9 THOUGHTS OF YOU

The next couple of days were grueling for both Taehyung and Jungkook. They've been missing each other's calls due to work and time difference. All they could do were quick 5-minute catch-up calls or messages recapping their daily activities.

However, despite that, the two were able to prove that there is no such thing as out of sight, out of mind. They thought of each other all the time.

Taehyung was at his publisher's office showing his boss all the book cover studies that he drew.

"Taehyung, would you mind telling me why all your illustrations had the sky as a background? I mean, they're really quite impressive and all, but your book is about time-travelling, so why the sky?" Jimin asked.

Taehyung deadpanned and just said the first thing that came to mind. "Because you travel in the sky?"

"You travel by land and by water too, Taeh. But, that's not the point. Shouldn't there be elements of time at least?" Jung Hoseok, one of the editors said.

"Ugh! I give up. Let's look at what the illustrators did. I have nothing else to show." Taehyung said.

Jimin looked at his best friend and knew that something was up.

"Hand me your sketch pad." Jimin said.

"What?! No, it's personal." Taehyung said.

"Taehyung?" Jimin asked again.

"Fine." Taehyung gave him his sketch pad and Jimin browsed through it.

"Sky, clouds, plane, birds, mountain peaks, wait a minute…who is this???" Jimin asked.

Taehyung pouted and then laid his forehead down the table.

"I can't get him out of my mind, Jimin. Help me. I think I'm sick." Taehyung whined.

"Lovesick you mean?" Jimin said.

"I met him at the Incheon airport before I left for Malta." Taehyung said.

"You just met him at the airport and can't get him off your mind?" Hoseok asked.

"I was with him in Malta and Japan too." Taehyung said.

"Oh. So, you were with him when I called, huh?" Jimin asked.

"Yes." Taehyung said.

"Um, Tae, you just broke up with Eunwoo. You're into rebound relationships now?" Hoseok said. Eunwoo is a friend of his and at the same time part of the publishing company's legal team.

"He's not a rebound…more a last minute winning game shot actually." Taehyung jokingly said.

"So, you met this passenger and just decided to stay with him?" Jimin probed again.

"He's not a passenger. He's a pilot." Taehyung said and that made the two quite surprised.

"Tae, I thought you don't date pilots?!" Hoseok said.

"Well, I dated a lawyer and look what happened." Taehyung said in his defense.

"Are you sure about this guy?" Jimin asked, worried about his best friend. "I just don't want to see you get hurt again."

"I don't know, okay? I know that we barely know each other, but he makes me feel so special. So loved. I enjoyed being with him so much that I agreed to date him exclusively." Taehyung said.

"Wow. This is so not you. It took you a while to give Eunwoo a chance before you got together. You had to weigh the pros and cons. But, in this case, you just jumped into the sack with him?!" Hoseok said.

"Oh my god. Don't even go there. Guys, even sex with him didn't feel like normal sex. It was on a different level. Everytime we did it, I felt so loved and taken cared of. Even when he was rough, it still felt so gentle. Whenever his di —"

"Stop right there. We don't need to know the details." Jimin said.

"I miss him so much I feel like dying!" Taehyung said with tears in his eyes.

"Looks like you've got it bad. Did he do that to you?" Hoseok asked pointing at his wrist.

"No, that fucking cheater did this to me." Taehyung said.

Hoseok and Jimin's look suddenly became dark.

"Did he hurt you?" Hoseok asked.

"That son of a bitch." Jimin threw the sketch pad on his table loudly and was ready to storm out of the room and give Eunwoo a piece of his mind, but Taehyung was quick enough to stop him.

"Chim! It's alright. Namjoon was there and stopped him on time." Taehyung said, touched by his bestfriend's gesture.

"After what he did?! That fucker." Jimin said loudly.

"Just let it go. I'm okay." Taehyung said.

Just then, the door of Jimin's office swung open, and in came Eunwoo.

"Can I borrow Taehyung for a moment?" Eunwoo said.

Hoseok stood up and stood in front of Taehyung.

"He's not going anywhere with you, Woo. Just step out as we're still in a meeting." Hoseok said.

"Fine, I'll wait for him outside." Eunwoo said.

"No, you're not. Leave Taehyung alone." Jimin said.

"This is between me and Taehyung. You two have no right to meddle with our relationship." Eunwoo shouted.

Taehyung stood up.

"What relationship?! I thought lawyers were smart, so why can't you understand the meaning of BREAK UP?! We are not in a relationship anymore. We are not boyfriends nor are we friends so just fucking leave me alone!" Taehyung shouted back.

"I was supposed to propose to you after the party, Taeh! I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you!" Eunwoo said.

"Wow, thanks? And is that the same party where you fucked someone else?!" Taehyung yelled.

"I was drunk, Taeh!" Eunwoo frustratingly shouted.

"For the nth time, that is not a valid excuse to cheat on someone!!! You're just like my father!!! I hate you!! You hear me?! I fucking hate you!! Just get out!!! I don't want to see you ever again?! Get out of my life!" Taehyung shouted as his body started to tremble out of anxiety.

Eunwoo didn't push it anymore as he knew how Taehyung would get anxiety attacks when he talks about his father. He knew that it brought bad memories on how his mother died. He just silently stepped out, banging the door shut behind him.

Jimin ran to Taehyung and hugged him.

"Okay, Taeh, calm down. He's gone, okay? Just breathe deeply and exhale." Jimin said.

Taehyung broke down and cried.

"I hate him, Chim. I hate him so much" Taehyung said in between sobs.

Jimin wasn't sure if Taehyung was talking about his father or Eunwoo, but he understood what his bestfriend was going through. "I know. It's over now, Taeh. He's out of your life. He can't hurt you anymore."

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Jungkook woke up and checked the clock on the bedside table. It was 7:30 am in France so that means it's already 2:30 pm in Korea.

He sat up and took his phone. He knew Taehyung would be up already so despite his grogginess, he decided to call him.

The phone just kept on ringing so he sighed and threw the phone on the bed.

I miss him so much. Jungkook thought.

He was about to sleep some more when his phone rang.

He abruptly sat and looked at his phone and it said, "Unknown Number."

He hesitated to pick it up as he thought it was someone he's been avoiding for quite a while. But then, something inside him just pushed him to answer it.

J: Hello?

??: Kookie!

J: Bear! God I missed your voice.

T: Sorry I missed your call. My phone is at 1% and I don't have my charger with me. I'm using my publisher's phone.

J: And he doesn't mind you calling me long distance?

T: He doesn't know I'm calling you. I just asked him if I could use his phone. (Taehyung giggled)

J: Eventually, he will though.

T: Well, he's rich because of me so I don't think he'll mind.

Jungkook laughed.

J: What are you doing?

T: Just had lunch with Jimin and Hoseok.

J: Hoseok?

T: Oh yeah, haven't mentioned him to you yet. He's one of my editor friends.

J: How was your day?

T: Well, all my sketches for the book cover were rejected and Eunwoo tried to talk to me again.

Jungkook creased his brows upon hearing the news. Taehyung already told him about the airport incident.

J: Did he hurt you again?

T: No, don't worry. He couldn't even go near me as both Jimin and Hoseok warned him not to.

J: Good. I'm sorry I'm not there to protect you.

T: Kookie, it's alright. Don't worry. My friends are here and Namjoon hyung's always with me. I'm always with someone.

J: Who's not me.

T: Hey, I'll see you tomorrow. And we have three days together, so think about that instead.

J: I wish I flew a fighter jet so I'd get there faster.

T: I don't date soldiers.

J: You don't date pilots too and I am one.

T: You're an exception to the rule.

J: And, why is that?

T: I'll let you know when I've figure it out.

Jungkook chuckled.

J: I'll see you in…25 hours and 45 minutes.

T: Just one more day, Cap and I'm all yours again.

J: (Jungkook's heart almost leaped out of his chest upon hearing what Taehyung said) All mine huh?

T: Yes, exclusively yours. (Taehyung giggled)

J: I like the sound of that. I'll see you soon my bear. I love you. (Jungkook mentally said)

T: See you, Captain Jeon.

They ended the call with big smiles on their faces.

"Who was that?" Jimin asked.

"My captain." Taehyung said.

"You said he was in France." Jimin said.

"He is in France. Thanks for the phone." Taehyung said.

"You little…" Jimin said but before he could even finish his sentence, Taehyung already stormed out of the cafe.

"He's in love." Hoseok said.

"Apparently so. I just really hope that this Jungkook guy won't hurt him." Jimin said.

"Same here. Taehyung deserves to be happy after everything hr's been through." Hoseok said.

"I couldn't agree with you more on that." Jimin said as he picked up his phone and dialed a number.

"Hey, can you do me a favor? I'll send you details about someone. Can you help me get more information about him?" Jimin said and then thanked the person afterwards.

Let's see if you're really as good as Taehyung says you are, Jeon Jungkook. Jimin mentally said as he will do what he can to make sure his bestfriend would never get hurt again.