What happened next... no one could've guessed.

"No!" Taehyung yelled, pulling his arm away again like the touch burned him. He looked at Jeongguk with a dead-on scowl. "I don't want to talk! I don't have to do everything you fucking tell me to do!"

A startled expression fell over Jeongguk's face.

"Don't-" He gritted out.

"Don't what?!" Taehyung fired back, taking a step closer to him. "Don't talk to you like that?"

It was at this exact moment when that last string of sanity connecting Jeongguk to his rational thoughts snapped and he had never been this angry before; the rage inside him that he'd been holding- how he'd been successful in keep it under control this whole time. He never thought... the person that would make him show that ugly side of him would be the person he loves most in this world.

Jeongguk didn't hold back when he reached forward, grabbing Taehyung by the hair on the back of his head. "No." He warned. "You don't talk to me like that. I'm not just some stranger to you."

He watched Taehyung struggle to get out of his hold but Jeongguk only held him more closer, walking them towards the wall behind Taehyung to better cage him; his one hand still weaved through the other's hair while his other arm was wrapped around his waist. The palms of Taehyung's hands were flatly planted against Jeongguk's chest, pushing him back but failing to move him even by an inch due to the excessive strength his boyfriend possessed.

"Enough." Jeongguk commanded. "Enough, alright." He lowered his tone a little, hoping Taehyung would stop squirming. When he eventually did, Jeongguk took this chance to talk to him. Calmly. 

"Taehyung, do you not see how difficult you're being? You freaked out the other night when we saw that diner and can't you see how crazy you're being right now?! I said I was sorry. I didn't mean to say that." He managed to say all this before Taehyung started resisting his hold again.

"Stop it." Jeongguk breathed out, tightening his hold on him. "Will you listen to me? I do trust you. I just don't want to leave you alone. You're not telling me anything and I'm worried because you've never not wanted to talk about something before."

By now, he noticed Taehyung calming down a little. Was this working?

"Please tell me what's wrong. I promise you, I won't react badly." 

Then the light brown eyes in front of him flickered up to meet his.

"Whatever it is, we can get through it together. Nothing has to change."

Right then, Taehyung's face actually changed into this one expression. It was the look he had on whenever he's decided to give in. There were tears streaming down his cheeks and this was destroying Jeongguk a bit more as each dreadful second of this equally dreadful fight passed. But it's fine, Taehyung was going to tell him now so at least a little progress was made.

Or so he thought.

"Jeongguk..." Taehyung whispered out, followed by, "Let me go."

Impossible.

Seriously... As much as Jeongguk didn't want to admit it, he knew there was no getting through with Taehyung right now. He just couldn't believe this was happening. What was going through Taehyung's head?

Why doesn't he want to tell me?

Is he the one who didn't trust me?

With that withering hope inside him falling apart more and more like petals on a dying flower, Jeongguk loosened his grip on Taehyung. Though, he didn't walk away just yet. No, that one petal still hung loosely on that flower and Jeongguk raised both his hands to cup his hyung's face that was stained in tears. 

"Taehyung..." He called sweetly, closing his eyes as he leaned forward so their foreheads touched. 

"Please... I'm begging you." 

Was he asking too much? Was Jeongguk really in the wrong here? Was it so bad that he cared about his boyfriend? Unfortunately, his questions received an indirect answer when he opened his eyes and saw that Taehyung's gaze was cast down to the ground in between them, obviously not about to start talking anytime soon.

In a spilt second, that rage inside him had shot up so abruptly again and he couldn't stop himself when his fist collided with the wall right next to Taehyung's head. Taehyung flinched so hard, more tears escaping his eyes as his body trembled out of fear. 

Jeongguk didn't say anything more as he stepped away from Taehyung, making his way out the apartment door, not before taking his bike keys, helmet and jacket along with him.