a/n: kindly listen to "mystery of love" by sufjan stevens while reading this chapter ! I swear it'll give more feels to it, so it's a must! y'all can also find it in my spotify playlist for this book !

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

"alright class, make sure to do your assignments by the end of this week, we have an art exhibition tour after two weeks. students that won't submit their assignments by the end of this week won't be able to attend it so be careful" taehyung informed earning a dull yes from the students.

usually, it's a very energetic and optimistic atmosphere when it's art class since taehyung is the teacher. the brown-haired male always has been very enthusiastic and compassionate about the classes he takes in college, however, nowadays the students can't find that positive aura within their teacher.

as if taehyung has lost his smile.

it's been months since the students actually saw the male smiling without any hindrance. he fakes it most of the time but for the past few days, taehyung has failed to do that. he is tired and everyone can see that therefore it leaves the students worried for him as well since taehyung has always been like a friend to them; teaching them in the most enjoyable way. kim taehyung is every student's favorite teacher if anything, so obviously it even hurts them to see the brown haired male so depressed even though he doesn't want to show it.

after dismissing the last class, he walked out, students greeting him on his way to the teacher's room. since it was the last class he had to take, he is free to leave but for some reason, he doesn't want to return to that house. a house that's in a blue funk with no liveliness- it's just an empty house.

taehyung knows for sure he will end up overthinking and hurt himself with his unwanted thoughts if he went back now. so rather what he would like to do is go to his favorite coffee shop, drink his favorite einspanner while reading the book he has yet to finish.

sounds like a plan.

fixing his today's plans in his head, he let his car stay parked in the college's parking lot. since the coffee shop is just a few blocks away. he doesn't even like coming to college by car, he would rather prefer a bicycle but bogum has strongly forbidden him to do so. the male wants him to not overwork so it's understandable.

even without his own knowing bogum is always there in his thoughts. sometimes as a bad person, sometimes as the same person, he has loved for so many years.

after what happened last night, taehyung thought he and bogum are finally again meeting each other's minds. perhaps everything is finally falling in place but there are still doubts in taehyung's heart. he has major trust issues and nowadays they aren't helping him much.

regardless he is glad things are good between them as of now and he wishes things to stay this way, but the question is. . .

would they?

with a mind full of thoughts, taehyung walked through the busy seoul streets. hands shoved inside his plaid pants, the coat folded and draped on his bent arm. the slight windy air ruffled his coffee brown wavy hair. he nudged his nose to adjust the big glasses he wore when his hair scattered over his forehead from the wind.

despite radiating such a peaceful aura, only the male knew of the storm that rioted inside him.

after reaching the familiar vintage-style coffee shop, he pushed the door and stepped inside. a bell rang when he pushed the door. the familiar face of the counter server came into sight and taehyung gave her a subtle smile. now standing in front of the counter.

"good afternoon sir" she smiled, "the regular right?"

"yes" taehyung gave an eye smile before he paid.

taking a seat by the window, taehyung brought out the book he was anticipating for so long to read. shuffling his hair from his eyesight he comfortably sat down. and then gave a smile to the waiter when he brought his coffee before starting to read the book while occasionally sipping his drink.

the weather was nice and there weren't many people in the shop. a piece of violin was playing in the background putting him in a better mood.

entirely indulged in the story taehyung didn't realize of the time.

he had finished his coffee long ago. now when the sun which looked like a crisp circle in the mellow orange sky was setting down, he noticed the amber sun rays bathing the pages of the book in its colour, making him realize the time as he slowly raised his head and looked out of the window.

oh it's already this late. . . staring at the reddish yellow sky where the birds flew by once in a while, a plane also flying off- taehyung fixated his gaze outside for a while before blinking his eyes. rubbing the corners of his eyes he yawned.

he should get back home.

getting out of the shop his air-conditioned body is hit by a wave of natural wind, easing his mind once again as he strolled in the opposite direction, to fetch his car.

since his mind is clearer than before, taehyung wasn't drowned in his thoughts and had the energy to glance around, until his eyes fell on the shop on the other side of the road.

is that a tattoo shop- by the looks of it, taehyung could tell the shop was new. the brown haired male bites on his lower lip, looking down at his polished shoes. what am i thinking? let's just go home. . . he tried to convince himself as he took a step ahead. stopping right away. licking his lips he contemplated the sudden idea that came to his head.

and then without any control over his body, he crossed the road and now was standing in front of the tattoo shop.

taehyung you idiot, go back! what if it's really jungkook! go back go back- unsettled with his own thoughts taehyung decided he will just leave. taking a step back he was about to turn around when suddenly the door of the shop opened that starlet the brown haired male as he wide eyedly looked at the man that was now standing in front of him.

jeon jungkook.

the raven head was as starlet as taehyung as he also with enlarged eyes stared back at the brown haired male.

before a small smile curved onto his pierced lips. "taehyung? what are you doing here?"

"i- i. . . was just passing by. . ." taehyung stuttered like an idiot that brought even wider smile to jungkook's face.

"oh really? then what are you doing in front of my shop?"

"i. . ." taehyung had no excuse. jungkook saw him gawking at the shop with his own eyes so he couldn't even give any excuses. thus he just grumbled under his breath and looked away, cheeks flushed.

jungkook pressed his lips together, watching taehyung's bread cheeks from sideways that urged him to squeeze them however he refrained himself.

"you wanna come in?"

"no it's okay-"

"i organized my shop just yesterday, i'd love some guests right now" jungkook pouted, rubbing his hands together.

taehyung stared at him pouting, his heartwarming by the sight as he looked away again, slightly nodding, "o-okay then"

𖥻𖥻𖥻

"wow" taehyung was awestruck when he stepped inside.

his eyes reflected the dim lights when he glanced around. the place wasn't that big but not small either. it had a homely yet gothic vibe to it with its floor being black tiles, a slowed song playing that taehyung doesn't know in the background. there were pictures of tattoo designs in frames on the walls.

taehyung stood in front of one of those many tattoo design frames, staring at one specific design with a very amused look on his face. his loved shape lips were parted as he gaped at the picture.

"you like it?" taehyung shivered when the husky voice whispered the words in his ear, jungkook was standing right behind him so his chest was hitting the brown-haired male's back making taehyung stumble and step back a little before turning around.

"y-yeah. . . it's a pretty design" taehyung awkwardly rubbed his ear that jungkook whispered into while giving a small smile.

"really? i wasn't in a good mood when i drew this. . . so it's a surprise you like it" jungkook shifted his gaze to the picture on the wall.

taehyung also returned his concentration to it. tracing the outlines of the tattoo, it was a small heart that had its one string formed into a rose, a rose whose petals were falling off. it looked melancholic yet so beautiful.

"i drew this back when i was a teenager. . . after having my first heartbreak" jungkook let out lowly, something about his voice sounded so empty and stoic. as if he was reminiscing the worst time of his life. probably he was. how could taehyung tell?

"doesn't it bother you when you look at it then?"

"no. it actually keeps me going when i feel demotivated" jungkook said those words while looking down at taehyung who stared back at him when he felt a pair of dark brown eyes on the back of his head.

"is. . . is that it" the brown haired man tensed under jungkook's intense gaze.

"do you wanna get it tattooed?" by jungkook's sudden offer taehyung stiffly shook his head.

"no. . ." taehyung wanted to say it aloud that he really likes the tattoo and he would love to get it on his wrist, but he doesn't want to anymore since this tattoo bears the raven head's bad memories. and he doesn't want to become one of jungkook's bad memories.

jungkook however got the meaning of that no without even the brown haired male's explanation. that made him smile to himself as he turned around, stepping away. "would you mind for some coffee?"

"no thanks, i had some a while ago" taehyung paused, now averting his gaze from the picture to jungkook who was sitting on the table at the counter.

taehyung inaudibly gasped from the sight of jungkook just sitting there, a black rubber band in between his pierced lips, his once tied hair in a man bun now freed. the brown haired male has always seen jungkook's black-blonde mixed hair in a man-bun so now witnessing how the male had his hair free that fell over his nape left taehyung speechless.

"you look. . . so beautiful" taehyung didn't want to say those words out loud. these words were supposed to be in his head solely, but since they are already out taehyung didn't want to fret over it.

and seeing that surprised look on jungkook's face, taehyung doesn't even regret saying it.

"ah. . . really?" jungkook blushed, eyes anywhere but at taehyung. with his well-built buff body, piercings and tattooed arm jungkook should be looking intimidating but he is anything but intimidating right now. because at the moment he looks like a teenage boy who got his first compliment from his crush.

jungkook smiled shyly, that bunny smile he failed to hide with his long hair strands falling on either side of his face brought taehyung to feel things he never felt before.

something in his heart aches, aches in admiration.

after all, taehyung has never seen such a beautiful smile before.

"your hair. . ." taehyung started again, now all conscious of his words, he still started.

"yeah?" jungkook waited for him to continue.

"never cut them, can you do that for me?" and there it was, a moment just for two people, in utter silence with no one to disrupt it.

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