Contrivance:
noun
noun: contrivance; plural noun: contrivances
The use of skill to create or bring about something, especially with a consequent effect of artificiality.
Similar: Tactic, Ploy, Ruse, Scheme, Plan.

******

Kim Taehyung was a lot of things but a shitty friend he was not. However, judging from all the crap he put his best friend through, he was very close to being exactly that.

A shitty friend.

A friend who did not realise that his best friend liked boys, let alone the fact that he had a boyfriend and had fallen in love with him.

He hated that he had missed out on so much. Jimin hadn't told him anything, had hidden an essential part of himself from him but all his other friends and peers knew it, most of them hung out together often, Jimin was himself in their company. Jimin dated freely, had gotten himself a great boyfriend and had fallen in love with him but all of it had happened without Taehyung being a part of it.

That is what hurt the most.

He had been deliberately kept out of the loop. Jimin had never trusted him with that particular vital information about himself.

Why?

Did Jimin truly believe he was that bad? That he wouldn't accept his best friend's sexuality. How could he judge him like that? Jimin knew everything about him. He knew how homophobic some people back in their homeland were. Yet, he could have trusted Tae to support him through something like that. Coz there's absolutely nothing Taehyung wouldn't do for him.

He had believed Jimin knew that. But the lack of trust between them broke Taehyung's heart.

He wondered what would have happened if he hadn't pushed Jimin to talk to him that day, would he ever have told Tae anything at all?

Or would Taehyung still be stumbling around in the dark making a fool out of himself?

Or if he hadn't insisted on taking him to the bar himself, would he even have been a part of the wedding? Would Jimin have chosen him to be his best man?

He didn't know and it hurt.

All he knew now, was that he had to tear down the impression Jimin seemed to have of him and be supportive of his choices.

And that is exactly why, here he was, taking his best man duties seriously and waiting patiently for Jimin to painstakingly try a million different tuxes for the wedding. Smiling and offering feedback on each one, even if they all fucking looked the same to him.

The only thing he wished was that Jimin hadn't decided on buying his tux together with Yoongi. But he had done just that.

Whatever happened to not seeing each other in the wedding attire before the actual ceremony?

But what Jimin wants, Jimin gets. And that is how Taehyung had ended up here, in the lounging area of a bride and groom's shop, with his very own personal demon, who seemed to have taken time off hell to come torment him.

He shuffled in irritation as Jungkook continued to make lewd noises and tapping his foot.

Taehyung wished he could be anywhere but here.

When the grooms-to-be had both disappeared into the changing room for the millionth time that day, Taehyung sat back looking around the store. He saw a beautiful African-American woman come out of another changing room. She wore a gorgeous form fitting wedding dress which accentuated her womanly abundance.

Jungkook let out a low whistle beside him.

"You gonna knock your beau dead with that, Mama!" He said appreciatively.

Tae paled. He didn't want to get in trouble. This stupid man had just hit on a woman in a bridal shop.

Only when the woman smiled at Jungkook and asked "You think?" did he let out the breath he didn't realise he was holding.

Jungkook nodded enthusiastically and she blew a kiss at him, which he pretended to catch.

Tae turned to him. "I thought you were gay."

"I don't like labels and I do not discriminate. I like the occasional dicks and ass but I also appreciate a fine pair of boobs" Jungkook answered with a smirk. "I can pick up any guy or girl I like. Part of my charm"

Taehyung snorted.

"What? You don't believe me?" Jungkook asked.

"I'm sure you can pick up most guys. But not someone like me." Tae said confidently.

"Oooh, is that a way of inviting me to try and pick you up?"  Jungkook wiggled his eyebrows.

Taehyung looked spooked.

"Don't worry sweetheart. You're not my type" Jungkook gave him a sidelong look.
Oh, if only you knew, you're very much my type, he thought miserably. The only type I have, is you.

"What?" Taehyung asked and Jungkook panicked for a moment, thinking he had said it out loud.

"You just said you could pick up any guy" Taehyung continued.

Jungkook gulped. That was close.

"I said I can pick up any guy, I like. I don't like you." Jungkook threw a glance at him.

Tae shot him a withering look. "Like I care" he muttered, disinterested.

"You know what?"

"What?"

"You're straight, plus you know what's going on, so it wouldn't really be fair but I bet I can make you smile. You smile, you lose!" Jungkook said, eager for a new challenge.

"I don't understand." Tae said narrowing his eyes.

"I will try to pick you up today. I know I won't be able to actually pick you up, since you are such a stuck up little bitc-"

"Hey!"

"-But I can make you smile. If you smile, I win!" Jungkook grinned widely. "You will have to give me anything I ask for if I win. If you win, I'll give you whatever you ask for. Cool?"

"I'm supposed to play along with this childish game why exactly?" Tae asked, even though he could feel the slight tug of excitement in his belly.

Jungkook shrugged. "You have any better form of entertainment for today?"

He had a point.

"Alright! You're on, beef bunny!" Tae said.

Jungkook grimaced at the stupid nickname.

"Hit me with your best shot" Taehyung spread his arms out wide.

"Oh no. I will "hit you" whenever I want." Jungkook smirked at him again.

"Bring it on!"

Jungkook clapped his hands in anticipation. It was like a dream come true for him, not something he would ever tell the cocky Kim Taehyung though. He was in for the ride of his life, Jungkook thought, grinning to himself.

Jimin stepped out of one of the changing rooms. He walked elegantly towards the large mirror and swirled around to looked at Tae expectantly.

Tae was busy surfing through his phone. Jungkook gave him a swift kick.
"Ow! What the f - Wow, you look great!!" Tae said, quickly catching on and looking at Jimin.

Jimin's face fell. "You said that about the last five tuxes though!"

"Did I? Well I thought they all looked amazing. Maybe it's you. You look amazing in everything, Jimin." Tae covered for his lack of enthusiasm.

Jimin blushed.

"Nice save" Jungkook muttered under his breath.

"I don't really like this one though. I'mma skip back in there and change quickly before Yoongi comes out" Jimin whispered, already hurrying towards the changing room.

Jungkook turned to Taehyung, he had gone back to his phone. Jungkook stood and strode over to him.

Taehyung looked up when Jungkook stepped close to him, his heady cologne engulfed his senses, making his stomach clench.

"You wanna touch my shirt?" Jungkook asked, stretching the edge of his blue denim shirt in Tae's direction.

"What? Why?"

"It's made of boyfriend material." Jungkook said with a wide innocent look on his face. His bambi eyes poured into his soul.

Taehyung's lips almost twitched. Almost.

"Do people actually fall for that one?" He asked, giving his best side eye.

"Not usually but paired with my beautiful eyes, they can't say no" Jungkook laughed. "I'm irresistible."

Taehyung rolled his eyes and went back to his phone.

Jungkook slumped back into his seat.

Jimin came back out again, wearing a bright white tux that seemed to shimmer in the lights. He stood in front of the mirror, judging with his lips pursed.

Jungkook looked over at Tae again and smiled devilishly.

"I think your number would be safer in my phone than in your head"

"Huh?" Tae asked before he realised what Jungkook had said.

"Aaiishhhh" he replied and smacked his forehead.

"You're so fine, you make me forget my pick up line." Jungkook eyed him appreciatively.

Again, Tae's lips twitched but he caught himself in time.

"Jungkook-ah! Are you seriously hitting on Taehyungie?" Jimin laughed, doubling over himself.

"Why yes! I believe I am" Jungkook answered. "Hey Kim! You look healthy enough but you seem to be lacking some, Vitamin Me!"

"And you seem to be barking up the wrong tree." Yoongi stepped out from the other side. He was wearing a dark tux and looked very debonair as he strode towards Jimin.

Jimin stared at him, his eyes wide and his mouth slightly open. Just like he had every single time Yoongi had stepped out of the dressing room.

"Don't you look...." Jimin gulped "Dashing"

Yoongi laughed silently and gave him a wink. Jimin looked away flustered and blushing.

They stood looking into the mirror.

Jungkook didn't want to intrude on their moment so he turned back to his task on hand.

"So..... Do you play soccer?" Jungkook asked Taehyung innocently.

Taehyung looked at him like he had lost his mind.

"Coz you look like a keeper to me!"

Taehyung stared at him dead in the eyes. "I doubt that. I play centre forward."

"Aww man!" Jungkook slapped his thigh in defeat. "You are one tough nut to crack. But I'll get you one day Kim Taehyung, I promise you that."

"Keep trying bugsy" Taehyung said dryly.

"Oh you melt my heart with those nick names you keep giving me." Jungkook dramatically clutched his chest.
"I don't know what to call you, can I just call you mine?" He grinned, his nose scrunched up as his bunny teeth made an appearance in a heart-stoppingly endearing way.

Taehyung looked away and pursed his lips in an attempt to hold back the answering grin that wanted to split on his face too.

"If you were a fruit, You'd be a fine-apple" Jungkook continued.

Taehyung tongued the inside of his cheek and saw Jungkook grit his teeth. He had to admit this was fun. He had almost smiled a few times already. He needed to be more careful or he was going to lose and this idiot would never let him live it down.

"Yah! Cut it out. You're giving me the creeps." Yoongi muttered. He sent a glare in their direction and then turned back to the mirror.

"I'm not sure if I want to do the traditional black and white thing but it does look good doesn't it?" Yoongi asked, adjusting his collar.

"Personally, I love the traditional look." Jungkook commented, getting off his chair and walking over to the couple. He placed his arms around both their shoulders and peered into the mirror while standing between the two of them.

Taehyung watched from his perch on the couch. Would it always be like this? He wondered quietly. Always on the outside, looking in? He still didn't feel like he belonged with them.

"It would give more depth to the pictures too. Plus, Jiminie here, is the perfect blushing bride in white." Jungkook said flicking Jimin's chin.

Jimin swatted him playfully as he laughed. "I'm not the bride and that is exactly why we decided to buy matching tuxes" he said with a pointed look in Yoongi's direction.

Yoongi sighed "You are right. Give me a few minutes." He said going back into his dressing room.

Jimin stood staring at himself in the mirror admiring the tux from every angle.

"There's still time, beautiful. Run away with me." Jungkook whisper shouted.

"Yah!" Yoongi yelled from the dressing room. "Keep your hands off my man."

Jungkook let out a loud cackling laugh.

Against his wish, Tae found the sound of his laughter very endearing. Jungkook completely transformed when he laughed. Gone was the big, burly, intimidating giant of a man. He was replaced by this cute, shaggy haired little boy who scrunched his nose and laughed freely as he teased his hyung.

Jungkook turned to him in that moment and winked when he saw him staring. Tae rolled his eyes ignoring the flutter of butterflies in his stomach.

"Hey Kim! Any chance you have an extra heart?" Jungkook called.

Taehyung looked at him blankly.

"Mine's been stolen."

There was that traitorous, twitchy feeling at the corner of his mouth again.

Jimin broke out into giggles and Jungkook cackled again.

The sound that was endearing also caused a burning deep within Taehyung's chest, the way he was effortlessly flirting with Jimin making him blush and laughing with Yoongi, the way he offered feedback and participated in everything. Unlike himself, Jungkook was thoroughly enjoying being here.

He just hoped Jimin wouldn't notice the difference.

"Hey! You okay?" Jimin asked Tae, making him realise he was scowling.

"Yeah, I'm good buddy" Tae replied, carefully schooling his features into a more polite expression.

Yoongi stepped out again in a white suit matching Jimin's. He came to stand next to Jimin and stared into the mirror. Both stood looking at each other in the mirror with love and adoration swimming in their eyes.

"You were right" Yoongi admitted. "Matching is better." He admitted and Jimin broke out into a blindingly beautiful smile.

Yoongi who was staring at Jimin, looked like someone had knocked him on the head, his eyes glazed over and his mouth had gone slack.

Jimin's smile faltered.

"You are so beautiful, you dazzle me" Yoongi said breathlessly and bent over to place a soft kiss on a stunned Jimin's lips.

"Awwwww" Jungkook said and then sent a glare in Tae's direction who cleared his throat, totally at a loss of how to react.

The couple broke apart hesitantly.

"I have one last one we should try" Jimin said, making Yoongi groan.

"Come on please, one last one, for me?" Jimin pouted.

Yoongi sighed. "Fine" he said and turned to the changing room.

Jimin quickly looked over at Tae and grinned before heading back to the changing rooms himself.

Taehyung chuckled at his best friend's antics. He had never seen Jimin like that. Being cute and giggly, acting flustered at something someone had said. This was a new side of him that Taehyung had never experienced. Yet all of it was just sooo Jimin that he couldn't really pin point what was new. Except the boyfriend part of course. Fiancé, he corrected himself.

Wow! His best friend was getting married. The more he thought of it, the more bizarre it felt.

Taehyung felt his nose tickle. Oh no! he thought, just before an earth shattering sneeze burst out of him. Jungkook jumped slightly but quickly recovered.

"I'd say God bless you but looks like he already has" He let his gaze travel over Taehyung's entire body. It was getting uncomfortably hot in here.

"Is that the best you got?"

"Oh, you've seen nothing yet, baby" Jungkook walked back over and slumped into the couch right next to him.

"Do you know the difference between me and this couch?" Jungkook raised a brow.

Taehyung turned to look at him and was caught in his smouldering gaze.

"I'm more fun to sit on" Jungkook answered himself and leaned closer to Tae. "You should try me" he whispered.

Taehyung could feel a shiver run down his spine as he bit his bottom lip to keep it from involuntarily smiling. Man! He was hot!

Jungkook's gaze burned towards his lips.

"Your lips look lonely" he said, leaning further in. "Would they like to meet mine?" He breathed.

Taehyung was blindly reeled in, he could feel his body instinctively lean closer to Jungkook, he could smell his mouthwatering scent, could feel his warmth breath across his face.

The door burst open and Jimin stepped out.

The two of them jumped back and away from each other. Taehyung barely contained the panic on his face.

What the fuck was wrong with him?

Jungkook looked at Taehyung from the corner of his eyes. They'd just shared a moment. A very fleeting, very inconsequential moment. But it meant everything to him, like a short sharp gasp air to a man drowning. Fleeting as it was, the moment had made his heart race maddeningly, it was still pounding hard enough to make him wince.

Since the very first time Jungkook had seen Tae, he had been enamoured by his beauty. But seeing him up close had just proved, how inadequate his imagination had been. Taehyung was way more beautiful up close than he had ever imagined he would be. The mole on his eye, his nose, his cheek, were just begging to be kissed.

Jungkook sighed.

One day, he promised his heart. One day, Taehyung would willingly let him worship him the way he was meant to be.

Jimin was standing in front of the mirror, completely oblivious to the chaos of thoughts and emotions behind him. Yoongi had also stepped out and was now standing beside him.

And now Taehyung could see why Jimin had rejected all the other tuxes and saved this one for last. It was pearl white and had a slight shine that threw the light. It was perfect.

"Woah!" Jungkook breathed.

"I know right?" Jimin murmured as Yoongi met his eyes in the mirror.

"This is it, isn't it?" He asked with a slight smile.

"Absolutely" Jimin smiled.

Taehyung smiled at the two of them.

"Oh its so bright! Did the sun come out or did you just smile?" Jungkook said coyly.

Everyone groaned in unison.

"How long is this going to go on?" Tae asked with a sigh.

"We have the whole week sweetheart." Jungkook giggled. "And I've just gotten started."

~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~