Chapter Text
Taehyung has learned quite early in his life that fake smiles go a long way. Not that he is fake. He just pretends sometimes it’s an act, a performance, and only a very few people can see the behind the scenes.
It’s easier to smile and nod than to explain the truth. Besides, most people don’t understand what it is like to take care of a younger brother outside of class, with an alcoholic father who disappears every now and then and a mother who passed away six years ago. So yeah, Taehyung would rather much fake a smile, than tell that story.
He has always been the outgoing type, his classmates like him and Taehyung doesn’t love the word because it simply sounds stupid, but you can say he is quite popular around campus. He’s used to being in the spotlight, or at least at pretending like he’s comfortable in it.
No one will question you if you smile enough. They don’t ask if you’ve eaten, if your back aches from sleeping on a worn-out mattress, or if you’re skipping lunch to pay electricity for that month. They just see his bright boxy face and his cute and charming mannerisms.
And Taehyung is good at giving what they want.
He’s good at walking down the hall, smiling at everyone who calls out for him, laughing at every little joke that gets thrown at him.
“Tae! Wait up,” Jimin hurries on his feet to catch up with him, “Are you going to Namjoon’s party this weekend?” He asks him once they’ve started walking together. “Hoseok told me he’s going as well,”
Taehyung nods his head, “Yeah, I think so,” It would be weird if he didn’t go, so he doesn’t have a much of a choice, “I’ll just check with Minwoo if he’s okay staying alone for the night,” He tells him in a lower voice.
Park Jimin is one of the only ones who actually knows about his home situation. Jimin has been his friend ever since they were kids, he’s known his family, he was there to support him when he needed him.
“He’s sixteen, Taehyung, I’m sure he’ll be fine,” Jimin smiles knowingly.
“I know,” Taehyung replies with a sigh and they turn a corner. “Do you think Sunwoo is going to be there?”
Jimin gives him a confused look, “I thought you broke up with him?”
There is a scoff escaping the other’s lips, “There was nothing to break up with. We just fucked a couple of times but then he started to be annoying so I told him to fuck off,”
Jimin nibbles on his lip and thinks a little, “Didn’t he show up to your class last week?”
Taehyung hums as he presses his lips in a tight line, “And he keeps texting me from random numbers too. I blocked them.”
“That’s fucking weird,”
“It’s obsessive,” Taehyung says in a tight voice, “But I think he gets off of it, as if I’m playing hard to get or something. He keeps telling me that he knows I want him back,” He shakes his head, fingers gripping his book slightly harder, “I swear if he corners me at that party I’ll lose it,”
They walk into the classroom and take a seat somewhere at the back, “You don’t have to go, you know,”
“I do,” Taehyung replies, “It’s Namjoon. Everyone is going. It would be weird if I didn't go.”
Jimin exhales and shrugs his shoulders. “Well if he tries anything, I’ll kick him in the throat.”
That earns a snort, “Yeah, if you can reach,” Jimin pinches his side, and he squeals, “Ow! I’m sorry, I appreciate the violence, Min.”
Jimin huffs and flips him off with a fond eyeroll before opening his books. Taehyung’s eyes linger at the entrance, waiting for the rest of the students to settle and let out a sigh of relief when the professor closes the door.
His notebook is open, the pen is resting between his fingers but Taehyung zones out almost immediately when the professor starts speaking.
He thinks about rent. About how his boss at the cafe didn’t respond to his text for an extra shift. About whether Minwoo has enough rice at home. About the party.
About Sunwoo.
His stomach twists.
When class ends, Taehyung shuffles out with the others, says his goodbyes to Jimin and heads to his next class. It’s nearing dusk by the time he’s finally done for the day. The sky is a pretty lilac-gray and the air smells like summer trying to hang on just a little longer.
The apartment is quiet when he gets home. He doesn’t expect it to be loud. Minwoo is not the type.
Their mother passed not long after Minwoo’s birth, and for what Taehyung can remember, she wasn’t exactly a loving, warm mother. Even before the pregnancy, Taehyung barely saw her during his own childhood and she felt more like a shadow.
Their father was somewhat worse.
If Taehyung has to describe him, he’d say a black hole in human form, pulling everything in, taking and taking until there’s nothing left.
The man drank too much, gambled even more and when he wasn’t screaming at walls, or passed out on the couch, he was out chasing highs and burning what little they had to the ground.
On some days he pretended to be a dad. Tried to come home with cheap food and all smiles, telling young Minwoo stories like he was a ‘real’ father. But it never lasted.
Quickly Taehyung learned that love wasn’t enough to keep a family together. He stopped expecting anything from him a long time ago.
By the time Minwoo was five, it was just them two. Their father walked out like he was going on a quick errand and never came back. No note. No goodbye. Nothing. He vanished leaving two boys behind, an overdue rent notice, and an empty bottle on the kitchen counter.
He could’ve come back but he didn’t. And deep down, Taehyung knows he probably never will.
There is no point in resenting him, Taehyung doesn’t have the luxury to be angry. All his responsibility is heavy on his shoulders, rent due at the end of every month, the young boy who calls him hyung and looks at him like he’s the only steady thing in the world.
So Taehyung works. He works and works, stretching himself thin just to scrape by.
“Minwoo?” He calls out for him and stops in front of his bedroom door, “You in there?” Taehyung knocks once, and then again.
Minwoo grunts but it is enough for Taehyung to open the door. His younger brother is lying on his bed, headphones in that were Taehyung’s once and raises a brow, “You’re home early,” He acknowledges
“I didn’t do any groceries yet,” Taehyung replies and leans against the door frame, “Listen, I’m going to a party this weekend, so I need you to watch the house,”
Minwoo frowns, “Whose party?”
“Namjoon’s,”
The younger one makes a face, dropping his phone on his chest, “The guy who thinks quoting Pinterest posts makes him deep?”
Taehyung snorts, “Yeah, him,”
Minwoo lifts his shoulders and returns back to his phone, he nods, “Okay,”
Taehyung bites his lip, “You gonna be okay then?”
There’s a sigh, “I’m sixteen, hyung, not six,” Minwoo mumbles.
Taehyung smiles as his feet make their way over to him, he ruffles his hair and laughs as he groans in protest, “Have you eaten?”
“Yeah,” Minwoo replies as he fixes his hair, “There are some left overs in the fridge,” He meets his brother’s gaze, “Don’t give me that look, I know you’re hungry,”
Taehyung’s heart drops a little, but he cannot help but smile at him, “I’m supposed to take care of you, not the other way around,”
“Just shut up and go eat.”
“Brat,” Taehyung says and is halfway to exit his room before he turns his body, his expression softens,“Thank you, Woo,”
“Anytime, hyung,” Minwoo mirrors the softness and it is enough for Taehyung to go to the kitchen and eat his dinner.
Weekend rolls around pretty quickly and Taehyung exhales slowly as he leans over his chipped sink. His palms are pressed flat against the porcelain and he stares at himself. The mirror is cracked but it does the job. It reflects the person he needs to be tonight.
Not the tired, overworked boy who counted enough coins for the bus this morning.
Not the big brother who washed Minwoo’s uniform in the bathtub last night since their washing machine broke.
Not the kid who survives on nothing but instant ramen and some rice.
But college Taehyung.
He pushes his hair back, letting it fall naturally, soft, dark strands curling around his ears, some falling in front of his forehead in that perfect messy fringe. His skin is glowing and he dabs the tiniest bit of lip tint. Nothing too much, just enough to make it seem someone has kissed him in the hallway on the way in.
His jeans are worn but tight enough in the right places, he buttons up a shirt, which he is pretty sure his father once stole, but it works. He doesn’t look expensive, but he doesn’t look cheap either.
His phone buzzes in his pocket.
Jimin
let me know when youre leaving
ill meet you there
omw in 5 minutes
He takes one last look at himself before slipping into his shoes, telling Minwoo he’s leaving and walks towards the bus stop.
Namjoon’s place is one of those stupidly big student houses with a backyard and LED strips in every corner with a couch that looks like it hasn’t been cleaned since 2015. The place is packed, of course it is. There’s people crowding the entrance, the kitchen, the living room, the stairs, every room is a different genre of chaos.
But it’s nice. The music is loud, people are having a good time and they’re greeting Taehyung with hugs and huge smiles. And he lets them.
Jimin did promise to stay by his side but got roped into a drinking game three rooms away and hasn’t come back since.
Taehyung moves through the party, talks to some of his classmates but then freezes when his eyes fall on him.
Sunwoo.
He’s leaning against the wall in the hallway, cup in hand, smirk already loaded like a weapon the second he locks eyes with Taehyung.
Fuck.
Taehyung removes his eyes off of him and tries to veer the other direction. Heads to the bathroom to fake a phone call, or maybe he has to take a dump or something, anything— But the second he takes a step, Sunwoo’s there. Blocking the hallway. Like he never moved.
“Hey babe,” Sunwoo says, low and honey-slick, like they’re a couple. “Can we talk for a minute?”
Taehyung tries to step past him, to ignore him, but a cold hand catches his wrist, gripping him tightly in his touch and pulls him outside where it’s quiet. There are a few students smoking, though they leave once Sunwoo drags him further down the yard.
“You have been avoiding me,” Sunwoo pouts and raises his free hand to caress his cheek. The touch is sending cold shivers down Taehyung’s spine and he tries not to squirm under it. “I’ve missed you, you know.”
Taehyung lets out a deep breath, his eyes pierce through him, “Let go of me,” He mutters because he wants him off of him,
Sunwoo doesn’t listen, instead, he simply moves his fingers to the bottom of his lip, “Don’t act like this. We were so good together, hm?”
“Fuck off, Sunwoo” Taehyung snaps and juts his chin away, letting his hand fall, “We fucked, like twice. I ended it. Move on.”
Sunwoo tilts his head, eyes dark. “You really wanna get mouthy with me?” Taehyung tries again to pull away, but Sunwoo’s grip tightens, almost so tight Taehyung fears it might leave a bruise on his wrist. “Don’t forget I can tell your friends things about you, babe,” he whispers, voice suddenly cutting through the music like a knife. “Things your friends don’t know. Things I could say right now in front of everyone, if I felt like it.”
Taehyung freezes, “What are you talking about?” he says flatly. But his heart is hammering in his chest.
Sunwoo’s smile spreads slowly. “You really wanna test me right now?”
Taehyung glances around. People are smoking, yelling, lost in their own worlds. No one’s paying attention. “You fucking wouldn’t,” he says.
Sunwoo leans in, mouth brushing his ear. “You know I would. Especially if you keep treating me like trash. You think you’re better than me? Trust me, you’re nothing,” His skin crawls. “And if I’m not enough of a reason for you to stop playing hard to get,” Sunwoo continues, “Then maybe your dirty little secret will be.”
Taehyung swallows, blood rushing in his ears. “Fuck you.” Except it comes out weak and shaky.
Taehyung wants to punch him. He wants to smash his face in, “Tell me when and where—”
“Oh?” a lazy voice chimes in suddenly, interrupting the tension like a slap to the face. “Am I interrupting a little lovers’ spat?”
Taehyung’s heart drops.
Fuck.
Jeon Jeongguk.
Jeon Jeongguk is everything Taehyung hates.
Rich. Perfect. Untouchable.
People don’t just like him, they gravitate to him, like moths to a flame. Like idiots to a really well-sculpted jawline. He’s the golden boy of the university, captain of the football team, business major with top grades, friends with professors and frat boys alike.
His face is plastered across campus brochures, fundraising posters, and once even a stupid smoothie bar ad that made Taehyung physically recoil.
And the worst part?
Jeongguk knows it.
He knows he is the golden boy, the fantasy, the ultimate dream. He speaks with that slow, drawling confidence of someone who’s never had to chase anything because things just fall into his lap.
Jeongguk doesn’t care about anyone’s opinion. Probably because no one’s ever said no to him.
Except for Taehyung.
Maybe that’s why they can’t stand each other.
Because Jeongguk is used to praise, and Taehyung is the only one who doesn’t buy the act. He doesn’t swoon or flirt or laugh at Jeongguk’s smug little jabs. And Jeongguk doesn’t ignore him like he does with most people he doesn’t care about.
No. He notices Taehyung.
Picks fights with him. Rolls his eyes when Taehyung walks into a room. Scoffs at his outfits, challenges his opinions, makes stupid comments under his breath in class just loud enough for Taehyung to hear.
Taehyung tells himself it’s fine.
Because he hates Jeongguk too.
He hates the way his name sounds when girls say it like a prayer. He hates the stupid chain around his neck. He hates his tattoos. He hates his piercings. He hates that he’s smart, but doesn’t try. He hates that he’s athletic, but lazy. He hates the way his mouth curves when he’s being an asshole.
And he hates the fact he is standing there right now. Though it isn´t exactly a surprise that the rich boy is at this party either.
He’s wearing a simple black shirt, chains glinting under the dim lights, and that familiar shit-eating grin on his lips.
Sunwoo clicks his tongue, annoyed. “Seriously?”
Jeongguk ignores him entirely, eyes trained on Taehyung now. “Didn’t peg you as the type to hide out here for a secret hookup. Not very on-brand, Kim.”
Taehyung rolls his eyes so hard it hurts. “Go away, Jeon.”
“Oh?” Jeongguk says, fake-offended. “Didn’t realize this yard belonged to you.”
“Didn’t he tell you to fuck off?” Sunwoo snarls at him. “Mind your own damn business, Jeon.”
Jeongguk finally looks at him, eyebrows raised like he only just remembered he existed. “Do I know you?” He asks in a bored voice.
Sunwoo stiffens, jaw clenching. “You’re kidding.”
“Hmm,” Jeongguk shrugs. “Perhaps. I forget people who wear discount cologne.”
Taehyung swallows down a snort. Sunwoo glares. “I was having a private conversation,” he grits out.
“With someone who clearly doesn’t want to talk to you,” Jeongguk shoots back. “Or are you one of those guys who thinks ignoring a no makes you mysterious?”
Taehyung’s throat tightens.
Sunwoo looks ready to explode, but Jeongguk just lifts a brow. Calm, dangerous, unbothered.
“Fuck this,” Sunwoo snaps finally, and faces one last time, “I’ll see you around, babe,” He says before shoving past Jeongguk and disappearing back inside the house.
Taehyung closes his eyes for a second, inhales sharply through his nose before he opens them again, “What the hell was that?"
Jeongguk watches him go, then casually leans against the wall like nothing happened. “You’re welcome, by the way.”
Taehyung bristles. “You didn’t need to get involved.”
Jeongguk raises his brows, “Sure looked like I did.”
“I had it under control.” Taehyung says while shaking his head, though he doesn’t sound so sure.
And Jeongguk seems to catch that, “You were practically molding into the fence like a fucking houseplant.”
But Taehyung hates him, and he would never, ever, admit that Jeongguk did in fact, help him just now, “Fine, you know what?” Taehyung huffs and places his hands on his chest, “Thank you Jeon, for saving me, truly, I wouldn’t know what to do with you,”
Jeongguk narrows his eyes at him and he takes a step forward, “Do you always have to be such a fucking brat?”
Taehyung doesn’t back down, and takes one step forward as well, “Do you always have to be involved in everyone else's business?”
Jeongguk holds his gaze before he scoffs and steps back, “Fuck you, Kim.” He tells him and then disappears back to the party.
Taehyung doesn’t bother to go back inside, doesn’t bother to go and look for Jimin or Hoseok or anyone else. He goes back home, takes a shower, and goes to bed.
It’s Monday morning when Taehyung is reading his book during his first free period.
“So? Care to explain?” Jimin drops himself in the seat next to him along with Hoseok who takes a bite out of his apple.
Taehyung glances between the two of them with a puzzled look, “Explain what?” He questions.
Jimin slaps his shoulder lightly, “Explain why everyone is talking about the fact that you hooked up with Jeongguk,”
Taehyung’s mouth falls, “I hooked up with– Wait. What?” He almost yells but Hoseok shushes him since they gain some looks from others.
He should’ve known something was off the moment he stepped on campus this morning. People stared, they always do, but this time it felt different. Some even pretended not to look at him at all which was odd.
“They’re saying you two disappeared together,” Hoseok explains calmly, “I thought you two hated each other?”
Taehyung groans and makes a face of disgust, “I do fucking hate him. Nothing even happened! I was literally about to kick his ass—”
“Then why is everyone saying it?”
This shuts Taehyung up. Because they’re stupid. He wants to say. Because people only see what they want to see. “I don’t know.” He eventually says with a sigh. “It’s a rumour, it’ll die.”
Jimin hums but not in agreement as he lifts up his shoulders, “I don’t know, Tae. It’s Jeon Jeongguk. His rumours don’t die, they multiply.”
Great.
“Whatever.” Taehyung says. All Taehyung has to do is not talk to Jeongguk and this will fly over. People will forget about it. Yeah.. He can definitely do that. Pretend Jeongguk isn’t there. Not to roll his eyes every time he speaks, to make a comment here and then.
Simple. Easy.
Except it’s not.
Jeongguk is literally everywhere.
He is on the quad tossing a football with his teammates, where girls giggle too loud and guys try too hard to impress him. He’s at the gym, always somehow walking out when Taehyung walks in. He’s lounging on the steps of the arts building like he has any business being there, with his shirt too tight around his muscles, jaw too sharp, laughing with a voice that carries too far.
He’s everywhere, and it’s infuriating.
And even worse, he is not avoiding him.
If anything, it’s like the younger one has developed a sixth sense for when Taehyung is near. Eyes hardening when they meet, jaw ticking but he doesn’t say anything.
Which is fine. It’s perfect even.
Taehyung knows Jeongguk has heard about the rumors and he most likely is also pretending he doesn’t notice the looks thrown their way.
Like Taehyung pretends he doesn’t hear them whisper. “I heard they left the party together.” “Jeongguk always did have a type.” “Kim Taehyung dating someone? Yeah, we’ll see how long that will last.”
It’s true, the last part at least. Because Taehyung doesn’t do relationships. Not because he’s heartless or a player, or anything people assume behind his back but simply because he can’t.
Relationships mean honesty. Vulnerability.
And Taehyung is anything but honest. Dating means letting someone in. And he cannot afford that. Because if anyone ever got too close, they’d know. They’d see the dark circles under his eyes from nights spent working extra shifts and watching over Minwoo. They’d know the fridge isn’t always full. They’d know that sometimes, Taehyung skips lunch not because he’s not hungry, but because it’s either that or groceries for the week.
So yeah.
Taehyung doesn’t date.
But now there are rumors of him and Jeongguk leaving the party together.
Taehyung keeps his chin up as always as he walks around campus. He’s walking through the side garden on campus after his last lecture, trying to catch a moment of silence before heading home. His headphones are on, volume low, when a hand snatches his wrist and he nearly jumps out of his skin.
“Sunwoo?” Taehyung snaps, yanking his arm away as he stumbles back. “What the fuck?”
Sunwoo smiles, but there’s nothing soft about it. It’s stretched too tight, all teeth and bad intentions. “Exactly, Taehyung, what the fuck? What am I hearing now?” he grits through his teeth.
Taehyung remains quiet as he watches something flash in Sunwoo’s eyes. “I’ve been hearing things about you and Jeon,”
Taehyung rolls his eyes and crosses his arms over his chest, “Why do you care?”
“Are you seriously going to act like a slut?” Sunwoo spits and Taehyung flinches, “Letting Jeongguk touch you.” He steps into his space, “Do you honestly think I’m stupid?”
Taehyung glares up at him, his heart is racing and he can’t think of any words to say but he doesn’t get the chance to.
“Do you think Jeon likes you? Filthy rich, golden boy Jeon?” Sunwoo says, “I wonder what would happen to your precious reputation if people knew.”
Each word slices deeper and Taehyung’s chest feels tight. His ears are ringing, he can’t feel his limbs. It’s like all the carefully built walls around his private life years of keeping it hidden, locked up behind practiced smiles and late-night lies—are being torn down brick by brick by this pathetic, obsessed loser in front of him.
Sunwoo leans in again. “What do you think Jeon Jeongguk would say if he knew you were just a charity case pretending to be something you’re not?”
Taehyung’s body stiffens. He feels something cold and acidic crawl up his throat. His eyes narrow. And then… It clicks. Snaps. Like a light turning on.
Sunwoo may think he has leverage, but Jeongguk?
Jeongguk is power. Jeongguk is money. Reputation. Control. People don’t cross Jeon Jeongguk. They suck up to him. They praise him. They fear him.
And Sunwoo? Sunwoo isn’t stupid. So before Taehyung even thinks it through—before his logic can scream at him to not say a damn thing; his mouth opens, and he blurts it out.
“He already knows.”
Sunwoo’s face twitches. “What?”
Taehyung blinks at him a few times before he straightens his back, and gathers the confidence he has, “We’re dating.” He says in a firm voice, “Jeongguk and I. We’re dating.”
The silence that follows is loud.
Sunwoo stares, jaw clenching. The smugness drains from his face like someone pulled the plug. He looks fucking pissed. But more than that, he looks thrown. “I don’t believe you,” he eventually says, low.
Taehyung shrugs. Tries to make it look effortless even though his heart’s about to cave in. “Believe whatever you want. I’m just saying, if you’re planning to start spreading stories, I hope you’re prepared to deal with him.”
The corner of Sunwoo’s mouth twitches. It’s not a smile. It’s pure frustration.
Taehyung holds eye contact, pulse thudding in his ears, adrenaline making his fingertips buzz until—
“We’re what?”
The voice behind him is like cold water straight down his spine.
Taehyung freezes.
Oh fuck.
He turns slowly, and there he is.
Jeon Jeongguk.
A grey hoodie, silver chain peeking from beneath the collar, backpack slung low, earbuds hanging around his neck.
Taehyung can feel Sunwoo’s eyes burning on him. Fuck, he is so fucking fucked. And not the good kind.
He can feel his mouth hanging slightly at the sight of the younger standing there with an unreadable expression. The silence stretches too long and Taehyung knows Sunwoo is waiting.
“Yes.” Taehyung then finally yelps out and clears his throat. He takes two large steps towards the younger and gives Sunwoo his back, “We’re dating. That’s what I said.”
He tries his best to send Jeongguk a look with his eyes, a look that screams just play along, a look that almost seems begging him to. Taehyung’s voice is casual, like he’s had this conversation before.
Jeongguk glances at him with a sharp expression then it turns dangerously amused. “Right. That’s what you said,” Jeongguk replies and he doesn’t elaborate, doesn’t deny it either but steps closer to Taehyung.
Jeongguk takes his eyes off of him and glances behind him to where Sunwoo is watching them closely. He then raises his fingers slowly to brush away some strands from Taehyung’s eyes and he tries his best not to flinch under the movement. “Didn’t realize it was public,” Jeongguk mumbles softly.
Taehyung forces a smile and lets out a dry chuckle, “Yeah well, now it is.”
Jeongguk drops his hand and takes a second look at Sunwoo. It’s not a threatening look, just a bored glance, up and down, and the other shifts uncomfortably under his gaze, “Something you wanted to say?”
Sunwoo parts his lips before smacking them shut. He narrows his eyes at Taehyung and then at their arms brushing against each other, “No.” Sunwoo grunts out, “Nothing.”
Jeongguk watches him walk off and Taehyung stares at nothing but the empty space. He is mentally preparing himself for what’s about to come, to what Jeongguk has to say, he’ll get mad that’s for sure.
Only Jeongguk isn’t mad, he is furious.
“What the fuck was that, Kim?” Jeongguk looks at him with a completely different expression than before. There is no hand in his hair now, no fake gentleness, just Jeongguk’s harsh tone and stone cold eyes set on his. Taehyung thinks he has never seen him like this before.
He furrows his brows at him as Taehyung remains silent, “You’re using me to prove something? Trying to make that fucktoy of yours jealous?” Jeongguk scoffs, “You’re insane if you think I’m going to let you drag me into your little drama with that fucking loser,”
“No,” Taehyung panics because Jeongguk steps away, “No, Jeongguk wait. Please, it’s not like that.” His voice is weak as he grips Jeongguk’s arm, “I just, I needed him to think we were something, okay? I just—”
Jeongguk cuts him off, ripping his arm away, “Are you fucking insane? Make him think that we’re together? Do you actually think that I give a shit?”
“No,” Taehyung lowers his gaze, of course this would come back to bite him in the ass. The words of Sunwoo keeps repeating in his head like a song stuck on replay. He has tried so hard, for all these years to hide who he really is, to clean the sheet for his younger brother who deserves so much better. And there is Sunwoo, who thinks he can ruin it all if Taehyung isn’t his. “Just for a second,” Hewhispers while shaking his head, “So he’d back off. You don’t get it, I just…” He swallows and then looks back up to meet his gaze, his eyes are glassy but he won’t, he will not, cry, “I need you to play along, for now.”
Jeongguk stares at him without blinking.
“Please,” Taehyung continues, “I’ll do anything, I swear. Anything you want, I’ll owe you,” He swallows down a lump, “I can’t explain it, but I need this, please.”
Jeongguk tilts his head slightly, eyes narrowing but not in annoyance, “You’ll owe me?”
Taehyung hesitates but he nods his head. “Yes.”
His lips curve, not into a smile, but something a little darker. The kind of smirk that isn’t really amused, just intrigued. Dangerous. A glint enters his eyes that Taehyung doesn’t know what to do with.
Jeongguk steps closer, too close and Taehyung’s breath hitches when their chests almost touch. Jeongguk smells expensive, he smells good. He is standing so close Taehyung sees the tiny scar he has on his cheek and he wonders if Jeongguk can notice his dark undereyes. Jeongguk hums. “Interesting.”
He leans in, just enough to make it seem intimate if anyone were still watching, his voice brushing against Taehyung’s ear. “Then make sure you remember that,” Jeongguk says quietly. “Because I will collect.”
And then he pulls back, gives Taehyung a once-over with that same unreadable expression, and walks off like nothing happened. Leaving Taehyung standing there with his heart racing, skin cold, and already regretting making a deal with the devil.