"Here."

Jeongguk was flabbergasted. It wasn't completely out of the ordinary for the man from last night to attend the very school he did, but there was no way the boy was expecting such a sweet coincidence. He wanted to talk to him, as soon as possible. His stomach felt that familiar butterfly-swarming rush as he looked with scorching concentration to the back of Taehyung's head. Wishing, praying he'd turn around and look at him. 

"That's—... Hey, that's him!" Jeongguk whisper-yelled towards Jimin, smacking at his arm to catch his attention. "Taehyung, the man from last night!"

Jimin's eyes nearly bulged out from their sockets. "What?!" he whisper-yelled back, "By Taehyung you meant Kim Taehyung? From our school?!"

Jeongguk blinked back. "You know him?"

"Bitch, everyone knows him," he frowned in disbelief. "Do you live under a rock? He's got quite a reputation in the school."

"He- does..? I-... Is it a bad reputation?"

"Well no, not really," Jimin leaned back in his chair, looking towards the ceiling in thought. "It's a bit mixed. He knows just about everyone and is quite charming so people usually like him. But he's... I don't know, in some shady shit sometimes. There are people who really hate his guts."

Jeongguk let out a low breath, processing everything his friend was telling him. He turned to look at the backside of Taehyung again, remembering the very view last night from when he'd followed him towards that karaoke place. How he looked so incredibly dazzling even when facing away from him. His assertive body language oozed dominance with every profound step he took. 

He didn't care what others thought of him, really. Jeongguk knew the kind of person he was already. And sure, there were intimidating aspects of him, but overall Jeongguk was mesmerized by him. There was no way he could forget him so easily. Evidently Jeongguk couldn't deny that he'd had fun with Taehyung last night; more than he ever had with anyone in a while. And it turned out that, having the man occupy his mind this invasively left little room for him to think about his traitor ex boyfriend.

He made up his mind. To talk to him again, ask for his number, even. If Taehyung knew everyone, Jeongguk wanted to be part of that 'everyone'.

Naturally it was a bit difficult to focus throughout the entire class time. The professor was going over some syllabus related things, and Jeongguk couldn't care less. So much that his eyes remained fixated on the man a couple seats away from him. He wore the same leather jacket as last night, his hair as dark and lucious as Jeongguk remembered it, and he seemed to be chatting occasionally to the two people sitting beside him. Jeongguk wondered if they were his close friends, or just part of the 'everyone' crowd that got to speak to him so knowingly. 

Before he knew it the class was dismissed, and people were quick to pack up their things and begin to scatter out of the room. Jeongguk rose to his feet abruptly, scurrying to gather his books rather frantically before saying a hurried goodbye towards a bewildered Jimin and Hoseok.

Then the boy ran out and made hurried steps down the hall where Taehyung had sauntered off to. He caught up to him in a matter of only seconds, and with a breathless voice he gathered his breath and called out to him.

"Taehyung!"

The man stopped, and so did the guy beside him. He was much shorter than Taehyung, but had an equally piercing gaze. Jeongguk gasped out as he inhaled air, regaining his composure.

"Hey.." he cracked a bashful smile, "I'm- uh, Jeongguk. From last night, I... wanted to thank you for... well, for last night." He stumbled over his words, not sure if he was even making sense under the gaze of the two observing men.

He then watched as Taehyung narrowed his eyes at him, a satirical grin forming on his face while his head tilted steadily to the side.

"Ehm.. Sorry. Who?" His deep voice spoke in response, and Jeongguk felt his heart pummel down to his stomach.

"Jeongguk. J-Jeon Jeongguk.." he stammered, clutching the books in his hands tightly. "Do you not remember me? Or- Or last night? You were drunk so that's understandable, but.."

Taehyung looked at his friend next to him, the shorter man gazing back at him briefly. Then they were both staring to Jeongguk again, and the younger saw how the man beside Taehyung had a complicated expression on his face.

"Jeon Jeongguk?" Taehyung's brow rose, the man's gaze much darker than he'd remembered; it gave Jeongguk cold feet just looking at it. "Sorry, I don't remember meeting anyone with that name."

Jeongguk's mouth gaped open, staring widely at the man before him. He was beginning to feel a bit flustered, maybe even crazy. As though last night was only a figment of his imagination, non existent to reality. That he was making accusations, making it seem as though they'd gotten close over just one night the man couldn't even seem to confirm had happened. But the void, slightly confused expression on Taehyung's face made him believe him. He really didn't know who he was. Did Jeongguk get the wrong person?

He blinked.

No, of course not. The man standing right in front of him is the same man as last night. Same name, too. He really only seemed tipsy yesterday, especially compared to Jeongguk. So how could he forget him?

"O-Oh.." Jeongguk's face turned red as he gazed to the ground. "Okay then, I'm... I'm sorry, my mistake."

Taehyung nodded curtly and turned, he and his friend resuming their walk down the hall. "Who was that?" He heard Taehyung's friend ask him.

"No idea, bro. Now let's go eat. I'm starving."

※ ※

jimin
— he didn't recognize you?

jeongguk
— no...
— not even a little 😔

delivered ⤸

jimin
— I told you he's crazy. 🙄 just stay away from him

Jeongguk let out a long sigh and lowered his phone, looking up towards the darkening grey sky. It was clear it would rain any second now, but the boy had too much on his plate; thus the last thing on his mind had been remembering to check the weather in case he needed an umbrella. He stood under the storefront of a small cafe near campus, one he'd visit often during midterms and finals when he needed to focus. But today in particular he was craving the delicious taste of hot latte with sprinkles of cinnamon he'd missed so much. It'd ease his stress for projects and essays, but this time his stresses were now rising from other matters.

With a quiet plop, Jeongguk rested his bag beside him while seating himself at the back table, fingering the mug's handle in front of him. 

"You're a natural, darling."

Taehyung's voice from last night ricocheted in his ear. The man had been so kind to him, was ever so alluring. Did last night really not happen? Did Jeongguk dream it all? That was merely impossible.

Maybe Taehyung had pretended not to know him. That was the conclusion Jeongguk had come to, that made more sense. Maybe he had his fun with him last night and was ready to move on to someone else. The man seemed to have a complicated reputation, from what Jimin had told him. But it was clear he had a bad boy aura to him, and perhaps often switched partners. Never sticking to one.

That's right. He was just Taehyung's fling for the night. Maybe he was kind so that Jeongguk would warm up to him more. He seemed experienced in such things. And after not being in a relationship for the first time in years Jeongguk was finally learning of the outside world, it seemed.

The young boy gulped down the hot beverage, feeling it burn in his throat. It wasn't all so bad. He was able to forget Seojun in a night where he'd otherwise be miserable. Taehyung was his fling, too. He'd only gotten carried away with the thought of getting close to him. Was captivated too much, to the point he may have become clingy to the idea of being around him.

Yes, this was for the best.

Even so his body felt heavy, disheartened. When he looked to the window beside him he could see rain already pouring over the city, doing a pitiful job at washing away his sorrows. In a matter of minutes Jeongguk finished up his coffee, and dragged his feet outside. He stood below the cafe awning, letting it shelter him from the rain while he watched people overlap each other at the sidewalks. The sound of the downpour was loud in his ears, and he grew goosebumps at the chilly breeze that swept over him every now and then.

Out of sheer emotion, tears began to cloud his eyes. He was overcome by a sense of loss. Seojun, whom he'd known for years; and Taehyung, whom he'd known for mere hours. Still both of them had betrayed him somehow, they had gained that in common, and Jeongguk couldn't help feeling weak-hearted.

"Damn it.." he sniffled, wiping at his eyes, drops of rain landing onto his cheeks where the wind had pushed it. "Damn it... Damn it!" He quietly sobbed, continuously rubbing off the tears that cascaded down his face. He wasn't used to this pain in his heart. The way it swelled, consumed his consciousness until it was the only thing he could think of. But the sound of a flap—an umbrella closing beside him, caused him to succumb to only whimpers while he steadily raised his head.

"You're crying again," a voice suddenly spoke, and Jeongguk got a whiff of a musky, grass smell. And in front of him stood Kim Taehyung. His eyes pierced down at him, hair a fluffly mess, the familiar leather jacket sliding down his shoulder. Jeongguk let out a confused noise, brows rising as he looked up at the man.

"I'm sorry," Taehyung continued, shaking off the closed umbrella, droplets sprinkling down to the ground. "I didn't mean to forget you, bun."

Jeongguk looked at him in bewilderment, not quite knowing what to say amongst his internal confusion. "W-What?"

"I do remember you, Jeon Jeongguk," he raised a hand and dug it to the younger's hair, ruffling it fondly. "I said I was sorry. Do you not forgive me?"

The boy blinked incredulously, wiping the back of his hand over the remaining tears on his face. He then tugged down the hem of his hoodie and cleared his throat, a timid flush on his face. "Why.. Why did you lie then? Am I... embarrassing?"

Taehyung tilted his head to the side, his long bangs falling to the side as he did so. He looked attentively to the boy who held his head down, a curious gaze in his eyes. "Embarrassing?"

"Y-Your friend... Were you ashamed to talk to me because he was right there?"

The man gave a smirk and turned to lean against the storefront wall. "Ah, you mean Yoongi-hyung? Hm... Nah, I couldn't care less what he thinks. He knows me better than I know myself anyway."

Jeongguk watched while Taehyung pulled a box of cigarette from his pockets, followed by a lighter. He then looked away to the drenched streets once again, frowning. "What are you even doing here? Stalking me?"

"Now don't be so self indulged, Jeon. I'm only taking shelter from the rain, of course," Taehyung breathed out a puff of smoke, the lit cigarette already by his lips. "I just happened to run into you crying again. Bad habit of mine, really. That's my bad."

The younger snorted out a laugh, and Taehyung looked at him with a small smile.

Then, with a clear of his throat. "Well who's making you cry again? That Seojun guy?"

Jeongguk bit his lip, holding his hands together over his waist. "You..." he mumbled softly, then widened his eyes as his sudden confession registered in his head.

"Me?" Taehyung laughed loudly, turning to face the boy in sheer amusement, that familiarly wicked smirk on his face. "I hurt your feelings that badly, hm?"

"No.." Jeongguk quickly responded, not daring to look in his eyes.

"No?"

"Nope."

"Mm."

Jeongguk glanced at the man for a brief second, seeing the way he stared up at the gloomy sky, one foot propped against the brick wall behind him. There was a silence that was filled by the vibrant sound of rain falling to concrete, and after a while Taehyung took two steps forward, dropped the cigarette down to the floor and stepped on it.

"I guess I owe you then, no?" He turned to the younger and held out his umbrella towards him. Jeongguk took it without thinking, figuring maybe he needed him to hold it for something. But the man turned around rather quickly.

"See you in class, Jeon Jeongguk." He waved, lifting his leather jacket over his head and dashing suddenly out into the rain. Jeongguk let out a curt gasp, stepping forward to watch as the man sprinted down the street, quickly getting soaked. Then he looked to the umbrella in his hands and blinked in realization.

"I-... You- You didn't have to-..." he called out before sighing out a breath, mumbling to himself. "How did he even know I didn't have an umbrella..."

But despite the frustration of having stolen the man's umbrella indirectly, Jeongguk couldn't help the boyish smile on his face.

He does remember me...

✱