Answering Jimin’s text, Taehyung then knocked on the bedroom door before entering. Namjoon looked at him intensely, making him shift uncomfortably.

“Here’s your tea, hyung,” he gave the teacup to Namjoon who thanked him and took a sip almost immediately. Taehyung went to the edge of the bed and sat down, playing with his fingers.

“How’s everything so far, Taehyung?” Namjoon’s voice startled him. He cleared his throat before answering.

“Everything’s fine hyung.” Namjoon nodded.

“Is Yoongi giving you any ?” “You er, I’m still older than you!”

Taehyung looked at them both and shook his head, looking down afterwards. He felt exposed under the eyes of Namjoon as his words from before haunted him. Taehyung, he’s an open book, opposite from you. His face shows a lot. He didn’t want Namjoon-hyung to know that he had been eavesdropping on their private conversation. Namjoon nodded again as he sipped on his tea.

After an awkward small talk, Namjoon then made his leave. Taehyung accompanied him to the door and observed him as he sat down to put on his shoes. Namjoon stood up and walked towards Taehyung, putting a hand on his shoulders.

“What I said back there, I was just warning Yoongi. It wasn’t meant to hurt you,” he murmured. Taehyung nodded in understanding and thanked him for his visit. Watching Namjoon leaving, Taehyung was surprised to taste his salty tears. He wiped them immediately and proceeded to the kitchen.

Yoongi sat in silence after Namjoon and Taehyung left the room. He grabbed his phone from the bedside table and scrolled through his contacts list. He stared at the name Chim Chim <3 as he thought about what Namjoon had said before. What would he do if Jimin were to suddenly appear in front of him now? Does he even know that he’s momentarily paraplegic? Would he take care of Yoongi the way Taehyung took care of him? Would he leave? These questions filled his mind that unconsciously, he tapped on the messaging application.

He stared at their previous conversation as his thumb dwelled before the keys of his phone. What was he doing? Should he send him a message, to update him about his life? As a friend? Yoongi bit his lips. Would Taehyung find out?

Picturing Taehyung’s face laced with hurt and indifference made his heart clenched in pain unexpectedly. He immediately terminated the messaging app and put away his phone. He massaged his head in disappointment with himself. Why is he still feeling like this? Didn’t he move on?

Taehyung entered his room again carrying a tray with bowls of soup and rice. He placed them on the table and proceeded to set the mini-table on Yoongi’s lap silently. He placed the two bowls on the table and wordlessly went out of the room. Yoongi was surprised at his silence. Did something happen?

“Taehyung?” he called out. There was no answer. Yoongi scrunched his eyebrows. He called out again. Is he not going to eat with Yoongi like they always do?

Taehyung then entered the room again with his own bowl of rice and other bowl containing pickled radish. Internally glad that Taehyung is not abandoning their routine; he watched as Taehyung brought the chair nearer to the mini table and put the bowls down.

He automatically grabbed the mushrooms on the soup and placed them inside Taehyung’s bowl. Taehyung pushed the pickled radish bowl towards Yoongi. Something in this comfortable silence irked Yoongi.

“Are you okay?” he asked. Taehyung nodded as he ate. Yoongi was getting frustrated with the blatant lie, but he let it go.

He wondered what made Taehyung change