The ice-cubes swirling around inside the glass of cola made a light clattering noise. Piercing through the surface of the beverage was a metal straw (cause yes they use metal now, probably because of all that 'safe the earth' crap) held by Taehyung who was currently oblivious to his action. His honey-colored eyes gazed off into a distance as he sat with Jeongguk and Jimin in a café one afternoon.

With the same droning thought circulating his mind, he subconsciously shifted closer to Jeongguk next to him. They were sitting in a booth so nothing stopped him from leaning towards his boyfriend, feeling a wee bit contempt by their shoulders touching ever so lightly. Then just like that, Taehyung continued to space off again.

While he did that, Jeongguk was currently busy going through the work-related contents of some papers in his hands. His laser-focused eyes narrowed down onto them, also thinking of the journey that awaited him. Right after this, Jeongguk had to travel to the construction site for the new storage units. With him being the project leader and all, he had the responsibility of visiting the site to make sure things were in order.

That's actually the main reason why they decided to have lunch together today. Both Jeongguk and Taehyung had agendas to attend to so they might get home equally late later. What event did Taehyung have, you ask? He had that 'long-awaited' swim meet to go to. And of course, there was a debate going around to whether his boyfriend was okay with him going in the first place but after that 'one night' they shared- yes with the shower-sex, Jeongguk had changed his mind. 

Suddenly he didn't have any objections with his Sweetheart going to see Jil-su. Taehyung never asked him what changed his mind but deep inside, he had a rough idea of the cause to Jeongguk's differentiated opinion. It definitely had something to do with Jeongguk's speech (what he said)- his confidence, also added with his blind faith in Taehyung that enabled him to feel positively assured that nothing was going to happen at the swim meet. 

Hmm now it really isn't hard understand why Jeongguk would think like that right? He was sure his boyfriend had received the 'message'. After ruthlessly fucking into Taehyung with the continuous whispering of those haunting words- oh let's rephrase shall we? Do you see now... how much you want me? You can't imagine anyone else... fucking you like this... You have always been mine to begin with... Yes, very haunting indeed. In fact, those very words were imprinted onto Taehyung now- carved onto him like a series of tattoos on his skin.

He wouldn't forget.

Who he belonged to.

But enough about all that. There's no point wasting time on something that happened two nights ago. In Taehyung's nature to overthink everything, he found a new obstacle in his way now. As much as Jeongguk being okay with him going to this swim meet was a good thing, Taehyung felt his own unsurfaced insecurities only now making an appearance. He was so caught up in the benefits to attending this event, he'd completely disregarded the dilemma he usually faced when going to social events. 

Can't blame him though. No matter how much he had changed, the social anxiety was still there. Ugh, having to push himself through the crowd of other reporters there with the huge-ass camera Mr Han had given him which he still wasn't skilled in operating yet. Suddenly he was secretly wishing for a way to get out of this job. Damn his fickle-mindedness!

Although it was wrong. His personal problems shouldn't be a factor in him not doing his assigned job properly. Well he still had a few hours till the event started so you never know... maybe a magic bolt of confidence would struck him from the sky or something... In the meantime- distraction. Yeah, he could distract himself with a billion things right now. 

So as Taehyung pathetically started to lay his attention onto the tiniest insignificant things around him, he'd once more -without realizing it- shifted in his position again. One of his hand now rested over Jeongguk's thigh under the table, casually stroking the muscular surface of it with his entire body pressed against the other's side. His eyes focused onto his untouched beverage, watching the surface of the dark-colored cola looking a little dilute from the ice-cubes melting. From one tiny distraction to another, he followed the journey of a single water-droplet sliding down the tall glass. 

It was like the most entertaining thing in the world to him at the moment. But the second the droplet came in contact with the table, he felt Jeongguk move to stand up from beside him. In his distraught condition, Taehyung turned to watch him with narrowed brows. Only then did he realize that nearly an hour had gone by and it was time for Jeongguk to leave to the construction site. 

He shouldn't have felt as disappointed as he did right then but he did. All of a sudden, Jeongguk leaving devastated Taehyung, close to a little child about to through a temper tantrum when his parents had to stop playtime to go do grownup stuff like run errands or some other thing. Bottom line was, he didn't like the feeling invading him right now.

Trying to sound as smooth as possible, Taehyung stood up along with the other. "Uh- hey, how long do you think you're gonna be there for?" He couldn't help the pout reaching his lips at the end of that question.

So much for being smooth...

Jeongguk was in the midst of packing his things into his black bag when he hummed. "I don't know... it's my first time going there and all. I'd definitely need to take some time to get to know the project managers there." He dragged the zipper of the bag sealing it shut, still not facing Taehyung as he continued, "Don't wait up for me. About dinner, there's some leftovers in the-"

It only took one look at Taehyung for Jeongguk to stop talking. Right then, he'd finally noticed the disappointed look painting over his boyfriend's face. In less than a second, Jeongguk's expression turned into a soft one, the slight severity of him leaving affecting the other now more apparent. 

"What's wrong? Do you not want me to go?"

Yes.

Taehyung paused for exactly three seconds before shaking his head with a small smile. "No- I just..." Damn it. He had no idea what to say but a hand on his cheek immediately had his attention focused onto the man in front of him. 

"I'll be back before you know it, kay?"

He sighed. "Alright."

Jeongguk passed him a dashing smile, ruffling his hair affectionately before stepping out of the booth they were in. With a final wave to Taehyung and Jimin (who was still there if anybody had forgotten), the man disappeared out the entrance of the café. 

It wasn't enough. Taehyung's eyes lingered on the front doors of the place before eventually sliding down his now empty seat with a defeated huff. Then like he was programed as a computer was to reset when an error occurred, Taehyung absentmindedly went back to fiddling with the straw of his unappealing beverage as he did in the first place.

Upon zoning out again, he was completely oblivious to his best friend staring at him with a conflicted look from across the table. When Jimin cleared his throat, Taehyung turned to him with a confused expression. 

"What?"

Jimin let out a breath in disbelief. "I'm sorry but is Jeongguk going off to war or something?"

Taehyung didn't answer right away. This was a trick question right?

"No... why?"

"Are you serious? You were practically clinging onto him like a koala on a tree." He expressed dramatically. "And what was with all that pouting? I swear you looked like you were about to cry." 

As all those truthful words hit Taehyung, he blinked twice in cold realization. 

"Did I do that?"

"Uh-huh." Jimin nodded, now bringing his attention to his phone screen. On the other side, Taehyung was replaying his previous actions in his head. Was Jimin right? He would've ventured further into that question if it weren't for his friend's next words which had him abandoning his thoughts. 

He watched Jimin not-so-subtly set his phone down on the table. "But I guess that's just how you act towards the person you love." 

There was a very clear indication in Jimin's tone that he was being sarcastic. This had Taehyung concerned with a, "What do you mean?"

Jimin groaned. "I'm going outta my mind into finding a way to tell Yoongi that I love him but there's always something that drags him away." He ran a hand down his face, looking frustrated. "It's either a phone call that he's needed back in Daegu or a dumb waitress accidentally spilling water over him on our date... all right before I'm about to say it." The man shook his head. "It's like the universe doesn't want me to confess to him or something..."

It really broke Taehyung's heart to see his best friend like this. And a little surprising actually because since the last time they spoke of this topic at Jin's party, he assumed Jimin had already confessed his feelings to Yoongi. But now it's been months and he could only imagine a taste to what Jimin must be going through to keep something that big to himself. The situation was different with him and Jeongguk. Though Taehyung did find himself wondering...

Why was Jimin the one suffering like this?

Was Yoongi close to confessing too- no, did Yoongi even feel the same way?

When faced with situations like these, Taehyung just didn't know what to do. He wasn't very good at playing the role of the 'comforting friend'. This was probably due to his lack in experience of having friends in the first place. So right now, the best thing he could do was offer Jimin empty assurance.

"Jimin look, I know there's nothing I can say to make you feel better but the way I see it, Yoongi adores you alright. I guess for some couples, these things take time." Taehyung smiled a little. "Who knows, maybe when you get back home later, the moment will be just right."

As soon as he said those words, Jimin stifled a chuckle moving to sit up straighter in his seat. "Oh I know for sure today will definitely not be the day that happens." 

"Why do you say that?"

"Yoongi just texted me. He's gonna be in Daegu tonight..." Jimin answered without a single trace of emotion in his voice.

Taehyung gave the other an apologetic look. Oh gosh, it felt like Jimin was going through one of those ugly times in life. And to think, he always seemed like the happy-go-lucky type of person. Really, this just goes to show no matter who that person is- introvert, extrovert... we all go through our own shit.

A sigh from the said man had Taehyung redirecting his gaze onto him. "Well, it's getting late. I'd better get back to my schedule while the night's still young."

"I thought you didn't have rehearsals today?"

Jimin clicked his tongue, shaking his head at the same time. "God Tae, do you have to be such a nerd. That's just my code word for when I'm going to drown my sorrows in alcohol."

This had Taehyung rolling his eyes. He never quite understood his friend's achievement in serenity after downing loads of beer into his body. 

"You really shouldn't judge, ya'know..." Jimin lazily said, noticing his friend's distasteful expression to him planning on getting drunk tonight. "Everybody has their way of destressing. And yeah maybe some of them aren't very healthy but it still gets the job done." 

He inched his body forward against the table, maintaining Taehyung's focus on him. "Don't tell me you've never thought about it before... just a shortcut to skipping all that fucking time spent on being miserable."

Taehyung was still. Why did it feel like Jimin was becoming that one friend he never had in high school who influenced him into doing bad things? But he had a point. Sometimes going through all the mentally-scaring moments in his life of being anxious, sleep-deprived and paranoid did exhaust him. 

"I know you Tae, you of all people have gone through the toughest time especially in this past year. And you overthink more than anyone I know so like I said..."

Jimin smiled unenthusiastically, matching the current mood flooding through him.

"...it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world to have an outlet."