Yerin gathered the neatly stacked papers she had salvaged from the floor, placed them onto the coffee table and wiped the side of her forehead. It hadn't been a surprise to her when she had walked in, to see Taehyung's apartment in shambles, perhaps from a surge of rage that had taken over the man. Thus, she had spent a couple of minutes cleaning up the knocked items from the floor and restoring them to a presentable appearance, then rewarded herself by 'borrowing' a bottle of soju from Taehyung's fridge.

She sighed in a long breath, glancing over at the sleeping man on the couch. Yerin was glad, at the very least, that she had been able to calm Taehyung down for now. But it didn't mean all her worries had dissipated with his slumber.

It seemed she'd always be worrying about him, no matter what. And truthfully, it was quite the exhausting full time job.

"Alright.." she finally mumbled to herself, placing the empty glass bottle beside the trash bin and grabbing her jacket. Yet, just as she turned to exit the apartment, the front door suddenly swung open.

Yerin's eyes enlarged as her gaze settled upon the familiar tall man who had appeared through the doorstep.

"Oh," Namjoon uttered, blinking back at her with surprise that matched hers. "You're here."

The corner of Yerin's lips lifted into a small smile as she nodded. "Yep. I was just about to leave."

Namjoon shut the door and looked over at the sleeping Taehyung on the couch, then his gaze was back on the small woman, eyes narrowing.

"You two, uh... were hanging out, hm?" the older man commented while taking off his sweater and stepping closer into the apartment, feet strolling towards the couch where he took a seat beside the pillow Taehyung's head rested on.

"Joon. Please," Yerin scoffed. "What are you implying?"

The man placed the back of his hand over Taehyung's forehead to check for his temperature as he fell silent. Then, without looking at the woman he gave his reply.

"I don't know.." Namjoon's voice was firm, but quiet. "You two had a bad habit of being on and off. Who knows what it is you guys are thinking half the time."

"That was in the past," Yerin was quick to counter him. "You know that. Besides, I have Hoseok now."

"And who does Taehyung have?"

Yerin paused, her hands clenching into fists at her sides.

"He has you. And Bangtan."

"You know that's not what I mean," Namjoon bit his lip, ran a gentle hand over the younger one's hair and inspected his dozing features one last time before finally turning to look up at Yerin.

The woman had a faint scowl on her face, fists gradually relaxing as she proceeded to slip her jacket back on. "Whatever, Joon. I have to go. Will you look after him?"

Namjoon sunk back into the couch and put his feet up, giving her a dismissive gesture with his large hand.

"You know I always do."

※ ※

Jeongguk came home with an accelerated heartbeat.

He had been so flustered after the events that had taken place back at the gay club, that he decided to shed off his embarrassment by running home. He had thought the exercise would make him feel at least a little more rejuvenated, but all Jeongguk felt was confusion.

Of his feelings. Of what it was he wanted. The actions he should take.

It all merged together in his head, leaving him with no clear answer.

After taking off his shoes and running a quick hot shower, the boy dressed himself in his favorite bathrobe and began to sort through the scattered clothing at his bed. At some point, he had grabbed hold of a large piece of clothing that he couldn't remember being part of his regular set. Until he realized that the shirt didn't belong to him, but rather it was Kim Taehyung's.

That's right. It was the shirt he had borrowed from that day, having waken up to a morning in the man's apartment.

Jeongguk pushed a slow exhale from his nose, staring at the piece of clothing that still smelled like Taehyung. Then he folded it, neatly, and thinned out the edges, as though it were a delicate piece of work. Something he had to treat with care.

After he changed into his own clothes, a pajama set he had received as a gift from his mother, he heard the doorbell go off.

He sucked in a breath.

She was here.

Quickly, Jeongguk stepped out to answer, his bare feet padding across the cold floor. He reached the front door and swung it open, meeting the gentle smile of a rather concerned-looking Yerin on the other side.

"Noona... Thanks again for coming by so late," he spoke softly, his large eyes glistening while the woman stepped inside. "I know you just heard me ranting back at the boba place, but—"

"You're never a bother, Jeonggukie.." Yerin merely assured while slipping her purse from her shoulder. "I got your call and rushed here as fast as I could." There was a polite look on her face, contrary to that teasing demeanor Jeongguk was used to seeing on her. It was amazing to him how she could tell his mood at just a glance. Granted, his voice must've sounded quite shaken from the phone call he had made to her after practically fleeing his first solo gay club experience with his tail between his legs.

"Yeah, um... I just... Well, there's things I didn't get to say. Things I don't think I can go to sleep without addressing first..." Jeongguk looked down and grabbed hold of the hem of his shirt. "Is that... that alright?"

Yerin gave a light laugh. "Of course it's alright. Shall we take a seat?"

And that's how the two had ended up sitting on the couch, a large pillow tossed between them as they faced each other. It had been a while since Jeongguk had really sat down and had a kind of heartfelt conversation with Yerin. Mostly since she's been out of the country and the two had kept busy with their own things.

But right then, Jeongguk was dying to ask her a few things, his heart rate speeding just at the thought of saying them out loud.

"So... This is about Taehyung, isn't it?" She was the first to take initiative and lead the conversation, which frankly, Jeongguk was grateful for. Because even as the words left her mouth he couldn't seem to tear his gaze away from the ground.

"Look, I just... You clearly know so much about him, and... I know nothing. And it's hard to-... to ask anyone or, or him... about himself and what he's thinking..." He paused, fingers clasping together in a timid hold. "I was wondering if maybe you'd tell me about his and your relationship... when you two used to date...?"

Yerin's gentle smile remained on her lips while she slowly nodded.

"Gosh, well I... must've met him when we were fifteen or so. Those days were... I can't say they were all fun, but despite everything that happened I still have a lot of fond memories." She paused. "That man... brings pain and joy with him everywhere he goes."

Jeongguk finally mustered up the strength to look at her, allowing himself to immerse his attention into what she was saying.

"Just like pretty much everyone who meets him, I... I found him alluring and wanted to get to know him. He seemed like a very closed off person and yet... there's something about him that draws people to him when he wants them to. But in the end, things between us just got too complicated and it didn't work out." She gave a light shrug, then looked down at her palm. "I realized that he's better off just being that 'guy I know because he's close to my brother' type of figure."

Jeongguk's ears perked. "Your brother...?"

"Yeah. Did you forget I have a brother?" She gave a playful slap to his thigh. "His name is Kim Namjoon."

Jeongguk nearly choked on his own spit, head jolting forward in surprise at the name. "Wh— Kim Namjoon, as in... The leader of Bangtan, Kim Namjoon?!"

Yerin blinked. "Oh, so you know about him."

"Barely..." the boy mumbled, "But then how come you're a Choi?"

"Mmn.." she leaned back against the couch, bringing her knees up. "My mom married Joonie's father, so... I suppose I should be a Kim as well, but I decided to keep my real dad's surname. It helps me remember him, and all."

Jeongguk swallowed and nodded. "I'm sorry..."

"Don't be," she smiled. "At this point I barely even remember him. I was too young. But he's in a better place."

He bit his lip, scratching lightly at his arm as he copied Yerin's sitting position. "Then... Namjoon's your step-brother and... He's the guy Taehyung's really close to. Which means, you two met each other through him?"

"Yeah..." She gave a short giggle. "Us three used to hang out a lot and, of course, we'd get into all sorts of trouble."

It was then that Jeongguk noticed the fond expression on Yerin's face. As though she were reminiscing upon tender pieces of memory. A delicate fragment of the past.

It only made Jeongguk realize how much those two boys meant to her.

"We were Bangtan's first members. Of course, it only really started out as something more of child's play. But it really developed into a fully functional gang. Then Namjoon took charge because he's a perfect leader, and Taehyung and I were made captains. I've long resigned from the role since then, though..."

"So you're not... involved with the gang?"

Yerin shook her head. "I am. But you can think of me as just any other soldier. I suppose Hoseokie has filled in that captain role for me. It's easier on me."

Jeongguk looked down at his toes, his fiddling fingers coming to a halt. "I see... I didn't know you were in Bangtan like that, too. To think you and Hoseok were part of a gang this whole time..."

Yerin rolled off the hair tie from around her wrist and began to knot her hair up. "We didn't want you and Jimin involved... I'm sorry for not telling you two."

Jeongguk shook his head.

"And as for Taehyungie..." Yerin looked the boy directly in his eyes. "You should talk to him."

"Oh, well I... I don't know.." Jeongguk mumbled, his voice suddenly lowering. "There are times when I... want to give him a chance because, he could act like such a lovely person one day, but then the next he does things that... just hurts. I can't explain it; I can never tell what's inside that head of his, and... Sometimes I start thinking maybe he's just not my business. I'm probably just some play thing to him anyway."

He bit his lip, almost as though to brace himself for what Yerin would say next. Convinced himself that she would tell him things like, maybe he should distance himself from Taehyung. That he's better off focusing on school and friends, and virtually any other thing.

But when he saw the smile at her lips, it had caught him off guard.

"He cares about you," was her response instead. "I can tell."

Jeongguk's big eyes became wide as his cheeks steadily turned hot.

"Sometimes... complicated things can just be that simple, y'know..?"

The boy blinked. "What does that mean...?"

Yerin laughed soflty. "It means that... You're the only one who I've heard talk so fondly of him. You two must be close, that's all. I care about you both and... I want you both to be happy."

Jeongguk's blush darkened. "So then... what do you think I should do?"

Yerin scooted closer towards the male, her foot brushing against Jeongguk's. "I think... that you already know what it is you want to do."

The boy timidly looked away, brows furrowed together as he slowly processed her words. Sometimes it seemed Yerin knew the things about him that Jeongguk couldn't realize for himself. In fact, she was just really good at reading others, picking up on the atmosphere.

It hadn't even been too long since they've met, and before he knew it he'd gotten so close to her. As if he could confide in her for anything, and yet... There was a point when he started to feel some tension whenever Yerin was present around him and Jimin.

Jimin, who's had to keep a secret crush buried deep inside him. Because even he knew that Yerin was just as deserving of Hoseok's love.

"You know, Yerin, you're like... The big sister I never got to have." Jeongguk finally spoke up after some silence. "Thanks for being honest and... for hearing out my stupid problems."

Yerin suddenly shifted forward, wrapped her slim arms over Jeongguk's neck and pulled him in for a hug, her flowery scent embracing the boy's nose.

"They're not stupid, and you don't have to thank me, little bro..." she grinned. "Because as far as big sisters go, you've definitely got one now."

※ ※

The sun was strong, despite the chilly weather. Under one particular tree on campus, was a shadow casted down in the form of scattered leaves from the reflection of sunlight, seeping through the spaces between each leaf.

Taehyung, who sat with his back against the tree trunk, a sketchbook propped upon his knee, his hearing preoccupied with earbuds that pumped orchestral music into his head.

If Jungkook were to see him now, he'd be reminded of the night they had met. How Taehyung had been barefoot on the grass, his shoes scattered somewhere over the greenery. How he had been listening to music at full volume, wearing a casual white t-shirt and black ripped jeans that somehow managed to make him seem luxurious.

The only difference, was that all of Taehyung's nails were tinted black this time, remains from the day the boy had painted them for him. Of course, they were at chipped condition now but regardless it was an improvement since last time.

And Jeongguk was reminded of that night. Because now he stood there, at about three feet away, clutching tightly to the straps of his bag.

"Taehyung," he spoke up, his voice surprisingly firm despite the instability his knees felt in that moment.

The man looked up from his spot beside the tree, his eyes becoming large as they settled over Jeongguk's face. Quickly, he flicked off the earbuds from him.

"Jeongguk?" His deep voice sounded so beautiful uttering the boy's name, and Jeongguk didn't know how to rid himself of the gushed feeling in his stomach.

"Hey..." he gently released hold of the straps over his shoulder, gaze settling over the sketchbook on Taehyung's lap. Although he couldn't see clearly what it was the man was drawing, it seemed heavily detailed and colorful. Perhaps Taehyung had some talent Jeongguk hadn't yet been aware of.

"What are you doing here?"

Jeongguk almost let a laugh slip. "Um, I kinda also go to school here...? And, well..." His eyes met Taehyung's. "We need to talk."

✱