Chapter Thirty-Three

[a.n. unedited]

"This is too much," Taehyung whispers weeks later, gawking with his mouth open. He stares at his reflection in Namjoon's tall mirror, fidgeting with his tie. "Jungkook won't tell me how much he spent on this, t-this, this gotta be over budget."

Taehyung stands in a classic tux, fitted pants with a white shirt tucked in. Tie a narrow black, boosted with a traditional knot, it clips below the shirt's fourth button. Like silk, the man feels as if he wears air. Turning on a side with fingers squared around the collars of his coat, Taehyung checks out the expensive get-up once more, in awe. "I look like some prince," he says, chuckling to himself.

Yoongi smiles, eyes scrolling through his phone. He remains plopped on his bed, glancing at Namjoon ruffling through the rest of the package Jungkook sent in. "Speaking about princes," Yoongi mumbles, pointing his toe to a missed portion, "Looks like Jungkook bought you a customized handkerchief."

Namjoon stares away from his younger brother smiling into the mirror, and over to the small plastic hiding under the brown wrapping torn into. He lifts the fabric and laughs without opening it. There is amusement in both, Yoongi and Namjoon's face now.

"What is it?" Taehyung visibly gulps, catching the smaller package into his chest when his brother throws it.

"See for yourself," Namjoon grins, sitting by Yoongi's feet which kick his side in play.

Taehyung catches a glimpse of the patterns just from the wrapping. He closes his eyes, hears the two laughs in the room, and finds humour in his own dismay. Shaking his head, the boy rips open the plastic and finds a folded handkerchief. Custom made, a lime green with Princess Tiana's face plastered all over. "There is no fucking way I'm wearing this," he says, tossing it back to Namjoon who fails to catch it.

The older ones glance at each other, dismiss their laughs, and nod. "We should have something for you," Yoongi says, to which Namjoon gets up and walks for the bedroom door, "We used to go to many of these."

Taehyung nods, smiling at Namjoon's reassuring pat to his back before glancing at Yoongi who finds refuge in his phone again. "Why don't you guys join us?" Taehyung asks. The man lying sighs, "Wish we could but we've got another gig coming up and I need to get my shit together."

"Have fun for the both of us," Namjoon chuckles, entering in with a white fabric twirled around his palm. "...and besides, it ain't gonna be about us boys anymore, all of you got dates now and I'm sure Yoongi wouldn't wanna be stuck slow dancing with me so..."

Taehyung hears both light-hearted faces laugh, standing before one with a gentle smile. He watches Namjoon fold and fit the fabric into his chest's pocket, patting over Taehyung's coat.

The man looks like a boy next to his older brother. They both match proud smiles that cannot be hidden. "Go have a blast today," Namjoon whispers, "Don't overthink things, especially when it comes to dancing with her."

Taehyung nods. "I uh, yeah. I know it shouldn't be hard to be near her now...but I can't help but still get nervous."

"Fake it 'til you make it my brother," Namjoon grabs Taehyung's shoulders, shaking and gripping. "The more confidence you play around with, the better chances for it to become a forever reflex." Taehyung shakes his head as if he understands. "Sure, yeah, I'll keep that in mind," he says.

Yoongi's voice chirps, "You going to be coming back tonight or staying at her place?"

Namjoon smirks, an eyebrow cocked. "That's a good question."

Taehyung fidgets with his coat, turns back to the mirror and stares at the two through it. "I'll uh, I'll let you know later on tonight."

"Oooooooo, he expecting shit." Yoongi claps his hands with his phone between his palms.

Taehyung's eyes widen. "N-No, no I'm not expecting anything."

"Nah, it ain't like that," Namjoon hits Yoongi's toe with his hands. "My brother here is a gentleman."

Yoongi scoffs. "Gentlemen get horny too."

"Oh, fuck off." Namjoon laughs.

"I'm just saying, he hasn't even seen her in her dress yet. Who knows where his head'll go."

"She's not ready," Taehyung says, "I'm not about to pressure her for sex."

Namjoon's brows furrow. "She a virgin?"

Yoongi shuts his phone, eyes wide and protesting into Taehyung's back. "She a whaaaaat?"

"Yes, she's a virgin," Taehyung shrugs. "Why're you two acting like that's an issue?"

Namjoon and Yoongi correct themselves. "No, I was just curious," the older brother says, while Yoongi rambles, "I was just shocked. Considering Ella and you moved fast, this seems like a change...having to wait."

Taehyung turns to face them. Hair parted for his forehead to shadow an exposure, the boy says, "It's different with her, she isn't Ella and I know that."

Namjoon nods out of his thoughts, smiling larger. "I'm proud of you."

Taehyung tilts his chin in response, meeting his brother's smile.

[1 hour later]

"What are best friends for?" Jimin chuckles, patting Taehyung's back in hopes for a smile.

Taehyung does smile. "Seriously," he breathes, "I completely forgot to get her something 'cause I haven't been thinkin' straight. Thanks." His eyes trail over the bouquet of flowers in his sweaty palms.

Jimin picks at the roses in his, measuring the size difference between his enormous bouquet and Taehyung's now small scattered mix of scents. With a side-smirk, the man says, "I guess it's tiny next to the ones I'm presenting, I'm sorry about that. Picking your arrangement was last minute."

"Better than nothing." Taehyung laughs, following Jimin into the elevator which closes them in.

Silence takes force when both men have their noses glued to the purity in their grasps. Jimin's smile reflects the softness that enters the beginning of his new relationship with the woman of his dreams, while Taehyung's grin coos for attention of a strong tie soon to be. He sees how his friend lights up when thinking about Pela and hopes to get out of nerves, so he can feel the same soon. Taehyung's smile can be brighter; it'll take time. The man looks forward to that time.

"It's been a crazy couple of months, huh?" Jimin's eyes twinkle over to the elevator's ceiling. He spots the numbers counting to the higher floors, holding his breath.

"You know those moments in life...?" Taehyung's voice is warm as the dings from elevators buttons distract him. "Those points where a lot changes in your life in a matter of what? Two, three, maybe four months? Sometimes most change comes from two, three, maybe four days...yeah, this has been one of those moments I think I'll remember for the rest of my life."

"To think last year, you and Ella...Namjoon and you barely even caught eyes and now—"

"I felt like things would never change. My life had always been that way," The man's chest heaves in a sigh while shuffling his hands into pockets. "You know? Feeling stuck...still. After Ella and everything wrong I did, I felt like the slowest possible human being when it came to be fulfilling some bullshit potential."

Jimin smirks, mocking Taehyung. "Mind your language." There's an eye roll in return, following chuckles between both bodies in the small space.

Taehyung points to Jimin as their floor nears. The elevator moves in a weightless bump below their dress shoes, causing both to step out when the doors squared open. "I mean, look at you. I'm not the only one who's living an entirely different life right now."

Jimin grins, making fun of those words and the reality they carry. His hand moves over his unbuttoned collar, smoothing out the material of his black dress shirt, black coat, and black pants. A lean man with shoulders alerted, his heart parts to the side, exposing peeks to his forehead that glistens from moisture and oil. Jimin's lips pinker and pinker the more he bites down. "I do feel like a changed man," he says, winking.

Taehyung nods, checking out his outfit and mirroring it to his. He smiles at the expense they radiate. To think, all this luxury masked for a simple university dance. They look to be out making millions instead.

Shoes make thuds when walking in the hallway. The drive their chest forward, holding the bouquets higher the closer they reach the apartment door waiting for their arrival.

"I heard from a little birdie that you met with Oki."

Taehyung brings his flowers down, blinking in attempts to follow his nerves away from what the night ahead meant, and revisit back to days before, where he met his old best friend. He nods, holds his jaw captive, and says, "Yes. Jungkook told you right."

Jimin smiles until his eyes vanish in lines. "How'd you know it was Jungkook?"

"Who else would snoop around my personal life then go around telling people?"

"Hey," Jimin defends, "He only does that when he worries."

Taehyung chuckles. "I know, I love him for it."

"Don't let him you on that," Jimin joins the laughter. "The minute he hears 'love' he'll curl up in your lap and start calling you Father. Ended as a pain in the butt for me." As the man shudders, Taehyung's smile falters slow in reminder of the topic. The topic of Oki.

"I talked to him about wanting to date his ex-girlfriend."

"Wow." Jimin snorts. It's an unintentionally, SURPRISE! type of noise that even he doesn't expect. His eyes widen, and he apologizes.

"Was rocky and awkward," Taehyung breathes, "Not gonna lie."

"He was barely a boyfriend to her...you don't feel some sort of regret, do you?"

Taehyung shakes his head. "Not at all. Oki ruined his chances on his own. It isn't that."

"Then what is it?"

"I don't know," the man licks his lips, "I just, I guess I missed him as a friend...plus, I'm making right with everyone in my life so added him on to get some closure."

Jimin nods, his feet slow along with his face. "Are you two okay now?" There's caution and distrust in the man's voice and Taehyung relives the tensions between the man beside him and Oki. He understands the distance that suddenly propels as a shield, blocking away Jimin's envy.

"Not exactly. We did have a long talk however. I need to work on myself and he needs to do the same for himself. If we're both on the same page in the future, we might get together for a drink some time." Taehyung squares his torso before the door, hiding behind Jimin's body that stands by the knob.

"I see." Jimin relaxes.

Taehyung nods, smiling at his friend's shoulder slouched. "You worrying about me replacing you?"

"No," Jimin says too quick, "I was just worried about Oki. What troubles could he possibly have?" Bitterness.

Taehyung crinkles his nose, tries not to laugh, and squeezes Jimin's arm. "Play nice! He's finally found the courage to search for his mother. He thinks he's found her and plans on working up a confrontation. Not that it's a justification for his cheating spree—but I understand why he did what he did. He was having a breakdown and like me, didn't talk to anyone about it. We were both impulsive and selfish. I see why we fit as friend's in such bottom-points in our lives. We worked then...but not now."

He repeats, "I see." Jimin's face falls in pain.

Truthfully, Taehyung whispers a last bit, "But Jin, Jungkook, Hobi, Yoongi, my brother...you...you've all worked then and still do now. I accept that you guys make me happy and no longer want to neglect that."

"I'm a taken man, quit the flirtin'," Jimin teases right away. Taehyung rolls his eyes at the soft moment ruined, laughing when Jimin snorts a repeating snort. "All lovey-dovey and shit, how cute."

"Yeah, yeah," Taehyung nudges his head to the door, "Let's do this."

Jimin rings the doorbell. They both wait. Taehyung rings the doorbell. They wait some more.

Heels clink for a run. A singing, "Coming!" enters theirs ears in muffled patterns before the door before them is yanked open. Standing, is a gorgeous figure in familiar red. Her hair out and dancing in tight ringlets at her shoulders, the woman's hair sings alive along with her murky lips shaded in nude brown. Her skin glows, shoulders sweet in awe, and allure making Jimin flustered.

"H-Hi," Jimin blinks. He's seen her, he's seen the dress, and yet his mouth opens for flies.

Pela sways for the roses Jimin holds, dropping her nose into the bundle. As she sniffs, admires, and moves to thank her boyfriend, Jimin catches Taehyung's eyes that are struck in awe himself. The man beside him catches flies too.

Distracted, the two kiss, whisper over at each other and Pela blinks to Taehyung, acknowledging him sweetly. "Hey playboy," he hugs him, "You'll find your queen in her room."

Taehyung smiles kind, blinking out of the initial shock of seeing a beautiful woman and watching Jimin glare playfully. He nods, speaks a greeting for Pela, and moves with sweatier hands down the hallway.

Music hums. He catches the melody but fails the notice the lyrics.

It's a soft and mellow and works his muscles to relax the closer he gets to the closed door. He knocks, humming the tone in his head with eyes shut. Body rocks for a sway already, fingers clutching the white wrapper nicely decorating the bow that holds the stems for your flowers. Your flowers. Taehyung looks at the bouquet, sniffs, melts into the music and envisions patterns of colours to the music.

He's got it. "Get You" by Daniel Caesar blurts as a fact in his brain while you turn the knob from the opposite side, visiting his eyes that look up from ducking.

Your eyes.
Your eyes.
That dress.
Your eyes.
Shit.

It's hard for Taehyung to tear away attention and speak. When he opens his mouth, he falls for a wide smack. Not lost, not misguided—the man runs captive, tortured, and freed all in the sight of your eyes in a span of two breathing seconds.

It isn't until your flushing face whispers, "Oh hey," when noticing the colour on your lips and makeup. Taehyung swallows hard. Say hi back, say hi back. Quit acting like you've never seen her before! You've been cuddling, kissing, laughing, crying, and getting all deep for the past few days with this woman! SAY HI YOU IDIOT. Taehyung's lips twitch, mouth still open.

You blink, smiling with your perfect lips on your perfect lips with your even perfect eyes. Taehyung swallows harder when you point at his chest, whispering, "You look amazing," then reaching for the bouquet he clutches, asking, "Are those for me?"

Taehyung thinks he nods. Whether or not his body obeys the actions he drives, he's sure his hand moves to hand over the flowers when you giggle, see his behaviour clear as day, and find strength to hide your shyness in for a sniff of your own.

Up to meet his eyes, you no longer duck when walking back to your bedroom's mirror. Everything to get you ready in this beautiful gown perks interest in Taehyung who looks at the mirror, looks at the flowers, looks at your lipstick missing its lid on the counter, and looks back to your shoulders, head, face, eyes, body, eyes eyes eyes eyes.

"You okay?" You whisper, pulling at his cufflinks, wanting to hold his hand that hides in the pocket of his pants.

When Taehyung loosens, his fingers move out and allow yours to lace with his. He's thankful that you don't mention the sweat that collects on him, squeezing his hand tight and tugging his body until he shuffles in awe close to you.

"Y-Yeah." OH? I CAN TALK? WHAT A SURPRISE!

It's as if you hear Taehyung's inner battle and further taunt it. You ask, "Do I look alright? The makeup on the eyes isn't too much, is it?"

His next gulp hurts. He shakes his head when your hand that once held his hand, now smooths down his tie. Sneaking under his coat and feeling the muscles of his chest, Taehyung glances to your soft touches before meeting patient gazes. "You look beautiful," he breathes, easier to speak once soothed.

The fact that you know how to handle his nervous state makes him love you even more.

"I totally fished for that one, but thank you," You giggle.

So close to his face, he hits his nose by yours, holds your hip, and guides weight off your heels and on his chest the protrudes for your cushion. The link of both foreheads causes a momentary exhaustion of breath, holding back and allowing the other to explore hands over material.

A little courage rings in Taehyung's actions when his hands rub the material of the dress, pressing into your waist, hips, and wiggling around your spine. His fingers dance at the back of your neck, leaning to kiss your exposed shoulder, collar bone, and up to your ear. "You can't fish for fish you've already caught," he whispers, "You look phenomenal. I got caught up in surprise, that's all."

"What's so surprising about my look?"

"Hm?" Taehyung smiles, leaning back to look at you.

You hug his waist, trapping him from going too far. "What is it about me that caught your tongue just now?"

"Besides how sexy your body is to me?"

Now you're speechless.

Taehyung smirks. "Your eyes. Everything about them make my day."

"You mention my eyes a lot."

"Your eyes deserve the attention."

"Hm."

"Hm." Taehyung smiles. "They had my attention to first time you met me. Remember? That ruthless and uncalled for slap?"

"How romantic we are."

"Very," he says. Now you smile.

"You look like a prince." Your fingers curl around his tie.

"Jungkook's to thank for that."

You shake your head. "Your face is to thank for that."

Taehyung smiles large, laughing in breaths on your cheek. "What a cheesy flirt you are."

"I warned you about it already."

"I remember." The man stalls into memories of all times he got this close to you. The good, the bad.

"Do you remember how my kisses feel?"

Taehyung blinks. "This suddenly took a quick turn."

You smile close to his lips, tugging the knot on his tie to have him obey your gesture. When Taehyung's lips lay over your painted ones, he comments on not wanting to ruin your makeup, pulling away.

Whining when his hips wiggle out from your clawing fingers, the man kisses your forehead, your cheeks, then plants a deep and longing kiss on your pouting mouth. Mouth open, his tongue beats yours down, the surprise you face is in a hiccup that you spit. Knees melt. He holds you up from falling against or away from him, pounding a thirst in you. Taehyung makes you remember his kiss's feel, surfacing a memory of yours in return.

When he's down making you a horny fool, the man pokes his head back, puts his tongue back into his own mouth, and wipes around your lips that swell. "Definitely didn't remember it being like this two days ago," he remarks, being a smart-ass as he reaches for your lipstick and re-touches it. As if you're paint on a new canvas he strokes.

You breathe in his face, heavy and sweet and wanting to pull him close again. Taehyung has none of it, finding the cap of your lipstick, he purses his lips and moves his jaw from side-to-side, telling you to do the same. Finding your giggles reach your heated stance again, the cutest he radiates distracts you from wanting him naked on your bed as you follow his instructions. Side-to-side, then a pop, you pucker your lips and ask about the colour. He compliments you, kissing your lips light, and goes to fidget with the rest of your items like a child.

"We've got a lot to talk about," he says later, seeing you re-touch makeup he ruined earlier. "Ella, Oki, Namjoon...you know the surface about the bad in my life but not what I did to cause it all."

"Tonight," you say, nodding to the responsibilities that wait for this new relationship. A bond that already makes your heart spring out of your chest. "For now, let's meet our friends out there and head to this dance."

"I'd want to talk about it now. If you hear what I have to say and don't like it, you don't owe me anything. You can back out from being my date."

Your brows furrow. "Back out...? Is this why you've been a nervous wreck lately?"

He nods puppy-like.

You sigh.

"I need to tell you everything."

"And I'll hear it all. No regrets, no judgment and no assumptions. For right now, all I want is to dance with a man I love. Nothing about your past will change my perspective of you Taehyung. Not now."

Taehyung stares.

The mood lightens. "Unless you killed someone or engaged in some next-level conspiracy. Then I'm out and you'll be alone."

You make him laugh.

"What you say?" Your head tilts. "Let's leave our anxieties in this room, go have a crazy night of fun, then come back later for the adult conversations?"

Heels pierce the silence in the air, moving for a travel to the door. An exit.

He thinks of his tormenting mind and thoughts. He thinks of his professor in glasses with a note pad that swirls around with problems. He thinks about his breakdowns, he thinks about his shakes. He thinks about the attacks that were subtle, unrecognizable and filled in rage emotion weakness and powerlessness for splits of seconds. Taehyung thinks about his comfort place: water, and when he can't find any around, he looks back at your eyes that wait for him.

Taehyung smiles in a difficulty that becomes natural, following your tail. As you stop by your door and open it, he stares at your hand that calls for his.

"How about we finally dance together?"

"Will it include booty-tricks?" He jokes, remembering the first-time he asked for a dance.

You wink, seeing the same moment in your mind. "Of course."

"I call as many slow dances too. If we're about to be sappy, I want to hold you for most of this dance, so don't you dare go lookin' for Jungkook."

You laugh. "I won't be stupid tonight."

"We're still young," Taehyung whispers, smiling with his famous charming aura. "We're allowed to be a little stupid tonight."

As you demand a sonnet to blurt away from his lips, he delivers his own, whispering to your ear and hovering his weight against the bones of your back. Making you shiver. "I love you," he ends it.

Taehyung holds your hand, allowing you to drag him past the threshold in a hurry.