"Tae?" 

Taehyung slipped out of his thoughts at the voice. "Huh?"

"I'm going to get our bag from the car," Jeongguk said. "Do you wanna wait here? I'll be really quick."

He nodded at first before quickly shaking his head as a change of mind. "No-no, I want to go with you." They were currently standing at the entrance of the basement parking after retrieving their room key from the receptionist at the lobby just moments ago.

Surprisingly enough, nobody really minded their utterly drenched states walking through the place. It probably made sense that they got caught in the rain on their way to the hotel. Surely nobody would've guessed the real reason to why they were soaking wet.

Taehyung kept a close distance to Jeongguk as they strolled through the rows of parked cars in the congested basement. He figured what good ever came out of Jeongguk leaving his side, even if it was for a brief minute. It was better to stay together. 

The cold air was nipping at his shivering body. Taehyung kept telling himself that he had to be patient for ten more minutes. Just ten more minutes and they'd be up in their room where he'd feel refreshed after a hot shower and then probably drifted off into a deep slumber in those comfy sheets. Merely thinking about sleeping was already making his eyelids heavy. Soon he found himself yawning and it was at this second where he caught a dark figure zipping past the corner of his vision.

Fully awake with that pinch of fear inside him, Taehyung whipped his head to where he thought he saw the said figure... the one that haunted him non-stop. As expected, he didn't see anyone there. Just more cars.

Great.

Again. He was seeing it again.  

He blamed it on his sleepiness this time. The tiredness in him was definitely making him see things now. Then again, this couldn't be the reason because it's been weeks since that night at the street race and Taehyung has had a number of encounters with this strange man dressed in black.

Although it couldn't be called encounters now, could it? Taehyung just saw him. Never spoke or anything else. 

It had come to the point where Taehyung stopped telling Jeongguk whenever he saw this man. What was the point? What could be done? As much as he'd like to stop seeing this dark figure, it hadn't really done anything to Taehyung. It was just there. Wherever he went, the thing was just there and after some time, Taehyung was convinced that this was his mind playing tricks on him. Or maybe he was becoming crazy... People lose their minds for many reasons, right? Even if it was nothing physical, the mental torture was just as bad... even worse in some cases.

Taehyung continued to glance around cautiously, his hand tightly fisted around the back of the material of Jeongguk's suit jacket without knowing it. 

"Hey," a sudden voice relieved him of his intense paranoia.

Jeongguk was looking at him as they've stopped walking. "Are you okay? I've called your name like three times."

"No-nothing, I'm fine." Taehyung shrugged. "Just tired."

There was a reluctant look on Jeongguk's face, not fully convinced by the man's words. Nonetheless, he let it go. They were already at Jin's car. Taehyung stood at the front quietly while Jeongguk went to get their bag from the backseat. It all took less than a minute, nothing eventful about it, and they were walking back to the hotel already where the elevators were.

They were heading towards the basement exit when a familiar person walked past them. It was that guy from earlier, the tall one that glared at Taehyung during dinner in the hall. Taehyung shared a brief look with the man and glanced away quickly after, suddenly feeling nervous. Taehyung didn't know if Jeongguk noticed him but they were still walking so he guessed everything was okay.

With the tinniest bit of curiosity in him, Taehyung turned to look at Jeongguk. Did he even remember that guy? Were they close friends in the past? There were these questions occupying his head but that nonchalant look on Jeongguk's face had Taehyung concluding that maybe the younger didn't remember who that was at all. 

"So you're ignoring an old friend?" A voice sounded from behind them, echoing all the way through the basement. 

At once, Jeongguk stopped walking. 

Taehyung started getting worried when that narrow-eyed look masked over his boyfriend's face. "Jeongguk," he called alarmingly, looping an arm around his to pull him forward so they'd start walking again. "Come on, let's just go."

Some footsteps clicked against the hard concrete ground, getting closer to them. "I have been meaning to praise you Jeongguk. Really- I mean what you did, leaving everything behind, your family, your friends... and all for what? Love?" An ugly laugh left him. "Oh how romantic..."

"Ignore him," Taehyung desperately whispered, continuing to pull the man forward. He could practically see the strained muscle from how hard Jeongguk was clenching his jaw. "Please," he begged and Jeongguk finally turned to look at him. His eyes softened upon looking at Taehyung and not long from then, a sigh left him.

Some relief entered Taehyung when they began walking again. The sooner they got to the elevators, the sooner they'd be away from this lunatic. Why the hell was he even picking a fight with them anyway? Taehyung was praying hard that he'd just shut up and go away.

But of course, he didn't.

"I hated you back then. Since high school actually. They way you always got the best of everything. And the fact that you didn't know that, well... that just pissed me off even more," the man resumed his insulting speech. "I was happy when you left the country because everybody finally stopped talking about how great you are but now that you're back... seeing you happy- ah man, it's starting to make me angry again."

Almost there. They were so fucking close to exiting the basement.

Everything could've ended differently if it weren't for the bastard's next words.

"Say Jeongguk, tell me. Is it really better doing it with a guy? Or is it just better with that boyfriend of yours?"

Jeongguk halted in his steps, turning around to finally face the brown-haired man. Outraged. There was this deadly look on his face, eyes wide, not believing what he was hearing right now.

"Jeongguk please," Taehyung frantically said, coming to stand in front of him, placing his hands on his chest to hold him back. "Don't listen to him. Please... let's go."

His heart was beating so fast. He feared this side of Jeongguk. It scared him so much because Taehyung knew what the younger man was capable of. How the heck did their night end up like this anyway?! Just moments ago, they were so happy. It felt like nothing would snatch that happiness away from them but now, they were here.

And everything was just getting worse.

Jeongguk didn't spare Taehyung a single glance nor respond to any of his pleadings as he kept his sharp eyes directed at the man standing a few feet away from them. 

"Oh... I kinda miss this angry side of you. Never could control it, could you? He must be a special one if you're getting this upset over what I said," the man said gesturing to Taehyung and daringly walked closer to them.

The veins on Jeongguk's forehead were becoming more apparent and Taehyung felt more and more powerless. He recognized this situation too well- that anger swimming in Jeongguk's eyes, blinding him, controlling him. It'd gotten worse over time and this was the last thing he needed. Someone taunting him, someone testing his patience, someone talking about Taehyung in mockery.

Taehyung gripped the front of Jeongguk's shirt tightly. "Gguk... please," he softly begged one more time.

For that brief moment, Jeongguk's eyes flickered down to him. And it looked like there was still hope. Taehyung could see that tiny glint of rationality left in those pitch-black orbs. It wasn't too late-

"Y'know Jeongguk... I've been watching your lovely boyfriend all night and I've gotta say, he's a pretty one. He must be good at it too, if he makes you that happy. It's got me curious so..."

Oh god.

Stop talking! Stop talking! Taehyung screamed in his head.

"...you wouldn't mind if I borrowed him, would you?" 

Well, now it was too late. 

In one swift motion, Jeongguk pulled out of Taehyung's hold and took the guy by his collars. "You fucking asshole," he gritted out. "Shut up- shut the fuck up!"

The guy actually laughed, lacking the slightest fear given the position he was in. "No, I don't want to. Are you gonna beat me up now?" 

This was escalating pretty quickly and Taehyung struggled to grab onto Jeongguk's arm to stop this. "Jeongguk please, just leave him," he cried, eyes glistening with unshed tears. His weak tugs were useless as the younger had an iron grip on the other man. Taehyung panted, thinking hard, deciding he had to do something and he quickly took his phone out, fumbling with it as he shot a quick text to Namjoon. 

"You're the same now as you were then-" 

"What the fuck is your problem?!" Jeongguk barked, barely able to hold back as he roughly let go of the man's collar causing him to stumble back.

"You! You're my problem! I just want to see you in pain again, like the night you ended up in that fucking hospital-" the guy paused. "I guess there's no harm in you knowing now... I'm the reason you two got attacked that day."

The couple froze.   

"What?" Jeongguk spoke first while Taehyung stood beside him, shocked, feeling the rush of memories flood into his head from that horrid night they got beat up by those thugs Ji-yi sent. 

"She hated that you were so happy in love so I convinced her to do it."

Taehyung in a dazed state, blindly reached his hand to Jeongguk. He didn't know what to do to stop this anymore... "Jeongguk," he called breathlessly. 

But Jeongguk didn't hear him. "You- you're the reason..."

The man smirked cunningly, lolling his head to one side. "Jeongguk... I was one of them." He took a few more steps forward until he was standing right in front of them. "I tell you, I'll never forget how good it felt when my hand smacked across your boyfriend's pretty face that nigh-"

A loud cry resonated through the basement as Jeongguk had him in a tight hold by the throat. It was Taehyung who had cried. Hands over his mouth, he watched the scene unfold before him in panic. Jeongguk seething, uncontrollably shaking with his chest rising and falling too fast right then while he dug his nails deeper into the flesh over the man's neck. 

"I'm going to kill you."

Those were the last words to leave him before he smacked the guy right in the face. Just as he did to Taehyung. Jeongguk didn't allow him a single second to collect himself on the cold ground. Gripping his hair tightly, Jeongguk slammed his head against the front bumper of a car parked idly by. The loud bang from the act had Taehyung flinching hard, more tears streaming down his red cheeks. 

He ran to Jeongguk's side, both hands over his elbow to pull him off the man. "Jeongguk stop!" Taehyung shouted over and over again but the younger ignored him, continuing to assault the weakening man with endless punches. 

"Please! Jeongguk-" Taehyung tried again until he caught that first sight of blood.

Crimson red, like sweat trailing down the side of the man's head. But it wasn't sweat at all. No. It was actually his fucking blood.

Slowly, Taehyung felt himself let go of Jeongguk. Vision getting more hazy now, he took a step back with his heavy breathing as the only sound he could hear. He just couldn't bare the sight of it. It made him want to throw up. 

What frightened him even more was seeing Jeongguk mercilessly beat this guy up. Like he was in a trance, like he actually wanted this guy to die in his hands...

"Jeongguk..." he whispered out weakly, feeling this painful hammering on the sides of his head from a headache forming. "Stop..." Taehyung watched Jeongguk for as long as he could.

Until he couldn't anymore. Taehyung moved backwards, almost tripping, heart racing out of so much fear. His back landed against a car there, legs giving out from under him while he slowly slid downwards, holding his head in his hands as the intense pounding got worse.

The guy was half-conscious now, not able to defend himself anymore. Bruised and bleeding profusely, he endured the endless beatings from Jeongguk. And he would've passed out right then and there if Namjoon hadn't showed up.

"Jeongguk, what the hell?! Stop!" Hugging him from the back, Namjoon tore him off the other.

"Fuck off!" Jeongguk yelled and tried to push him off.

"It's me! Jeongguk! You need to stop!" Namjoon pulled him back more and turned him around so they could face each other. He placed both his hands on Jeongguk's shoulders, eyeing him in a serious manner. "Jeongguk, calm down. Remember, deep breaths alright..." 

There was a calmness in Namjoon as if this wasn't anything new. Like a familiar protocol, he knew exactly what to say and do. Jeongguk was breathing hard at first, the angry glare still plastered across his face. Though as the seconds went by, his expression softened and he was moderately breaking out of that raging stance.

"There, you're okay now..." Namjoon soothed. He momentarily glanced behind Jeongguk to see the man lying motionless on the ground, face beyond damaged. He sighed. "We talked about this, Jeongguk you can't do something like thi- hey, are you listening to me?" Namjoon searched the younger man's eyes. 

Jeongguk was breathing normally now though he still seemed a bit dazed. Namjoon tried to get his attention. "Jeongguk, what were you thinking? You can't do this. And with Taehyung here-"

As if the mention of his boyfriend's name had brought all sanity back into him, Jeongguk pushed past Namjoon. With wary eyes, he scanned the basement, panicked, thinking the worst that Taehyung had disappeared. 

Again. Just like the night of the street race.

Fortunately before he could've really freaked out, Jeongguk spotted Taehyung with his head ducked down by a car. He was shaking, like a scared puppy hiding in the corner and Jeongguk finally realized what he'd just done.  

He rushed to Taehyung's side, getting down to his knees before he gently lifted the man's head. "Tae..." he softly called out and damn, he could see the fear in those piercing gold eyes brimming with tears. It made his heart ache so bad, the guilt pouring into him non-stop. 

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." Jeongguk pulled him into his chest, wrapping his arms around him in a strong embrace.

He did it again. Jeongguk ignored his pleas to stop, this time knowing how scared Taehyung became whenever he got violent.

"Jeongguk," a voice called. Namjoon was standing next to the beaten up man with a worried look. "Take Taehyung and go. I'll take him to the hospital."

Jeongguk furrowed his brows. "Hyung, wait why are you-"

"Just go," Namjoon pressed. "Before someone we know sees, this could turn into a huge problem. So just go up to your room and stay there. We'll talk later after I get back." 

There was a slight hesitation in Jeongguk though he eventually listened and moved to stand on his feet, helping Taehyung up as he did. Jeongguk tried to see if he was still crying but Taehyung kept his head down, refusing to look up. A deep sigh left Jeongguk, sensing a fight about to unfold between them. Everything was ruined. Their night had drastically took a turn for the worse all because of what he'd just done. 

He wanted Taehyung to look at him. Jeongguk wanted to beg for forgiveness so they could go back to the way they were. Nonetheless, for now, he took Taehyung's hand in his and led them back to the hotel. 

"Oh and Jeongguk," Namjoon suddenly called from behind them. "I left my phone upstairs so if Jin calls, could you just tell him that I went out for a smoke or something. I don't want him leaving the party for this."

Jeongguk nodded at his words. He turned back, about to walk again but he noticed Taehyung looking down to where their hands were interlocked. Jeongguk followed his gaze and saw the reason. There were smudges of the man's blood coating his knuckles! Dammit, he didn't notice and Taehyung was now looking at him with that teary-eyed face again. 

Then he snatched his hand out of Jeongguk's and stomped towards the basement exit, not bothering to wait for him.

Jeongguk watched him walk away and groaned. 

"Fucking great..."

The hotel room was quiet. Curtains drawn shut blocking out the barely visible moon, the only source of illumination came from that one bed lamp and the orange lights in the bathroom peeking out through the crack of its door. 

Soon with the flick of a switch, the orange was no more. Jeongguk emerged from the bathroom, small towel in hand. His eyes were greeted with Taehyung's back as the male sat on the side of the bed, faced away from him. Taehyung had his head hung low again, so very quiet, probably not even aware that Jeongguk was standing there.

His bare feet moved slowly over the beige tiled floor, a little relieved to have gotten out of those wet shoes and socks. Jeongguk lowered himself down to his knees in front of Taehyung to match their heights. He leaned closer so their eyes could meet but stubbornly, the elder was like a statue only gazing down at his hands on his lap.

"Hyung..." Jeongguk called so softly.

Taehyung didn't move.

"I'm sorry. I know how you feel when I get like that. I-" he stopped to place his hands over Taehyung's. "I didn't- I know I shouldn't have done that and I'm sorry... sorry for ignoring you, for scaring you. Will you forgive me?" 

Still nothing.

"Please... Taehyung, I'm-" Jeongguk groaned. "Dammit, will you please look at me." 

Another dreadful few seconds of silence passed. Feeling this misery slowly fill him, Jeongguk watched him for a bit more. His shiny locks that'd dried already and were covering his face as he looked down like that, lips sealed shut, hands folded together, not moving- Taehyung basically not reacting to his touch, or to him in general. 

It was all absolute torture and Jeongguk felt that anger return. Hand fisting, contemplating to grab Taehyung's chin and make him look up- no. He forced it down instead and raised to his feet, turning the other way while he ran a hand through his hair in frustration.

Regret was replacing that anger now. He regretted what he'd done. Although not fully because he still wanted to hurt that bastard for his words. The part he regretted was Taehyung having to watch what he did. 

It was easier to feel the regret now than to have stopped himself back then. He knew his actions could not be justified, it was a fact that he raised his hand first.

But c'mon... that bastard pushed him way past his limit. Everything the man was saying, about him, about Taehyung, his words sharp as daggers provoked and pierced through Jeongguk. It was impossible for him to have just walked away and not done anything. 

To find out that this fucker was the reason for what happened to them back then... Jeongguk just couldn't accept it because he remembered that night perfectly.

He was desperately in love with Taehyung and was willing to do anything to make him stay. It was a risk even proposing the idea for him to take that job opportunity at that publishing firm. Jeongguk knew it was a shot in the dark to persuade Taehyung to take it. 

But it worked. 

Taehyung agreed to stay with him. 

It was perfect.

Until what came next.

Everything that occurred after was the definition of hell. Staying in that hospital ward, not able to get out and do anything. He was extremely happy when Taehyung came to see him but he didn't know of the elder's plans to leave to Japan. 

Jimin saved them.

Yes, he definitely saved Jeongguk from having to wake up the next morning and find out Taehyung was in a whole nother country. Despite what happened between Taehyung and Jimin with the whole Yoongi thing, Jeongguk will forever be grateful for what Jimin did at that time.

Still, Jeongguk couldn't stop thinking about how things could've ended differently if all that hadn't happen. Maybe their pain would've been lesser. Maybe his parents wouldn't have resented him a little for leaving like that-

A low voice suddenly pulled him out of his thoughts.

"How long are you going to be like this?"

Jeongguk slowly turned around to see Taehyung looking up at him. Finally. 

"Hyung-" 

"I'm asking you, how long are you going to be like this?" 

This heaviness started pressing down on Jeongguk at Taehyung's question. He opened his mouth but no words came out. It wasn't an overcomplicated question yet he was struggling so hard to find an answer.

Taehyung continued to burn him with that narrow-eyed gaze. "We've been together for a long time now Jeongguk, and I'd love to say that you're getting better but the truth is... you're not. You and that anger of yours. It's more worse than it ever was."

Jeongguk felt this uncomfortableness, more close to a deep-rooted dissatisfaction stirring in him. He hated when Taehyung scolded him like this. It just reminded him of his carelessness and that fucking age gap that was there to constantly remind him of how truly reckless he was between the two of them.

"I'm handling it," he gritted out.

"No don't-" Taehyung instantly got to his feet, coming to stand in front of Jeongguk with an exasperated look. "Don't lie to me. You're not handling it." He raised his tone a little. "You get angry over something and it's either the wall that meets your fist or you go to the gym to let off steam. That's it. You've been doing this for the longest time and look at what just happened. So don't tell me that you're handling it."  

He felt like his jaw might break from how hard he was clenching it. Taehyung's words were hitting him hard and Jeongguk couldn't stand it.

"So what the fuck did you expect me to do?! Just stand there and let him talk like that!" 

"Yes!" Taehyung shouted back. "Is it so hard to just walk away?"

Jeongguk stared at him intensely, eyes glistening with emotions now. "I don't get you... d-did you not hear what he said? Taehyung, he's the reason-"

"I know. I know, Jeongguk. I heard everything he said and I know he picked a fight with us first but you should have walked away." 

"Don't say it like that." Jeongguk shook his head and turned his back towards Taehyung. "Don't make me feel like you're taking his fucking side."

"Oh my god Jeongguk, don't you see? It's not about him." Taehyung walked around him so they were facing each other again. "This isn't going to be a one-time thing. Someone like him will come along again. If not tomorrow, then a week from now or a month-"

Jeongguk furrowed his brows at this. "What- What are you saying?"

The elder sighed. "Jeongguk... it's this difference between us. No matter what, people will want us apart-"

"What people?"

Taehyung froze for a moment before he turned away. "Look, that's not important. What I'm trying to say-"

"No." Jeongguk grabbed his chin. "Tell me, what people?"

There was a brief hesitation in Taehyung. He looked like he was about to cry again. "Okay, you want to know..." he challenged and pulled out of the man's hold. "Your parents, your friends, your fucking ex-girlfriend."

"What-"

"Do you know what your parents told me the first time I met them at that hospital? They told me to stay away from you. And okay, maybe we can forget that since it was a long time ago. But look at our lives. Just look at everything that's happened... these never-ending problems. It's never going to end because we come from two different backgrounds." 

Taehyung swiped the tears off his shiny eyes with the back of his hand. "People like me aren't meant to end up with people like you. I spent everyday being reminded of this back in college whenever I saw you with her and your other friends. I feel so small when I see your parents and I know for a fact that they aren't entirely okay with us being together no matter how hard they try to be..." He suddenly stopped, sobbing uncontrollably. 

Jeongguk felt his heart break at this sight.

"Taehyung-"

"The world will never stop trying to put us in our places," Taehyung said lowly. "That's why I'm telling you that there's no point in fighting, that's why I'm telling you that you shouldn't have beaten that guy up. There's no use in stopping one person from hurting us when another one will come along soon. As long as we live here, as long as they see us together, it's never going to stop."

He weakly gazed at Jeongguk, exhausted from their rollercoaster of a night. 

"I've already accepted this, so when are you going to?"

No words left Jeongguk. One sentence replaying in his mind on a loop: It's never going to stop, it's never going to stop... The more he thought about what Taehyung said, the more he realized how true it all was.

Jeongguk focused his attention on Taehyung now. Seeing him in this crying mess again. How many times has he made Taehyung cry in the whole time that they've been together. Jeongguk sighed, too many times to keep count of.

He lifted a hand to Taehyung's tear-stained cheek, gently wiping his tears away. He didn't know where to begin apologizing. "Taehyung, I-"

"Let's stop talking about this, really. I'm sorry I kept this to myself this entire time," Taehyung uttered out, closing that little distance between them. He pressed his face into Jeongguk's chest, arms coming around the younger's waist. "I should have told you how I felt," he said, words coming out slightly muffled but Jeongguk still heard him. "And I'm not mad anymore if you're still worried about it. I'm just so tired. If it's okay with you, can we go back?"

Jeongguk stroked the back of Taehyung's head and hummed. "Yeah sure, we'll wait for Namjoon and then head back to Jin's toge-"

"No," Taehyung immediately lifted his head, peering up at the other. "Not Jin's. I mean back to our home."

There were so many things Jeongguk could've said to him. To state a few... it would've been easier to just sleep in that hotel room since it was late and they were both very exhausted, or even go back to Jin's since they all came in one car and they already have a room at their hyung's giant home anyway. But looking at this face... man this face, these honey-colored eyes especially, it hypnotized Jeongguk and once again, he felt that need in him.

The need to give Taehyung anything he wanted.

"Okay," Jeongguk nodded. "We'll go home." 

A small smile reached Taehyung's lips before he buried his face in the other's chest again.

It wasn't much, but that smile made Jeongguk feel a tiny bit better. He wrapped his arms around the elder tightly, placing a kiss on top of his head while he fell into this pit of invading thoughts- more importantly, that one line that scared him more than anything.

It's never going to stop...