23. Real Self & Ideal Self
The tension was thick and evident in V's Bakery kitchen as Jin waited patiently for his friend to reply him. Jin was curious and he wants to know why is Taehyung behaving discretely with Jungkook.
"You didn't bother to let him know about your real self Tae?"
The brown head scoffed at this. "I knew him for a month. Besides, what's the need to keep announcing I'm from a family where I don't want to belong anymore?"
"Regardless Taehyung, that's your family and you're a Kim. Try to deny the fact and skip the reality, that's right you can't."
Jin didn't intend to be the snooping type and force Taehyung to live on his identity as part of the elite Kim clan. He just didn't understand certain actions by Taehyung and couldn't justify why wouldn't Tae be honest with Jungkook about his true self.
"I don't need to tell him about my connection with VANTE simply because it doesn't change anything between me and Jungkook."
Taehyung doesn't understand why would Jin make such a big deal out of a small mole. Is there such a need to reveal his identity to Jungkook whom he befriended not too long ago?
"Well if you gonna keep looking at him like you did earlier, then believe me my friend you need to explain yourself truthfully to him. Jungkook doesn't deserve the mess you left behind which you're not done with."
Jin rests his case with his opinion as Taehyung watched his friend sighed. What did he mean by the way Tae look at Jungkook? Does he look at Jungkook differently? No. He doesn't.
"Before you boil your mind out, I'm saying that because I noticed your antics with Jungkook. We have been friends for decades Tae, you don't look at me like that. The certain fondness in your eyes only comes out when you're doing something you love. I've seen it."
Indeed, Jin was right. He has seen how passionate and dedicated Taehyung is to his bakery business. Something that always brings a smile to Jin's face when he sees Taehyung enjoy his work daily, baking and attending to his customers.
"What?" Taehyung shakes his head with confusion written all over.
"Trust me Tae. I won't be speaking this with you if I'm not certain. I thought you deserve an early heads up."
"You sound ridiculous Jin."
"Tell me that when I'm proven wrong. Not now buddy. Anyways, I'm gonna head out. I'll see you tomorrow."
Taehyung watched his friend excusing himself through the front door, leaving the brown head to himself. Sudden waves of unattended thoughts and questions venture inside Tae's mind. Why would Jin have the conversation with him? Did he behave differently with Jungkook that it's obvious for others?
What fondness was Jin talking about? Taehyung won't deny that he has a soft spot for Jungkook and from the second he gets to befriend the ravenette, he has been sincerely giving his attention and care for the younger. Something about Jungkook always compels Taehyung to be the protector and caregiver.
Taehyung knows he has a life which not many does in a normal society. He won't deny his status or family background. Being a part of Kim's elite clan screams royalty. One of the many reasons he didn't find the need to label himself or even marginally associate himself with his family is due to the fact he isn't fond of everything shining. When he chose his pathway to become a patissier, it was a huge clash back home. He didn't receive any support and you better believe how much Taehyung would have fought to get a loan from his own family for the passion he wishes to make a career out of.
It's been a few years and Taehyung is left with repaying a total of 80 thousand dollars which he hopes to settle within the next 5 months.
When he is so repentant of his family and status, why would he even think about bringing his newfound friend - Jungkook into the picture?
And for whatever fondness Jin keep insisting about, Taehyung can't answer that. He for sure doesn't think of Jungkook any other way. That's what he thinks anyway.
.
As the weekend drew near, Jungkook grows excited with the idea of helping out Tae in the Bakery. He thoroughly enjoyed his time the last when he did and now he is anticipating even more fun. It's Easter weekend!
Earlier that morning, the younger rise and shine with a newfound tingle in his heart. The thought of spending his time with Taehyung was far more superior than anything for the raven head. On a side note, he couldn't deny his crush towards the brown head denting a huge hole in his heart. He simply chose to deal with it later.
"Morning!" Jungkook was the dedicated helper who walked in before the operation even started. You can say how excited he was walking into the bakery but soon fell flat a little when he sees a fellow black hair and not the patissier his heart sought after.
"Hey Jungkook. You're early. Eager for the shift?"
Jin was the one to greet the younger who hopped into the bakery with a chirpy mood hugging around his whole being.
"Hey, morning."
"Ready for the day?" Jin wiggled a black apron in his hand, excited to work for the very first time with the younger whom his boss commented works better than Jin himself. That hurt the pride and ego of the broad shoulder male.
"You're alone?"
"Am I suppose to be expecting a party here?" Jin scrunched his brow and retrieved his extended arm with the help apron.
"Not really. I just thought we won't be the only...two?"
"Are you asking because you don't see Taehyung here?"
Jungkook bites his lower lips with his obvious act. He wasn't being very discrete about his intention of looking for the older, isn't he?
"Is he not here?"
"He is out for a family plan Jungkook. Yoongi will be joining us today. He said he will bring-...oh hey Yoongs!" Jin waved his hand in mid-air towards the front door at the same time Junkook turned back to greet the mint head man.
"Jimin?" Jungkook looked beserk. What is his friend doing here dressed like he was about to serve people...wait, is he? "Jimin, are you here to work as well?"
"Correction. I was invited to be part of the Easter gang. I'm not working, I'm helping." Jimin cleared his throat and crossed his arms as he walked in with his causal cloth, an all-black ensemble mirroring himself and Jin.
"I thought the bakery could use some cuteness so I brought him with me." The man whom Jungkook labelled as a slightly intimidating profile broke into a gummy smile melting Jungkook's heart into a mushed piled. He finds the gummy smile on Yoongi to be anything but intimidating.
"Since when did you?" Jin used his slightly bent index finger to transition between Jimin and Yoongi, clearly hinting at the question brewing in all our heads.
"Since nothing. Don't even think about that thought Jin. We are acquaintances and I was intrigued by the idea of helping out in a bakery. Heard Jungkook will be here so I came." Jimin spoke nonchalantly.
"Oh, that's his way of saying he and I are courting one another. He is just shy." Yoongi pulled Jimin into a bear hug which earned a loud yelp from the blond head while Jungkook stood like a statue, unable to process his brain. He has nothing against Jimin or Yoongi but damn, do they bud faster than a pandemic virus or what?
"Let me go!" Jimin protested, not that he is trying hard to yank Yoongi off him but yea, he was trying with his intimidating stare and voice.
"Yea, no shit sherlock, it looks like you're just pulling him closer. Gosh, I need to handle all these and it's not even 9 am!" Jin shoved the apron he had in hand to Jungkook and went into the supply room to get another two.
"Does Hobi know you're here?"
"He-...there he is." Jimin was finally out of the bear hug he wished to hold on a little longer when the front door opened with another male walking in. His copper head was as vibrant as his cheery tone, setting the mood in the bakery into a new frenzy.
"Hello, boys! Your much-needed sunshine is here! Buckle up! It's gonna be an awesome day, let's sell some cookies!"
"Gosh Hobi, tone down. It's a little too much buddy." Jimin snorted but chuckled lightly as he saw his other best friend scrunching his brows in annoyance which was later betrayed by the laugh that escaped his mouth.
"Another one?" Jin came in with two additional aprons in his hand. He scoffed when he saw Hoseok who he happen to meet one of the days visiting the bakery. "Great, the more the merrier."
As Yoongi was busy chatting with Jin and Hoseok about the front display and which colour to adorn their coffee counter, Jungkook sat by the window with cheeks resting in the palm of his hand, wheels spinning in his head.
Where is Tae? He told me he will be here.
The last couple of days they chatted, Taehyung did not indicate that he will be absent for family matters over the weekend. The raven head has no clue much about the older's family but he knows for a fact that similar to himself, Taehyung is not very close to his family.
"Kooks?"
The raven head's wandering thought broke loose when a heavy grip on his shoulder shakes him awake.
"Jimin."
"Are you not getting ready for the opening? I heard Jin said it will be pretty crowded when doors are officially open for business."
"Yea, even on normal days it does get a little pack in here."
"Sweet, then it's good we are here to help."
Jungkook watched Jimin's contented smile. The younger can't help but wonder what happened between Yoongi and his friend? The last time he checked, Jimin is completely against the idea of Min Yoongi and his cocky approach.
"So?"
"So?" Jimin arched his brow, repeating what Jungkook said like a parrot.
"That?" The raven head pointed at the mint head who is busy securing the apron around his tiny waist, allowing his hair to do the striking job while his porcelain skin stood out underneath the all-black outfit. Similar to Taehyung, Yoongi today had a bandana wrapped around his forehead, pushing his mint hair back.
"Yoongi?"
"Mhm." Momentarily, the younger is curious and he wants to find out more. About the things he has missed.
"Well...let's just say that thing over there is a very persistent soul. He keeps pursuing me days after days when we met in the cafe. When we first met, he trailed me to the dance studio and revisit the next day and the following day."
"Jimin, that's a stalker alert." Jungkook gasped. How did he now know about this? Suddenly, Yoongi's gummy smile appeared creepy to the ravenette.
"I didn't stop him from doing it. I kinda liked it. So no, it's not a stalker syndrome coz I anticipated his visits. One thing led to another and we are in a so-called courting stage."
"Courting?"
"Don't give me that lame-ass look alright? I know it's very traditional to say such a thing but I guess we are just getting to know one another and he is persistent towards his feelings about me, so I guess this is the best stage to be for now."
"Do you like him too?" The younger was curious.
"Sort of?"
Jungkook nodded. He is happy for his friend and also Yoongi. He doesn't want to be the one to snoop around too much and decided he will let Jimin explore his own life with the mint head.
"When did it all happen?" Jungkook wasn't sure why Jimin didn't speak about this with him but he is glad that the blond male is not choosing to hide about it now.
"Just a couple of weeks or so? I can't tell. It's like forever. Before you cook another incident in your brain about why didn't I tell you about this, just let me clarify that you were always spending time with Taehyung. We didn't get to hang around much personally so my side of the story was a little delayed alright?"
The blond wasn't the one to hide his life from his close friends. He just didn't find the time to speak with Jungkook as the younger has been occupying his time more and more for his new friend - Taehyung.
"Speaking about Taehyung, where is he?" Jimin was not told about the bakery boss's absence until he reached the bakery. He then understood why Yoongi extended his invite for Jimin to help who subsequently pulled Hoseok thinking he will be a good children crowd pleaser.
"With his family."
Or so they thought. Because as soon as Jungkook answered, the front door opened again, revealing Taehyung with a sulking face. To the bakery occupants' surprise, he wasn't alone.
He was with a girl, a pretty one to add on, arms curled neatly attaching herself to Taehyung's bicep which stood out with his short black sleeves rolled up in style.
Jungkook gulped, he wasn't expecting to be thrown off guard and when he caught the warm hazel eyes searching the space and landed on his dark onyx, he sunk deep into his seat as Taehyung's gaze on him was making him hella squirmy.
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Oh hello there lady. Why are you with Taehyungie?
I missed more members in the story so I decided to make this chapter a reunion minus Joonie.
He will appear later.
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