✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

"where were you last night?"

the question was direct and uncomplicated and the absence of any hint of doubt in the question should have made it easier for taehyung to deceive the person asking. but despite this, taehyung felt himself tensing up, as if the question had somehow affected him deeply.

the events of last night rushed to his head as he focused on the frying pan, making the eggs and taking time in answering the question bogum asked who sat at the dining table, staring at taehyung's back.

"my old school friends wanted to catch up so they planned a get-together. it got late, i returned after midnight. you were already asleep" taehyung lied through his teeth. he was relieved that he was not looking at bogum at the time. taehyung doubted that he could muster the courage to lie to bogum if he had to look him in the eyes.

he was just so fucking guilty.

he expected bogum to nitpick and ask more but he never did any of that.

"i hope you enjoyed your time. you should go out often, it must be suffocating staying with me. especially at night"

taehyung halted, his heart sinking from hearing those words. he turned to look at bogum who was drinking his tea while facing the other way - almost as if, he didn't want to show his face to the brunette.

taehyung concentrated on the pan and clenched his teeth, pressing them against his lower lip. his eyes filled with tears, and he struggled to hold them back - he feels so fucking guilty.

once he finished preparing the rest of the breakfast, he took a seat at the table across from bogum. bogum's gaze was lowered as he stared down at his nearly finished cup of tea.

the atmosphere between them was uncomfortable and they could sense a distance they had never felt before— even during difficult times. the silence was overwhelming and making it difficult to endure.

"are you not gonna look at me?" taehyung didn't know why he asked that. why he even dared to start a conversation with his husband after he did such a disgusting thing last night.

"won't that make you uncomfortable?" bogum slowly trailed his gaze up at taehyung who looked at him with a rather melancholic look in his eyes - as if he was this close to tearing up.

does even looking at me make you cry? bogum wondered.

"you never thought about my comfort before, did you?"

letting out a dry chuckle, bogum looked away again.

"you're right. i have always been a selfish bastard"

taehyung gazed downward at his tightly closed fists, sensing a wave of tears welling up in his eyes once again.

"even now i am selfish. it hurts you, even being in the same space with me disgusts you and yet. . . yet. . ." bogum came to a stop, pausing to take a deep breath as he directed his gaze towards taehyung, who had lifted his head in anticipation of what he was about to say.

as their gazes locked, a poignant bond lingered in the exchange of glances, tears shimmering in both of their eyes.

"yet i just keep thinking about how i wanna hold you, get down on my knees and say sorry, and beg for your forgiveness. - i can't stop loving you, tae. even though my love is so dirty to you now"

taehyung's heart sank just hearing those words. an inexplicable weight settled in his heart, intensifying with each passing second until tears betrayed him, cascading down his cheeks. he felt a deep sense of shame, unable to bear witness to his own vulnerability in the presence of the man he had wronged. he averted his gaze, struggling to contain his emotions.

shit, he feels so fucking guilty.

"i'm sorry. i didn't want to tell you all that. i'm sorry, i'm so sorry"

bogum didn't even know what he was apologizing for. his remorse for his past actions weighed heavily on him, yet he feared that apologizing for each of his actions was just going hurt them both more.

moreover, wasn't it too late to make amends? he couldn't expect taehyung's emotions to simply align with his own, but he still harbored hope for a fresh start with his beloved husband.

taehyung remained silent, turning away from him. he covered his mouth with the back of his hand in an attempt to stifle any potential sobs. his eyes shut tightly as tears streamed down his face.

taehyung felt guilty.

so so so guilty.

"tae. . ." bogum halted, thinking his mere presence will hurt taehyung.

with his fists tightly clenched and a heart overflowing with unspoken emotions, bogum rose to his feet and pivoted to leave.

"i'm sorry tae. i'm sorry you had to marry someone like me. . ." he took a deep breath and tried for one more time. "i know it's wrong of me to even ask for your forgiveness but don't leave me, alright? please don't abandon me. . . keep me in your heart, please tae"

and with that, he departed, leaving behind a weeping taehyung who became even more vulnerable once he was left on his own. clutching at his heart, taehyung collapsed onto the ground and allowed his tears to flow freely.

"what have i done. . . what have i done!"

kim taehyung feels guilty. so guilty.

┄┄┄┄┄

"can i get your number?" asked the customer jungkook just gave a shoulder tattoo to.

flashing a small and disinterested smile he spoke, "sorry, i don't give out my number. the shop number is on the wall over there"

the girl pouted and leaned over the counter, showing off her cleavage that deepened but the raven head didn't spare her even a glance and worked on the computer.

"come on~ do you have a girlfriend?"

"no"

"then-"

"i have a boyfriend"

the girl leaned back and nodded. "well, he doesn't need to know-"

"he's way prettier than you ma'am and better in every aspect. so stop trying"

"how dare you say that! i'll write the worst review! see if you get any customers after that!" the girl fumed in anger and stomped on her feet as she walked out.

"make sure to be extra bitchy in your review ma'am~!" he laughed and shook his head, getting such customers weren't out of the blue but he had never behaved this cold to them before. however today he just couldn't keep his cool. it was only natural after what happened with taehyung last night.

throughout the day, jungkook struggled to control his thoughts and emotions. he found himself constantly losing focus and being consumed by negative feelings. he didn't know why but he had a bad feeling about last night. he was anxious and worried for taehyung - taehyung didn't look all right.

what was going through his head? jungkook wanted to know. but at the same time, he was scared to know his thoughts. he didn't want to lose taehyung, after coming so far taehyung can't push him away again.

especially when taehyung confessed he loves him.

this just can't happen - jungkook won't let it happen.

bringing out his phone, jungkook decided to text taehyung.

『 hyung, can we talk?』

jungkook rested his back against the wall and let out a deep sigh, pressing his phone against his forehead, he waited patiently.

an hour passed, then two and then three. still there was no reply.

it was closing time and jungkook checked again just in case his eyes were playing tricks on him.

still no reply.

the fact that taehyung, who was always quick with his replies, had not responded the whole day, worried him. they had previously conversed frequently through text messages and taehyung's eagerness was always evident in his messages. however, now there was no response from the same enthusiastic taehyung.

something was definitely wrong.

however, jungkook decided to give taehyung some time. he knew taehyung was feeling guilty, he shouldn't forget the brunette was still married and bogum was presented in the room. he should have realized the consequences of his actions sooner. perhaps they both had lost it in the heat of time but obviously taehyung was going to think about it later and regret it.

jungkook should remember, in the end, he was just an affair.

but that won't stop him from loving taehyung and making him his. he just needs to give the brunette some time and they'll be fine. they have been fine all this time so why would anything go wrong now?

as jungkook was locking the front door of the shop, he felt a vibration in his pocket. quickly retrieving his phone, he couldn't help but grin at the sight of taehyung's message. without delay, he began to read and respond to his text.

my love ❤:
『yes, let's talk tomorrow.
can i come to your place? 』

『 sure! when do you want to come hyung? 』

my love ❤:
『 my shift ends at 4 tomorrow.
so right after that 』

『 alright! i'm excited to see you! :) 』
seen

jungkook's eyes were fixed on his phone screen, a sense of unease gnawing at him as he scrolled through the conversation but he decided to not dwell on that. he was excited to see taehyung tomorrow.

at first, jungkook was afraid that taehyung would refuse to talk to him and distance himself after his bold move the previous night but it seems like that won't happen. probably the brunette will scold him to do such a daring thing but jungkook has already planned to take care of that.

now that he thinks, he doesn't even know why he was so worried. taehyung doesn't even have any feelings left for bogum, not after how the male abused and mistreated him. all his efforts can't go to waste just because they had sex in the presence of that abusive man who deserves to be cheated on.

they will be fine. jungkook tells himself.

but he should have known,

their love rested upon a fragile foundation akin to a house of cards, poised to crumble at the slightest breeze.

━━━━━━━━

this chapter was comparatively boring and short ik. dw next chapter is going to compensate for allat ;)