Chapter Text
At 5:47 PM, golden-hour light spilled through the building lobby’s glass doors, making departures look softer than they were. Outside, New York wore early February well—cold air, fading sunlight, piles of stubborn gray snow at the edges of the street, and people walking fast as if winter might catch them if they slowed down.
And inside…
Seokjin had been staring at a screen for fourteen hours. His eyes felt like they'd been replaced with sandpaper. But today?
Today was good.
The soft launch worked. No bugs. No crashes. His team actually cheered.
"Seokjin, you're a legend."
"How did you even fix that memory leak?"
"Wow, you did it…”
He waved them off with practiced modesty. He just gave known smile, then grabbed his jacket and ran toward the elevator before anyone could give him one more meeting request.
He was done for the day.
Day?
At this point, he was mentally drafting his out-of-office message for the next few.
The elevator doors opened.
And there was…
As expected.
Taehyung.
Leaning against the back wall like he owned the place. Brown coat. That stupid perfect hair. A grin that could sell ice to an Eskimo.
"Jinnn," Taehyung drawled. "Heard you slayed."
Seokjin stepped inside, standing with the dignity of a man who had definitely not cried over a semicolon at 3 AM. "Don't I always?"
"You didn’t shower."
"I am still looking handsome. Thanks.”
“You need sleep”
“That I agree”
The elevator stopped at floor 2.
The doors slid open.
And Yuna—because her name means "lotus" in Korean but she was born in Brooklyn and never let anyone forget it—barged in like a small storm wrapped in a yellow blazer.
"Ladies," she greeted with a grin.
They smiled back, but quiet and professional
Then the doors closed and then open to the lobby.
And just like that—the chaos began.
.
.
They exploded out of the elevator like champagne from a shaken bottle.
"—and then," Yuna was saying, waving her hands, "my boss actually said, 'Yuna, can you make the logo bigger?' I said, 'Sir, the logo is already the entire screen.' He said, 'Make it pop.' I said, 'Pop how? Like a balloon? Like a zit? Give me an adjective, Steven, I am begging you.'"
Taehyung was laughing so hard he almost tripped over a potted plant. "What did Steven say?"
"Steven said, 'You know... pop.' So I made the logo a giant corn kernel. And when he opened it, the corn exploded on his screen. Pop!"
Seokjin snorted. "You didn't."
"I DID."
"You're going to get fired."
"I'm going to get promoted.”
They walked past the security desk. Marcus, the evening guard, waved without looking up from his crossword. "Evening, chaos squad."
"Evening, Marcus," all three said in unison.
And it was just like always.
---
They walked to their usual cafe.
Every few steps, someone would call out.
And now too…
"Hey, Taehyung!"
Taehyung turned. A very pretty woman in a coral pink dress was smiling at him from the juice bar. Long hair. Red lips. The kind of woman who made other women glance at their reflection without realizing it.
"Oh, hey!" Taehyung gave her that smile. The one that made people feel like they were the only person in the room. "Love the dress. Is that new?"
She blushed. "Last week. From SoHo."
"Good choice. You've got an eye."
She opened her mouth to say more, but Taehyung had already started walking again, still chatting with Yuna and Seokjin like nothing happened.
The woman stood there. Holding her smoothie. Watching him leave.
Yuna leaned into Seokjin. "She definitely hoping more."
"She's hot," Seokjin whispered back, like he was sharing state secrets.
"Very hot."
"Like... objectively hot."
"Shut up, both of you," Taehyung said without turning around. "I can hear you."
"You were supposed to," Yuna called back. "That's the point. Date her."
"I'm not into her."
"You're not into anyone."
Taehyung shrugged. "That’s not true.'"
Yuna and Seokjin exchanged a look. The Look. The one that said: Here we go again.
"So tell me, not into exactly whom?" Yuna asked, speeding up to walk beside him. "Hot girls? Or... girls?"
Taehyung raised an eyebrow, already frustrating. "Why? You offering?"
"I have a boyfriend who deadlifts two hundred pounds. He will break you."
"Yuna, your boyfriend is a graphic designer who once cried because a font was 'morally wrong.'"
"He's passionate."
"He's a marshmallow in human form."
"Don't talk about my marshmallow like that."
Seokjin was just watching them now, walking half a step behind, arms crossed, smiling like a dad at a school play. This was his favourite show. Reruns every day. Never got old.
---
“Cloud Nine” opened straight onto the Brooklyn street, glass walls letting in sky, noise, and passing lives. It was always a little busy, never overwhelming—tables scattered like thoughts that hadn’t settled yet.
A barista who recognizes them without looking up, smiled, knowing upcoming chaos.
And in the corner by the edge of it all, there was their usual place. A small pocket of familiarity where the city softened just enough to breathe. It gives you view of the street and people of returning pace. The table had slightly wobbly leg that they fixed by shoving a napkin under it—now the napkin was practically fused there.
They sat down.
The waiter, Carlos, appeared within thirty seconds. Not because the service was fast. Because he knew they tipped well.
"The usual?" Carlos asked, already pulling out his notepad.
"Seokjin: Americano, extra shot, splash of oat milk."
"Yes."
"Yuna: Matcha latte with vanilla, oat milk, and 'however much sugar won't kill me, Carlos, I trust you.'"
"Exactly."
"Taehyung: Pineapple-mint mocktail, extra mint, no glitter on the rim because the last time you put glitter, he found it in his hair for three days."
"I have never recovered from that glitter incident," Taehyung said solemnly.
Carlos grinned. "Be right back."
Seokjin leaned back in his chair. The city hummed below them. Somewhere, a taxi honked. A pigeon landed on the railing, looked at them, and flew away like it had judged them and found them wanting.
"So Tae," Yuna said, resting both elbows on the table, ready to listen stories. “The woman at the juice bar. Pink dress. Hair like a shampoo commercial. You're telling me nothing?"
"There is nothing to tell."
"You are a liar”
"Whatever you say."
Yuna shot him a dagger-like look before turning to Seokjin for backup. Seokjin was leaning back in his chair, looking half-asleep, his eyes faintly pink with exhaustion.
“Seokjin-ah, I think you need sleep. It’s been two days—you haven’t slept properly.”
“I know” he muttered. “I am probably going to sleep for two straight days now”
Carlos arrived with their drinks. He placed Taehyung's mocktail down with a flourish and sweet smile, like he was proud on himself for doing something special for him.
It was covered in decorations, more decorations than usual.
A tiny paper umbrella. A little plastic flamingo. A cocktail stick with three different fruits. A swirl of mint that looked like a small green tornado. And stuck to the side, right next to a slice of dried orange—
A handwritten note.
Taehyung pulled it off. Read it.
His expression didn't change. He just sighed. A long, long sigh. The sigh of a man who had seen too much.
"What?" Yuna tried to grab it. He held it higher. "What does it say? Taehyung."
He read aloud, monotone: "Hey. Look at the counter. I think you're really cute. Text me? And written there is a… mobile number"
Yuna's head spun toward the counter so fast her neck cracked. Seokjin’s tiredness fired as his curiosity picked and looked at that direction as well.
A girl was standing there. Leaning against the counter. Smiling. Exact smile. Exact hair flip. Exact energy of someone who knew exactly how cute she was.
She wiggled her fingers at Taehyung, mouthing “Hiii”.
Taehyung wiggled his fingers back. Politely. Like a robot programmed to be nice but not interested.
Then he placed the note facedown on the table and took a very long sip of his mocktail.
Yuna stared at him. Seokjin stared at him. The pigeon came back and stared at him.
"You're gonna reject her too?" Yuna finally said.
"I'm going to gently tell her I'm not interested. There's a difference."
"THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE."
"There is a huge difference. 'Rejecting' is mean. 'Gently telling someone you're not interested' is—"
"—still means rejecting!"
"Why are you so obsessed with my relationship status?" Taehyung asked, genuinely curious now. "Like... medically obsessed. Should I be concerned?"
Yuna slammed her matcha down. "YES. I AM CONCERNED. I want to see you—once—just once—dating someone. Anyone! A plant! A pet rock! I don't care! Date a lamp! And then you can break up! I just want proof that you have a working heart!"
"Yuna."
"I'm not done! You're hot! You're nice! You're funny! You're—you're aggressively datable!” She mocked-mimicked, “And you just... don't. It's like watching someone win the lottery and then burn the ticket for warmth!"
Seokjin was silently crying with laughter into his Americano. His shoulders were shaking. He didn't even try to hide it.
Taehyung turned to him. "You're no help."
"Please go on. I like it." Seokjin grinned.
“Is it a show?” Taehyung said irritatingly.
“A very entertaining”
Taehyung huffed.
"I told you both," Taehyung said, quieter now. "I already told you. I like someone. I've been liking someone. You just don't listen."
Yuna threw her hands up. "You never tell us who! Not a name! Not a first initial! Not even a vibe! 'Oh, I like someone.' That's not information! That's a vague tweet!"
"Maybe I'm private."
"Maybe you're lying."
"I'm not lying."
"Then prove it!"
Taehyung stood up. Picked up the note. "Fine. I'll go 'gently tell this nice woman I'm not interested.' And then I'll come back. And then we'll never talk about my love life again."
"See…Liar," Yuna turned to Seokjin. "I told you!"
Taehyung waved without turning around.
Seokjin watched him walk toward the counter—the woman's face already falling into a polite, understanding smile as Taehyung approached with his hands in his pockets, probably about to deliver the kindest rejection in human history.
And then.
Seokjin's phone buzzed.
He picked it up casually. Probably a work thing. Please don't be a work thing. I just launched. Let me rest.
One new message.
From: Jungkook 💕
Seokjin's thumb hovered. His stomach did something strange. Not bad, exactly very bad.
He opened it. His finger trembling.
Jungkook 💕: Hi Hyung. Hope you are doing great. I know we haven't talked in a bit. But I wanted you to hear it from me first.
I'm getting married.
The world didn't stop.
Traffic still moved. The pigeon still judged. Carlos still wiped down the counter.
But Seokjin stopped breathing.
Getting married.
Getting married.
Those two words just... sat there. In his brain. Like uninvited guests who brought terrible gifts.
Married.
He read the message again. Then again. Then a fourth time, like the words might change if he looked hard enough.
Hi Hyung. Hope you are doing great. I know we haven't talked in a bit. But I wanted you to hear it from me first.
It didn’t changed…
No. No, that couldn't—they hadn't even—Its been two years… just two year.. is it two much for someone to get married… or its Normal—was it just him, No…Just no…
No
"Jin? Why you are not listening…" Yuna's voice sounded very far away.
"Jin. Jin."
Something was shaking his shoulder. Hard.
He blinked. His eyes were wet. When did that happen?
"Jin, what the fuck, you're white as a sheet. What happened?"
He opened his mouth. Nothing came out.
"JIN. I swear to God, if you don't tell me in the next three seconds, I'm going to pour your Americano down your shirt—"
"He's getting married."
Yuna froze. "Who?"
"My—" His voice cracked. He cleared his throat. "My boyfriend."
Yuna's eyebrows shot up to her hairline. "Your... boyfriend?"
"Ex," he whispered. "Ex-boyfriend."
"THE FUCK DO YOU MEAN EX-BOYFRIEND?"
Seokjin flinched. "Why are you yelling?"
"BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW YOU HAD A BOYFRIEND AT ALL!"
"Because I never told you!"
“WHY YOU NEVER TOLD ME?”
“Because you never asked”
Her mouth stayed opened. “Should have I suppose to ask?”
"Maybe!"
"THAT'S NOT—" Yuna stopped. Breathed. Pinched the bridge of her nose. "Okay. Okay. Let me—let me process. You. Seokjin. My friend. The man who wears sweater vests unironically—"
"I look good in sweater vests."
"—has an ex-boyfriend who is getting married. And you never told me. Any of this. For years."
“A year”
“It’s been two years, Jin. We are friends for two years”
"But you never asked about my love life either! You were too busy single-white-male-ing Taehyung's!"
"I WAS BEING A GOOD FRIEND!"
"TO HIM!"
"YOU'RE RIGHT! AND I'M SORRY! I NEVER EVER THOUGHT YOU… DATING SOMEONE…BUT RIGHT NOW I NEED YOU TO TELL ME—"
"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU TWO?!" Taehyung was back. Standing at the edge of the table. Hands on his hips. Hair slightly windswept. Looking like a very handsome, very confused, very exasperated parent who just walked in on his children fighting over a toy.
"I was gently telling that woman I'm not interested," he said, gesturing vaguely behind him, "and from across the entire cafe, I could hear you two screaming at each other! People are looking! The pigeon is looking!"
The pigeon, in fact, was looking.
"He is Gay—" Yuna said slowly straight looking at Seokjin.
Taehyung huffed, “What the hell. I told you, I am not gay—"
Yuna's head turned toward Taehyung so slowly it looked like a special effect. Her eyes were enormous.
"Oh," she said softly. Dangerously softly. "About you? Maybe we will find out it later... But for now—" Yuna grabbed Taehyung's arm and yanked him down into his chair. "—we are going to focus on the fact that JIN HAS A BOYFRIEND. An ex-boyfriend. Who is getting MARRIED. And Jin is GAY."
Taehyung's neck snapped toward Seokjin so fast there was an audible crack.
He didn't even react to the pain. "You're gay?"
"Will you two stop saying 'gay' like you just learned the word?!" Seokjin hissed. "Yes! I'm gay! I've been gay! I was gay yesterday! I'll be gay tomorrow! It's not news!"
"It's news to me!" Taehyung whisper-shouted.
"I didn't think I had to announce it!"
"WE DO SHARE A BATHROOM SOMETIMES!"
"AT WORK! IN THE PUBLIC RESTROOM! THAT'S NOT—"
"The point," Yuna interrupted, slamming her hands on the table, "is not who Jin is attracted to. The point is that his ex is getting married. And Jin just found out. Via text. And" there was a pause, like reality hit, “Seokjin not taking this news well”
Taehyung's expression shifted instantly.
The chaos dropped. The argument over nothing faded.
He looked at Seokjin and saw the red-rimmed eyes, the trembling hands, the way Seokjin was holding his phone like it might explode.
"Oh, Jin," Taehyung said quietly. "Come here."
And before Seokjin could protest, Taehyung had pulled him into a side-hug. Warm. Solid. Not too tight. Not loose.
Yuna scooted her chair closer and grabbed Seokjin's free hand.
"Okay," she said softly. "Tell us everything. From the beginning. Just let it out all your fears Jin”
Taehyung squeezed his shoulder. "Just tell us, Jin. We're not going anywhere."
Seokjin took a shaky breath.
And then, surrounded by his two favourite chaos gremlins, with the city glowing gold below them and a judgmental pigeon watching from the railing—his mind flew beyond ocean to Korea.
It was a quiet waterfront park at the edge of Brooklyn, where the city thinned into open water and the sky took over everything, the light had already begun to fade into a deep, muted blue. The river below moved slowly, dark and endless, catching fragments of the last gold of evening.
A line of stone benches faced the water, spaced far enough apart to feel private even in company.
Seokjin sat on the highest bench he could find, alone in posture if not in presence. His legs dangled over the edge. Below him, the water lapped against the pier with a rhythm that was supposed to be soothing but wasn't.
His eyes were fixed on the horizon. His face was blank. But his hands—his hands were gripping the mobile so tightly.
Yuna stood on his left, arms crossed, watching him with a concern.
Taehyung stood on his right. Silent.
No one had spoken for thirty-seven minutes.
The wind picked up. Seokjin's hair moved. He didn't.
Yuna opened her mouth. Closed it. Opened it again. Taehyung shot her a look that said: Not yet. Let him breathe.
She nodded.
Another five minutes passed.
Then—
Ding.
Seokjin's phone lit up.
His hand trembled. Actually trembled.
Yuna leaned in slightly. Taehyung didn't move—except his hand. His left hand found Seokjin's right shoulder. Warm and Gentle.
Seokjin swallowed. Opened the message.
Jungkook 💕: Here's the invitation. I'd really like it if you came. It would mean a lot to me.
Attached was an image.
"Jungkook Weds Jimin"
The letters were gold. Elegant. Someone had spent time on this. Someone had designed this.
Jungkook and Jimin.
Jimin.
Who is this Jimin?
He had never heard this name from Jungkook before. A name that had stolen his future.
He already started hating that name.
A single drop of water landed on the screen.
Then another.
It took Yuna a second to realize it wasn't fog or dew or river spray.
It was tears.
Seokjin was crying silently. His face still blank. His jaw tight. But tears rolling down his cheeks like they'd been waiting for permission.
Taehyung's heart squeezed. Physically. Like someone had reached into his chest and closed a fist around it.
He didn't say anything. He just pressed his hand firmer into Seokjin's shoulder. A little more weight. A little more warmth.
"It's okay," Taehyung said softly, breaking the silence. "It's okay to cry, Jin. Let it out."
Seokjin sniffled. Once. Twice. Then his breath hitched.
"How can he?" His voice cracked. "How can he just—"
He stopped. Swallowed. Wiped his tears with the back of his hand. Sloppy. Messy. Real.
Yuna and Taehyung waited.
"How can he marry someone else?" Seokjin whispered. "We were—we were childhood friends, Yuna. Tae. We grew up together. We didn't even know when we fell in love. It just... happened. Like breathing. Like—like rain. You don't notice it until you're already wet. Like it meant to be."
Taehyung exhaled slowly. He started rubbing small circles on Seokjin's back. Slow. Soothing. Automatic. Like his hand had a mind of its own.
"It's okay, Jin," Yuna said quietly. "Let it out. We're listening."
Seokjin took a shaky breath.
"It was me." His voice dropped. "It was my decision."
Taehyung's hand paused. Yuna's eyes widened.
"To take the break," Seokjin continued. "I wanted—I needed—to come here. New York. My dream job. I had been working toward it since I was a kid. Coding. Building things. And Jungkook—" He laughed bitterly. "Jungkook wanted a small house. A farm. Bees, maybe. He wanted to teach dance to neighbourhood kids. He wanted quiet. And I wanted loud."
He paused. Looked at the water.
"I asked him to come with me. I told him—I begged him—to come. I had money. I would have earned a lot I knew that. We could have lived here, with me. But he said no. He said his heart was in Jeju city. In that little island. In the mountains where the air smelled like honey and pine."
Seokjin's voice cracked again.
"So, I left. Alone. And I told him—I told him let's take a break. Just... a break. Time to figure things out."
Taehyung's hand found his knee. Squeezed.
"He didn't say anything," Seokjin whispered. "He just... stared. And then he walked away. He didn't even come to the airport. He didn't—" His voice broke completely. "He didn't even call."
Silence.
"I called him after I settled here," Seokjin continued, quieter now. "He had already moved on. He said—he said 'I wish you well, Seokjin-hyung.' Seokjin Hyung. He never called me by this name before. Not like that. Not like a stranger."
Taehyung's jaw tightened. He said nothing.
"And now," Seokjin laughed—a wet, broken sound—"now he sends me this. Two years of silence. And then this."
He held up his phone like it was evidence in a crime scene.
Yuna shook her head slowly. "Jin... that's not fair. That's not—"
"It's not his fault," Seokjin said quickly. "It's mine. I left. I broke us."
"No." Taehyung's voice was firm. "No, Jin. You wanted different things. That doesn't make it your fault. That just makes it... bad situation. Please don’t blame yourself. You choose what you deserved."
Seokjin looked at him. For a moment—just a moment—his eyes searched Taehyung's like he was looking for something.
Then he looked away.
"I won't let him marry him," Seokjin said.
Yuna blinked. "What?"
"I won't let him. I can't."
"Jin—" Taehyung started. “You can not just go and interrupt someone’s marriage”
"They're getting married, Tae. They're not married yet. There's still time."
Taehyung stared at him. "You cannot be serious."
"I've never been more serious in my life."
"You want to crash a wedding?"
"Precisely, I want to stop a wedding."
Yuna's face was doing something complicated. Shock? Amusement? Pride? All three, probably.
"Jin," she said slowly, "I have never—never—seen you like this."
"I've never been like this," Seokjin admitted. "But I can't just... sit here. In New York. Drinking oat milk americanos while the love of my life marries someone named Jimin."
Taehyung pinched the bridge of his nose. "You don't even know if he still loves you."
"I don't care."
"You should care."
"I don't! He used to love me before like his life depend on me."
"That's not—" Taehyung stopped. Breathed. "Jin. Listen to yourself. You're talking about flying across the world to break up a wedding based on hope. That's not a plan. That's a movie. A bad one."
"It's my movie," Seokjin said. "And I'm the main character."
Yuna snorted. "Okay, that was actually good."
"Don't encourage him!" Taehyung snapped.
"I'm just saying, thematically—"
"THERE IS NO THEME, YUNA. THIS IS REAL LIFE."
"So? Real life is boring. Let him be dramatic for once."
"Dramatic is one thing. Delusional is another."
Seokjin jumped off the bench. Legs shaky. Face set. "I'm going back. I'm going to Jeju city. And I'm going to bring him back with me."
Yuna pumped her fist. "THAT'S MY BOY."
"SHUT UP, YUNA."
"DON'T TELL ME TO SHUT UP, TAEHYUNG, I'M BEING SUPPORTIVE."
"YOU'RE BEING INSANE."
"YOU NEED TO BE INSANE SOMETIMES IN A LIFE!"
Seokjin watched them. For a moment he almost smiled. This was their thing. The bickering. The chaos. The way they loved each other by yelling.
But now... now he couldn't enjoy it.
"Please stop fighting," he said quietly. "Both of you."
They stopped. Immediately. Like someone had pressed pause.
Seokjin turned to Taehyung. "I want to go there. I want to fight for him. Will you—will you support me for that?"
Taehyung's heart did something strange. A skip. A stumble. He's asking him. He's actually asking him to support for getting his lost love back?
"That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard," Taehyung said ignoring all those stupid things on his mind.
"I know."
"You're going to get hurt."
"I know."
"He's going to say no."
"Maybe."
Taehyung stared at him. Seokjin stared back. Seven seconds. Long enough for a thousand thoughts to pass through both of them.
Seokjin's eyes were red. His nose was pink. He looked like a mess. But he also looked determined. More determined than Taehyung had ever seen him.
This is what love looks like, Taehyung thought bitterly. Desperation. Hope. Stupidity.
"Fine," Taehyung said. "Do whatever you want. I'm not stopping you."
He turned his back to them. Crossed his arms. Stared at the water.
He didn't see the small smile that crossed Seokjin's face. But Yuna did.
"Everything will be fine, Jin," she said softly. "Just try. Don't lose hope."
Seokjin nodded. "I have fifteen days."
"Fifteen days is plenty," Yuna said confidently. "Trust me. In seven days, he'll be saying, 'Jin, I love you, take me back with you.'"
Seokjin blushed. His ears went pink. "He—he calls me hyung, actually. Not Jin. He always called me hyung."
"Awww," Yuna cooed. "Then he'll say, 'Hyung, hyung, please take me back!'"
Seokjin giggled. A real giggle. Wet and sniffly but real.
Taehyung, still facing the water, rolled his eyes so hard he saw his own brain.
Unbelievable.
"But," Seokjin's face fell, "I don't know how to... make him want me back."
"I have an idea," Yuna said, leaning in conspiratorially. "When you go back, you show him that you're happy. That you're doing great without him."
Seokjin frowned. "Why would he come back to me if I'm happy without him?"
"It's called reverse magic," Yuna said. "You make him jealous. You make him realize what he lost."
“What…magic?”
"In fact," Yuna continued, warming up, "you tell him you're dating someone. You're already with someone. And then you introduce that someone as your boyfriend. And you go on couple dates. Right in front of him."
Seokjin's eyes lit up. "Would that... work?"
"DEFINITELY."
“Rubbish” Taehyung murmured, still facing them back,
"But I don't have a boyfriend."
"Of course you don't. You need someone to pretend."
"I don't have anyone who would—"
"Don't you have friends back home?"
"I have one. My best friend. But we haven't talked in—"
"Perfect. Ask him."
"He won't do it."
"Why not?"
"Because he's Jungkook's older brother."
Yuna's facepalmed. "Do you have other than him?"
"I have Hoseok. But he's closer to Jungkook now. I definitely cannot ask him."
Yuna sighed. "Anyone from here? It'll look even more convincing if you bring someone from New York."
Seokjin looked around. At the water. At the sky. At Yuna.
Then at Taehyung.
Then back at Yuna.
“I only have you two here”
And silence.
The silence stretched for three seconds too long.
Then, in painfully slow motion, Taehyung turned toward them as if a movie soundtrack had started playing in the background.
They were staring at him.
He looked at Yuna then looked at Seokjin.
Looked behind him to check if there was another behind him in case...
There wasn’t.
“…No.” He blurted.
Another silence.
Taehyung's eyes narrowed. “No because why are you both looking at me?”
"Tae—"
"ABSOLUTELY NOT."
"I didn't even—"
"I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SAY AND THE ANSWER IS NO."
Yuna furrowed his brows now. A terrible, wonderful, chaotic look. "Taehyung, didn’t you hear, he has only us."
"THEN YOU GO."
"I would LOVE to," Yuna said sweetly. "But I'm a girl, Taehyung. We need a boyfriend. Not a girlfriend."
"THEN PRETEND TO BE A MAN."
"WITH THESE?" Yuna gestured to her chest. "Tae, these are not hideable. These are statement pieces."
Taehyung made a gagging noise. "I am NOT talking about your—your—"
"Boobs, Taehyung. They're called boobs. Try to respect them."
"OH MY GOD."
"Stop fighting," Seokjin sighed, dropping his head into his hands. "Please. Just—for once. Please."
They stopped. Guilty looks on both faces.
Seokjin turned to Taehyung. "One time. I will ask only once. Will you come with me? As my—" He swallowed. "As my boyfriend?"
Taehyung's heart stopped.
Then it restarted. Too fast. Too loud.
It almost felt like confession… a real proposal.
Seokjin was looking at him. Those red-rimmed eyes. That trembling bottom lip. That stupid, beautiful, hopeful face.
Say no, Taehyung told himself. Say no. Protect yourself. Protect him. This is insane. There is no point doing that.
"No," Taehyung said.
Seokjin's face fell. Just a little. Just enough to break something inside Taehyung.
"Okay," Seokjin said quietly. "It's okay. I'll figure something out. I’ll leave tomorrow."
He turned away. Walked toward the edge of the pier. Stood alone. Small against the sky.
Yuna looked at Taehyung. Not with anger. With disappointment.
"Really?" she said softly.
Taehyung said nothing.
---
The glass doors slid open and shut. Open and shut. Travelers flowed around them like water around stones.
Yuna stood in front of Seokjin. Both hands on his cheeks. Gently. Like he was something precious.
Because he was…
"Everything will be fine," she said. "Whatever happens will be what's best for you. I believe that."
Seokjin nodded. Swallowed. "I'll miss you."
"I'll be here. Waiting for you”. She squeezed his shoulder. “And I fully expect you to come back holding the love of your life’s hand.”
Seokjin let out a quiet breath and shook his head.
“I’m not so sure.”
“Hey.” Yuna gave his shoulder two firm pats. “Cheer up. You’re already flying across the country to break up a wedding. At least make it worth the airfare.”
Seokjin stared at her for a second before a laugh escaped him.
Yuna pointed at him.
“But if he says no— act dignified.”
Seokjin narrowed his eyes.
Yuna continued—
“Cry in private. Then come back and we’ll blame him together.”
Seokjin laughed properly this time, “Thanks.” He looked at her for a moment. Softer. “You’re my best friend.”
Her expression softened too.
“I know.”
They hugged. Tight. Long.
Seokjin pulled back. Looked around. "Where's Tae? Didn’t you tell him I'm leaving?"
Yuna didn’t answer immediately.
The smile on Seokjin’s face softened. Then faded.
Something old and familiar ached inside him, something he never quite knew how to name.
He looked away and gave a small shrug.
“It’s okay.” He smiled lightly. “I’m used to people not showing up.”
Then he added quietly “At least you came.”
"Of course I came, you idiot."
They both turned toward the voice behind them.
Taehyung was standing ten feet away. A duffel bag over one shoulder. His passport in his hand. Looking like he hadn't slept. Looking like he'd spent all night arguing with himself and lost.
"Tae?" Seokjin's voice cracked. "What—"
"I'm coming," Taehyung said flatly. "Someone has to make sure you don't embarrass yourself completely. And since Yuna's boobs are too much of a liability—"
"I HATE YOU," Yuna yelled, but she was grinning.
"You love me," Taehyung said, walking past her to grab Seokjin's sleeve. "Let's go. We're going to miss the flight."
"You have tickets?" Seokjin's eyes were wide. Shocked. Hopeful.
"Ofcourse” He started dragging Seokjin toward security.
"WAIT!" Yuna ran after them. Wrapped her arms around both of them. Squeezed so hard Seokjin wheezed.
"Keep me posted," she whispered. "Every detail. I want texts. Photos. Dramatic voice notes. Everything."
"No way," Taehyung said, but he was almost smiling.
They pulled apart. Yuna stepped back. Eyes glistening.
Seokjin and Taehyung walked through the glass doors. Toward the ticket counter. Toward Korea. Toward Jungkook. Toward the messiest, stupidest, most hopeful adventure of their lives.
Yuna watched them disappear.
Then she pulled out her phone and took a snap of herself showing airport behind and posted with caption:
The disaster boyfriends have left the building. May God have mercy on us all. 🫶
Taehyung's phone buzzed in his pocket.
He ignored it.
He looked at Seokjin instead. At the way the morning light hit his face. At the way his shoulders had relaxed, just a little, knowing he wasn't alone.
This is going to hurt, Taehyung thought.
But at least, its better hurting next to him.