13

Hoseok tossed and turned for a few minutes. He couldn't sleep. He went to the balcony looked at the stars. The air was cool and he let himself feel the breeze. He walked out of his room. He looked at Joon's room. The door was closed. He assumed Joon must be sleeping. He tiptoed downstairs when he saw a light coming out of a room. He walked to see Joon engrossed in a book. He hesitated for a moment before knocking.

"Come in", the voice boomed. As Hoseok entered, the first thing that struck him was the enchanting ambiance of the library. The room was bathed in a soft golden glow, emanating from vintage-style lamps strategically placed on wooden shelves laden with books of all sizes and colors.

The walls were adorned with dark, richly polished bookcases that reached almost from the floor to the high ceiling. Each shelf was meticulously organized with various genres, from classic literature to modern-day novels, historical tomes, and even some rare collectibles that Namjoon treasured dearly. The scent of old, well-loved books permeated the air, creating an atmosphere of intellectual comfort.

In the center of the room was a large, intricately carved wooden desk with a comfortable leather chair. The desk was adorned with more books, some open and others neatly stacked. A vintage globe rested on one corner, surrounded by scattered notes and bookmarks, a testament to Namjoon's passion for learning and exploration.

The library had a cozy reading nook by the window, adorned with plush cushions and a soft throw blanket, inviting anyone to curl up and immerse themselves in the worlds crafted by words. The window itself offered a picturesque view of the moonlit garden outside, adding a touch of natural beauty to the serene setting.

"Couldn't sleep either, huh?", Namjoon asked.

"Yeah, my mind's bit restless tonight". Hoseok fidgeted around.

"What is it?", Joon asked looking at Hoseok's hesitation.

"Can I borrow a book?", hoseok asked adjusting his glasses.

"Of course".

Hoseok went to the book shelf and scanned. There were just so many books. His eyes fell on one as he picked out a book gently. As he flipped the first page, his face became somber. Inside it was written, "With love - Jin to Joon".

Hoseok closed the book and kept it back on the shelf. As he was about to walk away, Joon called out him. "Hoseok, can you give me that book?"

Hoseok gave the book to him. Joon opened the book and tore off the first page and handed the book back to Hoseok. He crumpled the page and threw it in the dustbin. He smiled at Hoseok, "Do read the book. Its quite good". Hoseok smiled gently and nodded as he walked away.

********************

Next morning:

Hobi strutted to the dining table. He was wearing a casual white T-shirt with white trousers that hugged his curves in all the right places. Joon and Jimin were already sitting at the table, but their jaws dropped when they saw Hoseok's wet hair dripping on his collarbone. He flashed them a bright smile and said hello. The servants brought the food, but Joon couldn't take his eyes off Hoseok. Hoseok truly was a vision of beauty. And he smelled heavenly.....like vanilla. Joon felt his mouth watering and his heart racing. Jimin noticed his brother's drooling like a hungry cat.

Jimin coughed loudly and said, "Hobi, do you need a towel?"

Hoseok looked confused and touched his hair. "Oh, sorry. I didn't have time to dry it."

Jimin shook his head and said, "No, no, not that. I mean, look at Joon hyung. He's salivating...over you. You need something to wipe his drool."

Hoseok's cheeks turned a shade of pink, and he cast a shy glance at Joon, who tried his best to maintain a composed expression but failed miserably. His dimples betrayed his true feelings, forming a smile that gave him away. Joon then shot Jimin a mock glare, silently pleading with him to stop the teasing. But Jimin was giggling like a schoolgirl.

"What? No, I'm not. I'm just hungry", Joon lied.

"Sure, sure. Hungry for...Hobi", Jimin winked.

Hoseok felt his face heat up and looked away. He didn't know what to say.

"You look amazing, Hobi", Joon said sincerely.

"Uh...th...thank you", Hoseok stuttered. This was the first time, Joon addressed Hoseok as Hobi.

As he sat down for breakfast, Hoseok felt his heart thump faster. He tried to steal glances at Joon but controlled himself. Jimin looked at the two eating awkwardly while trying to control their respective blush. He silently thanked the gods and prayed to keep Hoseok and Joon together forever.

As Joon finished breakfast, he dressed up and waited for Jimin. "Hyung, I will be late. You go ahead", Jimin said. Joon left for office. He hated to be late.

Jimin pulled Hoseok and sat near him.

"Hobi, you're really trying to be a nerd when you can be so hot," Jimin said with a hint of sadness.

Hoseok raised an eyebrow, slightly amused. "What are you talking about, Jimin? I am fine just the way I am. I've always been a nerd. I'm not trying to be one; it's just who I am."

k his head, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "No, you're not. Look, even Joon used to look dorky, but trust me, with my fashion tips, you'll be so hot and smoking that Joon won't be able to take his eyes off you."

Hoseok rolled his eyes playfully. "Jimin-ah, come on. Joon and I have decided to be just friends and after everything that happened, its best we take our own time," he explained. But Jimin wasn't convinced.

"You think I don't know how much you love Joon?" Jimin declared, causing Hoseok to look at him in shock.

"What? You think I don't know?" Jimin continued. "I've seen the way you look at Joon-hyung, and trust me, words can lie, but eyes cannot. They speak the truth. And trust me, Joon feels something for you too. He always did even when he was with Jin but my idiot  brother is too blind to realize it. The way he looks at you it's not just respect but something more."

Hoseok looked at Jimin not knowing what to say as Jimin continued, "Look, I don't know what Jin and Joon felt for each other, but Joon has these unknown feelings for you. And today, it was something more. I don't know if what happened with them was for the good or bad, but what I do know is.....you guys are married and it's time to move on from Jin. You need to start your lives together. Let me help you, not just as a brother-in-law, but as a brother or a friend."

Jimin placed his palm on Hoseok's hand, offering his support. Hoseok nodded, a mixture of emotions swirling within him. He felt a surge of gratitude and warmth towards Jimin. This was the love and understanding he had longed for from Jin, his older brother. Jimin truly understood him.

**************

Joon sat in his office cabin, the weight of his past relationship with Jin heavy on his heart. His eyes fixated on the picture frame, capturing a moment of their love, but it now symbolized the pain and betrayal he had experienced. With a deep breath, he mustered the strength to throw the frame into the trash, symbolically discarding the memories that had haunted him.

Closing his eyes, Joon allowed himself to delve into his thoughts, navigating through the labyrinth of their shared history. The love they once shared, the promises made, and the devastating moment when Jin shattered it all and left him broken. A single tear slipped down his cheek, carrying the weight of his sorrow.

But as the darkness threatened to consume him, a different image materialized in Joon's mind—the image of Hoseok. Memories of their interactions flooded his thoughts, like rays of sunlight piercing through the clouds. He recalled Hoseok's nerdy glasses that accentuated his endearing charm, his genuine understanding that surpassed anyone he had known, and even something as simple as Joon's favorite color.

Suddenly, the recollection of that morning emerged vividly—the sight of Hoseok walking towards the dining table, his hair still damp from the shower, and his alluring curves that seemed to captivate Joon's attention. A smile tugged at the corners of Joon's lips, unbidden and genuine. His heart quickened its pace, beating in rhythm with the newfound emotions swirling within him.

He was lost in thoughts when someone spoke, "Joonie is in loveeeeeeee".

"What are you doing here?", Joon looked up at the man.

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TBC...........

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