The next day in Paris, by midnight, Taehyung was already a mess.

He was an impressive drinker back in Korea, but let's just say that the teenagers here have different borders.

It was hard, getting Daeun past the guards since she isn't 21 yet, but one of the bodyguards turned out to be a fan of kpop and he let her in for an autograph from Taehyung.

"Don't you dare get too wasted, kid," Tae warns Daeun with a playful smile, earning a small smack from her.

"Applies to you too, big guy," she rolls her eyes, dragging him towards the bar table.

However, not more than an hour later, both of them are more than tipsy. Surprisingly, Daeun ended up as the one to babysit Taehyung. She was doing well at that until she had to leave to the bathroom.

When she came back, she clearly wasn't expecting to see Taehyung in a heated kiss with a complete stranger.

Running to him, she grabbed his hand and dragged him outside to get some fresh air and kick some sense into him.

"What the fuck, Tae?" Daeun screams at the older boy.

"What? He was cute," he argues drunkenly.

"Yeah, cute and a complete stranger."

"So what, you have to live your life till you still can," he hiccups and bumps into a wall slightly, giving Daeun a signal that it's definitely time to go home.

Calling a taxi for them and helping Taehyung up the stairs to her grandma's house really wasn't how she imagined her night to go. But here she is.

She walks him all the way to the spare room he's staying at and as he lays on the bed, she helps him get his shoes and jeans off.

Pulling the sheets over him, she hears him mumble a name.

"Huh?" she asks.

"Nothing," he groans.

"You are so drunk, Tae."

He shakes his head with eyes still closed.

"Why would you make out with that guy?" she asks quietly, not wanting to attack him with way too many questions even though he really deserves it at the moment.

She wants to speak again before his phone buzzes on the floor. Picking it up, she sees a new message pop up on the phone but before she can read it, Taehyung's wallpaper catches her attention as she unlocks the phone.

A pair of big brown eyes is staring back at her. Tall, dark brown hair, soft features and a beautiful smile...The guy looks exactly like...

"Oh my god," she gasps at the realisation.

"You made out with that boy because he reminded you of him," she whisper-screams but there's no response.

Taehyung is soundly asleep.

Where are you, Jeongguk?

_______

As the morning comes, Taehyung wakes up with a terrible headache. He regrets

how much he had to drink yesterday.

He remembers most of the night clearly though, the beautiful boy he kissed and Daeun not having it and screaming at him during the whole way back home. "Home."

This wasn't really his home.

"I heard you two had a hard night," grandma asks once Taehyung walks inside the kitchen.

"Kinda," Taehyung sighs and grabs a cup, pouring warm tea into it.

"I heard you were going to the art exhibition today."

"We are?" Taehyung raises an eyebrow at Daeun, questioning whether she was the one behind this plan.

"Yes. I know you want to go," Daeun rolls her eyes, not in the mood for Taehyung's attitude.

"I do but you could have asked me first."

"Why are you so bitter, I literally saved your drunk ass yesterday."

"You are right, I am sorry," he looks down shyly, realising she didn't deserve any of his moody behaviour.

"When are we leaving?"

"At 4. And don't be late," she flicks his forehead and walks away with a cup of coffee in her hand, leaving Taehyung sighing defeatedly.

______

The two have already spent about two hours at the exhibition. Taehyung loved art, he could watch it for hours and Daeun...well, she had to cope with him.

Just when a specific sketch catches Taehyung's attention, his phone buzzes in his back pocket. As he grabs a hold of it, he reads the new message.

Hi! I have been wondering if we could meet up...maybe this week or so?

- Jungho :)

Taehyung is immediately reminded of the cute boy he met yesterday. He couldn't help but feel like he wanted to see him again.

He smiles while answering with a simple message to meet up at 7 today.

"What are you so smiley about?" Daeun clings to his arm, looking up at him with a scanning look on her face.

"It's Jungho, the boy from yesterday."

"Oh? What does he want?" she takes a step back, frowning.

"We are meeting at 7 today."

"What?! No, you can't! I mean...you-" she shutters, eyes nervously scanning around the place.

"Why not? What's wrong Daeun?"

"Nothing just...You shouldn't go."

"Why shouldn't I?" he frowns, clearly confused by her sudden outburst.

"Because- Because..."

"It's okay, Daeun. I am an adult, I can take care of myself," he messes her hair with a smile and walks away to take a look at the rest of the paintings.

________

"Do you really have to go?" she keeps whining.

"Yes, Daeun. I already told you I am going," Taehyung stands his ground.

"Can't you at least go later or...tomorrow?"

"Why are you so weird about it, Daeun? It's not like I am marrying him."

He sees her lips shut into a thin line, gulping hard.

"Uhm...whatever. I'll be going now," he mutters nervously, grabbing his wallet.

How ironic it was for him to say just that.

He practically runs out of the house, adjusting his coat on the way down the stairs.

Walking down the street to the nearest bus stop, it's for the first time that Taehyung realises this actually might not be the best plan.

Yes, he wants to believe that he really needs this, meeting the right one, may actually help him get through... everything.

He knows he's been trying to kiss strangers for too long, which never seemed to work a bit but still, he needs to try for himself one last time.

Just this one last time, he pushes the boy's face out of his mind and walks forward.

________

It's raining as Taehyung walks down the crowded street. It is already late and freezing cold but people are still filling the streets of Paris. City of love, how pathetic.

He can barely get through them as they bump into him, ignoring the fact that he's doing his best to get through the street safely.

There's too many muffled noises all around him, not recognisable but still loud enough for his mind to be overly occupied.

When he's half way through the street, he swears he could hear someone say his name. A voice he's clearly heard before but can't make out who the owner is. He sees many unknown faces around him and gains his speed while walking down the street to get back home as fast as possible.

"Taehyung!"

He can hear the voice clearly this time.

His heart stops.

Taehyung breathes in before turning to his left. He swears his heart jumps up to his throat at the sight in front of him.

His eyes widen and shoulders tense as he looks as defeated as ever, not sharing the other's excitement.

"J-Jeongguk?" his voice breaks the moment it escapes his lips.