Chapter Text
Everything started with rain.
Taehyung never understood what kind of spell rainy days had on him, but remembering Jungkook seemed unavoidable. Maybe it was because, during a particularly rainy fall near their last year in high school, he used to secretly observe Jungkook playing basketball at the court. Maybe it was because the image that was ingrained in his brain was of Jungkook freshly showered after gym class with his drenched, wet hair dripping onto his white T-shirt, making his skin visible through the fabric.
Wild, sexy, unattainable.
Maybe it was just this weather eliciting nostalgia in him. The cause was not clear, but the consequence was: every time rain started to pour, Taehyung started to think about him.
Their love story (or the absence of it, to be completely honest) was as cliché as someone could expect from two teenagers. Taehyung being the weirdo who played the saxophone in the band. Jungkook being the heartthrob, the captain of the sports club, and of course, the most popular, cool kid out there. Everybody wanted to be like him or be with him. Soon, Taehyung developed a huge crush on him, making him discover his own sexual orientation and how painful unrequited love could be.
Even when they shared a table in biology class during their last year, Taehyung couldn’t remember a single conversation between them aside from Taehyung asking for a pen or Jungkook shyly asking for the answer to a particularly hard question. And it wasn’t that he was rude. Quite the opposite: Every day, he smiled at Taehyung when he entered the classroom, and waved goodbye before going out for the next class. But what could they talk about? They were from different worlds, they had nothing in common.
No. After all this time, Taehyung wasn’t still in love with his old classmate. He could be a hopeless romantic but he preferred to think he was not that pathetic. Ten years had passed and a lot of things happened during that time; both finished highschool, Taehyung attended art school and Jungkook moved abroad to study finance. Taehyung fell in love a hundred times and a hundred times had his heart broken. Jungkook never knew he was his secret admirer, and everything was kept in Taehyung’s mind as a sweet memory of his youth.
“Rainy days and I’m thinking ‘bout you,” he sighed out loud to himself, in the silence of his workshop.
The wall clock said it was already 1 a.m. but he still had too much work to do. He had opened his aromatherapy craft shop a year ago, its main focus being candles, and he was in the middle of an especially difficult creative moment. He had to be innovative to stand out from the competition selling the same kind of products as him. But his mind kept going over and over to Jungkook. Coltrane playing in the background wasn’t contributing to his melancholic mood, that was for sure.
He really needed an idea —something different from the classic fragrances that everybody could find in the convenience store, and at the same time could give him some benefits without a huge investment in new materials.
When his glass of white wine was almost empty, as well as his patience, he decided to do the opposite of what he had been doing during the last three hours. If Jungkook didn’t want to leave his mind, the solution would be to use him as inspiration instead.
Closing his eyes, he tried to remember how he smelled back then. Even when he was playing sports all the time, the only thing Taehyung could remember was his citric cologne mixed with fabric softener and dark chocolate. Maybe talcum powder too? Or was it lavender?
Hours later, the first sun rays were coming through the window when Taehyung yawned with a smile on his face. He tried a dozen combinations and he was already loving his new creation. With his eyes closed, he gave himself a couple of seconds to enjoy his old memories thanks to the fumes of the candle wax burning.
The fragrance obviously didn’t represent exactly how his gay awakening made him feel, but it was close enough to make him grin. Maybe it would become his favorite smell. But would it work as a product? There was only one way to know. Before putting it on sale, he was going to study his potential clients. And what better way than to use the candle prototype to aromatize the shop?
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And six months later, there he was. What started with a silly night reminiscing about the old times evolved into something unexpectedly bigger.
The first day, Taehyung had five commissions. The second day, ten and his sales started to grow exponentially. He opened his online shop. Soon, he needed to hire someone to help him. Of course, other products increased their sales, but his flagship product was, without any doubt, the «My 2014 Crush» candle. Even some medium-size influencers recommended it on their social media!
The bell in front of the door rang while soft, but decisive, steps approached the counter. Taehyung, already alone in the shop putting some products in order after a particularly busy shift, spoke without looking back.
“Sorry, we’re already closed." He said with a professional, kind voice.
“Well, hyung, the thing is we really, really, really need to talk.” Said the voice, approaching the counter.
It didn’t matter how much time had passed. Taehyung would never forget that voice, though deeper and more adult now. But above all, he would never forget that scent, especially when he was surrounded by his poor attempt to imitate it all day.
Slowly, he turned on his heels with his eyes closed, hoping he was mistaken. But unfortunately, he wasn’t. In front of his eyes, with broader shoulders, a wider mandible, and an expensive suit, was him .
Jeon Jungkook.
“Hello, how can I help you? The shop is already closed for today” Taehyung said with his best customer service voice, acting like he didn't recognize him. “You can come back tomorrow, though. We’ll be more than happy to-”
“Come on, are you gonna play the ‘I don’t remember you’ card?” Jungkook said, raising an eyebrow.
“Oh! Your face seems familiar to me but I can’t tell where I know you from…” Taehyung didn’t relent, putting all his efforts into being credible.
“Maybe it would be easier if you come to this side of the counter, you know? Since your best-selling product was inspired by my cheap perfume from high school, the same that I’m using right now.”
“What? Jeon Jungkook, I would never…!”
“So, you remember me, ah?”
"Damn,” Taehyung murmured, realizing how easily he dug his own grave. “Okay, okay…What do you want? Besides my humiliation?”
Jungkook started to laugh wholeheartedly, partially supporting his body weight on the counter.
“I want something very simple You, me, a fancy dinner, that I will pay for, and an explanation in return.”
“That sounds like a date,” Taehyung said.
“Maybe but that’s up to you, sweetheart.”
“And what happens if I decline your invitation?”
“Easy. I will come back every day until you accept it.” Jungkook said with a grin.
Being in that situation, Taehyung couldn’t find a possible escape. Not in a million years would he have imagined that, first, the muse for his best-selling product would discover the truth, and second, he would go to his shop to demand answers.
“In that case, you´re not giving me any other option,” Taehyung surrendered. “When?”
“I already have a reservation in a restaurant not far from here.”
“A reservation? Today? How did you know that I would accept your invitation?”
“Over the years, I learned the art of persuasion. Now, if I know what I want, I do everything in my power to get it. When you're ready, we can go.”
"Okay,” Taehyung breathed, looking around to check that he did all the things on his to-do list before closing.
Jungkook politely guided him to his luxurious car and opened the door for him, making Taehyung slightly uncomfortable, not because the gesture was wrong but because he definitely wasn't used to that kind of chivalry. Silently, Jungkook drove to their destination, the radio at low volume, filling the air with popular music. Only when they were sitting in the private room Jungkook reserved did Taehyung start talking again.
“Why did you want to speak with me? Are you going to sue me?” Taehyung asked, trying to keep a serene expression but his leg bouncing under the table betrayed him miserably.
Jungkook laughed again, his eyes always fixed on Taehyung’s. Even when it looked like the younger one was mocking him, Taehyung didn't feel offended. His laughter was sincere and didn't intend to offend him. Jungkook just… found something funny in his words and Taehyung didn’t understand why.
“You always were funny but it seems like you improved over these years,” Jungkook said. “I just want to listen to the story behind the creation of the candle.”
“Well, I needed something innovative and-”
“Okay, I’m gonna stop you there. I’m not interested in knowing your creative process. Well, I’m interested but it’s not my priority right now. I would be delighted to listen to the full story in the future, but I think it's gonna be easier if I just ask you what I want to know and you give me a full, detailed response.”
“Sounds fair.”
“How did you remember the smell of my cologne after all these years, Taehyung?”
Oh, well. Apparently Jungkook didn't beat around the bush. He said Taehyung was always funny (and he didn't know how he knew it when they barely interacted during highschool) but he definitely knew that Jungkook was always as straight-forward as he was at this moment. And he also knew that there was no way of getting rid of the situation without confessing everything Jungkook wanted to know.
“I… I don’t know. I spent a full year sitting next to you, and I… I loved it. My brain tends to retain random information, and one of it was that stupid smell.” Taehyung felt embarrassed but quickly recovered. “And I have a question for you now. Why are you wearing it right now? I only need to look at you for one second to know that your everyday perfume nowadays should be as expensive as having dinner in this restaurant.”
“Look who is getting curious too… I like it, I like it," Jungkook said with a side smile. "I'm just wearing it because I wanted to give our reencounter a theatrical effect. And well, I still use it from time to time when I miss the old times. Now it’s my turn to ask a question.”
“I know.” Taehyung whispered with a defeated voice.
“Why did you call your candle «My 2014 crush»?” Jungkook asked with a piercing look.
“C’mon, do you really need to ask that?” Taehyung said, rolling his eyes. “We were teenagers. You were the popular heartthrob sports team captain and I was the invisible shy guy… Do you need further explanation? Of course I had a huge crush on you… You were my gay awakening.”
After confessing the truth, Taehyung felt how his face blushed, and he looked away trying to deal with the embarrassment. However, the soft voice of Jungkook made him look at him again.
“Interesting. Very, very interesting, in fact” Jungkook smirked.
At that moment, the waiter arrived at their table to offer the menu. Politely, Jungkook asked his hyung if he wanted white wine. Taehyung nodded with a small smile. In no time, their glasses were filled, and the eyes of Jungkook on him made Taehyung feel uneasy enough to break the silence between them.
“Do you have any other questions?” Taehyung said, holding his breath.
“Oh, hundreds of them, but I want to give you the opportunity to ask me something. I assume you also have some for me.”
“Yes, I do. But the most urgent one for me is why did you decide to reach out to me and how did you know the candle was inspired by you?”
“Those are two questions,” Jungkook clicked his tongue with pretended disapproval. “But I’ll let it pass and I’ll respond both if you return the favor later.”
“Deal.”
“Okay, so…Since highschool, I had wanted to meet you. The introverted boy that didn't look at me and only spoke with me when it was needed. After graduation, I tried to reach out to you, but apparently neither you nor your friends were huge fans of social media. Time to time, I remembered you and tried again unsuccessfully to search your name online, until a week ago.”
“What happened?” Taehyung felt almost hypnotized by his soft and magnetic voice.
“I went to a friend's house. He had lit a candle and I recognized the smell immediately. I told him that it reminded me of my teenage years because I practically showered myself in that cheap cologne in a stupid attempt to make a good impression on my crush in high school. And he told me that it was funny, because of the name of the candle: «My 2014 crush». That night, I decided to search your name online and… bingo. I found a video interview with an independent journalist about how you created your brand. As soon as I saw your face on the screen, I realized your 2014 crush was me.”
“And I thought I was being subtle,” Taehyung muttered, feeling a blush growing on his face, “I’m so sorry, I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable, Jungkook. You must think I’m a weirdo…”
“I find it endearing, hyung, if we´re going to be honest,” Jungkook grinned, “and also made me feel a little bit ridiculous. This whole story is funny. Very funny”
“How do you find it funny knowing a random classmate remembered your cologne and reproduced it a decade later?”
As a response, Jungkook looked him in the eye with an unexpectedly shy smile, biting his lip piercing nervously, looking for the words to express himself. Scratching the back of his head, he realized the façade of confidence he was performing until then was falling apart.
“If you were me, wouldn’t you find it funny that your poor attempt to impress your own gay awakening was successful ten years later?”
Taehyung looked at him, showing the vulnerability in his eyes.
“What? No. What are you saying? It can't be. Are you playing a prank on me?” Taehyung said almost without voice, his heart beating faster.
“You had a crush on me. Why do you find it so crazy that I had a crush on you, too?” Jungkook said, mirroring the same vulnerability.
“Because you were you and I was…me?”
“Yes, I was me, the closeted teenage boy every girl in high school wanted to date. And you were you, the shy, cute guy that didn't even look at me for more than a couple of seconds even after my poor attempts to earn it. I didn't need biology for my uni application but I took it because you were there, and I made sure to have a spot near you to get to know you better. But every time I tried to speak with you, your responses were short and simple. I went to all the highschool band concerts because you were part of it, but you didn't even realize I was there, or you looked unbothered by it. I showed my best shots on the basketball court even under the rain to impress you, but you never acknowledged me. And… Well, I didn't want to smell like socks after my training, so I used that cheap, awful cologne every day in a poor attempt to make you like me. I was a complete sucker for you, Kim Taehyung.”
Both of them looked into each other's eyes. Surprisingly, behind the secure and elegant man in front of him, Taehyung could see the cute teenage boy who made him discover what love feels like. Like Jungkook read his mind, his smile grew bigger. But the surprising confession made Taehyung feel scared, so he denied it with a shake of his head before starting to speak again.
“All of this…all of this is crazy…absolutely insane…” He shook his head, still not believing it. “Is that the reason you decided to come and reach out to me?”
“When I saw that video interview, I couldn´t stop looking at you. As the wine that we´re drinking, the years only made you more attractive. But it wasn´t just that… I also found it very interesting how you started your business without any help and how passionate you are about your job. So, unlike last time, I decided not to waste my time and just go for it.”
Taehyung still wasn’t having it.
“What are you talking about? I mean…I know that I’ve outgrown the pimple and braces phase but I’m also wise enough to know you’re so out of my league, even now. I think it’s cute we had crushes on each other, I won’t deny it. It is funny how we discovered our sexual orientation with each other…” He let out a sad laugh. “But I’m not here to satisfy your teenage ego, and I’m not interested in a one-night stand. You don’t even know if I have a partner or a love interest.”
“Ouch, here I am asking you to date me and give me the opportunity to get to know you, and you’re rejecting me so bluntly. You’re breaking my heart,” Jungkook said, placing his hand dramatically over his chest, trying to lighten the situation. “And I feel…if you had a partner or a love interest, you would have never accepted to come with me today.”
“T-that doesn’t change my response.”
“If that’s what you want, I will respect it, of course. We can enjoy our dinner, talking about old times and have closure about our first love." Jungkook nodded, “But before that, I want to say something else. I understand I might look unattainable. That’s an image I’ve perfected over the years. But don't let my suit or my past popularity trick you. I’m just a man. A regular guy. And I’m just asking for an opportunity to show you who I really am and to know who you are. No expectations.”
Taehyung looked at him, still unsure. Surprisingly, he could see a spark of hope and sincerity in Jungkook. Maybe he had a point. No teenage boy is as cool as he wants to make everybody think. Everybody has insecurities, especially when you’re growing up and discovering who you are. And if he’s honest with himself, he never heard about him being rude or insensitive with anybody. Everybody loved Jungkook precisely because of that. Imposing him as the stereotype of a player was not fair.
Maybe, after all those times when he had his heart broken and betrayed, he was trying to protect himself. But he didn’t have any reason to distrust those black, shiny, endeared eyes that never stopped to look at him since they arrived at the restaurant. And if after all those years, his feelings back then were significant enough to remember him…
“You’re right, my prejudices weren’t allowing me to give you a fair opportunity,” Taehyung recognized, “One opportunity. Play your cards well.”
Jungkook beamed with the possibility of having a chance.
“I will. I can’t believe that after all these years I’m going to fulfill my teenage dream.”
Taehyung smiled, endeared.
“I could say the same.”
And he raised his cup to toast. Jungkook returned the gesture.
Taehyung smiled, feeling giddy for this new opportunity for them.
“I’m so glad to see you after all this time, Jungkook. I’d love to hear how things have been with you.”