A few days later, Jin sat at his piano, fingers gently brushing over the keys. The familiar melody he played was soft, filled with the unspoken words and tangled emotions he couldn't quite put into sentences. Each note echoed in the empty room, filling the silence with a bittersweet resonance that seemed to capture everything he was feeling—frustration, confusion, and that deep ache he couldn't shake.
His mind kept drifting back to the conversation, replaying every word, every look, every moment. He felt torn between anger and sadness, between wanting to let go and hoping that maybe, somehow, things could still work out.
"AGHHHHH!" He screamed slamming the king's, "Can you believe the audacity of this man, first he sleeps with me then treats me like I'm his only care in the world. JUST FOR HIM TO FUCKING TELL ME THAT WE NEED TO SET BOUNDARIES!" He exclaimed as he turned to look at William who was sitting on the couch unbothered.
"You know Jin, you impress." He spoke up, "one moment you're sitting quietly playing the piano like you're Beethoven, then the next second you're whining about some dude." He added shaking his head.
"Honestly I don't know what you're waiting for, go pro already." He smiled as he turned to look at frustrated Jin.
"Is it a bad thing to want another chance in love?" Jin groaned getting up from the piano, "maybe you shouldn't have thrown yourself at him." William said.
"I didn't throw myself at him, it was a mutual feeling." He replied slumping into the couch.
"At this point just give up on him, how long have you been chasing him." He questioned.
"How can I give up, have you seen him!" He said.
"Not only is he kind, sweet, caring, soft, his also sexy. His literally built like a Greek good, and don't get me started about his size." He listed.
William closed his eyes and shook his head in disappointment, "enough, I've heard enough."
Jin let out a defeated sigh, leaning back on the couch as he stared at the ceiling, lost in his thoughts. "You don't get it, William. There's just… something about him. It's like he's this unsolvable puzzle, and every time I think I'm getting close, he just pulls away again."
William rolled his eyes, chuckling. "Maybe he's pulling away because he's just not into drama like this. Have you considered that?"
Jin shot him a glare. "It's not drama. It's complicated. There's… there's something real between us. I know it." He sighed again, more to himself this time. "It's just… why does he have to make everything so hard?"
William shrugged. "Or maybe you're making it hard, Jin. You always fall for the ones that are emotionally unavailable. Every single time. It's like your thing."
Jin groaned, rubbing his temples. "That's not true. He's not emotionally unavailable. He just… has his walls up."
"Right. So, how many walls are you willing to break down, huh? There's gotta be a limit somewhere, Jin."
Jin sat up, a determined glint in his eye. "I don't know, Will. Maybe I'll break down every last one if I have to. Because, yeah, he frustrates me. He drives me crazy half the time. But he also makes me feel things that… that no one else has ever made me feel."
William sighed, shaking his head with a knowing smile. "Fine, fine. You're the stubborn romantic, Jin. Just… don't let him keep you in this cycle forever. You deserve someone who's as sure about you as you are about them."
Jin slumped back again, giving a half-hearted chuckle. "I know. But it's hard to let go when you've glimpsed something… real."
William stood, giving Jin a firm pat on the shoulder. "Then go talk to him. Lay it all out. But remember, if he can't meet you halfway, maybe it's time to walk away."
Jin nodded, taking in his friend's words. Maybe William was right. Maybe it was time to stop waiting for things to magically fall into place.
————————————
Two days later, as the sun dipped below the horizon and cast the city in a dusky glow, Jin stood outside Tae's office building, hands stuffed in his pockets to keep from fidgeting. He glanced at the door every few seconds, rehearsing the words he wanted to say in his head. His heart was racing, nerves threatening to get the better of him, but he steadied himself, focusing on why he was there.
Finally, the door opened, and Tae stepped out, clearly surprised to see Jin waiting. His brow furrowed slightly, but he didn't look away. Instead, he approached with measured steps, his usual composed expression giving away only a hint of curiosity.
As he opened his mouth to speak Jin raised his hand stopping him, "I know what you said, but I can't take it anymore."
"If anyone is going to end this relationship is me, I'm not going to let you win this." He added.
Tae slightly smiled shaking his head, he walked over his car and opened the door. "Are you coming or not?" He asked.
Jin blinked, taken aback by Tae's response. He hadn't expected that. For a moment, he just stood there, processing Tae's invitation, then a smirk played at the corner of his lips.
"Oh, so now you're the one calling the shots?" Jin challenged, crossing his arms but moving toward the car all the same.
Tae chuckled, his usual cool demeanor cracking just enough to reveal the hint of amusement in his eyes. "Get in, Jin. Unless you're planning on having this showdown in the middle of the parking lot."
Jin rolled his eyes but slipped into the passenger seat, closing the door as Tae started the engine. The hum of the car filled the silence between them, a strange tension settling over them as they drove through the city streets, the quiet only broken by the occasional honk or passing headlights. Jin could feel his heartbeat quicken, anticipation building with each passing second.
Finally, Tae pulled over to a quieter spot overlooking the city. He turned off the car, resting his hands on the steering wheel, and let out a long breath before finally speaking. "Alright, Jin. Let's hear it. You wanted to say something—now's your chance."
Jin looked over at him, the weight of everything he'd been holding back bubbling to the surface. "You think you can just put up walls whenever it suits you, act like nothing phases you. But you're wrong if you think I'm just going to walk away because you're scared."
Tae's expression softened, and he leaned back in his seat, letting Jin's words sink in. "I never said I wasn't scared," he admitted, his voice low. "But you have this way of… getting under my skin, Jin. You make me question everything I thought I had figured out."
Jin's frustration melted, replaced by a tenderness he couldn't ignore. "Then maybe that's a sign, Tae. Maybe that's exactly why you should give this a chance. I'm not perfect, but I know what I feel. And I think… I think you feel it too."
For a moment, Tae looked away, gazing out at the city lights, the vulnerability in his eyes unguarded. When he finally looked back at Jin, his expression was raw, unfiltered. "Maybe I do," he murmured. "But if we do this, we do it on equal ground. No games, no boundaries, no keeping each other at arm's length. Agreed?"
Tae nodded, a grin breaking across his face. "Agreed." He held out his hand, sealing the promise, and Jin took it, their fingers entwining in a silent acknowledgment of the path they were finally choosing—together.
As they sat there, hands clasped, the city below them, everything felt possible.
"I can't believe you're finally my Man!" Jin rejoiced showing their locked hands. "You know what this means?" He said excitedly, "what?" Tae chuckled shaking his head.
"I can sleep over at your place anytime I want, bother you anytime I want, kiss you however I want, and the best of them all being intimate whenever and wherever." He listed.
Tae cupped his face and kissed him, "I'm in for a ride aren't I." He smiled through the kiss.
Jin laughed against Tae's lips, a warmth spreading through his chest at the thought of finally being with him. He pulled back, just enough to meet Tae's gaze, his eyes sparkling with a mix of excitement and mischief. "You have no idea what you've signed up for," he teased, his voice soft but playful. "But hey, you're the one who agreed to all of this."
Tae chuckled, running his thumb along Jin's jawline. "I suppose I am. And I'm not one to back out of a promise." He leaned closer, pressing his forehead against Jin's, and they stayed like that, both of them savoring the quiet closeness.
After a moment, Jin's grin grew wider. "So… does this mean you'll let me come over tonight? Or are you going to make me wait?"
Tae raised an eyebrow, feigning consideration. "I don't know. I could make you wait, just to see how patient you are."
"Oh, come on!" Jin laughed, nudging him. "You've already tortured me enough."
Tae smiled, his expression softening. "Alright, alright. Come over."
TBC