"I still hate you, you know?"

Well, that was a very bold way to start a conversation, Jeongguk thinks. He puts his cutlery down, dabbing the corner of his mouth with a napkin before speaking.

"I should hate you too, but I'm trying my best not to and it's all for the sake of Taehyung," Jeongguk bites back, gaze strong enough to bore holes on Yoongi's soul.

"I guess he told you everything then?" Yoongi asks, clearly unfazed of what Jeongguk had said. The latter does not give him an answer, however, Yoongi still knew what Jeongguk's silece was supposed to mean.

"Why, Yoongi hyung? Why did you do it? I want to hear the answer directly from you. Want to know what made you do it," Jeongguk challenges him- the way his fingers curling tight on the table napkin doesn't go unnoticed by Yoongi.

"It's quite simple actually. I've always had this one principle in life wherein if you hurt any of my friends, I will not contemplate in hurting you twice as much. You just had to be a part of the unfortunate ones because out of all the people that meant so much to me, you really chose to hurt my best friend," Yoongi says, bitterness present in his voice.

It stings Jeongguk like a venom, not quite believing that this Yoongi who's sitting in front of him, is the same Yoongi he befriended months ago. He always assumed that the older treated him as one, but he clearly thought wrong.

"So you mean to say, you never really considered me as one of your friends? That you never really treated me genuinely?" The hurt is evident in Jeongguk's voice, no matter now much he's trying to mask the pain he's feeling right now. The pain caused by a broken friendship- of betrayal.

"I always knew I'd hate you the moment you talked shit about Taehyung. But he's too fucking nice to push you away when you started reaching out to him. He'd always tell me to give you a chance because according to him, you've changed for the better. I was okay with him meeting new friends, but he fucking fell head over heels with someone like you. It was then I realized how I fucking failed to protect him from you," Yoongi vents out, making Jeongguk shake his head incredulously from what he had heard.

"Taehyung's an adult who is capable enough to decide and act on his own."

Yoongi scoffs.

"He clearly lost all his capabilities the moment he met you. You fucking broke him, Jeongguk. Not just once, but twice. You tore him to pieces, made him think that there was something wrong with him the moment you left him."

"I know I fucked up a couple of times and I'm owning up to my mistakes because I've learned a lot from them in the long run. Maybe I've hurt not just Taehyung, but you and the hyungs too, however, it still does not give you the right to fucking hurt me back by disregarding my call for help. I had my son with me, hyung!"

They're full on staring now, eyes never leaving each other's, waiting for the first one to crack.

"Easy for you to say because you weren't the one who suffered with him. You weren't the one who saw him crawl while picking up the remnants of the love you two used to have. You weren't there to see him crumble and fall every single day," Yoongi points out at him, breath ragged and shoulders shaking from all the pent-up frustrations he has yet to say.

"Do you think I did this on purpose? You think I liked hurting him? I didn't ask for this, Yoongi. All I fucking wanted right from the start, was to have a family whom I can call my own. Life gave me Taehyung, however, it also took him away from me. If life could've been any nicer, none of us would be here today."

"If life could've been any nicer, maybe he could've picked me. However, life is cruel as it can be and it made him choose you over me, over anything, every fucking time..."

Then there's silence between them. Nothing's heard except for their heavy breathing, fists clenched tightly on top of the table- food long cold and forgotten.

"Jeon Jeongguk..." Yoongi was the first one to break after a few minutes have passed. Jeongguk perks up to the mention of his name.

"Don't leave him again, because the moment you do, I'm afraid I won't be around to pick him back up anymore."

"Hyung, what-"

"I'm leaving, Jeongguk, and I don't know when I will be back. I was supposed to talk to you about this however my wrath towards you took over in an instant. I know we started off on the wrong foot, but I don't want to leave this place without apologizing to you properly."

The hate in Yoongi's eyes dissipate and is now replaced with a softer one- a look that screams guilt and regret, and Jeongguk can't help but to mirror one back at him.

"Jeongguk, I'm sorry. I know that none of what I'll be saying right now can reverse time and undo what I've done, but still, I'm sorry. I hope this time, you will live happily with Taehyung and Storm as a family- as one."

Despite the odd and dirty looks they've been receiving from the other customers inside the restaurant, it still did not stop Jeongguk from crying, hands finding their way to rest on top of Yoongi's calloused ones.

"I'm leaving my heart in your hands, Jeongguk. Cherish him well."

And if Yoongi does wipe a stray tear that fell from the corner of his eyes, well, Jeongguk doesn't have to know.

- 🎨 -

Hoseok

iMessage

Today at 20:41

Hoseok?
I thought about your offer
And Ive decided that I want to do it
I want to pursue the dream I had ever
since I was 10
Will you help me out?

Yoongi hyung!
Of course i will help you
I'm so excited for you hyung
You finally mustered up the courage
to chase for your dream
However... Taehyung...

I can't say this to him in person, seok
He'll break
I dont want to see him cry over me
But I have to do this because
I finally had the chance to decide
and put myself first.

When do you plan on telling him?
When you're already gone?
Hyung, Taehyung's been through so much
At least give him a head's up and assure
him that you will come back

Seok i cant do this to him

Okay if you dont want to meet up
Then text him
Just tell my cousin abt what youre
planning to do. Make him understand

I will, seok.
I'll see you soonest, yeah?

Can't wait to see you, hyung!

[read 20:47]