"Hey, hey! What about this one?" Yerin emerged from the changing room in a long silver dress, the puffy fabric reaching the ground in elegance. Hoseok turned his head from where he stood next to Jeongguk near a clothing rack, his hands already preoccupied with bags of his girl's previous purchases.

"Holy shit, babe.." the red haired man let out, eyes set firmly on the woman who seemed to shine in that moment. Jeongguk's lips parted, a gentle smile tugging on his face.

"You're really pretty, noona," the boy added, a gentle sigh escaping him. "I wish I looked even half as gorgeous as you always do."

"Nonsense, Jeon Jeongguk," Yerin huffed, marching her way straight toward the younger while her dress dragged behind her. "I don't wanna hear that shit coming from the prettiest boy in this whole damn universe!"

"I thought you said I was the prettiest.." Hoseok frowned cutely beside them, but the two paid no mind to him.

"If I was the prettiest boy in the world, I would have had a boyfriend who'd never cheat on me.." Jeongguk mumbled.

Yerin grabbed his arm swiftly, an irritated expression presenting upon her face, taking aback the poor boy. "How dare you blame yourself for some man's stupid ass mistake!" she scowled, her free hand dashing to lift Jeongguk's chin so that they would make eye contact. "Listen to me. Lee Seojun had no fucking idea what he was doing, alright? I understand it's hard to get over a high school sweetheart. Someone you've known for so long. But that guy ain't worth your time. He's a piece of dog shit on the street and you're diamond in the goddamn Louvre! Got it?"

Jeongguk swallowed quietly, his doe eyes gazing back shyly at the older woman. He nodded, hands reaching to grab hers and lift it from his arm.

"You always know what to say, don't you.." he chuckled softly, mustering a smile at his lips. Perhaps there was reason to believe her in that rather brazen statement. But in all truth, Jeongguk's mind was entirely preoccupied with another man altogether.

It just so happened that he couldn't quite help that.

"It's because I like seeing your smile," Yerin grinned, pinched the boy's cheek and returned to the changing room to slip the dress off.

"I thought she said she liked my smile.." Hoseok grunted.

Jeongguk laughed in scattered giggles. "Don't worry, hyung. I still like your smile the best."

After about five dresses later, and three more purchases, the trio finally headed outside of the shop and began strolling down the mall area. Hoseok and Yerin were engaged in some domestic couple talk Jeongguk had lost track of, his eyes watching the sky as it settled to an orange glow.

"That best pal of yours tried to kiss me."

He shook his head, hoping it would simultaneously shake Taehyung's words from his thoughts. That it would gather them all in one place in order for him to extinguish them ruthlessly. But it wasn't quite working as he'd hoped it would.

"We're having fun."

He clenched his fists. Was that all he was to that man? All he ever would mean? Jeongguk scoffed quietly. It's not like he wanted to be more to him, did he? Taehyung was someone who helped him forget things and that was all. Nothing more, nothing less. They weren't meant to be anything. It was so clear. So obvious.

"Yes. Hello?" Yerin's voice broke him from those taxing thoughts. He looked up to see her on the phone, the gentle breeze pushing her brown hair perfectly to one side. "You're here? Nice! Okay, we'll come to you now."

"Hey, who's—" Hoseok began, but Yerin was quick to dash off down the street in excitement. Jeongguk blinked in confusion, then turned to see Hoseok rubbing his forehead. "Gosh... she's too spontaneous at times." He picked the shopping bags back up and began to walk off after her. "Let's go, Gguk."

Jeongguk laughed again softly while following behind the man, skipping steps in curt hops. The two then turned the corner and saw Yerin by a boba shop giving a friendly hug to a much taller man. Jeongguk figured maybe the guy was a close friend, or perhaps even one of those guys in the Bangtan gang with Hoseok. Such things wouldn't surprise him much anymore. But as they got closer, and the street lights switched on, the guy's handsome face could've stood out to him among a group of ten thousand men.

Jeongguk gulped nervously, watching as Kim Taehyung pulled from Yerin's hug and casually did some sort of handshake with Hoseok.

"Well look what the day dragged in," the red haired said in a teasing voice. Taehyung grinned back, hands slipping to his pockets as his gaze met Jeongguk's.

The boy stared back with large eyes, suddenly unable to focus on the world around him. Taehyung often had that kind of effect on him.

"Jeon. Hi."

"Hey," Jeongguk replied in a ragged breath. He could feel a churn in his stomach, a conflicting wave of emotions knocking at his conscience. Taehyung was just about the last person he wanted to run into right then, but he could never fight that flicker of light in his heart—the slight thrilling feeling of raw elation he felt just seeing the man stand in front of him.

Oh, how he wished he could feel any other way but that.

"We were just out doing shopping! Wanna join?" Yerin chirped from beside the tall man, hands settling to his shoulders.

"Ha... No thanks. I know how you get on your shopping sprees," Taehyung's deep voice rolled the words out, and although the man wasn't even talking to him, Jeongguk felt those eerily familiar shivers in his veins.

"Save yourself, bro," Hoseok added, lifting the many many bags for him to see. Taehyung chuckled that striking laugh Jeongguk had grown to love so much. He shifted in his place, feet clicking together as he avoided staring the man in the face.

In fact, while Yerin stood beside the man, all Jeongguk could think back to was when she had told him they used to date. And maybe it pained him a little, to admit that they do look good next to each other. Yerin is drop dead gorgeous, and Taehyung had looks that made it hard to hold in one's drooling. Back when they were together, they must've been quite the attractive couple, for sure.

Jeongguk began to wonder, if anyone would ever think those things about him, had he ever gotten himself into a relationship with a man like that.

"Actually I was around the area and Yerin mentioned being here at the mall earlier. Just wanted to drop by and say hello," Taehyung explained, his gaze now directly on the younger boy.

Jeongguk kept silent.

"Well now that you're here let's at least get some boba tea or something," Yerin tapped the man's arm and pointed at the store beside them. "Wait here, I'll go get us all the drinks. Your favorite's still the taro with tapioca right?"

Taehyung smiled. "Mhm. Extra sugar, please."

"You got it," she smiled. "Ggukie?"

"Um... I'll take coconut milk tea."

Yerin flashed him a thumbs up and turned to enter the store.

"I'll come with," Hoseok said, following close behind her.

Jeongguk opened his mouth to say something but the two had already disappeared from their sight, and thus he was all alone with Kim Taehyung again.

And, once again, said Kim Taehyung was looking at him with his dark, sharp eyes.

The two were silent for a moment, Jeongguk's gaze on anything and everything but the other male.

"So," that deep voice began. "How are you?"

"I'm fine."

"How are your classes so far?"

"They're fine."

Jeongguk heard the other sigh softly, and he peeked over to see him pulling out a cigarette.

"How's... Jimin?" was his next question. Jeongguk felt his stomach tighten.

"Well..." A pause. "I haven't talked to him in a while. We kinda... had a fight," he answered in as few words as possible, hands clasped together while he watched cars drive off in the distance.

Taehyung acted surprised. "A fight?"

Jeongguk nodded.

"Why are you two close friends fighting?"

Jeongguk inhaled, hesitating before replying. "Because."

"Because?"

"Because of what... he did. Y'know..?" the boy mumbled. "I mean, he knew about you and I and he still... tried to get with you."

Taehyung placed the cigarette to his lips, listened to the other's wavering voice. While Jeongguk watched the city's livelihood, the busking noise of chatter, of vehicles, of children, dogs barking, bicycle bells, Taehyung's eyes were on him. He watched him, watched the reluctant expression on his face. Even when Taehyung knew he was the reason for the glum look in Jeongguk's delicate features, the boy still managed to look so beautiful.

"I... lied to you," the man spoke up, smoke accumulating in the air in puffs of decaying particles around him, eventually vanishing into the air, leaving little residue behind its path.

Jeongguk felt a chill breeze, though he refrained from looking over at the man. "About what...?"

"I'm sorry." Taehyung leaned against the brick wall behind them, head lifting to the tangerine sky. "I suppose I was scared you'd hate me if I told you the truth."

Jeongguk didn't say a word. So Taehyung continued.

"I was the one who made a move on Jimin. Not the other way around." Taehyung admitted the words in a low voice, his tone spiraling towards one that lacked emotion. "I just happened to run into him, after I took a walk out in the night. You were asleep on my bed, and I got bored. Quite frankly Jimin looked pretty, and the sex with you was dull. I thought maybe he'd give me a better time."

Jeongguk's gaze fell to the ground, much like he felt in that moment his heart had done the same.

"Don't get me wrong, you're a good looking guy. But you're just not that good of a fuck. Honestly, that's all I was looking for from you, so you can imagine my disappointment being left unsatisfied even after all those opportunity I gave you to perform better. I thought maybe the more I tried this shit with you, you'd learn how to pleasure me. But you haven't, and your pretty face doesn't make up for it anymore. Yet... I won't be like your dumb ex and fuck other people in secret while I keep you around. I can see why he needed those side chicks though. Hey, but at least I'm being honest and telling you the truth. I'm actually a real nice guy, you know?"

Taehyung glanced over at the younger, whose face was still down. Then he hesitated for a moment before landing the final jab at him.

"Jimin didn't betray you or anything. I'm the one who tried to get in his pants, because... Well, I wanted a good fuck. I'm tired of pretending. You've got a pretty face, Jeongguk, but it's just not enough to keep a man interested. You still have much to learn, darling."

A sniffle. Feet sliding against the pavement. Jeongguk straightened his shoulders and lifted his hand, wiping the back of it over his face. Taehyung watched him in silence, though keeping up the poker face was surprisingly difficult upon seeing the tears in the younger's eyes.

"That's... a-all I was to you, then?" Jeongguk's voice trembled, unable to keep itself stable after hearing all that.

Taehyung kept a blank face. "Did you really think you could be much of anything more? Please. Don't flatter yourself, Jeon. I wanted to keep you around and have you spread your legs for me a little longer. You have a nice body, but it's just not so fun to me anymore."

Jeongguk flinched at the harsh words, tears gathered at his eyes as he faced the man in a determined stance.

"You.. You are such an asshole..." he whimpered, hands clasping to his face to cover it. "Such a-... an asshole.."

Taehyung hummed, removing the blunt from his mouth and mustering up a smirk. "You're right, baby. That is precisely what I am."

A tear slipped down the young one's cheek. Taehyung dropped his cigarette to the concrete ground and crushed it with his boots.

"Goodbye, Jeongguk. And tell your blondie friend if he ever wants good dick, he can hit me up any time."

The man turned, rubbed at the side of his neck and hesitated before leaving down the street in a leisure stroll. And Jeongguk watched. Watched him walk away, his broad back and collected demeanor dissipating down the darkening streets. He held in his breath, wiped at his wet cheeks, feeling completely foolish because why, why did he have to show his tears? He has wanted nothing more than to keep his composure in front of that man, yet he has completely shown a moment of weakness.

Then, after a long seconds of staring out into the spot Taehyung had stood in only a moment ago, Jeongguk burst out into sudden laughter, brows knitted in perplexity, pupils solely dilated. The sky behind him darkened, the sounds of the city drowned out his sniggering.

Yerin soon then emerged back outside with a handful of boba cups in her hands. "Boys~! I've secured the bag!" she sang, strolling cheerily towards Jeongguk's side before looking up at him curiously. "Huh? Where's Taehyung?"

And that's when she saw the boy's red nose, flushed skin and wet stained cheeks.

Then came his grating chuckle.

"He's gone."

✱