Chapter Text
It was a nice day in Paris.
The sun was up in the sky and birds were singing on the top of the roof of the hotel while Jeongguk was opening the long white curtains of the hotel’s room that he was sharing with his best friend, Jimin.
The two had decided to have a small vacation for themselves just to relax a bit and take a break after the full and intense exams session that they had with the university.
He breathed hummed happily while opening the window just to enjoy the warmth of the sun on his face. There were no clouds, and the sky was tinted with a light blue tone.
«Jimin, my sunshine, the most amazing best friend in the entire world—» he sang softly, smiling like that was the happiest day of his life. Well, he didn’t know yet, but it was definitely going to be the best one in a few hours.
«W-what?» Jimin mumbled «What time is it Ggukkie?»
«It’s 7:45 am and it is a beautiful day out there!» he said with much enthusiasm in his voice, pointing at the window with his right hand.
«’s too early Ggukkie!» he pouted with his soft and plump lips.
Jimin was stunning, one of the most beautiful guys Jeongguk has ever seen in his entire life. He was a medium height guy, with brown round eyes, a very cute nose and two pink, soft and plump lips for which he had a lot of people interested in, but his heart was fully, completely, totally stolen by his boyfriend Yoongi, which also was his chemistry professor – but they were dealing with it very well.
«C’mon, mon amour! We have a lot of things to do, so many places to visit today! You can’t stay all day in bed!» Jeongguk smiled while removing the blue blanket from his best friend body and throwing it on the floor.
«I should’ve come with Yoongi. It would have been less stressful.»
«Oh, yeah sure, I bet – your horny ass but your boyfriend is really busy marking other students exams sooo.» he said joking «Okay, since you don’t want to come with me, I’ll look by myself for the best macaron’s place here!» he announced, sure he will convince the elder very easily.
Jimin was lazy, lazy as hell. Especially if he had to wake up early in the morning, and even more during holidays. This was one of the reasons why he got along easily with Yoongi, excluding the fact that they were meant to be together.
Jimin rolled his eyes and slapped his hands on the bed «You asshole better be ready in five minutes if you really want me to come with you so early!» and in five minutes they we’re ready and standing in front of the elevator. Jimin was wearing a black t-shirt with long sleeves and white stripes. His long blonde hair was tied up in a bun and his muscled thighs was hugged by a dark grey pair of jeans.
«So, first place Guk?» he asked looking at Jeongguk through the mirror in the elevator.
«Mmh.» the younger took out his phone from the pocket, he opened Jimin’s chat on WhatsApp «It seems like the first is the city centre. We can have breakfast there and we can walk around and take some photos! Then we will go to the Champs Elysees, Tour Eiffel and finally the Louvre! that’s all for today!»
«Sounds great but what about my macaron’s?» he asked worried with a sad expression on his lips.
«Those will be our breakfast—»
«—and lunch and dinner too.» he added making Jeongguk laugh at the sight of his eyes lightened up when he saw his best friend nodding at his request.
The morning went really fast. They visited the city centre where they discovered a cute small and fancy place where they had breakfast with croissant and iced coffee for Jeongguk and three different tastes of macaron’s for Jimin – strawberry, pistachio, and vanilla, with an iced peach tea. He loved the vanilla ones more than the others, but he decided he will try them later again just to be sure which one was the best.
«You really love those weird biscuits!» Jeongguk said seeing how much Jimin was enjoying his breakfast «Are you sure you can survive till lunch with only three biscuits?!»
Jimin raised his thumb with a happy smile on his face, so Jeongguk stopped worrying about him.
They knew each other since high school because they were together in the same class. Jimin was a genius in all the scientific subjects, so he helped Jungkook a lot with those, and the younger returned the favour with the humanistic ones. Jungkook was one year and half younger than him, but he went to school earlier because he was born in the first three months of the year, this is why he and Jimin were in the same class.
They become friends quickly. Jeongguk was a sociable and friendly person, Jimin was really shy but during their first day of lessons, the younger chose the sit next to him and they ended up sharing the desk together for the rest of their first year and all the others until they graduated. They chose two different universities: Jimin was studying chemistry and molecular physics and Jeongguk chose painting as a faculty. They kept going out together during the weekends, because they often had to study for the exams during the week and since Jeongguk used to go to gym three times a week and Jimin had a boyfriend who kept him busy most of the days, they decided to go on holiday together, just to remember how it was to spend more than five hours together.
After breakfast they visited Notre Dame, which was a dream for Jeongguk. They stayed inside for more than one hour because he was obsessed with the architecture.
«OMG, look at this Jimin! I love this style, it’s my favourite! Do you know how hard is to recreate those frescoes in art’s classes? It was one of the most difficult exams I did!»
Jeongguk was amazed by everything inside the church. He continued to jump from one side to the other just because he saw something more striking, and Jimin was barely able to keep up with his pace to see things.
«Jiminie! Come here and look at this! Don’t you find it–» Jeongguk stopped because a small, lovely chuckle had interrupted his observation «What?» he asked surprised.
His best friend shook his head smiling «I love to see you so happy. It really makes my heart full.» he leaned towards Jeongguk to hug him tightly «You really don’t know how I love to see you smiling like this. I was so worried to lose you four years ago… I would have helped you more. You know, when things like that happens, it is really difficult to know what to do and sometimes it is easy to wait for the storm to finish but I am so sorry because I–» Jeongguk waved a finger in front of Jimin’s lips.
«Jimin, don’t say things like this! You don’t have anything to worry about. You were there for me, you helped me a lot, you were the shoulder where I cried most of my tears and I will never be able to thank you enough for never letting me fall in the black hole under my feet. Trust me, Jimin. You are the best best friend in the world.»
They smiled at each other, Jimin hugged Jeongguk a little bit more until they decided to visit the next place.
Jeongguk loved Paris, which was weird because he also loved London, and it was a common say that if you love London, you could not love Paris, because the two are totally different. Well, he was the exception to the rule. He loved the streets, the small shops at the corner, the famous boulangerie where he ate his beloved pain au chocolat; but he loved Paris for the immense quantity of arts which were not only in the museums but also in the streets, building’s architecture, sculptures in the main squares. Every corner in Paris screamed “Piece of Arts”. Indeed, their last stop of the day was the Louvre Museum.
They were in the bus and Jeongguk rested his head on the headboard of his sit. He was exhausted for all the walking they did during the day, and it was only their first one in Paris. Their plane to Korea was booked for Sunday so they still have one more day in the city.
He was ready to say something to Jimin regarding their day together, but he noticed he fell asleep in front of him, too tired from the day and the jet leg.
He took his phone out of his backpack pocket and saw he had one message from his mother and a load of notification from his social media. He answered to his mom and then he checked all the other notifications. The majority of those were “like” to their photos’ trip, friends request and comments.
At the top of his Instagram page, he saw the round icon of a profile with the photo of a man wearing a white suit while he was reading a book. His icon was purple circled, meaning that he posted a story. Jeongguk knew that profile, he knew that guy very well. Well, not in person of course. He was Kim Taehyung, twenty-five years old, Korean born and raised. He was a famous idol, but it was more than that for Jeongguk.
Taehyung helped him a lot with his music, in particular when he was eighteen years old and his parents were divorcing after the tragic death of his younger brother, drowned in a pool after trying to catch a candy which dropped from his hands. The tragic event split Jeongguk’s family in half. His parents couldn’t live together in the same house where the tragedy happened. Jeongguk moved out with his mother, and his father went back to Busan to stay near his grandmother. After two years where Jeongguk checked if his mother was fine, he moved out in a small apartment near his university campus.
Taehyung was really helpful during those years. After his brother’s death, he used to go on YouTube and casually select a sad playlist to cry all his tears out, hoping it would help him a little bit, but that playlist was never going to be good enough and just made him cry and feel worse than ever. He missed his brother a lot, he did not blame himself for his death because it was only a tragic event, but he did blame himself for not teaching him how to swim when they had time in Hawaii, for not helping him with his homework a little more when he asked him to, for not checking him that day when he was outside.
Only three minutes.
It took only three minutes to destroy the life of four people.
So, yes, at the end of everything Jeongguk was blaming himself, always did, but he knew it was not right or at least, he learned it wasn’t right.
Scrolling on YouTube that day, he saw a song from Taehyung. He didn’t know him before that afternoon but as soon as the song started, as soon as he heard his deep voice in his ears, he felt better. It was like Taehyung was hugging him, listening to all his crying, caressing his head, whispering to him everything will be good soon. And he was right. Taehyung was right. Jeongguk listened to him every day, and with him and his music he was able to cope with the pain, to reborn from his own ashes. Taehyung saved his life that day and he would remember it forever.
He clicked on the round icon just to see what Taehyung had posted. There were different photos. Some of them were about Taehyung in front of his private jet, wearing a red coca cola cap, a white shirt and a pair of yellow trousers which made Jeongguk ask himself where he was right now because, for what he had known, he was supposed to be in Korea. There were more photos of him in his plane but the last one made Jeongguk bounce on his sit and yell in excitement and surprise when he realised taehyung was in front of the tour Eiffel, wearing a pair of long black trousers, a white Céline shirt and a long beige coat while posing with two of his fingers on his thin lips.
Taehyung was in Paris.
Jeongguk was in Paris too.
There would be small chances to meet him there somewhere, but Jeongguk wasn’t sure about that because they both lived in Seoul, and he never had the opportunity to casually meet him. He went to one of his concerts in Korea but that was not what Jeongguk expected. He’d love to see Taehyung far from the stage, in his natural environment where he didn’t have to pretend to be someone else or to wear a mask because he has to act in a certain way.
«Are you okay, Gguk?» Jimin asked, waking up from his nap after Jeongguk’s yell.
«You cannot imagine what I saw on IG! Taehyung is in Paris. P A R I S. And where are we now?? In Paris too!!» Jeongguk smiled. He seemed so happy about that and Jimin loved his smile, he loved to see Jeongguk joyful.
The past five years were though. Jeongguk’s brother died, and all his life was destroyed after that. Jimin was always with Jeongguk. Every day and every night for at least one year and half. Jimin didn’t technically move to his best friend house but he lived there for more than 12 months because he needed him. They cried together, Jimin held his hand at the funeral and grabbed his body when he fainted after the ceremony. As soon as some time passed, Jeongguk felt better – in a certain way – the pain was still there but the awareness that he had to smile for his little brother helped him a lot. Jimin was there for his first therapy’s session without Jeongguk even asking for him to stay. He drove him to the psychologist and waited till the end of the session just to make sure Jeongguk was good.
And Jeongguk wasn’t fine the first time. Things improved only after the fifth appointment. He was more joyful, more smiley, more jokes… he was coming back.
Jimin was the first one to move into one of the apartments near the campus and he asked Jeongguk to live together because he saw how painful was for him to be stuck with the past. So, they moved together one year ago. Jeongguk was aware that moving out will be the best choice for him, so it was. He wanted to have a life again. He was able to smile more often and to cope with the feeling of guilt he felt.
«Do you want to meet him?» Jimin asked and Jeongguk look at him with a confused face.
«Are you serious?! You know how much I like him and how much he is important to me! Of course, I want to meet him, but I don’t want to be a stalker so, no I am not gonna check his Instagram account to know where he will be today.» Jimin gave him a weird face while frowning his eyebrows «Okay, weird man! As you wish but don’t scream like a fanboy when you’ll meet him.»
Jeongguk laughed as he saw Jimin’s fake pout on his face. He knows how much he loved Taehyung and he would do anything to make his best friend happy.
Of course, Jeongguk would have loved to meet Taehyung to just thank him for everything he had done unconsciously but Jeongguk was not that type of fan. He would never follow him around because, despite being an idol, Taehyung was a person with a private life, and he deserved to be treated like that.
The bus stopped ten minutes far from the museum, so they enjoyed their short walk talking about everything, especially Jimin’s boyfriend – Yoongi – because the two had a small argument about a stupid ice cream flavour which Yoongi bought in Korea, thinking it was vegan, but it wasn’t. Jimin knew he didn’t do it on purpose, but he was angry with him minimising the fact. Jeongguk shook his head «Stop being a pain in the ass, Jimin!»
«You’re supposed to be on my side, asshole!» he answered waving his hand to the side of his body, stepping in front of Jeongguk before walking again.
«There’s no side Jimin! I’m your best friend and I want you to be happy and, if Yoongi makes you happy, I am more than happy to kick your ass if you act like a jerk.» Jimin punched him playfully as they reached their destination.
Jimin stood in the middle of the big square, astonished by how immense the place looked like «I didn’t imagine it would be like this. I mean, it’s bigger than I thought.»
The Louvre Museum is situated in the most important zone of Paris, on the right bank of the river Seine and it is housed in the Louvre Palace. Jeongguk knew a lot of things about the museum because, as an art student, he was interested in each collection displayed there.
They walked towards the entrance, but Jimin stopped, remembering his friend that they still had to buy the tickets. Jeongguk began to search his wallet in his pocket, back pocket and lastly, his is backpack «Why do I have to be so messy? I’m 25 years old, how can I lose my wallet?!»
Jimin laughed with a hand on his belly because his best friend looked so funny searching for something he couldn’t have since he gave his wallet to Jimin this morning, just to be sure he wouldn’t have lost it.
«Why are you even laughing? Without money we can’t go inside, and I know you don’t care a lot, but I do and–»
Jimin turned around, giving the back to his friend so he wouldn’t see how hard he was laughing. He wiped his tears, still listening to Jeongguk complaining about his loss. The place was chocked-full of people. There were couples taking pictures, families with children queuing at the entrance, group of students excited to visit the museum and local people walking through the square with a cup of coffee. There were so many people that he would be impossible to spot a known face, but Jimin attention was caught by a tall guy, dressed up with a pair of long black trousers, a white Céline shirt and a long beige coat.
Oh, it was Kim Taehyung.
Jungkook’s Kim Taehyung.
«Uhm, Gguk?» Jimin asked shyly and tempting.
«Yep?» his best friend snorted and turned to face him, interrupting the crazy search of his wallet in his rucksack. «What’s that face, huh? And – hey why do you have my wallet? Why didn’t you tell me?? Oh Jimin, I swear to God I will never buy you a stupid tasteless macaron ever!»
«Jeon Jeongguk.» Jimin called him firmly and Jeongguk looked at him with surprise «I was joking, Minnie! C’mon, give me my wallet so—» seeing Jimin looked so serious made him worry because he didn’t want to make his best friend angry or sad.
Jimin looked at him with an undefined gaze. It would be a good idea to tell him that Kim Taehyung was only thirty meters far from him? Jimin wasn’t sure it was, and he didn’t want to get Jeongguk hopes up, but Taehyung was his favourite singer and Jeongguk would have wanted to know that he was there.
«Jeongguk, I’m going to tell you something, but please be quiet. I don’t want to make you scream like a fanboy.» he warned him and Jeongguk raised his eyebrow. A little bit too annoyed by his best friend attitude, like he didn’t even know him.
«I promise I’ll be quiet but please, tell me Jiminie.» his eyes went round and big as he put his hands right in front of his mouth, like he was begging him to talk.
«Okay, so… there’s a guy behind me… I am not sure, okay? I swear to God, Gguk I don’t know if I am right, but I think the guy over there,» he pointed a tall guy wearing a beige coat «It’s Taehyung. Your Kim Taehyung, the one you love, and you know, ok?»
«Yeah I know who you are talking about! I knew it was him since you said “Kim”» which was crazy, thinking that half of the population in Korea had Kim as surname. Jeongguk paused, try to elaborate what his best friend just said to him.
The information started running into his mind like spinning tops.
Kim Taehyung
His favourite idol
Behind Jimin
His eyes flew open as soon as he realised everything. His heart pounded so fast he thought he could have jumped out of his chest. His hands were shaking and covered with cold sweat.
«So, Kim Taehyung is here?» he whispered leaning towards Jimin’s ear as someone could have listened to their conversation. As if whispering it would make it less true.
«I believe so, but I am not sure because I am not one of his fans so… but, well it’s down the—» Jeongguk’s little shrieks made Jimin jump. He tried to calm Jeongguk down, but he couldn’t blame his friend to be so happy.
«YOU WHAT?» he yelled «WHERE? JIMIN WHERE, WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?!» Jeongguk was shocked, his eyes were shiny and huge smile was on his face and Jimin wasn’t even sure the guy he saw was Taehyung. The blonde guy turned around and spotted Taehyung, confirming that he really was him (based on the detailed description Jeongguk gave to him).
«Ehm, Jeongguk?» Jimin asked hesitant.
«What Jimin? What??? Stop with this useless suspense you are already killing me, and no. I’m not gonna look at him. NO.» Jeongguk said, waving his hands weirdly while shaking his head with closed eyes.
«He’s looking at you.»
Jeongguk heart missed some beats. His breath stopped in his throat.
Taehyung was looking at him? Really?
«What?» he asked with the most serious tone Jimin had ever listened in his life.
«Yes!! Ggukkie!! He is looking at you and he’s kind of smiling? Omg I am so happy for you!» Jimin sounded more excited than him, but it was okay because Jeongguk was scared as hell.
«What do you mean by kind of??? Is he smiling or not????» impatiently, Jeongguk kept asking question like his own life was depending on those.
«I don’t know! I think so, I mean it’s weird. He has a boxy smile, but it’s creepy because it’s seeming he has something on his face.»
«Oh my god I’m going to pass away.» Jeongguk said theatrically «His smile is stunning.» he brought one of his hands on his forehead, like he was fainting.
Jimin shook his head in resignation. Jeongguk was hopeless, but really, could he blame him? He was acting just how Jimin acted one year ago with Yoongi.
Yoongi was his chemistry professor and every time he entered his classroom, Jimin texted Jeongguk about how beautiful he was, how cute he looked, how sexy he was with his glasses and with his white scrubs on. And Jeongguk was always there, replying to him and – even if he tried to explain to Jimin all the consequences of having a relationship with a professor – he was always the one pushing Jimin to talk to him, to ask him out for a coffee until Yoongi gave him a ride in a rainy day and they ended up kissing and talking about everything in his car for three hours. Yoongi asked him to meet again and again, until they started to be cheesy as hell.
Jimin remembered all the time Jeongguk told him to speak with his actual boyfriend because life is one and it deserved to be lived.
«You should go and say hi!» Jimin said, excited by the idea of his best friend talking to his idol.
«WHAT? Nonono never. No. Totally no. Nonono.» Jeongguk shook his head so many times he could have lost his balance. He was so stubborn and scared.
«Oh c’mon!» He gently punched his arm «Be a man.»
Jeongguk remained in silence.
«He is your idol, your saviour, the love of your life and shit like that, so why not?»
«No, Jimin this is not gonna happen. He is not smiling at us.» Jeongguk said firmly.
«Yes he is! But you can’t know if you don’t look behind me. So, please, you only live once.»
Taehyung was standing outside the Louvre, waiting to know what to do. This was his third day of vacation. He travelled there because he was invited by a famous clothes brand to have a preview on the next collection. He didn’t announce his vacation to the media, however he posted photos on his Instagram profile, so he was expecting to run in some fans.
His career as an idol started seven years ago when he was only eighteen. It wasn’t easy at the time. He was young, he needed to experience life and he didn’t notice these needs at the beginning but then he started to travel and to enjoy everything that life was bringing to him.
He was enjoying Paris and finally he would have visited the Louvre.
His bodyguards voices were just a slight buzz in his ears because his eyes were focused on two guys not far from him. The two seemed to be talking about him because the blonde one was just staring at Taehyung and second one was shaking his head like he was refusing to believe his friend.
«Mr. Taehyung, do you want to have a normal visit or a VIP one? You could have the entire Louvre just for you if we waited one hour.»
As soon as the blonde guy turned to look at him, he smiled, not sure to wave his hands or not.
After ten minutes of the guys looking at him and him looking at them, Taehyung finally decided to do something.
If they weren’t going to him, he would have.
Taehyung didn’t know why he wanted to talk to them so bad, why he felt so attracted by the second one, but he was feeling a sort of connection with him. Taehyung couldn’t even explain why and what this connection was.
But his intention was cut off by something unexpected.
Taehyung’s heart stopped for a second when he saw the two guys approaching him. The shorter one was grabbing his friend where Taehyung was.
«What are they doing? Just keep them away. It’s a private visit—» said one of the idol’s bodyguards.
«No!» Taehyung said, firmly «It’s okay for me. They are probably just fans so don’t worry about it, please.» the two bodyguards gave him a strange look before a relaxed nodding to his request.
Taehyung looked at the black hair boy and he looked back too, smiling embarrassed because he was probably one of his fans and it was normal to feel like that, but Taehyung was flustered, and he didn’t even know why.
«Hi!» Jimin said, standing in front of Taehyung.
«Hey… What can I do for you?» he replied but his eyes were fixed on the black-haired boy. Jeongguk cheeks went slightly red, and he closed his eyes, embarrassed.
«I am Jimin, and this is my best friend! He is really—» Jeongguk gave a quick punch on Jimin’s stomach, giving him a glance, which screamed “shut up, now.”
Taehyung chuckled and tilted his head to the side, looking at the black long-haired guy in front of him.
He was beautiful. He had this mid-length black hair, a lips piercing, his eyes were black and round, his nose was small with a perfect shape. He was wearing a black jumper with a pair of light blue jeans and a pair of brown timberlands.
«What’s your name, boo?»
Jeongguk shivered at the pet name, and he felt his heart pounded.
«Jeongguk! It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am one of your fans…» he extended his hand and Taehyung hesitated a bit before taking it and squeezing it firmly. Jeongguk was surprised at the strength. His hand was wrapped by Taehyung’s long fingers. He swallowed a knot of saliva in his throat.
«I am Taehyung—»
The brown-haired boy immediately stopped his sentence because of course Jeongguk knew who he was. He died of shame. He chuckled «Well, of course you know who I am.»
They stared at each other for some minutes that felt like an hour. Jeongguk was amazed by Taehyung. He was taller than he remembered, he was even more beautiful than he could even imagine. And Taehyung did the same. He stared at Jeongguk biting his lips and smiling to his friend who felt a little bit too much.
«Are you planning to visit the museum guys?» the idol asked, finally breaking the silence.
«Yes! We were planning to buy the tickets! We can go if you want, Minnie… I think Taehyung is busy.» Jeongguk turned to face Jimin who was smiling in a very funny way, like he had something in his mind.
«Actually,» Taehyung said, catching both their attention «I was planning to go too, but since I am a “special guest” here, I don’t have to buy tickets… I can add you two to my list and we can go together… if it’s okay for you two.» Taehyung was speaking with them but Jimin knew that by “we” he was meaning “Jeongguk”.
He kept starring at him without even caring about Jimin and the blonde guy knew that there was a spark between them. A little, small spark in their eyes, in their handshake, in the way Taehyung blushed when he said his name to Jeongguk, in the way Jeongguk went all shy near him.
«It would be amazing for me. What do you think Jimin?» again, Jeongguk eyes were fixed on Taehyung, avoiding Jimin like he was not even there with them.
Jeongguk couldn’t control it. His body, his mind, everything was attracted to Taehyung, probably because for how much special he was to him.
He saved his life that day.
Yeah, Jeongguk thought that was the main reason.
«I personally think you two can go and enjoying your visit while I stay here calling YoonYoon!»
«Sounds cool to me.» Taehyung said, smiling at Jimin before giving a nod to Jeongguk «Let’s go, Jeongguk.»
«Have fun Ggukkie! Text me when you are outside!»
They entered the museum as soon as Jimin left them, hugging Jeongguk and telling him to enjoy the visit and all the paintings and marble statues even if he knew he would have only admired Taehyung.
As a matter of fact, when they were in the first room, there was a continuous staring at each other, blushing and smiling while watching paintings. He was studying art at university, and he was totally in love with everything he was looking at, including the tall brown hair boy next to him. He was definitely the most beautiful painting in the whole museum.
«It seems like you are enjoying paintings, Jeongguk.» Taehyung said, so close to Jeongguk he could feel the heat coming from his tall body.
«Uhm, yes. Actually, I am studying paintings in Seoul, so yes, I love paintings, and everything related to art. Every kind of art!»
Taehyung smiled, fascinated by how Jeongguk looked confident about his passions «I love art too, but I think you know that. I don’t know what I can tell you since you know many things about me—» he seemed disappointed. Taehyung had always found difficult to meet new people after becoming an idol. It was struggling to find someone who wanted to know him better, to want to go behind the façade that he was one of the most famous idols in the world because it seemed they already knew everything about him.
«Well, if this can reassure you, I am not enjoying a visit in the Louvre with V but with Taehyung and no, I don’t know much about him. I would love to.» Jeongguk said and Taehyung closed his eyes feeling a warm tight on his chest while walking near the next painting. It was a white canvas with a vase of tulips painted on. The flowers were yellow, light blue and red.
«Actually, Kim Taehyung is really similar to V.» he admitted.
«Yes, but I’m fairly sure Taehyung has his own personality which is totally different from V’s. Is your favourite colour still green?» he asked looking at Taehyung.
«Yes, me and V share this!» he chuckled «What about you? Do you have any favourite colour?»
«Purple. I feel like it’s both cold and warm as a colour!» Jeongguk said and Taehyung raised an eyebrow «What? Do you know that purple is classified as a cold colour, right? So, there’s no way it can be a warm tint.»
Jeongguk turned to face him and gave him a frowned glance «I am an artist. I have the right to see things like I want. So, if I see purple as a warm colour, it is warm.» his confidence made Taehyung laugh a little bit too loud because other people looked at him a little upset.
«Maybe you forgot that I am an artist too, Jeongguk and–»
Jeongguk loved how his name sounded on Taehyung’s tongue, how sweet and deep his voice was.
«You are a different kind of artist so just keep working on music and leave art to me!» he said jokily, slightly punching his arms and making Taehyung’s jaw drop at the confidence that Jeongguk showed him.
They were feeling better together. The shyness that there was at beginning was fading. Jeongguk was more casual and breezier, and Taehyung was happy to see him like that; so, he decided to ask him more about his passion because he wanted to know him better and, at the same time, he didn’t want to make him feel uncomfortable. And Taehyung knew how uncomfortable could be talking and visiting a museum with one of the people you admire the most in your life.
They continued to enjoy their visit. They looked at paintings, smiling shyly sometimes and they kept talking about paintings, statues, their favourite piece of arts and all the museums they both visited, finding out they both went to MoMa in New York City but also to the National Gallery in London. They were appreciating each other presence, and everything sounded incredible to Jeongguk.
He was excited.
He was visiting the Louvre with his idol, but Taehyung was more than that. Taehyung saved his life, but he couldn’t tell him. He was not going to be yet another of his fans telling how much he loved him. No, Jeongguk didn’t want to. He wanted to spend his time with Taehyung, knowing him better and – hopefully – the elder would have enjoyed his time with Jeongguk too.
Jeongguk’s jaw dropped when they entered an enormous white room, with two marble stairs in the middle which ended up to a balcony with a huge marble statue.
«Seems you like statues more than paintings!» Taehyung stated, watching Jeongguk walking faster through the stairs, waving his arms like he was in a hurry.
«Oh shit— Taehyung. Have you seen it? This— this is—» Jeongguk eyes were fixated on this tall white body-female statue.
«The Victory of Samothrace. Isn’t it beautiful?» Taehyung followed him with his bodyguards on the back, reaching him and admiring the piece of art with him, close. So close their arms were touching. Taehyung could hear Jeongguk’s heartbeat filling his veins..
«Are you okay? Are you fainting? Do you need water?» one of his hands was resting on Jeongguk’s back because he was worried. Jeongguk seemed to be fully involved in the statue that he totally forgot to answer Taehyung, who then brought his hand on Jeongguk’s.
«Oh, yes sorry Taehyung. I am fine. It’s just my favourite one and— I don’t know. I am totally in love with this work. Do you know that when they found her it was broken in a thousand of small pieces? It’s amazing…»
«I didn’t know that. Thank you for telling me, now it looks to me more enchanting than before. I am always amazed by the fact that someone has the ability to sculpt a human body on a block of marble like it’s play-doh. And look at her clothes. Fuck –» Taehyung rest a hand on his mouth, apologising for the word «I was saying that clothes always look like they’re real. It always seems the statue is wearing fabric dress and not a marble one! I mean, how can marble looks so smooth?»
«I know… it’s incredible… unfortunately I don’t have the ability to sculpt… I would love to, but I wouldn’t even know where to start.» he confessed, eyes still chained to the statue.
«Is it really different? I mean, you know how to draw. Wouldn’t be the same do it on a block of marble?» Taehyung asked, following Jeongguk around the statue.
«Are you serious? I thought you were smarter than this!» Jeongguk said, making Taehyung look at him with his mouth open and a frowned gaze on his face «You asshole.» again, Taehyung put a hand on his mouth and Jeongguk shook his head, chuckling.
«Yeah, genius. It is totally different. Drawing on papers, on canvases, on fabrics, or in digital is completely different because you don’t have to shape something that has already a shape. Does it make sense? With three-dimensional projects you have to mould with a chisel something which will require more attention, there’s also a higher level of making mistakes and definitely, more patience. You have to study how the light will hit the surface. Also, I feel like I would have less control on it, but maybe this is only my perception!»
«Wow. I didn’t understand a single word, but you are the artist so I totally agree with you!» he said, placing his open hands in front of him.
Jeongguk looked at Taehyung and smiled. Amazed by the way they were talking so easily about stuff, like they have known each other forever. And Taehyung felt the same with him. A special connection. He felt it since outside the Louvre when he saw him and Jimin talking. He desired to talk to him, but he didn’t know why, he didn’t know why he was interested in him, why he needed to be with him, why he invited him to the visit.
Jeongguk had something. Taehyung felt something.
The visit was continuing through all the rooms of the Louvre. Jeongguk find out that Taehyung was in love with every kind of painting which included flowers. Indeed, they were walking side to side when Taehyung did something unexpectedly. He grabbed Jeongguk hand, intertwining their fingers together. Jeongguk panicked at the beginning, but then he noticed that the elder was totally fine with bringing him in front of a painting like that. The black-haired boy felt the softness on his skin once again. He didn’t have much time to feel it when – outside the museum – he gave his hand to Taehyung greet him. His hands were bigger, smoother, and warmer than he thought.
«This! This is my favourite one.» he said looking at a painting. It was a light blue canvas, similar to a bright morning sky with an almond blossom branch in the middle. The flowers were white, and the colour of the branch was between light brown and a dirty white tone. He knew the painting; he was one of the Van Gogh’s one and it was incredibly famous, but he didn’t know why Taehyung liked it so much. It was one of the simplest they had seen during the visit, and Taehyung was always so flashy and eccentric that he never thought he could have liked something so simple.
«Why do you like it so much?» he asked him, fingers still intertwined.
«Because it’s simple. It’s just a white blossom branch on a light blue sky. It doesn’t need bright colours or unique details to be something. It’s beautiful in his simplicity.» he sighed «Look Jeongguk, sometimes Taehyung is really different from V. Despite being an idol is an amazing thing, I can’t have a normal life. I can’t go out with my friends wearing a jumpsuit, having with dirty hair, going out without make up or without a bunch of paparazzi following me. I don’t have privacy. I can’t have a social network like my friends, I cannot post whatever I want because everything I want to upload will be reviewed by my manager. I can’t do a lot of things because of my popularity and— You don’t know how bad I feel talking about my job and my life like this but sometimes is too stressful. I always wanted to take a break, to breath. This is why I love this painting. It’s simple. It’s everything I want to be... I may sound disrespectful and I apologise for that.» Jeongguk felt his words cross his body and settling in his veins. He felt all of them and he was sorry for him. Sorry because he spent his life making people happy, making Jeongguk happy but he wasn’t. He was struggling and Jeongguk felt worried about that because he know how was to lose himself and, if it wasn’t for Taehyung, he wouldn’t be here for sure.
«I am so sorry Taehyung and no, I don’t think you are disrespectful. You’re living a life which is bigger than you and God knows how complicated it could be. I feel sorry because you’re my idol, you literally saved me but I wasn’t able to feel your sadness. Is it fucking stupid, right? How could I have felt your pain? And you spend your life helping people but who was there helping you?» Jeongguk sighed, feeling like he was overtaking a limit «I’m feeling sorry because I pretended you helped me, even if you couldn’t know, but I did. I really hope you’ll find someone like you in your life, someone with warm words who can hug you whenever you need. Because you deserve it, you deserve to be happy and loved for all the happiness you spread in the world.» Jeongguk confessed, rubbing Taehyung’s palm with his thumb just to reassure him.
Taehyung’s heart made a pirouette. He would have wanted to say to Jeongguk that, in that specific moment, he was the person with comfort words, he was the one hugging him so tight he could barely breath.
«No, no, Jeongguk. Don’t say that. You don’t have to be sorry for nothing. I love helping you, people, but sometimes I feel like it would be better to not be me at all. I miss the simplicity of things, the freeness. This is why I’m in love with this visit. It’s what I called “normality”. Even if I am followed by my bodyguards, it’s like they’re not here and you make me feel so free, young, and normal. Jeongguk, please, don’t apologise because, right now, I only need and want to thank you.» they were still holding hands and none of both was intended to untie their twine.
Taehyung have never done something like that. He would never grab someone’s hand; he could not call them by their name to reach their attention but he grabbed his hand without thinking. It was all new for Taehyung but he wasn’t feeling uncomfortable.
But then he realised he was still holding Jeongguk’s hand and he was a caressing his palm so his mind started thinking that maybe Jeongguk was uncomfortable, maybe he didn’t like it so I let his hand free and he apologised «I’m sorry Jeongguk, I didn’t want to grab your hand without asking you. I wasn’t thinking— I— sorry.»
«Don’t apologise! I liked that! But let’s go now, let’s continue the visit!» the black-haired guy said, walking through the next room.
«Do you ever think how is it even possible to draw a human face like that? I mean, it’s look like a photograph.» Jeongguk murmured while looking at a painting illustrating a red-haired woman face with freckles.
«I always ask myself this question but you should give me an answer since you’re the one with paintings skills!» Taehyung said with an amused gaze on his face.
«Oh well, I think that today it’s easier to learn how to draw because we have courses, schools, and universities but in the past, like three centuries ago, they could have only already known how to draw. In my opinion, was difficult to learn something new…» Taehyung turned up his nose «Yes and no… I think they had different ways to learn from the one we have today. I think they learnt by watching other painting or watching someone with more skills paint… I do not think they were simply good at it».
Jeongguk rolled his eyes, faking to be annoyed by how smart Taehyung’s looked «Again, think about your music and leave art to me!» he gently punched his shoulder.
He felt so good with Taehyung, like he had known him his whole life, and Taehyung felt that too. He was astonished at the way he and Jeongguk were talking so easily about everything amazed by how much he and Jeongguk had in common. Of course, they talked a lot about arts, paintings because they were visiting the Louvre but as soon as Jeongguk relaxed his nerves, they started a conversation about their travels around the world. Obviously, Jeongguk had travel less than Taehyung, who was used to travel a lot with is work as an idol, but they found out to have visited the same places with a particular soft spot for Hawaii where Taehyung had a holiday house. Taehyung found out that Jeongguk loved photographs too, especially nature as a subject so they ended up talking about cameras. Jeongguk, as well as Taehyung, discovered that they both liked camping instead of hotel-based holiday, they both preferred milk to chocolate and Taehyung laughed at Jeongguk because he loved banana milk instead of the strawberry one.
Jeongguk was happy because he was spending his day with Taehyung, the real Kim Taehyung. The freely, funny, smiley Taehyung.
They smiled all the time, chuckled sometimes because Jeongguk was funny, and, even if they were in a room surrounded by a dozen of people, they felt like they were the only two there. It was not awkward. It was special as Jeongguk would have suggest. It was like the time had stopped just for them, just to let them realise there was something going on in their eyes. They stared at each other for a short period of time that Jeongguk felt last for an eternity. There was something between them, a small spark which kept burning between their bodies. They were close enough for their arms to slightly touch.
Taehyung stared at Jeongguk and felt the urgent need to do something, to connect their bodies, to feel Jeongguk’s warm skin under his fingertips, and Jeongguk felt the same because he licked his lower lip while the brown-haired boy was looking at him.
So, Taehyung decided.
He fucking decided to do something.
«I’ll go to the toilet, okay Jeongguk?» he smirked, biting his lower lips, and smiling as soon as he left Jeongguk speak with one of his bodyguards.
He came back walking near the younger «See you there in five minutes. Don’t keep me waiting too long, okay?» and Jeongguk eyes widened in panic as soon he realised his idol, his safe place, everything that he thought could be possible only in his dreams was just happening in real life.
He took some minutes just to think about what to do. Did he had to follow Taehyung to the toilet? Did he misunderstand the message? He shook his head as in that way he could find an answer to all of his questions, but like a thunder in the sky, Jimin’s words came up to his mind “you only live once, Gukk.” and in the next thirty seconds, he was joining Taehyung in the toilet.
To reach the toilet he had to go through two rooms full of painting he did not care about because his mind was only focused on Taehyung inviting him to a something session in a small cubicle where their bodies would be pressed together, where he could feel his breath on his neck, his hands on his tiny waist and where he could run his fingers through his curly hazelnut hair.
Jeongguk was scared because those things happened only in movies or, at least, in his mind before sleeping. It was not a secret that he dreamt about Taehyung a lot, about spending few hours with him, walking in a park, listening to some music together and discovering each other tastes just to know how good they felt together, but now, in real life Jeongguk was heading to a toilet where Taehyung was waiting for him.
It wasn’t one of his dreams. It was the real life.
He could have thought about anything while going to the toilet but his mind was in total and complete blackout.
When he reached the corner where were the toilets, there was no one. His heart was pumping in his chest, ready to explode. He pushed the door with his right hand and saw Taehyung leaned on the wall with his arms crossed «Took you more than five minutes.» he said with raspy voice.
Jeongguk let out a sighed.
Damn, that was sexy. That was totally, completely fucking sexy, right, and wrong at the same time.
«I’ve kinda lost myself in my thoughts.» he confessed, biting his lower lips, and leaning against the door frame.
«What were you thinking about, Gukkie?» Taehyung said in a flirty way that went directly between Jeongguk’s legs.
Gukkie
Jeongguk shivered. He must have heard Jimin calling him like that.
«I was thinking about why did you ask me to come to the toilet with you.» he said getting his hands in his pocket «Do you need someone checking the door? Do I have to keep your bag for you? I’m all ear, Kim Taehyung.» he tilted his head to the side, smiling cheekily.
He didn’t know where he had found the confidence to talk so freely and flirty with Taehyung. They both felt good together but what was happening now?
Taehyung waved two fingers in front of his face «Come here and I’ll show you.»
Jeongguk’s heart definitely stopped.
Five steps.
Only five steps were dividing the two boys. It wasn’t that much and Jeongguk was sure he could reduce the distance quickly but he panicked, again and Taehyung was staring at him with a beautiful smirk on his face that confused Jeongguk more than ever, but Jimin’s “you only live once” keep playing in his head so he took those five steps and, as soon as he was enough close to the guy, Taehyung grabbed him by his belt loop with two fingers and lured him against his chest. Jeongguk’s hands immediately flew on his strong chest and Taehyung cup the younger’s face with one hand and their lips finally connected.
It was just one small peck on their lips, just one because both of them were unexpectedly shy. One kiss led to another and as soon as they became confident with those, Jeongguk’s wrapped his arms on Taehyung’s waist and bit his lower lips. They kissed like that for something like fifteen minutes. No tongues, only lips, tooth, smiles, and muffled moans when Taehyung circled Jeongguk’s clothed nipple with two fingers and then he smiled again against the younger’s lips because he was beautiful and kissing him was the best choice he had ever made.
«You’re the best piece of art here, you know right? Not even one single stupid painting can compete.» Taehyung breathed against his lips one more time.
Jeongguk chuckled and step back just to admire Taehyung. His lips were red, plump, and shiny with saliva. The elder poked his tongue out of his mouth and smiled as he saw Jeongguk’s eyes on him.
«What?» he asked tilting his head to the side.
«Mmh, nothing – I thought you were a guy of tongue’s kisses.» he said, clicking his tongue against his cheek.
«I am.» he answered cheekily.
Jeongguk jokily shook his head. He was amazed by Taehyung, by the real Kim Taehyung, the one far from the stage and the lights, the real one, the one who smiled for stupid jokes, the one who was amazed by his favourite painting and the one who would catch Jungkook’s attention even in the middle of thousands of thousands of people.
«Then show me.»
That time was Taehyung getting closer to Jeongguk. He threaded his fingers into his soft black hair as he crushed their lips together, gently pressed in a soft, smooth kiss. Jeongguk, taken by surprise, rested his right hand flat on Taehyung’s back and placed the left one against the wall next to the elder’s face. Jeongguk’s lips laid on Taehyung’s completely sealed, interested in how the other would have behaved and, as soon as they touched each other’s, Taehyung slipped his tongue into Jeongguk’s mouth and swallowed the little moans Jeongguk was making when he curled his tongue around his. It was wet and messy, and Taehyung noticed Jeongguk tasted like watermelon, and he tasted like tobacco. Jeongguk hated tobacco’s taste on people but on Taehyung it was so sexy. Everything was sexy on him. The younger reached Taehyung’s lower lips with his teeth, letting him free a shyly moan, quickly caught by Jeongguk mouth.
They kissed for twenty minutes, without caring about the bodyguards looking for Taehyung.
Jeongguk was totally, completely unbelieving he was kissing Taehyung. He couldn’t understand how they ended up sucking each other’s tongue, kissing each other’s lips while Taehyung fingers kept running around his clothed nipple.
«We are kissing like two desperate teenagers. That’s not elegant for a rich men like you to make out in a dirty museum toilet.» Jeongguk said, placing his right hand on Taehyung’s cheek and kissing him one more time. Just one more.
Taehyung closed his eyes enjoying the kiss, dreaming about how Jeongguk was good. How he tasted so sweet and salty at the same time, how their tastes melted together creating a new one.
«How old are you Jeongguk?» he asked, kissing him again and again, tasting his sweet lips, sucking, and licking them.
«25, why?» Jeongguk was breathless.
«Mm-hmm sounds like I’m your hyung, boo.» he whispered against his lips, licking, and sucking the lower ones again.
Jeongguk chuckled «Sounds fucking cool.»
Taehyung put his hands on Jeongguk collar bone, pushing him a little bit with a disappointed smirk on his face «Sexy, boo. It sounds sexy.»
Jeongguk’s hand was still pressed against the wall, next to the elder’s face «You know, I love the way you are calling me.»
«Mmh, really?» Taehyung rub his nose on Jeongguk’s neck, near his collarbone «Do you like being called boo?»
Jeongguk sighed while two lips began to suck his neck with passion. It was sloppy, hot, wet and everything Jeongguk could have ever dreamed of.
«Mmh, yes. I love it hyung. I love you calling me boo.» he whispered, definitely killing Taehyung.
They kissed again, lips against lips, tongues intertwined while they both ate each other’s moans. Taehyung played with the other’s hair.
«Jeongguk—» he breathed again, ready to bring their kisses to a next level but a knock on the door interrupted them.
«Mr. Taehyung? Are you all right? It’s been twenty minutes. Can I come in?» it was one of his bodyguards, the tallest one as Taehyung told Jeongguk.
«For fuck’s sake—» Taehyung murmured while kissing Jeongguk, with his hands hugged around his waist, so close he could feel the heats coming from his body.
«Taehyung. I’ll come in—» Taehyung snorted «I am fine, Seo. I’ll come in two minutes, okay? Just go outside. I can walk by myself.»
The bodyguard muttered something while leaving the two guys alone, staring at each other. Jeongguk shook his head, smiling «What boo?»
«You were so rude. He was just doing his job!» he said gently pushing Taehyung away.
«I hate being interrupted during good things—» he reached Jeongguk’s waist with his hands «Like movies—» he placed a wet kiss on his neck, tracing an imaginary bridge to his cheek «Like sleeping—» he gave him a small peck on his nose «Like kissing you.» and then, they finally reach each other’s lips again. Kissing like never before. It was hot, wet, and it felt as if it were the only right thing to do.
Jeongguk hugged him tightly, rested his head on the elder’s shoulder breathing his perfume one more time, enjoying is vanilla scent as if it could have been the last one chance «We should go, Tae.» the elder nodded, hugging Jeongguk’s back and enjoying his sweet smell too.
Taehyung had never felt like this before. He would have never kissed a stranger in a public toilet because that was not how he was supposed to act, but Jeongguk was different. He smelled like a safe place; he smelled like he could trust him about everything and it was weird because they didn’t know each other so well.
They both freshen their faces with cold water, washed their hands and smiling through the mirror.
Taehyung saw how quickly Jeongguk’s smile dropped, probably realising the truth, means that was only a kiss and not because Taehyung didn’t enjoy his time with Jeongguk, but because it had to be like that. Taehyung had a strict life full of rules and limits and he couldn’t bring Jeongguk in those, caged him in something he would minimise his freedom.
Jeongguk sighed and turned himself to the door. He already have his right hand on the golden handle, ready to push it down and to face the cold reality outside.
«Hey.» he said while Jeongguk was ready to open the door «I liked that a lot. You know right?»
Taehyung wanted to be sure that Jeongguk knew he didn’t want to take advantage of him only because he was one of his fans «I mean- I kissed you because I wanted and not–»
Jeongguk turned to face him one last time «Hey, Taehyung. I know, okay? I wanted it too.»
«Call me Tae, please. No needs to use my full name.» he smiled «When I say that I liked that, I really mean it.» he stroked his cheek with his thumb and Taehyung leaned forward to him to reach his still red and plump lips for one more peck «I would like to kiss you again and again, to give you my phone number but I can’t… I have rules to follow and…»
«No worries, Tae. I know. I’m okay with this.»
Was Jeongguk really okay with that? No, but he had to be okay with that. It was just a kiss, or maybe more than ten kisses but at the end of those, he was still only Jeongguk and Taehyung was the famous person who saved his life a lot of times, but that was all they were.
Jeongguk opened the door and exited without waiting Taehyung. There was silence. Jeongguk had a mix of feelings in his gut. He wasn’t angry, he was happy about how they spent time together, but unfortunately, he had to face the reality that they are stranger, that they would never meet again under those circumstances. He was happy to have spent the last twenty minutes kissing the elder’s lips, licking into his mouth, and playing with his tongue. Taehyung was undoubtedly a good kisser and the younger was sure to be a good one too because Taehyung was moaning into his mouth, following his lips during the kiss and when he had to interrupt their touches, he cried a little moan.
Taehyung immediately followed him out, circled his arm with his hand and leaning his head on Jeongguk’s shoulder, and Jeongguk inevitably smiled at that sweet gesture and he placed a kiss on Taehyung’s head, smelling his hair while closing his eyes.
He wasn’t expecting the elder to act like that but he was happy that Taehyung was being cuddly even in front of other people.
«Do you mind if we head to the shop for a second? It’s like my favourite part of visiting a museum–» he asked, still hugging Jeongguk’s arm «Actually, today my favourite part was another one, boo.» he whispered those words in a very deep voice that only Jeongguk could hear.
Jeongguk blushed while scrunching his nose in a sweet way that melted Taehyung’s heart.
«Anyway, yes please! I love the shop-side of a museum! I have this fixation for pens, so every time I visit a new city or a museum, I am used to buy one with some reminders to the city.»
Taehyung smiled, drugging Jeongguk to the shop without even worried to tell his bodyguards where they were going.
The shop was full of small, cute objects. They had mugs with paintings, rubbers, pencils, pens, small paintings, and magnets too. They split while looking at all the cute stuff inside. Jeongguk saw Taehyung looking at some agendas with paintings on the cover. It seemed so attracted by one in particular with purple and golden flowers painted on, probably relating to a painting they haven’t seen. Unfortunately, Taehyung put back the small agenda and focused his attention to some pens.
He wanted to gift one of those to Jeongguk. He watched all of them, trying to find the best one because he wanted Jeongguk to have something with which he can remembered him. Even if it will be impossible for the younger to forget a day like that.
«So, have you found something cool?» he asked as soon as Jeongguk was outside next to him with a small bag with the Louvre on.
He nodded «I bought a pen and a magnet for my family!» he smiled looking at Taehyung’s small bag «What about you?»
«Just a mug for my best friend. He’s fucking obsessed. He has more mugs than friends. A total weirdo but I love him so much!» he made Jeongguk laugh and then, they decided to head outside the Louvre and looking for Jimin who was waiting for Jeongguk.
There was a weird, totally uncomfortable silence between them. They knew their day was going to an end and they were both sad because they had a lot of fun together. Jeongguk found out that there was more behind V, the idol and Taehyung found a piece of his life-puzzle in Jeongguk. Same interests and same tastes.
«O-okay, so I think it’s time for me to leave—» Jeongguk said, turning to face Taehyung «It was a pleasure, Jeongguk. Really, I loved the visit. The best one for a multitude of reasons and I’m so pissed off by all the rules that I have to follow because I would like to see you again in future…» Taehyung shyly tried to reach the other’s hand with two of his fingers, but Jeongguk stepped back, knowing they were in the middle of the square full of people.
«I know. I would love to, but it’s not your fault, okay? Remember it.» he smiled back, trying to let him feel comfortable and not guilty. It wasn’t Taehyung’s fault if his life was like that. He didn’t ask for rules, limits, or any protocols to follow. And Jeongguk was okay with that.
«Anyway, I should go now because you probably have something more interesting to do and I have to find Jimin so—»
«Jeongguk, no. I don’t have anything more interesting to do than spending more hours with you, so don’t say that. Thank you for joining me in this visit. You made it better than usual.» at that time, he reached Jeongguk’s hand and rub his palm with two fingers.
«Thank you for everything, Taehyung. Everything beyond today.» the idol smiled and let go Jeongguk’s hand.
«Oh! Before I forget, this is for you Jeongguk. I saw it inside and I thought it would be perfect for you… besides, you can think about me when you’ll use it to sign your paintings.» he handed out a small paper bags to Jeongguk, who opened it as soon as he realised that was a gift from his idol.
He unboxed the gift and, inside the small bag, there was a light blue pen illustrating the “almond blossom” painting. Taehyung’s favourite.
Jeongguk’s eyes widened when he saw the gift, and then he smiled because that was the cutest things Taehyung could have done for him, because he went to that shop with the idea of buying something for Jeongguk. Something unique and special.
«Oh my God, Taehyung… you- you didn’t have to buy me something. It wasn’t necessary but I love it. I really love it because it’s something related to you and it’s kind of special? I’m sorry, I’m totally out of path right now!» he sighed while smiling «But thank you so much.»
«It wasn’t necessary but I wanted you to have something it would remind you of me. I know you have a bunch of my songs but everybody have those and, I don’t know. I just want you to be different, to have something unique. Is that make sense to you? Or maybe I am just cringe…» he said, waving his hands nervously, panicking a little bit because he thought he was overcoming the limits.
Jeongguk shook his head and gently grabbed his wrists «Shh– You’re not overcoming any limits with me. It’s a cute gift, and I love it but now I have this huge thing that I would like to kiss you just to thank you for this pen!» he said while caressing his wrists, feeling the smooth fabrics of the sweater under his fingertips.
«Oh, really? Only to thank me? That’s bad, boo.» they were smiling while people were walking next to them, embracing them in a hustle and bustle where they perfectly merged, where were just two guys holding each other’s hands.
«You know what I mean, Tae.» their smiles turned into a sight of awareness that their lives were going back soon to be the same. Two different lives and two different paths that would never meet.
«Yeah, I know Gguk…»
Again, an awkward silence was hugging them tightly, embedding in Jeongguk’s gut. He would have wanted to not care about it and so Taehyung because he felt the need to relive the light-heartedness felt until recently.
«Oh, since it’s gift-time, I saw this back in the shop and I thought it could be nice for you since you like flowers and I like purple, so purple flowers for you.» he said handing him the small paper bag containing the A5 size agenda he accurately chose for Taehyung.
The brown-haired boy took the bag and opened it slowly, enjoying the soft noise of the paper, slightly covered by people’s chats. As soon as his eyes met the handmade black agenda with purple and golden flowers on the cover, his heart was hugged by a familiar warmth mixed with the watermelon taste of Jeongguk’s lips.
«You can write your appointments or your new songs there. The pages are plain so you can organise them as you prefer!» Jeongguk explained, looking at Taehyung’s reaction.
«Oh my God Jeongguk, this is amazing… I will definitely write a song about the taste of your lips and I will call it “watermelon’s dream”.» Jeongguk gave him a weird gaze «Do you know you taste like that, right?»
«Oh! It’s just my chewing gum, you idiot!» they both laughed, squeezing their eyes.
«I think your friend is looking for you…» they both turned around to face Jimin standing not far from them.
Jeongguk gave Taehyung a small little smile, filled with happiness and sadness «Okay, so bye Taehyung. Thank you for today, it was amazing.»
«It was the same for me. Bye, boo. Enjoy Paris.»
Jeongguk was already walking away, too sad to face Taehyung one more second, when his heart stopped hearing boo. He loved that pet-name. He loved Taehyung for calling him like that. He felt so good with him, he was so happy, so complete. Why everything has to ended like that? Why had he those stupid useless rules to follow? Why couldn’t they kiss ever day, hanging out or just watching their favourite movies on Netflix?
Fuck.
Jeongguk couldn’t waste the opportunity to see him again, he couldn’t lose Taehyung like that.
He felt something in his chest, they both felt something at the same time. They both placed their hands on their chests, above the heart when the distance between them was growing.
Jimin was looking at him, he was ready to say hi, hugged his friend and begging him for telling him everything about his amazing afternoon with his idol, but before he was able to speak, he saw Jeongguk turned back to Taehyung, with something in his hand.
He grabbed the pen that Taehyung gifted to him and he approached him.
Taehyung was confused but he was smiling at the same time because – of course – he was happy to see Jeongguk going back to him.
«Did you miss m—» Taehyung’s words were cut off by Jeongguk’s.
«Can I have the agenda, please?» more confused than before, Taehyung gave him the small diary without saying anything.
He stared at Jeongguk opening the first page, writing something on it and then he closed it.
«See you around! Enjoy your days.» he said, handing the small object back to his owner.
With a smirk on his face, Jeongguk walked away leaving Taehyung fondly smiling while opening the agenda and reading at Jeongguk’s message:
“You may have rules to follow, but I don’t. This is my phone number. Boo.»
After leaving Taehyung, Jeongguk went straight back to Jimin, who overwhelmed him with questions regarding his afternoon to which the boy answer immediately, telling him everything. He told him how Taehyung was kind-hearted, and even better than he thought; how they both felt at ease, about all the things and passions they had in common. He spent more than one hour talking about how Taehyung was the most handsome man he had ever seen in his life.
During that time, they went back to the hotel, Jimin opened the mini fridge under the table against the main wall and chose two bottles of beers. He uncorked them handing one to Jeongguk who was already sat on the bed with his pyjama on.
He waved the beer to Jimin and he took a sip which disgusted him «This is terrible… how can they drink it?!» Jeongguk asked while throwing his head back to his pillow. His moist lips made him thought about Taehyung’s kisses, how sweet, soft, wet, and hot they were. He bit his lower lips and he let out a deep sigh.
«What are you thinking about?» Jimin asked, sitting on the edge of the bed with his legs crossed.
Jeongguk huffed, sitting back on the comfy bed next to Jimin «There’s may be something I haven’t told you yet…»
First, Jimin gifted him with a furious glance but, as soon as he saw the happy smile on Jeongguk’s face lighting up the room, his furious sight was filled with curiosity and awareness that something really important had happened and when he saw Jeongguk’s cheeks flushed, he understand.
«What happened with him? What did you do? Jeon Jeongguk what the fuck happened? Tell me everything. Right. Now.» he was literally jumping on the bed with his beer still in his hand. He was happy without even knowing what happened, he was happy because Jeongguk was happy.
He deserved to be happy.
After all, he deserved everything in the world.
«He might’ve invited me in the toilet and we might’ve kissed for twenty minutes?» he said without breathing.
«He might’ve or he actually did it?» Jimin’s curiosity was growing up quickly.
«We kissed. Jimin, I kissed Taehyung. I bit his lips so many times I can still feel his taste on my lips. It was hot, wet, and soft. Jimin, it was a dream.»
Jimin’s eyes was wide open, his mouth was open too and he was just staring at Jeongguk like he was on standby.
Jeongguk laughed and waved his hand in front of his face «Are you okay? That was exactly my face when he asked me to go to the toilet.»
«You kissed Taehyung.» Jimin breathed.
«Yes, I did. A lot. God— it was sexy.»
«Oh my God, you kissed Kim Taehyung.» Jimin repeated calmly, like he needed time to process the information and then he placed the beer on the small table next to the bed and immediately went back to hug his best friend while screaming and rolling on the soft mattress «Tell me everything. EVERYTHING.»
And Jeongguk immediately told in every detail how Taehyung asked him to meet up with him at the toilet, how deep was his voice when he grabbed his belt loop to kiss Jeongguk’s lips, how hot was their kisses, how close their bodies were. He was in love with how good he felt with him. How everything felt so right when they were together.
He told Jimin about their gifts, explaining him the meaning behind the pen and the notebook.
«He told that, if he hadn’t rules to follow, he would have gave me his phone number and we could have met back in Korea.» he confessed with a little bit of sadness in his eyes.
He would have love that. He would have enjoyed living Taehyung a little bit more, learning new things about him and remembered all of them for future dates or whatever they would have been.
Jimin looked sorry. He wanted Jeongguk to be happy and seeing him sad, wasn’t helpful. He grabbed one of his hands, and he rubbed it with his thumb.
«When I was coming back to you, he looked sad and I was sad too like we weren’t ready to leave. I was sad because I would have loved to know him better. I left him and then I came back to him because he called me boo. That pet name was like a magnet to me and I said to myself “fuck off those stupid rules” and I gave him my phone number.»
Jimin’s mouth dropped «You gave him– what?»
«Yes, I did it… can you believe it?» Jeongguk’s eyes were dreaming.
«What did he say? Something like “I’ll text you later?»
«Nothing… because as soon as I write the phone number I was already leaving.»
«OMG Gguk! you’re so dumb. Why didn’t you wait for a reply? Maybe he would have given you his phone number too!»
«No, he wouldn’t have done that. You know how many rules idols have. He couldn’t gave me his phone number and go against everything he achieved with hard work and waivers.»
Jimin nodded because he got his point «Despite your awareness and good time together, you don’t look happy…»
Jeongguk sighed deeply while sipping his beer «I am happy but not fully happy? Does it make sense? I miss him in a different way from the usual one. I don’t miss his song, the meaning of those or his voice. I don’t want to watch one of his concerts to feel better. I missed the time spent together that goes beyond every kiss… I don’t know Jimin.» he said, frustrated by his feelings.
«It’s simple. You miss Taehyung, not V and that’s because you had the opportunity to meet the real side of him, the one that everybody knows.»
Jimin was right and Jeongguk knew it. Knowing Taehyung was one of the most beautiful things that could ever happen to him and not because meeting his idol was one of his life dreams, but mostly because he really like Taehyung as a person. They spent a great day together enjoying their passions.
What Taehyung liked the most was that Jeongguk didn’t act like a fan. He didn’t ask photos or autograph. He didn’t talk all the time about his love for Taehyung and he didn’t ask for any spoilers on future songs, never had a single word about it. He treated him like a normal person, like he always wanted to be treated.
«Yeah, you’re right but there’s no point on keep talking about that because he’s not gonna text me.»
Jimin didn’t agree with his friend, but unfortunately Taehyung was an idol with busy schedules and a life full of people, why should he text Jeongguk?
The conversation dropped quickly as soon as they decided to watch a movie. They were both laying under the thick blanket, eating some chips and still drinking beer. Jeongguk was okay, not good but okay. He was enjoying the horror movie with his best friend and they had two more days in Paris and he would have definitely enjoyed them.
It was almost midnight and they were ready to sleep. Tv and lights were off but a slight buzz caught Jeongguk’s attention.
He grabbed his phone, thinking it was his mom asking him if everything was okay, but it wasn’t her.
A huge smile appeared on his face while staring at the screen.
[xxx] Hi, it’s me Taehyung.
Are you still in Paris?