The next chapter is here! Some new beginnings...

The flight ride back to Seoul was awfully calm, a peace that Taehyung quiet doesn't like in between them. Jungkook was busy on his laptop writing away the outlines of his next project. He had shared with him how his new clients are much more particular about his architecture. But Taehyung has seen the younger working on his projects before as well. He never supports such silence for longer than one hour but here they passed fourteen hours riding silently. 

Taehyung assumed it could be due to their sudden change in bed dynamics but he can swear on the holiest food in the world, he hasn't mentioned that night in any of his talks. It was a weak moment for the younger and he understands it so rather than talking about it aftermorning both of them decided to ignore the topic over all. 

Maybe that's where everything went wrong. Because now Taehyung is supporting an unknown ache in his heart and brain. It's not like that they haven't talked after that night, no, they have. Light talks about the food and lifestyle of Italy, they even visited some places together and enjoyed the remaining days of their holiday but it wasn't like before. 

Something is missing and with each passing moment, the silence of the younger was pissing him more and more. But he can't say much. After all, it's the individual's choice if they want to speak or not. So he indulged himself in the prescribed magazines, movies, fùck he even watched disney cartoons at some point to pass the fourteen hour long time splitted in between two flights. 

Taehyung refrained himself from touching the younger unnecessarily, because right now that human was appearing as a ticking bomb to him. Both of them arrived at Taehyung's apartment and Jungkook beelined to his room while wishing Taehyung a happy good day. 

Happy, my ass.

Two weeks remained till the time period of this treatment would wear off so maybe this distance could be better for them. And It's not like he is feeling any kind of attachment with the younger, it's just some humble concern. People often felt concerned about the people living beside them or came to live beside them for a while. The time was ticking and that college boy still hadn't given any updates about Yeonsu. 

Taehyung fetched his phone from his pocket and dialled a number urgently while wiping his dripping head with a dry towel. The short shower wasn't much help for his headache. The ringing stopped when a voice answered the call.

“The person you are trying to reach is having dinner at this moment, please try again later. The person you-”

“Cut the bullshit, tell me the updates.” Taehyung bristled in the receiver and got chewing noises in return. 

After a few seconds the chewing stopped and the voice replied, “Well, I have some ground breaking information but I can't tell you on a phone call.”

“Then come over to the same cafe.”

“It's the weekend, Mr Kim. I have roamed around like a dog for you, my nose needs rest till Monday.”

“Don't test my patience, kid. You won't like the consequences.” He threatened. 

“Geez. You have come back from a holiday, aren't you? Where is the peace and happiness of wasting this much money and time? Alas… big people with big brains, always draining themselves. I'm only 19 years old, Mr Kim. Spare me my weekend, I promise I will meet you on Monday.”

The rambling of the kid didn't stop until Taehyung rolled his eyes and gave him a specific time, “ Monday 9 am, my office.”

“Your office?? Mr Kim, you can't -”

Taehyung refused the call and pushed his phone back into his pocket. He just can't understand why everyone around him is trying hard to get on his nerves. His apartment looks shabby. It needs a deep cleaning, after spending two weeks out on a holiday he knew he would need to do the cleaning after his return but he didn't know that he would be this desperate to take out the supplies before blasting the jazz in his gramophone. 

Jungkook finished unpacking all of his belongings and settled the clean ones back into his closet. 

It's not like he doesn't want to talk to Taehyung, actually, he did want to. But he just doesn't know how he should try to speak in front of him after adorning such an embarrassing act in front of him. Just how? Everything was going smoothly, just two weeks more and they would go back to their normal lives but he had to be a mental fool and perform disaster after disaster in a fùcking loop.  

Taehyung was behaving differently too on the plane ride back to Seoul, instead of talking out of their silence he chose to watch films and read two weeks old magazines. He can understand that he didn't initiate as well but he has the right to be embarrassed after that night! Right? Or maybe wrong but all he knows is that he fùcked up, messed up everything by expressing his slightest wish. Oh God, he doesn't have to make such a wish in the first place.

He likes roughness in bed because he has never felt the way Taehyung makes him feel, the soft and deep moments. His body likes them, craves them but his brain is screaming at him to live in reality. So he expressed his wish to remain in the harsh reality, but this man… the effect of this man happened totally opposite on his body. He liked every bit of that night, remembered and stored those moments in his brain successfully. 

But now… Now what??

He was fidgeting with the laptop on his lap when he heard the loud buzz of a gramophone ringing in the hall. Cleaning alarm? But they have just got back and the house didn't look that bad to seek urgent cleaning. Jungkook walked out of his room with cautious steps because if his intuitions were correct then he was about to hear something he should not. 

Jungkook hid under the stairs when he caught Taehyung flicking the dusty cloth at every nook and cranny of the furniture. His brows were hunched up, almost giving an angry look to his face. His clothes were the same, it looked like he had decided to start the work without even changing his clothes. His sleeves were stacked up around his elbows as he flicked his wrist a bit harder on the table. 

And just as Jungkook imagined he heard the voice right away. A high pitched voice resonated in between the flat sound of the gramophone and Jungkook covered his mouth when he realised Taehyung was actually mimicking him this time. 

“I want you to make me forget everything around me.” The high pitched voice, was a bit gruff but matching to the cords of the person hiding beneath the stairs. 

Taehyung scoffed loudly, “ Seems like I did make you forget everything, including me!”

“You are so childish Taehyung-ssi! I just wanted pain, wanted to cry with your face buried in my ass. That's it. But now I want to play shy because I said I want to carry your child instead of my perfect husband.”

Taehyung slanted his face flatly while hitting the back of the sofa with the cloth, “ Bruh… as if I will agree to give you my precious seeds. They belong to me and will keep dying inside me till I find a suitable womb for them.” 

“Come on. I have a womb and I do want to get it filled but it's just my purrfect husband doesn”t know how to use his gun to fire some bullets!” Jungkook grimaced when the high-pitched voice matched his usual tone. 

Wtf.

“What did I ask in return? Nothing! I asked nothing, Jungkook! I gave you exactly what you wanted that night. Do you even know how hard it was for me to control myself from not ripping your skin out of your bones? I was this close to ruining myself but in the end everything became an act of pleasure.” Taehyung threw the dirty cloth away and grabbed the vacuum cleaner. 

He turned the machine on and it became close to impossible for Jungkook to hear exactly what the older was murmuring now. He swiftly made his way out of his hidden spot and hopped slowly till his big form hid behind one of the sofa sets which Taehyung had already cleaned. 

“Please don't feel bad Taehyung-ssi, I’m just practising silence for good health and shiny skin. I'm absolutely not ignoring you, why would I? It's not like you have fucked me for the first time so why would I ignore you now?”

Taehyung rammed the cleaner on the rug dangerously, the grinding noise humming all around the hall. But still, his disappointment was clear in his voice, “Hah! Bullshit. You are as daring as a rat and then as scary as a cat! I won't be surprised if you keep hiding in your room for the next two weeks also.”

Jungkook bit his lips when the annoying high-pitched voice soon followed, “ Taehyung-ssi, Can't you deal with me for two weeks? I will soon be out of this house finding whether my husband has gained enough balls to knot me properly.”

Jungkook covered his ears with his hands, what was he even saying? Has he lost his mind finally? 

“Of course.” Taehyung said loudly and then rolled his eyes while moving the cleaner onto another rug, “Of course, you will find out many things about your husband. And I don't care what they would be!! So enjoy them to the fullest.”

“Don’t be like this, Tae! We are friends, right? Whatever this was… it was a part of the treatment-”

“Shut the fuck up,” Taehyung grumbled on his own.  

“Why would I shut my mouth? Am I not speaking the truth? Aren't you my friend who-”

“Who what? Fuck you day and night? Knots you the deepest, paint the walls of your throat?”  

Jungkook has had enough of that voice and before that high-pitched voice again takes the chance to resonate in the hall, he arose from his hiding spot and screamed at Taehyung, “You are not my friend! agreed!!! Is that okay now?”

Taehyung's back was facing him but the sound of the vacuum diminished to nothing. He saw Taehyung taking a deep breath before turning towards him slowly, eyes passive and flattened. Jungkook was about to say how wrong/right his words were when Taehyung bowed dramatically to him, “ Welcome to the grand hall, Monsieur. This server is present at your command. How may I help you?”

“Tae, stop this.” Jungkook fetched the cleaner out of his hands and left it on the floor. 

“I heard everything, why are you ranting about me in such a way? When did I ever call you Taehyung-ssi?” 

Taehyung scoffed and clapped his hands loudly but in slow motion, “Woah, what a nice observation you had. Should I bring an award?” His eyes narrowed suspiciously before he shoved his hands inside his pant pockets. 

Jungkook sighed defeatedly, “ Please, I am sorry. I was embarrassed. You cornered me too! You were running away as if I had some hideous disease.”

Taehyung shook his head while flicking his tongue over his lower lip, he took one hand out of his pocket and pointed at himself, “Me? I was running away? Dude, you gave me blue balls for the entire week! You were looking so sad that I couldn't even speak properly.”

It was totally involuntary how Jungkook's eyes went down on Taehyung, watching his crotch area before meeting with his eyes, “I am sorry. I was totally under the impression of the embarrassment I caused. I thought you might find it weird to touch me now.”

Taehyung rolled his eyes and crossed his hands over his chest. He can't pretend that he isn't pissed with the younger but when things are related to mental state he certainly can't judge someone's actions and reactions. 

On top of these things, the holiday weeks are already finished so they won't have much time together now. Maybe this would bring Jungkook the space that he needed for himself. 

Jungkook watched as the older kept looking away from him, lips shut and teeth plucking dead skin out from it. He knows this action very well, a stance Taehyung takes when he doesn't want to proceed with the arguments any further. So, he touched Taehyung's arm and made him turn towards him, “ Okay, let's make a treaty of peace. Tell me what I need to do to make you feel at ease again.” 

Taehyung didn't look at him but his eyes surely shined with interest. He licked his lower lip again before facing Jungkook, “First, I need you to be at ease. Whatever it was, Jungkook, It was between us. If you want to talk about it, we can. If you don't want to talk about it, we simply won’t. At least we won't get the impression of hating each other or doing something wrong. I can understand that some hesitation was inevitable after that night but I didn't expect the whole mutism from you.”

Jungkook kept listening till he should have but when Taehyung started his rant and went into deep details, he moved his body and walked towards the kitchen, “I am hungry. I am making Thai curry and cutlets, would you eat some?”

He didn't even look back at Taehyung to see his mouth gaping at him like a fish speaking in the water. There was no sound just a bubble of airy thoughts.

He smiled when he opened the fridge and found it full. He had mentioned in front of Taehyung and it seems like Taehyung ordered his driver to fill the stack of the groceries. He opened the vegetable sections and took out some fresh ones to chop. He will make the tastiest curry today, he needs to work hard for the man's apology. 

Soon after he heard the loud ringing of the cleaner again. 

Taehyung had a noticeable pout on his lips that no one could see. He rubbed his stomach when it grumbled from being empty for so long. How long? He had some dinner before their fourteen-hour flight if he remembered it clearly, what it was? Some kind of soup? No, it was a pastry. Yeah, a butterscotch pastry. Too much sweet, too much tasty. 

His stomach grumbled again and soon his eyes started to fill with water. God, this is the definition of true embarrassment! How could he live such a life where he doesn’t know how to cook to survive? A good for nothing human he is!!! Instead of burning his days and nights after the thick books of law and order, he should have taken some cooking classes while he had the time! 

The aroma of fresh curry was floating in the air and Taehyung's eyes finally spilled out the first drop of tears. Is he being dramatic? Fùck him then. Should he ask, plead, or even better, beg Jungkook's forgiveness for speaking too much? 

He can. Any kind of ego can go and eat the disgusting food from the preserved cans outside. He can absolutely beg for some piece of cutlets and a bowl of curry… hell… he can even go down on his knees. 

Taehyung switched off the machine and went to his room to take a hurried shower. His arms and hair were sweating profusely, the dust was weighing all around him. 

He rubbed his skin clean and wore a pyjama t-shirt and shorts. Maybe a side effect of the sudden climate change but he was feeling too hot for the beginning summer season. He was applying some lip balm on his lower lip when he heard the loud yell from the younger.

“Tae! Food is ready, come outside.” 

Taehyung couldn't move from his chair for a moment. From all he could remember, in his deep sulking mode, he hadn't replied to the younger to make some food for him. Then… why? His eyes dilated in pure adoration. How could a person with such qualities can live beside him? Just how?

Taehyung wiped off the bam from his lips and put on his slippers before stepping outside. 

Jungkook was already sitting on the table, one two..four…six serving bowls filled with different kinds of dishes. Thai curry, chicken soup, tofu stir fry, roasted vegetables with some noodles, crispy chunks of pork cutlets, some bread and a huge flask filled with watermelon juice. He blinked his eyes two times before taking a seat at the table. 

He sat on the chair slowly and looked at Jungkook who was busy preparing a plate for himself. He brought his clasped hands to the edge of the table and waited for the younger to say something. His eyes were enormously wide, filled with hope and shame. 

Jungkook was cutting the cutlets into short pieces when he looked up and caught Taehyung staring at him, “What? What happened?” 

Taehyung opened his mouth and said without looking at the food, “ I am sorry for lashing out at you. I was just pissed that you were ignoring me and I didn't know where I went wrong. I was afraid of messing the comfort between us.” 

Jungkook threw a big smile at him, “I'm sorry too. If you were not wrong actually if you hadn't started your rant then I might have still been locked inside my room.”

Both of them laughed together and Jungkook placed his own plate in front of Taehyung, “So, are we good now?”

However, Taehyung didn't bother to reply to the younger as his vision was captured by the food in front of him. He pointed at the food and looked at Jungkook, “ Is it for me?”

Jungkook nodded his head, “ Yes. You can start eating, I will fix myself another plate. Let me know which dish tasted better.”

As if Taehyung dares to say something bad about the delicious food in front of him. He thanked Jungkook again and raised his chopsticks to dive into the meal. 

The first bite and Taehyung closed his eyes to let it feel all around his tongue. Heaven. Tasting the clouds of heaven on earth? Did he die? Thankfully. He opened his eyes and gulped down the chewed food. He took another bite of tofu stir fry, he couldn't stop his lips from trembling. Soon his eyes watered and his throat closed up around the food. 

Jungkook caught up with Taehyung when he heard the choking sound, “Tae! Here, drink some juice.”

Taehyung took the glass and drank a huge mouthful to flush the food down the throat. He blinked his eyes rapidly to clear the moisture, “Ah, I was eating too eagerly. The taste is amazing.” He smiled at Jungkook and grabbed his chopsticks again. 

But Jungkook won't be get tricked this time. He has seen this behaviour before as well. It's so often that he finds those hazel eyes brimmed with water and mouth chewing slowly even umpteenth times. Why? 

“Are you not feeling good? Why are you crying?” He dared to ask straight away. 

And as if Jungkook snatched the last straw that was upholding the bridge of Taehyung's facade of peace, the dam broke when he hid his face in between his elbows. His shaking shoulders were even proof that the older was crying fully now. 

Jungkook left his seat immediately, his hands grabbing Taehyung's neck in slow notions before giving a subtle massage, “Tae, everything is alright. Hm? What happened?” 

He kept caressing his nape and the hairs smoothly while hovering over his chair. He took the chopsticks away from his trembling hands and moved his face away from his elbow. 

Taehyung raised his face…pain… was written all over his face. Miserable eyes, tear-stained cheeks and a red nose. Before he could see further Taehyung pushed his face into Jungkook's abdomen and hugged him tightly. 

Jungkook could feel the subtle cries of the older against his stomach. He brought his hand over the top of Taehyung's head and ruffled his black hair to calm him a bit. It wasn’t something that Jungkook expected while having the first meal after returning from their holidays but there is surely something that pinched Taehyung for him to cry in such a way. 

“Hey…” He hugged him back and kept caressing his head, feeling the hold around his abdomen tightening at his voice, “If you won't tell me how would I know?” 

“Is it about the food? Did you not like something?” He provided some thoughts and some questions so that Taehyung's mind could wither away from whatever he was dealing with. 

He felt Taehyung shaking his head over his stomach, nuzzling his face deeper into his skin. 

“Then is it about our argument? Would you like to share it with me? We can find a solution together, right?” 

Taehyung squeezed his eyes shut and inhaled deeply, the hold of his fingers was still tight around the younger's shirt. He pulled his face a bit but didn't look up, “I was hungry and,” 

Jungkook held his face in his palms and wiped his cheeks before nodding his head, “I was hungry too.” 

Taehyung gulped the choking air once again, “ I was hungry and we argued, I thought you wouldn't give me the food.”

A slow smile spread on Jungkook's lips when he heard the reason, “Yah? Do you see me as some animal? How am I gonna eat so much fool all by myself?” 

But Taehyung still didn't look towards him, “My mother used to do that.”

The smile diminished and Jungkook's lips parted in surprise, “What?”

Taehyung pulled his hands back from Jungkook's waist before dropping them in his lap, “I was a messy child during my childhood, To discipline me… she used to hide the food or make me sit against the wall during dinner.” 

Taehyung moved his torso and grabbed the glass of juice again while cleaning his face with the collar of his t-shirt. He gulped the juice down and looked at Jungkook finally, “ I am an adult now and I know you are not this cruel but it's just some memories that often surpass the boundaries of my unconscious mind.”

“That's a very shitty way to discipline a child.” 

Taehyung smiled at Jungkook and made him sit on a chair beside him, “ I don't know at that time it felt right according to the rules she recited to me. But now… whenever I see delicious food, I often get overwhelmed. Like… the feeling of fullness without eating and… choking on food when you are finally able to eat it.”

Jungkook felt sad for him, food is the basic need of life and that too when you are nourishing a child. His eyes turned gloomy, thinking about a small child only staring at food but not eating it just because he messed up some things in his room. 

That's so cruel. 

Jungkook eyed Taehyung subtly who was fixing some dishes on the plate. This man radiates a caring nature, he had decided to share such personal things with him just so he wouldn't feel disturbed throughout the day. Didn't even hesitate before mentioning his fears and weaknesses. 

Jungkook blinked his eyes and found a plate of food placed in front of him, “Let's eat now, I'm really hungry.” Taehyung chuckled and grabbed his chopsticks again, this time more freely. 

Both of them started eating in peace, the high hums and groans of Taehyung lifted Jungkook's mood in no time. They enjoyed the delicious meal upto the last drop of the chicken soup. After filling their empty stomachs, Jungkook decided to help Taehyung in cleaning the kitchen. 

They talked more in the kitchen where Jungkook shared the recipes of the day and how and when he switched off the stove to stop the food from burning. Taehyung listened to everything with sheer concentration. However, he wasn't sure if he would be able to repeat and remake these dishes one day but he wasn't gonna miss the chance to discover something new. 

It was the last dish that Taehyung was wiping when he felt hands around his waist and a head placed on his shoulder. It was Jungkook. “Are you tired?” Taehyung asked. 

“No. But I was thinking of something.” 

“Can't say where your mind was hopping. What is it?”

Jungkook rubbed his hands over Taehyung's hips before circling his palm over his waist, “A healing night.” 

“Huh?”

“To forget something and to remember something. Can I sleep with you tonight?”

Taehyung tensing shoulders dipped under Jungkook's chin when he sighed slowly, “You really had the nerves to ask me that? You are not getting any sleep tonight, Daddy.”

Jungkook pinched his waist in return making Taehyung laugh out loudly, he held the older closer, front pressing against his back. He felt the vibrations of Taehyung's happiness dancing all around his skin. And he can't suppose to lie when his own lips stretched out in a lazy smile.

💜💜💜💜💜💜💜.

What do you think Jiminie found out about Yeonsu?

Forgive me if you find some mistakes, I will correct them in the morning.

Good night, lovely readers.

💜💜💜💜💜💜💜.