HEARTBEAT | VKOOK - Chapter 32: Chapter 32

A heavy and thoughtful silence hung in the air, Jeongguk contemplating his thoughts. His eyes remained solely focused on the older who shuffled around, rummaging through his baggage for the files he'd been looking for the past thirty minutes or so with an exasperated frown on his face.
With a grunt, he shoved it away, brows furrowed as he licked his lips taking in slow breaths to keep himself together, glaring at the bags as he pondered over whether he'd brought it with him or not. Oh, how could he be so stupid? "I swear I remember stuffing it in with the other documents, but now it just. . ." His words hung in the air as he stared at the bag across him for a while, before getting back up to his feet and striding towards the small table in the room, flipping through the files and papers he had just gathered.
Jeongguk simply rolled his eyes with a bored look, the side of his lips twitching, "Maybe you forgot? It happens you know, it's not a big deal, we could just-"
"No, I can't forget when it comes to work. I clearly remember packing it up, and it was here. How could it just disappear?" Taehyung muttered, eyes scanning through the details, "There's a mistake, it has to be here somewhere."
The younger male, who lied on the bed comfortably with his head propped up on his elbow, sighed deeply, lips pursed as he watched the older fret and discard a few papers on the floor in sheer frustration. Jeongguk then sat upright, legs swinging over the edge of the bed as he stood, walking towards the older and picking up the discarded papers, "Relax, let me take a look."
"I can't just lose them, Jeongguk. Those papers are really important and my dad would be so pissed." A distraught look settled on the older's face as he placed the files down on the desk, "Leave it to me, go sit, you've been walking around for too long."
A sigh evoked from Taehyung, who complied nonetheless, taking a seat on the bed as he watched the younger check through the papers, brows creasing slightly as he flipped through the pages. He followed the ravenette with his eyes, who rummaged through his own baggage in search of the papers, retrieving a stack of files and placing them on the table as he scanned them.
"Here," Jeongguk outstretched his hand to the older, fingers wrapped around a blue spiral binded file. The aforementioned male eyed the file in utter surprise, lips parted and eyes flickering up to the younger, "How did you find it?"
"It was there the whole time, you're just blind." A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as Taehyung took the file out of his grip, peeling the cover open and flipping through the pages, a breath of relief escaping him. "You're a life saver."
Jeongguk turned away from him, fixing the scattered papers on the table, his grin widening as his eyes twinkled, "Don't mention it." He retorted, hearing a breathy chuckle flee the older's lips, "I don't know what I'd do without you."
A pale pink bloomed across the apple of his cheeks as he said nothing in return, allowing a comfortable silence to settle in the room. Taehyung placed the file away, back slumping on the bed as he closed his eyes for a moment, relieved. His eyes flickered open again, fixating on Jeongguk who crouched to the ground, fixing the items in his bag.
"You know," He started, eyes softening as he shifted on the bed, now lying on his chest as he gazed at the younger, "Maybe I was wrong about you all along. You're the exact opposite, just like how Jimin described you to be."
"I thought you were after me to use me to your advantage." His lips curled upwards in a soft grin, "But I was so wrong, you turned out so much better than my expectations."
Jeongguk kept his gaze focused on the papers on his lap as he scanned them, arranging them in order, "I might've been raised in a poor family, but that doesn't mean I'm like everyone else you see." He paused, stuffing the files into his bag, "In fact, I was never after you to begin with, we had it out for each other since the first day."
A chuckle fled the older's lips as he reminisced their first encounter, but he bobbed his head up and down in a nod. "Right," Jeongguk could feel the intense gaze boring onto his side, causing a heat to rise up to his cheeks as he attempted to stay focused. "You're different."
"I'm sorry, I judged you too quick without realising it."
"It's fine," A smile played on his lips as he zipped up the bag, shoving it under the bed before climbing up onto it and lying on his back, next to Taehyung, eyes fluttering shut for a moment, "You're not the only one who did though."
He opened his eyes again, staring at the ceiling as Taehyung shifted in his position, now lying next to the younger with his arms folded behind his head, "I never liked you either at the start, and I've never imagined to work for you." A breathy chuckle escaped Jeongguk, who then turned to the older with a cheeky smile on his face, "But oh well, it's ironic how I'm tied to you now, by a stupid contract that saved my life."
Taehyung shifted his gaze to the ceiling from Jeongguk, a snicker leaving his lips, "In a way, you saved mine too. Although you could be annoying at times, you did a far better job than any of the assistants I fired."
A long, yet comfortable silence followed after his words, that neither of them wished to break, a hushed atmosphere settling in the room. Jeongguk contemplated his thoughts, a question running through his mind as he stole a glance from Taehyung, who had his eyes closed peacefully.
"Can I ask you something?" Jeongguk queried, studying the older's reaction who remained unfazed, eyes still closed shut as he hummed in his deep voice.
Jeongguk's lips twitched, his bottom lips catching between his teeth as an anxious feeling settled in the pit of his stomach. For he knew it'd hurt the older to reminisce the memories, but his curiosity got the best of him.
He took a deep breath, blurting out the most anticipated question, "Do you still love her?"
It came out as a muffled whisper, unlike what Jeongguk actually intended. Taehyung fluttered his eyes open, turning to meet the younger's gaze, brows knitted slightly as he hummed, not catching the question. Jeongguk averted his eyes, heart thudding in his chest as he hesitated for a moment, repeating the question softly, "Do you still love her, your wife?"
The silence that followed after his question was tense, his stomach twisting in sheer anxiousness as he anticipated the answer he already knew. Jeongguk knew, for it was so obvious that Taehyung was still blindly in love with his wife, so much that it hurt to see him grieving over her death. But he wanted to hear it from the older, so he wouldn't get his hopes up again, knowing his feeling would never be returned.
"That's. . difficult to answer." Taehyung exhaled deeply, eyes never leaving the ceiling as he collected his thoughts, brows knitting slightly, "I do love her, and she'll always have a special place in my heart. But that doesn't mean I'm stuck in the past forever."
Jeongguk fell silent, the gleam of hope in his eyes fading as he turned away, heart shattering from his words. It was expected, yet he still got his hopes up, only to be crushed down, "I moved on from the pain, but not from the memories she left behind. It still hurts, yes, but not as much anymore."
Jeongguk gnawed at his bottom lip, and Taehyung didn't fail to notice how the younger had turned silent. Yet, he didn't have the words to console him, for he was still uncertain of his feelings. There's a moment of silence before Jeongguk spoke again, "If there's a chance, would you accept someone else in your life?"
Jeongguk shifted his gaze to the older, studying his reaction carefully, "Would you give love a second chance?"
The side of Taehyung's lips twitched slightly, eyes flickering with something that Jeongguk couldn't seem to make out. His eyes remained affixed on the ceiling, brows creased as he gulped, "If there was a choice, I would've done that a long time ago."
"Then why didn't you?"
"Fear." He muttered under his breath, almost incoherently, and Jeongguk had almost missed it at the last second. Curiosity burned within his onyx eyes that were solely focused on the older now, "Fear of what?"
"Fear of being left alone again." Jeongguk furrowed his brows, lips parting slightly as he caught a glimpse of sadness flashing in the older's obsidian eyes, "I'm afraid that if I get attached to someone again, they'll be taken away."
Taehyung swallowed harshly, eyes flickering down, "I know how you feel. . for me." He then turned to the younger male who laid next to him, "But I-I can't make any promises to reciprocate your feelings, I need sometime."
Jeongguk's features softened at that, "You don't need to make any promises, if you're not sure or if you don't feel the same. It's fine if you don't, I'll accept it."
"I don't want you to get your hopes up, gguk." He breathed, guilt flashing in his eyes as sadness clouded his vision, averting his gaze, "I can't be sure yet, and I don't trust my words." A small smile formed onto the younger's lips as he gazed at the older, "Don't sweat it, there's no rush. You have all the time you need."
Jeongguk's breath hitched when the older met his eyes, heart beating vigorously in his chest as he studied his features, captivated. The way his messy brown bangs fell over his eyes, smooth honey tan skin glistening under the soft glow of the sunset through the windows- he was an ethereal being in Jeongguk's eyes, an angel. The way his flawless features complimented his well chiselled face left him in absolute awe. And before he could even register it, the words left his lips without his consent, "You're so handsome."
A cocky smirk tugged at the corner of his lips, "I know I am." Heat rose up to the younger's cheeks at that, scintillating doe eyes dilating as the realisation dawned over him, causing him to quickly averted his gaze, attempting to collect his thoughts, "I-I mean, you could be a model you know."
A deep chuckle evoked from the older as he watched Jeongguk with a fond look in his gaze, whose ears turned red in embarrassment, avoiding the male's intense stare. But he was taken completely off guard when the older turned to him fully and held his chin, lifting it up to look into his eyes.
His shimmering doe eyes widened, breath catching in his throat as he stared into the older's eyes. His eyes held something that Jeongguk couldn't seem to decipher, it was the look of fondness and adoration, full of warmth and softness for Jeongguk, that made him all giddy on the inside. It felt oddly comfortable to lie next to the older, so close and stare into his dark obsidian eyes that were filled with warmth and adoration.
His eyes then flickered down to the younger's lips, his own lip catching between his teeth subconsciously as he eyed him. Jeongguk didn't fail to notice it, heart thudding in his chest as a soft blush coated his cheeks, yet he didn't seem to deny the feeling, unable to take his eyes off him.
Taehyung then met his eyes again, seemingly hesitant as he contemplated his thoughts, that were scattered all around his mind. His heart fluttered in his chest, longing to feel the younger's lips on his own, yet his mind raced with a million thoughts that made him question his actions, and he was caught in a trance. He did it once, and he could do it again, but that was different, as he'd been provoked by the younger.
"Trust your feelings, they'll give you the answer you need." Jeongguk whispered softly, exchanging gazes with the older, who flickered his gaze downwards, subconsciously licking his chapped lips. He then sighed softly through his parted his lips, "I don't know, Jeongguk."
"All I know is, I feel emotions when I'm with you, something I haven't in a long time." He caught his bottom lip between his teeth distractingly as he collected his thoughts, "I've been numb since her death, I felt like the life was sucked out of me, and maybe I wasn't even living, but then you came along and flipped everything in a way I can't even decipher."
A soft smile played on the younger's lips as his hand reached up to brush away the bangs covering the older's dark eyes, "So I changed your life, huh?"
"You surely did. You snatched my best friend away from me and then my kid," An amused scoff left the older's lips as he stared into the younger's eyes, "And now, I'm afraid that I'm falling for you too."
The smile on his lips widened as he stared into the older's eyes, a silence lingering between them. The sun dipped down long ago, and darkness consumed the room, the only source of light being the soft gleam of the bright city lights outside, flowing through the large glass windows, lighting the room in a soft glow.
He was so caught up in everything that he failed to realise how the older leaned closer to him, brushing his nose against his own. And before he could even register it, their lips connected together, closing the distance between them, throwing him completely off guard.
The kiss exploded with a fervent passion that neither of them were certain they had on the first place. The feeling of Taehyung's lips pressing against his own took him aback for a moment, heart racing in his chest as his eyes fluttered shut at the feeling. His lips were rough and chapped, but at the same time, soft and experienced.
It was as though the time had frozen, Jeongguk was lost in a world of his own, devoured by the heavenly feeling of the older's lips, that tasted like champagne and cigarettes- a taste Jeongguk found himself being addicted to. His hands moved up on their own to wrap themselves around the older's neck as he deepened the kiss, their tongues dancing together in a rhythm of their own.
They pulled away shortly, heaving for breath, Taehyung now hovering on top of him, palms pressed onto the bedsheets, and eyes never leaving Jeongguk's. Their lips connected again, and Jeongguk found himself craving more of the feeling. Taehyung nipped at his bottom lip, biting and teasing in a way that left him breathless.
It felt a dream, as though he'd dreamed this moment to life, if it wasn't for the way their bodies were pressed together, the older claiming his lips hungrily. Taehyung kept his eyes half open, sneaking a peak at him every time they came back for air, eyes clouded with desire and raw emotions he'd never seen before.
Jeongguk was left awestruck and breathless, cheeks flushed and pink lips agape as he gazed at the older. His fingers travelled up to the older's hair, tugging at his brown locks, as he studied him, panting slightly. The air around them was hot, tension and desire filling the once comfortable atmosphere.
Taehyung lowered himself next to the younger's ear, lips brushing against the shell of his ear, sending chills down his spine as his heart pounded in his chest. He nibbled at his earlobe, lips twitching slightly at the way the younger attempted to suppress a moan, head tilting to the side to give the older more access to his neck.
"You're driving me crazy, Jeon Jeongguk." He breathed against his skin, connecting his mesmerizing lips to his neck, and licking a long stripe, that sent pleasurable shivers down Jeongguk's spine, a gasp filling the atmosphere. His lips grazed his skin, dragging down to his Adam's apple in a way that's so sensual and left him panting.
Taehyung met his eyes again, stealing glances at his flushed face and glossy eyes, their lips ghosting over one another's as their noses brushed against each other. Despite the strong sense of lust and tension in the atmosphere, his eyes softened as he gazed at Jeongguk, full of warmth and affection.
"Ethereal," The word slipped lips without him even registering it, yet he didn't seem to regret it either as he gazed at the younger with a fond look, as though he was a precious gem, at least in his eyes, "You're dazzling, my flower. Flawless and gorgeous."
The aforementioned male's cheeks tinted red as his heart hammered vigorously in his chest, beating so loud that he was almost certain Taehyung could hear it. Taehyung claimed his lips again, but there was no lust. It was a sweet, gentle and passionate kiss, as though he poured every ounce of his emotion into the kiss.
Jeongguk tugged at the strands of his hair softly, as their lips pulled away for a moment to catch their breaths. Taehyung latched onto his neck, biting and sucking on a spot. It drove him crazy, enticing a gasp from him as he closed his eyes, body craving for more. He craved to feel more, to be touched by Taehyung.
All it took was one dose for him to get addicted to his lips, his touch and the strong smell of his cologne that drove him crazy. His mere presence was enough to drive him insane, and at this moment, he didn't care. Every thought of control was thrown out of the window, and he didn't care if he was making out with his own boss, nor the consequences. Jeongguk simply couldn't care less at the moment.
For he wished to enjoy the moment as long as it lasted.
Maybe by the morning, they'd turn back to their awkward ways, back to being strangers as though nothing had occurred between them, or maybe he'd wish to forget it. But at this point, he couldn't care. The older's presence was comforting, his touch felt like heaven, as though he was a fragile glass that would shatter if he were too rough. Jeongguk was falling deeper for this side of him, that stayed hidden underneath the layer of covers he had created for himself.
And perhaps, he was one of the very few who knew him truly, and that made him feel special.