"Nothing happened," Jeongguk said in a whisper. "With Jimin, I mean. He implied that you were jealous when you saw me talk with Dongmin, and I said that there was no way that was true, but he wasn't convinced. And that's why we were late to the class because we were talking about that. And then he let you think that something happened because he just wanted to prove his point, but I swear I didn't know he would do that. I didn't ask him to do it, and I didn't know what he was doing until he explained it to me. And I scolded him for that and told him to not do it again, so don't hate me, Taehyung. Please." He didn't care about sounding so desperate; just the idea of seeing Taehyung so infuriated again horrified him.

Round eyes with a gleam of fondness glanced his way, lips stretching into a tender smile. "You scolded him for me?"

"Well, y-yeah, it's not nice playing with someone's feelings."

"It really isn't," Taehyung said with a light sigh. "Thank you for scolding him for that."

"I was angry at him too. I mean, after what I did, I didn't want to see you so mad again for the same reason."

"Don't feel bad about it. You didn't do anything wrong."

Jeongguk broke into a smile, a flutter of relief coursing through him at his words. "How is the moving thing going?"

"Well, I packed my things. The only problem now is where to put them because I have no place to go."

As if on cue, Jeongguk's phone rang, and he grinned when he noticed it was his mother. "I have to take this." He received a nod from Taehyung and picked up the phone. "Tell me you have good news."

"You know I can work miracles when I want to," said Mirae. "I found two apartments for the moment. Given that he's a teacher at your school, the second one is the best option. It's twenty minutes away from the school by car. The landlord put it up for rent only yesterday, and he has a good chance to get it. He really needs the money so he wants to rent it as quickly as possible. Can he go right now to see it?"

"Yes, he can. Text me the details."

"Sure, Kookie."

"You're the best, have I said that today?"

"Never gets old." Mirae chuckled.

After thanking her once more, he ended the call and turned to look at Taehyung with a beam. "Do you have something to do?"

"Like after dropping you off? No."

"Well, now you have." Jeongguk's phone beeped, and he checked the message right away. His eyes bulged when he read the location of the apartment; it was only two miles away from his.

"What's going on?"

"We'll go look at an apartment for you."

Taehyung's jaw went slack in confusion as he blinked repeatedly. "What are you talking about?"

"My mother works at a real estate agency and has many connections in that part. For anyone who needs a place to live, she's always able to find something within four days tops. I called her after you left and asked her to see if she can do something. And apparently, she worked freaking miracles."

"Jeongguk, are you serious?"

"Of course!"

"I can't believe you. Thank you so much for helping me," Taehyung said, amazed by his caring action.

"Don't thank me yet. We don't know if you'll like it. I haven't seen it either so if you don't like it don't be harsh on me."

"Are you crazy? Even if it's just a shithole, I would still thank you again and again for helping me. And your mother of course."

"You won't see any shitholes, that's for sure. My mother only recommends the neatest and finest apartments for her clients."

"I have to meet this incredible woman."

"She works from eight to one and five to nine. And because I have school I barely see her. But she doesn't work on Sundays, so if you want you can come over or something. Unless if you didn't mean it literally and said it just because."

"I would love to meet her. I wouldn't have said that if I didn't," he reassured with a warm smile. "Where are we going, though?"

"Oh, right! I know the road so you don't have to worry. The apartment is around my neighborhood."

Taehyung bit his bottom lip to impede his small smile altering to a wider one as sparks of excitement seared through him at the thought of living close to the younger for some reason.

With Jeongguk's directions, they arrived in no time. The building seemed new and neat, and Taehyung had a good feeling about it. They met the landlord, who was already waiting for them since Mirae had called him, and went to take a look at the apartment.

Overall, it was a spacious apartment with one bathroom, one bedroom with a double bed, the kitchen was equipped with seemingly new devices, and the living room was just perfect; not too big, not too small, with two big couches, a bookshelf, and a TV. Everything seemed pretty well.

"May I ask for the price?"

"Originally, it was up to €500. But the woman I talked to on the phone was able to persuade me to drop it to €400 for you. She has her ways with words." The landlord chuckled. "And I really need to rent it to someone. I need to pay my bills too. Do you like the apartment?"

"It's wonderful. Really, I don't think I could find anything better," Taehyung said, and the younger couldn't help but grin at his words. He was overly elated that Taehyung liked the apartment.

"And are you okay with the price?"

"Yes, it's perfect for an apartment this nice and spacious."

"Great!"

They discussed a few more details and arranged everything rather fast. "You can move in today too."

"Thank you, that would be great."

 
They headed back to Taehyung's car. "I would offer to help you with moving, but with one hand I can't do a lot."

"You already helped me more than anyone. You found me a house, Jeongguk."

"I'm really glad you like it. And my mom did everything, actually."

"And I will thank her this Sunday at six? Is that a good time?"

"You can stay for dinner too if you want. I know my mom would love this. And her cooking is amazing."

"Well, I can't wait then." Taehyung maintained eye contact as a fog of comfortable silence cloaked them, giving him his warmest smile possible.

Immersed in his pretty eyes, Jeongguk absorbed the delicacy of his gaze on him in depth, his heart hiking up its rhythm gradually. He was afraid that if he continued peering at him for even one more second, he would fall for the gorgeous man in front of him even more. And he truly didn't want that because he knew Taehyung didn't feel anything for him. He was just a kid. Why would he like someone like him?

And so he drew his gaze away, brimming with self-consciousness. "Um, we s-should go." His voice trembled as he spoke. Looking right into his eyes for so long was something so nerve-wracking for him it caused his cheeks to blush and his heart to palpitate even faster.

"I want to repay you, Jeongguk," he said as if he didn't hear him, his eyes still glued to his tense face.

"You really don't have to, my mother did—"

"Yeah, but you asked her. And for your mother, I'll bring a bottle of wine or a dessert for dinner or something, but... I don't know what to get you or how to show you how thankful I am."

"Seriously, Taehyung, you don't have to do anything or get me anything."

"You know I will do something whether you want it or not, so just tell me what you want."

"But there isn't really anything that I want."

Taehyung stayed mute since he figured he wouldn't get an answer to his question and instead started the engine. He wanted to do something in return since Jeongguk helped him more than anyone in that difficult time. He didn't even have to ask him for help, but he helped him anyway.

The drive to Jeongguk's house was short, and still in utter silence, they exited the car, and Jeongguk passed him the keys so he could open the door.

"Thanks."

Taehyung returned the keys, still mute, eyes locked on his face. Another round of electrified eye contact began, leaving Jeongguk bashful with circles of heat dancing on his cheeks, and Taehyung endeavoring to constrict his smile once he perceived it. "Is hugging okay in this befriending thing?"

The question surprised him — perplexed him even. Was it really okay to hug his teacher? But on the other hand, was it really okay to befriend his teacher while he had a crush on him?

"It shouldn't be," Jeongguk uttered below his breath as his eyes dropped to the ground.

"But you want it to be."

"I want a lot of things."

Oh, how much Taehyung wished at that moment to have the courage to say that maybe he wanted those things too. But he had to put a smile on his face instead and push his thoughts away. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked. I just wanted to thank you, that's all." You're going to hell for lying so much, Kim Taehyung. You didn't have to say 'that's all' you dumbass.

Of course, that's why he asked for a hug. He just wanted to thank me. "Just get me a beer when you come over and we'll be good. I don't like wine."

"I'm not bringing you a beer. Your mother is gonna kill me." Taehyung's brows bumped together in a scowl.

"Yeah, like she doesn't know that I drink beers from time to time," Jeongguk snickered. "We even drink together sometimes, Taehyung. I'm not a child."

"I wasn't implying—it wasn't my intention—um, sorry." Taehyung's stammer concluded with a frustrated sigh.

"You should go."

"Yeah, I should."

Jeongguk despised the oppressively awkward ambiance shrouding them. He knew Taehyung didn't mean to criticize him about his age and he was just concerned about what Mirae would think if he were to appear with alcohol. So without musing over it, he stepped closer and twined his left arm around his back.

The instant shock blustering through Taehyung's mind had him freezing as though he transformed into an icicle, and by the time his startled condition subsided, he was only able to skim his back with a delicate hand once before Jeongguk pulled away. It wasn't even a four-second hug.

"You don't have to worry about returning me the favor. I'm glad I could help," he murmured, timid. "Bye, Taehyung."

"Bye, Kookie." He glanced above his shoulder in his need to follow him with his eyes as the other traipsed towards the door, a bright smile adorning his features by the sweet hug Jeongguk initiated.

And the younger delighted in the sound of one of his nicknames coming out from him, the wild smile on his lips matching with Taehyung's without even knowing it.

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