The Lovers (Taekook)
The Lovers¹
"𝐽𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝑖 𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑔𝑜, 𝑑𝑜𝑒𝑠𝑛'𝑡 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑛 𝑖 𝑤𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜𝑜"
Jeon Jungkook
Oh gosh, is that the time? Sorry, I have to go
Jeon Jungkook
*mumbling evasively, as he stood up and reached for his bag*
He glared with uncertainty. He hadn't heard Jungkook say it was over.
But Jungkook had called him - his boyfriend of three years - to come out for a serious conversation.
And now he had suddenly announced he was going to work in America.
He was to leave immediately - in a few hours.
Even without hearing those words, Taehyung knew not that the serious conversation was about breaking up. He knew now it was a mistake to have thought - to have hoped - that the serious conversation might have included 'will you marry me ?' for example.
Jeon Jungkook
What? *responded dryly*
He didn't make eye contact with Taehyung.
Kim Taehyung
Don't I deserve an explanation?
He spoke using an interrogative tone that Jungkook particularly disliked.
They were in a windowless basement café. The lighting was provided by just six shaded lamps hanging from the ceiling and a single wall lamp near the entrance. A permanent sepia hue stained the café interior. Without a clock, there was no way to tell night and day.
There were three large antique wall clocks in the cafe. The arms of each, however, showed different times. Was this intentional? Or were they broken? Customers on their first visit never understood why they were like this. Their only option was to check their watches.
𝒜𝓊𝓉𝒽ℴ𝓇 𝓋𝒾𝓃𝓃
Together in the journey of "The Lovers".
The Lovers²
Jungkook did likewise. While looking at the time on his watch, he started rubbing his fingers above his right eyebrow while his lower lip begun to protrude slightly.
Taehyung found that expression particularly exasperating.
Kim Taehyung
And why are you looking like that? Like I'm the one being a pain. *blurted out*
Jeon Jungkook
I'm not thinking that *replied sheepishly*
With bottom lip again protruding, Jungkook evaded his stare and offered no reply.
His passive behavior was infuriating Taehyung more and more. He scowled.
Kim Taehyung
You want it to be me who says it?
He reached for his coffee, from which all heat had now gone. With the sweetest part of the experience lost, it sent his mood plummeting further.
Jungkook looked at his watch again and counted back from the boarding time. He had to leave the café very soon. Unable to compose himself any better, his fingers had found their way back to his eyebrow.
The sight of Jungkook so obviously hung up about the time annoyed Taehyung. He recklessly plunked the cup down on the table. It came down hard on the saucer. Clang!
The loud noise startled Jungkook. His fingers, which had been busy caressing his right eyebrow, Began to pull at his hair. But then, after taking a short deep breath, he sat back down and looked Taehyung in the face. All of a sudden, his face was calm
In fact, the man's face had so clearly changed that Taehyung was quite taken aback, he looked down and stared at his hands clenched on her lap.
Jeon Jungkook
Now, look... *he started*
No longer muttering, he sounded collected and together. But as if Taehyung was actively trying to stop short his next words.
Kim Taehyung
Why don't you just go? *he didn't look up*
He who wanted an explanation now refused to hear it. Jungkook sat motionless as if time itself had stopped.
Kim Taehyung
It's time for you to go, isn't it? *said as petulantly as a child*
Jungkook looked at him perplexed, as if he didn't understand what Tae meant.
As if Taehyung was aware of how childish and unpleasant he sounded, he uncomfortably averted his eyes from the man and bite his lip.
Jungkook rose from his seat, and spoke to the waiter standing behind the counter.
Jeon Jungkook
Excuse me, I'd like to pay.
He tried to grab the bill, but Taehyung's hand was pressing down on it.
Kim Taehyung
"I'm going to stay a bit longer... So I'll pay."
Was what he meant to say, but Jungkook pulled out the bill from under his hand with ease and was walking to the cash register.
Jeon Jungkook
Together, thanks.
Kim Taehyung
Oh, I said leave it
Not moving from his chair, he reached out his hand to Jungkook.
But Jungkook refused to look at him. He pulled out the money from his wallet.
Jeon Jungkook
Keep the change.
He said as he handed the waiter the money together with the bill.
He turned his face filled with sadness to Taehyung for a split second, as he picked up his bag and left the cafe.
The Lovers³
Kim Taehyung
...and that happened one week ago
His upper body flopped into a heap on the table like a deflating balloon. As he collapsed, he somehow avoided spilling the coffee cup in front of him.
The waiter and the customer seated at the counter who had been listening to Taehyung's story looked at each other.
Before Taehyung had finished senior high school, he had already mastered six languages. After graduating top of his class from Yonsei University, he joined a major medical related IT firm in Seoul.
By his second year in the firm, he was already directing numerous projects. He was the epitome of the smart, career-driven man.
Today, Taehyung dressed in ordinary business attire. Judging by his appearance, he was on his way from work.
Taehyung's looks were better than ordinary, blessed with well-defined features.
In the past, Taehyung hadn't been one to dwell on such things-he had lived only for his work. Of course, this didn't mean he never had relationships. It's just that they never had the same allure for him as work.
Kim Taehyung
'My work is my love'
He had turned down approaches from many men and women as though flicking away specks of dust.
The man he'd been talking about to others was Jeon Jungkook.
Jungkook was a systems engineer, and like Taehyung, he was employed by a medical company, though it wasn't a major one.
Jungkook was his boyfriend - three years his junior.
They had met two years ago via a client for which they were both doing a project.
One week ago, Jungkook had asked Taehyung to meet for a "serious conversation".
Taehyung had arrived at the meeting place in an elegant outfit, having attention of the people he had passed on the way there. It was new look for Taehyung. He was such a workaholic that, before his relationship with Jungkook, he had owned no other clothes but suits. Suits were what he had worn on dates with Jungkook as well-after all, they mostly met after work.
Jungkook had said serious conversation, and Taehyung had interpreted this as meaning that the conservation was going to be special. So, filled with expectation, he had bought an outfit especially.
They arrived at their chosen café to find a sign on the window saying it was closed due to unforeseen circumstances.
Taehyung and Jungkook were disappointed.
The café would have been an ideal place for a serious conversation as each table was in a private booth.
Left with no choice but to find another suitable place, they noticed a small sign down a quiet aide street. As it was a basement café, they had no way of knowing what it was like inside, but Taehyung was attracted by its name, and they agreed to go in.
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