“Hello?”

“It’s me, V.” He says, almost in a whisper, trying to hold back his tears. “Can you come pick me up?”

“Thanks.” He says for the nth time. He stares at his own reflection in the car’s window and notices that his face is covered with marks from the dry tears. He only hopes that those can be misunderstood by the rain drops.

“I already told you, it’s okay. You don’t have to thank me again.”

“I know, but…” He sighs.

They continue their way in silence. V looks at him, driving his car. He has a serious face, V notes. But he doesn’t look angry nor bothered by V’s favor. He comes to the conclusion that he should stop thanking him… for now. But he also notices another thing.

“Are you not going to ask me what’s wrong with me? Why did I ask you to come pick me up in the middle of the street, in the middle of the night, and to take me somewhere quiet?”

“If you want to tell me what made you this upset, well then, I’m all ears.” J-Hope takes his eyes off the road for a second, just to look briefly at V and give him a small smile. “But until then, I prefer not to pressure you into opening up to me, if you’re still not ready.”

Taehyung looks at his own hands. “Than-” He stops when he realizes what he was going to say again, making both of them let out a small laugh.

+

About twenty minutes later, both V and J-Hope are cuddled in J-Hope’s sofa watching half-heartedly some movie on TV.

“Hey.” J-Hope calls, gaining V’s attention. “You should get ready for me to take you home. It’s getting late.”

V turns his body towards the other boy in a flash. “What? It’s only been like 5 minutes. Can’t I, like, stay the night over?” V pleads.

J-Hope sighs. “I’m sorry Taehyung. But you shouldn’t. You shouldn’t even be here right now. Don’t you remember our talk just half an hour ago?”

V looks down, dejectedly. “Why do you always call me Taehyung?” He asks in a low voice. “I told you enough times that all my friends call me V.”

“Well, and I already told you that I don’t want to be just your friend.”

V looks at him, biting his lip, an old habit that just doesn’t quit. “Do you really like me?”

“Yep.”

“Are you sure?”

“A hundred percent.”

“And what if-”

“Taehyung.” J-Hope interrupts him. “What are you trying to say?”

V stays silent for a couple of seconds, contemplating. “Do you… do you want to date me?”

“I alre