PLAY ME A LOVE SONG PART 7

 Taehyung changed the name on his phone. Justin S or whoever he is.

Right now at least, he is taking the right steps. He needed this somehow to move on.

Jeongguk swallowed. That's why he doesn't have any form of social media just because introversion attacks him. Well, except with his friends. He scrolled through hundreds of pictures... hoping to find the right one... One step at a time right?

Taehyung stared at the picture. He leaned in, looking at his phone, as he walked slowly outside the building at 1130 pm. Justin reminded him of Jeongguk... but Jeongguk was slender when he left Taehyung 3 years ago. This guy Justin, is slim yet muscular with broad shoulders.

Is he doing the right thing? Talking to someone he barely knew? Is letting go of Jeongguk worth risking for the sake of opening his heart again to possibilities? Possibilities. Too long of a word but it does contain a promise, a certain kind of hope.

He took a deep breath and texted back, attaching a picture of his back view as well... He looked at the picture, is this him? He hardly recognized his back profile, maybe because he hardly paid attention to himself at all.

Jeongguk smiled. He never expected his heart to pound faster than how he would have wanted to. What is it with this DJ that has him completely enamored.

DJ V loves the beach too, he is guessing seeing the view in the picture. He started typing a message and smiled. How lucky must he be to have been entrusted DJ V's phone number but he doesn't want to end tonight's conversation yet. So he texts him back.

Taehyung just looked at his message when he got home to his apartment. He smiled bitterly with a certain pang. It's not distrust. Maybe he gets too wary of people. Most especially with his best friend being with his ex-boyfriend. How can he trust other people easily?

He started typing away to text back. To establish boundaries... But being open to sharing? Is that even possible for him?

Taehyung looked out his window with the city lights twinkling. It's chilly now. He put down his bag on the bench as he sat down and removed his shoes. This day was eventful. Not only did he receive the draft copy of his book but deleted Jeongguk's picture plus +

disarming himself to the world without saying it was him letting go of his past love because he wanted badly to move on, to be free from the clutches of his previous love. He headed straight to his room and changed into his lounge clothes and took the book from his bag.

He took out the red pen from his book shelf and placed the book on top of his desk by the window. He turned on the his laptop and lit the candle. He turned on the lamp and the soft light filled the room. So much for trying to create the perfect ambiance to read his book.

He went to the kitchen and turned on the teapot, he needed the tea to relax his mind, to take off the stress from the day. His phone buzzed with another notification. It must be Justin again. He took his teacup & poured hot water, it's time to enjoy a hot cup of chamomile tea.

He walked back to his desk and looked at the view from outside his window. It seems peaceful in spite of the bright city lights. Something is missing though. Ah, his eternal companion. Music.

Before settling completely at his desk with his tea, he walked to his turntable and re-started the record already played from last night. It's Take 5 by Dave Brubeck Quartet, a jazz classic. Listening to this provides him a different sense of comfort.

Like he is in charge of his life and nothing and no one could stop him. But then he looked at his phone, with the notification lighting up again. Is he really in control of his life? He looked at the last thing he texted Jeongguk. He wasn't like this before.

In fact, he trusts people easily but it's so hard just to trust anyone right now. He'd rather listen to his music and play love songs for all. He continued staring at his phone, expecting an answer to pop-up from his screen and then he eyed the book in front of him.

He turned the book to the Foreword portion and started marking it red and wrote on the side. It's something he could send Namjoon hyung tomorrow.

After putting the red marks on the book, his phone lit up again, reminding him to read his text. He smiled at the image Justin sent. He's a sap, a sweet sap but then Taehyung doesn't want to believe it... seems too good to be true.

Jeongguk leisurely sprawled across his bed, waiting for DJ V to respond. He's both excited and nervous. Excited because who would not want to text someone he likes, you know, get to know someone better? But nervous because he doesn't want to cross the boundaries.

He knew in his heart that DJ V really didn't want to talk to him. He reached out more to him than DJ V responded but the fact that he gave him his number is such a big deal. If it was only possible, he would have sped up the publishing of his book... why?

Then he would have already met him and somehow get his act together and woo him. They will be staying together for long periods of time and somehow, his aim is to soften the heart of this awesome DJ who is slowly capturing his soul.

You don't even know him Jeongguk! He scolded himself. And then, he could look him up, right? No, Jeongguk, you swore to not use the internet if not necessary right? And besides, don't you want to be surprised?

He took a copy of the book he swiped from Namjoon's office. He was curious about DJ V's foreword. He didn't read it entirely earlier but somehow, DJ V intrigues him in general. The huskiness of his voice is like being lulled in a hammock at the beach on a warm summer day.

The messages he speaks comes from a place of love and wisdom. Jeongguk knew that everything DJ V says is carefully and sincerely thought of. He started reading the book and that is what made him frown earlier... the passage from the foreword.

DJ V is still in love with a person, someone who doesn't deserve his love at all. Maybe that is the reason why he is avoidant. Maybe it is the reason why he is reserved with his response even if Jeongguk felt that he wanted to open up more.

Taehyung got immersed in a few chapters when he realized that he was texting Justin. He immediately picked up the phone and responded to him. He has to admit, it's easy to talk to him but then again, this fear.

This fear that when people finally see him, will they be disappointed with the voice of DJ V. For sure he knows MBC Daegu tweeted about him a year ago and he requested for them to delete, for which he was grateful for...

So maybe, Justin, since he admitted he was technologically backward hasn't seen his face yet but maybe he did. Who knows if what he's telling Taehyung is true at all? He turned back to his phone and responded to Justin's text.

He turned the page to the foreword again and stared at the words. Should he delete it?

Jeongguk looked at the text. DJ V wanted to delete his message to whom? His father? His fans? His love? Maybe it was his love. He was about to text back but Namjoon texted him.

Taehyung looked at his phone repeatedly and still no reply from Justin. Well, it's late, it's time to sleep. He placed the book at his desk and turned his attention to his emails. 215 requests from last week. He needs to review them for next week's show.

Taehyung wonders, if he finishes checking the draft, the book tour would happen, who would take over the show? He'd need to ask Wooshik tomorrow. He frowned and looked at his calendar. Namjoon said he'd be gone for at least three months. That is around what? 60 episodes?!

He has some work cut out for him. Before he stood up, he went to his Twt app, to record today's event... something that he is looking forward to.

He swiped to see his text messages and quickly typed a goodnight to Justin. Maybe tomorrow he will be better. Maybe tomorrow he will be less afraid. Maybe tomorrow, well tomorrow's another day.